Ordering LR... Questions

[customdusty]

Ok, so my tank is set up and is ready to be filled and start cycling. My next step is to order all of my live rock and put it in there when I fill it so it can "cure" in the tank. (Yes, I know it will smell.)

I have been shopping around for live rock on the internet because LFS prices are outrageous and have noticed that there are many types of LR available. Drsfostersmith has many types available; standard fiji, premium fiji, lalo, caribbean, melanisian, tonga, etc.

My questions....

How is the foster/smith LR quality?

Can the different types of LR be mixed?

Even if it is more expensive, I would like to get more exotic looking LR, which also happens to have greater porosity, which means less lbs/gallon... Anybody have any experience with the caribbean, lalo, (more colorful, more porous) types?

I am looking for the most colorful and different LR aquascape possible which still has adequate biological filtration. Do the lalo, tonga, caribbean rocks have comparable filtration capabilities as what seems to be the most common fiji?

Thanks

 

[scrmbld33]

1. dr foster smith has great rock
2. yes you can mix different types of rock
3. all of the live rock have similar filtration capabilities

ive seen the lalo and its pretty nice, the carribian is nice too, my favorite is the indo rock from www.reefscience.com very nice

 

[Zoophile]

Also consider that some of the more exotically shaped rock can be difficult to fit into your rockwork. You can always order your general larger and bottom reef rocks online and then cherry-pick the unusual shapes at your LFS.

 

[pikachusalad]

Consider Premium Aquatics for your LR - I had a great experience - the rock is great, and you're probably in the 2-day ground zone (I was in MN) - shipping on 40lbs of rock was less than $20 total. You get a discount on 40 or more lbs, and you can call and they will tell you exactly what they have at the time, what's good and what's not AND if they have anything that will fit exactly what you are looking for...

 

[phenom5]

How is the foster/smith LR quality?

I've only seen 2 batches from Dr F&S, so take this FWIW...but I was not impressed at all. The Lalo looked terrible, and the Fiji was...well, Fiji.

Can the different types of LR be mixed?

Absolutely.

Even if it is more expensive, I would like to get more exotic looking LR, which also happens to have greater porosity, which means less lbs/gallon... Anybody have any experience with the caribbean, lalo, (more colorful, more porous) types?

As I mentioned, i'm not a fan of the Lalo. If your looking for something more "exotic", with some really nice shapes that is very light & porous, look into Marshall Island rock. It's a little pricey, but it is generally some really nice rock.

I am looking for the most colorful and different LR aquascape possible which still has adequate biological filtration. Do the lalo, tonga, caribbean rocks have comparable filtration capabilities as what seems to be the most common fiji?

They all will work from a filtration standpoint. Fiji tends to be very dense. Same with the Caribbean rock that I've seen.

Consider Premium Aquatics for your LR - I had a great experience

I definitely have to second that. I've made a couple of rock orders from PA, always a great experience. Great quality rock, and great customer service.

 

[Acillaton]

I have a fiji from foster&smith and I love it! Nice rock and they send to me large pieces

 

[leoslizards]

I always liked the Lalo rock from DF&S. I was going to order some but someone just gave me some LR for free.

 

[customdusty]

Good feedback so far. I actually travel on business from Chicago to Indianapolis fairly regularly, so I actually could pick up LR from Premium Aquatics. It looks like they are out of the Marshall rock for now though.

 

[pikachusalad]

I was going to order marshall...but after talking to the guy on the phone, he said the batch of fiji they had at the time was even better. It's worth giving them a call.

 

[mckeec]

I have bought Marshall Island LR from Premium Aquatics and was very happy. I would do it again without question. IMO some of the best shaped rock available.

 

[extexanwannabe]

I got my LR from Livestockusa.org. I got a 110 lbs of fiji rock for just over $400 shipped overnight. No it wasn't cured. It did not smell. It took about 3 weeks to cycle. It ended up having lots of coraline algae, a porites coral colony, many small feather dusters, a spider crab (yuk!), some halimeda algae, some neomaris annulata (macro algae), and a few unidentified shellfish.

 

[MrSquid]

Another thumbs up for Premium Aquatics. Not sure how far you are from Indianapolis, but you could drive there and hand-pick your rock - AND save on shipping. Keep in mind that if you're not close enough to drive, you're still within ground shipping distance. (had mine shipped ground to WI) I was REALLY tempted to make the 12hr (round-trip) drive to hand-pick my rock - but I'm happy with what they sent me.

I got 200# of cured rock (100# each of Tonga and Timora) from them last week and it's beautiful stuff. I've seen DFS rock, and what I got from Premium's is nicer than DFS's. My rock arrived last Thursday and my tank was cycled Saturday night.

Pikachusalad - I'm trying to imagine how bad that Marshall rock must have looked to have Fiji look better than it.