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View Full Version : Best live rock substitute? Life Rock by Carib Sea or Reef Rock 2.1?

necessary_evil
03/19/2019, 05:38 AM
Looking for reviews based on durability, any leaching issues, cycling etc?

Im not worried about lack of porousness, have other approaches for that
sp4zzy
03/19/2019, 06:52 AM
Haven't used either myself, but a good friend of mine swears by the Caribsea stuff. He's had a 125g set up with it for a few years now without too much trouble.
Dmorty217
03/19/2019, 07:44 AM
Since you're located very close to Tampa I would contact Richard at tbsaltwater.com
It will cost you as much as the stuff you mentioned but be about 1000xs better
necessary_evil
03/20/2019, 08:15 AM
Since you're located very close to Tampa I would contact Richard at tbsaltwater.com
It will cost you as much as the stuff you mentioned but be about 1000xs better

What is it? I dont see anything but plain dry rock?
Dmorty217
03/20/2019, 08:20 AM
What is it?

He has Pukani and I believe another kind of rock that was purchased as dry but he leases a spot in the ocean a few miles off shore and puts the rock there to become live and covered in creatures. Best stuff I have ever seen or purchased.
jgraz
03/20/2019, 10:46 AM
Looking for reviews based on durability, any leaching issues, cycling etc?



Im not worried about lack of porousness, have other approaches for thatIf your looking for dry rock, hit Amazon.
Search for live rock and ot will turn up a few things including those you mentioned above. Also included will be rock from Natures Ocean and another from Worldwide imports.
Both are exactly the same as BRS reef saver and Marco rocks. At 1/2 the price. I just purchased it for my system and have used it several times in other systems..
Below are a few pics of what you can expect.
Its completely free of organic matter and perfectly clean as is, but a pressure rinse and a vinegar bath really opens up the pores and holes.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190320/6ec38c7020f88b645c5005cce35e82db.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190320/8cdd1e50019f83032d908c4a50d67d86.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190320/a479de61ebb09e8e610c66282eba8be5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190320/ec6c2b9b28629a34d822b1fd448c9198.jpg

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jgraz
03/20/2019, 10:50 AM
He has Pukani and I believe another kind of rock that was purchased as dry but he leases a spot in the ocean a few miles off shore and puts the rock there to become live and covered in creatures. Best stuff I have ever seen or purchased.It is nice stuff, but after sitting in the ocean for a while the price goes up dramatically. If your looking for hitchhikers it's a good way to go but you can end up with bad just as well as good.

It starts life a dry rock and is the same as BRS Reefsaver.

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RioReefr
03/20/2019, 11:35 AM
I have no personal experience with these guys, but they were recommended to me and they are based in Miami so your shipping costs might be low.

Pristine Rock

https://pristinerock.com/shop/custom-rockscape/
FireViper
03/20/2019, 12:15 PM
Thought about DIY? As a fun project over the holidays, my daughter and I made a half a tank full out of cement, sand and crushed aragonite. Fun shapes and large holes. A lengthy process, but great fun.

The fish seem to like them as well, plenty of large hiding places for them and the critters.
Dmorty217
03/20/2019, 12:39 PM
It is nice stuff, but after sitting in the ocean for a while the price goes up dramatically. If your looking for hitchhikers it's a good way to go but you can end up with bad just as well as good.

It starts life a dry rock and is the same as BRS Reefsaver.

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It’s $5 per lb from Richard so that’s cheaper and 1000xs better and there are plenty of ways to deal with hitch hikers good and bad. I don’t consider “liverock” something with coralline algae on it.
jgraz
03/20/2019, 12:47 PM
It’s $5 per lb from Richard so that’s cheaper and 1000xs better and there are plenty of ways to deal with hitch hikers good and bad. I don’t consider “liverock” something with coralline algae on it.Cheaper then what?

The rock I mentioned is a little over $1 per pound, and is comparable to the rock that the OP was considering.
As for insinuating I dont know what live rock is I can assure you I do.

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Dmorty217
03/21/2019, 10:03 AM
Cheaper then what?

The rock I mentioned is a little over $1 per pound, and is comparable to the rock that the OP was considering.
As for insinuating I dont know what live rock is I can assure you I do.

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Than most of what BRS sells. The OP mentioned Real Reef rock and that is nothing more than coralline algae, no one insinuated that you didn't know what Live rock is. :beer: