Best Base Rock?

[Myka]

So I'm looking at different sources for dry base rock. Part of it is because at this point in my life I cannot justify spending $500 on live rock, and partly because I like building/making things. So I'm gonna cook some dry base rock in a dark bin at the highest temperature my heater will go (to leach the phosphates out of the dry rock) and feed it bacteria, vodka, and ammonia for a few months and see what happens. I've read it works quite well for getting good levels of aerobic and anaerobic bacterias. I'm interested in an "experiment" sort of way. Gives me something to do over the winter. LOL!

So, what should I buy? So far, I think the Caribsea Lace Rock looks pretty good. Has anyone bought a box of this before? What kind of sizes and shapes should I expect? Are there better dry rocks out there? I'm looking for nice shapes (not bricks and boulders!) for a 65 gallon tank, so I would prefer to have several in the 10-14" range, and then the rest in the 6-10" range.

Comments? Ideas?

[Psyire]

marcorocks.com <-- Probably the best available at the moment.

[Myka]

^ That is some NICE rock! But they are in the US and ship via UPS, which means I'll get dinged at the border 25-40% which makes those rocks pretty darn expensive. Looks like it will end up costing about $5/lb once it actually arrives at my door and the shipping and border duties are paid.

[skylord]

If you have all winter then make your own.

http://www.garf.org/

Scott

[Black Phantom]

SkyLord has it right. If you have the time then I would definately make your own. I made around 100 lbs myself years ago. It's very easy and you can make some great rock with caves and such. After it gets covered in coraline you can't tell the difference. Google DIY reef rock for lots of ideas.

[Pan]

Originally Posted by Myka

^ That is some NICE rock! But they are in the US and ship via UPS, which means I'll get dinged at the border 25-40% which makes those rocks pretty darn expensive. Looks like it will end up costing about $5/lb once it actually arrives at my door and the shipping and border duties are paid.

Inidentally Marco Rocks ships via USPS International Priority not UPS United States Postal Service not Ugly Packagin Service

[Tom R]

I have used Caribsea Lace Rock for Base Rock. It works very well. It is very porous so it will accommodate bacteria well. I bought a box and just took a hammer and chisel to the pieces I wanted to adjust to sizes better suited to my needs.

Tom R

Originally Posted by Myka

So far, I think the Caribsea Lace Rock looks pretty good. Has anyone bought a box of this before? What kind of sizes and shapes should I expect? Are there better dry rocks out there? I'm looking for nice shapes (not bricks and boulders!) for a 65 gallon tank, so I would prefer to have several in the 10-14" range, and then the rest in the 6-10" range.

Comments? Ideas?

[albert_dao]

Reef Ceramics

www.korallenwelt.de

[Canuckgod420]

what are you going to dinged 25-40% at the border for?
I dont understand.

[banditpowdercoat]

Originally Posted by Canuckgod420

what are you going to dinged 25-40% at the border for?
I dont understand.

UPS charges a "Brokerage" fee when they ship things from the US into can. This fee is based on the dollar value of the goods, and is usually Stupid expensive