Those of you who order live rock online

[Tanster2]

I'm looking to add 20 lbs of live rock to my current setup. I want natural or aqua-cultured live rock, without the fake purple dyed coraline(preferably covered in real coraline algae). I have never ordered online and am looking for your recommendations!

 

[Tanster2]

Also open to local retailers, but preferably on the south side of Atlanta.

 

[CJD18]

Real stuff is not cheap these days.

 

[FutureInterest]

@Mom2Many ordered some amazing looking rock from Walt Smith I think. It had tons of coraline if that's what you want.

 

[seand]

To the best of my knowledge natural is gone the way of the dodo bird. They do sell the reef saver that has been in the ocean a while but it’s pricy. If your system is already running why not just add a rock or two and in no time it will match? I’m just a little paranoid of what might come with it given some of my pitfalls.

 

[lmm1967]

I love the rock we purchased from Tampa Bay Saltwater. It's not cheap and you WILL get hitchhikers. Some good, some bad, some you won't know are there for a while. If you are able & willing to deal with anything coming in on the rock - it's great and I would highly recommend it.

If you want to buy rock, put it in the tank and not be constantly wondering if something is going to eat your prize coral / clam / fish etc - I'd say stay clear and buy dry rock.

An extreme example.....

This guy - came to me as a hitch hiker on rock from the Gulf of Mexico (Tampa Bay Saltwater) in September of 2016.



He is now approaching a foot long and eats ANYTHING he can fit in his mouth. His home is a 120 gallon tank dedicated strictly to him. He ate every single crab - good & bad - that come in on that rock. I did notice a couple days ago there is still a whelk snail in the tank with him. Not sure how it has survived - but it has. Whelk snails are carnivorous and took out a clam we had FYI.

 

[lmm1967]

Here is a video from about a year ago of the same fish. He has grown considerably. Jump ahead to the 7 minute mark to get a good view of him.

 

[ichthyoid]

@lmm1967
I used to catch toad fish in & around Tampa Bay when I was a kid.
Especially common in the back waters behind the islands around Ft. Desoto park.
The first one I caught with my bare hands, which was about 3-4 inches long, & had no idea what it was.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[seand]

@lmm1967
I used to catch toad fish in & around Tampa Bay when I was a kid.
Especially common in the back waters behind the islands around Ft. Desoto park.
The first one I caught with my bare hands, which was about 3-4 inches long, & had no idea what it was.
Thanks for sharing!

I caught one year’s ago (probably about 11 years old) and my dad told me with a straight face it was “a mother in law fish”. Later, when I got the joke it was pretty good. Thinking of it still makes me smile.

 

[Tanster2]

@Mom2Many ordered some amazing looking rock from Walt Smith I think. It had tons of coraline if that's what you want.

That's exactly what I want, some good rock with tons of coraline. Doesn't necessarily have to be from the ocean I should say. Trying to increase biodiversity as my system is very controlled.

 

[Tanster2]

Here is a video from about a year ago of the same fish. He has grown considerably. Jump ahead to the 7 minute mark to get a good view of him.

That fish looks so cool! It's a shame that he ate everything though!