Pacific Live Rock vrs Floridia Aquacultured Rock

[bbernie]

I am setting up my first 75 gallon reef aquarium and I would like some suggestions if I should stock it with Florida Aquacultured Rock or Pacific live rock. I live in Florida so I could pick up the Florida rock from a supplier and that would minimize the die off. I have also have read that Florida rock is more dense ( expensive ) and was concerned if it was too dense to support the needed bacteria as I am not planing on installing a wet dry filter. Any suggestions on a good supplier would also be appreicated.
Thanks in advance for your help it is greatly appreicated.

 

[olgakurt]

I vote for FL or pacific aquacultured rock as a sustainable resource. Among those FL suppliers I am aware of are Gulf-view, Tampa Bay Saltwater, and Sea-Critters. I've had good experiences with rock from sea-critters.

If you use a deep sand bed, you will not need as much rock for denitrification, so density shouldn't be that much of an issue.

Raw gulf rock should also have quite a bit of life over the pacific rock, but be aware that some of that life may also be unwanted so you'll have to check for hitchhikers.
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[MarkO1]

1 vote for FLA. rock here! This is what #110 of live rock from TB saltwater looks like:marks tank
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[NoviceReefer]

I picked up 150# of FL LR from Tampa Bay Saltwater in May, 2001. It is full of life for sure. I would recommend it as the way to go. However, take a little extra time and try to get all the mantis shrimp out before you set up the tank. I've fought with 9 or 10 of the critters and still have, at least, one remaining. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK!!!!

Since you are in FL you'll save $$$$ on the shipping costs and not have to bear the die off problems others have had to face. I carried the first 1/2 my LR home as checked baggage...what a hassle. But, I got it back into my tank in less than 4 hours and had no die off.

Good luck!

 

[bbernie]

Thanks all for the advice, I think I will go with the Florida rock. I am a little worried about the mantis shrimp as from what I have read they are very difficult to get rid of.

Any ideas on how to do this would be appreciated. thanks !

 

[Anonymous]

They are very easy to get rid of. Dip each piece of rock in freshwater for a few seconds. Once Freshwater hits a mantis shrimp they come flying out of the rock. Some fear this kills some worms and pods. It has been my experience and those that I know personaly you do not lose very much at all and no worries about Mantis. All of my feather dusters were fine also.

 

[Anonymous]

I have yet to hear of a pacific aquacultered liverock?

 

[fishfarmer]

Walt Smith has been culturing Fiji LR. I saw this on his website. I think Flying Fish Express has carried it before, it was a little pricier.

I think since you live in Florida, by all means get it locally, you will be able to pick the best pieces yourself, something that most of us can't do.

 

[Bill2]

What about a mix of both? Cherry pick out some Florida rock and buy some good ole fashioned Fiji rock for the main support of the tank. It would be a shame to pay extra for some Florida rock and just have it hidden behind other rock.

Bill

 

[bowser]

I vote for the FL rock too, Tampa Bay Saltwater is excellent! Almost all my rock is from there, and it has the most life on it!
Some pieces can be dense, but most is just riddled with holes....
Olgakurt is right though, you can get unwanted guests on just about any rock.

 

[SPC]

If you want alot of life, go with the Fla rock.
Steve

 

[morepunkthanewe]

I have bought over 300 pounds of Sea Critters Live Rock over the years and I have never been disappointed. They use a honey comb rock to start with, so the live rock has lots of holes for coral attachment and it adds lots of surface area for denitrification. If you live in Florida, you shouldn't have any die off because the rock doesn't have to travel much. Go Aquaculture!

 

[fishnbarefoot]

Definitlt get Tampabaysaltwater.com or Gulf-view.com - who is the grower for GARF. You'll be happy, YOU need to cure though.

 

[bfeit]

go to http://www.petsforum.com/seacritters/ l got 180ld from seacuritters very nice . l pick my rock by hand.