Live Rock purchase from Internet?

[Doug Stone]

I have a question on buying "cured" live rock over the internet. I purchased
15 pounds as a test purchase from a vendor that had great reviews, pictures
and customer service. I determined this from many posts on the web. I paid
for overnight service and received the rock the next day. I was not very
impressed at all. No signs of life to speak of with faded coraline algae and
plenty of debris and mud on rock. I complained, sent pictures and vendor
sent replacement shipment. Better but still not what I expected from ads and
pictures on the web page. I think the rock will be ok over time but I am
pretty disappointed. I don't want to mention the vendor but have some of the
rest of you had better experiences "recently"? Some of the rave reviews I
read were older after further review.

Where can I find Live Rock like the pictures and ads that would be "live"?
:eek2:

[newbie1]

Hi Doug,
you wouldn't know a guy named ken stone do you?
Anyway, A buddy of mine and me spilt an order
from premium aquatics and were satisfied except we
had to get a credit for them sending less than we
ordered. It was fully cured, and had a decent amount of corraline. It was better than the live
rock in the dfw area lfs.

[Doug Stone]

Sorry, Don't know Ken. Thanks. Looking for some real quality stuff.

[newbie1]

Doug,
I know I'll get flamed for saying this, you might want to drop
by Dallas North aquarium, when I was in there last week, in
there cured lived rock tank, they has some rock with corals growing on it, But it's expensive, 8.99 lb but it drops down
to 5 or 6.99 if you buy more than 30lbs I think.:eek2:

[DgenR8]

Doug,
Most of my rock came from Dale at www.gulf-view.com I ordered twice and was pleased both times. If there is a downside, Gulf View's rock is dense, so by the pund, it looks like a little less than some others. Couldn't hurt to order from more than one place though, more diversity in critters that way.

[Al]

Try Aquatic Specialists. Not the cheapest, but definitely the best fully cured Fiji live rock - colorful, lightweight, interesting shapes. Something I should point out is that cured live rock won't have much 'big' life on it, if by that you mean corals or macroalgae - you would have to get 'fresh' live rock for that.

[wdt2000]

I got some LR from etropicals that was super cheap and had lots of life. It is not cured but it is very fresh. It is not rock that has been sitting in a box for days. If you really want lots of life try uncured live rock.

Will

[dghall]

I have found that LR is a crapshoot no matter where you buy it. There are so many variables that cause die off of the life on the rocks. And the term "cured" is used VERY loosely by many vendors especially internet vendors. Almost to the point that its a total JOKE. Unless you take the rock immediately out of the vendors tank, place it in a bag with some tank water, transport it to your home tank and put the rock immediately and directly into your tank water, it won't be "cured" It will require at least some time to "re-cure" in your home tank. Think about it...the rocks are full of life in the dealers aquarium when: the rock is taken out of the water and placed in a box(+10 degrees from tank water) , put in the cargo hold of an aircraft and taken to altitude (-50 degrees from tank water), put in a warehouse and in the back of a delivery truck to be driven around all day during deliveries (+20 degrees from tank water), left outside your house all day until you get home from work (+10-20 degrees from tank water). All this in addition to being out of the water for 12-24 hours. There is going to be DIE OFF, and a significant amount. Don't be fooled. Unless you practically get it out of the ocean and immediately into your tank, it WON'T be "cured" But don't give up either...with proper curing and cycling procedures the LR will rebound. It will take time to get covered in coraline algae, but not all is lost. Hope this helps.

Dave

[JB NY]

You might want to look into Paragon Aquatics (http://www.paragonsales.com) I bought uncured rock from there and was very satisfied. But I have heard and read nothing but raves about his cured LR.

HTH

[alf3482]

Have you tryed www.themarinecenter.com I have bought about 400 lbs from them over the last few years. All ways pleased and great price 2.99 a lbs and will deliver to richardson for free but there is a $10.00 box charge.HTH