Best place to get sand / rock? - Aquarium Advice

catmel · 05-01-2008, 11:56 PM

Hi again

thanks everyone so far for your help.

What do you guys find to be the best place to get live sand / base rock / live rock at the most affordable price for good product? either online or LFS. If online, please point me in the right direction!!

**melosu58** · 05-02-2008, 06:43 AM

For the price You`ll need to get it online. If you want to see what you are getting and see the quality then you`ll need to go to the LFS.

**Ziggy953** · 05-02-2008, 09:06 AM

I agree. Liveaquaria.com Marcorocks.com

Latitude_change · 05-02-2008, 10:39 AM

Check out your local Craigslist. It is hit or miss, but I am finding great success in my area.

catmel · 05-02-2008, 10:59 AM

Have any of you had good luck with live aquaria.com? I was looking at the different live rock there and it really does seem to be a good price. I havent seen what they charge for shipping though.. decent?

I was looking at the premium fiji rock that you have to cure. With a new tank and no fish / coral etc in it yet would this be the best idea to cycle? On the site it recommends doing a 50% water change weekly whle doing this.. is this necessary? Or should I go ahead and spend a bit more and buy fully cured live rock?

I appreciate your help greatly

Innovator · 05-02-2008, 11:19 AM

Fiji is probably the most widely used worldwide for its lovely corraline colorations, reasonably light weight, interesting shapes, and porous. Premium Fiji just seems to have less rubble and perhaps a couple nicer pieces than the regular, but nonetheless my preference. I prefer uncured liverock especially when cycling a tank (kicks off the process). There is also the added benefit of decent added fauna if it is reasonably fresh (anything under 2wks time).
I would only siphon rotting material from the bottom of the tank as it falls from the live rock. Large water changes can inhibit cycling as it is a slow process anyways.

cmor1701d · 05-02-2008, 11:31 AM

LiveAquaria (Drs. Foster and Smith) bought FlyingFishExpress which is where I got my initial LR from. They continue to have great quality LR at a reasonable price for online sources.

**roka64** · 05-02-2008, 01:39 PM

I bought 150Lbs of base rock from marcorocks.com. They are super pourous. I seeded that with a little LR from my LFS. I bought 270LBS of dry sand from drsfosterandsmith and shipping was $15. You may want to look into shipping costs added to the price of your products.

birdmike · 05-02-2008, 03:00 PM

I bought 50lbs of high quality LS from Ebay for $40 including shipping.

catmel · 05-02-2008, 07:13 PM

I'd be a bit leary getting something living off ebay hah, as long as it worked great for you

I'll have to look into seeing what the shipping costs of liveaquaria is there, they've got a pretty good deal on their live rock. thanks for the help!

05-01-2008, 11:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
catmel Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 81	Best place to get sand / rock? Hi again thanks everyone so far for your help. What do you guys find to be the best place to get live sand / base rock / live rock at the most affordable price for good product? either online or LFS. If online, please point me in the right direction!! __________________ Working on a 55 gal FOWLR set up. Excited!!

05-02-2008, 06:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 11,260 Images: 73	For the price You`ll need to get it online. If you want to see what you are getting and see the quality then you`ll need to go to the LFS. __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef

05-02-2008, 09:06 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ziggy953 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Sumerduck, Virginia Posts: 2,881 Images: 5	I agree. Liveaquaria.com Marcorocks.com __________________ Happy Reefing! *NEW 150G Pick up 6/29/08 Build will be 4th of July weekend* Visit our Article section for answers on a variety of topics. LFS, PWC, PH RO/DI what in the world? Look here! Pods, algae and more!

05-02-2008, 10:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
catmel Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 81	Have any of you had good luck with live aquaria.com? I was looking at the different live rock there and it really does seem to be a good price. I havent seen what they charge for shipping though.. decent? I was looking at the premium fiji rock that you have to cure. With a new tank and no fish / coral etc in it yet would this be the best idea to cycle? On the site it recommends doing a 50% water change weekly whle doing this.. is this necessary? Or should I go ahead and spend a bit more and buy fully cured live rock? I appreciate your help greatly __________________ Working on a 55 gal FOWLR set up. Excited!!

05-02-2008, 11:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
cmor1701d Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Belle Mead, NJ Posts: 3,358 Images: 43	LiveAquaria (Drs. Foster and Smith) bought FlyingFishExpress which is where I got my initial LR from. They continue to have great quality LR at a reasonable price for online sources. __________________ Click here to Vote for Aquarium Advice on AquaRank . Vote EVERY day! Click Here for a list of commonly used acronyms and abbreviations. ____ Cmor

05-02-2008, 10:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
Latitude_change Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 34	Check out your local Craigslist. It is hit or miss, but I am finding great success in my area.

05-02-2008, 11:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
Innovator Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 959	Fiji is probably the most widely used worldwide for its lovely corraline colorations, reasonably light weight, interesting shapes, and porous. Premium Fiji just seems to have less rubble and perhaps a couple nicer pieces than the regular, but nonetheless my preference. I prefer uncured liverock especially when cycling a tank (kicks off the process). There is also the added benefit of decent added fauna if it is reasonably fresh (anything under 2wks time). I would only siphon rotting material from the bottom of the tank as it falls from the live rock. Large water changes can inhibit cycling as it is a slow process anyways.

05-02-2008, 01:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,380 Images: 12	I bought 150Lbs of base rock from marcorocks.com. They are super pourous. I seeded that with a little LR from my LFS. I bought 270LBS of dry sand from drsfosterandsmith and shipping was $15. You may want to look into shipping costs added to the price of your products. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

05-02-2008, 03:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
birdmike Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iowa City, IA Posts: 6	I bought 50lbs of high quality LS from Ebay for $40 including shipping.

05-02-2008, 07:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
catmel Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Findlay, Ohio Posts: 81	I'd be a bit leary getting something living off ebay hah, as long as it worked great for you I'll have to look into seeing what the shipping costs of liveaquaria is there, they've got a pretty good deal on their live rock. thanks for the help! __________________ Working on a 55 gal FOWLR set up. Excited!!

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