My god!

[Reefer madness92]

Went to petco for a new biocube airstone and noticed that the live rock looked funny. I asked one of my friends that works there about them and he told me it's plain concrete. I cant believe they are that devious. I HATE PETCO WITH A PASSION! Also seems like everything I need from them doesn't work with my coupons, very frustrating

[Zack]

I've seen several people online that make their own live rock with concrete as a way to preserve the reef and save a few bucks, I'm sure that the rock their live rock has to be somewhat decent??

[Reefer madness92]

It was labeled Fiji rock

[jrossjr79]

I've seen several people online that make their own live rock with concrete as a way to preserve the reef and save a few bucks, I'm sure that the rock their live rock has to be somewhat decent??

Ya there is all kinds of rock that is made this way, but its not true live rock, its just base rock that has been seeded. Unless they planted those concrete rocks of theirs into the ocean, which I seriously doubt. Most that is planted, and correct me if I am wrong, is limestone, and it is left on the bottom of the ocean for a few years.

Seeded base rock from the way I understand it doesnt have all the things that a live rock would have, one of them being some type of worm.

Now with them labeling it as Live Fiji is just plain wrong.

[Zack]

Yeah labeling it is wrong, even worst is the fact that people probably purchase it at crazy prices

[Reefer madness92]

From bleached anemones to extremely decaying fish stuck to filters, almost forgot to mention ich

[avilamillar]

My petco has a really nice population of flatworms in their tanks... they must think they look cool or something because they have never done something about it. I think I have a picture, I'll post it if I can find it.

[avilamillar]

Look at this beauty

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn167/avilamillar/IMG-20101022-00014.jpg

[Reefer madness92]

Holy crap ^^^ what's wrong with these people, tomorrow I'm gonna report my local petco to the better business bureau. I hope you all do the same. I've seen reports online of this actually working to shut down the saltwater section

[jrossjr79]

Holy crap ^^^ what's wrong with these people, tomorrow I'm gonna report my local petco to the better business bureau. I hope you all do the same. I've seen reports online of this actually working to shut down the saltwater section

I can tell you what the matter is with these people, they are a corporate entity, and do not care about you, me, other saltwater hobbyist, nor do they care for the life that they house and try to pawn off on you its unlucky victims. They only care what the bottom line reads.

[Big_Pun]

I can tell you that it's all a lack of education.... they hire young people and have a high turn over. so they can't properly train them. I have had this talk with my sister who works for the petco corp office here in town. I've even tried and told her I would help them come up with a better training program. but hey it's the corp beast like Walmart and there fresh water side. if your going to boycott one place why not all. I've been around long enough to even see local LFS with just as bad pest or sick fish but as long as they are offered cheap no one says a thing.

so next time your there don't walk away say something to a manager or let me know which one and I'll go let them know. your just as guilty for walking away

[jrossjr79]

I can tell you that it's all a lack of education.... they hire young people and have a high turn over. so they can't properly train them. I have had this talk with my sister who works for the petco corp office here in town. I've even tried and told her I would help them come up with a better training program. but hey it's the corp beast like Walmart and there fresh water side. if your going to boycott one place why not all. I've been around long enough to even see local LFS with just as bad pest or sick fish but as long as they are offered cheap no one says a thing.

so next time your there don't walk away say something to a manager or let me know which one and I'll go let them know. your just as guilty for walking away


I will keep that in mind if I eer step foot into a petco. I dont shop there, I usually shop at a LPS, sadly they dont have much of anything to do with saltwater systems though. I think they might have frozen food though. But I go there for my dog food instead of going to petsmart or petco, I get excellent service. If any of yall live on the NE side of town and have other pets, I highly recommend the Pet Barn off of FM78. But dont go there and expect to see saltwater stuff.

Oh and here is where I read that base rock is not truly live rock unless it comes from the ocean itself.

What is LIVE Rock, Anyway? (http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fish-diseases-treatments/61875-what-live-rock-anyway.html)


"Probably the biggest error for new aquarists is the thought that if dead, home made, or base rock is placed next to live rock in the marine aquarium, that these will turn into live rock. NOT.

No matter how long dead, home made, or base rock sits next to live rock in our aquarium, the lifeforms that live inside of live rock will not move over to the dead or base rock. Those rocks will never become LIVE rocks! Why? Because the organisms that make homes for the denitrifying bacteria inside the true live rock don't reproduce in our aquariums These worms and other special lifeforms responsible for the rock giving homes for denitrification bacteria, will not spread. They cannot move to other rock and they cannot reproduce/multiply in the aquarium. In fact, this is one reason why some aquarists claim that live rock should be replaced every 5 to 10 years. The lifeforms inside the rock will die off of their own accord, and the help the live rock gave at removing nitrates will diminish as the rock ages. Some claim that once coralline algae covers over the crevices and these worm holes, that the rock will loose its ability to handle nitrates, too. Makes sense. So maybe don't be in such a rush to cultivate a lot of coralline if you need the denitrification!"

