Live rock and base rock

[Dresd3n]

Hello new to hobby. I am wondering where everyone gets their rock, live or not.  Have seen many different options, from $3 per pound for Key largo from incredible aquarium to $5 per pound from Toronto.  Anyone try Detroit?  Also, have been to Corbrets they have 50lb box for $50 for nice looking base rock. Thanks

 

[mark0933]

Detroit is technically illegal (CITES) - but if you don't care about that kind of think  :? then I would look at some of the aquacultured stuff flown directly to Detroit.  Is litterally a reef in a box.  I did it back when the borders were much more lax, but would not do it now.

All depends what you want really.  If you are just using it as base structure, it will be covered by corals you pick up soon enough, so who cares.  If you are going to have to go slow adding corals, spend more on better rock (like I mentioned above) and have something to look at right away...lots of choices in this hobby.

Mark

 

[unibob]

I know sealife central is/got like 1000's of lbs of the macro rock stuff, so if you are looking for specific peices they might be a good place to contact/visit. I really like the clean rock as you then know you are starting fresh on a new tank. Any peices you break off in your aquascaping work well as mounting rocks for frags.

 

[TORX]

I believe SeaLife in London sells Eco-Reefer rock. Then just get some little pieces of rock for a couple bucks off someone locally to seed that rock. You will minimize the amount of pests in your tank off the start this way. Also, that rock really is nice like unibob said and is easy to work the way you want.

Please be careful at what you get from Corbet's. I recommend you bring someone who really knows this hobby with you if you go shopping there to be sure you are getting the best deal. Rock at a retail store normally costs around 9-10$ a pound. So getting it from there for only $1/lb makes me wonder what is wrong with it. Members sell their used extra rock they aquire for around $3.00/lb.

 

[xxmurrxx]

+1 on the corbetts comment.

Careful - I have never seen a GOOD DEAL there, and 1$ a lb is a good deal especially from a store.

Chances are they got that rock from a landscape place and it'll leech tons of junk into your tank.

 

[Dresd3n]

Thanks for the replies.  Anyone have any experience with shelf cut rock.  They had some at sealife central and at Sam's pets in Windsor and said people glue it to the back of their tanks??

 

[nexusnight]

the shelf stuff is cool. is bought all my base rock from sealife and cut it with a stone saw and siliconed it to the back of the tank. be sure to use aquarium safe silicone though. i like the look and it opens up the floor of the tank.
Sealife has a ton of this stuff in stock now was there today and linda was sifting through rubble lol