Buying Live Rock

If you don’t have the resources to cure live rock (separate tank/container, filter, heater, protein skimmer, etc.) you have a couple options:

Buying Live Rocks From Local Fish Shops

If you buy your live rocks from a local fish shop, you save money on shipping and your rock will never spend days out of water. You can also see what you’re getting before buying.

Make sure you:

• Inspect the live rock for any black spots of white film. If there any, the live rock is in the process of curing.
• Make sure you smell the live rock. If there’s any rotting, pungent, or unpleasant smell, the live rock is in the process of curing.
• Examine the live rock for any unwanted passengers like worms or anemones.
• Don’t get talked into buying more than you can handle. Remember, start small and add more as your saltwater aquarium stabilizes.

Also ask questions like:

• How long have the live rock been curing?
• What area does the live rock come from?
• What additives have they used while curing?

Buying Live Rocks Over The Internet

If there’s no local fish shop around, your only option may be to order from the Internet. When buying live rocks over the Internet, it’s vital you find out whether the live rock has ever been allowed to dry out.

Ask questions like:

• How was the live rock collected?
• How was the live rock stored?
• How will the live rock be shipped?

Quality live rock collectors will immediately submerge  their harvested live rocks in water so it never dries out. And when being stored, the live rock will always be submerged.

Unless the live rock is shipped completely submerged in water, you’ll have to go through the curing process. Of course, shipping submerged live rock will add to the shipping cost but you will save money on not having a separate aquarium system for curing.