How do you pick a good piece of LR

[atlfish]

I was wondering how do you pick a good piece of LR. Do you get the dirtiest piece you can find or what? I have a few pieces but I need more. Some are kind of fuzzy with a little purple algea but not much. And what exactly does cured mean? Im sure all the rock I have was cured( at least that's what the lFS people tell me) but what is the process? Oh and Light. I have just the regular florecent lights. Is it a must that I get some other type of light to make stuff grow on the rock? I use to keep the light on all night but had a problem with brown algea on my sand so now I keep it off. So what do I do. Lights on, lights off?

 

[tthemadd1]

I get the coolest looking rock I can find in the tubs at my LFS. I like alot of coraline(purple/pink stuff) and some algae and sponge for my fish... I also look for HH on the rock and hope my LFS owner doesnt see them.
I have found pieces with anenomes attached and even found a rock that was 10 pds and completely, I mean completely covered with ZOOS>.... Best find to date. The idea is to introduce as many new and cool looking HH's to your tank. Also look for stuff that is formed into little caves/towers or whatever you like..
Cured rock is rock that has been in clean saltwater with a powerhead of some type. Cured rock is rock that doesnt have any dead coral HH's or bacteria on it. If you pick up a piece of rock and it stinks it is NOT cured....
Alot of people will pay more for cured rock because it wont hurt your current residents....
But if cycling uncured/ partially cured rock is cheaper and will cycle the tank.

 

[atlfish]

ok, what's HH and zoos? Here is some of what I have. What do you think?

 

[bluephi115]

It is all personal preference...I am the same...I try to ONLY pick pieces with lots of pink and purple.
Also if you find peices with holes through them the fish will like that. Makes caves and things for them to hide in.
here is some of mine....new tank only 6 weeks.

 

[ophiura]

Yup, a lot of it is visual interest or if you are looking for strong base rock versus things to make shelves out of or tunnels.
In general, look for pieces that are light for their size (indicates they are porous, which is good). Growth like coralline and stuff is nice. The rock shouldn't have a lot of fuzzy algae like stuff hanging off it, nor should it smell particularly bad (like rotten eggs or such). If it smells and has a lot of brown hairy stuff, it is still curing.

 

[dougai]

what is HH?
is HH a coral or is it something i should try to look for, for a FO tank

 

[scoobydoo]

Hitch Hikers

 

[rdf128]

hitchhikers

 

[tthemadd1]

Sorry .... Hitch Hikers are anything that gets a ride into my tank from the ocean for free.. Like crabs, corals, inverts, or algaes...
Zoos are the zoanthids that people talk about on this site. They are a small anenome that breed like crazy and look really cool..... Check them out on this site....

 

[bronco300]

out of curiosity, how much do you usually pay per lb for the rock with only purple and pink on it....my lfs tries to get me to pay 10/lb...otherwise its just all brown, maybe some stuff on it...
Luke P

 

[tscuda]

I've seen it here in my area from 2.99 (looks like wet base rock) to 7.99 per lb. I bought 45 lbs last weekend for 160. It was cured for the price of uncured. (Was a mix up in my order so he give me cured outa his tanks) One rock even had a bunch of small Feather Dusters. And can't forget the Flasher Wrasse that was in one rock.(No longer with me. outa water for about 15 mins)

 

[bluephi115]

I paid 8.50 lb for mine.

 

[lradlbeck]

Bargain with them! I went to my local LFS and it was $6.99 a pound so I asked for a manager to see if he would give me a bulk discount - I got 100 pounds for $400!
Hey the worst thing that they say is no right?
Good Luck!
Liz

 

[atlfish]

Originally Posted by lRadlbeck
Bargain with them! I went to my local LFS and it was $6.99 a pound so I asked for a manager to see if he would give me a bulk discount - I got 100 pounds for $400!
Hey the worst thing that they say is no right?
Good Luck!
Liz
I can get it for 5.99 to 6.99 per lbs. I think if you pay any more then that your getting taken i do'nt care what's on if. If you are a regular at a store you ca n bargin if the store wont budge the go somewhere else. I have about 5 store I can play with. i had a comcast cable guy come into my house to do some work the other day. he saw my tank and right away started a conversation with my wife (who knows nothing about tanks) anywayshe told me to call him so I did. He told me where Ican get it for 5 bucks a lbs. So i will add another store to my list. although the road has been rough i love haveing a salt water tank. It's like being in a secret society or something.

 

[thegriffin]

Ive found that some of the best live rock for a good price comes from sites like these. I ordered 30lbs of some select lalo live from a site for only $135 after shipping which is about $4.5/lb. I was a little worried about what I might get but took the chance. When I opened the box it was 1 giant rock! It stood about 14inch tall and was a compleat maze of caves and holes. Absoulutly increadable peice. Never seen one like it in a LFS. Maybe I just lucked out, I dont know. But I do know I will be ordering another 30lbs from the same site in a few months.

 

[carshark]

i have 1 year and a half old cured rock out of my buddies big tank, he's moving!! 75 lbs - 5.15 a lb!!!! its all purple and pink ajhhhhh i got lucky
75 gallon FOWLR....

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by TheGriffin
Ive found that some of the best live rock for a good price comes from sites like these. I ordered 30lbs of some select lalo live from a site for only $135 after shipping which is about $4.5/lb. I was a little worried about what I might get but took the chance. When I opened the box it was 1 giant rock! It stood about 14inch tall and was a compleat maze of caves and holes. Absoulutly increadable peice. Never seen one like it in a LFS. Maybe I just lucked out, I dont know. But I do know I will be ordering another 30lbs from the same site in a few months.

Can I email you to get the site info? I would love to be lucky too...
p.s. Has anyone gotten some LR from here?

 

[thegriffin]

Sure Lennon.
I just changed my options so that I can receive email. I just tried to email myself but its still saying it wont allow me so you might have to give it a bit to take effect. If you still have problems later then change your settings and I will try to email you.

 

[lennon]

Originally Posted by TheGriffin
Sure Lennon.
I just changed my options so that I can receive email. I just tried to email myself but its still saying it wont allow me so you might have to give it a bit to take effect. If you still have problems later then change your settings and I will try to email you.
Thanks!
I tried but I think you have to change your settings to receive email because it says right now that you wished not to receive.
thanks again..Can't wait to see that site too.

 

[thegriffin]

I switched it over. However, it still doesn't seem to want to send me emails. There must be a time delay. Anyway, if you feel comfortable posting you email on this thread for a little bit then I will email it to you. You can always edit it out later I think.