Good places for Live Rock?

Illuminati

Illuminati

Premium Member
Anyone know of any good places in the Kenosha/Racine area that has some good live rock at a decent price?

Looking for maybe 10-15# total, softball/baseball sizes would probably work.

Thanks
 
jeffsexoticfish.com - $1.99 a pound plus 36 shipping for 50 pounds.

Or just go to Coral Corner and tell them you will buy from them for like 3 bucks a pound - they will probably do it for that.

Ed
 
Some points to keep in mind. When yopur buying locally this is what the pet shop goes through.

1. He has to buy the rock himself at wholesale prices ranging from $1.75 to $3.50 per pound dependent upon the quality and location it is from.

2. He then he has to pay shipment costs which again can vary but averages about $35.00 for a 40 lb box.

3. If he runs through a middle man do to low buying volumn he gets another charge of between $15.00 and $30 per box.

4. He usualy has to cure and display this rock for at least a month before it is sold which means he is tying up valuable tank space. A 40 breeder takes between $25 and $50 per month operating cost dependent upon his set up.

So what do we have here for a toatal on 40 lbs of rock?
Anywhere between a $3.65 to a $6.35 invested per pound. Now also remember he is in the business to make money not just have fun.

So why buy from the LFS? If he is not there where will you go emergency supplies or meds? Where can you hand pick your livestock?

Dennis
 
Good points. This is for a co-worker of mine and the rock will be going into an established tank so it has to not only be cured but I also want to trust the person not to sell us uncured rock that kills everything. Another reason shipping isn't an option.

Coral Corner is a great choice, didn't know they had live rock (I need to get over there and check them out).

Thanks
 
So what do we have here for a toatal on 40 lbs of rock?
Anywhere between a $3.65 to a $6.35 invested per pound. Now also remember he is in the business to make money not just have fun.

So why buy from the LFS? If he is not there where will you go emergency supplies or meds? Where can you hand pick your livestock?
Click to expand...

For most any store, their business is to make money. Nothing else. My business is to purchase a quality product at a reasonable price. If a store (local or not) can provide me with what I need at a fair price to both them and myself, I will purchase from that store. If they can not, there is no need to support them.

If a store can't sell a product competitively, provide any value add for their efforts, then they will lose business to the store that can.

If a person needs something immediately (rarely the case), or may not be "informed" about what other possibilites exist, then they may have to pay a higher price for any extra cost a particular store has compared to their competitors.

For small quantities, shipping cost from one place may offset the handling costs of the local store. In that case it makes sense to purchase from the local store. Customer service, ability to hand pick items, higher quality, etc. All go into determining where one should purchase products from.

To say that you should support a local store in case an emergency arises is IMO "not smart". If a store can't provide any perceived benefit to a customer while still maintaining a profit to themselves (the reason the store exists in the first place), then they shouldn't be in business.


My Opinion.
:bum:
 
To clarify,

I do not remember off the top of my head if I've heard good things about Coral Corner or not. One can search the threads for that.

My comments were about the REASONS on where to purchase products from in general...

Steve
 
I have to stand behind the Coral Corner suggesion. Great guys and good prices. Their live rock isn't too colorful if memory serves though. I never asked them how much it is. Jim's Aquarium in Kenosha wants $10/lb. though which is why I don't generally buy LR from LFS.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9315779#post9315779 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by srlumaye1
For most any store, their business is to make money. Nothing else. My business is to purchase a quality product at a reasonable price. If a store (local or not) can provide me with what I need at a fair price to both them and myself, I will purchase from that store. If they can not, there is no need to support them.

If a store can't sell a product competitively, provide any value add for their efforts, then they will lose business to the store that can.

My Opinion.
:bum:
Click to expand...

Okay then who has the best prices....
Online stores that don't have to have a prety store front to maintain, and the large chain stores that can buy bulk and have 80% of there labor being high school kids.

Now I'm not talking just pet stores here but just about any type of store including some food stores. So now what do you left big warehouses and resturants.

Dennis
 
If the local store was smart... they'd buy dead rock and keep rotating it out of the display...
If the lfs is really smart they will make agro crete and make a killing... one local guy used to do that...
yeah the online store will most likely have the best price... but like prev mentioned... at the lfs you get to pick. The question is... what is that worth to you?
ALL my rock is from local, but it is not bcuz I am afraid the LFS is going out of business -especially charging $10/lb for rock and $60 for a mushroom rock. Considering those prices I'd be more worried about the reef societies and impact of trading... I personally will never BUY another coral again. Not only is trading more "reef freindly" but no store can beet those prices(free).
 
