why is liverock so expensive

[flyrfrk33]

I am looking for like 15lbs of cured live rock and have called like 3-4 stores and they all want $9/lb or more. Is this normal? I live in NYC where do you all get your live rock? Ill be in North New Jersey on Friday/Sat if there are any stores out that way. Looking for suggestions. Thanks

 

[thirty6]

are you looking for this rock to start a new tank or add to existing setup

i have never bought lr from a store and would never buy live rock from someone in the future. i prefer baserock and let the rock seed itself in time. no unwanted pests this way, unless of course your adding to establlished tank with some critters in already just a thought

if your set on buying live rock, buy it from someone here, cheaper and in most cases cared for better than a lfs

 

[duke62]

The exporter has to pay licenses and shipping fee along with the LFS having to stock it and have it cure in there system. Not a cheap process

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Live rock is expensive because it is expensive to ship and it is also "controlled" and requires CITES permits. Wholesale, uncured, high quality rock costs the stores about $4-6/LB, they then lose some to breakage and decomposition and it takes time to cure it. (When I did wholesale I was getting real nice Caribbean rock straight from the source for $2.50/LB plus about another $75 per box in freight charges- and this was over 12 years ago)

You can get it cheaper buying from another reefer that is selling off their rock, but the good stuff usually starts at about $6/LB.

Another option is to buy marco rock. I saw it at the swap and it is really nice stuff. It is "dead" but in many ways it is better to start off with "dead" rock so that you don't end up with any unwelcome hitchhikers.

Alfred

 

[lfsmarineguy]

Permits and air freight from the other side of the world. A lot of the initial cost of live rock is the shipping and other fees, then you can add in operating expenses and that gives you retail price.

 

[piranhapat]

Maxmium Reef is having Black Friday sale this Friday and Saturday. Live rock will cost you half price. So I would try to make it there if you could. I always pickup extra Live rock on they Black Friday. Maximum Reef Aquatics Inc
1575 Central Park Ave
Yonkers,NY 10710
(914)667-7717
Maxreefaquatics.com

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

I have heard a lot of good things about Maximum Reef Aquatics, I have to find the time to make it...

Alfred

 

[E.intheC]

The exporter has to pay licenses and shipping fee along with the LFS having to stock it and have it cure in there system. Not a cheap process

Yep. Plus it's heavy to ship, and that means $$$

 

[flyrfrk33]

Thanks everyone - I know why its expensive it just sucks. ha

I am trying to add 15 or so lbs to my already running tank, so dry rock and curing it isnt really an option.

Just saw that manhattan aquarium is having a nice 25% off sale this whole weekend as well.

thanks everyone

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Marco rock does not need to be cured.

Best,

Alfred

 

[noelskii]

Marco rock does not need to be cured.

Best,

Alfred

why not?

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

Because it was never alive to begin with?

http://www.marcorocks.com/

I would probably leave it soaking in salt water for a few days, but I have heard very good things about it and got to see it at the swap.

Best,

Alfred

why not?

 

[duke62]

Marco rock does not need to be cured.

Best,

Alfred

marco rock is loaded with PO4

 

[albano]

Because it was never alive to begin
...I would probably leave it soaking in salt water for a few days...

Was alive a few million years ago...many reports of high phosphates from Marco rocks ... Cure it!

 

[lfsmarineguy]

We have some ceramic/aragonite rock at Fauna. Most of the rock in our 300gal is ceramics.

 

[Alfredo De La Fe]

I have read mixed reviews on this. Some people have had moderate PO4 spikes after using marco rock and others have not. Most rinsed the rock several times and let it sit in RO/DI water for a week.

It is real cheap and looks good. I would love to hear other experiences... I was considering going this route with the next nano I set-up.

Alfred

 

[Widdy]

My 50lbs of Marco rock needed to be cured. But looking at their website, it looks like they have some that are "pre-cured" in increments of 25lbs. Take it for what it's worth.

 

[noelskii]

I've ordered those "pre-cured" ones... They need to be cured.... lol

 

[yah-the submariner]

i have new marco rock in my tank now that i added to my already existing rock. My process(fwiw) rinsed the rock in R.O.water placed in in a empty 30 gal,with water from my dt during water changes with a pump for water movement and heater on the second week(partial cure?) about two weeks or so placed in my tank. Zero issues. i agree on buying from fellow reefers but screen the rock you place in your tank or qt it,seriously! everything i ever had(aptasia,cyano ect.) came after my initial rock purchase from other reefers rock. that extra dollar a pound in a sale can save you many dollars in crisis management later.

 

[Imbarrie]

I bought Pukani rock which is similar to Marco. And it is loaded with PO4 also.
I used a muriatic acid bath and it worked really well. Dissolved all the organics and is in my system now. Will be doing it again soon.