Just thought I share this since the topic was brought up that PetCo is using pretty much a homemade base and calling it a Live Rock.

[Fegenbush]

I think just passing on your concern to Corporate would help they may not even know what different stores are doing as far as the worms. Some things like that are left up to the descretion of the person running that peticular section in each store they should know more of what they are doing, and if the Corporate office knew, they might get them to change. I don't know. They should check on their stores more closely!

[Reefer madness92]

Did all I could about my petco today, well see what happens.....

[tebstan]

Went to petco for a new biocube airstone and noticed that the live rock looked funny. I asked one of my friends that works there about them and he told me it's plain concrete. I cant believe they are that devious. I HATE PETCO WITH A PASSION! Also seems like everything I need from them doesn't work with my coupons, very frustrating

Are you in San Antonio, or Corpus? I only know of one Petco in SA that sells saltwater, and they're not totally awful. Decent, for a Petco. But I never see "plain concrete" rock. Since man-made rock can include concrete maybe your friend was generalizing.


After the $30 Achilles tang incident, I'm going to go browsing at Petco more often... :angel:

[Zack]

The one on De-Zevala sells saltwater aswell as the one on Bandera. De-Zevala was pretty rough last time I walked in and Bandera was alright. The one up here in Kyle is actually not too bad and I know their specialist from a mutual friend. Word is he has a pretty nice setup and an awesome frag tank.

[Reefer madness92]

im in san antonio, and i dont think i would make **** up

[allan]

No matter how long dead, home made, or base rock sits next to live rock in our aquarium... coralline if you need the denitrification!"

Just thought I share this since the topic was brought up that PetCo is using pretty much a homemade base and calling it a Live Rock.

Who wrote this? I find it hard to believe, not that I'm denying it, just difficult to believe that this is so. It seems, that were this the case, that we would be will always be limited to pulling from the reef those things that make this hobby work so well. Which isn't in line with the mission statement of MAAST either.

[hobogato]

if you read the post he linked, it goes into much more detail. basically the author says that any liverock - unless shipped from the ocean totally submerged in water - will lose most of its ability to carry out the final step of the nitrogen cycly (nitrates -> nitrogen). he does mention that beneficial bacteria will colonize dead rock slowly, but it will never be as efficient as true live rock at carrying out the complete nitrogen cycle.

[jrossjr79]

Just what I read Allen, posted the link above in one of my previous post in this thread. And thanks Ace for pointing out the link I posted :)

[allan]

Yeah, I missed the link. That's a long read, but I got through most of it. Bottom line is that unless you take directly from the reef you won't get the "full effect" potential from the 'live' rock. And since most rock is shipped in damp conditions, and not totally 'submerged' and require 'curing' we have to assume that most of us don't ever get that full effect due to the die off.

Since the hobby is still functioning well in light of these conditions we are good to go with 'cured' or aquacultured rock... right?

I've heard of 'old tank syndrome' from Ping a few years ago, and have heard it a couple times in passing. This is, in effect, what the writer of the article is indirectly alluding to, correct? He may have stated it outright, but I couldn't afford the time to give it more than a quick read.

[allan]

oh, and for the record, I'm not condoning selling concrete aquacultured rock as 'fiji' rock. I would be highly irritated should I have made that purchase. Seems like they would be open to a lawsuite for false advertising, should anyone feel the requirement to sue.

[jrossjr79]

I would believe so, at least I hope for my sake and alot of other hobbyist, since I am going to be using majority DIY Oystercrete for most of my live rock. But I will be making sure I have genuine live rock in my tank to start the process off.

[allan]

lol, know what you mean. I've got stuff that came from the store, but I have a lot that came from other reefers and I've sterilized a lot in an effort to get rid of the texas trash palies that we all know and love.

[tebstan]

I didn't say you made anything up.

You said a friend told you it was concrete, so I wanted a little clarification, or to know which store, so I could see it for myself. I've seen some of the DIY rock in LFS and actually liked it quite a bit. I've got a few pieces of FHI aqua cultured rock I love, too. Personally, I wouldn't stock a whole tank with man made rock, but they can have unique shapes ideal for making shelves and caves.




I've heard of 'old tank syndrome' from Ping a few years ago, and have heard it a couple times in passing. This is, in effect, what the writer of the article is indirectly alluding to, correct? He may have stated it outright, but I couldn't afford the time to give it more than a quick read.

I've heard about it here and there too. I'm guessing it doesn't get more attention because so many people change things up after a few years, whether it's new aquascape (and new rock) or a whole new tank. My tank is coming up on it's 3 year birthday, so I may need an excuse to get some new rock... there is a paly covered piece that irks me... :wink_smile:

[allan]

:-)