Picture Request - KP Aquatics Starter Aquacultured Live Rock

[CKinLA]

90 lbs of KP Auqatics starter rock received today. I chose KP because their rock looked more porous than some of the others. Im very happy with it, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for live rock. If I need rock again, this is what I’m ordering. I had it shipped via air freight covered in wet paper. Shipping weight was 115 lbs at about $125; total cost to the door was about $7.5/lb. There appears to have been very little die off, and there was no foul smell when opening the boxes.

Close up:

Can anyone help ID the crabs?

 

[Ghost25]

90 lbs of KP Auqatics starter rock received today. I chose KP because their rock looked more porous than some of the others. Im very happy with it, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for live rock. If I need rock again, this is what I’m ordering. I had it shipped via air freight covered in wet paper. Shipping weight was 115 lbs at about $125; total cost to the door was about $7.5/lb. There appears to have been very little die off, and there was no foul smell when opening the boxes.

Close up:

Can anyone help ID the crabs?

3 is a porcelain crab, good guy. I believe 2 and 3 are red mithrax crabs (related to emeralds). People say hairly legged crabs are bad but I have one of these red ones from my KP rock and he has been a well behaved algae eater so far despite his hairy legs. Algae eating grabs tend to have claws with flat spots at the tips to pinch algae. Porcelain crabs are filter feeders and basically don't use their claws.

 

[CKinLA]

Thanks for the ID help. I think the others are gorillas.

 

[NashobaTek]

Thanks for the ID help. I think the others are gorillas.

#6 with the black pointy claws probably is, not sure about the rest.

 

[Oldsman]

Wish I had gone w KP for my lr..theres so much living in the crevices

 

[CKinLA]

Wish I had gone w KP for my lr..theres so much living in the crevices

Yea, there’s a ton of life on it. Hard to see in the trash can right now, but I’ll post some pictures when I get it in the tank.

 

[Reefing102]

@CKinLA Do you have any pics of it in the tank? Looking to add more rock to my tank, thinking the starter rock is best for my scenario.

 

[CKinLA]

Unfortunately I do not have pictures in the tank yet. It’s rained nearly daily here for the past 2-3 weeks, and I’ve been unable to finish painting the stand. At this rate, I think best case is that I have it in the tank is 2 weeks. The coralline will definitely take a hit with it being in the trashcan this long with minimal light. Once I do get it in the tank, I’ll take pictures and post them on here.

Unless you want the macro algae and corals on the rock, I wouldn’t hesitate to order the starter rock again. Coraline algae was good enough, and it’ll be mostly purple in a few months anyway. I’m most happy about the shape/porosity of the rock.

I was expecting a couple week delay until I got the rock, but it shipped within the week. I should have waited to order, but as soon as the tank is up, no waiting for coral (SPS dominant) or fish. I’ve transferred an entire SPS tank the same way without any losses.

Current status of the operation:

 

[Reefing102]

Awesome! Thanks for the update. I think I may order mostly starter and eventually some of deco products whatever they call it

 

[Reefing102]

Just ordered 40lbs of the starter rock. I can post back here my results when it gets received.

 

[Reefing102]

Here’s my 40lbs:

Hard to tell but tons of orange and red coralline, some macro algae, and various hitchhikers. Incredibly happy with my purchase. (The toadstool did not come with it )

 

[CKinLA]

Looks real good. After seeing mine and yours, I wouldn’t order anything else.

What shipping method did you use? What was the transit time? Any foul smell when you opened it?

 

[CKinLA]

Here it is in the tank. Keep in mind this rock has been buried in a trash can for nearly two months. Coraline and color definitely took a hit due to lack of light, and it’s a bit more washed out in the picture than in person. I did put a light on it the last two weeks and I can definitely tell which ones were getting light. Still 100% satisfied with the purchase.

Added a few SPS on day 1 and 3; wish me luck…also the rock in these pictures may give you a better idea of color.

 

[FMF0331]

 

[Reefing102]

Looks real good. After seeing mine and yours, I wouldn’t order anything else.

What shipping method did you use? What was the transit time? Any foul smell when you opened it?

Sorry, didn’t see this. It was shipped overnight to my door wrapped in paper. No foul smell at all. Smelled very fresh like picking it out at the LFS or in this case right out of the Ocean