Want to get Live Rock

[waterdogg]

I want to get live rock for my new 55 gal. What should I look for when getting live rock from my LFS. How do I know if it is cured? They have Fiji rock and say that is cured. It's not that I don't believe them it just I would like to know what I'm looking at.
Also will live rock create live sand in time?

Phil

 

[pcragg]

Take a big whiff of each piece. If it smells earthy (like rotten leaves) or if it smells like ammonia, then it isn't cured. It should have a fresh ocean smell.

 

[WannaBeReefer]

Water, if your from North Jersey don't buy any LR at the LFS. I literally drove miles and miles looking for good quality and did not find any at all. IMO, It all looked very much like dead rock to me. No color, no nothing, not to mention the fact that they all want $9 per pound.

I finally purchased from Harbor Aquatics (Sponsor of this site) and am very happy, the quality is 10 fold over any stores I have been to and it was half the price.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[waterdogg]

^^^^^^

 

[cdeakle]

To be quite honest, unless you have one of the few really awesome local LFS that know there stuff, are honest, and you want to support them, I would suggest ordering your LR from online and then curing it yourself. All you need is a spare heater, powerhead, and a new/un-used 30 gallon rubbermaid trash can and about 4-6 weeks.

I purchased my LR from liveaquaria.com. The quality of the rock was awesome and even came with some extra goodies. Unfortunately they are no longer sponsers of reefs.org so I would suggest marinedepot.com or premiumaquatics.com. Both awesome companies and sponsors here.

Once your tank matures and becomes established you can easily make sand and rock LS and LR. When you add non live sand and rock to a mature tank over time it will become "live"

-puff