High amonia on first batch.lot of smell

[sergiumd]

I have a question abouth the first batch.
My experience with TBS it's very bad so far...but I'll describe that later when I'm gona have more time..anyway my order was messed up they send me very small deco rocks in the first batch ...etc

The rock was 1 day late in the airport...so abouth 36 h on the way..at arrival was leaking, smelly and most of the hitchickers dead.

I took off a couple of dead sponges, put the rock in the aquarium - establish after I got the 5 fish in the 10 g quarantine tank.

24 h latter the water it's still milky, amonia close to 1 amd the LR starts to die off.

I'm changing water, do I need to take the rock out and scrub it too?

It's no way to get any customer service with TBS...:-((((

So, maybe I can get some help here.

I'll describe leter the whole bad experince with TBS if this trend will not be removed for having negative coments on our sponsors.

Second question: did anybody knows any other place that sends the LR in water....The rock that I got was only 1/4 in the water and all the sponges were smelling very bad.

thanx

sergiu

 

[adam12]

Your describing syndromes not the disease

Your describing syndromes not the disease

I would like to point out the following:

"rock was 1 day late at airport"

- After being in transit for at lease 36 hours, most live rock would suffer catastrophically

"24 h latter the water it's still milky, amonia close to 1 amd the LR starts to die off"

- Did you follow procedures for the rock? (tarping for 30 minutes, removing dead items, replacing 50 percent of the water when the ammonia spikes)

"at arrival was leaking, smelly and most of the hitchickers dead"

To come to a point, IMHO, you are dealing with a shipping issue not a TBS issue. As far as contacting TBS is concerned, they are a small shop and are mostly out collecting. I don't mean to sound trite, but it appears that youââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢re expecting more, and probably didn't do enough research.

I do wish you well, and the forums at reefcentral might be able to resolve some of these issues. Also, it would be helpful to post information about your setup(tank size, equipment, lighting, etc.) as well as current tank parameters (PH, salinity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, etc).

 

[docklink]

We need some additional info. What size tank are you working with and how much rock are you applying. Was this a previously established and cycled system (you indicate that you have fish already)? Are you adding only rock or is this the first part of a "package"?
You may need to remove the rock and reinspect for addition dead sponges or bi-valves (use your nose). Remove anything that has a rotting smell. Try to remove any large particulate matter from the water and run some carbon and filter material if possible. Continue with water changes to keep Ammonia below 1ppm. HTH

 

[sergiumd]

thanx for the reply docklink

thanx for the reply docklink

I got all my information on my signature with the mention that the skimer and the custom hood are in the mail now - so not on yet.

Adam12 - yes I did the research before, but you didn't bother to read my mail though.

My complain with TBS it's not the shiping - even if delta aircargo said that the shiper (TBS) guaranteed the shipment fresh for 48 h...I cannot confirm that with Mark (who by the way seems a very nice guy) because it's no way to get in touch with them.
I said already that my problem it's that they send me the wron package - I order a 35 gal package for my establish crushed coral tank with no sand and all the rock to be sent at once and the animals with fedex latter. So the rock was supposed to be a little over 100 # and would have been the most economical way to get -it.
They confirmed this before shiping but they sent me only 35 # of rock and on small size as for 35 gal tank. Mark confirmed this when he called me with the flight number and said that will make it up to me with some freebies. That was before the rock missed the flight.
Since then no hering from them.
SO...i DON'T BLAME THEM FOR DELTA AIRCARGO'S FAULT.

Right now the most important for me it's to save the rest of the rock and the aquarium and I asked for help not for TBS lawyer..;-)

Regarding the research - I did my best and TBS were the only one with live rock in water, so I was forced to order from them because of lack of competition. That it's the reason I asked if U know anybody who ships the rock same way.
BUT, on my research I didn't like that:
1. Testimonials on the site - kind of insulting viewer inteligence...Do you think that they will put MY testimonial on their website?
2.The discout from 817.34 to 635.00 it's not even close to 40%, it's not even 25% - this is second time insulting viewer inteligence.
3. Not answering the phone when I tried to contact them.
Things I didn't like after ordering: it took more than 1 week to ship not a day as per website.
The package leaked and they had only 3 heavy duty bags not 7 as per website.

