Trust issues (Live rock comes from?)

[loveaddressbox]

I finally find rock two states away from me. It it's tonga live rock or so they say.
Now it is a gulf coast state... How I know it is live rock from tonga and not from the gulf... I know I should believe in the people who is selling it...
But let's just take I don't believe it 100% and I'm looking for a way to be sure it is safe for me to handle it and it doesn't contain waste/chemicals/bacteria that is harmful, I don't have fish or anything on the tank. But I have a background filled with allergies and two hospital bills.
Thanks for reading and double thanks if you reply with a possible way to ID live rock...
I'm in Mexico and the gulf... Well... Is the Gulf of Mexico... What is that? The Atlantic side?

 

[SecretiveFish]

There is no way to 100% prove where the rock came from. You can try a well know site like Live Aquaria (they occasionally have live rock on the Divers Den page). Also, during transport many of the organisms die.

You are probably better off starting with dry rock if you have such serious health issues. You don't get the cool microfauna, but you also don't get the pests that can come in on the rock. Bulk Reef Supply sells several types of dry rock (other retailers do too, but that is just the one that we have purchased from). We just got some of the Project Reef Rock 2.1 and are excited to get that started in one of our tanks.

 

[loveaddressbox]

Thanks for your reply I will look to then start carefully with maybe dry rock :3

 

[seamonster124]

I will never use live rock again. Dry rock is great. No pests no garbage no surprises

 

[billsreef]

IMO live rock can't be beat. As for is really from Tonga or the Gulf of Mexico, Tonga rock is going to be less dense. Though that will be hard to figure if don't have experience with both. Same for differences in species growing on the rock. Both can be excellent sources of LR. As for allergies, I would recommend you wear latext or polyurethane gloves to protect your hands from anything you might have a reaction to.

 

[snorvich]

IMO live rock can't be beat. As for is really from Tonga or the Gulf of Mexico, Tonga rock is going to be less dense. Though that will be hard to figure if don't have experience with both. Same for differences in species growing on the rock. Both can be excellent sources of LR. As for allergies, I would recommend you wear latex or polyurethane gloves to protect your hands from anything you might have a reaction to.

I agree. Dry rock may also leech phosphate so if going in a reef, that may be an issue.

 

[loveaddressbox]

Well... Thanks everyone :3