live rock questions

[Noober]

Hello....

I am getting a new saltwater tank pretty soon that is 120 gallons with the sump and all.... Right now I have approx 80 lbs of established live rock. I have 20 lbs of non established live rock thats been sitting in a tank for a couple months, not much coraline algae is growing on it yet though. (just a few spots) Anyway, I am looking at getting approx 50-100 more lbs of live rock for the new tank to add to the rock i already have. I've been looking and there have been many sales pitches on many websites I've seen. I sure would like to have green pink, and orange and red coraline algae on my rocks as well as the purple/pink that I already have. So If I buy Marshall Island rock, and Tonga, or something else from some other location... Am I more likely to get more colors from it than I am from this pinkish/purpleish fiji rock I have currently? I want some of it to be branch rock and some of it to be shelf type and some to be just boulder type, then I am going to need some cheap rubble to build up in the sand bed and to support my structure and to go into the refunerium or however you spell it.... Do you guys have any advice for me, if I am going to spend the dollar for it where would be the best online retailer to purchase it from? thx a lot!

[joelb]

refunerium..... ...priceless

it doesnt matter whick rock you put in there the chances of the orange or green algae wont be any higher. algae is like a plant that will grow when the ecosystem is just right for it. i have had rocks with maroon algea for 2 years go into another tank of mine then start to get purple and green and the new color algae starts to cover the marron algae. thats all i know just from my own experience.

just so you know i can't even pronounce that refuge word let alone spell it. i just say fuge or refuge.

[Noober]

haha man i was pretty drunk when i typed that.....
sorry bout that
anyway thanks for the info I guess I'll just look locally for some live rock so the dieoff time will be minimal... thanks a ton

[CoryDude]

You'll get some color with the tonga/marshall island stuff, but it really depends on your tank and lighting. I've got a few spots of bluish/green corraline, like Joel, but most of my tonga rock is maroon and then encrusting purple over it. That said, I still prefer any rock from Tonga over Fiji, including branch and shelf rocks. But it's pretty slim pickings right now with the import moratorium on tonga rock. Marinedepot.com is a good sight to order from (fast/reliable shipping), but try to buy local if you can so you can hand pick the pieces.

[FossilReef]

www.premiumaquatics.com has good prices on live rock, and they always sent me quality pieces with a bunch of coralline algae and other goodies!