how much live rock for 180 gallons

[fishboy091]

im getting my first marine aquarium but dont know how much live rock i should put in there while not spending much money. Can somebody please tell me how much.

 

[yimmy]

general rule is 1 to 2 lbs per gallon. Some people like wall to wall rock work and others a lot more swimming space

 

[fishboy091]

so if i started out at about 45 lbs i would be fine? or do you think i should just go ahead and get alot?

 

[yimmy]

Welcome to the Forums. How many pounds of LR do you plan to put in there overall? It's easier to put in LR initially unless your adding a just a few pieces. My LFS said that you need about 1/2lbs of LR per gallon. That's the bare minimum to get you by on biological filtration in my advice I would get the main rock work all at once because you might accidentaly create a sandstorm in your tank and you don't want fish in there when it happens. I would get the majority up front.
Good Luck
Jimmy

 

[fishboy091]

ok. thanks alot. about how much do you think it with cost?

 

[mystic7]

Originally Posted by fishboy091
ok. thanks alot. about how much do you think it with cost?
My local overpriced LFS charges $7.00 per lb. so figure that much at most.

 

[fishsta]

I would say start with 1 lb per gallon so your looking at 180 lbs. Most lfs sell live rock from 5-7 dollars per pound. Only 45lbs in a 180 is not going to look or be enough for bio filtration. Go ahead and start with 125-200 and you should be good.

 

[1journeyman]

Buy your live rock online. It's a lot cheaper, and the "curing" process is a great way to cycle your tank.

 

[fishboy091]

i noticed on mystic7's profile that you have a 180 gallon. how much LR do you have?

 

[yimmy]

LR at my store is 6.95 for the first 20lbs and 4$ after that

 

[fishboy091]

will your store ship all the way to houston?

 

[djevack]

You will find lr cheaper on line more often then at the lfs. But at the lfs you can hand pick your rock. Makes for a better look. Talk to your lfs see if they will cut you a deal if you buy 180-200lbs of rock. My lfs is 6.99 for 1-20lbs, 5.99 21-49lbs, 4.99 for over 50, but when i bought 200lbs they sold it for 3.99. Thats the same with online stores as well, becasue of shipping cost. The more you buy the more you will save. So the cheapest way will to be to all of it at once, no matter where you buy it from.

 

[fishboy091]

thank you. ill probably end up buying about 150 lbs.

 

[yimmy]

150lbs seems fine and you can add pieces wherever you want. My LFS is selling the rocker cheaper to me (than what i said b4)because I'm buying it when I bought 3k of other stuff.