LR Purchasing?

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

I am still debating on the LR purchase and where to get it from.

I can get it locally and cured for about $8-9 a lb x 45 lbs - $360

Online they range from $200-300 for 45 lbs shipped and then I still need to cure the rock for a few months.

Do you think its really worth the $100 difference in time and etc?

Recommendations?

[DarthOcellaris]

hae you looked around for a reefer getting rid of some live rock?
That could save you BIG MONEY and you'd have cured lr

[frankandmaura]

Originally Posted by Rob_Reef_Keeper

I am still debating on the LR purchase and where to get it from.

I can get it locally and cured for about $8-9 a lb x 45 lbs - $360

Online they range from $200-300 for 45 lbs shipped and then I still need to cure the rock for a few months.

Do you think its really worth the $100 difference in time and etc?

Recommendations?

You can get cured rock online...isn't the stuff you are looking at for $200 to $300 cured?

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Originally Posted by frankandmaura

You can get cured rock online...isn't the stuff you are looking at for $200 to $300 cured?

After being out of the water for 2 days I would think it would become uncured due to die off.

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

hae you looked around for a reefer getting rid of some live rock?
That could save you BIG MONEY and you'd have cured lr

Good point but the main question I have is how do you know how the person maintained their tank and what was put in it. I guess this oculd be the same anywhere too.

[frankandmaura]

Originally Posted by Rob_Reef_Keeper

After being out of the water for 2 days I would think it would become uncured due to die off.

I guess someone else will have to weigh in, but I would think buying it online is safe and it should stay cured (they usually ship it wet to maintain the life). I don't think the life is as fragile as you think.

I hope it is ok, I was planning on buying some LR online soon...and I don't want to take the time to "cook" it.

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Even locally cured LR will take a few weeks to cycle in the tank. The cutting down on the 3 months of cooking Vs. $100 is what I am questioning.

[frankandmaura]

Oh I understand that a tank needs to cycle...but does LR purchased online need to cook?!? I cannot answer that question, I don't think it needs to cook for 3 months...but, I am kinda new to this game still, maybe I am over-optomistic.

[DarthOcellaris]

Cooking rock is to purge it of phosphates and detritus etc...cooking freshly bought LR can no doubt be a benefit IMO.

The last time I bought LR online, it was shipped overnight and was only kept moist with some paper towels. Some things died but I'd be willing to say 95% of everything lived

Totally safe but very expensife IMO...shipping charges are what getcha

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Yes so adding the shipping costs the LFS are not that far off.

[tellycoleman]

wholesale aquatic in my opinion is the best place to get live rocks online. The prices are very low and the quality is very hi. http://wholesaleaquaticsupplies.com/...b6dfe0d0aaa1f2
I have delt with them on many occasions and they are outstanding. I live on the east coast and got my live rock from them in california in 19 hours. It could have been 12 hours but i had to wait and get off work to pick it up. If you decide to buy online make sure, no matter who it is, that they can ship it to you air cargo. It cost just as much as standard shipping and you get it fast. This can only work if you live close to a international airport. They put it on a plane and ship it to you and you go to the airport and pick it up.

All live rock you get online will have some die off but I didnt have much.
when you get Live rock from the LFS you dont have to worry about scrubbing it and rinsing it its in good shape and ready to go in your tank. you pay for the scrubbing and rinsing

But if you are just starting up a new tank I would get it Online.
you are already going to go threw a cycle.
Cure it in your display thats what i did.
filled the tank with water hooked up a skimmer rinsed the rock off that i got and dropped it in the tank.
Dont put in sand until the cycle is done because you will have to siphone out dead stuff.
Its already gonna be a month or two before you put fish in waiting on it to cycle might as well do it in your tank.

I got 45 pounds of fully cured live rock shipped to me for about $175 bucks (air cargo).

[DarthOcellaris]

LiveRocks.com used to be real good but I think they got blown out of the water ( bad pun, I know ) when Katrina hit them.

TampaBaySaltwater was another good one but not sure if they're still around.

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

I dont live near an airport. So ordering them to my door is extra shipping. I am looking at $250-300 for 45 lbs of LR. Locally I can get it for $3-400 and I can pick out the pieces I want. I can get the cured LR in the tank and have the tank cycling right away. Not waiting for 3 months of cooking before adding them to the tank then to start the tank cycle. I am leaning towards locally unless there is a huge cost savings or proven that the rock I get online is really worth the effort.

[frankandmaura]

I thought you were saying that good LR locally was $8 to $9 a lb. For 45 lbs you are talking $350 to $400. I talked to Mark at Blue Zoo and he was going to ship 45 lba of cured Tonga Kaleanni (sp) for $250 to my door.

Thats a pretty big savings, I think. I am pretty much in the same boat as you...wondering what I should do.

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

I am more worried about the die off from shipping. Is it worth the $100 in savings and the 3 months cooking/curing?

Also I want LR with coralline on it and not base looking white LR.