"Real Reef" Rock is Misleading

[Curious George]

I see this stuff called "Real Reef" rock has made its way around the country and into a lot of LFS. It's man made and dyed purple to give it a coralline algae look. While I think it is good that there is less stress on ocean reefs by the removal of live rock, I am bothered by the trademarked name "Real Reef" rock.

I think it is misleading. Picture this. You stroll up to a vat of this stuff all purple and attractive. It says "Real Reef" rock, so you buy 30lbs at $6.99 a lbs. If no one tells you otherwise, you could very easily assume it is natural, when in fact it is not.

I don't think this was done by coincidence. I think it is false and misleading to the potential buyer. I recently bought 20lbs. No one said a thing to me. It wasn't until I visited an online site did I realize what I had. Not telling the whole truth is just as bad as a lie and I think that a sign should be provided to each LFS explaining what the manufacturer is providing clearly labeled on the tub.

 

[agruetz]

I agree it should be disclosed but I believe the concept is sound. From my understanding it is "man made live rock" basically. However I could see a lot potential for abuse of people selling it has "natural ocean live rock". Hopefully they will be a good manufacture and police their vendors to prevent suck things.

 

[sponger0]

You should also be doing youre research. If you believed what every misleading products says, you have alot to learn in this hobby. Including "reef safe ich treatments"

 

[agreeive?fish]

If you believed what every misleading products says, you have alot to learn

that is well said for every product advertised in any store,print,radio,tv,web

 

[Curious George]

Thanks for the condescension sponger0. I can always count on you for a backhanded jab.

Anyway, what if I came out with a new cubic zarconia and trademarked it "Real Diamonds" because no one else had. Then I sold it for a price comparable to that of diamonds. You can "Buyer beware" all you want, but it is misleading and I think that the rock should be labeled as man made. It's not. It is just labeled as Real Reef Rock.....shoot there wasn't even quotation marks on the sign. What else do you assume?

 

[sponger0]

Things are labeled and marketed a certain way to grab customers attention. This is not only in the saltwater hobby. Research is your best friend. I learned this the hard way myself when starting out and I learned to google and use searches to find out what products are what and what care livestock requires.

 

[WillM]

If it wasn't in quotation marks and didn't have the copyright or registered symbol next to the words "Real Reef" then there is no way you could have researched it. I would have assumed that it was literally real reef live rock just as you did. Sorry you got burned, but glad you are making others aware of this product, so that we can steer clear if we are in fact looking for real reef live rock not synthetic dyed purple rock.

 

[mcgyvr]

Anyone want to buy my tap water in a bottle..aka "natural ocean water"
Only $50 a gallon.. It includes a bottle of ocean blue dye.

Yes.. of course the use of "Real" in the name of any "Artificial" product is misleading and is clearly an attempt to "deceive" customers.

BUT welcome to the world..
Do you think the "Magic Jack" really does "magic"

 

[ryeguyy84]

My LFS has a description of what it is right next to the tank. I bought a few pieces because they were the right size. A year later it matches the rest of the rocks and it helps the environment.

 

[ingtar_shinowa]

I dont like the stuff. Its really dense and heavy and costs alot.

 

[jerpa]

A LFS near me has it in a tank with the following written on it: "Real Reef Rock Covered in Purple Coralline Algae." It is rather misleading. I knew about the product already and recognized it but I can see how others would not recognize that as a brand name worthy of being researched. Most would think it was rock, from a reef, covered in purple coralline algae.

To be fair the manufacturer clearly states what it is. I have no problem with the name. They can call it whatever they want. If the LFS chooses to market it in a misleading way that is on them IMO.

 

[Chihuahua6]

I agree that it is misleading. I knew it wasn't ocean rock but I thought the coralline was real. I can't believe anyone would buy that garbage. I prefer to buy my rock from fellow hobbyists leaving the hobby or downsizing . I saved a lot of money that way.

 

[gypsyboy38]

The descriptions I've seen on most etailer sites pretty clearly denotes that it is man made. I purchased 60 lbs (30 shelf & 30 regular) for my display/frag tank builds and love it. Rock in my display doesn't tend to grow coralline because it gets blasted with light, so it's nice to have some color for a change! Being better for the environment pleased my wife as well. I'm sorry that you got misled, but I agree that the fault lies with the LFS, not with Real Reef.

 

[ReefUrchin]

I agree that the fault lies with the LFS, not with Real Reef.

Ooooooh, I dunno, I think there is enough blame to scatter it around a bit. The maker for naming it reel reef rock so he can turn a blind eye to the LSF that doesn't disclose to the buyer that doesn't ask what kind of rock it is, though, the buyer is a little more off the hook, but, not totally.

 

[bu11itt]

I bought some rock at an out of town LFS (not my normal store) for the sole purpose of getting some good coralline covered rock. I asked if they had any and they pointed me toward a tub in the back full of beautifully purple rock.

I knew from the get go that the rock was man-made and was led to believe that the coralline was real.

Once I got it home I began to be suspicious whether the purple was in fact coralline. I figured either way I'll place it in the tank and see what happens.

That was 2 months ago; 2 months of keeping my Alk/Ca/Mg at 7-9/400-420/1290 with no coralline spreading. So I'm wondering if what I got is the same stuff that this thread is about.

Thoughts.

First in tank..

Today (now under LEDs)

 

[swcc]

I am using the purple rocks myself in my 60 cube. My lfs sells it as aquacultured live rock (and that it is man made)... yes it is dyed but it is also loaded with coraline in purple as well as some red(least my rocks are). Never knew some call it 'real reef' rock.
As mentioned it is a dense rock(which I prefer).

 

[sponger0]

Let see lets blame the LFS? I mean if they tell you its coralline sure. But if you just pick it out yourself and dont ask any questions then the blame is on the consumer for not educating themselves. There are tons of gimmicks out there, some are good and some are bad...but if you buy something without reading about it or even attempting to, the blame is on who bought it.

It takes nothing to google or search for anything, but yet this seems to be a difficult task.

So then who do we blame for the name "mandarin goby"?

Or reef safe ick treatment?

Seriously. Its not hard to research something, especially when pretty much every topic you can think of has been talking about right here on Reef Central.

There is tons of misleading information about saltwater tanks. Its your job to determine the real from myth or misleading facts.

And Ive used reel reef. I see nothing wrong with it. Its environmentally safe, helps keep rock in our oceans, and you dont have to wait for a purple tank. Which would be good for fish only or someone who is impatient for a purple tank.

 

[Steve175]

Sponger: you are missing the point. I agree with the expectation to research something if unknown. However, it is reasonable for someone to expect that they knew fully what real live rock is and it is not intuitive that this is instead a product name. The product is useful, but it should be called something else and should not cost more than real/genuine reef rock.

 

[sponger0]

Sponger: you are missing the point. I agree with the expectation to research something if unknown. However, it is reasonable for someone to expect that they knew fully what real live rock is and it is not intuitive that this is instead a product name. The product is useful, but it should be called something else and should not cost more than real/genuine reef rock.

Youre missing my point. Youve never feel for a marketing ploy? Thats the the business's fault...it's yours. Its your responsibility to be an educated consumer. Not a business.

 

[swcc]

based on their website... reel reef rock is made from the same components as natural coral skeleton rock... it is not some man made rock made of different components than natural reef rock. I don't find the name at all misleading. The name of the company is real reef.