Real ocean rock .
- Thread starter LOVEROCK
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livinlifeinBKK
5000 Club Member
Not sure, but if I were to speculate I would imagine it has something to do with the Omicrom scare over here in Asia...Countries closing borders again and enforcing more restrictions probably is taking it's toll on the shipping industry.
MaxTremors
2500 Club Member
AFAIK Fiji and Tonga banned the harvest of live rock. Australia harvests some but not much, I saw some for sale a month or two ago (reef builders had an article about it). Otherwise, Florida/gulf is your only option. I cut my teeth in days of Walt Smith Fijian and Tongan liverock, people who started reefing in the last ten years have no idea what they missed out on. The stuff from the gulf is excellent, though. I think the hobby is starting to move back towards live rock, or at least we’re collectively starting to realize the drawbacks of dry rock, personally I’ll never use dry rock again.
livinlifeinBKK
5000 Club Member
The best live rock is right out of the sea...I got some covered in the most beautiful coralline algae I've ever seen and I'm sure it's covered with countless bacterial strains which would be impossible to have using only dry rock and whatever bacteria in a bottle used.
I think Walt smith is still collected since it’s mostly man made but I’m not sure what bans are currently in place. Last I knew wild collected Tonga, Marshall Island, etc are banned from collection.
GlassMunky
2500 Club Member
Marshal island still export rock.
unique corals had some for last last month but it sold out in a couple hours
GlassMunky
2500 Club Member
Any rock from the pacific will likely be that price. that’s a far plane ride for something heavy.
And also as far as I know, it’s the ONLY real ocean liverock from the pacific right now.
And I do need 100lbs lol ;Bored
tautog83
Valuable Member
Well easy math there , do you want to buy rock that costs a much as your tank ? I dont buy gulf rock either . I'll be starting my tank this time around with dry and marine pure blocks and spheres that have been soaking in a friends tank for 6 months . Hope it works out
GlassMunky
2500 Club Member
I would never start another tank dry. Ever.
Worst decision I ever made. I’ll spend the cash to save the headache
GlassMunky
2500 Club Member
That’s what I tried and I was the most miserable failure of a tank I ever did.
and if you look around on here, the trend of starting with a sterile tank is fast disappearing, and for good reason
Man wish I’d have known that. That would have been awesome to get some. That was my favorite back in the day.
Also, I know your not into Gulf rock but KP rock is from the Keys if that makes a difference
GlassMunky
2500 Club Member
I’m just somewhat weary of Atlantic rock in general with all the SCTLD issues they are having down there with the wild corals….
KevyKevTPA
Community Member
Why? It's rocks. Outside of the reefer community, it's of no value, and it's not like it's some sort of endangered species. I don't get it.
I am with you 100%. Never. Ever. Again.
Jdadams
Active Member
What Would you do with that? No concrete or mined rock would match it. The florida live rock thats been soaking in the ocean for years looks decent after some curing and riding it of pests so idk what 3 months would do. I definitely agree that $35 is a steep price but there’s people that pay it. For me I’d do the Caribsea rock or that new pukani hand made rock and a big box of florida live rock and call it a day.
sbreefco
Community Member
Because those rocks, are the reef. Most places that's the entire environment, once you blow it up, chip it off or otherwise remove it, it's gone. When the hard surface is gone, everything goes with it.
It's not like removing a fish or invert or coral that will repopulate.
