I'm looking at ordering up some live rock on the internet, and was wondering if it matters what kind of rock to get and can you mix different kinds. I was looking into getting some Tonga Branch LIve Rock and was possibly looking to mix some Fiji LR with it. Just want to get some opinions as I am finding out every decision seems to affect further decisions. The site I have been looking at is Aquarium Fish: Tropical Freshwater Fish and Saltwater Fish for Home Aquariums . I was also thinking about replacing the bio balls in my filter with some Refugium Rubble. Again just looking to hear some opinions from others. I really appreciate your responses as listening to others who have done this really helps me out and keeps me from making bonehead mistakes.
Hi, being a newbie I can offer some info from what I've read over the past weeks.
As far as LR Tonga and Fiji are just different types of rock, they each look different but thats about it, theres nothing bad about mixing, its just a matter of tastes and what look you want.
As far as the bio-balls, I ditched mine and was going to do the LR thing but many people feel its just one more place for garbage to build-up and lead to problems if its not cleans on a regular basis. I'm actually going to have a bag of Purgien in some Cheato in my fuge area.
I'm looking at ordering up some live rock on the internet, and was wondering if it matters what kind of rock to get and can you mix different kinds. I was looking into getting some Tonga Branch LIve Rock and was possibly looking to mix some Fiji LR with it.
Tonga isn't as poorest as Fiji. Now I like the look of Tonga but Fiji is better. But it don't mater to much as long as you have enough for your tank. Like I said in your other thread you don't need all live rock. Now one thing about getting live rock is your still going to have to cure it any way you look at it. You will have die back no matter what you do onless you got it home in less the 30mins and still you would have some die off. So get your self some thing big or a bucket as long as it will hold water. Put the rock in it with SW, power head, and a heater. Now if you can do this in a garage or a room with a window. Cause it will stink . I change my water every day and gave it a good scrub to get most of the die off when I got it. I cured my rock for 3days when is stop stinking that bad or I just got use to it. Now you could just put the rock in your tank rate away after scrubbing it. But if you ask me I would say cure it for at lest a day or more would be better. Cause it would help cut down on how long your tank will cycle for.
I agree with curing your rock in a trash can or something outside of your tank but I think it will take weeks not days. Use your test kits to monitor ammonia and nitrite and when they both reach zero you will know it is cured. You can cycle your tank with uncured rock but it will be smelly.
Hello Phinsfan! I didn't see in your post how many pounds of LR you were looking to obtain for your tank. I personally think that the tonga and Figi would look good together as I have several different types of LR in my DT. I personally think that the tonga strategically placed, adds some interesting touches to the finished look. Had you also thought about using some dry rock to use as a base to cut down on some of your expense? Many people, myself included, will buy some of this and use their LR to "seed" the dry rock. It will only take a few months to give you the same effect versus using all LR. Marco Rocks, a sponser of TR, has some excellent dry rock if you're interested. Just thought I'd throw that tidbit out there if you were interested. Dry rock is also lighter and you will get more poundage, if there is such a word, versus LR which will have a water content causing it to weigh more. And of course all LR is not created eaqual as different types will weigh more than others. The more porous a rock is, normally the lighter is will weigh. Keep us posted on your purchase. I'd love to see some pics of your LR when you get it. I'm like a kid at the candy store with my face pressed up against the window looking.
One of my friends brought me into the idea of just starting with some live rock and sand and then adding some "dead/dry" rock and sand and let the stuff "take it over" I went to that site and I do plan on adding some dry rock, and as for the live rock I'm not sure yet as after I figured out the shipping I can't afford the lr i wanted I plan on ordering it this weekend after I do some research and figure out what I can afford
I have about 10 lbs of rubble in my sump in a two special flow chambers (fed by my skimmer outlet). I've never had problems with stuff getting trapped per se. I've tried to blow out the rubble using a turkey baster, but hardly anything blows off. Maybe there is enough flow to keep any detritus on the move. Maybe most of the debris settles in my sump's main chamber (or inside my skimmer) before it has a chance to reach the LR rubble chambers. Not sure. A tiny bit of detritus ends up settling in the bottom of the first chamber, but most settles in the last empty chamber where I can easily remove it during my weekly WC. I have seen sponges, tunicates, and various pods, and micro-feather dusters develop in the LR rubble, so I believe it has been beneficial for my system.
