Live Rock Online?

[GlidergirlUK]

I have been planning my marine tank for a while now and the time to add water is coming.....so I have to now think about live rock.
Now I know the best thing to do is get it from a reef brakedown BUT there never seem to be any within a reasonable area to me.
Which leads me to asking has anyone bought LR online? And where from? Did you rate their service? Was there much die off during transit?
Price etc?
My lfs range from £10.50 - £14 per KG

I need approx 10kg and approx 6kg rubble

Any help appreciated!

 

[1entra]

I would buy off ebay as you can read buyer reviews from others that have bought previously. aslo you can get it quite cheap from ebay.

However i would personally recommend getting from lfs as you can always choose the pieces you want and the shapes etc you like. What i did was get my initial rock off the net and then went and bought better quality colurfull pieces to top off with from lfs, they did cost a bit more but i got what i paid for tbh

 

[seffieuk]

I have bought live rock twice now - once from an ebay seller breaking down his tank and the second time from Ultimate Reef, again someone breaking down their tank, both times the lr has been great It cuts down on cycling time and you tend to get more good hitchhikers, I would rather wait a while and get a good deal so that I have money for other bits as well

Trod has bought some lr off the net, it arrives next week so she can tell you then - Think I remember that Barney did likewise and wasn't that happy with the rock


If you do go this route try to pay cash on collection, even if you have to leave a small deposit.

How far are you happy to travel - my last lr came from an hour and a half away, don't think I would go much further than that

Seffie x

 

[GlidergirlUK]

About the same Seffie would be fine, the only problem is finding them!

 

[GlidergirlUK]

Maybe my prayers will be answered this week and one will pop up close!

 

[xxBarneyxx]

PM sent with one link but you might also want to check http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk as well

I did get my first lot of LR online. It was ok for filtration and there wasnt much die off (was "cured" again within a week) but it was also very bare (very little noticable life in it, no coralline at all).

I'm after more LR now but will wait for a tank breakdown to get it (just because of the cost). My advice would be if your in a hurry to get some try and get half of what you need at the cheapest price possible and then maybe get the rest from your LFS so you can pick some good bits (assuming you have a LFS that stocks decent LR).

 

[degsod]

I think Truckasaurus got some online, check out his marine journel, from memory I think he got it from chaterhouse but I could be completely wrong on that.

 

[Nim]

If you decide to buy from eBay from shop sellers rather than hobbyist then make sure it is cured and they have used the word "Fully cured" in the auction. There are a couple of sellers out there selling uncured rock and calling it partly cured.... avoid.

Ultimate reef is a good option and live rock comes up for sale very often so keep checking... though I suspect a lot of UR people are going to overwhelm here coz the site is down for maintenance

Nim

 

[seffieuk]

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-kg-of-fiji-live-r...%3A1%7C294%3A50

What about this one in Romford, is that about an hour and a half away?

Seffie x

 

[rabbut]

I think if I were to buy on-line, I'd get un-cured. It hasn't been sat in a tank with some Muppet removing all hitch-hikers in sight. Contrary to popular belief a lot of goodies can come in on LR. Of cause, buying un-cured rock will lead to a llllllloooooooonnnnnnnnnggggggggggg cycle time while it cures up for you. Oh well, more time to research the wealth of life you get form un-cured rock to work out if it is friend of foe

 

[GlidergirlUK]

Thanks seffie but that is too far from me (I live 15 miles from Anguilla82 who you got Trods tank from!)
I think the furthest for me is bristol, oxford, south side of Birmingham etc.

I reckon I am going to end up getting it from a reputable marine shop near me.

 

[Anguilla82]

are you on UR amie?

there is often some going on there.
Worcester comes up quite often, and that isn't massively far from us.
i know you want to get on with things, but getting all you LR from an LFS can put a really big dent in your coral money

if it was me i'd think about getting some of it from an LFS while keeping an eye out for some from a reefer.
Real Reefs has got some nice LR in at the moment. i picked a couple of kilos up from him last week.
had some zoas and mushrooms on it as a bonus!

 

[GlidergirlUK]

Yep on Ur and they are all miles away at the moment... I am hoping something might pop up coming up to the bank holiday as thats when I can add water at last!!!!!
I was considering Real Reefs for it...I think they are the only local place I trust to have cured it properly!

 

[Anguilla82]

Yep on Ur and they are all miles away at the moment... I am hoping something might pop up coming up to the bank holiday as thats when I can add water at last!!!!!

doh! course you are thats you saw the nano!

sorry, senior moment there!

yeah its well worth it to keep checking on there.
FYI £5-6 per kilo is the going rate at the moment.

 

[GlidergirlUK]

I will keep checking....hopefully something will turn up!