Got my first shipment, er, help?

[DCDeacon]

Ok, so I got my first shipment of TBS. I had thought there were, sort of, directions on what to do, but there aren't. So I'm hoping someone on here this evening can help clarify.

I know I'm supposed to take the rocks out of the bags and sit them out for about 20 min. Richard said it was fine to sit them on the tops of the styrofoam boxes it comes in. Ok, fine.

As far as the sand goes, how exactly do I get this in my tank? Dump the whole bag? Scoop out the sand with a cup or something?

Once I got the sand in I figure I can just place the rocks in and I'm set for now. I figure I'll have to siphon some water out of the tank because the sand and rock is going to get my water level a little too high. Any help on getting to that point would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[boyooso]

I think that the instuctions that some say something like....pick up the bag of sand, stir it around, to get all the sit into the water column then pour out the water so that you lose all the really fine silt. After you do that, put the entire bag of sand into the bottom of the tank, and while under water, slowly pick the bag up and let the sand pour over the bottom of your tank. DO THIS SLOWLY, so you can minimize the dust storm

I however just poured my sand into the tank and waited a out 3-4 hours for it to mostly clear up.

Does that help?

Corey

 

[DCDeacon]

Yup, very much. That's what I was expecting and I think I just didn't get that instruction sheet.

Anything else I need to know, such as skimmer off for xx hours, lights off for xx hours, etc? I've got the bit about monitoring ammonia and doing water changes. Just want to cover my bases.

 

[phoenix22]

Go to the TBS home page...
I was just reading it today and the instructions regarding the sand and rock were posted there...

 

[DCDeacon]

phoenix, where on the site? I've looked through every section previously and didn't see it anywhere.

 

[tunareef]

This was taken from the website: http://tbsaltwater.com/package.html

The Package will arrive via Fed Ex to your front door, or via the airlines to a major airport near you.

The live sand goes in first. Turn off your pumps and protein skimmer._ Then using your hands, stir up the sand in the bag real well and then dump the water out of the bag as this will eliminate a lot of the silt from the sand.

Next pick up the whole bag and set it down on the bottom of the aquarium. Grab the bottom of the bag, slowly turn it over, and spread out the sand.

Next unpack the rock, and Aquascape your tank. The larger rocks are used for the base of the reef, next place the decorator rock without the corals on top of the_larger rock. On the second shipment the rest of the rock and animals will arrive and add them the same way.

After you are done arranging the rock turn your pumps back on and start the protein skimmer._ Sit back now and watch, because with this combination of rock and sand, the water will clear up in a matter of hours.

_Now the important part, you need to have premixed saltwater ready to go to make water changes as your ammonia level goes up. Most people use a Rubbermaid trash can for storing their replacement water._ Be sure to have an air stone bubbling this water all the time.

When your test kit shows a rise in the ammonia levels change enough water to bring the ammonia level to to the safe zone on your reef tank. Your tank will cycle in about two weeks as the bacteria needed to start your tank is in the sand and on the rock.
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After your tank cycles with The Package you call us back and we ship you the rest of the rock and sand stirrers.

Now you can begin adding fish and corals to your ocean. Think about it! What's in the ocean? There is one big pump moving the water around, live sand, live rock, the animals, and the white foam you see on the beaches is the proteins, created by the wind and waves.

You have now recreated this same situation in Your Ocean. That's all there is too it!_

Remember, follow the recipe for your own beautiful low maintenance Reef Tank.

 

[DCDeacon]

Thanks guys! Somehow in that whole long "Package" page I just missed that part.

 

[kp1917]

D,

Keep posting what you do/find etc. I am expecting my first shipment sometime later this week and I'll need simular help. I'll be really interested in finding out what your water parameters do.


Thanks,

KP

 

[hdtran]

Folks (real stupid question here), did you try slitting the address label off the box to see if there was a packing slip with maybe an instruction sheet and a plastic baggie with some brown powder in it? My package had it (but of course, being a guy, I didn't read the instructions...)

Limit your lights to no more than 4hrs/day for the first week or so.

(But you're more than welcome to use a flashlight and stare at the rocks all night )

 

[DCDeacon]

My packing slip had already been removed. I had the brown packet of bacteria and a sheet reminding me about the water changes, etc. I think I had just been expecting another sheet that repeated the info above about how to add sand, etc. It's on the site, which I missed, so no biggie.

Plus, Richard was nice enough to follow-up via PM.

 

[Slatts]

Same with me, no "instructions" about leaving rock out for 20 min and such but a line about the brown powder and when to add it. I read the page on the web site about the package so many times I think I had it down. Good luck DC. It's definitely an exciting time.

 

[Splach]

Yep. All agreed. The sheet that TBS is including with the rocks could be updated.

Recommendations: Including instructions about setting the rocks out. Pictures of gorilla crabs. Pictures of mantis shrimp. A link to ReefCentral.

 

[Dexter1334]

You might also want to dump the water the rock came in into a bin and let it settle. I did this and when I poured off the water found several small serpent stars and some good crabs along with a few pistol shrimp. I also dumped the bits of sand that settled out into the tank. At the very least it is a good source of bacteria and I didn't want to take a chance of missing out on any baby animal life there that might grow up into something interesting.