The best Pacific LR?

**scubadude** · 02-17-2005, 09:27 AM

I realize that there are probably more but I could only have 10 in the poll so feel free to post a reply in lieu of the poll if you like a different type of rock that is not listed. I would love to hear comments as well. Im not interested in atlantic rock....sorry

The types of rock that I have tried

Kaelini (My fav so far) best all around
Marshal Island (2nd fav) best coloration
Buna Spiney (3rd) best porosity
Premium Fiji (4th) best price
Tonga (5th)

Rocks that I would really like to see comments on that look competitive to the above rocks

Alor
Bali Ultra

**Ninong** · 02-17-2005, 10:12 AM

Rocky,

I like both Kaelini and Tonga branch. Both are from Tonga.

**scubadude** · 02-17-2005, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ninong

Rocky,

I like both Kaelini and Tonga branch. Both are from Tonga.

LOL I knew you would come in with something like that...Actually there are more tonga varieties as well. I just figured most would refer to the Tonga as the branch rock. Shelf rock is usually from tonga too.

**kevinpo** · 02-17-2005, 11:36 AM

The nicest rock I've seen so far is Pulkani from Walt Smith. It is very light and porous so it gives you the lowest cost for the volume of rock. It looks like it might be large M. digitata colonies that when viewed from the top you can see all the way through providing plenty of surface area and hiding places for small fish and critters.

My second favorite is "Tonga Fancy Branch" (also from W.S.) in 60-70 pound pieces

(I'm pretty sure this is what I will be using for the 450 at the store).

Next is Kaelini because of the great shapes and ease of creating caves and ledges. It's only drawback is the weight which drives up the cost. It is another W.S. product. I hear Walt's yongest daughter is named Kaelini and that's how the rock got it's name.

Regards,
Kevin

**scubadude** · 02-17-2005, 11:57 AM

Kevin
Any pics of the Pulkani rock?

Quote:

My second favorite is "Tonga Fancy Branch" (also from W.S.) in 60-70 pound pieces (I'm pretty sure this is what I will be using for the 450 at the store).

Are you saying that each piece is 60-70lbs or the box weight is that much? If its each piece weighs that much then I cant imagine more than one piece per box....that would be very kewl though.

szwedo · 02-17-2005, 04:41 PM

I just bought some cool live rock from Kupang (3 peices) because I need more shelving rock. It has so much life and algae and color. but its too expensive to use for the whole tank at $9.00 a pound. For the rest of the tank I used 45lbs fiji and 45lbs haiti. The kupange is definetly my fav so far though. one peice even had a favia on it!

. I like the look of marshall island LR but i havn't tried it yet. I'll probably buy some one day.

**kevinpo** · 02-18-2005, 12:40 PM

Rocky,
I will try to remember to take a picture today of the Pulkani

WS uses 88lb boxes. I ask them to place one rock per box. Several have weighed in at 64-68lbs for a single rock. I will take some pictures of it when it comes in.

Regards,
Kevin

**scubadude** · 02-24-2005, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinpo

Rocky,
..... I will take some pictures of it when it comes in.

Regards,
Kevin

SCHWINGG!!!! Yes we would all love to see some pics of some of this rock, im sure

Added this rock (as well as kupang) to the poll too Kevin

Elmo18 · 02-24-2005, 06:59 PM

If I had to do it all over again, i'd use the Tonga Premium Show branch rocks, and break it up a bit.

I saw some at the LFS and oh man, hehe waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the fiji i have in there now.

Beats the pukani to pieces, and don't have to worry about the hair algae.

- Elmo

Peterock · 02-24-2005, 10:35 PM

Since i dont know about all the types of rock, from what i have seen is the Florida live rock because of the colors and the sufficant amounts of alage and critters in them.

2nd is tonga

3rd Fiji as building blocks for size and shapes

**kevinpo** · 02-25-2005, 12:25 AM

Here are a few pictures. I like rock that is light and porous that frags can easily be attached to. I also like it to have overhangs and caves for fish to hide in. Color is not really very important, as most rock gets pretty white during the shipping and curing process. If you’re growing SPS corals on the rock it will soon be mostly covered by the coral. Notice that the top has perfect holes for frags.

Regards,
Kevin

Samper · 02-27-2005, 05:25 PM

That's great looking rock. Perfect for mounting frags to.

