Is this the exciting future of Live Rock? Must See!!!

[liverock]

I can do it.....BUT....

I can do it.....BUT....

Hi Richard

Just FYI your website still says that you can't ship internationally:

Yes I know....I leave it there...as international is a real ball of worms.....the costs involved make it impractical. The US fish and wildlife service charges $250.00 for clearing EACH shipment for export internationally of live rock.

So add on top of the cost of the rock and freight makes it very pricy.

Back in the day when I shipped overseas all the time it was a simple process, fill out a couple of forms, and a $35 clearance fee, and off it went overseas, was painless. It is not like that anymore, like everything else. LOL

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :lolspin::lolspin::lolspin:

 

[CuzzA]

The U.S. government are experts at stymieing business.

As far as the $5-7 so called live rock you buy at a LFS goes, that, IMO is not live rock. Putting dry rock in a saltwater vat for a couple months is hardly what I would consider alive. Bacteria and a few pods, speckled with a little coraline algae is what I would describe as, "Damn son, you paid 2-3x the cost of dry rock for some extra water weight!"

Set "The Package" aside for a second because it can't be compared to just rock and instead just compare the cost of live rock alone. $5/lbs. of what we see above or $5-7/lbs. of this so called "high quality live rock" we commonly see at the LFS's below. And I'm not trying to knock the LFS, but buying rock for $.20-$.50 per pound and then selling it for $5-7 as live rock a month later is what I would describe as "too steep and not worth it".

The rock below is advertised for $7/lbs.

 

[Breadman03]

I considered doing this until I saw the price of "the package", so steep IMO. Obviously a great product but just not worth it, again IMO. Ever consider a budget version? [emoji12]

Buy a bunch of dry rock locally, then add in a smaller Package to bring in the diversity.

 

[GSMclowns]

Those live rocks directly from the ocean are great.. But once we put them into our tank, will the sponge and other creatures survive at all? and for how long?

 

[liverock]

I considered doing this until I saw the price of "the package", so steep IMO. Obviously a great product but just not worth it, again IMO. Ever consider a budget version? [emoji12]

Howdy

Live rock in the Package is $4 a pound...or by itself $5 a pound....

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :lolspin::lolspin::lolspin:

 

[Devaji108]

Oh man I want some!!

 

[malacoda]

Those live rocks directly from the ocean are great.. But once we put them into our tank, will the sponge and other creatures survive at all? and for how long?

I've been doing a TON of research the past 6 weeks for a 120g build I hope to begin this fall. And from what I've seen in several threads (in addition to d2mini's awesome build threads), YES, the sponges and other creatures can survive for a very long time. Like any life in your tank, how long will depend on tank parameters, light placement, and good husbandry.

Wooglin's 13-year old tank is a great example of how long life on TBS rocks can last...

Here's his build thread which was started in 2003 and continued with fantastic updates and pics through 2008 (warning: it's so lengthy and packed with responses that it was split...):
First thread: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=254435
Split thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=569267

And a 13-year old tank update he posted about a week ago: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2508395

Personally, I was sold on TBS rock within my first week of research here on RC and other popular aquarist forums. Seeing Wooglin's update last week (and the lengthy read thru of his original build threads that it led me to) merely cemented my decision.

When the summer chaos and travels end and I'm finally able to start my build this fall, I'll definitely be going with a TBS package.

 

[saf1]

It is good to see small business like TBS doing well in the US. Sort of tie a hobby, outdoors, ocean, and diving all into a business that hopefully is returning enough money to pay the bills, employees, and their retirement is a good thing. I would personally support that if I was to do another build or find a way to add some to my current 40.

There is another side to the hobby that people take pleasure in believe it or not and that is the complete cycle of a new tank. The curing of the rock and sand through various phases is a biological education love fest if one has the time and patience. I know I enjoyed my first experience with it.

In any case this is a good thing with results to show. And it probably is a positive for the hobby. That is also a good thing.

 

[BigJohnny]

You couldn't be more wrong about The Package.
Do the math.
Even if you bought the rock alone at $5/lb, that's cheaper than most LFS and you can't even begin to compare the quality.
Then add in all the real live sand skimmed right off the ocean floor chock full of life. Then add in all the cleanup crew. Then add in the bags of freebies! Sponges, gorgonians, stars, urchins, etc.
Almost every single customer compares picking up Part 2 of the package to Christmas morning. Check out the testimonials in the sponsor forum.

When you add it all up it's well worth it.
And the benefits you reap are priceless.

I was going to respond to this in specifics because I was put off by your surprising attack on my comments, but since you said I was wrong (it's my opinion, there is no right or wrong thank you very much), and then said that it was "priceless" (which most definitely is an opinion considering every item can actually be purchased at a price) I'm just going to say this:

I wasn't talking to you. Do you sell "the package"? No, you don't. My comment was clearly towards the man from TBS.

Do everyone a favor and don't turn this into an argument which ends up hijacking the thread. Especially if you like the vendor so much they really dont want to see that.

I stated my OPINION and asked a question of the vendor, he answered already.

Thanks

 

[BigJohnny]

The U.S. government are experts at stymieing business.

