What's the most expensive live rock?

5757 Views 20 Replies 18 Participants Last post by Green Chromis, Jun 5, 2003

Spanky

Discussion Starter · Jun 4, 2003

and why?

Is it because of it's shape? or is it just shipping cost?

What makes it desirable? If you could pick one shape, what would it be?

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

thefatman

· #2 · Jun 4, 2003

in my area it's tonga branch rock.
they say it costs more because of the shape. but personally i dont like it.

desirable rock to me is nice and porus, with plenty of holes in it for fish that hide. i'm really not drawn to rock that is already covered in coraline or other hitchhikers, i like rock that's not even live, ala, plain whiterock. it'll get color and life with time. as long as it is large, and porus.

if i could pick one shape... hmm it would be a very large flat piece to makea nice ledge or bridge, similar to johnny's

Mrs Smith

· #3 · Jun 4, 2003

The $10.99/lb rock at the local LFS you buy when you set up your very first tank. It's expensive in not only price, but it gets you hooked into the hobby. (And therein lies the REAL expense.)

Personally, I love the fiji rock with the bubbly appearance. (At least, I think that's where it came from...) All of our rock, save the first 30lbs was purchaced at auction or off of reefers leaving the hobby. We've been lucky.

grazhopr

· #4 · Jun 4, 2003

thefatman said:
i like rock that's not even live, ala, plain whiterock. it'll get color and life with time. as long as it is large, and porus.

if i could pick one shape... hmm it would be a very large flat piece to makea nice ledge or bridge, similar to johnny's

I agree...

Newfiemom

· #5 · Jun 4, 2003

The opinion of a complete novice!

I have no idea what the most expensive rock is around here, as I have a "personal shopper" for that (his name is Geoff, and I rent him out if the price is right...

).

But I do know what I like - similar to Jay, I like porous rock, with holes and tunnels and stuff. But unlike Jay, I like mine to have all the hitchhikers I can get - tiny mussels, feather dusters, brittle stars, snails, sponges, etc. I love looking in the tank and seeing something that I didn't even know was there before!

And yes, I own three "Where's Waldo" books...:funny:

As for shapes, I also like the look of the arches and ledges/bridges I have seen in other tanks. Geoff has used some of the clumpier pieces to make larger caves as well.

seamonkey

· #6 · Jun 4, 2003

My lfs sells has some lr they sell for 14 a pound but its loaded with life. From feather dusters to coral frags. The piece I am purchasing off them is almost 5lbs and is coated with mushroom frags coral frags polyps and lots of other neat stuff. As for the shape of the rock To me as long as its not a solid chunk with no little holes and caves in it I will like it.

ReefDave

· #7 · Jun 4, 2003

I am somewhat like Jay.

I like pure white baserock...I don't want it to stay that way mind you, but I like to have 90% of the base rock and a few pieces of live....then watch as featherdusters, seasquirts, worms, polyps and other critters cover my white rock. Its neet to find new hitchikers on your live rock (and I like to have a few choice pieces of that) but to me it is even better to look in your tank one morning and see a purple spot on your white rock, or a couple feathers sticking out of a rock, where there was once no life.

So, if you ask me when you first set up, buy 90% dead base rock...then go out and find the most gorgeous life covered 10% that you have everseen, regardless of how much that 10% cost you, because it will be the base of the life that covers your 90%.

JMHO

Dave

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NewReefer

· #8 · Jun 4, 2003

I started off long ago with Fiji then Tonga and from there Marshal Island and here later Catalina! After a while the mixture blends well, and coralline is rich with several colors ranging from Purple, deep maroon and some whitish green! The shapes and sizes of all add to the look of the tank, along with other creatures. I usually look over the rock well and remove whatever I don't particularly like. The average price is about 5.99 a lb for premium rock, although I've paid 9 for certain pieces. I've also ordered some from http://www.themarinecenter.com/
It was 50lbs of Marshal base, and I specified large and have to say it was awesome. I'm starting to notice lots of growth on the base rock finally after several months with hardly nothing on them, including the 50lbs of HIRocks that was totally dead Hawaiian rock.

