what would you pay for LR

[fishdweeb]

a classified ad in today's paper. cultured fiji live rock....three year reef...covered with coraline....4 bucks a pound.


I called the guy and he has about 50 pounds of cultured LR.

the LFS sells it for 4.99-5.99 per pound...cultured, but not "covered with coraline"....

I am in north dakota, which is more than a "stones throw" from any salty body.....

what would you pay?

thanks

brad
north dakota

[Antdizzle]

id pay it

[motorslave]

Don't count on the caraline to keep it's color. It could but coraline can be very sensitive to changes and can bleach at the drop of a hat. Not saying it will bleach for sure but keep it in mind when deciding to pay based on color.

[Antdizzle]

SO TRUE, IF MINE HITS AIR ITS GOOD FOR THAT, but here I can get "used" LR normally arounf 2 a lb.But you have to be careful cause you dont know what they have been through, meaning they could possibly leach things like po4.
built my wifes 30 with "used" live rock and the guy had a hari algae problem... didnt see it on the rock until after we set her tank up, so know we are fighting a HA problem... even though her water params are awesome...

[motorslave]

Ha, we pay around $6 to $7 a lb here. After watching others, having gained rock from others and LFS I think the only reason to buy LR is the shapes and porosity and then cook it. This prevents algae issues and pests.

[Antdizzle]

so true but we were both low on patience and doesnt it take months to cook LR ? 6 or 7 ... man thats cash. hek at the shop i work for its 5.99 a lb, the last shop i worked for fiji used to be 4.00 a lb

[Lil' Horned Blenny]

I live in Ballina, Australia, and the Fiji Live rock that is sold at my LFS are from $25 to $34 a kilo (Works out about $13USD a pound).
Interesting as I thought living closer to Fiji would make the rock cheaper than compared to America

[iceslinger]

Originally Posted by fishdweeb

a classified ad in today's paper. cultured fiji live rock....three year reef...covered with coraline....4 bucks a pound.

For the most part LR costs $6.5 per lb at my LFS. I bought LR from a turn in tank from the LFS. The rock was covered with coraline, but had some HH pests. For my next tank I will definitely bake my LR before I add it to my tank. Coraline can come and go, but some pests like to stick around.

[VWD]

4 dollars is a good price live rock, but then it's been in a tank for 3 years absorbing all kinds of nice stuff, and I also agree that you may very well lose the coralline when you place in your tank.

I have seen some really mature tanks with coralline growing like crazy right along with hair algae, I agree on cooking the rock before using it.

[bb0029]

Originally Posted by motorslave

Ha, we pay around $6 to $7 a lb here. After watching others, having gained rock from others and LFS I think the only reason to buy LR is the shapes and porosity and then cook it. This prevents algae issues and pests.

I agree 100%. The only time I buy it from the LFS is when I see a really awesome looking pieces. It runs about $8 lb here for the "good stuff".

[fchidsey]

I live in Florida on the east coast (of florida and the us I guess) anyway depending on the store i have seen it from 4.00 to 8.00 per pound. I have been looking for a tank on craigslist and seen live rock for 2.00 per pound that is all supose to be fuji rock.

[Antdizzle]

2 a lb is pretty much goin rate from a PI (private individual)

[quader94]

one of my LFS goes from base rock thats about $3~ and then tonga/higher end /porous rock thats $6-8

[Fish Dude32]

I'm spoiled, I got about 100 lbs free!! Tonga, Fiji and marshal Island. However now I'm fighting a losing GHA battle!