How to pick live rock?

[opium89]

Ok, I am simply dizzy from reading about live rock and I don't feel like I am any wiser on the topic than from before I started! I have been reading about Fiji, Bali, Tonga,Uaniva, Vanuta...and then I see people using foam and Lace rock! Frankly, my head hurts.

So, how does one determine what type of live rock to use? Are there advantages using one type or another beside price? What I really want is color and I don't want it to be too heavy. Is it correct in thinking that virtually anything that is not going to leech poisons in to the tank safe as long as it is seeded properly? What determines the colors that are going to sprout from it? Please help this poor, confused soul make sense of this!

[FireWater]

My answer was to go with what I liked. From what I understand- some varieties will be heavier as they are more dense- colors can depend on what area and region they came from as well as the conditions in your tank- shape and size are big factors when choosing different styles. I would look as much as you can and pick types that you like the looks of and go from there. As far as I know there is not a big difference or overwhelming factor between different types of natural reef live rock when it comes to filtration. Someone please correct me if I am wrong and I hope this helps some

[KyleV]

Ditto!

[opium89]

What are some good resources on where to pick up some quality stuff? I don't need it cured as I starting a new tank from scratch. Just want the nicest looking pieces I can find.

[oceanview85]

well from my experiance all the rocks end up the same way. they all get covered in coraline alge. i prefer fiji because it is more pores and lighter and that is a plus. i got my rock for marindepotlive it was really good rock but i did cure it for a month.

[devonian]

choose the cheapest, as oceaniview said, they will get covered all the same, either by corals/polyps, coralline algae, or hair algae, lol

[Bill S]

Choose rock pretty much on shape. As noted above, once it gets encrusted, it won't matter.

[coraline79]

I bought rock in 2 stages. It might not be the ideal way for the tank, but it will help you aquascape it the way you want. I bought 22lbs of liverock, and a big 13lbs (dead)base rock on my first purchase......mostly due to finances. fortunately this gave me an idea of where I wanted to go with the structure, and get more familiar with it since this was my first go at Saltwater. I bought another 25lbs recently(fully cured), and finished out my aquascape(this makes a mixture of Tonga Branch, Fiji-premium, and "spaghetti" rock). I am very please with my setup, and happy that I was financially forced to make a 2 part purchase.

This is in my 30 long tank by the way.