Expensive live rock?

[Anonymous]

Ok so I've never purchased live rock before, and what with my tank almost ready to set up, I've been paying attention to prices. One LFS sells it for $15.99/lb and another sells it for $19.99/lb ... the more expensive one does seem to be better quality rock and such. I would probably buy mostly that, but one or two chunks of the lesser quality one just for some diversity...

Are those prices comperable to what's in your area? They seem awfully high.

 

[highrpm]

5-10 per lb here in Dayton, OH

15 is way to high, 20 is outrageuos. Definitely order from the net if you can't get it under 10 per lb locally.

My LFS will order a 45lb box of Walt Smith premium for about 200-225 including shipping

 

[reefann]

Buy off the internet 15-20 per LB is crazy. Are they huge show pieces? I got a 45 LB box from Liveaquaria.com 99+ shipping. Not the best rock but great base rock. I try not to pay more than 5.99-6.99 per LB.
JJ
_________________
Mercedes Benz C292
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u.s recession

 

[Anonymous]

LR in my area is between $4/lb to $8/lb. For your price, you better going on the web, unless you only want half a pound for a nano or something.

Geeze, they don't even charge that much for gold ore!

 

[jandree22]

$20/lb

order online :wink:

reefann, is that rock you bought cured? I was looking at the rock from that liveaquaria too. Does it look anything like the pictures on the site? Those pics show a lot of coralline coverage

 

[Anonymous]

Some of the rock was large, some was small. From what I understand, there was no price difference because of size of chunk. The expensive place also said their rubble rock was the same price - I guess they would just throw it all on the scale and charge me one fat fee.

I guess I will get it online. Is marine depot good for LR?

 

[sstephen]

LR is about $4 - $8 a pound here in San Diego. You can get even better deals if you buy larger amounts. I don't know how good Marine Depot is for LR or livestock, but I've bought dry goods from them. They are one of the best sources for aquarium equipment that I've found. You might want to look around for online retailers that offer cherry picking. That means that you can get pretty specific about what you want, and they will try to find it for you. That would probably be more expensive, though.

 

[Anonymous]

I would suggest that, generally you get what you pay for. If this rock that is $15-$20/lb. is very encrusted with coralline, sponges, polyps, and the like, then I think you might do well to go ahead and buy it. In other words, if it looks like a chunk of reef, it is some fine rock and worth it. The live rock is going to be the very foundation of your system, and like the surface you paint on, it should be the best, and in the best condition, you can possibly afford. This is NOT the place to go cheap, and if you've ever seen the difference between systems with just adequate l/r and truly bodacious l/r, then you'll know what I mean.

 

[cdeakle]

Doode,

Do like I did and go to LiveAquaria.com and get a 45 pound box for like 100.00 bucks! I couldnt be more amazed with the coraline growth and I now have like 100 feather dusters growing and even got some Mushroom corals growing(about 25 really small ones for now.) and no I dont work for them...

 

[jandree22]

Doode,

Do like I did and go to LiveAquaria.com and get a 45 pound box for like 100.00 bucks! I couldnt be more amazed with the coraline growth and I now have like 100 feather dusters growing and even got some Mushroom corals growing(about 25 really small ones for now.) and no I dont work for them...

well, I was gonna buy from them until I realized it's about $175 shipped... so the search continues for me :?

marine depot, i konw, you can get a partially-cured 45lb box shipped for $150, a lil cheaper

 

[Anonymous]

I would suggest that, generally you get what you pay for. If this rock that is $15-$20/lb. is very encrusted with coralline, sponges, polyps, and the like, then I think you might do well to go ahead and buy it. In other words, if it looks like a chunk of reef, it is some fine rock and worth it. The live rock is going to be the very foundation of your system, and like the surface you paint on, it should be the best, and in the best condition, you can possibly afford. This is NOT the place to go cheap, and if you've ever seen the difference between systems with just adequate l/r and truly bodacious l/r, then you'll know what I mean.

Yep seamaiden, the expensive stuff was NICE. it had been "fully cured" if there really is such a thing in a retailer's holding tanks - the rock was fairly encrustulated with the purpley corraline algae, and had all kinds of little tiny things trying to grow on it, all of which i cannot identify (yet).

jandree- exactly my problem. The shipping of something so heavy as live rock would undoubtedly cancel out any kind of deal I got. Might as well support the good LFS...

 

[Anonymous]

I disagree. Even if it got a nice coral colony on it, it still does not worth $20/lb unless it is all coral. I guess I am spoiled, but I still can't justify the cost rationally.

 

[Anonymous]

Hm. Maybe I will buy a few bits of the expensive live rock just to get some of the good stuff. I really don't want to spend $750 on LR ... ouch.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, that kind of price is only justified for nano, when ability to cherry-pick is important. Some LR I saw is 30lb+, and that will cost you $600 for a piece of rock? That's pretty much on par with some Italian granite slab!

 

[Anonymous]

This is looking pretty appealing:

a) fully cured
b) $268.00 - shipping included in price
c) it's 44lbs - i have a 30g tank. perfect!
d) premium quality. lol probably just a marketing tactic
e) overnight shippin' is only $12 more



http://www.marinedepotlive.com/lrfc.html


Has anyone ordered this?

 

[jandree22]

Hm. Maybe I will buy a few bits of the expensive live rock just to get some of the good stuff. I really don't want to spend $750 on LR ... ouch.

::sigh:: enough already! Click on this link and buy! $150 off the credit card and 44lbs of quality Fiji rock will be at your doorstep on Wednesday.

http://www.marinedepotlive.com/lr.html

 

[Anonymous]

If I had the money in my account I would. hehe. Plus, I have to buy the light first.

Fine I will stop hemming and hawwing over it.

 

[smlacy]

Do you guys have any thoughts on Air Freight vs. "Next Day"?

I've ordered LS/LR from exoticfish.com, and had it shipped air freight, and it was the most amazing experience I've ever had.

I called about 4pm to order, it got on a 6pm flight from LA to San Jose, CA, and by 8pm the rock was in my tank. Only 4 hours "out of water" seemed worth a fair amount of extra cost to me, because of the survival rate of the critters.

Is this true? Or, is overnight jus fine?

Steve

 

[jandree22]

Do you guys have any thoughts on Air Freight vs. "Next Day"?

I've ordered LS/LR from exoticfish.com, and had it shipped air freight, and it was the most amazing experience I've ever had.

I called about 4pm to order, it got on a 6pm flight from LA to San Jose, CA, and by 8pm the rock was in my tank. Only 4 hours "out of water" seemed worth a fair amount of extra cost to me, because of the survival rate of the critters.

Is this true? Or, is overnight jus fine?

Steve

eh, you're also in the same state as Exotic Fish Now if we're talkin East coast, it probably wouldn't be near as fast.

 

[buff1]

He was out of fully cured stuff so he sold me some partially cured stuff. 3.99 per pound. It's only been in the tank for a week, so the life hasn't rebounded yet. The shapes and pieces, however are truly spectacular. I asked for mostly large pieces and I got exactly what I wanted. I highly recommend www.drmaccorals.com.