What happened to all the live rock? (1 Viewer)

[jamesw]

Hi Everyone,

I admit I'm just getting back into the hobby after a "vacation" of 4 or 5 years. So I have to ask - what happened to all the live rock?????

I always felt like it was best to get a "little slice of real reef" from the Indo-Pacific into my tank so I liked getting raw uncured rock with LOTS of life on it, and curing it myself to see what I'd get. Admittedly, it sometimes comes with small mithrax crabs or the little brown "smasher" mantis but they are pretty harmless. The diversity that the rock would bring to the system was amazing - and totally worth it.

But when I went to order rock a few weeks ago I found that hardly any rock is air-freighted anymore and that most of the stuff coming in is pretty "clean" except for some bacteria and corraline aglae :-( What happened?

I also noticed a trend while reading the boards of people even preferring to use limestone rocks or dead dried-out live rock for their aquariums?????? That means no diversity except for rock and maybe some bacteria - and whatever comes in on the corals. What is the reason for this? People seem to be worried about pests - but the nasty ones (flatworms, isopods, etc) don't come on live rock...

Anyhow if anyone has the time to explain I'd appreciate it.

Cheers
James

 

[d2mini]

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com

 

[jamesw]

I'm ok - I got Alor rock which was air freighted from Denpesar airport in Bali to LAX and then to me. It still had lots of life on it - including some flower anemones that actually survived.

Cheers
James

 

[FishGameRock]

I recently restarted after a two year break using dried out old rock I had in storage, and didn't get fresh live rock for a few reasons.

1) It's very expensive
2) I feel guilty enough taking fish from the most fragile part of the ocean in existence let alone the actual habitat (though I'm not judging anyone for it in the least)
3) I've had pests anemones and other calcareous pests in the past and I'd like to prevent it as long as possible.
4) I can trade other members for a rock here or there and get a decently diverse tank I just have to wait for a few months for my rocks to get recolonized.
5) I can buy used rock for $2 a pound from about 200 different leaving the hobby selling in the forum.

As far as using other types of man made rock you can create more interesting shapes than you'd be lucky enough to get most of the time at a fraction of the cost. I agree that limestone rock isn't a good option though.

 

[decimal]

alor rock is expensive ! but probably worth the cost. one thing about using or reusing old rock is the phospate and things trapped inside. i have been reading up on "cooking" rocks and it definitly make sense.

on the other hand, getting nice ready to go rock from the ocean is a nice fast way to get up and running.

 

[paraletho]

I ordered a bunch of Pukani Dry Eco-Rock from BRS The rock is light and porous, the price is right, and because its dry shipping is cheaper. You get more rock for your money I already have water. Besides I'm not starting from scratch I already have tanks and sumps full of all kinds of second hand rock for colonization. It is kinda cool all the new things on fresh live rock straight from the reefs. In these economic times I have to watch my bucks or give up some of my reefs.

 

[slyfox]

alor is nice...pukani is nice... actuallyi have seen big isopods in two lfs rock tubs

tonga shut down production,....fiji did as well, not kept up with it maybe they restarted cos ive seen some about... a couple of other places stopped export too... i hate vermetids with a passion, dead rock stops them...

theres one lfs with the best rock going thats been cooking months and hardly anyones caught on, haha i'll save it as my secret supply

 

[flexrac]

oooh,ooh, I know. LOL!

 

[Llama]

WHICH ONE WHICH ONE?!?!?!?!??!!?

My 90 is full, but I need 20 more lbs of prime stuff for a lady friend's tank!

Please?

 

[paraletho]

I'm with you on the Vermitid Slyfox. I wish I would have known about dry rock when I did my 58. The rocks all feel like pincushions and the only place the corals are safe from irritation is on the sandbed.

 

[decimal]

+1 on vermitid... the best way to get rid of them is via copperband butterfly, or you can just superglue the opening shut.

 

[lesd]

There's nothing like good fresh liverock. When I ordered my first box of Fiji rock years ago, I remember it came with some awesome hitchiker zoanthids that were orange with a purple skirt. The rock was COVERED in coralline and had lots of other life.

I'm with you James, the liverock you get today is nothing like it used to be back in the "good old days" when we hiked 10 miles to school in the snow, uphill both ways!

-- Les

 

[d2mini]

Les, have you looked at the stuff from Tampa Bay Saltwater? It's as you describe. I'm thinking of getting some to supplement the rock i already have when i move from my 46g to my new 130g.

 

[lesd]

I don't need any right now, but I have heard that TBS is a decent option these days.

-- Les