I know this is something of a broken record but I just wanted to thank Richard for how things have gone so far.
First of all, I had a number of questions for Richard before I even made my purchase and he was both quite helpful and quite forthcoming (letting me know when he thought I was making mistakes).
I considered getting my live rock from a local source but came to the conclusion I would be spending just about the same amount of money for rock that wasn't as nice and with no live sand.
I then placed my order for 24g worth of "The Package". Richard was out diving the day I placed the order but he responded the same day, and he shipped me the rock the next day after he made sure I would be able to get it.
I picked up the rock and sand at the airport and got it home. I could hardly believe how thoroughly it was packed. One of the four boxes was leaking slightly, but when I got the box open, there was still lots and lots of water around rock. I don't even want to think about what the baggage handlers must do to get his boxes to leak. I think there were like 5 VERY heavy duty plastic bags around the live rock in two separate layers, and then placed within Styrofoam.
I then did the setup according to the directions. I am splitting my order to create two reef tanks in 12g nanocube DXs. Richard had packed accordingly which made it nice and easy. I also found all kinds of hitchhikers, some good, some bad, and some a matter of opinion. The snails went in the tanks (and there were quite a few of them). The gorilla crab became the latest feast for my dog face puffer in my fish only tank. The mantis shrimp wasn't discovered until later and I still have to trap it.
I was very pleased with the quality of this first shipment of rock. My wife noticed immediately this was much nicer rock than the last set I had gotten (I used to have a 40g reef tank years ago). There are all kinds of interesting things on the rock (sponges, tunicates, some very small corals, barnacles, small feather dusters, a very small and very cute good crab, macro algae, etc.), some of which I am still discovering. It is hard to believe this first shipment is the lesser quality rock. I can't wait to see the best quality rock in the second shipment.
We shall see how well the stuff on there survives but this rock is so interesting to watch, even now. The rock smelled great coming out of the boxes.
When I look at pictures of tanks being setup with "cured" rock from other vendors, their rock looks so barren and lifeless.
Ammonia was zero this morning. It will be interesting to see how fast this tank cycles. One thing about it, with all the interesting life on the rock, it makes it easier to hold out with stocking until the tank cycles properly.
Anyway, so far I'm a very happy customer and I'm really looking forward to getting that second shipment with the cleanup crew and the better rock.
Thanks Richard!
First of all, I had a number of questions for Richard before I even made my purchase and he was both quite helpful and quite forthcoming (letting me know when he thought I was making mistakes).
I considered getting my live rock from a local source but came to the conclusion I would be spending just about the same amount of money for rock that wasn't as nice and with no live sand.
I then placed my order for 24g worth of "The Package". Richard was out diving the day I placed the order but he responded the same day, and he shipped me the rock the next day after he made sure I would be able to get it.
I picked up the rock and sand at the airport and got it home. I could hardly believe how thoroughly it was packed. One of the four boxes was leaking slightly, but when I got the box open, there was still lots and lots of water around rock. I don't even want to think about what the baggage handlers must do to get his boxes to leak. I think there were like 5 VERY heavy duty plastic bags around the live rock in two separate layers, and then placed within Styrofoam.
I then did the setup according to the directions. I am splitting my order to create two reef tanks in 12g nanocube DXs. Richard had packed accordingly which made it nice and easy. I also found all kinds of hitchhikers, some good, some bad, and some a matter of opinion. The snails went in the tanks (and there were quite a few of them). The gorilla crab became the latest feast for my dog face puffer in my fish only tank. The mantis shrimp wasn't discovered until later and I still have to trap it.
I was very pleased with the quality of this first shipment of rock. My wife noticed immediately this was much nicer rock than the last set I had gotten (I used to have a 40g reef tank years ago). There are all kinds of interesting things on the rock (sponges, tunicates, some very small corals, barnacles, small feather dusters, a very small and very cute good crab, macro algae, etc.), some of which I am still discovering. It is hard to believe this first shipment is the lesser quality rock. I can't wait to see the best quality rock in the second shipment.
We shall see how well the stuff on there survives but this rock is so interesting to watch, even now. The rock smelled great coming out of the boxes.
When I look at pictures of tanks being setup with "cured" rock from other vendors, their rock looks so barren and lifeless.
Ammonia was zero this morning. It will be interesting to see how fast this tank cycles. One thing about it, with all the interesting life on the rock, it makes it easier to hold out with stocking until the tank cycles properly.
Anyway, so far I'm a very happy customer and I'm really looking forward to getting that second shipment with the cleanup crew and the better rock.
Thanks Richard!
