Live rock illegal?

Grumblez · Feb 13, 2022

Duncan62 said:
Now my reef friends are about 50/50. I'm gonna call it a blasto. Lol. Thanks. From the beginning of my aquarium experience I've used uncured rock from some source. For me the benefit of legal rock out weighs the hitchhiker risk.

A LFS store near me has a giant tub of wet rock. Im pretty at some point it had real LR in it that seeded various rock that seeded the rock that seeded the rock that's in it now.

If I was going to use it first I would quarantine it for a few weeks and observe. Seen a few random aptasia etc stuff on it along with good stuff like thick Coraline, random shrooms, etc.

If you call around I'm sure you can find a whole in the wall somewhere with something similar. Especially somewhere that densely populated.

05FLSTCI · Feb 13, 2022

@Grumblez this was the way of the tank back when I started. LR in huge tubs in the back of most shops, we had a great reputation with the shop owner and we could go in back and pick out what we wanted. I've called most of the local shops in RI and I get the same story, no and illegal. Clearly they want you purchase off the shelf rock.

minus9 · Feb 13, 2022

I bought some Solomon Island rock from Unique (they're only 15 minutes from me) and it's pretty good stuff. It's not cheap, but you don't need 1-2lbs per gallon like the old days. I'll probably pick up some more. They also had Australian rock in, but shipping delays and costs are making it a little hard to bring in right now. If you're looking to add some bacterial diversity, then try AF Life Source and @AquaBiomics has some new live sand full of bacteria and pest free. Also, as mentioned earlier, it isn't illegal, it's just harder to find and source.

fish farmer · Feb 13, 2022

05FLSTCI said:
I've found several online dealers that have farms and sell. What I'm looking for is local. I've always set up my tanks with local shop LR/LS. Was just hoping to do the same.

Have you called Aquadreams in Feeding Hills, Ma? I know they have online options of cultured Florida rock, maybe the have some in store?

I haven't seen any good bins of live rock in the New England area since Paragon Aquatics 20 years ago...

Duncan62 · Feb 13, 2022

Grumblez said:
A LFS store near me has a giant tub of wet rock. Im pretty at some point it had real LR in it that seeded various rock that seeded the rock that seeded the rock that's in it now.

If I was going to use it first I would quarantine it for a few weeks and observe. Seen a few random aptasia etc stuff on it along with good stuff like thick Coraline, random shrooms, etc.

If you call around I'm sure you can find a whole in the wall somewhere with something similar. Especially somewhere that densely populated.

You can dip uncured rock in very salty water. Like .045. Lost of crabs and stars as well as worms will try to escape. Sort thru and throw the good guys in the tank. Still a year down the road you'll spy a crab or worm or serpent star. Get it uncured if available. Almost instant cycle with no chemicals.

05FLSTCI · Feb 13, 2022

I think I'll give them a call, looks like it's drop ship. @fish farmer

Grumblez · Feb 13, 2022

Duncan62 said:
You can dip uncured rock in very salty water. Like .045. Lost of crabs and stars as well as worms will try to escape. Sort thru and throw the good guys in the tank. Still a year down the road you'll spy a crab or worm or serpent star. Get it uncured if available. Almost instant cycle with no chemicals.

It's cured already. Not as worried about the crabs as aptasia.

05FLSTCI · Feb 13, 2022

I never had any issues with LR unfriendly critters. I used to enjoy the moon lighting and watching the LR come to life, although I will admit it, when we set up our 125 we had a mantis shrimp, that lil sucker destroyed half the tank before I could get him. Other than that, no issues.

Rmckoy · Feb 13, 2022

Grumblez said:
A LFS store near me has a giant tub of wet rock. Im pretty at some point it had real LR in it that seeded various rock that seeded the rock that seeded the rock that's in it now.

If I was going to use it first I would quarantine it for a few weeks and observe. Seen a few random aptasia etc stuff on it along with good stuff like thick Coraline, random shrooms, etc.

If you call around I'm sure you can find a whole in the wall somewhere with something similar. Especially somewhere that densely populated.