I'll continue latter.

As I said I want to save the life left in the rocks before it's to late and to worry about next shipment latter.

And now my tank information in my signature.

Thanx,
Sergiu

 

[docklink]

Richard is diving in the Keys this week (from an e-mail I recieved last friday) and I believe Mark dives pretty much everyday this time of year.. busy, busy people.
That having been said, I believe your best bet is the advice above with time and patience.
Best of luck and keep trying them on the phone. They will respond eventually.

 

[jasonross]

And also TBS will stand behind their rock if it is dead wich it might be they will replace it.. if you followed their instructions... they have done it before and I am sure they will do it again...that extra time in shipping and the lack of water is prob gonna leave the rock as dead as a door nail... keep tring and email them they will get back to you as soon as they can belive me... great guys..

 

[sergiumd]

thanx

thanx

Thanx for the advice.

I left mesage on the phone and email.
I canot get a trend on the amonia level. I see a lot of variations and besides that I have 3 different tests and they are not the same, but in average now it's .5 to 1 with safe levels of Nitrate and nitrite.

Q1: Which it's the best test and what place I can buy it? Can U get an actual test just for NH3 or all the test are for NH3 and NH4+ combined?

The por 7 chromis are still in the 10 gal quarantine tank , that started to cycle.

Q2: Do you think it's safe to return them to main tank as long as I keep the NH3 less than 1, or I need to wait to see a trend in the rock cycle before returning them.

Thanx again,
sergiu

 

[nuts590]

The fish are your to do with as you please..... I personally wouldn't put them in until your nitrites are gone, but that's just me... Nitrite does bad things to a fish's gills and their ability to exchange O2.

If you don't already have a skimmer running on that tank, get one asap. it'll help.

The ammonia will fluctuate normally, it's due to the decay/death of life on the rock releasing ammonia before enough bacteria can reproduce to convert the ammonia to nitrite. Mine went from .5 to 1.0 for about a week.

Don't get frustrated when calling TBS... they are usually out on dives during the week, the best time I've had getting them in person is either by freak chance or on saturday around noon eastern.

 

[sergiumd]

You are right - the fish are still in the 10 gal tank and they are happy there.
See my new trend about what's going on now.

The skimmer - aqua c remore pro with box - it's in the mail - estimated delivery date 6/21 - was not in stock initialy....

Sergiu

 

[seastarUSC]

the rock will come back

the rock will come back

It took about a week before Richard could fill my TBS order but it was back when they had a stretch of bad weather; I didn't mind the wait though, because the rock was great. It shipped around 10am and I got it about 24 hours later. Though I thought a lot of the life was dead, after it cycled (0.5-1 ammonia), I was surprised to see how much life started creeping out of the little crevices.

Just wait and see the end result before you get upset with TBS. I had serpent stars, corals, crabs, and feather dusters come out a week or two after it was in.

Good luck with your tank.

 

[nuts590]

If I were you, I would go buy a cheap Seaclone for a temp. skimmer. You NEED one, I wouldn't wait around for mail order...

 

[sergiumd]

Reconciliation

Reconciliation

I need to Post a f/u on the rock.

The TBS guys are REALY trying to make evrybody happy,.

1. Mark returnrd my call next saturday and actualy gave me his cel phone number - and answered every time I called..24/7...

2. He offered to return my money ar ship again the rock. ( he tryied to ship again, but the shipment failed the flight again because of Delta aircargo and he asked to be returned to him).

I may not be able to have some LR for a while because of their vacation, but anyway they realy want happy customers.

Sergiu