I need advice on some numbers

[polarice18]

I just spoke with a gentlemen from a store called Fish Doctor is Ann Arbor Michigan and he said that for a 55 gallon tank I need at least a pound of mixture of live rock and base rock for each gallon in the tank and for a mixture of 70% base and 30% live rock he said it would run me from 200-250 dollars, I have no idea if that makes sence, please someone give me some info

 

[ajroc31]

I don't think that it was a bad advice. Personally I have all lr. The advice he gave you is a cheaper way to do it. It is ok to do. Only thing I can say, add more lr. I think a perfect ratio is 1.73 pounds p/g. It also depends on lr you get. Some is better than other.

 

[karajay]

I doubt it should cost you that much unless you are buying the LR fully cured from your LFS (which IMO is usually a rip off). Check the prices online for LR and base rocks. You will probably find it to be cheaper.
Around 1-1.5 lbs. per gallon is about right. It depends on the density of the rock and the desired appearance.

 

[rockies]

I get fully cured LR from my LFS for $7.99/lb for any batch over 10lb. So it sounds like you are being charged twice that.

 

[beaslbob]

It is good and common advice.
The truth is that no live rock and no live sand are needed. Play sand ($3.00/50 pounds) and base rock can be usd. If you have time and inclination you can even make you own rock from concrete for about $20.00/200 pounds.
Whatever you do I highly recommend you add plant life to get the tank established. $5.00 of plants will do more to establish the system than the lr and ls.