LIVE ROCK QUESTION

[Joe DeSantis]

Could some direct me to a thread or share their opinion on the best online store for purchasing CURED live rock. A friend of mine has a FOWLR which has been set up for a couple of years (200g) which he wants to add more live rock to. Any opinions..... :? :?:

 

[Expos Forever]

If your friend is planning on adding rock directly to his tank: he should either buy it locally or change his mind and set up some kind of holding container. Most LR (even "fully cured") will have considerable die off during shipping which can cause an ammonia spike once added to your friend's tank. Once the holding container tests negative for ammonia it should be safe to then add it to the tank. Properly cured (and quickly shipped) rock will have less die-off.

 

[Joe DeSantis]

I was under the impression that cured rock was available. the tank currently has about 100lbs of live rock in it. The tank is lightly stocked w/ fish and skimmed. I am looking for opinions or experiences that other members have had w/ buying cured rock online. Where it was bought, and how "cured" it was are the 2 factors which are of the most importance to me. Please feel free to post any experiences etc...Thanks

 

[kstuber]

Hi Joe,

Outlets can advertise cured live rock, as it probably is when it leaves their facility. However, by the time the rock arrives to your friend, it will have been out of water for 24+ hours (it's shipped damp, in plastic bags, but not in water.) Think of what the condition of the rock your friend has now would be in if you took it out of water for that long. Small anemones, corals, etc. would be dieing off. Not something you want to put into a tank already populated with other livestock.