Received Live Rock: Is It Dead or Alive?

[Sophie"s mom]

I have just received some live rock from a supplier by mail, and several people have claimed that it's dead or nearly so. They say it won't count as live rock until it has been cured for about a year or so.

The supplier responds:
"It’s clear that some of the bacteria on the surface of the rock may have died during transport. However, the bacteria inside the rock typically survive. In an aquarium under light, live rock eventually develops coralline algae, but in the shop without lights, this algae doesn’t have a chance to grow."

What do you think?

I would write them back and request a refund. That looks to me like rock that was once "live", but no longer is. It looks a lot like the Jakarta live rock I got when I set my tank up. but only in shape, as mine was FULL of life. True live rock has multiple different colors on it. I have attached a picture of Jakarta live rock for comparison

 

[twentyleagues]

It was marketed as "Indonesian Live Rock".

Oh, Hecks naw!
That my friend is a bait and switch. That is not the same.

 

[stewy14]

It was marketed as "Indonesian Live Rock".

link?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Live Rock - Indonesia (Branching)

tropestua.no

Here's where the pictures came from

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Live Rock - Indonesia (Branching)

tropestua.no

Here's where the pictures came from

This is a scam if I've ever seen one

 

[Sophie"s mom]

This is a scam if I've ever seen one

Indeed! It is that same rock I sent a picture of. It is called Jakarta live rock. It comes from Indonesia. We have a LFS that sells it. But you go in the store, go to the back room where there is a HUGE pool filled with the stuff, and you get to hand pick what pieces you want. But what this OP got was definitely a scam. It looks to me like old, sun bleached, used to be "live" rock, but is now just cool shaped dry base rock.

 

[rtparty]

Is it fresh ocean rock? No. Could it be “live rock”? Absolutely.

However, what they sent and the picture are two very different things. I’d ask for a large refund at a minimum. If they won’t play, do a charge back

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Indeed! It is that same rock I sent a picture of. It is called Jakarta live rock. It comes from Indonesia. We have a LFS that sells it. But you go in the store, go to the back room where there is a HUGE pool filled with the stuff, and you get to hand pick what pieces you want. But what this OP got was definitely a scam. It looks to me like old, sun bleached, used to be "live" rock, but is now just cool shaped dry base rock.

I could not believe the price!

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I could not believe the price!

I didn't see the price they paid, but our LFS sells it for $15.00 per pound. Also, it is very porous and light weight, so you can get quite a bit.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I didn't see the price they paid, but our LFS sells it for $15.00 per pound. Also, it is very porous and light weight, so you can get quite a bit.

2700.00 for 9 kl

 

[Cichlid Dad]

2700.00 for 9 kl

I don't know what country it is so I don't know what it would be in us dollars

 

[stewy14]

I don't know what country it is so I don't know what it would be in us dollars

Norway
since thats where op is from, im guessing thats norandish(thats a word right?) currency if that exists......
we dont get taught anything about other countries in schoooooolll

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I don't know what country it is so I don't know what it would be in us dollars

Not bad 257.00

 

[stewy14]

tropestua - Google Search

I would ask a question to them how their live rock is harvested, but no question box
op, u should ask them that!

 

[Ed Hutchings]

Even if it is "live" rock the price should reflect the level or amount of "life". That should be sold as base rock at just slightly more than dry, completely dead rock.

If it's been in a system for a long time it should have some amount of critters in it. I'd keep the lights on it for 8 hours or so, then turn them off, dark as you can get it, and come look at it a few hours in with a flashlight. If nothing is crawling around, ain't much "life" to it.

 

[stewy14]

weird, there are multiple 4 star reviews on google, but its a 5 star flat store???? hmmmmmmmmmm
weird?????
maybe people are just that nice
but, u should ask them how it was harvested, how im thinking of it, they ordered it, and kept it in store until somebody bought it!
my lfs keeps live rock, but its very very good quality, there are creatures and stuff all over! its PREMIUM PREMIUM live rock, no white spots, all algae covered and whatever, its the refugium rock and stuff

 

[twentyleagues]

Even dry real branch rock is very expensive here. Last time I saw some it was around $15/lb so there is that.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Even dry real branch rock is very expensive here. Last time I saw some it was around $15/lb so there is that.

Yep! That is exactly what I paid for the rock I got. Very expensive, but very worth the cost.

 

[Kongo]

I would write them back and request a refund. That looks to me like rock that was once "live", but no longer is. It looks a lot like the Jakarta live rock I got when I set my tank up. but only in shape, as mine was FULL of life. True live rock has multiple different colors on it. I have attached a picture of Jakarta live rock for comparison

Wow! Now that looks like a live rock!

 

[Sophie"s mom]

Wow! Now that looks like a live rock!

I would DEFINITELY write to them if I were you. What you paid for, versus what you received is crazy.