live rock help

[Avid_Aquarist]

i need help finding affordable live rock
im trying to start a 55 gal marine aquarium but have to order live rock online. it turns out that the shipping is going to cost more than the rock.
i live in hawaii and it is illegal to collect live rock. i can get live sand, is it nearly as good?
Is there any way to collect corraline algae and propagate it on dead rock?

anyone got advice?

 

[mogurnda]

There are a few threads here by some of the Hawaiian crowd, including the site administrator, Reefscape. My understanding is that it's also illegal to order live rock from the mainland.

You can, however, collect rock from the beaches. I think. You could use that to seed some porous, dead rock.

Here's one thread you might find useful:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29191&highlight=live+rock

 

[Avid_Aquarist]

thanks, helped a lot