Are there any questions that I should ask my LFS about their live rock? Anything bad that I should keep an eye out for? I saw on liveaquaria that they have rocks available from multiple regions and was wondering if it might be worth paying some extra freight to go with those...
Questions to ask LFS about their live rock?
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buttons buster
New Member
The main questions to ask are:
How long they've had the rock?
and
Where they got the rock from?
How long they've had the rock?
and
Where they got the rock from?
buttons buster
New Member
There really is not a too long answer.
It all depends on the rock.
But If the rock seems "fishy" at all then don't buy it
It all depends on the rock.
But If the rock seems "fishy" at all then don't buy it
johnanddawn
New Member
buying live rock is the most important part of the reef process as it will be your reefscape and your biological filter.
the region the rock comes from will play into its shape and density - some areas have very dense rock and others have very porous. some regions like tonga are famous for their branch rock and figi has awesome shapes and caves - choose what you like the look of
when buying live rock you really don't need to ask anything but do this:
1) look for pests like aptatia and valonia
2) choose by the shape and size more then color - coraline will grow eventially
3) inspect their holding bin - does it have good flow, does it look like they are curing it properly - uncured rock will smell bad, cured rock smells like ocean. although there is nothing wrong with uncured rock and many prefer to buy it that way and can cook it yourself
4) i prefer to buy larger pieces rather then a bunch of small stuff and then try to stack it, an average nano - 1 to 4 pieces
5) buying from internet places like LA only makes sense if you are buying a quantity of rock otherwise it is far nicer to hand pick your own even if it means paying a bit more
6) then even if they tell you their rock is "cured" - cook it with the two bucket method anyway....... so many fail to do this very important step and that is why they end up with aptatia, crabs, valonia, flatworms, and other nasty hitchhikers
the region the rock comes from will play into its shape and density - some areas have very dense rock and others have very porous. some regions like tonga are famous for their branch rock and figi has awesome shapes and caves - choose what you like the look of
when buying live rock you really don't need to ask anything but do this:
1) look for pests like aptatia and valonia
2) choose by the shape and size more then color - coraline will grow eventially
3) inspect their holding bin - does it have good flow, does it look like they are curing it properly - uncured rock will smell bad, cured rock smells like ocean. although there is nothing wrong with uncured rock and many prefer to buy it that way and can cook it yourself
4) i prefer to buy larger pieces rather then a bunch of small stuff and then try to stack it, an average nano - 1 to 4 pieces
5) buying from internet places like LA only makes sense if you are buying a quantity of rock otherwise it is far nicer to hand pick your own even if it means paying a bit more
6) then even if they tell you their rock is "cured" - cook it with the two bucket method anyway....... so many fail to do this very important step and that is why they end up with aptatia, crabs, valonia, flatworms, and other nasty hitchhikers
thanks!
good thing I've been to the ocean a few times so I know what it smells like lol (nothing special...Louisiana, Florida, Oregon, and Hawaii). Think I'll take a trip up to the only LFS around here that seems to be friendly, knowledgable, AND keeps their tanks in good condition to see what they have and how much they charge.
Is it normal for the holding bins to be stuffed full of rock? I vaguely recall this places live rock bin to be extremely full of live rock. I don't recall anything about the smell though...all fish stores smell strange to me lol, but I know there's a good smell and a bad smell.
good thing I've been to the ocean a few times so I know what it smells like lol (nothing special...Louisiana, Florida, Oregon, and Hawaii). Think I'll take a trip up to the only LFS around here that seems to be friendly, knowledgable, AND keeps their tanks in good condition to see what they have and how much they charge.
Is it normal for the holding bins to be stuffed full of rock? I vaguely recall this places live rock bin to be extremely full of live rock. I don't recall anything about the smell though...all fish stores smell strange to me lol, but I know there's a good smell and a bad smell.
The Kapenta Kid
New Member
I asked an LFS here where their Live Rock came from. the guy replied 'the sea'. Duh!!
Like I maybe thought it came from the Sahara Desert. :roll:
On the smell test if it smells marine but clean like amongst the rock pools at low tide, buy it. If it smells like a working fishing harbor, don't.
As Johnanddawn says, the shape is the important thing, think if the rockscape you envisage.
Also, all other things being equal, I try to avoid rocks that are as solid as a lump of granite. Since it sells by the lb you can see why.
Like I maybe thought it came from the Sahara Desert. :roll:
On the smell test if it smells marine but clean like amongst the rock pools at low tide, buy it. If it smells like a working fishing harbor, don't.
As Johnanddawn says, the shape is the important thing, think if the rockscape you envisage.
Also, all other things being equal, I try to avoid rocks that are as solid as a lump of granite. Since it sells by the lb you can see why.
well...it was $5.99/lb (as I expected) but I was not impressed with the shapes available. Looked to be quite dense rock and I was not wanting to HAVE to chisel anything. I spoke with the same guy I did last time although they were pretty busy and I didn't want to keep him from paying customers so I spent about an hour and a half there (that and a torrential downpour held me "hostage" lol).
I'm debating if I should get some live rock from one of the other LFS's even if their tanks aren't as clean (strange greenish/brown tint...sort of, not quite...hard to describe) in hopes that they'll have better shapes. If I have to cure it anyway does it really matter as long as it smells right?
I'm debating if I should get some live rock from one of the other LFS's even if their tanks aren't as clean (strange greenish/brown tint...sort of, not quite...hard to describe) in hopes that they'll have better shapes. If I have to cure it anyway does it really matter as long as it smells right?
if you are going to cure it anyway then smell doesn't matter either. Smell is really only to make sure that you aren't getting rock with decaying matter on it. When you cook it, you use the lack of light and time to kill off anything living in/on the rocks so you will end up with decaying matter anyway.
The Kapenta Kid
New Member
Yeah, you are right there. I guess I was too enamored of the smell of my set-up tank which smells like a lovely rock pool!Trogdor said:if you are going to cure it anyway then smell doesn't matter either.