Any good store can still get quality pacific rock. It is porous, phosphate free and the best available. The wholesalers in Cali still get it all the time. For many, there is absolutely no substitute and if you buy it by the box, it is not all that expensive either.
Don't be foolish like other people and think that what is on the surface of the rock is the prize - it will normally die off in your tank and what does survive might not be good. The phosphate free internal structure full of bacteria is what you really want. This will survive being shipped dry. The curing process will take care of the other nasty stuff.
Also, only fools think that rocks are the only thing that bring cooties into their tanks. The first frag plug, coral on a rock or snail/crab shell will have enough to start aiptasia, bubble algae or any other kind of cootie that you can imagine. This is not a good reason to buy dry rock.
Don't be foolish like other people and think that what is on the surface of the rock is the prize - it will normally die off in your tank and what does survive might not be good. The phosphate free internal structure full of bacteria is what you really want. This will survive being shipped dry. The curing process will take care of the other nasty stuff.
Also, only fools think that rocks are the only thing that bring cooties into their tanks. The first frag plug, coral on a rock or snail/crab shell will have enough to start aiptasia, bubble algae or any other kind of cootie that you can imagine. This is not a good reason to buy dry rock.
