Live Rock Purchase By Mail Order Or Not

[jetbox]

Hi,

As the title says really... is buying cured live rock by mail order a good idea or not? how much die off is going to occur in 24 hrs??? is it worth the risk?

alternative is a bit of a trek by car to a LFS, not very local as i live in scotland

thanks

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Is it for a new tank or an exsisting one? Also how much do you you want?

I got most of the LR for my new tank online and did have an ammonia spike at the start. If the tank had already had a good amount of LR in the tank it might have been able to deal with it but not sure I would want to risk it if there was not a lot of LR in there already though or if you have a lot of livestock in there.

If its a new tank though then yeah getting it online can be a lot cheaper (though I did get some nicer looking bits from my LFS).

 

[jetbox]

thanks, its for a new tank setup... its a lot cheaper online and easier for me. concern is die off and not being able to select rocks yourself. The plan was to get 20kg delivered and then choose some from the LFS as required to top up the tank with nice bits...

good plan or not

Interested in other peoples experiences

 

[xxBarneyxx]

thanks, its for a new tank setup... its a lot cheaper online and easier for me. concern is die off and not being able to select rocks yourself. The plan was to get 20kg delivered and then choose some from the LFS as required to top up the tank with nice bits...

good plan or not

Interested in other peoples experiences

Yep thats what I did and plan to do for my other tank when its set up. Get the bulk of it online then go to the LFS to pick up a few "choice" peices.

The stuff I got online compared to what I got from my LFS wasnt as good (not as many hitch hikers) BUT I only got 6kg of it (which was 2 rocks) so not a very fair comparision. I know a lot of people here have got theirs online and got loads of hitchhikers. Also I have seen bits at my LFS as well that where not as good as the online stuff (the only difference being is that you dont have to chose them bits).

 

[1entra]

I bought 10kg online but I was not very impressed with the quality I received as it did not have much life on it and looked quite plain. I then travelled around over the period of 3weeks visting every marine shop I could find within a 50mile radius of me looking at what they had in store.

I end up getting approx another 12kg of hand picked pieces of LR that I am absolutely delighted with! I picked the pieces that really stood out to me and were covered in the most visible life! I would defo recommend this method to anybody as although LR of the net is a lot cheaper you never really get to see what you are buying and are more or less leaving your new tank set-up in somebody elses hands!

If you have a large tank and require alot of LR, then I would recommend getting about half of what you want online and using it as baserock (if you are not too happy with), then go to your LFS (if possible) and hand pick the rest. I know this can sometimes be inconvenient especially if the LFS is quite a distance away but at least you know what you are getting for your money!

This way you are also supporting your LFS by giving them business and helping them remain open!

 

[jetbox]

sounds like its a bit of a lottery with buying rock online... some good reports some bad

1entra where did you buy your rock online pm me thanks

 

[xxBarneyxx]

This way you are also supporting your LFS by giving them business and helping them remain open!

Thats is avery good point actually that is worth mentioning.

If your in the UK then probably the best online place is [URL="http/www.live-rock.co.uk/"]http/www.live-rock.co.uk/[/URL] I think a lot of other shops actually buy directly from there as well.

 

[1entra]

Thats the same place I got my first 10kg LR and 2kg LR rubble for my filter from. Like I said I wernt too impressed with it but I have heard others who recommended the site to me stating how pleased they were with their purchases! I must have just had a bad batch or something!

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

JB, whereabouts in Scotland are you?
There are a good few shops that sell LR.
Alternatively keep an eye on the specialist
marine forums for people selling it.

 

[jetbox]

JB, whereabouts in Scotland are you?
There are a good few shops that sell LR.
Alternatively keep an eye on the specialist
marine forums for people selling it.

hi, live up north of aberdeen. decided to buy in the city in the end.... the price is so much higher though and I have nothing to judge if it any better than I could have got online.... going ok so far though... see new post re my hitchhiker

Jetbox

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

Glad you are happy with it, which shop did you get it from out of interest?

 

[alexlark]

I would definately recommend www.live-rock.co.uk I only live 15 miles away so I went there last Wednesday. Mainly a mail order place but boy did they have LOADS of LR there!! I hand picked 20Kg and they threw in an extra 2Kg! Plenty of life came with it. I've seen 3 crabs, a snail, bristle worms and a few tiny corals (the good kind!) I was so impressed I went back there yesterday and bought 2Kg of LR rubble for my canister. They got pretty good prices on salt too. Some prices include delivery

 

[zeo]

I would definately recommend www.live-rock.co.uk I only live 15 miles away so I went there last Wednesday. Mainly a mail order place but boy did they have LOADS of LR there!! I hand picked 20Kg and they threw in an extra 2Kg! Plenty of life came with it. I've seen 3 crabs, a snail, bristle worms and a few tiny corals (the good kind!) I was so impressed I went back there yesterday and bought 2Kg of LR rubble for my canister. They got pretty good prices on salt too. Some prices include delivery

I totally agree. Bought from them (MAIL ORDER) the best live rock I'd ever received. As well as the best price. (I'm from london, nothing compares to this price).

 

[jetbox]

thanks, I need some more therefore will be trying them

 

[jetbox]

my mail order live rock purchase, next day delivery didnt come today, therefore its been on the road for two days... Is this now going to be dead rock, should I send it back and ask for a fresh delivery??


jetbox