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

[doubleshot00]

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

Were not his clientele

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Used.

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

If you know that the previous owner took good care of his tank that sounds like a fine idea but if you don't know anything about the previous owner and your goal in getting live rock is for the biodiversity then it's really a throw of the dice just how much bacterial and other biodiversity the rock is actually hosting

 

[Eric Cohen]

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.

Good questions. We import it from Australia on the overnight flight. I’m looking into the ocean freight routes to drop the costs but that will be a lesser quality rock. We rinse the rock and submerse it in our rock system with heavy biological filtration and skimming. Try to keep the water quality as good as possible. I remove dead sponge and any other creatures I find on the rock. Packing moist and carefully. Shipping two day ups.

 

[dcsorrell]

I've bought both regular lfs live rock and premium live rock (ouchie! $$) in the past, and am going premium again this time (build thread coming soon!).

Lfs live rock had to be cycled, even though it had been cured. They wrapped it in wet newspaper for the trip home. There were some hitchhikers that survived, but nothing like what came with the premium rock, most of which were benign to beneficial; really, the only "baddies" were a few aptaisia and one juvenile carnivorous crab that would have grown to be enormous.

I didn't know enough at the time to keep the more delicate hitchhikers alive long term, unfortunately. Star corals, tunicates, barnacles, didn't make it, but there were also micro brittle stars, a variety of worms (all reef safe), lovely little feather dusters, sponges, besides pods and mysis shrimp. To me, it's a magical experience, watching all those invertebrates emerge and get comfortable.

I'm getting ready to do it again, arming myself with research, using both live sand and rock from the Gulf (TBS). This time the hitchhikers get all the time they need to adjust and be healthy. No other inverts (unless absolutely necessary) and no fish added until the tank has truly matured, which will take months. There will be pictures!

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I've bought both regular lfs live rock and premium live rock (ouchie! $$) in the past, and am going premium again this time (build thread coming soon!).

Lfs live rock had to be cycled, even though it had been cured. They wrapped it in wet newspaper for the trip home. There were some hitchhikers that survived, but nothing like what came with the premium rock, most of which were benign to beneficial; really, the only "baddies" were a few aptaisia and one juvenile carnivorous crab that would have grown to be enormous.

I didn't know enough at the time to keep the more delicate hitchhikers alive long term, unfortunately. Star corals, tunicates, barnacles, didn't make it, but there were also micro brittle stars, a variety of worms (all reef safe), lovely little feather dusters, sponges, besides pods and mysis shrimp. To me, it's a magical experience, watching all those invertebrates emerge and get comfortable.

I'm getting ready to do it again, arming myself with research, using both live sand and rock from the Gulf (TBS). This time the hitchhikers get all the time they need to adjust and be healthy. No other inverts (unless absolutely necessary) and no fish added until the tank has truly matured, which will take months. There will be pictures!

This is how i feel as well (it's a magical experience) and with all the good it does for your tank plus based on the overwhelming consensus that really bad hitchhikers are pretty darn rare, I'd definitely promote real ocean live rock to anyone starting a new tank!

 

[Eric Cohen]

I've bought both regular lfs live rock and premium live rock (ouchie! $$) in the past, and am going premium again this time (build thread coming soon!).

Lfs live rock had to be cycled, even though it had been cured. They wrapped it in wet newspaper for the trip home. There were some hitchhikers that survived, but nothing like what came with the premium rock, most of which were benign to beneficial; really, the only "baddies" were a few aptaisia and one juvenile carnivorous crab that would have grown to be enormous.

I didn't know enough at the time to keep the more delicate hitchhikers alive long term, unfortunately. Star corals, tunicates, barnacles, didn't make it, but there were also micro brittle stars, a variety of worms (all reef safe), lovely little feather dusters, sponges, besides pods and mysis shrimp. To me, it's a magical experience, watching all those invertebrates emerge and get comfortable.

I'm getting ready to do it again, arming myself with research, using both live sand and rock from the Gulf (TBS). This time the hitchhikers get all the time they need to adjust and be healthy. No other inverts (unless absolutely necessary) and no fish added until the tank has truly matured, which will take months. There will be pictures!

