This is aquacultured base rock, which is very similar to our live rock in size and density; it just doesn't have all the life on it.  Aquacultured base rock is a good way to set up your basic system with out spending a lot of money.  Most people build the main framework of their system with base rock, and dress up the outside with live rock.  The base rock lacks the high coralline algae coverage found in our live rock, but still has some color and is loaded with the bacterial fauna you're looking for to get that system jump-started.

 

The rock we use is an extremely porous type of limestone called "Miami Oolite", which is very high in aragonite and is relatively light and full of big holes.  We don't buy machine-sorted rock, so we don't boast of having millions of pounds of rock in the water, but what we do have is very high quality.

 

If you're looking for quality liverock, we have the oldest offshore live rock aquaculture site in The Florida Keys, and its unique location results in some spectacular live rock.  We hand select every rock that goes in the water, and leave them on the bottom for at least two years until they are ready to be harvested.  By our standard, the rock is not ready until it has at least 75% coverage by some sort of coralline algae or other durable, reef friendly, encrusting invertebrate.  Many rocks will have some sort of live coral growing on them, usually some sort of Porites, Siderastrea, or Millipora.  Green macro algae such as Halimida and Caulerpa are also common, as are a wide variety of brown fleshy algae.

 

Shipping details for Live Rock and live Sand

 

Live sand and live rocks are not included in the $25 shipping and handling price.  If you live in the southeast, FedEx ground is an excellent choice and they will deliver the rock to your door in two days for around $.75 a pound.  If you live further away, Ground still may be a good option, or it may be better to upgrade to FedEx two day Air, which will run about $1.25 a pound delivered to your door anywhere in the US.

 

Contact us for a more exact shipping cost.