**scubadude** · 02-28-2005, 02:40 AM

Hey Kevin that looks very similar to the buna spiney rock

**scubadude** · 02-28-2005, 12:23 PM

Heres some pics of the buna spiney rock that I had for comparison. What do you guys think? looks pretty similar?

Actually the pulkani looks more fused together and aged more....that would be my thought anyway

Kevin thanks for the pics bro....any chance you have any pics of the tonga fancy branch large pieces?

**kevinpo** · 03-01-2005, 12:40 AM

Hi Rocky,
Pulkani is quite different. I think it's old M. digitata colonies. It is very light and brittle. You can almost break it apart by hand. It comes in with lots of polyps, Favia, and Galaxea sp. attached to it. Some of them can be saved if you're careful.

Here are a couple of pictures of "Tonga Fancy Branch". It is large staghorn skeletons. Some of the single pieces weigh in at 68 lbs.

Regards,
Kevin

Samper · 03-01-2005, 07:43 AM

Those rocks would be so perfect to zip tie together........

I might look into trying to track some down when the time is right.

Elmo18 · 03-01-2005, 02:34 PM

That's the one I voted for. (The Show Tonga Branch)

- Elmo

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinpo

Hi Rocky,
Pulkani is quite different. I think it's old M. digitata colonies. It is very light and brittle. You can almost break it apart by hand. It comes in with lots of polyps, Favia, and Galaxea sp. attached to it. Some of them can be saved if you're careful.

Here are a couple of pictures of "Tonga Fancy Branch". It is large staghorn skeletons. Some of the single pieces weigh in at 68 lbs.

Regards,
Kevin

**Ninong** · 03-15-2005, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinpo

I hear Walt's yongest daughter is named Kaelini and that's how the rock got it's name.

Her name is actually Kaelyn but it's translated as Kaelini in the Tongan language and that's how the rock got its name.

**charlie** · 03-15-2005, 08:04 PM

I actually voted for the Kaelini, but the tonga branch is my next favorite. Those 2 are what my 300 is made of. I really wish that the Pulkani had come in before the Kaelini. I do know that you can get some great rubble for gluing frags from the Pulkani!!

**scubadude** · 03-16-2005, 03:48 AM

Geez has it like faded out? Does anyone have any pics of some fairly recent ....heck even some old pics of some MI rocks?....I dont wanna have to dig up my pics from my old 90g cuz they suck wherever they are, but the coloration on that rock was awesome. Kevin you got any MI rock pics? The last time I bought MI rock was before FFexpress was bought out by Dr. F&S

View Poll Results: Your fav Pacific LR?
Premium Fiji	13	27.66%
Marshall Island	5	10.64%
Kaelini	12	25.53%
Alor	0	0%
Buna Spiney	0	0%
Bali Ultra	2	4.26%
Uaniva	0	0%
Tonga	5	10.64%
Lalo	1	2.13%
Nambu	0	0%
Pulkani	2	4.26%
Kupang	2	4.26%
Tonga Fancy Branch	3	6.38%
Other	2	4.26%
Voters: 47. You may not vote on this poll

02-17-2005, 09:27 AM	#1
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,276	The best Pacific LR? I realize that there are probably more but I could only have 10 in the poll so feel free to post a reply in lieu of the poll if you like a different type of rock that is not listed. I would love to hear comments as well. Im not interested in atlantic rock....sorry The types of rock that I have tried Kaelini (My fav so far) best all around Marshal Island (2nd fav) best coloration Buna Spiney (3rd) best porosity Premium Fiji (4th) best price Tonga (5th) Rocks that I would really like to see comments on that look competitive to the above rocks Alor Bali Ultra __________________ Rocky

02-17-2005, 10:12 AM	#2
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 19,615	Rocky, I like both Kaelini and Tonga branch. Both are from Tonga. __________________ Ninong

02-17-2005, 11:36 AM	#4
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,424	The nicest rock I've seen so far is Pulkani from Walt Smith. It is very light and porous so it gives you the lowest cost for the volume of rock. It looks like it might be large M. digitata colonies that when viewed from the top you can see all the way through providing plenty of surface area and hiding places for small fish and critters. My second favorite is "Tonga Fancy Branch" (also from W.S.) in 60-70 pound pieces (I'm pretty sure this is what I will be using for the 450 at the store). Next is Kaelini because of the great shapes and ease of creating caves and ledges. It's only drawback is the weight which drives up the cost. It is another W.S. product. I hear Walt's yongest daughter is named Kaelini and that's how the rock got it's name. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

