Dry Rock or Live Rock?

[19Mateo83]

Does anyone know why he would say I can only do dry rock, yet still charge $7/ lb for it?

Because that dry rock @$7/lb has a nice mark up on it. You can order it for $3/lb online and probably get better rock.

 

[Propane]

Thanks I will look into it. My ony issure is buying my tank from the guy and I also need sand and water. Can I possibly say I want to buy my own live rock ?

unless that’s the only game in town I wouldn’t even shop there. Buy a rodi system and you won’t have to get water there. You can get sand shipped from dozens of online stores as well as tanks and whatever else you need.

 

[Double monti 61]

My tank I just a simple 12x12x24 15 gallon I purchased from petco and some basic hang on back filters and a hob protein skimmer some live sand and the rock.

 

[deafasa]

There are usually people breaking down tanks and selling their rock. That can be a good place to start if you don't want to order online.

Jeff

 

[newtohobby1025]

So if my LFS has the used that i really want, but he only has dry rock, and doesn’t believe in live rock, would you just forget the tank completely?

 

[Bruttall]

Does anyone know why he would say I can only do dry rock, yet still charge $7/ lb for it?

In Omaha Nebraska Marco Rock base is 2.99lb, foundation is 4.49lb and shelf is 7.99 lb. I used mostly foundation and Base for my scape with very little shelf. June 25 pic, I have a couple pieces of "seed rock" that came out of existing tank to put the coralline in mine, but it isa slow process. Tank was originally started Feb 2nd this year so it is not very old yet. The biggest drawback to using DEAD live rock, it takes a very long time for the purple and pink algae's to start growing and you have to add pieces with that algae on it to the tank to get it started. If you look you can a couple of rock with the coralline algae on them.

 

[Sump Crab]

So if my LFS has the used that i really want, but he only has dry rock, and doesn’t believe in live rock, would you just forget the tank completely?

I’m not sure I understand. Your LFS has a used tank you want? Is it empty? Why not buy the tank from LFS and then fill it up with rock yourself? If you want them to set up tank just tell them you want to pay them to install the ocean liverock you bought online.

 

[newtohobby1025]

I’m not sure I understand. Your LFS has a used tank you want? Is it empty? Why not buy the tank from LFS and then fill it up with rock yourself? If you want them to set up tank just tell them you want to pay them to install the ocean liverock you bought online.

Yes the tank is empty. The other problem is, altering talking with other people I think the tank is way overpriced. He wants $2500 for a 150 gallon tank. And if I were to buy from him, I’m not sure if he’d set up the tank with rock I didn’t buy from him.

 

[LOVEROCK]

He knows I drive a bmw, so he probably takes advantage of that. Lol

Always hide your car , if it’s nice when you go shopping

 

[BZOFIQ]

Yes the tank is empty. The other problem is, altering talking with other people I think the tank is way overpriced. He wants $2500 for a 150 gallon tank. And if I were to buy from him, I’m not sure if he’d set up the tank with rock I didn’t buy from him.

Used 150G for $2500, what?!?!

 

[Sump Crab]

Yes the tank is empty. The other problem is, altering talking with other people I think the tank is way overpriced. He wants $2500 for a 150 gallon tank. And if I were to buy from him, I’m not sure if he’d set up the tank with rock I didn’t buy from him.

Unless it’s like a cade with everything that seems steep. It’s strange to me that you believe he would be unwilling to set the tank up how you want it. Reef tanks are very personal and if he wouldn’t even be willing to set it up how you want it I would not buy from him.

If he is the only deal in town then you have to decide what’s more important to you. Have the tank you want and personally work on it/maintain it or have the tank he wants that he maintains and sets up.

 

[CCAF]

Tbsaltwater.com they are out of Tampa Fl. Really nice looking rock I haven’t ordered from them yet but that is who I would try live rock from. Just be mindful live rock can have unwanted hitchhikers dry rock is dead and no pests.

 

[Snoopdog]

There's the fake purple painted stuff that is kinda sorta "live" rock as long as it's been in a tank. If you want the real thing there a couple of places that sell farmed gulf rock like Tampa Bay Saltwater, the $9+ a pound Walt Smith Fiji farmed stuff is also available again and of course the outrageously priced Aussie rock at ~$25 a pound. Just my opinion but at least some real live rock is necessary for a successful tank startup.

Walt Smith is selling rock again? Looking at their web page I do not see any pricing information or even a place to order?

WSI Company Live Rock List Page

waltsmith.com

 

[zoomonster]

Walt Smith is selling rock again? Looking at their web page I do not see any pricing information or even a place to order?

WSI Company Live Rock List Page

waltsmith.com

Some online vendors have been advertising it. Believe last place I saw it advertised was on liverocknreef. Walt is probably selling off the last of it wholesale only and have to buy from reseller. Supposedly they are allowing him to sell the last of his 5 year old inventory then no more.

 

[Snoopdog]

Anyone gotten any lately, I am absolutely interested if anyone can vouch for how live the rock is, and how porous. Looking at the video on that site, I just see less life on the Walt Smith rock compared to KP aquatics, but it is hard to tell honestly.

 

[LuizW13]

Sounds like this LFS owner is giving you plenty of reasons to take your business elsewhere.

 

[reeftivo]

I have a mixture of Gulf Live Rock and Tampa bay and both are comparable. Nice porous rock with red,orange and yellow sponge growth and even a couple gorgonians along with tiny brittle stars, 3 mithrax crabs, spaghetti worms etc..

no bad hitchhikers from what i have seen. GLR didn't have sand when i ordered my first batch of LR so i picked up a small treasure chest pack with sand from TB and couldn't be happier.

 

[steveschuerger]

I’d
1: buy my tank either elsewhere locally. FaceBook marketplace would be a good place to check out used, but if you want new there’s PetCo or plenty of online vendors.
2: use at least some live rock . As others have said, the biodiversity and will jump start cycling the tank.

 

[ReefGeezer]

The links in my signature line both apply to your situation. You might check them out.

 

[jda]

There are a few gulf places that sell premium live rock for about $7 a pound with air freight.

This is just one of many:

All Products

gulfliverock.com

I would find a different store too. They are either lying about live rock being illegal or are not smart enough to know. ...cannot risk this for other things.

There is more than comes on live rock than just bacteria. The pods, worms, starfish, etc. can create an ecosystem and real live rock system also eat ich and other fish parasites when they fall off of the fish. Losing one less fish, not fighting dinos and hair algae, etc. is well worth the cost over marco rock. You can get some other cool critters too. The worst thing is that you might have to capture a shrimp, but this is really easy.