When I had a 24g Nanocube, I had LR rubble in the first and second chambers as well. In there I remember a LOT of debris getting kicked up when I used a turkey baster once a week. I just made blowing it out to be one of my WC preparations. I would even get in there with the siphon tube (after the turkey baster) to draw out the cloudy water. Cannot say how effective the LR rubble was. I do not remember seeing any sponges, critters, et cetera in those chambers when I disassembled the system, so the benefit was not as evident.
From what I heard when you buy boxed LR online and its rated at 50lbs, its 50lbs with the cardboard, wet newspaper and all, so its actually much less in actual live rock (i dunno mayber 40ish lbs...maybe someone can pipe in with experience). Plus when you add in shippnig that 3.99/lb LR is now about $7
I'd check out a reputible dealer in the area and get it there, taht way if you want 10lbs, you get 10 lbs...plus many will lower the cost the more you buy.
Well, you have two options here. Buy online or local. If you buy online go with someone reputable. Be sure to read the fine print. Some dealers weigh the LR before packing, others do not. It's all according to whom you do business with. Another thing to take into consideration about the shipping is this. Some may offer a flat rate per poundage you order and others by the zone. You need to try to find a dealer as close to you as possible to cut down on shipping cost. If it is a reputable dealer, you should get some very nice pieces and if not, well it's a hit or miss on that one.
There are advantages on buying local whether it be from another hobbiest or from your LFS. At least you see what you are getting and there is no shipping involved. People who break down their tanks selling out is a much advantageous purchase. (If you can get there before others find out! LOL) If the LFS doesn't have cured LR that you like, most have several tanks/vats in the back curing some and normally will let you go back there and choose your LR and put a hold on it until it is ready. I'm like a kid in the candy store when I get to hand pick all the cherry pieces from all of their displays.
Same to what Lori said. Just look around you'll find some worth your money. Thats how I got mine for $15 shipping. Now I wish I waited to get my rock now they have Fuji. I would have got half, half when I got my live rock. Then just get Tonga.
At LFS in Los Angeles, LR usually goes for $4-$5 per pound for Tonga Kaelini, and a bit more for Branch or Marshall. How does this compare to where you all live? I have always assumed that Los Angeles would command some of the lowest prices since it is probably the import capital of LR, but $4-$5+ doesn't seem so cheap to me.
I am a sucker for hand picking LR with special attention paid to what is on the rock. The large pieces I chose for my 55 had Halimeda, Maiden's Hair, a small bit of turf algae, mini feather dusters, and encrusted (mostly long deceased) mollusks. One of the pieces (35 lb) has these cool branching tables while the other (25 lb) has a cool little cave that became a home for my fire shrimp. Not nearly as "living" as when LR used to come with live crabs, cucumbers and stars, but still pretty diverse. Both pieces came populated with many many Sipunculidae (peanut worms) that help keep the rock clean. Careful vat curing with a heater, decent flow, and aggressive water changes helps to keep these things alive.
Unfortunately, the smaller piece has crags that retain detritus. Microalgae (this rock apparently came with a bit of Bryopsis) loves to grow in there. In the future I will be more careful to consider how the shape of the rock can affect how much it traps junk, despite vigorous tank flow. I will also probably be even more deliberate at scrubbing/picking more undesirable stuff off the rock.
. I change my water every day and gave it a good scrub to get most of the die off when I got it. I cured my rock for 3days when is stop stinking that bad or I just got use to it. Now you could just put the rock in your tank rate away after scrubbing it. But if you ask me I would say cure it for at lest a day or more would be better. Cause it would help cut down on how long your tank will cycle for.
icon under their name to add to their reputation. 
I didn't see in your post how many pounds of 
I plan on ordering it this weekend after I do some research and figure out what I can afford 