Didn't expect this discussion to happen but since it is I'll add a question that has bothered me for a while and get some input.

My main reason for wanting a local place for live rock is not price but rather dieoff.

If I did order cured liverock from Premium Aquatics for example and got it the next day could I just add it right to my (or in this case my friends) display without causing a mini-cycle that would harm her fish and corals?

I really doubt that you could get cured liverock delivered next day and still add it to a tank in progress without severe results.
I got most of my liverock from Premium Aquatics and when I wanted some more I went to Sho Tank and got some and added it without a problem.

For what it's worth my friend called Coral Corner after I told her about them and they have Figi for $7/lbs. She said that the price is fine with her as long as there is nice stuff that she can do something with the aquascaping and is going there tonight. No doubt she will get more than just the rock knowing how addicted she is getting in this hobby.

Thanks for the replies.
 
It all depends on who you buy it from and how much your tank can process for die-off.

Some places will have cured live rock that would ship in two days and have very little die-off as there might not be much left living in/on the rock except bacteria. Another's cured live rock may still have lots of creatures in/on it. It is "cured", but you would have some die-off during shipment.

In a larger tank with lots of existing rock, and/or good skimmer, you could put "some" (maybe even a lot) not so good rock and the inhabitants would not even notice! A smaller tank or one that doesn't have the filtration capability might have a problem.

Thus there IS no good answer to that one. Other people's experience on the type of rock a store carries is the best bet.

Then again, a local place may also have "cured" rock according to them, but may not be cured enough for a newer tank that can't handle the die-off that still might be occuring. Their tank may be taking the nutrients out of the water as fast as it goes in due to their superior filtration capability within their system. Their water may test fine. Add it to someones elses tank that is already on the edge though...

That answer didn't help did it?
 
Good points, most of which I didn't consider.

I didn't even think about tank size which is a factor because my friends tank is only a 29 gallon.

Here's hoping the guys at Coral Corner have fully cured rock :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9317256#post9317256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by TropTrea
Okay then who has the best prices....
Online stores that don't have to have a prety store front to maintain, and the large chain stores that can buy bulk and have 80% of there labor being high school kids.

Now I'm not talking just pet stores here but just about any type of store including some food stores. So now what do you left big warehouses and resturants.

Dennis
Click to expand...

Except you are are forgetting the value add part.

Look at Hoffers. They have a HUGE value add in the fact that they have Birthday parties for the kids, store tours for the kids, etc. That alone, while bringing in some money, gets the kids into the store, which makes them want to go back.

When my kids are old enough and maybe want a tank of their own, I'll be going to Hoffers not because of their prices, but because they will be able to pick out the exact fish that they want. With thousands of fish to look at, and since they wouldn't know want they wanted before seing it, it is perfect for them.
 
Just a note - Coral corner is great - they have a bunch of live rock curing in the basement. They will negotiate with you on price, especially if you are going to buy a large amount. They are smart, they are not going to lose money just to sell rock.

And their coral and fish are fantastic.
 
Hang on here, You were suggesting that people should go to the place with the price. And if Johny cannot sell at item at a competitave price to someone else he should not sell it.

Now your saying you would buy at Hoffer's simply because he offers other services. But what if that tank set upo you clild wants costs $400.00 at Hoffer's and $300 across the street, and $200 on line? Which would you get then?

Dennis



<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9318477#post9318477 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by srlumaye1
Except you are are forgetting the value add part.

Look at Hoffers. They have a HUGE value add in the fact that they have Birthday parties for the kids, store tours for the kids, etc. That alone, while bringing in some money, gets the kids into the store, which makes them want to go back.

When my kids are old enough and maybe want a tank of their own, I'll be going to Hoffers not because of their prices, but because they will be able to pick out the exact fish that they want. With thousands of fish to look at, and since they wouldn't know want they wanted before seing it, it is perfect for them.
Click to expand...
 
So my friend Jenny got some live rock at Coral Corner and they got a life long customer in her. She was very impressed with their selection and how they treated her.

She also picked this guy up for me

Cardinal.jpg


The last thing I need is another fish but she remembered I said I liked them and she saw it there. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that it eats, wild caught cardinals have such a crappy reputation for not eating, I just read that they will soon not even be imported anymore, good thing tank raised cardinals are out there.

Didn't want this to get into an LFS v.s. internet debate, there was one on CMAS and it didn't do anything besides make people upset and argue, here's hoping we keep it civil, remember it's a hobby, it's supposed to be fun :)
 
get some small feeder guppies, the cardinal should go after them tehn wean it onto frozen. Thats what i did and it worked great.
 
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