Florida rock bad?

Hi guys,

I've been on a 7 year hiatus from being a "reefer."
(Sounds bad, but I chuckled.)
Anyway, I'm starting anew and finding that I have a lot to relearn. I live in Florida and it would be convenient for me to travel to one of the live rock selling companies here by car. Unfortunately, I have heard that Florida rock is problematic in aquariums (high in phosphates?) Is there any truth to this assertion?

Anyway, My first (and only) reef tank had Florida rock in it and was gorgeous. I added various and sundry other rocks as I added corals or found a particularly neat piece. Unfortunately after having the tank for about a year and a half it crashed on me. When it crashed I hadn't made any additions or changes (except for the routine water ones) in at least 3 months. Personally I believe that it was due to pest control spraying my apartment and not being careful... But that was a long time ago)

Anyway, I want to make sure that I don't introduce something to my tank that is going to be problematic in the long run. Thanks for your input.

 

Also, is there any benefit/negative to adding live sand to the DT along with the live rock? Or should I just go with live rock and crushed coral in a bag?

 

I run Florida base in my big tank. Can't say I have noticed any difference in phosphates at all.
But, if you are worried about introducing something bad, I HIGHLY recommend you go with base rock, not live. Completely eliminates the chances of bringing in unwanted pests/nuisance algae.

 

+1, this is what I'm doing on my new aquarium, only way to be sure to be free of pest hitchhikers. I've heard a lot of Florida rock has some pests on/in it, lots of mantis shrimp etc that some people consider pests.

Also make sure you dip every single coral you get in something like Revive no matter how adamant the seller/trader is that their tank is pest-free.

 

I use only FL. rock in my 2 reefs. I bought aquaculterd live rock from http://www.liverockandmore.com/

It is nice stuff..I have not had any issues with hitchhikers, etc. I really like it.

 

A lot of the places up here get Florida rock and it tends to be crawling with aiptasia and some gnarly algae. First hand experience says that it does tend to have a mantis problem, I have one living in my 'fuge that was a hitchhiker into another tank on Florida rock.

No clue on the phosphates but most of the stuff I have seen is VERY dense, much more so then good quality Fiji or Tonga.

 

what part of fla are you from

 

Thanks for all the replies. I'm from Sarasota.

What about my concerns regarding live sand?

 

Base Rock?

......in a new tank? Thats a new one on me. Even if you start with the bagged "live sand", I think you're still leaving out some pretty vital stuff here. You gotta have some "nasties" to benefit from the good ones, don't you? I also don't think that bagged "live sand" is "live" at all. Think about harvesting, packaging, warehousing, shipping & display @ the LFS? How do seperate the bad bugs out from the good bugs all through big-time temperature shifts in an anerobic environment? There may be a few live stuff, but not half as much as a half pound of sand from an established tank.
Start with a nice deep sand bed. Innoculate with sand from a trusted tank like one of the GEEKS from your LFS. Then some good base rock. Hand pick & PAY for some good live rock. Cure it in some rubbermaid cans with a pump, heater & lights for 2-3 months feeding it minisculy (top off, etc.). Then add it to your DT.
I think the other stuff is a little too "sterile".