Buying live rock online (mail order)

[WillieM96]

I'm starting a new 50 gallon fish tank and want to get an adequate amount of live rock in there from the start. At $10 a pound, which is what the LFS charges, it's gonna be about $500. I can get 45 lbs on the internet for $120. Would anyone not recommend this route? I know it will need some significant curing time in the tank but I figured since the tank will be empty, this shouldn't be a problem. I figured use the cheap stuff for the bulk and go to the LFS for some nicer display pieces. Thoughts/concerns?

[Ninong]

The LFS gets their live rock from the same place the online vendors get it. Almost all live rock in the industry comes from Walt Smith.

You can save money by just buying it online unless you are near enough to pick it up at one of the better vendors and save the shipping costs.

Whether you buy fully cured live rock or just plain old so-called pre-cured live rock is up to you. You can go either way since your tank is brand new.

This vendor has nice live rock and he's not that far away -- Mardela Springs, MD, only 144 miles from Virginia Beach.

This vendor is located in Indiana.

Both of those vendors will sell you hand-picked fully-cured live rock if that's what you want because both of them have their own large curing tanks. Or they will sell you transshipped (not fully cured) live rock.

Personally, I like Kaelini and Tonga branch. The nice thing about ordering fully-cured live rock from a place that cures it themselves is that you can get them to mix different types and you can tell them what sizes you want.

Good luck!



P.S. -- Within six months all live rock looks purple anyway.

[optical]

i agree with Ninong about the tonga branch, its good stuff.
a friend of mine bought 100 lbs of this rock from
http://www.ecoreefaquatics.com/
i have yet to look at her tank but from their site, it looks pretty nice.
we live near chicago, and she picked up the two 50 lb boxes directly from Ohare airport. she got free shipping on the rock so it was an awesome deal. just another option.

[optical]

..

[fordman460]

I just ordered 45 pounds of premium Fiji this weekend. $143.xx to my door 2nd day air by Fed Ex. From the shopping around I did I dont think I did too badly. Around here in RI the 1 LFS in the state is getting $10-12 per pound.

[pdfb55]

i got mine from pet solutions and it had some nice peices and a good price.
Forman460, you think 10-12 is bad my lfs is charging $25 a lb.

[fordman460]

i got mine from pet solutions and it had some nice peices and a good price.
Forman460, you think 10-12 is bad my lfs is charging $25 a lb.

Holy @#$%% talk about driving you outta the hobby!!!!

[pdfb55]

40 lbs would be a grand from this place its crazy. I ordered mine online but there are many other lfs in the city so people can shop around.

[BubbaWPB]

I got a box of the Tonga drop-shipped rock (about 60 pounds) from one of our sponsors, Pacific East (Ninong's first link). It came to the local airport with total shipping of $62... that came to a total of about $3.70/pound. Very nice stuff! It's cured now waiting for me to plumb my new tank.

[tray262]

I got my stuff from Dr. Mac, it's is all premium rock his prices arn't bad at all. Even his standard is premium in my eyes. I think he's right under $4/pnd. plus like a $1.40/pnd shipping. So it's not a bad price. But like I said it's nice stuff and you get what you pay for.

http://www.pacificeastaquaculture.com/

[tray262]

Sorry didn't notice someone already posted Dr.Mac, my only suggestion is call before making the drive make sure he has a stock in. It's worth the drive his retail store is beautiful and the nicest corals. Plus you'll love the Dog. So basically go this weekend. Make the drive, I'll be there Saturday Morning.

[Gtfay]

I just got 20 lbs of Fiji from premium aquatics and it's amazing!

I'm starting a new 50 gallon fish tank and want to get an adequate amount of live rock in there from the start. At $10 a pound, which is what the LFS charges, it's gonna be about $500. I can get 45 lbs on the internet for $120. Would anyone not recommend this route? I know it will need some significant curing time in the tank but I figured since the tank will be empty, this shouldn't be a problem. I figured use the cheap stuff for the bulk and go to the LFS for some nicer display pieces. Thoughts/concerns?

[jasutton]

I suggest you try to get on a local reef club forum and see if any locals are selling their rock. i got mine for 1.50/ pound that way and it was all established. I even got a bunch of water to expedite the cycle process

I have also bought from online vendors and was very pleased.

good luck
jamie