Best LR in town (Price/Quality Wise) (1 Viewer)

[Kittysnax]

Where can I find the best LR in town for the $$? I dont have alot of time to go from store to store all over houston (Im in Baytown) and was just curious as to what everyone's bets experiences were and where.

Does this place have rock with nice Coraline? Hitchhikers? Pests?

I know "good" LR isnt cheap, I just want my moneys worth (I'll probably be needing about 15-20#) and it will be for a brand new setup. (20G Long)

MUCH thanks for any help!

<3 Kitty

edit: ALSO if you know any online places that are just as good if not cheaper PLEASE LEMME KNOW! ^_^

 

[hoffy02]

tagging

 

[AnnetteG]

I love love love tampabaysaltwater.com for the incredible diversity of life you get on their rock. Tons of hitchhikers, and freebies with my order! You can get some pests, but as long as you don't add fish to your tank until you've gotten rid of them all, you should be fine. Read up on the site for more info and tons of people's stories about this rock. You go pick up your package at the airport the same day they shipped it and the rock is shipped in water and is chock full of life & critters, macro algaes, sponges, corals, you name it. I think it comes to about $5 a pound and is totally worth it.

 

[mpwolken]

I shall not reveal the secret of the best deal. (Don't look at our classified section)

 

[Kittysnax]

thanks annette!

mp- that doesnt really help. I prefer to not get my LR from another hobbiest just for the sheer fact I dont trust whats in thier water. With a store I have a much better deal of knowing (most of the time) what I'm getting and if I have any problems down the line (which I shouldnt) I can always call up a number and be like, "wth? lol"

 

[jamesw]

I recently purchased some Alor live rock which is incredibly awesome. It came w/ nudibranchs, feather dusters, SPS corals, and two or three varieties of zooanthids. Not to mention great shapes, and excellent corraline coverage.

For a indo-pacific reef, I prefer to add indo-pacific fauna. Otherwise the TBS rock is very nice too.

Cheers
James

 

[LogansRunRx]

+1 on fellow reefers here in H-town.

IMO, best LR in town is:
T&T Fish and Reptile (Westpark toll at Hwy 6)
or
All About Fish (45 S)
also
City Pets, but usually a little more color on the above.

cheers...

 

[Kittysnax]

thanks james and logan!

I was really curious on local stores as internet options are my dead-end choice. I am kinda worried about All about Fish as I have heard they alter prices based on appearance, and each employee will quote you differant. Granted, I dont look that great, but I dont really like that kinda practice. (Keep in mind all I have heard is hear-say so I WILL have to check it out on my own)

I will be swinging by Fish Gallery today though since It is right by my DRs office since I have never been. Maybe I can persuade the husband to go to AAF after that and just back track a lil.

I really appreciate the tips! Thank you!

 

[LogansRunRx]

Fish Gallery is an impressive business, to be sure...
but...
have never been impressed with their LR or coral, for that matter.
their fish are pristine, though.

i've only been to AAF once... and wasn't shopping for LR at the time, liked what i saw.
good luck.

 

[Kittysnax]

lol thanks logan thats good to know! Maybe FG shouldnt be the 1st place I go to? LOL!!!

 

[tmgrash]

thanks james and logan!

I was really curious on local stores as internet options are my dead-end choice. I am kinda worried about All about Fish as I have heard they alter prices based on appearance, and each employee will quote you differant. Granted, I dont look that great, but I dont really like that kinda practice. (Keep in mind all I have heard is hear-say so I WILL have to check it out on my own)

I will be swinging by Fish Gallery today though since It is right by my DRs office since I have never been. Maybe I can persuade the husband to go to AAF after that and just back track a lil.

I really appreciate the tips! Thank you!

I shop at all about fish a lot, don't know where you got your info on the pricing. They do have nice lr, and very nice coral and frags. Kind of hit or miss on the fish (he doesn't carry that many) kind of ironic considering the name.

