[StirCrazy]

[quote=untamed]

Live rock is merely rock that is loaded with bacteria.[\quote]

That's one opinion, but maybe there should be different terms to describe Live Rock. I propose that be called "filtration rock", not "live rock"....or call it "live rock" and other stuff "real life rock"....Whatever, but they are very different things and need to be handled differently..

If you read more than the first sentence in my post I went on to say that worms, pods, ect..... is kept alive during the cooking process. so it definitely is live rock.

here is a quote for the definition of live rock "The term live rock refers to coral rubble colonized by marine organisms and cleaned to reef tank use. Its most important characteristics are porosity, origin, cleanliness, and what grows upon it"

So as for what grows apon it, it goes further to say that care full handling and cleaning remove most algae before we get it, as this is undesirable to put in a new reef tank.. I know every body likes different things in the rock, for instance I like bare rock with only Coraline on it and critters, but no plant life. where some one else might hate worms but like Halimeda, but lest not argue about what live rock is as it has been defined and that definition will never change. personally after losing my tank to calurpa I will ensure there is no algae on any rock I get, others might not care, but cooking is no more than a way to "unclog" the rock and kill of any plant life.

Originally Posted by untamed

I don't think it is legal to harvest rock anywhere anymore. It shouldn't be, anyway. Certainly, no one should purchase anything but aquacultured rock these days. I would like to see the LFS produce more documentation on how the rock that they sell was obtained. I doubt the industry is very regulated in places like Vanuuatu (sp?)..

It is legal and it should be. although they cannot blow up reefs for rock anymore (which I never agreed with) they can harvest storm damage and thats what they do. If you can find some one locally that is selling aqua cultured rock I will be amazed and if you do, tell me so I will stay away from that. Aqua cultured is about 2to 5 times more heavy, as it is blasted lime rock put into the water, does pour job at filtering compared to real live rock and probably has about 1/10 of the "bug" life on it.. but you will be happy to know it will still come with lots of algae I remember seeing some about 2 or 3 years ago but store owners won't keep ordering an inferior product that won't sell.

Originally Posted by untamed

[Regardless, it is my experience that the rock sold by most LFS has endured such a trip that it has mostly died anyway.

Weird, every time I have bought rock it was loaded with critters.. what is this death you speak of. If you are talking about no algae on it well personally this is a good thing as you are not introducing an organism that under the right conditions will take over your tank. I have had lots of rocks that with in a couple weeks of being in my tank have started to grow sponges, feather dusters, etc so either you are looking at a isolated case or the place you keep looking at isn't to worried about keeping it nice.