Gulfliverock issues?

[srobertb]

Hi,

I placed an order at the beginning of the week for delivery from gulfliverock.com. Not sure if they’re a sponsor but I know they’re well known. I didn’t hear anything so I emailed. I got a message back saying “you can have 2, 10lb pieces or you’ll need to wait until the end of the week”. Thought about it. Went back and forth. Decided to wait so I communicated that. No response. No word. Here we are at the end of the week and I don’t imagine my liverock showing up today.

Anyone know what’s going on with them? Or aquacultured Liverock out of Florida in general?? It all seems out of stock everywhere. I’m out a big chunk of cash and can’t seem to get a hold of anyone. Starting to panic.

 

[Timfish]

I've been getting live rock from them for years and have been very happy with it. But sometimes they do seem to run on island time. My advice would be to keep bugging them. If you been emailed any tracking numbers check them.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Did you call them?

 

[Fish Styx]

My understanding is that they harvest in batches when time and weather conditions permit diving, which is probably why they suggested waiting until the end of the week. I would suggest calling them to check on your order status as opposed to email. You'll probably have better luck reaching them. As has been said, they run on island time, however, they are well known and reputable.

 

[srobertb]

I've been getting live rock from them for years and have been very happy with it. But sometimes they do seem to run on island time. My advice would be to keep bugging them. If you been emailed any tracking numbers check them.

I have ordered 5-6 times over the years and it’s been pretty straightforward. Like many people, I ordered it because I needed it this week. I went to look at other options and they’re all sold-out too so I wasn’t sure if it was a Florida thing.

I don’t like it when I have to turn into a debt collector in regards to my hobby/stress reliever. Looks like I may have to.

 

[srobertb]

Did you call them?

Lol. I hate calling people but yeah, that looks like it’s going to have to happen. This seems out of character for them so I thought I’d just check what other people have been finding recently.

 

[Rovert]

Anyone know what’s going on with them?

My understanding is that they harvest in batches when time and weather conditions permit diving, which is probably why they suggested waiting until the end of the week.

^ THIS ^

I ordered from Dan a while back and he informed me that he harvests one day of the week, drops in holding tanks and then ships a day or two later. He's probably a one-man-band, and I also found his replies to be a bit slow, but he's legit. Wait it out and see what happens.

One thing I'd caution you about. Depending on the airline, you may experience flight delays which will impact the amount of life on the rock. In my case, to get the shipment to me here in Northeastern PA, I had to use Delta coming into Newark Liberty airport which is about 2 hours South of me. They had a stopover in Atlanta where the cargo was baking in the plane, and then a delay coming into Newark, so by the time I got the rock (after waiting in the parking lot for 2 hours), it suffered. Not the supplier's fault, it just happens. Be mindful of that and judge accordingly before you start loading up your tank with fish immediately after placing in the rock, and then the rock starts having dieoff and kicks off a cycle and ammonia spike.

 

[srobertb]

^ THIS ^

I ordered from David a while back and he informed me that he harvests one day of the week, drops in holding tanks and then ships a day or two later. He's probably a one-man-band, and I also found his replies to be a bit slow, but he's legit. Wait it out and see what happens.

One thing I'd caution you about. Depending on the airline, you may experience flight delays which will impact the amount of life on the rock. In my case, to get the shipment to me here in Northeastern PA, I had to use Delta coming into Newark Liberty airport which is about 2 hours South of me. They had a stopover in Atlanta where the cargo was baking in the plane, and then a delay coming into Newark, so by the time I got the rock (after waiting in the parking lot for 2 hours), it suffered. Not the supplier's fault, it just happens. Be mindful of that and judge accordingly before you start loading up your tank with fish immediately after placing in the rock, and then the rock starts having dieoff and kicks off a cycle and ammonia spike.

This would/will be my 5th or 6th order from them. I’m having it sent via overnight shipping. Happy to pay the extra money to not have to go to the airport. It’s actually to seed a satellite refugium so I’m not worried about the cycle and what not but thank you. I think the largest “cycle” I have gotten with Gulf Live Rock has been about 4 days (which is why I go with them). I just have a schedule to keep and was hoping for better communication.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I’ve ordered from them multiple times. They have to dive and collect. Sometimes the weather delays them.

 

[dagreatgazoo]

I'm not sure if this would make a difference on their collection days/rock they harvest...but I'm currently in Siesta Key and there's been a nasty red tide outbreak in several Gulf coast counties this week.

Fish kills on the beaches...bad respiratory irritations with prolonged fresh air exposure.

 

[Gulf Live Rock]

First off I would like to thank all of you for being returning customers. Unfortunately winter time weather creates rough seas and limits the amount of days that are suitable for diving and harvesting. After Srobertb ordered I notified him that I was sold out of small and medium sized rocks. I only had larger rocks 10lbs+ in stock and if he wanted smalls and mediums I was planning to get more in stock later in the week. He decided he rather wait for the smaller rocks. Well the weather did not get better and I wasn't able to dive/harvest until the following Monday. I contacted him and I informed him that I was getting fresh rock on Monday and I would ship his order fresh off the boat with overnight shipping. I normally never ship the same day as collecting because there's so much work involved the collecting ,unloading, and storing it takes up the whole day. He agreed that he wanted to keep his order and wait for the fresh rock. He received his rock on Tuesday.
I try to answer all my emails in a timely manner. Contacting me by phone is the best option and will get you the fastest response.
Thanks
Dan

 

[danielankeny]

I just received 10lbs from Dan and the rocks are beautiful, covered with sponges and maceoalgae, plus 4 small serpent stars and a small crab that i sumped! Order was delivered very quickly!

 

[TnFishwater98]

Hi,

I placed an order at the beginning of the week for delivery from gulfliverock.com. Not sure if they’re a sponsor but I know they’re well known. I didn’t hear anything so I emailed. I got a message back saying “you can have 2, 10lb pieces or you’ll need to wait until the end of the week”. Thought about it. Went back and forth. Decided to wait so I communicated that. No response. No word. Here we are at the end of the week and I don’t imagine my liverock showing up today.

Anyone know what’s going on with them? Or aquacultured Liverock out of Florida in general?? It all seems out of stock everywhere. I’m out a big chunk of cash and can’t seem to get a hold of anyone. Starting to panic.

Dan @Gulf Live Rock will not screw you over. He can be very hard to get a hold of sometimes. Other times you get a very quick reply. He will get back to you but it’s hard to know when. If he’s out at his dive site on his boat he probably doesn’t check phone or email. His LR is awesome! Repeat customer here.

 

[Gulf Live Rock]

Dan @Gulf Live Rock will not screw you over. He can be very hard to get a hold of sometimes. Other times you get a very quick reply. He will get back to you but it’s hard to know when. If he’s out at his dive site on his boat he probably doesn’t check phone or email. His LR is awesome! Repeat customer here.

My lease site is over 10 miles offshore and we don't get any cell phone reception out there. I leave my phone in my truck at the boat ramp. I have recently made improvements to my website to help with communication and response times. Thanks

 

[srobertb]

Didn’t mean to misconstrue that I thought I was being “screwed over.” Just that I wasn’t getting a response and wanted to know if something knew something I didn’t.

I got an email out of the blue that it could ship the next day last week (or I could cancel my order). I kept it and it arrived well packaged the next day.