Another live rock question

[Titleist1964]

So last night I finally made the move and ordered my tank and gear, should be here Thursday . I took a ride yesterday to a few LFS and some not so local in search for live rock. I found a few within an hour ride or so. I guess my main question is. Does live rock avoid the ugly stages of the cycle process? I was informed that it will rapidly cycle a tank faster, and cleaner, and minus the dreaded ugly stage.
Thank you.

 

[sfin52]

The live rock from kp aquatics or gull live rock will greatly reduce it. A lot of lfs take dead rock put in tubs and call it live. Or they will use rock from breakdowns.

 

[Titleist1964]

The live rock from kp aquatics or gull live rock will greatly reduce it. A lot of lfs take dead rock put in tubs and call it live. Or they will use rock from breakdowns.

From what I've gathered a couple of the shops did just this, they have a couple tanks/tubs in back and cure the dry rock with live rock from their own systems. Is one better then the other?

 

[rockdiver]

I would look at the sites first.
Compare.
I think alot of the fun in my experience was getting the live rock and seeing all the life on it... good and bad stuff
Try Tampa Bay Saltwater @LiverockRocks look at their site. Others are KP, Gulf Live Rock others out there also.
In my opinion it does stop the "ugly" stages but everyone is different with their ideas of what they want to do.

 

[Titleist1964]

I would look at the sites first.
Compare.
I think alot of the fun in my experience was getting the live rock and seeing all the life on it... good and bad stuff
Try Tampa Bay Saltwater @LiverockRocks look at their site. Others are KP, Gulf Live Rock others out there also.
In my opinion it does stop the "ugly" stages but everyone is different with their ideas of what they want to do.

Yea, I'm kind of impatient with the whole wait thing. I'll look into them, thank you.

 

[Reefing102]

I don’t know if it’ll stop the ugly stages but in my experience it significantly reduced it. I had a large Dino outbreak shortly after moving my tank from the old owner to my house. I put live rock in and within a week the Dino’s were almost non existent. I’m still getting Cyano though (likely my fault due to flow issues)

I ordered my rock from KP

 

[rockdiver]

Really it's personal choice but I did both and for me I won't do any other way other then ordering it.
We spent hours and hours just looking at the LR when it was first set up like hours after the rock went into the tank. We still find things that just popped up lol.

 

[Titleist1964]

Thank you, I think I may go ahead and look into ordering. Not sure how the whole process works but I guess I'll learn soon enough. I have to admit, I'm really excited about diving in to reefing. . Thanks for all the help.

 

[Reefing102]

How the rock is delivered depends on where you order from. Places like Tampa bay saltwater ship to your nearest airport hub (I believe southwest) and you pick it up there. KP does a mix of airport or direct to door depending on what you order. I’m not sure on gulf live rock and others.

 

[rockdiver]

definitely get it flowen into you biggest hassle maybe is going to the airport.

 

[Titleist1964]

How the rock is delivered depends on where you order from. Places like Tampa bay saltwater ship to your nearest airport hub (I believe southwest) and you pick it up there. KP does a mix of airport or direct to door depending on what you order. I’m not sure on gulf live rock and others.

The Airport concept is rather interesting, I guess the rock wouldn't be in the box/bag for more then a few hours and probably less then 5 from TBS to tank. I'm north in the New England area.

 

[rockdiver]

Exactly ! That's the idea.
From ocean to tank.

 

[Titleist1964]

Thanks guys, I'm highly considering going this way. Just need to reach out to a couple sellers.

 

[X-37B]

I have always done 100% live rock over the years.
My last setup on my 120 was 50% live 50% caribsea painted dead.
The caribsea was the only rock to get the uglies.
When I upgrade I will do the same 50/50.
After a few months you cant tell the difference and you get the live rock benifit. Check my build from day 1 till now.

 

[sfin52]

I don’t know if it’ll stop the ugly stages but in my experience it significantly reduced it. I had a large Dino outbreak shortly after moving my tank from the old owner to my house. I put live rock in and within a week the Dino’s were almost non existent. I’m still getting Cyano though (likely my fault due to flow issues)

I ordered my rock from KP

In my opinion is that its a nutrient imbalance and not a flow issue.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

How the rock is delivered depends on where you order from. Places like Tampa bay saltwater ship to your nearest airport hub (I believe southwest) and you pick it up there. KP does a mix of airport or direct to door depending on what you order. I’m not sure on gulf live rock and others.

We use Southwest, Delta and UPS (for small orders).
TBS live rock only travels submerged, so that adds weight to shipping costs...but the benefits are worth it.

 

[Titleist1964]

We use Southwest, Delta and UPS (for small orders).
TBS live rock only travels submerged, so that adds weight to shipping costs...but the benefits are worth it.

I think you'll be hearing from me soon, I'm also considering going with live sand as well, I'm doing a 20 gallon set up, not exactly sure how much I'll need. But I'd rather have a little less then more, hoping to create plenty of room for fish to swim and enough surface space for plenty of coral. Thank you TBS.

 

[sfin52]

I think you'll be hearing from me soon, I'm also considering going with live sand as well, I'm doing a 20 gallon set up, not exactly sure how much I'll need. But I'd rather have a little less then more, hoping to create plenty of room for fish to swim and enough surface space for plenty of coral. Thank you TBS.

15-20lbs would be fine. I would go with 15 and if you need more add marco dry rock. Since this is a 20g ask for smaller peices. If not a hammer and chisel would do a good job at making smaller peices.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

We use Southwest, Delta and UPS (for small orders).
TBS live rock only travels submerged, so that adds weight to shipping costs...but the benefits are worth it.

Do you guys have a website yet?

 

[Titleist1964]

@sfin52 thanks, sounds good. I follow TBS on IG/FB, they had a few posts showing off smaller nano sized rocks. I was thing around the same in weight, maybe even 18, and 20 in sand. I like the 2 separate tower structure style, gives room in the center for flow and fish to swim about.