What to ask/look for if buying FIJI Rock

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Hello All,

Found a local listing and the guy is consolidating 4 tanks (1,000 gallons worth) and one of the things he has is (3) 5 gallon buckets full of real old school Fiji Rock. He is asking $300/obo.... Is this a good deal?
I chatted with him this morning and he said it's all cryptic rock but has been in the same healthy tank for years.
What should I look for or better yet what should I ask him and what should his correct responses be regarding the rock so that I don't have to drive 45 min and it's not worth it??

This is his post:
(3) 5 gallon buckets full of real Fiji Premium Reef Rock (This is the stuff they don't import anymore for all you old school reefers) for your saltwater reef tank or fish only with live rock set up, Each one is Large and Show piece, porous with lots of holes and surface area. $300 OBO

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I don't know if it's a good price or not but could you post some pics? I'd love to see it! Btw, just a heads up, if it's been in a tank for a long time its not gonna be as diverse as if it were just plucked out of the ocean though due to differing conditions in the aquarium vs the real ocean and things like competition between bacterial species (some outcompete others leading to less bacterial diversity vs if it was straight from Fiji) but still might be a great deal

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

I don't know if it's a good price or not but could you post some pics? I'd love to see it! Btw, just a heads up, if it's been in a tank for a long time its not gonna be as diverse as if it were just plucked out of the ocean though due to differing conditions in the aquarium vs the real ocean and things like competition between bacterial species (some outcompete others leading to less bacterial diversity vs if it was straight from Fiji) but still might be a great deal

I hear ya. I'm waiting on pics now. I was going to buy the Australian rock though it is pricey I know it's good stuff, but again it's $$$

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I hear ya. I'm waiting on pics now. I was going to buy the Australian rock though it is pricey I know it's good stuff, but again it's $$$

Yeah $25/lb for the Australian is pricey...of course it depends on your tank size how pricey (if I was just building a nano I'd go with it all the way)...it looks like good quality stuff

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Yeah $25/lb for the Australian is pricey...of course it depends on your tank size how pricey (if I was just building a nano I'd go with it all the way)...it looks like good quality stuff

We'll that's my prob lol. I'm building a 40 gal tall tank with a small sump. I'd like to get close to the 40lbs of rock but even at that is $$$ so I've though of getting 20 lbs. If Australian rock and then maybe see if this guy will sell me a buckets worth of the Fiji??

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

I don't know if it's a good price or not but could you post some pics? I'd love to see it! Btw, just a heads up, if it's been in a tank for a long time its not gonna be as diverse as if it were just plucked out of the ocean though due to differing conditions in the aquarium vs the real ocean and things like competition between bacterial species (some outcompete others leading to less bacterial diversity vs if it was straight from Fiji) but still might be a great deal

Here is the picture of one of the pieces. Should I go get it?

 

[V A R I A N T]

It’s dry rock, full of whatever dried up organisms that once lived in his tank. It would need to be bleached at a minimum, acid dipped more likely, thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, then cycled in your tank. And as I read the description, it sounds like 3 large pieces. You can get much nicer rocks for $300.

It’s like the guy who is selling a weathered, beat up, fluid leaking 1986 IROC Z Camaro and asking $10K for it. You say “it needs all this work” and his response is “but, it’s an IROC Z”. That doesn’t mean it’s useful.

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

It’s dry rock, full of whatever dried up organisms that once lived in his tank. It would need to be bleached at a minimum, acid dipped more likely, thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, then cycled in your tank. And as I read the description, it sounds like 3 large pieces. You can get much nicer rocks for $300.

It’s like the guy who is selling a weathered, beat up, fluid leaking 1986 IROC Z Camaro and asking $10K for it. You say “it needs all this work” and his response is “but, it’s an IROC Z”. That doesn’t mean it’s useful.

He just told me it's still in the tank is Cryptic Rock. He is selling 3 - 5 gallon buckets full not 3 pieces of rock.
Since this is cryptic rock, I should be able to put it in a new tank for all the beneficial bacteria right?

 

[LordofCinder]

brand new dry fiji rock goes for about $3 per lbs at the LFS. I'm not sure that 5 buckets would equal 100 lbs, but even so, should not pay new price for used rock. After all, it has no value to anyone but us.

The rock looks round and large and not very porous. And you're looking at a long drive, and you're doing him a favour by getting it out of his way. Personally I would offer $100 and see what he says, but no way I would give him $300, I would give it to the LFS first, at least I get the points for it.

 

[RedoubtReef]

if it's dry rock, it's not worth it. Fiji or not, if its dry you're not getting any real benefit. I'd say weigh it out and offer him$3/lb.

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

brand new dry fiji rock goes for about $3 per lbs at the LFS. I'm not sure that 5 buckets would equal 100 lbs, but even so, should not pay new price for used rock. After all, it has no value to anyone but us.

