I think I might have some problems? Any advice?

[amyandbrandon2]

Okay I placed an order for live rock this past Sunday and it shipped out on Monday...it was to be here today. My first question would be....did I not qualify for "Free Overnight shipping" I know that what I ordered was not a fish,coral, or inverts, but my purchase totalled 219.98 and thats well over the 170 dollar minimum.
Like I said before my order was to be here today, well I waited anxiously all day for this rock....by 6:00 I had to go to class (stupid college! lol) so I had my mom wait for it.....when I got home no rock. I called fedex and there response was "It was on a rental truck" wtf? I didn't understand that at all, but I told her I would be calling back tomorrow. When it arrives tomorrow it will have been 3 days "in transit" where I live right now, the weather is snowy and cold 30 degrees and below. My next question is will anything on my rock be alive? It's not SWF.com's fault, it's fedex's fault for not delivering it today. This is my first time having live rock, what should I look for on the rock tomorrow (if it even comes then)? What healthy rock should look and smell like...and what dead rock looks and smells like. Should the pieces look like the ones advertised of their website?
Thanks soooo much everyone!

Also I purchased "ultra premium fuiji live rock" if that makes any difference.

 

[rcoultas]

sorry to say that you will probably have to file a claim (or SWF will) which they have done for me without any problems. That long in transit in those temperature extremes will kill most life on the rock thus it is no longer "ultra premium" but just live rock (coraline will survive) it would need to be cured regardless. Contact SWF as soon as it arrives and let them know - they will advise you as to whether or not it needs to be returned or if the shipper needs to inspect it.

 

[renogaw]

swf.com ships live rock and sand 2nd day.
i'd check to see WHEN swf shipped it out, which is available on the tracking website.
i'd still start curing it, you'd have to anyway. i have not heard of much invert life on swf's rock, but you'll have enough bacteria to start the cycle. you should be fine, just keep an eye on the ammonia.
i would also, though, contact swf.com and make sure they know what happened. i'll bet you're gtg though

 

[amyandbrandon2]

It would have been cool to have some "hitchhikers" but not a necessarly a necessity for me. So even all this time being in transit, it wouldn't affect the coralline coverage, or the rock still being "ultra Premium" Or the bacteria on the rock?

 

[rcoultas]

some of the bacteria will survive and quite a bit of the coraline will also survive - it is not likely that any critters, algae, or other growths did.

 

[amyandbrandon2]

Awww... that stinks...hopefully they'll let me return it, and send me more...or just let me return it and refund me my money....I think maybe from now on I'll drive an hour to get to my lfs and pay 7.00-9.00 a pound.

Atleast then I would get to pick out my pieces and I could save myself the time and worry...I guess we'll see what happens with this rock....

 

[rcoultas]

I have ordered with SWF many times and have had the occasional problems - they have always taken care of me - the only thing I don't like is that their credits do not apply to the $79 minimum forcing you to buy more - that to me is an unfair practice.

 

[amyandbrandon2]

Oh...well that kinda stinks...I got a 20.00 credit when I bought the 50lbs of LR. I absoulty LOVE this site, you and most everyone on here are sooo helpful! Have you ever ordered Coral(s) from here?

 

[renogaw]

updates?

 

[amyandbrandon2]

I got my rock on Friday!

A lot of die off but I was expecting that. I also got 2 pieces of Favia Brain Coral with the live rock. I'm almost 100% positive it's dead but it will make an awesome live rock piece. Here are some pics of the rock.

 

[amyandbrandon2]

Do you think that could possibly be bubble algea of some sort in the 2nd pic? It's not holes, and it does not scrub off.

 

[renogaw]

figuring you'll know this already, but it looks like you need to add some water to get the top of that rock submerged.
how's the ammonia level in the water?

 

[renogaw]

Originally Posted by amyandbrandon2
Do you think that could possibly be bubble algea of some sort in the 2nd pic? It's not holes, and it does not scrub off.

looks more like coralline. is it raised?

 

[amyandbrandon2]

lol I have no idea why my rock looks like that in the pic. The water covers all of the rock lol I guess my flash is playing tricks on us hehehe..

Yeah it is raised, while scrubbing I expected to be able to scrub it off, but actually it didn't so I just left it.

 

[amyandbrandon2]

After the scrubbing for the second time and a water change the ammonia was 1.0 yesterday...and today it appears to be a little less than 1.0
After the scrubbing and a little more searching I found a few dead, decaying worms (def. gross!!) and i think they might have contributed alot to the ammonia.
All in all it's going much better!
I had a rocky start, but it'll all be worth it is the end!