transporting live rock submerged

fishguy2727

New member
I know live rock is usually transported wrapped in wet newspaper or the equivalent, but I am pretty sure you can order it from some places that ship it to you fully submerged. I am only transporting it about 45 minutes from the fish shop to my house but I know this shop will want to wrap it in wet newspaper. If I use their system water and transport it fully submerged, will it be any worse than transporting it wrapped in wet paper? They said that things will die and if it is submerged it will kill everything else in the bucket. I don't see how it could get toxic enough to kill off everything in 45 minutes. So should I do it the way I want in a bucket full of water, or go with the normal method and have it wrapped in newspaper?
 
COST and WIEGHT the LFS would probabally make you pay for the water too...go with the normal method...LR is shipped over seas with wet news paper and does fine in the tanks
 
I transported my LR from the LFS in a rubbermaid container filled with water. I only had a 10 minute trip. I think it helped. on day 9 with fully cured live rock and no sign of NH.

Word of caution, Drive Slow! I had a little water in the trunk.
 
i drove 4 hours with live rock in freshly made salt in big coolers from wally mart, there was some spillage though, i just locked the coolers and duct taped around them, i feel this gave less die off as opposed to having it shipped
 
If you're driving it then bring your own water and put the LR in it after you buy. I've done that with some people I've bought from. Others give me water for free.

The LR should have no problem with the trip out of water but the hitchhikers might so I like the idea of transporting in water.

Peter
 
fwiw it seems like a lot of work with the water. Even if they don't charge you you are almost guaranteed to spill it. Reefing is a game of patience, you might as well learn it with the LR
 
It will only be about 7 pounds of live rock, so I will just put it in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid, so their should be no issue with spillage.

My cousin works at the place and they already said they would give a break on the live rock, I would be surprised if he charged me for four gallons of water. They usually charge $8.50/lb and it is supposed to be the best stuff in the area, it is aquacultured. I was talking to my cousin and he said they would wrap it in newspaper or else everything would die, but I didn't believe him. Sounds like I was right.

If I pick pieces that are already cured in their display tanks, not the new stuff in the LR tub, will it still need to be cured, or will the curing just not be as bad and go much faster, or what?
 
Wow, $8.50 a lb. That's more than any store around here ($5.99 lb). and I won't even pay that.

Hope you get a nice break off that price.

Peter
 
I am not worried about cheap with this little rock, and I would much rather pick out the individual pieces. I am mostly concerned with quality and I get it with this rock. Actually on liveaquaria you can get it shipped for under $4/lb.
 
Just picked up 11kg of live rock this arvo for a new tank. Spent about 1:30 in a cooler box under wet newspaper. Ambient air temp was over 30c. Survived ok. I got 1 kg of premium rock which is 100% covered in deep purple coraline for $14.99 AUD and the rest at $10.99 kg. Best part is one one of the rocks was a 10cm brain coral and I found out tonight also an anemone too. Nice score.
 
LOL, when I got my rock, I didn't submerge it all but I did bring a cooler with wheels. :D
 
Ive made a 2 day trip from georgia to texas with all rock submerged. Unfortunately my fish didnt make it because of summer heat, but the rock and most hitchhikers were fine. I just used alot of towels, some coolers, semi careful driving, and a rental car :D The fish and clam death was very traumatic for the family though :( I shouldve kept the car running all night
 
you can put the rock in a plastic bag liner in the styro, put a bunch of paper towels and a good shot of water, then wrap and seal the bag down. nothing will dry out due to capillary action of the paper towels from the water in the bag. obviously, the ends of the towels should be in the pool of water. And, extra O2 in a sealed bag is never a bad thing so you get the best of both worlds.
 
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