Live rock Origins

Question
Hi Jennifer,

I was wondering if you knew why it is not generally recommended to collect
your own live rock?

There are parts of the Bahamas,as that allow you to collect small quantities
and i would love to put that in my tank but I often hear that you may introduce unwanted pests, parasites, etc.

I wonder though why this is not the case with Live rock purchased from an
LFS? Doesn't it come from the ocean as well? Isn't the likelihood of an unwanted pests the same? I do not believe that Live rock is generally aqua-
cultured? Does it go though some sort of QT process that I am overlooking?

Do you think it's safe to use the live rock i can collect from the Bahama's?

Thanks,
Jorge

Answer
Hi Jorge. The reason why they do not suggest collecting your own live rock because in a lot of places it is illegal. Also most of the live rock sold through the pet stores is cured and mostly free of these pests. If you are allowed to collect live rock where you are and are not afraid of introducing some nasty pests into your tank them I say go for it. I have got a couple pests(Mantis shrimp, pistol shrimp and some predatory snails) on my live rock that I bought so it can happen either way. Just be sure to cure it in a dark place for a week or add it first to your tank before you add anything else and simply cure it in your tank. As soon as you collect the rock and take it out of the ocean some of the organisms on it will instantly die. If you put the rock directly into an already established tank you could cause a very harmful ammonia spike that could kill any already existing creatures in your tank. That is another reason why most people choose to buy from LSF, the rock is already cured!