LR What is the difference? Fiji, tokani, totoka, Pukani

[daveverdo]

I want to get some live rock for my new 20g build. When I set up my 30g 12 years ago I bought some Marshall Island LR from Premium Aquatics. It was great, covered with coralline, full of life, lots of good hitchhikers, and even a few corals.

You can't get those today but there are other option from several different sellers. Some are drop shipped tohers are hand picked.

What are the real differences between the rock from different locations?

Monado, Fiji, tokani, ...

I know most are not flown in so there is alot of die-off. Some are then pre-cured by retailers.

What are peoples experiences?

I am not happy with any of the dry rock I used in my current 90g tank. I really want to go with a higher quality wet rock even if it is ground shipped. I have time to re-cure it even if a use it to cycle my new tank.

 

[Neoz]

Just my limited experience, I've set up two tanks and both times I used "dry" rock to avoid any and all bad crud on the rock. I know there are tons of good things on the live rock but I choose the dry way.

First tank was setup with Marco Rocks. That stuff was very porous and easy to stack. Looked great. The only bad part with that rock was every piece went thru some serious hair alge. I added other dry rock with it and ONLY the Marco rock experienced bad hair alge. I took pictures of it and have them somewhere. I'll upload them if I can find them. But once the hair alge was gone the rock was great once it was fully cured.

Current tank I went with Pukani rock from BRS. Very light and very porous as well. Tons of nooks and crannies. Love the look of it and BRS will send you exactly what shape and dimensions your looking for. They matched me up with no problems from just a note I sent when ordering. The downside is my Pukani is STILL leaching Phosphates 5 months later. But I have managed to avoid hair alge.

The only downside to my current tank now is because I used dry rock I know I don't have anywhere near the biodiversity that I'm looking for. So I am on the hunt looking for a few nice pieces of live rock for my sump. I was thinking of trying these guys.. http://tbsaltwater.com

Good Luck and let us know what you decide.

 

[daveverdo]

I don't have anywhere near the biodiversity that I'm looking for.

That is what I saw. I didn't have any pest hitch-hikers that cause major problems. I had many bristle worms, pods, spaghetti worms, sponges, flatworms, ... Nothing that couldn't be dealt with more easily than the mess I had with the BRS and eco-rock. I went through a year+ battle with hair algae that is now under control. I now have a plague of aptasia that did not come with the dry rock but with a few seed rocks and corals I added later. So even with the dry rock I still got the bad without the benefit of the good.

So my view is to go with good quality live rock and see what happens. I really don't want aquacultured either.

I want real rock from the ocean that is either precured at a retailer or direct ship that I can cure myself. I am willing to risk the bad for the benefit of the good.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Tampa Bay Saltwater. It's in the link Neoz posted. Tell them exactly what you're looking for- you're not a newbie and you want rock loaded with life to seed your established reef aquarium

 

[daveverdo]

The problem with Tampa Bay Saltwater is the $90 shipping. I don't need that much rock to make the shipping worth it. I only want about 15-20 pounds of rock. The shipping will be more than the rock itself.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

talk to THEM and explain

 

[Neoz]

Dave depending on when you order I would be willing to jump on your order to help with shipping. I too am only looking for a few nice pieces for my sump.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

to be honest

to be honest

I'd probably jump onboard, too... if you lived closer!

 

[daveverdo]

Just heard back $90 shipping for 1 pound or 100 pounds. I don't think it is worth it for 10-15 pounds. It would be great for a local group buy but not for me.

 

[liverock]

Just heard back $90 shipping for 1 pound or 100 pounds. I don't think it is worth it for 10-15 pounds. It would be great for a local group buy but not for me.

Live rock I ship comes submerged in water....so.....you can double the weight of the rock ordered to estimate total weight...IE 25# rock will weigh about 50# with the water on it....50# rock will weigh about 100# with the water on it....ect...

all the airlines have a 100# minimum charge, about $90...for up to 100 pounds, and every pound over 100# is an additional .90 cents...a pound charge...

I can fit 25# rock per box....

sea ya
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :spin3:

 

[pmemmer]

KP Aquatics (formerly SeaLifeInc) also has terrific Gulf live rock... I've used them for all of my tanks. And you can arrange for smaller minimum orders if necessary.

 

[daveverdo]

KP Aquatics (formerly SeaLifeInc) also has terrific Gulf live rock

I have ordered from them before for general livestock and already looked over their rock. They are certainly on the short list.

 

[mrpergo]

I've got some nice Florida reef rock from John at reefcleaners.org with free shipping
15# is like 35 bucks
give it a look. That is also where I get my clean up crews

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Live rock I ship comes submerged in water....so.....you can double the weight of the rock ordered to estimate total weight...IE 25# rock will weigh about 50# with the water on it....50# rock will weigh about 100# with the water on it....ect...

all the airlines have a 100# minimum charge, about $90...for up to 100 pounds, and every pound over 100# is an additional .90 cents...a pound charge...

I can fit 25# rock per box....

sea ya
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :spin3:

Richard... my apologies for questions in advance... searching for an answer on the least expensive deal here. Correct me if I'm wrong: #50 wet live rock would meet the #100 airline minimum. Total price of such a shipment would be how much?

 

[liverock]

Richard... my apologies for questions in advance... searching for an answer on the least expensive deal here. Correct me if I'm wrong: #50 wet live rock would meet the #100 airline minimum. Total price of such a shipment would be how much?

correct.....50# rock will weigh about 100# total........$90...for the freight!

sea ya
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

So #50 aquacultured rock = $250
+ $90 shipping

=$340 total

 

[liverock]

So #50 aquacultured rock = $250
+ $90 shipping

=$340 total

And two boxes @ $8 each...

 

[daveverdo]

Gary,

So that would be #50 x $5 = $250 + $90 shipping = $340 total.

That would be less than $7/lb which isn't bad if you need that much. Too bad I am 2 hours away or I would definitely go in on a group buy

If I only ordered #15 it would be $165 total which is $11/lb which is more than what I want to spend on a "well I have almost everything I need" nano for my office. I could add some to my main tank at home but I really want to get the aptasia problem under control before I add anything new.

The Southern Tier group is pretty dead so it is hard to find people down here to share.

 

[daveverdo]

Ended up ordering some that shipped 2-days wrapped in wet paper. We'll see how it works out.

 

[liverock]

Update?