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NewReefer

· #9 · Jun 4, 2003

OOPS I think I went off the handle and didn't even answer the questions lol, or maybe I did in a way as far as shape. Now price, I'd say raiarity, distance and quality upon arrival makes for a pricey rock, not to mention size and shape and above all the shipping to get it as quickly as possible without the rock sitting out of water too long.

snazlord

· #10 · Jun 4, 2003

bali?

anyone used Bali liverock? LFS had it for $9-10/lb (everything is overpriced at this LFS), but it looks nice. very porous. in fact, it almost looks branched, like a bush or something, rather than a solid rock with lots of holes in it, like most Figi i've seen. They say it's much lighter than other liverock, so you need less than 1lb per gallon (as opposed to 1.5 for other liverock) which is why they charge more. Lot's of places for fish to hide in, etc.

RWD

· #11 · Jun 4, 2003

Hi Jerel,
I'd say almost any type of rock from a small LFS is going to be pretty $$. When I first started my first reef tank in 91, LR was very expensive and hard to find I believe I paid $12-15 per pound back then from the LFS. Since then I only buy from places like Harbor where they get it in bulk (tons at a time) and I can select the pieces I want and for a much cheaper price!
As far as what I like the best, I favor large pieces with holes or arches. I hate small (baseball size) rocks because they are hard to arrange to look like anything. I like the look of a spur and groove setup. Bob

Mr. Ono

· #12 · Jun 4, 2003 (Edited)

LFS live rock prices can be higher simply because they maybe buying it from an importer and wholesaler. The more hands that touch the rock the higher the end price will be. I have seen it as high as $14/ lb. It was nicely covered with coralline and other "hitchhikers".

If all you want is low priced reef rock buy the dead stuff and buy a coralline booster pack from IPSF and just wait. It will eventually get covered. (a year or so under good conditions) But I just don't see many reef tank owners who can wait that look for their tank to change.

To me the ugliest thing is white, dead rock. The pink and purple coralline is what enhances the colors of the coral and fish in a tank.

For shape I like Marshall Island and Tonga Slab.

Yoshi-22

· #13 · Jun 4, 2003

has anyone used pago? ive seen it, but not sure if tis worth it, i have vinisi rock and dead rock, it was once live, but when hawaii's harbor expanded, they left the rocks to dry, so now i have that. Pago, is expensive for jeffs exotic fish but wondering what is the difference, if any

Brandon

wasabi

· #14 · Jun 4, 2003 (Edited)

petland in duluth ga. if you buy less than 10 pounds its 15.99 lb over 10 it's 11.99.wheeeew thats for figi what a joke.

personally i like carribean rock. it is the cheapest i have found. but has the nicest shapes. when i set my 335 up i got a chance to crawl through 2-- 2500 gallon pools and cherry pick all my rock. i used about half carribean then a mixture of tonga slab,marshall island and figi. i dont really like tonga branch. it looks good in a seahorse tank though.

Casey

· #15 · Jun 4, 2003

if its alive rock I like it! nuff said

Green Chromis

· #16 · Jun 4, 2003

Jerel, the most expensive rock you can get is Atlantic rock if you are caught.

:beer: :beer:

Joel

· #17 · Jun 4, 2003

petland in duluth ga. if you buy less than 10 pounds its 15.99 lb over 10 it's 11.99.wheeeew thats for figi what a joke.

Wasabi,
They saw the light and dropped the price per pound to $8.99/# a couple of weeks ago. I bet in the several months @ $12.99-$15.99/# they didn't sell much. They also dropped prices on sw fish and corals too. Not what the prices were, mind you, but better.

Spanky

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jun 4, 2003

Green Chromis said:
Jerel, the most expensive rock you can get is Atlantic rock if you are caught. :beer: :beer:

No kidding! LOL

After we got off the phone this morning, I started wondering what makes rock so expensive. Not only expensive, but such a big range of prices. I could understand if it was within a narrow range, but there's a big range of prices too. I guess they just charge more for the weird shapes.

Hey Bob :wavey: :beer:

Junkzoo

· #19 · Jun 4, 2003

Green Chromis said:
Jerel, the most expensive rock you can get is Atlantic rock if you are caught. :beer: :beer:

AND if they confiscate the boat too!:funny:

Minnreefer

· #20 · Jun 4, 2003

I think it all comes down to supply and demand. There are times when you really, really want some new or special rock then you pay a premium for it. Or you can sometimes get a whole load from someone who is tired of the hobby or business for pennies on the dollar. It always helps if you have lots of money and can buy lots of rock at one time

.

My 2 cents

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