[hosser]

Having the luck to be close to beaches and reefs, and within a few hour drive to the keys Ive heard a ton of aquarists around here getting their live rovk, sand and even specimens directly from nearby.
I bought a few choice pieces of carribean live (or local rock) and was told to let it sit for another week to cure. I decided to instead boil the rock and let my figi take it over. Anyone see any issues with this before I place it in my tnk it is thourougly boiled rinsed and rinsed again, brushed and then left to dry.
Thanks

[e_baer]

The only problem I see with this is that its not live rock anymore...

I would have just let it cure in a seperate cotainer then add it to your tank. It would have made things a lot better in the short run IMO.

[jimw369]

Boiling rock is not a bad idea. It kills everything on and in the rock. For many this is perferred. It would still be wise to cycle or cure the LR in a seperate container other than your DT. I am sure their are other dead organisms inside the rock that will cause some cycle of sorts.

[hosser]

the reason I decided to boil it was because chances are its just florida rock... carribean rock can mean alot of things......and I didnt really want to flood my tank with grass, its a very minimal amount compared to my fiji and I am sure the look of the differant rocks would not be appealing after it grew. I am starting a frag tank in the next few months with a personal project of making a "wild" tank from differant live rocks and livestock (not fish) from local waters. After the light set up and filtration and all, I will be asking for opinions on how and when to introduce these to my tank, (obviously after enough time for them to cure for it.)

[spanko]

Here is a thread from someone who has done just what you are talking about.

Yardboy's Jetties Nano - Nano-Reef.com Forums

[hosser]

Thanks spanko, this guy did an outstanding job, seems like he has alot more free time and spending cash then most of us but its incredible. I cant wait to venture in to this but in the meantime as I learn about tanks in general and my local wildlife I can ready myself for it.
Oh and by the way the live rock I boiled has already made a great home to the damsels and has some great ledges for things to grow on, not expecting anything soon but Im curious what might catch on first.

[Uvajed]

Just a question, not an opinion... Why not buy base rock? Is that an alternative, and cheaper?

[hosser]

I had originally bought this rock as live rock till I did a little more research as to what might be growing on it. I mainly bought them for their specific look, which is very shelvey. But yes base rock might be cheaper even though I got this stuff for about a dollar a pound. You can actually drive to the keys and where they harvest the rock anyone can buy carribean live rock for a dollar a pound which is what alot of LFS who sell carribean rock do, drive there buy it cheap and sell it for three times as much.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by hosser

I had originally bought this rock as live rock till I did a little more research as to what might be growing on it. I mainly bought them for their specific look, which is very shelvey. But yes base rock might be cheaper even though I got this stuff for about a dollar a pound. You can actually drive to the keys and where they harvest the rock anyone can buy carribean live rock for a dollar a pound which is what alot of LFS who sell carribean rock do, drive there buy it cheap and sell it for three times as much.

Man you got it made down there Hosser!

[hosser]

Kinda sorta I guess, haha. Just so everyone knows Im too new to know any better but carribean live rock isnt the most exotic of things to add, its alot more pourous than fiji, it weighs alot less therefore you can get more for your money and have a tonf of nooks and crannys for your creatures.
As far as other wildlife that may grow on it, we dont have the greatest of looks when it comes to corals or mushrooms. Most everything here is brown or brown .
My LFS is starting a 420 gal local reef tank which will give me a good idea as to what we have around here alot more. From what Ive heard around some reefs and shipwrecks non native fish have been hanging around due to people releasing them to the wild.
Cant say for sure if thats a bad thing for this area or not but Im sure the fish need a little tutoring on catching their own food. But when it comes to seeing fish snorkling or diving one thing is for sure, tanks dont do it justice but from what Ive seen you all are as close as it comes.

[hosser]

Im desperatley looking for images of native Carribean corals, sponges, basically anything that could grow near Floridas coast. Im going snorkling to a local reef to do a little hands on research and without disturbing anythying I want to see what I may have killed in boiling my rock.
An update to the rock, not sure if it has anything to do with the non live live rock but my ph was low, I used some ph buffer and now is A-ok. The rock had some promise and to anyone thinking of doing what I did, I strongly suggest if possible letting Carribean rock cure out in a seperate tank just to see what might be hiding. From what Ive been hearing we have been getting an influx of non native growth on and around floridas reefs.

My native tank has now being re-thought to instead make a native frag tank.

[e_baer]

Originally my tank was all carribean nitvie animals. I have carrib. live sand and live rock. Then I had all carrib inverts and fish. But then I got to coral and I could not do it anymore. So I said screw it and I got fish from hawaii and all over the place.

[DEWAYNE]

I would have cured that rock, having it live is almost like - every nite is saturday nite, and every day is christmas, you just never know what may come out and be another great addition to your DS tank. I have family in pensacola, way far from you though.

[pogodzib]

I thought that it was illegal to collect any LR or corals directly out of the ocean/gulf in Florida.

[hosser]

I too thought it was illegal till I asked a fish store here. I no longer go to this fish store but to see what amazing things he has but he illegally takes fish even a 4 foot eel he got last weekend. The live rock he buys for 1 dollar a lb harvested by locals which IS legal and resells it here (*******). This isnt the LFS I have spoken so fondly of though. As far as myself taking some LR or corals, yes it is illegal except one bi-law which stipulates that broken, fallen, or pieced off from main reef/coral may be taken with a certain permit. I was told this by Florida fish and game.
Now I have been told by cops that they cant chase you here in florida too but everyday someone gets chased and gets a ticket so Im pretty darn sure Im taking a huge chance. Im going to start with some very small frags my GOOD LFS is going to give me and then work from there. We can take up to five fish per day with a rec liscense though.