Source for quality live rock?

[Dana Riddle]

None of the local shops that I'm aware of carry live rock (meaning rock covered with real coralline algae and not the stuff coated with an artificial material.) Hence, I'm looking for rock like we could get back in the 90's: Coralline algae-coated rock with a minimum of sponges, tunicate, barnacle, etc. Can someone recommend a source?

 

[14 foot reef]

I could, but bring your wallet.......

 

[Velcro]

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com

 

[14 foot reef]

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com

pretty sure that's not what he is looking for.....a good company, but not what this gentleman was asking for.

 

[Retro Reefer]

Check out KP aquatics

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/f...m-kp-aquatics-picture-heavy-eye-candy.423039/

 

[Newtybar]

pretty sure that's not what he is looking for.....a good company, but not what this gentleman was asking for.

Why not? It is live rock with all other stuff....and probably some other things....

 

[Instigate]

http://www.gulfliverock.com/purchase-now.html

 

[mcarroll]

pretty sure that's not what he is looking for.....a good company, but not what this gentleman was asking for.

Pls elaborate? Ideally can you link to what Dana's talking about so you can show people what you mean?

Seems like three good options so far, but more would be nice.

 

[120reefkeeper]

https://www.liverocknreef.com/

 

[shred5]

There is not much live rock coming in and most is boat rock. The Fiji ban is hurting and so is Indonesia.

You will have to get aquaculture rock.. I just picked up some Gulfview rock today and it is loaded with corals, sponges, tunicates sponges etc. It smells really bad because some of the sponges are dying. I mean it smells really bad.

Tampabay saltwater ships ships to your local airport pretty cheap with some awsume rock. It is shipped under water and I like their pukani and you have to ask for it.

Any of the aquaculture rock is good. Golfview, Tampabay, KP Aquatics.

 

[mcarroll]

There is not much live rock coming in and most is boat rock

Any links where is this available?

 

[shred5]

Any links where is this available?

You would have to call around... It is hard to find.
My lfs says they can order some for me from Sea dwelling creatures.
Live rock and reef might have some but what I got from them was not great a couple months ago..
It was decent shapes but it was bare.
It is really hard to find.
If there was any decent quality stuff and not to much money I would be all over it.

 

[MTBake]

None of the local shops that I'm aware of carry live rock (meaning rock covered with real coralline algae and not the stuff coated with an artificial material.) Hence, I'm looking for rock like we could get back in the 90's: Coralline algae-coated rock with a minimum of sponges, tunicate, barnacle, etc. Can someone recommend a source?

Good luck. Haven't seen anything like this in probably 10 years at least now. I remember the days of going into a lfs and picking between Fiji, Indonesian, and Tonga rock. Pretty sure there's a couple more I'm missing. That was 2005. Not sure what was available in the 90's to be honest. Only been in the hobby since 2004.

 

[shred5]

Good luck. Haven't seen anything like this in probably 10 years at least now. I remember the days of going into a lfs and picking between Fiji, Indonesian, and Tonga rock. Pretty sure there's a couple more I'm missing. That was 2005. Not sure what was available in the 90's to be honest. Only been in the hobby since 2004.

Early 90's we still had Florida and Hawaii live rock..
After those closed we started to get some super quality Fiji rock...
Hawaii closed real early in the 90's and Florida a few years later.

 

[TexasTodd]

The FL stuff is really nice, just a ton of mantis. I'd put it in a bin with some traps first.
I stocked a 29g with it once and it had 3 I had to get out.

 

[User1]

TBS. Call or email Richard. Super awesome guy.

 

[User1]

Double or triple post. Apologies.

 

[Devaji]

hey Dan I have order both from KP and TBS both are great rock. if you are willing to pay the $100 air freight I would go with TBS if you really want live stuff as said its shipping wet so as alive as you can get.
but QT it to get out the pistil shrimp & galleria crabs. I think you will be happy with it.
if you want I can post pics of what I got a year ago.

 

[vetteguy53081]

KP aqauatics.... your best bet. Picked live and fresh with lots of sea life and plants, etc

 

[CCK_8814]

There’s a place by me in SE Michigan, they claim to be the first “coral farm”. That being said they have a roughly 1000gal vat filled with true live rock coated in coraline and all the other good stuff you want, not the other stuff you don’t. If you PM me I will gladly share their contact information with you. I do not know if name dropping is allowed since to my knowledge they are not a forum sponsor. But I will say they have exactly what you’re looking for and my guess would be they could ship it to you. You are going to pay for it though.