The rock looks round and large and not very porous. And you're looking at a long drive, and you're doing him a favour by getting it out of his way. Personally I would offer $100 and see what he says, but no way I would give him $300, I would give it to the LFS first, at least I get the points for it.

Thanks for that info. I did hit up 2 LFS so far and nobody had Fiji or Australian for that matter. It was all man made so far.

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

Thanks for that info. I did hit up 2 LFS so far and nobody had Fiji or Australian for that matter. It was all man made so far.

So what would you all do?

 

[LordofCinder]

depends what is your situation. Are you building a tank? adding rock to an existing tank? wanting to start a second tank?

Dry rock is fairly easy to find, especially in cali should you have lots of selections of LFS's, I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction.

 

[FreshSaltyGuy]

depends what is your situation. Are you building a tank? adding rock to an existing tank? wanting to start a second tank?

Dry rock is fairly easy to find, especially in cali should you have lots of selections of LFS's, I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction.

This is a brand new 40 gallon tall tank. I have nothing yet except live sand ready to go. The tank hasn't even seen water yet lol. My LFS only carry man made junk. However, I am leaving to Los Angeles Monday for 4 days, maybe I should get some while there?

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

This is a brand new 40 gallon tall tank. I have nothing yet except live sand ready to go. The tank hasn't even seen water yet lol. My LFS only carry man made junk. However, I am leaving to Los Angeles Monday for 4 days, maybe I should get some while there?

@Eric Cohen had some great rock recently. May still have some.

Shoot him a DM. See what he could set you up with for the same $300 shipped to you.

It will be superior in every way.

 

[Eric Cohen]

Hello All,

Found a local listing and the guy is consolidating 4 tanks (1,000 gallons worth) and one of the things he has is (3) 5 gallon buckets full of real old school Fiji Rock. He is asking $300/obo.... Is this a good deal?
I chatted with him this morning and he said it's all cryptic rock but has been in the same healthy tank for years.
What should I look for or better yet what should I ask him and what should his correct responses be regarding the rock so that I don't have to drive 45 min and it's not worth it??

This is his post:
(3) 5 gallon buckets full of real Fiji Premium Reef Rock (This is the stuff they don't import anymore for all you old school reefers) for your saltwater reef tank or fish only with live rock set up, Each one is Large and Show piece, porous with lots of holes and surface area. $300 OBO

Hey there. Saw the post. I have a couple hundred pounds of Australian live rock already cured and held in a nice system. If you’re coming to LA, feel free to come pick it yourself. We are right by the airport, 1 mile away or less. Our rock is super light weight and goes twice or three times further in weight to volume as most other heavy rocks. A few pics to feast your eyes on and give you a good idea what we are dealing with.

 

[slipstream]

I can voucher for Eric, just bought 17 lbs 1 wk ago. We faced timed and I was able to pick out the rock I wanted. I have a 71 gallon that I’m cycling. I went with 70 lbs of Marco rock through bulk reef supply and will seed it with the Aussie rock.

I’d be careful, I bought some “live rock” off of someone on Craigslist and it’s phosphates were through the roof. I’m going to have to use muriatic acid on it to try slough the out layer of rock to try and reduce the phosphates (complete pain in the butt) along with killing everything on the rock. The Marco dry rock tested neg for phosphates. Better to start that way then deal with the leeching phosphates from the start. The phosphorus was slightly elevated with the Aussie rock but to be expected with cycling. I’m very certain that the levels will drop to expected ranges once the rock is done cycling.

btw would you like to buy 100 lbs of live rock, I can even put it in buckets for you! Just kidding, I have too much love and respect for the hobby to unload the garbage rock I bought off of Craigslist on anybody.

 

[Eric Cohen]

I can voucher for Eric, just bought 17 lbs 1 wk ago. We faced timed and I was able to pick out the rock I wanted. I have a 71 gallon that I’m cycling. I went with 70 lbs of Marco rock through bulk reef supply and will seed it with the Aussie rock.

I’d be careful, I bought some “live rock” off of someone on Craigslist and it’s phosphates were through the roof. I’m going to have to use muriatic acid on it to try slough the out layer of rock to try and reduce the phosphates (complete pain in the butt) along with killing everything on the rock. The Marco dry rock tested neg for phosphates. Better to start that way then deal with the leeching phosphates from the start. The phosphorus was slightly elevated with the Aussie rock but to be expected with cycling. I’m very certain that the levels will drop to expected ranges once the rock is done cycling.

btw would you like to buy 100 lbs of live rock, I can even put it in buckets for you! Just kidding, I have too much love and respect for the hobby to unload the garbage rock I bought off of Craigslist on anybody.

I’m really glad you’re happy with the rock. Appreciate it!