LR from liveaquaria

[Lynnmw1208]

I was wondering what everyone's experience has been who has ordered live rock form dr foster and smith liveaquaria. I emailed them today to find out if they check the live rock for bad hitchhikers and their response was that they don't. they do precure the rock and give information on a high salinity dip. does anyone know what this process entails? I would just like to know the quality of this live rock is and if it's worth it to order from there rather than my sketchy LFS.

 

[jeff@zina.com]

High salinity is just salt water mixed to higher than normal levels, usually a 1.040 instead of the normal 1.025-1.026. Most critters run out of live rock in this, then take the rock out and choose which critters to keep. Just takes a few minutes to dip it in a five gallon bucket.

No reason Live Aquaria should be worse than the LFS, but you do pay shipping.

Jeff

 

[Lynnmw1208]

thanks for the info! seems easy enough to do in order to protect the tank. the reason I am looking at them is the fact that the live rock sold at the fish stores around here isn't kept in the nicest condition and one even had an abundance of flatworms in the tank.

 

[kelvindodd]

I've always gotten my LR from liveaquaria and have nothing but good experience. With all LR you run the risk it getting some nasties as a result, but I think the good is worth the bad.

Good luck!

 

[curthendrix]

It's very hard to guaranty there are no hitchhikers on LR. Some burrow in the holes of the rock while others might arrive via unhatched eggs or larvie. Do a quick freshwater dip if you have worries. This should get rid of most of the crabs, etc..

 

[mscarpena]

No matter what you do unless you do something drastic there are no garuntees that you will not get anything bad. There is no place that I know of that will guarantee clean live rock free from unwanted pests.

 

[patmack]

Wont they all die off during shipping? they ship it dry correct? If you are really worried you can bleach it, That will kill anything that is in there.

 

[curthendrix]

Most LR is shipped with wet newspaper...and no not all the critters will die off. You will be surprised at what some crabs and other aquatic life can endure.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

so what's better a high salinity sip or a freshwater dip?

 

[Canadian Reefer]

Wont they all die off during shipping? they ship it dry correct? If you are really worried you can bleach it, That will kill anything that is in there.

Why would someone bleach live rock they just bought? You can by dry rock if that were the intention of the OP. To the OP I have always used a freshwater bath it seems to work, but I cant comment on hyper salinity as I have never tried it.

 

[curthendrix]

Bleaching LR makes no sense to me. Why buy LR if you intend to kill the life therein. Buy DR, save the $$$, and bleach away.

 

[SPotter]

I bought the uncured vanuatu lr from them and it was great. I did the high salinity dip and no hitchhikers came off and haven't found anything undesirable in the tank 3 months later. Even with the shipping the rock was cheaper than the lfs and much nicer. I would def buy from th again.

 

[Pallobi]

Wont they all die off during shipping? they ship it dry correct? If you are really worried you can bleach it, That will kill anything that is in there.

why would you bleach rock you jus paid probably 4 to 6 dollars a pound and a few more dollars shipping for each pound?

seriously...

aside from the fact you would kill every last thing and need to let it completely dry before you use it...

 

[njsurfcaster]

I ordered 90 pounds of Fiji premium rock from LA last November. No complaints here. Even with the overnight shipping cost it had still been cheaper then the LFS here in NJ.

 

[Lynnmw1208]

Thanks for all the opinions. looks like most are positive about experiences with LA. Apparently dr foster and smith give instructions for a high salinity (around 1.040) dip to get the hitchhikers off to go through them and decide what I want to keep. I would think freshwater would do the same thing. maybe salt is less stressful though. I was looking to get 22 lbs of the live rock because I'm getting the rest as dry rock from BRS.

 

[Ulver]

Another place to look at for live rock is premium aquatics. I bought some there for my 16 gallon and I'm very happy with the quality.

 

[Jeff000]

I went a way I think is the safest. Used mostly dry rock (zero hitchhikers) and then got a few select pieces of live rock from well established tanks that I trust.

 

[SPotter]

I ordered 90 pounds of Fiji premium rock from LA last November. No complaints here. Even with the overnight shipping cost it had still been cheaper then the LFS here in NJ.

Where are you located njsurfcaster? I'm in Manasquan.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Thanks for all the opinions. looks like most are positive about experiences with LA. Apparently dr foster and smith give instructions for a high salinity (around 1.040) dip to get the hitchhikers off to go through them and decide what I want to keep. I would think freshwater would do the same thing. maybe salt is less stressful though. I was looking to get 22 lbs of the live rock because I'm getting the rest as dry rock from BRS.

I would not recommend a freshwater dip for live rock. It will kill coraline algae and lots of other things.
If you are worried and think a dip is necessary go for the high salinity.

 

[cilyjr]

do be aware that although this rock is "precured" it will be shipped in wet newspaper and will experience more die off. expect an ammonia/ nitrate cycle.