I packed 10 lbs of real live rock today for a very cool customer. I got some pics of his order that I shared with him as we packed. Full box barely fit the 10lbs. Keep in mind, this is the photo the customer sent me to add to. Last photo is his tank already nicely done so I tried to compliment what he had set up already. This box is 16” x 11” x 10” with only 10lbs to fill it. Impressive!

 

[dcsorrell]

I packed 10 lbs of real live rock today for a very cool customer. I got some pics of his order that I shared with him as we packed. Full box barely fit the 10lbs. Keep in mind, this is the photo the customer sent me to add to. Last photo is his tank already nicely done so I tried to compliment what he had set up already. This box is 16” x 11” x 10” with only 10lbs to fill it. Impressive!

That is an impressive aquascape, indeed. Some nice looking rock.

 

[SnowReef]

I've bought both regular lfs live rock and premium live rock (ouchie! $$) in the past, and am going premium again this time (build thread coming soon!).

Lfs live rock had to be cycled, even though it had been cured. They wrapped it in wet newspaper for the trip home. There were some hitchhikers that survived, but nothing like what came with the premium rock, most of which were benign to beneficial; really, the only "baddies" were a few aptaisia and one juvenile carnivorous crab that would have grown to be enormous.

I didn't know enough at the time to keep the more delicate hitchhikers alive long term, unfortunately. Star corals, tunicates, barnacles, didn't make it, but there were also micro brittle stars, a variety of worms (all reef safe), lovely little feather dusters, sponges, besides pods and mysis shrimp. To me, it's a magical experience, watching all those invertebrates emerge and get comfortable.

I'm getting ready to do it again, arming myself with research, using both live sand and rock from the Gulf (TBS). This time the hitchhikers get all the time they need to adjust and be healthy. No other inverts (unless absolutely necessary) and no fish added until the tank has truly matured, which will take months. There will be pictures!

I'm thinking of the same for my small 10gal. I've looked into TBS and like what I see. If you don't mind, I'd love to follow your build.

 

[Eric Cohen]

I'm thinking of the same for my small 10gal. I've looked into TBS and like what I see. If you don't mind, I'd love to follow your build.

Check out my rock on the Amongthereef.com website. Perfect for a smaller aquarium.

 

[Bbyari]

Hi All,
Brand spanking new and just ordered my AIO Red Sea max e170. I think I want to go with this approach and based on the Spec's its indicating that the display tank volume is 37 gallons with a 8 gallon rear sump. My rookie question is how much sand and rocks(lb) should I purchase? Thank you in advance

 

[dstockwell]

I only bought 10lbs from gulf live rock, nothing bad on it.

 

[ReefGeezer]

Hi All,
Brand spanking new and just ordered my AIO Red Sea max e170. I think I want to go with this approach and based on the Spec's its indicating that the display tank volume is 37 gallons with a 8 gallon rear sump. My rookie question is how much sand and rocks(lb) should I purchase? Thank you in advance

I'd say 30-40 lbs of rock but I don't have an idea how much sand. Maybe @LiverockRocks will help us out.

 

[killer2001]

Hi All,
Brand spanking new and just ordered my AIO Red Sea max e170. I think I want to go with this approach and based on the Spec's its indicating that the display tank volume is 37 gallons with a 8 gallon rear sump. My rookie question is how much sand and rocks(lb) should I purchase? Thank you in advance

I have the Max E-170. I used 40 lbs of sand. Check out my build thread to see how it looks.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Hi All,
Brand spanking new and just ordered my AIO Red Sea max e170. I think I want to go with this approach and based on the Spec's its indicating that the display tank volume is 37 gallons with a 8 gallon rear sump. My rookie question is how much sand and rocks(lb) should I purchase? Thank you in advance

You're making a great choice!...real live rock is one of the greatest investments you could make imo... @LiverockRocks can help you pick out everything live rock/sand related to fit your tank!

 

[Bbyari]

I only bought 10lbs from gulf live rock, nothing bad on it.

Same size tank?

I have the Max E-170. I used 40 lbs of sand. Check out my build thread to see how it looks.

I just checked it out. Nice Start!

 

[radav88]

I just started my tank four months ago. I went back and forth between going with completely dry rock or going dry with adding some live rock to seed it. My primary concern was bad hitchhikers, in a previous tank of mine I dealt with a nasty mantis, gorilla crabs, aiptasia, etc. I eventually settled on seeding my 120 lbs of dry rock with 20 lbs of base live rock. I figured with twenty pounds I would have less a chance of getting anything too nasty.