As far as the $5-7 so called live rock you buy at a LFS goes, that, IMO is not live rock. Putting dry rock in a saltwater vat for a couple months is hardly what I would consider alive. Bacteria and a few pods, speckled with a little coraline algae is what I would describe as, "Damn son, you paid 2-3x the cost of dry rock for some extra water weight!"

Set "The Package" aside for a second because it can't be compared to just rock and instead just compare the cost of live rock alone. $5/lbs. of what we see above or $5-7/lbs. of this so called "high quality live rock" we commonly see at the LFS's below. And I'm not trying to knock the LFS, but buying rock for $.20-$.50 per pound and then selling it for $5-7 as live rock a month later is what I would describe as "too steep and not worth it".

The rock below is advertised for $7/lbs.

I would agree, I wouldn't buy live rock from lfs. I don't believe I ever said I would, nor did i compare it to any other option specifically. I simply said IMO it's too expensive and not worth it. However there are a plethora of other options besides "the package" and live rock from an lfs (also not all live rock at lfs is the same).

Thanks

 

[BigJohnny]

Howdy

Live rock in the Package is $4 a pound...or by itself $5 a pound....

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com [emoji38]spin:[emoji38]spin:[emoji38]spin:

The live rock at $5/lb certainly is a good deal! Thanks for the info I wasn't even aware you sold anything besides "the package". It's very popular so that is all I have ever heard of!

 

[Ghlreefer]

I'll second d2. Richard at TBS has some amazing rock. Full of life!

 

[alton]

Big difference from what was available in 2000 from a store in SA

 

[CuzzA]

Here's a video I put together from yesterdays excursion. Visibility wasn't all that great, but it's pretty cool nonetheless. Who can spot the flounder?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23819288#post23819288

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6hRs_sxRUM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[smatter]

Big difference from what was available in 2000 from a store in SA

Looks like it's came from a parking lot :strange:

 

[smatter]

I was going to respond to this in specifics because I was put off by your surprising attack on my comments, but since you said I was wrong (it's my opinion, there is no right or wrong thank you very much), and then said that it was "priceless" (which most definitely is an opinion considering every item can actually be purchased at a price) I'm just going to say this:

I wasn't talking to you. Do you sell "the package"? No, you don't. My comment was clearly towards the man from TBS.

Do everyone a favor and don't turn this into an argument which ends up hijacking the thread. Especially if you like the vendor so much they really dont want to see that.

I stated my OPINION and asked a question of the vendor, he answered already.

Thanks

Wow

 

[liverock]

Here's a video I put together from yesterdays excursion. Visibility wasn't all that great, but it's pretty cool nonetheless. Who can spot the flounder?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=23819288#post23819288

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6hRs_sxRUM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Well that came out very good.....a little info....Cuzza shot that with a go pro hanging on a fishing pole.....he lowered it to the bottom and walked around the boat with the rod and reel. I am amazed at what he captured.

Cuzza...did ya go sign up for the scuba lessons yesterday....as I foresee a lot of video/bottom time for you!

Thanks man, that was GREAT...and guess we got to take some time and catch some of those mangrove snapper that were swimming all around the rock for dinner, they looked legal size..... LOL

sea ya
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :bounce1::bounce1::bounce1:

 

[Ink]

They can, just requires extra hoops to jump through and more cost....

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :bounce1:

International Shipments

We are no longer shipping internationally, as the permitting process can take more than six months and the costs have become prohibitive.

Are You sure?

I think here in the old world we still have to continue waiting until all the formerly live stuff into live rocks rots into our tank water...

Luca

 

[pigskin018]

So is this live rock 2.1 only better because it saves natural rock and looks cool after its pulled up?

I guess I'm trying to find another benefit like it absorbs less nutrients to leech later or something? That would make me want to replace all my rock right now lol.

Read a little on Walts site but didn't come away with any more info...

 

[CuzzA]

Is this the exciting future of Live Rock? Must See!!!

Well that came out very good.....a little info....Cuzza shot that with a go pro hanging on a fishing pole.....he lowered it to the bottom and walked around the boat with the rod and reel. I am amazed at what he captured.



Cuzza...did ya go sign up for the scuba lessons yesterday....as I foresee a lot of video/bottom time for you!



Thanks man, that was GREAT...and guess we got to take some time and catch some of those mangrove snapper that were swimming all around the rock for dinner, they looked legal size..... LOL



sea ya

Richard TBS

www.tbsaltwater.com :bounce1::bounce1::bounce1:

You're welcome.

I didn't make it to the Scuba place. Check your sponsor thread. I posted the incident that happened as I was pulling away from your place. Going today though.

Mangrove Snapper!!! Haha. That was the first thing that grabbed my attention when I previewed the video. Dinner!!! I thought I saw a decent grouper too, but couldn't make it out.

I'm pretty happy with the video given that I was filming blind. No way to know what the video is capturing.

Here's a couple of my DIY GoPro rigs. The selfie stick is a $5 window expansion pole squeegee from Wally World. And the bottom viewer is something I threw together to look for new fishing ledges, structure and holes in the Gulf. (Note: it's wire and not fishing line on the "Gulf Lander") Saves a lot of money on fuel for my boat.