Buying live rock online

[Winters]

Hello again, everyone!
Well, my 90g aquarium is now cycling with about 40lbs of fiji live rock. I've been seeing more and more life coming around - mainly amphipods and some worms. I was planning on buying 65lbs of more fiji live rock to complete my LR collection (and realized that I can save a fair bit of money if I buy it all in one go rather than bit by bit) but it costs $10/lb here in Edmonton.

Then I looked around and noticed that I could get it from J&L Aquatics in Vancouver for about $4.39/lb. This sounds much better to my pocket book! Issues with this would be the fact that the rock would not be cured when I get it so I would need to throw it into a bucket with water for a week or so. Since I am not in Vancouver I also will not be able to pick the rocks that I want in my box.

Does someone else here know much about buying the Fiji LR from J&L?

Is there any better solution? Saltwater Connection in Winnipeg also does mail-order LR but their prices are higher. I can also get LR from eBay but again I'm not sure about what I would really get and also don't know what customs charges and import duties would be like to get the rock from the US. (Any ideas?)

I could drive down to Calgary though. Any good, cheap Fiji LR in that area?

Would appreciate any input on the matter!

P.S. Is there anyone in Vancouver/Burnaby who may be able to pick the LR on my behalf if I DO go with J&L?
______________________________________
Imran, in Edmonton, Canada

[Old Guy]

P.S. Is there anyone in Vancouver/Burnaby who may be able to pick the LR on my behalf if I DO go with J&L?

It wouldn't help much. Most of it is sold before it even makes it here. I would e-mail them and ask if you can have of preference of size if that is what your after.

[Willow]

i was there the other day and they had the lr tanks full to the brim with fiji, no tonga. it looked like really nice rock. they are pretty good people to work with. i would suggest calling them up and telling them what you want and they will probably try and accommodate you.

[Winters]

Hi Willow!

Originally Posted by Willow

i was there the other day and they had the lr tanks full to the brim with fiji, no tonga. it looked like really nice rock. they are pretty good people to work with. i would suggest calling them up and telling them what you want and they will probably try and accommodate you.

Wow.. that's promising, although I talked to the guy there yesterday and he said that they had no Fiji rock left. I suppose they sell it quite quickly over there. (<sigh> I wish I was still living in Burnaby) He said they would get more on next Wednesday, however. I was a bit dismayed to hear that they ship their LR uncured. Wow.. I was expecting partially or almost cured. Oh well.

On the phone they seemed hesitant to pick out any particular sized rocks for me. Perhaps I'll try again closer to Wednesday.

[Willow]

shipping the rock you will get dieoff on it anyway and you will still have to go through the curing process. i wanted to buy rock from them and have them cure it for me (i have no skimmer).. after a few chuckles they said no but that was a good one.

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

Willow,

Love your Avatar. Does it run in the family?

Anthony

[Snappy]

Gold's in Calgary has cured Fiji live rock at $4.99 a pound. Lot's of pieces with coraline algae already well formed. May be worth a look.
Greg

[snaggle]

if you do go with J&L let me know I need some. Also If want some from golds I might head out there soon I will let you know when I do.



Brad