Here is the list of pests I've dealt with: parasitic isopods, pyamidellid snails, welks, crabs.... (So many god dang crabs). I've literally pulled 5 gorilla crabs out of the tank and I know for sure there are at least two more I'm still trying to catch. Plus there are two porcelain crabs that are getting big to the point of I'm not trusting them to stay in the tank either. I also either have a pistol shrimp or a mantis shrimp. The parasitic isopods alone are enough to keep me from ever risking using live rock again. I think I'm finally rid of those at least. I just wanted to throw this out as a cautionary tale. While the biodiversity is nice, it can definitely come with some serious drawbacks.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I just started my tank four months ago. I went back and forth between going with completely dry rock or going dry with adding some live rock to seed it. My primary concern was bad hitchhikers, in a previous tank of mine I dealt with a nasty mantis, gorilla crabs, aiptasia, etc. I eventually settled on seeding my 120 lbs of dry rock with 20 lbs of base live rock. I figured with twenty pounds I would have less a chance of getting anything too nasty.

Here is the list of pests I've dealt with: parasitic isopods, pyamidellid snails, welks, crabs.... (So many god dang crabs). I've literally pulled 5 gorilla crabs out of the tank and I know for sure there are at least two more I'm still trying to catch. Plus there are two porcelain crabs that are getting big to the point of I'm not trusting them to stay in the tank either. I also either have a pistol shrimp or a mantis shrimp. The parasitic isopods alone are enough to keep me from ever risking using live rock again. I think I'm finally rid of those at least. I just wanted to throw this out as a cautionary tale. While the biodiversity is nice, it can definitely come with some serious drawbacks.

I think you pulled a pretty unlucky card unfortunately...sorry to hear about that

 

[Jeeperz]

Check out my rock on the Amongthereef.com website. Perfect for a smaller aquarium.

This appears to be shipped wet in bags but NOT submerged? Is that correct? So we would have to cure and cycle before using? Any way to get a small amount shipped fully submerged? Shipping to 83835?

 

[mww00ds]

Got 2 tanks here. The oldest is 14 months old and when started I picked up some live rock from Petco and another local LFS. The rock from Petco was ok nothing special but the took I got from the other place wad terrible. If had know then what I do now. I'd have never gone with them. Newbie with very little knowledge. Their rock leached all kinds of issues, covered in pest algea and had a bunch of what they called "Commen Anemone" aka APTATISA!!!! Thankfully I've found a better LFS that has better live stock and is in it for the hobby and not about the money.

My 2nd tank I just setup about 1.5 months ago and order rock from Gulf Live Rock. It come in beautifully. Full of corals, algae, bristles of multiple species, crabs, limpits, cumbers and 1 tiny mantis shrimp. I kept all of them cause I wasn't fully sure where I wanted to take this tank. I guess if the mantis makes it I know where my tank is going. LOL Kinda want to do a tank of nothing but wild live rock with all the hitchhikers just because I can.

So I guess it all comes down to knowledge and finding trusted sellers. Along with whatever you consider to be a pest or not.

 

[Jeeperz]

Got 2 tanks here. The oldest is 14 months old and when started I picked up some live rock from Petco and another local LFS. The rock from Petco was ok nothing special but the took I got from the other place wad terrible. If had know then what I do now. I'd have never gone with them. Newbie with very little knowledge. Their rock leached all kinds of issues, covered in pest algea and had a bunch of what they called "Commen Anemone" aka APTATISA!!!! Thankfully I've found a better LFS that has better live stock and is in it for the hobby and not about the money.

My 2nd tank I just setup about 1.5 months ago and order rock from Gulf Live Rock. It come in beautifully. Full of corals, algae, bristles of multiple species, crabs, limpits, cumbers and 1 tiny mantis shrimp. I kept all of them cause I wasn't fully sure where I wanted to take this tank. I guess if the mantis makes it I know where my tank is going. LOL Kinda want to do a tank of nothing but wild live rock with all the hitchhikers just because I can.

So I guess it all comes down to knowledge and finding trusted sellers. Along with whatever you consider to be a pest or not.

Keep an eye out for cirolinid isopods, I've been reading quite a few reports of those on TBS rock or sand