Should I order Live Rock from MDL?

[chich]

So far I have been unable to find anyone who is willin to say that the rock from MDL is the best. the price at 149.95 for 44 lbs is really good. However, I can't find any testimonials here on RC.

see this link:
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/lr.html

Please convince me that I should order from Marine Depot. Or convince me I should not.

thanks

chich

[crabman]

I have purchased to 46lbs boxes of walt smith fiji off ebay for 149.99 that includes shipping I am very happy nice rock.

[chich]

Whom did you buy from on ebay and do you have any pics of the rock?

[MarineDepot]

I would like to mention that we sell Walt Smith rock also for $149.95 and that includes shipping. Our rock is pretty good stuff :D

[chich]

Hey, a savings of 4 cents :D can't beat that.

So I guess my question is this: If your Rock is Walt Smith, why does it not mention that fact on the website? Or maybe it does and I have just missed it. Also, why am I having so tough of a time finding anyone with screen shots of your rock or a testimony for it? 149.95 is a good price. Your quick response here was also a good sign. :thumbsup:

thanks

Chich

[MarineDepot]

Maybe this well help :D
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=175796&highlight=marine+depot+live+rock

We really do have pretty good stuff :)
But search around and see if you find more feedback.

[chich]

In the link you provided, lBurns was pleased but Rane2001 did not seem to be pleased. While I understand you cannot please everyone, I cannot find a good amount of people that have your live rock and swear by it. I understand that I may be asking too much from RC as it appears you are relatively new here (you only have 84 posts). I guess I just want the best rock at the best price. I know that mail order margins are low. Like I said your price seems good I just am really looking for a pic of the rock from someone who purchased it. Note: I am a bit suspicious of the pic here (http://store6.yimg.com/I/marinedepotlive_1743_476964) as it is literally covered in coralline. The pics I have seen from other placed don't ever have that much coralline. I am also looking for testimonials of the amount of live on your rock.

Thanks again for the quick feedback.

Chich

[MarineDepot]

While we only have eighty-some posts, we have been on businesses for over 6 years and have been a sponsor on reefcentral for about two years. Lately, we have decided to be more active in the forum.
The picture we show on the website is supplied from our supplier and sometimes it looks like that and sometimes it doesn't. The quality of the rock does vary from shipment to shipment. Lately, the quality of rock has not been the greatest, but the rock does pick up corallin algae really fast after about three or four weeks as long as you have adequate calcium and alkalinity levels.

[firefish55]

I bought their rock over a month ago! Its beautiful! big pieces covered with purple coraline. I have many small feather dusters, bristle worms, and spagetti worms. also some small sponges. I put the rock in the tank without curing it, and had only a small spike! (however I did take a chance doing this) I'm very satisfied, :thumbsup:

[crabman]

The ebay seller I bought from was Akuanox I will take some pictures today. For that price you cant expect 100% corraline covered. but they were about 60% with other plants and life forms. I am very happy.

[chich]

Marine Depot:
I understand that you have a very reputable business, you seem to have a large following in the Dry goods area. I appreciate that. I am just trying to get peoples oppinion on your LR. It seems we have a few more favorable comments. It is looking good. I am just not one to rush in real fast. I hope to be ordering LR in the next two weeks.
Firefish, what grad of Rock did you order? I have a new tanks so I will be curing it for about 6 weeks in tank. (estimated anyway)

thanks

Chich

[firefish55]

I ordered the regular uncured rock, it had some big sponges on it that died off, and probably a few other things that died too. But the color was great. Also it was only 40 degrees out when it arrived, so the temp didn't help much! Oh! and mine has a few poylps on it too! One of the rocks has something big living in it, every once in awhile a white dust blows out of a hole in the top, it makes the rock look like a little volcano!

[tadouh]

i think i might be picking up some marine depot fiji :)

[chich]

If you do, could you post a picture or two on this thread?

thanks

Chich

[tadouh]

ya i would but i dont have a digital camera. i am in the same position as you though. i am debating weather or not to purchase from marine depot

[tadouh]

i found the same guy on ebay. auqanox. i am gonna purchase his walt smith fiji at 149.99 a box. free shipping too

[tadouh]

i just got my rock today .slow shipping witch i am sure degraded the quality of the rock. i would not recomend getting live rock from ebay. get from some one with next day air. other than that the waltsmith rock was ok. not thrilled but not dissapointed

[chich]

Thanks for the update

[delta]

this is rock i purchaced from MDL in early may
not alot of life but nice color and plenty of surface area
its the precured fiji LR

[delta]

also i think if you read in MDL's web site thats a piece of LR at collection time that you post earlier

[Benthic Explorer]

Delta how big is that tank and how much LR is that?

[delta]

its a 29 gal with 45 lbs of LR

[40gal]

In case anyone wants to hear what I think,

I ordered the 44lb box of LR from MDL last week. It shipped on time and I received it when I was supposed to. The box was damaged when I got it (although I really didn't notice until I had opened it up anyway). I'm willing to bet that the damage occurred during shipping anyway. After opening the box I was sort of disappointed. The styrofoam box was cracked (again probably from shipping) but there wasn't more than 3 pieces of newspaper covering about 2-3 of the pieces of LR, so there were 10-11 peices of rock left uncovered. Because the box was cracked the rock were pretty dry when they arrived here. I think that they could spend a little more time wrapping these rocks to keep them as damp as possible, to ensure the least amount of die-off during shipping. I must say though, the rock itself looks pretty good, although this is my first mail order LR so nothing else to compare it to. Blows my LFS LR out of the water, although this isn't a good comparison.

All together I am happy with the rock; it is in my tank cycling now and hopefully within a few weeks I will have good growth on them. I think if they would take a little more time in the packaging stage, it would help.

On the other hand, MD drygoods has been very good to me. I received a shipment from them also last friday, and my aquadoser was damaged. They sent another one out to me the same day - no problems. I will continue to give Marine Depot my buisness.

[Phreak]

I was thinking of buying some today from akuanox but before I do that I have a question for all of ya's. I have a 26 bow with about 10lbs of haiti rock in it now with some montipora digitata and some softies. Would it be ok to add about 46lbs of this walt smith rock and create a whole new cycle with my corals in there? I can speed the cycle up dramatically using Special Blend so there will be less harm. Also I did put my corals through a cycle once before when I moved from my 7 gal to my 26. Any suggestions are well appreciated.

Thanks,
Leo