Need advice & suggestions for buying live rock?

Question

I am starting a marine aquarium - 75 gallon and am planning a FOWLR tank. I have had a 75g freshwater for years, but have never had a marine tank before.

I would appeciate advice regarding buying live rock, types to buy, cured vs uncured? Can live rock be primary decor and how do I get vertical decor? I looked online at fosters and smith and was thinking about buying some online? Good or bad idea? Any suggestions on ways to cut cost? How about live sand? All advice appreciated!

Answer 1

Welcome to the hobby!

Let's take your questions one at a time.

1) All "cured" means is that most of the dead living matter has been removed and the rock is "cycled". While this sounds like a timesaver, that's only the case if you buy locally. Live rock is typically shipped in wet newspaper (weight of water can add to your shipping cost) so more will likely die in shipping and you'll have to wait a while for it to "cure" again in your tank. Unless you contact the supplier you'll be buying it from and they have a different policy, save yourself the expense of cured and go with uncured.

2) Yes, live rock itself is a good decor. You can stack it leaving open spaces between pieces to make "archways" and "caves" to give your fish a place to hide. Once you get an arrangement you like, use a putty made for saltwater (it cures underwater) to hold the pieces so they don't wobble. Add the rock before you have and other substrate because rock should sit directly on the bottom of the tank - it keeps burrowing animals from getting under and toppling it into the glass.

3) You can go either way with buying online or from a store. Just remember, you'll have to pay for shipping if you order. I like buying mine in person so I can see what's on the rock, shapes and sizes of specific pieces, etc.

4).In addition to cost-cutting things I've already mentioned, remember you will only be seeing the live rock in the front and on the top of any arrangement. You can buy dry "reef rock" or "base rock" that costs about $1.50/lb. to use under/behind the good stuff. And comparison shop the online sites and stores.

5) Live sand is sand with bacteria that cycle the aquarium. You're already buying live rock for this purpose. You can buy the dry substrate to save money - it will colonize with bacteria from the rock in time. There are a number of sizes available - if you are keeping wrasses, some gobies, or other animals with a tendency to burrow, go with a smaller grain size. And rinse well before putting it in your tank. I've had some substrates that took days to clear after about a half hour of rinsing! A good filter will eventually clear your tank.

6) One thing you didn't ask about, but I'll mention are the different types of live rock. These are usually labelled by the location from which they're from. Personally, I like the Atlantic aquacultured rock - here pieces of rubble are introduced to the ocean and harvested after 1 1/2 - 2 years. IMO, these have a more colorful appearence sooner than the Pacific rock. I've gotten snails, limpets, urchins, three species of shrimp, corals, macroalgae (halimeda, and others), seastars, sponges, tunicates, and other animals on it. It's interesting just watching what's on the rock before I ever add any fish. Since the purpose of live rock is to provide surface area for bacteria, you should buy 2 lbs of rock/gallon for Atlantic or 1 1/2 lb/gallon of Pacific (Pacific is more porous, so you don't need as much - unless you want it!). Didderent sources can also mean differences in costs - so does rock with more obvious "life", the "premium" live rock.

Hope all this helps! Good luck with your tank.

Answer 2

I wouldnt buy live rock on line- the shipping will cost you tons! try a local petstore. Live sand def. is a good idea- for a beginner saltwater tank you need all the good bacterias you can get. Live rock comes in all shapes and sizes- so you can stack them in ways that will provide a natural habitat for your fish, good hiding spaces for your fish and a way that you would like to view it. Another reason to having live rock is place for corals to attach itself to- so think about getting some clams & sea annanomies (sorry for the spelling) to begin with. Also live rock requires pretty strong lighting to keep all the calcium and bacterias alive- without it you will see it fade in color. Make sure you either have a power compace containing an Actinic 420 bulb & a 10,000 or 20,000 K Ocean light- or a double tubed strip light containg a Coralife Actinic 420 light and a Ocean Sun 10,000 or 20,000 K light. hope i helped!

Answer 3

If you buy live rock, there's no reason to spend the extra money on live sand as well. I love drs foster and smith, they've never done me wrong with a purchase, and their live rock is awesome. Basically, regarding cured and uncured, you just have to decide if you want to cure it yourself. I would probably go with the cured rock to save myself a little time and effort. You'll get less die off and more living organisms than you do with the uncured rock, in my opinion, anyways. Good luck w/ your first saltwater tank!!

Answer 4

i have a well established 125 gallon reef and here is what i have learned. first dont buy over the net you want to see what you are getting i already made that mistake and it cost me a whole lot of trouble. my having a reef tank means that the live rock and what spawns off of it is very much most of my decor. you deffinately always want to buy cured rock other wise your phosphates will sky rocket and will make your water take forever to cycle. inspect the rock before you buy it make sure they cure it right meaning no dead crap hanging from it. as far a cost goes if you find a safe way to cut then let me know i have spent over 3000 dollars on my tank. including lighting and all make sure you have a good refuguim and itenic lighting. oh and make friends with te local owned fish stores dont buy from petsmart they have low quality as far as saltwater goes. feel free to email me if you have any other questions i can help with