Same here .
there is a large chain lfs one of their stores I used to frequently visit has a huge tote in their basement filled with rocks in water .
is it live ?
I don’t know but it’s in water . And sold as being live .
Not being exposed to any life to contribute to ammonia processing capability , if it was live I believe the bacteria would have starved and all be dead .
I doubt someone is feeding the rocks …

RyanTurner · Feb 13, 2022

Duncan62 said:
this guy was a hitchhiker on some south Florida rock. Just a little green on a skeleton that somehow healed in my tank. Not sure what it is but it's pretty. Kp is hard to beat.

Manicina areolata

encrustingacro · Feb 13, 2022

vetteguy53081 said:
Looks like a blasto. Great bonus

It’s not a blastomussa. Blastos come from the pacific, whereas this looks like an Atlantic coral.

encrustingacro · Feb 13, 2022

Duncan62 said:
I'm leaning toward symphilia? It's about 2 inches acros. But the skin is smooth. It looks really red around the edge with more white light.

It’s not a symphyllia. first of all, symphyllia doesn’t exist anymore and all symphyllia genuses have been moved to lobophyllia. Also, this coral is from the Atlantic, whereas ‘symphyllias’ are from the pacific.

Grumblez · Feb 13, 2022

Rmckoy said:
Same here .
there is a large chain lfs one of their stores I used to frequently visit has a huge tote in their basement filled with rocks in water .
is it live ?
I don’t know but it’s in water . And sold as being live .
Not being exposed to any life to contribute to ammonia processing capability , if it was live I believe the bacteria would have starved and all be dead .
I doubt someone is feeding the rocks …

This guy keeps a few fish in it. Regardless the nitrifying bacteria might not thrive but will not die off completely and you'll still get the benefit of diverse bacteria and a rock surface with a biofilm on it already

AdamD76 · Feb 13, 2022

05FLSTCI said:
I've found several online dealers that have farms and sell. What I'm looking for is local. I've always set up my tanks with local shop LR/LS. Was just hoping to do the same.

You can call Laconia pet center. They usually have precycled live rock for sale from their system.
Laconia Pet Center

VermontReefs · Feb 13, 2022

fish farmer said:
Have you called Aquadreams in Feeding Hills, Ma? I know they have online options of cultured Florida rock, maybe the have some in store?

I haven't seen any good bins of live rock in the New England area since Paragon Aquatics 20 years ago...

Greetings from Arlington, VT. Since you're in Brandon which LFS's if any do you drive to for in person viewing etc? Obviously we have nothing whatsoever here in VT...or at least that I'm aware of and frankly very little in New England all together.

Duncan62 · Feb 13, 2022

encrustingacro said:
It’s not a symphyllia. first of all, symphyllia doesn’t exist anymore and all symphyllia genuses have been moved to lobophyllia. Also, this coral is from the Atlantic, whereas ‘symphyllias’ are from the pacific.

I couldn't find one from the area this rock came from. It was almost gone and I got a good look at the skeleton. I've read about the reclassification as well but the skeleton is not similar at all to any lobo. So....what is it? If skeletal pics will help I'll post.

encrustingacro · Feb 13, 2022

Duncan62 said:
I couldn't find one from the area this rock came from. It was almost gone and I got a good look at the skeleton. I've read about the reclassification as well but the skeleton is not similar at all to any lobo. So....what is it? If skeletal pics will help I'll post.

It's probably some sort of faviid. Whether it is in the subfamily mussinae or faviinae, I don't know. I'm not that familiar with atlantic corals.

minus9 · Feb 13, 2022

Duncan62 said:
this guy was a hitchhiker on some south Florida rock. Just a little green on a skeleton that somehow healed in my tank. Not sure what it is but it's pretty. Kp is hard to beat.

Looks like Colpophyllia, but Manicina is common as well.

FurrierTransform · Feb 13, 2022

For how long has selling true live rock been illegal? I bought mine a couple decades ago and haven't paid attention to the live rock market since then. And, is it illegal to go to the beach and get a couple gallons of live sand?

Duncan62 · Feb 13, 2022

Duncan62 said:
I couldn't find one from the area this rock came from. It was almost gone and I got a good look at the skeleton. I've read about the reclassification as well but the skeleton is not similar at all to any lobo. So....what is it? If skeletal pics will help I'll post.