I am looking for feedback on a good online store for a decent size LR purchase (~250 lb). Ive browsed Jeff's Exotic Fish, Premium Aquatics, Reefer Madness, even Foster Smith. Any others? Or would anyone recommend any of the above? Looking for Fiji or Marshall types, and no aquacultured (FL) stuff, had that before and didnt like it. Cured or uncured doesn't matter. But consistent quality does. thx
online LR supplier - opinions
- Thread starter morty
- Start date
2farNorth
In Memoriam
Reefermadness... check my homepage for a couple pics (little red house) Awesome rock.... Good price in the end!! That and he'll probably give you a deal if you order alot... I got Pukani with some Fiji as base.. (to save a little) If you order though, call in person,, They are good people to talk to!!
KDodds
New member
All Fiji trans-shipped comes from the same supplier, Walt Smith. I'd just go with the best price. Nowadays, anyway, the LR you're going to get out of Fiji is not going to be what it was 5 years ago, not in my experience. Most is pretty white, non-encrusted stuff, maybe some Forams, but not much else.
thanks for the feedback -- Reefer Madness also has the Fiji and Tonga "specialized" variants that are a step above the base Fiji stuff (of course at a premium). I may give them a call and ask about it and get a mix. They seemed like the straightest shooters, by including the shipping cost in the price of the rock, etc.
I'm real wary about buying anything from FL, I got some cultured stuff a few years ago and hated it. Weighed at least twice as much as the (admittedly less sustainably) harvested S. Pacific stuff. And guess where most of the phosphate mines are in the US? FL!
I'm real wary about buying anything from FL, I got some cultured stuff a few years ago and hated it. Weighed at least twice as much as the (admittedly less sustainably) harvested S. Pacific stuff. And guess where most of the phosphate mines are in the US? FL!
scumonkey
In Memoriam
http://www.livestockusa.org/SITEMAP.html
having a sale right now.....rock arrives and looks just like the pics!
having a sale right now.....rock arrives and looks just like the pics!
That most certainly is not true at all. We have been using a source of Fiji for the last 10yrs that has been absolutely amazing. We did have a small leave with the supplier while they were down for a year or so and the rock quality definitely suffered. This down time was about two years ago, all the way up until about this time last year. We then picked back up where we left off with our old supplier and the Fiji is absolutely stunning again!
There is still good Fiji liverock on the market, it is just not quite as plentiful as what it used to be. HTH!
Peter Eichler
New member
They rarely get mentioned around here but I took a shot with rock from saltycritter.com What set them apart with others I talked to is even though I was getting dropshipped rock they were willing to help me selct size and shapes. They did an incredible job and they were very nice to deal with. On top of all that the rock arrived better than expected and was a great price. They also steered me away from a more expensive rock telling me that it hasn't been coming in as nice as it used to.
I got 100lbs of Uaniva rock and the toal weight of what I ordered was 126 lbs, in other words it wasn't a 50lb box of rock with 10lbs. being the box itself.
http://saltycritter.com/liverock.htm
Sorry for the blurry photo but here is what a 50lb. box looks like.
After curing...
I got 100lbs of Uaniva rock and the toal weight of what I ordered was 126 lbs, in other words it wasn't a 50lb box of rock with 10lbs. being the box itself.
http://saltycritter.com/liverock.htm
Sorry for the blurry photo but here is what a 50lb. box looks like.
After curing...
ducati1212
Member
I used Marine Depot for 44 LBS of fiji. Nice rock a little pricey. Its my first live rock order so I have nothing to compare against. Marine Depot support is also very good as I had made a mistake on my order and they cought it and called me with the correction.
Peter Eichler did you use glue to get that formation to stay. Nice looking.
Peter Eichler did you use glue to get that formation to stay. Nice looking.
Peter Eichler
New member
Nope, no glue. Despite how it may look it is rather stable. Sadly I get to start over this week since I've decided to swap out the tank due to some scratches. I figured better to do it now than before I've added and sps or fish.
Lyscer
New member
I bought 120lbs of LR from http://www.intmarinefish.com/ they were really good to work with. I called them on the phone told them what I was planning to do and what type/color of rock I wanted and that's exactly what I got. They sent me a bunch of very nice flat long pieces that I built a "SPS Walkway" with The rock I got has green/red/maroon/teal/blue/orange colorations from the different stuff(I know it's a technical word) that was on the rock. I would buy from them again. and their prices weren't to bad.
Thanks again for the feedback!
I went ahead and called Reefer Madness and ordered up a mix of their Fiji buna (66#), Fiji kaelini (88#), Fiji show (88#), and a couple big pieces of their cured kaelini (because I figure it's been seeded by their aquarium-surviving microlife). Chris told me it should all be pretty large pieces, maybe 2 doz total. I already have about 70# of some old "dead" fiji and tonga that will also be sprinkled in (its been bubbling in a plastic container for many months). It will be for a 270g reef when it's all said and done.
I'll try to get some photos and post them as the project moves along.
Morty
I went ahead and called Reefer Madness and ordered up a mix of their Fiji buna (66#), Fiji kaelini (88#), Fiji show (88#), and a couple big pieces of their cured kaelini (because I figure it's been seeded by their aquarium-surviving microlife). Chris told me it should all be pretty large pieces, maybe 2 doz total. I already have about 70# of some old "dead" fiji and tonga that will also be sprinkled in (its been bubbling in a plastic container for many months). It will be for a 270g reef when it's all said and done.
I'll try to get some photos and post them as the project moves along.
Morty
stereomandan
Premium Member
Yes, please take some pics when you get it. I'll be placing an order soon for my 90g tank upgrade, and would like to get an idea of what's out there for LR.
Dan
Dan
