CaribSea Life Rock Single Arch 18 Inches

LifeRock Large Arches add open dimension to large marine and reef aquariums with plenty of swim space and area for coral placement. Each Large Arch is 18 inches long and weighs approximately 20 pounds. One arch per box.

Life Rock is real aragonitic base rock, not cement, no curing. Extensive macro and micro-porosity infused with spored bacteria for outstanding biological performance. Clean and safe for all fish and inverts, environmentally responsible, and each piece is unique.

Shipping: All rock can be fragile. Indiefur makes every effort to securely pack any type of rock. However, we have no control how courier handles it and it may break during shipping. Unfortunately, this is not covered by insurance so we are unable to replace broken pieces.

Setup & Use

No curing. A rinse, and in it goes. This is CaribSea’s
own instruction, and it is the whole of it: LifeRock does not need curing,
and they suggest rinsing it lightly in clean fresh or salt water to take off
loose particles before placing it in the aquarium. There is no soak, no
bucket, no weeks of ammonia to burn off — the material is a clean
mined rock, not cured cement, and it arrives with nothing on it that has to
die back first.

Marine, reef or African cichlid tanks only. This is the
line to read twice before buying. LifeRock is aragonite, and CaribSea state
plainly that it will raise pH and alkalinity. It is not a
freshwater rock. In a planted or soft-water community tank it will push the
water the wrong way and keep pushing.

Put the rock in before the pumps go on. CaribSea’s
sequence for a new tank is substrate first, then water, then rock and
décor, and only then start the pumps and filters. Expect the water to
begin clearing within hours and to be clear in 24 to 48 hours.

Then go slowly. CaribSea’s own stocking advice for a new
aquarium: once the tank has cleared, no more than one inch of fish per
20 gallons for the first two weeks, and no more than one inch of fish
per 5 gallons after that. Invertebrates can go in once you can see the
back of the tank. The bacteria in this rock are a head start, not a
substitute for a cycle — CaribSea claim it dramatically shortens
cycling time and they do not claim it removes it. Test for ammonia and
nitrite before you stock, whatever the rock is doing.

About the coating. It is not paint. CaribSea use a
breathable coating specifically so the porosity of the rock underneath stays
open, which is the point of the material — roughly half of it is void
space, and that void space is where the bacteria live. Fish and
invertebrates may pick at the coating. It does no harm to them, and over
time real coralline algae grows over any bare patches.

Handling a 20 lb arch. This is one piece, 18 
inches long, and it is heavy and hand-made. Lift it by the mass rather than
by the span — an arch carries its load through the legs, and the thin
part at the top of the curve is the part that snaps. Seat both feet on
something solid. An arch resting on deep soft sand will settle and move
later; most reefers set the load-bearing rock on the bare glass and take the
sand around it afterwards.

What CaribSea do not tell you, and neither will we. They
publish no method for fixing this piece in place. Their interlocking ranges
— Create-A-Scape, Reef Forest, Reef Tree — come with rods and
spacers and are designed to stack without glue, and CaribSea say so; for a
single hand-made piece like this one they recommend nothing at all. So we
are not going to tell you which glue to use. Build the scape so it stands on
its own weight and bears the weight above it, and give it a firm push before
you fill the tank.

Instructions from CaribSea’s own FAQ and their 2025 master
catalogue.

Freshness & Storage

Every batch we dispatch carries a minimum of 6 months’ remaining shelf life. Store this product in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, with the cap or inner foil closed tightly after each use.

Filter media and substrates carry no manufacturing or expiry date — their working life begins on first contact with water, not on the shelf.

Returns & Replacement

Returns are accepted within 7 days of delivery, provided the item is unused and in its original packaging. Manufacturer-sealed items cannot be returned once the seal is broken, and sale-priced items are not refundable.

If your item arrives defective or damaged, message us on WhatsApp with your order number, or email us if you would rather, and we will replace it. Approved replacements are delivered within 3 to 5 business days. Transit damage is covered by insurance on every shipment. If tracking shows delivered but nothing reached you, tell us within 72 hours, which is the reporting window Indian couriers allow. Damage caused during installation or use is not covered; replacement spares for such cases are chargeable.

Full terms are on our Cancellation & Returns page.