Red Tonga Live Rock

[Tie]

I'm about to add LR to my 72 Gal tank. WOW talk about a whole lotta options and opinions! LR is a much "deeper" subject than I thought.

I've narrowed it down to this. I want "fully cured" LR I'm of the opinion that 100 to 120lbs for my 72 Gal tank will be about right for a nice reef tank.

Now to pick a good place to get LR. My LFS is WAY out there and wants $8.99 for Fiji rock and 3.99 for rubble! So to the internet I go. I've read through a lot of posts here and found some talking about http://www.palmettoreefs.com/

I really think that Tonga looks like some good stuff. http://www.palmettoreefs.com/tongared.htm Has anyone used this particular rock? They also offer some Branch LR. I was thinking a mix of the 2 might look really cool.

Or would I be better off going with the old fashioned Fiji rock?

BTW it's like $5.49 a lb for the Tonga... Kinda steep but still tons cheaper than my LFS.

[SteveP]

Now to pick a good place to get LR. My LFS is WAY out there and wants $8.99 for Fiji rock and 3.99 for rubble! So to the internet I go. I've read through a lot of posts here and found some talking about http://www.palmettoreefs.com/

I really think that Tonga looks like some good stuff. http://www.palmettoreefs.com/tongared.htm Has anyone used this particular rock? They also offer some Branch LR. I was thinking a mix of the 2 might look really cool.

Or would I be better off going with the old fashioned Fiji rock?

BTW it's like $5.49 a lb for the Tonga... Kinda steep but still tons cheaper than my LFS.

$6 a lb is about what the LFSs round here are charging, and for some pretty average (ok, downright nelow average in most cases) examples of rock. I just spent 3 days removing Aiptasia (sp) from some from one of the more reputable local supplier's "Premium Fiji", I probably ended up throwing 10lb away just to make sure the little blighters were gone. One of the larger retailers had some nice branch, at $9 a lb, but I'm still not sure I want to spend a thousand dollars on rock, and it wasn't teaming with life, it was really just corraline covered and thats about it. I've maybe spotted half a dozen feather dusters and a few sponges on the 40lbs or so I have in there right now.

That said, I do kind of like being able to see what I am buying, rather than sending $500 in exchange for a box of rocks. It's hard to see how the internet suppliers could send me anything worse than my LFSs are stocking.

Not sure that helps

Steve

[almostdiva]

Tie,

I've never bought from Palmetto, but I know several people on the board have, and that every one has very complimentary things to say about their service. I got my rock at Harbor Aquatics. Most online vendors will customize an order if you tell them what sizes and shapes you are looking for. Try it... you likely won't be disappointed.

[Ninong]

I bought fully cured live rock from Darren and I was EXTREMELY pleased!

I got the Kaelini (Tonga) and some Tonga Branch. I also ordered some Fiji Buna Spiney rock that I really don't like very much. But I love the Tonga Kaelini and the Tonga Branch. "Kaelini" is just Walt Smith's daughter's name in Tongan.

If I were doing this all over again, I would order the Tonga Kaelini and the Tonga Branch fully cured because the stuff Darren sent me was covered in coralline algae and there were no pest hitchhikers of any kind.

[Tie]

Yeah, I just ordered 120 lbs from them. It will be here Friday. I did the Tonga and branch fully cured. Can't wait. I'll take some nice picks and post em here when I unpack it.

[SteveP]

Yeah, I just ordered 120 lbs from them. It will be here Friday. I did the Tonga and branch fully cured. Can't wait. I'll take some nice picks and post em here when I unpack it.

Please do - I would be very interested. I am almost convinced I am going to go this route, but I am still balking at sending off $500 for wet rock, sight-unseen. :eek3:

Steve

[SteveP]

Tie,

I've never bought from Palmetto, but I know several people on the board have, and that every one has very complimentary things to say about their service. I got my rock at Harbor Aquatics. Most online vendors will customize an order if you tell them what sizes and shapes you are looking for. Try it... you likely won't be disappointed.

When did you get yours from Harbor, and how was it ? They are about a 4 or 5 hour drive for me, or maybe 2 hours in the Mooney - I'd still like to see what it is I'm buying before I give up my hard-earned cash !!

