live rock / tank size

[zanoshano]

hey, i just got my 38 gallon for christmas ( i got it early heeh), and i was wondering if i could get an estimate of how much live rock i will need for it. how many lbs per gallon? reminder : it a 38g.

 

[DSK]

Its personal opinion I think its suppose to be 1lb per every 1 gallon but i have about 150lbs and i still want more. So its really whatever you wont to get.

 

[aresgod]

yea one pound per gallon can leave the tank looking somewhat sparse, i have close to 80 lbs in my 40 gallon and i still want more.

 

[aresgod]

to add to my last post, 40-50 lbs should be fine from a filtration stand point

 

[KahluaZzZ]

got 72 pounds in a 55 g and it's not enough...far from enough

 

[aresgod]

i also have about 140LBS in a 90 and it actually looks really nice but i got really lucky with shapes and sizes of the rock i got, plus i hand picked some of it for that exact reason

 

[KahluaZzZ]

yeah...select cool shapes..i didn't and it sometimes looks fragile

 

[S.Reef]

It depends on the aquascaping you want to achieve, and if you want to use it as the sole purpose of filtering your tank. I have 80lbs of live rock in my 90. Of course its not jammed to the gills, but thats not what i wanted to achieve. For your size tank 20lbs should be enough for biological filtration. Anymore is up to you and your ideas of aquascaping.

 

[dbacksrat]

1 lb per gallon will definetly leave the tank bare, as was already stated...40ish lbs should be enough for aesthetic reasons

 

[zanoshano]

price

thanks guys. what do u think would be an ideal price to pay, do u think i will be able to get deals if i buy more at a time?

 

[KahluaZzZ]

If you buy like 50 pounds ususally my local fish stores lower the price. Can't tell you a "real" good price 'cause i live in canada and we get screwed here. Online prices are low but you can't choose your pieces.
This weekend i saw super prices on "fiji" LR in different stores ( like 4 $ CDN ) but it was basically base rock in water with nothing on or in it. Makes me mad.

 

[dbacksrat]

you should be able to get a quantity discount at the LFS

 

[S.Reef]

There is no money in live rock and LFS cant bring it down that much. Usually 50lbs for around 175-200 is a good deal.

 

[wayne]

Depends on where the stuff comes from. If it was me I'd get 40 pounds or of fiji or vanuatu and I'd get it in big bits so there was only5 or 6 pieces.
Tampa bay stuff assume 2 lbs per gallon, natural 1 pound a gallon. Thats my opinion tho'.

 

[dbacksrat]

the tampa bay stuff looks awesome--but almost too good to be true...

 

[wayne]

Awesome for some things, not so awesome for others.... pros - aquacultured, typically little dieoff, good diversity.
Cons - bricklike in density, shape, the diversity is typically made up of sponges and bivalves and apparently mantises.
You'll need twice as much TBS as anything else. Some people love it, some hate it. Horses for courses

 

[dbacksrat]

lol--i prefer south pacific live rock myself