Live rock craigslist

I have found a few people on Craigslist. Selling lr for a really good price.

What do I look for before I purchase it? Or am I just safer going with my lfs

 

I would look out for aiptasia, majono anemones, flatworms, any invasive corals such as cloves, xenia, gsp. The rock should appear cured and covered in coralline algae and have little to no smell. Those are the things I would look for, even one aiptasia would be a deal breaker for me.

 

+1 on the above. 1 aptasia... No way! If you're lucky the lights will be off when you go to see it.

 

Get it if its a good deal and bake it. that way any hitchhikers, strays, aptasia, or anything not safe will perish. a little more work but worth the savings.

 

How would you bake it? Does that make it not live?

 

you can boil it and then let it dry out in the sun, bleach it, let dry in sun, soak in ro/di water and soak in sun, then repeat the process until you dont smell ammonia.

 

if your going to bake it, you're better off just going with some nice base rock. unless the craig's list lr is cheaper than abse rock, which i doubt! JMHO

 

yes, if you bake it it is no longer live. if you have the money, i would buy it from your local LFS. i like to see and measure my rock before i buy. Especially since i am usually looking for a specific shape to fit into my aquascape just right. you can't do do this online even with a picture.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on baking it? I tore down my reef and started over. I'd hate to buy all new rock. I'm happy I have no aiptasia or any of the others.