Steve

[Tie]

maybe 2 hours in the Mooney

Guess we have something else in common. I'm picking my rock up in my ol Beech A23. The closest major airport they can deliver my LR to is Albuquerque, NM. I'm up in the Four Corners area so I'm going to fly the Musketeer down and pick it up.

[SteveP]

Guess we have something else in common. I'm picking my rock up in my ol Beech A23. The closest major airport they can deliver my LR to is Albuquerque, NM. I'm up in the Four Corners area so I'm going to fly the Musketeer down and pick it up.

I fly with my buddy in his '66 201C - nothing like doing 150Kts in a straight line, sipping 9gallons an hour...better mpg than my truck ;) - I have my PP:ASEL, but not rated for complex yet. I think Harbor Aquatics is just around the corner from 3HO, which is 185nm from our local field, 90 mins tops I'll have to take a look at the Chicago charts tonight and see. Wouldn't be the cheapest shipping, but I get to log some Mooney time, and see my rock up close...could be a perfect day ;)

Steve

[zhenya]

Steve,

You can definately go visit Harbor and say Hi to Joy.Take a plane,a car or a rocket,don't matter but you'll have a chance to pick the best rock that she's got if you are there in person.Don't expect to see much life on the completely cured rock but you could be surprized. When I got my rock from Joy a while back I found a Stomatella snail, a Scutus sp. limpet and some nice coralline growth on the rock. While you there you might wanna ask for some sand from the curing vat,should be teaming with stuff ;)

[Tie]

Got the new rock in my tank tonight. It looks great! I'll take lots of picks and post more about in tommarow but I wanted to ask a quick question.

After I got all the rock in a couple hours later I saw this strange "worm" about 2 to 2.5 inches in length. Not sure where he poped out. I glanced up at the tank from the other room and saw something thrashing and floating around. He landed on the bottom and headed under some LR into the sand.

I looked around on the net and as far as I can tell he looked about like this.


Some of what I read said "brislte worms" are good and some said they are bad. What do you guys think... Good guy or bad guy?

[Tie]

I sure could save a lot questions if I do a search first on this forum! LOL ok, so it's a good thing sounds like. Cool! This rock rocks!

Now my question since this is a new tank and theres not much for this little critter to "scavenge" should I feed it? LOL Never thought I would have a pet worm when I started this adventure.

[zhenya]

I sure could save a lot questions if I do a search first on this forum! LOL ok, so it's a good thing sounds like. Cool! This rock rocks!

Now my question since this is a new tank and theres not much for this little critter to "scavenge" should I feed it? LOL Never thought I would have a pet worm when I started this adventure.

Hi Tie,

You are right,Eurythoe complanata worms are some of the most beneficial members of the clean up crew your tank can have,providing that that's indeed what it is.
Here are some links for you to read about worms if you didn't read them already.
This one to help in identification of various Polychaete Annelids
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/rs/index.htm

And this article is about different LARGE worms that are found in reef aquaria
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/rs/index.htm

[SteveP]

Steve,

You can definately go visit Harbor and say Hi to Joy.Take a plane,a car or a rocket,don't matter but you'll have a chance to pick the best rock that she's got if you are there in person.Don't expect to see much life on the completely cured rock but you could be surprized. When I got my rock from Joy a while back I found a Stomatella snail, a Scutus sp. limpet and some nice coralline growth on the rock. While you there you might wanna ask for some sand from the curing vat,should be teaming with stuff ;)

Picked up about 45lbs from Joy over the weekend - she wasn't too happy about the quality of the stuff she had, but compared to the local supplies, it was superb. I have snails, works, bugs, little shrimpy things, dusters and lord knows what elses - all the rock was nicely covered with Corraline, Green and other algaes.

I also got about 5lbs of mud from the bottom of the curing vat, and I swear the stuff was moving in the bag...

I'll try to get some nice pictures tonight and post

Steve

[zhenya]

Told ya!

Post some pics when you can, I'm sure everyone would be interested to look at the pretty rock ;)