Live rock question

[pmcg]

I am starting a 90 gallon reef tank. I went to my LFS and the guy told me to but 100 pounds of cured live rock from him at $8 a pound (I read the Consensus marine aquarist and 100 pounds sounds right). My question is since the tank is new can’t I just get uncured rock since I cant add fish any time soon anyway. The LFS also said he hand picks his rock. How will this compare with the live rock for sale on SWF, is there really any difference? $184 sounds like a good deal on 45-50 pounds of rock. Do they sell uncured cheaper? Thanks for the help. Any recomendations for a newbie appreciated

 

[garnet13aj]

I would suggest uncured for a tank w/o fish in it because it is cheaper and your tank has to cycle anyway. Another way to cut down on cost is to buy some live rock but mostly base (or waste) rock which is dead "live rock" that the critters from the live rock will seed on to eventually making it live. There's no reason to spend so much on live rock, base rock is about 1/2 the price and eventually will become live anyway.

 

[madman33]

no base rock will never be true lr(there are some chemical differences and things like that)... but yes it is going to be cheaper.

 

[garnet13aj]

Can you explain the difference, or if it's a long explanation show me where I can read about it myself because this is the first time I've ever heard of there being any difference between the two once the critters seed on to the base rock.

 

[suv]

you can get it from SWF.com @ less than 4 dollars a pound if you buy 50lbs at a time. it is great rock arives fast and looks great, also verry little die off.

 

[royal gang]

umm..nonono theres alot of die off, my package was like 1/4 pound of die-off LOL! but it does have alot, well what do you expect??it was in a box mmoving around for 2 days but yeah it has great shapes and delivers fast

 

[pmcg]

Thanks for the info. I think I wil be going with all live rock from SWF. Is it possible to talk to a real person I cant find a number anywhere.

 

[royal gang]

how dare you!!! who do you think we are!?!?!

 

[scubaguy]

Originally Posted by pmcg
Thanks for the info. I think I wil be going with all live rock from SWF. Is it possible to talk to a real person I cant find a number anywhere.
Try this number looked it up of anywho.com - - (772) 462-0203
Ignore ROYAL GANG he has not had his coffee yet. Or he is just trying to get his post numbers up

 

[laredo300c]

don't get me wrong , i love this site and visit it every single day.........................i have found swf.com cured lr at $4.53 after shipping....i ended up buying from another online place for $3.63 shipped..the difference is the cheaper one is uncured....i feel all lr ordered online has to be cured anyway

 

[suv]

I bought some off the big auction site, and I bought some from SWF.com. the SWF.com stuff was weay better. It's less than a dollar a pound, its all about quality, how nice do you want you tank to be.

 

[dragonzim]

I've bought LR off the auction site for what came out to about $3.25 a pound. Very happy with the purchase. Plenty of people here on the boards are very happy with the rock from this site as well.

 

[1journeyman]

There are a couple of concerns about buying live rock from an "auction" site.
1. What condition is the rock in.
2. What kind of rock are you really getting (remember caribbean rock is cheaper but much denser. Hard to argue that point though if seller is claiming it is Pacific rock)
3. How was the rock treated? Was the tank ever medicated? Exposed to copper?
For a few cents more a lb. I suggest going with a known dealer.

 

[royal gang]

Originally Posted by ScubaGuy
Try this number looked it up of anywho.com - - (772) 462-0203
Ignore ROYAL GANG he has not had his coffee yet. Or he is just trying to get his post numbers up

umm did you see the time that was posted? it was almost 12:00 at night..im 14 and drink no coffee, i couldn't care less about my post count, i just got mad because he says he wants to talk to a "real" person. umm im not real? then what am i? a machine from matrix?

 

[f14peter]

Originally Posted by ROYAL GANG
umm did you see the time that was posted? it was almost 12:00 at night..im 14 and drink no coffee, i couldn't care less about my post count, i just got mad because he says he wants to talk to a "real" person. umm im not real? then what am i? a machine from matrix?

Ummmm . . . I believe the poster was referring to talking to a real person on the phone at saltwaterfish.com

 

[royal gang]

you mean live "chat"

 

[f14peter]

Originally Posted by ROYAL GANG
you mean live "chat"
Yea, exactly . . . using this ancient device known as a telephone. Appears the poster wants to TALK to a real live person ON the phone AT saltwaterfish.com about LR.

 

[tolboy]

Originally Posted by laredo300c
don't get me wrong , i love this site and visit it every single day.........................i have found swf.com cured lr at $4.53 after shipping....i ended up buying from another online place for $3.63 shipped..the difference is the cheaper one is uncured....i feel all lr ordered online has to be cured anyway
Good point

 

[pmcg]

Thanks for all the input. I was under the impression that Royal Gang was a machine from the future. I am still not positive, computers from the future are very advanced HAHA. I was actually referring to a real person at SWF.com. I wanted to see if I could order 120lbs without ordering to 50’s and one 20.
I appreciate the help
PAT