If I had the money, I'd be looking at the engineered live rock that J&L carries (RealReef I think it's called). Failing that, I used a combination of old dry rock I had lying around and some mined base rock similar to Marco rock.

OK, I can't leave well enough alone :)

Most threads I read from people using dry/dead rock end with algae problems. In time, they also suffer all the other pests introduced from corals bases, etc.

Cost - It's an expensive hobby, live with it
die off - seriously? It's a few days curing and skimming
aiptasia/majano - can happen regardless of source of rock
bryopsis - algae, it comes in with other stuff as well, keep your nutrients in check
Predatory hitchhikers - almost always easy to remove
Rarer/deadlier? - not even sure what you're talking about
Destruction of habitat - again, seriously? Unless you have a tank of rock, I'm guessing you have some ocean creatures in your tiny glass box. I'm sure they appreciate your effort to preserve what used to be their home. Although the fact that they will eventually die in your livingroom probably reduces that appreciation by some degree.


I have used at least 500 pounds of real live rock over the last 12 years, mostly bought from J&L. I once got a mantis. It jumped out of the rock back into the box it shipped in. Troublesome indeed. Another time I got 9 isopods. Nasty little blood suckers. Took 20 minutes to catch them and it was kinda fun.
Mostly I just had really nice tanks with 0 nutrient or algae problems ever. Biggest regret? I'm a bad resource for giving advice on dealing with problems encountered with everything you claim is bad.

ok then.

Some of the engineered rock is pretty cool, the ceramic stuff would be nice. Ya it's expensive, I didn't know J&L carried any I'll check it out. I've always kinda done live rock but I see the benefit of engineered.

I won't argue with your nearly 15000 posts, obviously time well spent. All I was saying is that using properly prepared dry rock is a cheaper method that is better for the environment and less likely to introduce pests. Obviously the original poster agrees to some extent. Don't get your tighties in a bunch man :)

Clearly you're new here :razz:

And nothing is in a bunch, just expressing my opinion. I do that a lot. Nearly 15,000 times, in fact.

I'm just willing to bet, that in 95% of the cases, if J&L offered premium live rock from the real ocean for the same price as dry quarry rock, people would take the real rock.
It's a price thing, and I get agitated by all the made up excuses about pests and the environment. We're not in a "care about the environment" kinda hobby. And anytime I've pressed the topic, the pressee eventually admitted it was solely based on money. Perhaps you're a purist and really believe all of your own post, but if so, you're a rare one.

15000 posts... Big party whats the plan free frags from all vendors?

Exactly. Just not sure how to sell them the idea. And really, my tank probably needs to be rebuilt before adding anymore frags, I used dead rock and it's all messed up -lol

I didn't really mean this post to turn into a debate of live vs not live.

Was just stating my disappointment in the rather vague response I got.
It made me feel as a customer that my business wasn't important, and that they were unconcerned about losing a potential long term customer.

Huh?

Yes we derailed your thread, sorry. As a new consumer they could have provided a better answer I agree. Nothing happens fast in this hobby, at least nothing good. J & L is good don't write them off from one bad answer.
Good luck I hope you find some rock.