100% Honest Question. Where do you Source Your Live Rock From and Did it Have Significant Numbers of Hitchhikers?

[BaliReefBox]

I'm very new to this and my tank got wet on the 23rd Jun, 2 months ago. I got all live rock from a local guy ($1 a piece) a bag of caribee live sand and bottled water and it was almost instant cycle. As for the hitchhikers there have been plenty. Some brioptis heaps of other growth especially sea lettuce atm, odd snails and flat worms. Things that come out at night that I have no idea what they are. Most have been addrssed but the rock and the biodiverity it brings to the tank cant , I believe , be replicated artificially... when I upgrade to a larger tank early next year it will be live rock again no question.

 

[wtdenk]

I couldn't catch this guy with a trap after a few weeks, don't want to do a hypo dip, so I bought a 3.8gallon eshopps desktop aio and am gonna keep the extra rock in it. Too cool to throw away.

Other than this worm (still not a consensus what it is), hitchhikers on my life rock from Florida have been beneficial. Lots of sponges, brittle stars, limpits, etc. Also decided to keep the lightbulb anemone. Big fan of the live rock route so far. Observation tank is a must though.

 

[Jmcdaniel0]

I am at work, so I dont have access to take pics, but I have used Gulf Live Rock and TBS alot in the past. Both were great, and no bad pests came in. We had all kinds of cool stuff come in on em though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What would you recommend “feeding” your hitchhikers if you don’t plan on getting fish right away? I think I remember someone mentioning Hikari Algae Wafers from another thread, but I wanted some more ideas. I’ve seen brittle stars, crabs, and shrimp in my rock.

Depends on what they are, but in my case with dozens of brittle stars, ordinary fish food is good, but the rock I had likely also had lots of natural food.

 

[xyzner]

Got 30 lbs of the premium rock from KP a few weeks ago. Have to say I’m impressed. Loads of life, coralline algae, no “dead” smell at all. Quarantine/cured in a plastic tub for almost a week just to be sure before putting it new tank. Cycled practically immediately. Ordered 15 lb more of the base rock just to fill out my 50 gallon tank. Should get it the middle of this week. Here’s some photos of the premium.

Can you take some pics of the base rock when you get it? Was thinking about buying some of it to save money.

 

[sbreefco]

What is the best season or time to get live rock from say kp?

For Gulf rock (I'd assume it is the same in the Keys) the best times are Late Spring and Late Fall, when the water starts to cool from the heat of summer and warms from the cold of winter. That being said there are many other variables as well, such as how many and strong the storm season has been and other environmental elements.

 

[Paul B]

I take rock from anywhere in the sea including here. Hitchhikers don't concern me but I do remove crabs if I find them. I want all the other life from the sea.

 

[Rusty_L_Shackleford]

I think the benefits of high quality live rock far outweigh the risks of a few hitchhikers. I think a lot of the problems a lot of people have come from using dry rock and a lack of biodiversity. Its much harder for a lot of pests to take over when theres a lot more competition. You get a lot more biodiversity, more of a "complete" ecosystem with poplations that over time will fluctuate find their own balance depending on your paramaters, system and upkeep etc. This hobby requires a lot of patience. Ive encounountered many hitchikers over the years. Most are beneficial. And most of the ones that are harmful arent that bad to deal with.

 

[Eric Cohen]

Here’s some pics of my Australian live rock I just got in and is available. Pretty cool shapes and the lightness is awesome! Hope y’all like it!
I put it into our new rock system with a skimmer and huge bio tower. We cleaned it before adding it into the system by blowing it off and trying to get as many hitchhikers off it as possible but it was actually pretty clean.

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

Here’s some pics of my Australian live rock I just got in and is available. Pretty cool shapes and the lightness is awesome! Hope y’all like it!
I put it into our new rock system with a skimmer and huge bio tower. We cleaned it before adding it into the system by blowing it off and trying to get as many hitchhikers off it as possible but it was actually pretty clean.

Couldn't find it on your site.

 

[LOVEROCK]

Here’s some pics of my Australian live rock I just got in and is available. Pretty cool shapes and the lightness is awesome! Hope y’all like it!
I put it into our new rock system with a skimmer and huge bio tower. We cleaned it before adding it into the system by blowing it off and trying to get as many hitchhikers off it as possible but it was actually pretty clean.

Do you have some 2 3 inches peices , Tonga branches

 

[ReefGeezer]

I've used KP Aquatics and Tampa Bay Saltwater. I've never noticed bad hitchhikers.

 

[Eric Cohen]

Do you have some 2 3 inches peices , Tonga branches

I’m waiting for Tonga branch style but some pieces are branching and we have some smaller pieces.

 

[Eric Cohen]

Couldn't find it on your site.

Last item on the in stock section. Amongthereef.com

Australian Decorative Live Rock (1lb)

SHIPPING COST VARIES: To get a quote on shipping cost please call or text Eric at +1(818)269-8903. The cart at checkout will show free shipping but please be aware shipping is NOT free for this item. Australian decorative live rock! This live rock comes direct from Australia and will get your...

amongthereef.com

 

[wtdenk]

Found this guy last night. Had this ocean rock for a few months now. Supposedly these things kill snails? Hadn't noticed any snail deaths. Did I make the right call removing it?

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

Last item on the in stock section. Amongthereef.com

Australian Decorative Live Rock (1lb)

SHIPPING COST VARIES: To get a quote on shipping cost please call or text Eric at +1(818)269-8903. The cart at checkout will show free shipping but please be aware shipping is NOT free for this item. Australian decorative live rock! This live rock comes direct from Australia and will get your...

amongthereef.com

I see now, was checking wrong site. OUCH on that price.

 

[Eric Cohen]

I see now, was checking wrong site. OUCH on that price.

Here’s a better idea of the value per pound. This rock is like 50-70 percent less than you think when you consider the volume of rock you get per pound.

 

[I.AM.MR.MIKE]

Found this guy last night. Had this ocean rock for a few months now. Supposedly these things kill snails? Hadn't noticed any snail deaths. Did I make the right call removing it?

Polyclad flat worm or the foot of a nudibranch?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

That's a lot of money for live rock (I'd definitely have quite a few questions regarding it's transport and how much care was given before during and after import) but if I were in the States I'd probably get some myself. As long as you take good care of your tank live rock isn't just a great initial investment but will remain a part of your tank usually for as long as it's set up. Not saying I'd stock my tank EXCLUSIVELY with that rock due to the cost but would definitely get some at least. However, where I am wild collected rock isn't a rarity or pricey either if you know the shops to go to and you can get it within a week of being collected if you keep up with their inventory updates. I definitely count myself truly lucky to have access like that.

 

[DavidinGA]

Used.

Got about 100lbs a year or so ago for $1/lb. Definitely, the way to go.