Aqua cultured LR.....

[reeftanknewbie]

My lfs just got in a bunch of what they call "Aqua cultured LR" it has lots of color and stuff growing on it. But i was wondering if someone can explain to me what it is exactly and if it is worth $10 a #? Thanks for all the help guys and girls. I am trying to get alot of different lr for a diversity of alge and color. I was told adding different types will help with that. is this true? thanks guys and girls.

 

[kpogue]

They're making about $4-6 a lb on it...

 

[melbournefl]

Since the 1997 law banning coral and rock collection from U.S. waters, several companies (mostly in FL) have leased areas of the ocean to "farm" rock and coral. I think that's what your LFS has and yes it's a good thing! As far as the price, well if you like it and think it's worth the money than yeah, it's a good price can you find it cheaper on-line, probably but this way you can *look* at the rock and choose the ones that fit best in your tank!
Later,
Paul

 

[jonthefb]

aqucultured live rock is base rock that is dumped into the ocean and then allowed to grow out for several years at which point the owners come and pick up the rock with all the goodies on it an dhten sell it for the aquarium biz. gettign rock from many different locales will increase diversity, but will also increase the possibility of nasty hitchhikers coming along as well
good luck
jon

 

[reeftanknewbie]

Thanks everyone. Yeah I do like the look of a couple of pieces and have a place to cure it so i am going to pay the price. Sounds like a good businees to get into. I am pretty sure of the answer to this but i am going to ask anyway. SHould i add this to my tank it is uncured and i just started my cycle in my tank it has been up for a week? or will it start mini cycles? thanks

 

[jonthefb]

how many punds do you plan on adding?
jon

 

[reeftanknewbie]

some where between 20-30 maybe 40. but most likly 20-30. will it be ok?

 

[bang guy]

IMO it's worth the price if it's cured and you can pick your pieces. If it's uncured and you're getting more than 30 pounds you'd be better off having it shipped from the source.

 

[slothy]

semi OT
my lfs was saying something about not being able to get fiji stuff soon cause of some import trade law ? (maybe im behind on this), he was very brief about it...

 

[reeftanknewbie]

It was heavy stuff I dont know the exact weight but I think it will be around 30#s and it was nice looking so I guess that is all that matters. Thanks for all the info guys. Fiji worth $100 a pund new currency in USA...

 

[reeftanknewbie]

I bought 10#s last night and going to buy another 10# soon. I am definatly going to have some diversity. Since we are on the subject of LR. What is Cortez rock is that from around Mexico or where? How many different types are out there? what about Hapai Live Rock? SAMOA LR?

 

[striker]

You should look into getting aquacultured lr on the internet. I've been getting mine delivered overnight to me for 200.00. Very little die-off and tons of great stuff. Last time I ordered from them I received oysters, starfish, urchins, sponges, polyps and even a small open brain. I bought 50lbs of this rock and though it is a little heavier than the others it is my favorite. Email me at godblesswtc@aol.com if you want more info.

 

[sistrmary]

I'm with Bang Guy on this. I mean, I'll order some middle "filler" LR online, but I always handpick the pieces that go in front and on top from my LFS. It's worth the price to me But I'm extremely picky. Everything has to be *just* so. You could do like I do...I mean, from online you get a lot better prices, and still get the filtration....and then you can hand-pick some prime pieces from your LFS.
Someday I'll move my hurkin colt coral and take a picture of my favorite piece of LR. It's a large piece of fairly solid tonga, so it cost a pretty penny, but within weeks it was covered in orange, red, purple, pink and green coraline algae and sponges. (It was a substituted rock shipment, they typically only carry fiji, but their distributor was out so they sent some fully cured tonga in lieu since they'd been out for months) It nearly reaches my water line and it's got holes big enough for a medium sized Marine Betta to comfortable idle in. If it wouldn't disrupt my tanks' little world, I'd move it out from behind the colt coral (It was nowhere big enough to hide this rock when I got it...but since then it's nearly grown out of the tank.
Anyways, before I started drooling over my own rock lol I would have paid more than 10 dollars a pound for this rock if they'd been asking it. (Even though it weighed 18-20lbs or so...I know, horrible memory lol) Sometimes you just see that rock that you *have* to own...no matter what the cost. (Well, if you're a freak like me lol)

 

[reeftanknewbie]

I pretty much have my front rock but I am always adding more. I really want a good divirsity of rock. Trying to find someone who wants to split an order of cortez rock i heard it is awsome but the most common to have mantis shrimp. I know what you mean about that rock you just have to have. almost wished i hadn't put any base rock in there would have left room for more LR.