02-17-2005, 04:41 PM	#6
szwedo Tenant Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: usa Posts: 71	I just bought some cool live rock from Kupang (3 peices) because I need more shelving rock. It has so much life and algae and color. but its too expensive to use for the whole tank at $9.00 a pound. For the rest of the tank I used 45lbs fiji and 45lbs haiti. The kupange is definetly my fav so far though. one peice even had a favia on it! . I like the look of marshall island LR but i havn't tried it yet. I'll probably buy some one day. __________________ You may be dissapointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try.

02-18-2005, 12:40 PM	#7
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,424	Rocky, I will try to remember to take a picture today of the Pulkani WS uses 88lb boxes. I ask them to place one rock per box. Several have weighed in at 64-68lbs for a single rock. I will take some pictures of it when it comes in. Regards, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

02-24-2005, 06:59 PM	#9
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	If I had to do it all over again, i'd use the Tonga Premium Show branch rocks, and break it up a bit. I saw some at the LFS and oh man, hehe waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the fiji i have in there now. Beats the pukani to pieces, and don't have to worry about the hair algae. - Elmo

02-24-2005, 10:35 PM	#10
Peterock Citizen Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Nashville Posts: 185	Since i dont know about all the types of rock, from what i have seen is the Florida live rock because of the colors and the sufficant amounts of alage and critters in them. 2nd is tonga 3rd Fiji as building blocks for size and shapes

02-25-2005, 12:25 AM	#11
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,424	Here are a few pictures. I like rock that is light and porous that frags can easily be attached to. I also like it to have overhangs and caves for fish to hide in. Color is not really very important, as most rock gets pretty white during the shipping and curing process. If you’re growing SPS corals on the rock it will soon be mostly covered by the coral. Notice that the top has perfect holes for frags. Regards, Kevin Attached Thumbnails __________________ SPSguy On - On

02-27-2005, 05:25 PM	#12
Samper Contributing Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,760	That's great looking rock. Perfect for mounting frags to. __________________ Keep your heart pure conceive your own dreams Respect your fellow man the earth and the trees.

02-28-2005, 02:40 AM	#13
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,276	Hey Kevin that looks very similar to the buna spiney rock __________________ Rocky

02-28-2005, 12:23 PM	#14
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,276	Buna pics Heres some pics of the buna spiney rock that I had for comparison. What do you guys think? looks pretty similar? Actually the pulkani looks more fused together and aged more....that would be my thought anyway Kevin thanks for the pics bro....any chance you have any pics of the tonga fancy branch large pieces? Attached Thumbnails __________________ Rocky

03-01-2005, 12:40 AM	#15
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,424	Hi Rocky, Pulkani is quite different. I think it's old M. digitata colonies. It is very light and brittle. You can almost break it apart by hand. It comes in with lots of polyps, Favia, and Galaxea sp. attached to it. Some of them can be saved if you're careful. Here are a couple of pictures of "Tonga Fancy Branch". It is large staghorn skeletons. Some of the single pieces weigh in at 68 lbs. Regards, Kevin Attached Thumbnails __________________ SPSguy On - On

03-01-2005, 07:43 AM	#16
Samper Contributing Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,760	Those rocks would be so perfect to zip tie together........ I might look into trying to track some down when the time is right. __________________ Keep your heart pure conceive your own dreams Respect your fellow man the earth and the trees.

03-15-2005, 08:04 PM	#19
charlie Keeper of Willis Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NW Montana Posts: 5,643	I actually voted for the Kaelini, but the tonga branch is my next favorite. Those 2 are what my 300 is made of. I really wish that the Pulkani had come in before the Kaelini. I do know that you can get some great rubble for gluing frags from the Pulkani!! __________________ 400 Gallon Reef Log Rome wasn't built in a day---neither is a reef

03-16-2005, 03:48 AM	#20
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,276	Marshall Island rock? Geez has it like faded out? Does anyone have any pics of some fairly recent ....heck even some old pics of some MI rocks?....I dont wanna have to dig up my pics from my old 90g cuz they suck wherever they are, but the coloration on that rock was awesome. Kevin you got any MI rock pics? The last time I bought MI rock was before FFexpress was bought out by Dr. F&S __________________ Rocky

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