Questions before I order my live rock
 

Once I have all the pieces for my new 120 I plan to order the live rock probably 140 pounds. Questions:

1. My plan was uncured live rock to increase biodiversity and cure it in the tank, does this make sense, or is it just as good to go with cured live rock?

2. I was looking at J&L's Kanai live rock, other options included a small LFS offered to sell me "premium Fiji" LR which is a bit of an unknown from them, or other suppliers that sell LR. I figured J&L because more people seem to have experience with their rock so it is a bit of a known entity. Any advice on suppliers? Or does every store get their LR from the same importer anyway?

I can recommend the Kanai rock fully. I am extremely pleased with the order I received last summer. I have heard that it may in fact originate somewhere in Indonesia (Kanai doesn't appear to be a place in the Pacific).

Thanks, anyone else use Kanai rock?

Also what do people think about hypersalinity dips to rid live rock of unwanted passengers (shrimp, crabs) -- I read about this on RC.

the kanai rock is good stuff, I have about 140lbs in my 120. I also have another 140 on the way for my new tank I am setting up. So I liked it enough to buy twice.

I didnt get a single hitchiker on my live rock tho.

That's suprising, I got quite a few crabs, among a wide range of other critters. Frankly I don't worry about them though. I haven't lost a fish or coral to them in ten months.

Strange Quinn.

I have had 2 shipments (4 boxes) ordered between myself and a friend and neither of us had anything living on the rock...

Maybe mail order gets better selection...

I know mine came basically direct from the shipper in Asia to me, only stopping in Vancouver for a few hours... don't know how much this would have to do with anything though.

Just saw a Stomatella sp. snail I've only seen once before, and that in April or so - it managed to hide for the better part of a year. :smile:

OK thanks for the replies, I'd still like some input on uncured vs. cured and on the hypersalinity dip question. :question:

I think you mean hyposalinity, which I think would kill all your inverts, not just the bad ones, and I don't think you want that, because then you may as well buy base rock rather than live rock.

Teevee I mean hypersalinity.

According to some posts at RC, a 15 minute dip in hypersaline water (specific gravity 1.030) will flush out unwanted mantis shrimp or crabs.

Anyway I know this is not standard practice but I just wonder what people's opinions on this are.

Also a related question, when handling live rock I thought I would wear kitchen-type rubber gloves, does anyone know is these are safe or if they are impregnated with any harmful antifungal/antibacterial chemicals?