New to SW Live rocks vs Dead Rock Help

[Cl0ne1]

+1 clay4au...I agree that getting live sand and LR from different locations will provide you with a larger variety of organisms within.

In defense against some of the other commenters...I purchased my LR from a guy on craigs list and 3 different LFS. Only one of those stores gave me a pest...aptasia, and the only reason I know that is because I was aptasia-less for about 2 months and I knew I was introducing aptasia into my tank with the purchase of a rock that I HAD TO HAVE(it had a BLACK feather duster worm on it and I had never seen that before). On the other hand, I have purchased LR had has had so many good hitch hikers it isn't funny. I expect some of you have read this list and are tired of reading it but, I have gotten: black, red and white feather dusters, pods, brittle stars, tiny star fish, mini carpet nems...could be maxi but I am not sure, nassarius snail, sea squirts, encrusting sponge, and 3 different types of mushrooms. I find one of the most fun parts about buying stuff for my tank is finding new hitch hikers.

Tank you for your time,

Kevin

 

[fyrfytr]

@Clay
I hadn't thought of getting sand and rock from multiple locations. Guess I was thinking first marine tank, keep it simple

 

[kmaintl]

@Clay
I hadn't thought of getting sand and rock from multiple locations. Guess I was thinking first marine tank, keep it simple

Know and trust your source. Unknown pests.

 

[bilbo4fun]

Know and trust your sources is right on. Went thru 200 gallons of water in a 55 to find out fish store was selling bad water. Same fish store I bought 40# of base rock. according to 2 other fish stores and columia zoo 14 year zoologist it had have seen saltwater and was leaching bad stuff in my tank. Not porus so taking up space.