Just got back from Tampa Bay

[JPerkins]

This is my second purchase from TBS.

I drove down to Tampa Bay again, second time in about 4 years.

Once again, I am thrilled with the rock and janitors.

Special thanks to Mark.

If you ever get the chance to drive down to Tampa, do it and visit the guys at TBS.

Its worth the trip!

 

[Diehl]

Hi, I live in Vero Beach, and was thinking about driving there to get my 90lb of rock I need. Do you get to pick the rock yourself? And what is the price like? How much did you pay? Also what way did you transport it home so there wasn't any die off? Thanks, Bill

 

[JPerkins]

Its pretty nice

Its pretty nice

You get to pick the rock yourself.

I actually stuck my hands in there, picked up the rock (I scuba so not too worried about icky stuff).

I found the rocks I wanted and you actually place them in the box, carry to the scale and voila, done.

At the time he was having a sale so I got some live rock for the base at $1.50/lb

The deco rock and boat run rock are in different holding vats so you can pick and choose.

I think I paid around $4.00/lb for some sweet top shelf rocks with tons of life.

You get styrofoam boxes with lids and they double bag them in plastic.

I had to drive over 6 hours on the return trip home and its no problem, they ship in water so no die off (they weigh the rock dry).

Both times I have dealth with these guys has been an absolute pleasure.

Just remember, they are only open to the public on saturdays from 1 to 5 i think.

Oh yeah, the rock is pretty much cured. You will have a small ammonia spike depending on how much rock you get.

I also didn't see any bad hitchhikers but I did see many good ones.

 

[tangwang]

Actually, they are open Mon-Fri, 10-5 now, as well.

Matt

 

[johnbntampa]

BE CAREFUL with some of the Tampa Bay Live Rock. I have found MANY mantis shrimp in this rock, and have had buddies with the same experience. As you know mantis shrimp can wreak havoc on a nice reef tank. Make sure you get those suckers outta there!!!!

 

[tangwang]

Actually, all you have to do to prevent unwanted hitchhikers, ie, Mantis Shrimp, from entering your tank is to simply set all of the liverock out on some newspaper for a short while, before placing it into the tank, and the Mantis shrimp will fall out of the liverock, and on to the paper. I belive that this is also the way Richard at TBS reccomends to do it as well. The short time being out of the water will not hurt the liverock.

Matt

 

[johnbntampa]

Thanks for the tip brother! I will give that a shot next time I pick up some rock.

 

[Clownish]

what i have found as a better alternative is put all the rock in a rubbermaid container full of saltwater and just watch it for a few hours under a red light. It is an interesting way to spend a night with a GF.... suprisingly if u find a good one they aren't freaked out by it...lol