Got 290 lbs of LR today... Nightmare getting it though

[esmithiii]

When I tore down my tank (2 months ago) I made a deal with a cool LFS in knoxville that they would take all my invertibrates and liverock (I had about the same amount of LR but 30+ corals) and when my tank was successfully setup, they would ship me the same weight of LR. I got someone up in Indy to keep my fish (Thanks Bryan!) until the tank cycles.

Anyway, I told the guys at my LFS that I was ready sometime last week and they arranged shipment to ship from the distributor in LA on Tuesday to arrive via Southwest Airlines at my airport on Wednesday. To make a long story short, the rock never showed up Wednesday (inspite two trips to the airport to get it which is 45 min from my house) and SW could not find the shipment (it was shipped general freight, not priority or guaranteed). I finally got it Thursday (tonight) 30 hours late. It was in transit about 48 hours.

Questions:

#1 The rock looks ok, but it was barely damp. Do you think it will be OK?

#2 Is it standard practice to ship this stuff general freight? The airlines said that general freight has no guarantee whatsoever as to delivery time, and it often takes up to 3 days (and theoretically it could take up to a month) because priority freight and guaranteed freight will take priority and will bump general freight shipments.

#3 I talked SW airlines into dropping the freight charges (my LFS in Knoxville was going to reimburse me for the freight) Since I had to wait an extra day for the LR and there is obviously more die off, what is the fair thing to do? SHould I ask for some kind of credit for some or all of the freight that the LFS now does not have to pay for? It is about $130, BTW.

Thanks in advance,

Ernie

 

[tazdevil]

#1 The rock looks ok, but it was barely damp. Do you think it will be OK?

Yes it's ok, you will have to cure it somewhere other than your main tank, unless your main tank needs to be cycled. You probably have some significant die-off, however, I've seen plenty come back on rock that was relatively "dry". Sniff test can give you some idea of the amount of die-off(stinky rock-more die off, less stinky, less die off).

 

[esmithiii]

The main tank still needs to be cycled. I am running my skimmer full throttle!

Ernie

 

[Anonymous]

I'd talk to your LFS about the shipping charges. They might just let you have it in store credit, or even hand you the cash. It won't hurt to ask.

Since the rock will be your first batch in the tank, I'd definately go for it. You may not get quite as much diversity, but you'll still get a lot. My guess is that since the rock wasn't bone-dry, you haven't lost everything. Give it a go. If you don't get enough for your liking, ask your LFS if you can have dibbs on first pics out of one of thier shipments. (bring up the shipping refund here.)

Good luck, can't wait to see pics

B

 

[Entacmaea]

Depends on how much you want to piss of your LFS... personally, I would give this LR back to the LFS, and make them order you some more, shipped more quickly. Since they are not paying for the freight, their profit margin on this rock will be high and should make them happy, then you can get a fresher batch of rock...

 

[Mogo]

Your live rock will be ok. Seeing as you have a new setup, I would go ahead and put the stuff right in. Expect a longer cycle time.

 

[Bryan Thompson]

Ernie,

The rock is fine. Almost every box of rock that comes into the US is just stacked in a corner in the wharehouse until it is shipped. The game for the wholesaler is to try to predict the amount they will need each week.

Rock and most fish are shipped as general freight. SW usually delivers with no problems so can't really blame the fish store for this one.

The fish are doing great with one execption. The small sailfin tang is MIA. The rest are awesome. Your clowns crack me up. They bite me every time I put my hand in the tank. They are now ganging up on me.

Bryan

 

[Anonymous]

When I ordered my LR it got lost, actually shipped to the wrong airport and spent 5 day in transit. I managed to get a lot of zooanthids to survive, plenty of macro(was shipped raw), and even had a purple linkia survived. The rock was just wrapped in wet newspaper. Took a full cure, almost 4 weeks, with a skimmer and a couple water changes, but turned out nice.

 

[esmithiii]

Thanks Bryan. You are the best for keeping my fish for me.

Ernie

 

[esmithiii]

Update: 21 days later and the rock shows no signs of life. There are no fan worms, algae, coraline or pods or anything. Is there hope?

Ernie

 

[Micah00]

I was just wondering if the cool fish store in Knoxville is the Aquarium or if there is another one I should know about.

 

[esmithiii]

Different one: the coral reef on Kingston Pike in Bearden (near where the Aquarium used to be). The folks at aquariam are anything but cool.

Ernie

 

[jandree22]

SW could not find the shipment (it was shipped general freight, not priority or guaranteed).

that in itself is complete BS.... it should've been priority :roll:

 

[Micah00]

Yeah, I was hoping there was a different one that I just didn't know about. I hardly ever buy anything from them unless it's a really good deal. Now as far as foods that's the only place I buy.

 

[esmithiii]

There are a couple of great people in the Aquarium, but the folks running it are, IMO rude. I referred my boss there and he has lots of disposable income so he bought a bunch of FW stuff, paid to have it set up and afterwards when he told me how they had treated him after spending a ton of cash I was embarrassed that I had recommended them.

I have spent thousands in there, but the owners were always a little snooty. One of the owners blew me off for several months when I was trying to set up the reef club in knoxville.

The Coral Reef is much better (smaller selection though) IMO.

Ernie

 

[Micah00]

I went in one day a bought a couple of corals, and saw a picasso trigger @ a good price. I stuck around while they bagged the corals and then told them I wanted the picasso, went to front to get some foods. Paid for everything, drove home. Got home and had a valentini puffer. Went back that weekend to get the trigger I wanted and told Tim what had happened and he says " Well can I get you anything else?", then he just walks off and the puffer was cheaper than the trigger.