 

[d2mini]

I love love love tampabaysaltwater.com for the incredible diversity of life you get on their rock. Tons of hitchhikers, and freebies with my order! You can get some pests, but as long as you don't add fish to your tank until you've gotten rid of them all, you should be fine. Read up on the site for more info and tons of people's stories about this rock. You go pick up your package at the airport the same day they shipped it and the rock is shipped in water and is chock full of life & critters, macro algaes, sponges, corals, you name it. I think it comes to about $5 a pound and is totally worth it.

Ditto. Going through this right now. Part 1 was awesome (other than a few pests), can't wait for Richard to go diving for Part II! See my build thread for some pics.

 

[Kittysnax]

thanks james and logan!

I was really curious on local stores as internet options are my dead-end choice. I am kinda worried about All about Fish as I have heard they alter prices based on appearance, and each employee will quote you differant. Granted, I dont look that great, but I dont really like that kinda practice. (Keep in mind all I have heard is hear-say so I WILL have to check it out on my own)

I will be swinging by Fish Gallery today though since It is right by my DRs office since I have never been. Maybe I can persuade the husband to go to AAF after that and just back track a lil.

I really appreciate the tips! Thank you!

I shop at all about fish a lot, don't know where you got your info on the pricing. They do have nice lr, and very nice coral and frags. Kind of hit or miss on the fish (he doesn't carry that many) kind of ironic considering the name.

I actually think I found the thread on marsh. I'll try n dig it up but I have a feelin it was here. (Or Houston Fish Box)

edit: http://marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=37585

I read the entire thing the other day heh. I just dont support the practice. :/

 

[Ulric]

For hitchikers, really your best bet is probably ordering online. Most the 'live rock' Im used to seeing at LFS is 'brown' live rock.

Lately Fish-R-Us out near conroe has been getting/carrying some with macro algea and corals 9green favia for example) , but I think they're charging 7-9$ per for it.

Ive placed one order with tampa bay and another with floridaliverock.com Both came with some nice sized pieces... I recall the TBS stuff having a couple nice size tunicates, a lot of turkey wings and 1 large jewel box clam. The Florida stuff had a fair # of brownish hard corals common to the gulf... and the normal misc of tiny crabs, 1 spider etc.

 

[theyammieguy]

I go to all about fish every saturday. The only employee I ever see in there is Kevin. I've been dealing with him since he worked at the store across from walmart off almeda genao.

That thread that was linked seems outdated. He DOES have prices posted on his tanks.

A friend of mine bought some LR rock from him a few weeks ago and Kevin hand picked some really nice looking rock. Made me jealous.

Kevin is a good guy and if you are loyal to him he will treat you right.

 

[m109r]

As noted above, Fish-R-Us has the best looking rock on the north side. The rock I purchased was labeled Marshal Island.

Here are some shots of the two pieces I picked up from them last Saturday.


Center rock was from B&B, the rest is from Fish-R-Us.

Not sure what the colony is.

 

[jamesw]

So...why not mail order? Most of the rock at the LFS has gone through the exact same process to get to the store - you just don't know how well cared for it was.

I got rock that was collected, boxed, and shipped from Denpesar Bali to LA, then put on another plane and shipped to Hobby airport. So it was out of the water (in a box w/ wet newspaper from Denpesar btw) for only 30 hrs or so.

There were and still are live anemones and corals on my rock. If anemones can survive, it must not have been that difficult a passage.

Cheers
James

 

[d2mini]

Yup, mine came from TBS... shipped in the AM and picked up by me at Hobby in the early PM. Boxed up for about half a day.
Richard is out diving off the coast of FL right now hopefully getting Part II of my order.

 

[m109r]

So...why not mail order? Most of the rock at the LFS has gone through the exact same process to get to the store - you just don't know how well cared for it was.

For the same reason I did not mail order my wife. I was/am looking for that perfect rock. (Hopefully my wife is still going through my net history. )

With my setup being so small I will not have very many pieces of rock in my tank so I am forced into being selective.

 

[3CC]

You are welcome to see what we have in stock

We do not carry base rock

http://www.marshreef.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewforum&f=108