junglejim Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Hi, I'm setting up my tank and I asked a retailer about live rock and he said you can't buy it in NZ. He then offered me some other rock. My question is, what's the point in buying rock from a NZ retailer that isn't live, can't I just go to the beach and pick up a stone from there for cheaper???? I have read all about live and dead rocks but don't get what the score in NZ is. Any answers appreciated as I'm keen to get my system up and running. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Hi, I'm setting up my tank and I asked a retailer about live rock and he said you can't buy it in NZ. Correct...Mostly. He then offered me some other rock. Probably base rock. Basically live rock that has been dried and then steam cleaned as is required by import regs. My question is, what's the point in buying rock from a NZ retailer that isn't live, can't I just go to the beach and pick up a stone from there for cheaper???? No. Because that's rock. Not porous, not calcium like base rock which is dead coral skeletons. You can buy live rock from other people with tanks. It's not "Live rock" as many places get which is basically chunks of a reef smashed up and delivered as is with all the life on it. Most liverock you can buy from people here is dead, dried up base rock that has been sitting in their tank colonized with life and bacteria. Most people will buy a bunch of baserock then get a bunch of liverock from people around to get some goodies going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglejim Posted May 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 Ah thanks for that reply. It makes sense now. I have read a bit about rocks that are cured, but never really live. I suppose there aren't too many reefs around the hauraki to go looking for bits that have fallen off? Anyone want some if I can go diving and find any?? lol Edit>>> I see you're in Hutt, so won't know about the Hauraki lol.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglejim Posted May 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 By the way, I read an article about making shapes out of calcium cement and dumping them in the sea for a couple of months. Would this be anywhere near live rock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 By the way, I read an article about making shapes out of calcium cement and dumping them in the sea for a couple of months. Would this be anywhere near live rock? This might be how they make the 'artificial' coral rock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 By the way, I read an article about making shapes out of calcium cement and dumping them in the sea for a couple of months. Would this be anywhere near live rock? Not really, no. You'll pretty much just have wet rock, anything that it might collect in the ocean here would die when you put it in your tank. Assuming you're talking a tropical reef anyway. The heat would kill most things from our cold ocean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted May 16, 2014 Report Share Posted May 16, 2014 I have seen people buy newly imported rock that has been dried in big ovens at over 300degsC as required, and when they put it in their tank, all sorts of bugs were still alive in it and come out and macro algaes even growing from them within a few weeks. Easiest way to get live rock is buy some dry coral rock and cycle it and slowly introduce life over a few months to bring the rock to life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglejim Posted May 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 Interesting. Thanks guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 17, 2014 Report Share Posted May 17, 2014 I have seen people buy newly imported rock that has been dried in big ovens at over 300degsC as required, and when they put it in their tank, all sorts of bugs were still alive in it and come out and macro algaes even growing from them within a few weeks. Easiest way to get live rock is buy some dry coral rock and cycle it and slowly introduce life over a few months to bring the rock to life. I followed the thread that I think you posted a while back on cycling rock and it's going well for me. Junglejim - You can buy live rock at some pet shops (mostly specialist shops), costs around $20 per kg rather than the $13 per kg for 'dead' rock. You can sometimes buy off others but from my understanding you can also buy nasties if they have them in their tanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinnadian Posted May 18, 2014 Report Share Posted May 18, 2014 Between aquaworld and hollywood fish farm, one of them should be selling live rock. That is, dead rock which has been cycled inside a NZ aquarium and has all the beneficial bacteria in it. Get around 30% live rock and 70% dead rock, should be sufficient to seed for your cycling tank. The live rock will just cost a bit more, but it is DEFINITELY worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted May 19, 2014 Report Share Posted May 19, 2014 The other side of the argument is starting with dry rock (but reasonably clean). This is so you can be sure that you arent getting any undesirable hitchhikers - and you know exactly what you are putting in your tank. That goes out the window of course if you purchase any decent size corals on larger bits of rock, only works when corals are freshly fragged onto a piece of dry rubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 20, 2014 Report Share Posted May 20, 2014 HF Mt Roskill has it - I think it was $20 per kg but they don't have a huge amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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