Live rock...

[3fsh]

I went to the LPS (which I now hate for several reasons) because they have the cheapest cured LR. Also, because the guys there are so stupid that they usually bag some snails/crabs with the rock by accident. I purchased 2, 2lb rocks and one 12lb rock. The guy also bagged them in a little bit of water to keep them moist. He took FOREVER to weigh them, etc. (about 10 minutes) and he also screwed up the price the first time and had to do it over again (another 10 minutes) and then it takes me about 10 minutes to drive home. So, that is about 30 minutes in all that the rock was out of water!!! Imagine my surprise this morning, when I woke up and glanced over at my tank to see a small fish swimming about the largest rock I had just purchased!!!!! I TOLD the guy that it had looked like there was a fish in the rock, but of course he wouldn't listen... I just looked it up and found out that it is a zebra dartfish. Reef safe, other-fish-safe, etc. What should I do with him? I think the best idea would be to call and offer to pay for him... but what do you guys think?

 

[smithrc]

because the guys there are so stupid that they usually bag some snails/crabs with the rock by accident.

I guess then that you didn't plan on paying for them...

I think the best idea would be to call and offer to pay for him... but what do you guys think?

It is a bonus that came with the live rock

I guess your not going to offer to pay when polyps etc start growing?

Enjoy the freebie

 

[chkltcow]

We all expect polyps, dusters, worms, etc on live rock.... occasionally hitchiking animals like crabs/shrimp, etc.... it's all a part of the deal. If the store you go too keeps their live rock in a tank with fish and sells it that way... too bad... that's a freebie too.

Most people pick out LR pieces by the freebies that are on them, you know I certainly didn't plan on the polyp/mushroom thing that's on my most recent purchase, but I did like the coraline and branching algaes growing on some of the pieces, and bought them just for that reason.

 

[leon]

do you think they would give you your money back if there was a mantis, or a very large bristle worm in it, that happened to consume your fish overnite?
Hmmm, me thinks not!

 

[Navarre]

If you found a small crab crawing out of the rock then you would not think twice about acceptingit as a freebie. This is no different. If the shop keeps it in tanks where it can be used as a home to fish then they should know better.

Enjoy

 

[3fsh]

Well, I called the "fish manager" because I found out that the fish is worth about $15. He was really sweet and said he would appreciate it if I would pay for the fish ($15)... but if the fish died (because I'm cycling the tank with 1/2 cured LR and 1/2 uncured LR) I really didn't have to pay because it was their fault for bagging him with the live rock. So... I've been monitoring my water like crazy! I've been told by two people that there will be a HUGE rise in ammonia and that the fish will die... but yesterday when I tested it was .25 ammonia, .25 Nitrite, and 10-20 Nitrate... and today ammonia and nitrite are zero and Nitrate is 20-30!!!! Is it done cycling already? I only put the LR in 3 days ago. Here are some specifics:

15lbs uncured live rock
16lbs cured live rock
40lbs live sand
Reef rack with 80 gph flowing through it, rio 1100 circulating water at 500 gph in tank w/wavemaker, and sump with water flowing through it at about 125 gph. Does the cycling time sound right? I'm worried that when I wake up one of these days, little Smidge (what my mom named him ) will be dead.

 

[chkltcow]

Theoretically, with uncured live rock in there, your tank shouldn't be done cycling yet. If you add enough cured LR, it can handle the bioload and get rid of all the ammonia caused by die-off on the uncured stuff, however. Still... your tank isn't truly cycled yet, and you could have ammonia appear and disappear over the next few days or so. In my 20g reef, I added 33lb of LR on the first day, and never saw a single trace of ammonia.

I don't quite understand his logic on paying, however. If the fish dies... it's their fault for making a mistake.... no charge. If the fish lives.... it's their fault for making a mistake..... and you should pay. I don't get it.

 

[3fsh]

Basically, I offered to pay for the fish. If I hadn't offered, he wouldn't have charged me for it because it was their mistake. But, because he has really healthy saltwater fish and cheap LR, I don't mind paying for the fish. I am building a mini-reef anyway and this fish is perfectly reef-safe.