|
As you probably know, live rock was in many ways the "silver bullet secret" to keeping saltwater tanks, especially reef tanks with corals. Though tanks with lots of high tech gear can be run without it, tanks with it can be run without lots of high tech and expensive equipment. |
|
Good live rock can be one of the most aesthetically pleasing aspects of a tank full of very beautiful, rare animals. It can also keep them alive! It contains all the bacteria necessary for nitrification and de-nitrification, key to the success of a reef tank. The best natural filter you'll buy will be your live rock ... it is both literally and figuratively the foundation of your saltwater aquarium. ![]() Photo courtesy our customer Scott of Hammond, Indiana ... Tonga Eva and Deepwater Vava'u were used to create this stunning aquascape. |
Vanuatu Live Rock |
Bali Live Rock |
Irian Jaya Live Rock |
Java Live Rock |
Tonga Live Rock
|
Some notes from Birdfish ... GENERAL INFORMATION Almost all of this Pacific live rock, regardless of source, comes in boxes that weigh from 45 to 65+ pounds. When you order live rock direct, it is not cured. Please see our page on how to cure live rock. The most important things to remember are to NOT blast it with light when it first comes in, and to keep LOTS of current on it. WATERFLOW and PROTEIN SKIMMING are the two most important things to do. These simple rules will allow your live rock to cure with very little loss of coralline. LIGHT An important note ... remember the sun at high noon on the equator is only 6500 Kelvin. That means, less at other times of the day, or under overcast skies, etc. There is no 10,000 Kelvin in the wild. There is no such animal. It is often the overlighting of these new super bulbs, which can kill corallines, and corals. They ARE a marvel of technology, but the product they put out is nothing any animal in the sea is adapted to, or has ever seen. I once watched a large wholesaler in L.A. replace all his 10K's with 20K's when they came out, and watched 500 beautiful purple and blue acroporas turn brown in two days! So, let's be careful with the light out there folks! ORDERING Our rock is fresh ... it doesn't sit around on the floor for a week before we ship it to you. [Note: We put this sentence on our website in 2000 and it, to this day, is the most copied sentence off our website, with many of live rock sellers on the Internet having lifted it directly from here ... some of whom sell rock that is stored.] All of our rock is shipped almost immediately upon landing at LAX. So, as fast as a wholesaler in the east gets it and before he sells it to a retail store, you have it. Therefore, what day we ship to you will be based on the day the rock arrives at LAX. You must order in box lots ... the box weights are listed on our live rock pricing and photos page. We ship to your local airport. Freight rates vary with airline, and distance across country. Coast to coast, it is usually under $1.00 per pound. It is closer to 60 or 70 cents per pound half way across the country. By going to your local airport and picking it up, you can save money. Please plan ahead so you can place your order with enough time for us to arrange for the arrival of your rock into the U.S. and so we may have advance notice so we can secure your freight space, which often requires a booking, sometimes a week ahead of the shipping day. You may send us an e-mail if you wish to inquire regarding your shipping, or if you have any other questions. Also, please try to keep a flexible schedule regarding your shipping day ... sometimes things run like clockwork, but sometimes the schedules can occasionally change ... in other words, please don't make a solid plan to take the day off from work or plan your vacation around your shipment. The bottom line is you can get the same box of rock your local store does from essentially the same supplier for a lot less by picking it up at the airport yourself. Remember, freight terminals are often at different places than passenger terminals ... so know before you go! (All contact information will be sent to you.) We don't recommend this for everything, but where live rock is concerned, you're not taking the risk of touchy, sensitive livestock that might not eat! |
Live Rock Photos & Pricing |
Curing Live Rock |
|
BOAT ROCK ARTICLE |
SHIPPING INFORMATION |
CUSTOMER COMMENTS |