OK, I placed an order with TBS.

[snodine]

Part one will be here in about 2 weeks. I ordered the 100 gal package with an additional 20# of live sand for my refugium.

My first (of many) question to this braintrust is "what do I need when package 1 arrives?"

I have the tank (120 gal), the sump (55 gal), I will have ~100 gal of mixed water (SG 1.025) for water changes. I have Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia test kits.

Looking back on your experiences what other tools/equipment did you use to set up your tanks with TBS rock?

What do you wish you had at the time?

What did you have to rush out and get?

Any and all suggestions, comments, and warnings are GREATLY appreciated.

Steve

 

[divemonster]

Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13222515#post13222515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snodine
Part one will be here in about 2 weeks. I ordered the 100 gal package with an additional 20# of live sand for my refugium.

Congrats, Steve! :thumbsup: You won't be disappointed. 100 gallons . . . WOW i'm jealous!!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13222515#post13222515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snodine
My first (of many) question to this braintrust is "what do I need when package 1 arrives?"

I have the tank (120 gal), the sump (55 gal), I will have ~100 gal of mixed water (SG 1.025) for water changes. I have Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonia test kits.

Perfect! What about aerating the change water and having it the same temp as the tank?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13222515#post13222515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snodine Looking back on your experiences what other tools/equipment did you use to set up your tanks with TBS rock?

What do you wish you had at the time?

What did you have to rush out and get?

Any and all suggestions, comments, and warnings are GREATLY appreciated.

Steve

I really wish I had drip acclimated the snails according to Richard's instructions (Part 2 cleanup crew).

Some folks squirt cold selzter water in holes in the rock to dislodge bad hitchhikers. (One guy squirted Diet Pepsi into a hole to disloge a stubborn bad crab!) We used seltzer water to get rid of the bad crabs with Part 1 and I think it prolonged the ammonia cycle because of all the other stuff we killed doing this. With Part 2 we did not do this at all, instead we got the rock into the water as fast as we could to prevent die off. Beware doing any dips of any kind. Just my 2 cents worth. . .

Denny, HowardW, and the other experienced reefkeepers probably have excellent advice.

There is one rule: You MUST post pictures

 

[figuerres]

Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13223456#post13223456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
Congrats, Steve! :thumbsup: You won't be disappointed. 100 gallons . . . WOW i'm jealous!!



Perfect! What about aerating the change water and having it the same temp as the tank?



I really wish I had drip acclimated the snails according to Richard's instructions (Part 2 cleanup crew).

Some folks squirt cold selzter water in holes in the rock to dislodge bad hitchhikers. (One guy squirted Diet Pepsi into a hole to disloge a stubborn bad crab!) We used seltzer water to get rid of the bad crabs with Part 1 and I think it prolonged the ammonia cycle because of all the other stuff we killed doing this. With Part 2 we did not do this at all, instead we got the rock into the water as fast as we could to prevent die off. Beware doing any dips of any kind. Just my 2 cents worth. . .

Denny, HowardW, and the other experienced reefkeepers probably have excellent advice.

There is one rule: You MUST post pictures

go to target and get as many 18 galon and 25 galon rubbermaid tubs as you can get....

they make great holding tanks and work tanks to hold rock, water etc.... while you sort it out and get ready.
and they do not cost to much and stack up in a closet when you are done with them.

more info later ... I'm at work right now.

 

[snodine]

Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

Perfect! What about aerating the change water and having it the same temp as the tank?

Got that covered. The change water will be in 2 55-gal barrels with a heater and pump.

I really wish I had drip acclimated the snails according to Richard's instructions (Part 2 cleanup crew).

Good point! I will plan on doing that!

Some folks squirt cold selzter water in holes in the rock to dislodge bad hitchhikers. (One guy squirted Diet Pepsi into a hole to disloge a stubborn bad crab!) We used seltzer water to get rid of the bad crabs with Part 1 and I think it prolonged the ammonia cycle because of all the other stuff we killed doing this. With Part 2 we did not do this at all, instead we got the rock into the water as fast as we could to prevent die off. Beware doing any dips of any kind. Just my 2 cents worth. . .

I have been reading all of the posts and was thinking I would give everything the "sniff test" and put the rock in ASAP when I got it. After it was all in, I was planning on going hunting and put any bad hitchhikers in my refugium.

There is one rule: You MUST post pictures.

Count on it. I have already posted pictures of the set up so far. There will be more coming - promise.

 

[goslugsgo]

Aqua gloves.

 

[snodine]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13224648#post13224648 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by goslugsgo
Aqua gloves.

Yep, those have already come in handy.

 

[goslugsgo]

Right on. Good luck.

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13224789#post13224789 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snodine
Yep, those have already come in handy.

Y-know Ither I am carefull, or lucky, or have ironskin

Probaly Carefull + Lucky

cause I have never used gloves.... and this last bunch of rock I got at least 2 or 3 mantis, no attacks ....

I used to have a trigger when I had a F/O tank, that I hand fed
but he was a picaso trigger which I have read are one of the less aggressive ones.

when I was in the air force in the 80's I had a lion fish -- no gloves when I fed him or cleaned the tank.

I am not totaly crazy, I make sure I do not have open cuts, and I do wash my hands after I am done, and if I handle things I wash between them, like coral that leave mucus ....
so I do try to make sure I don't start any chemical warfare with slime from coral a on my hands when I handle coral b.

but in general I just wash and go...

but I am not saying others should do what I do

 

[figuerres]

Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13223456#post13223456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by divemonster
Congrats, Steve! :thumbsup: You won't be disappointed. 100 gallons . . . WOW i'm jealous!!



Perfect! What about aerating the change water and having it the same temp as the tank?



I really wish I had drip acclimated the snails according to Richard's instructions (Part 2 cleanup crew).

Some folks squirt cold selzter water in holes in the rock to dislodge bad hitchhikers. (One guy squirted Diet Pepsi into a hole to disloge a stubborn bad crab!) We used seltzer water to get rid of the bad crabs with Part 1 and I think it prolonged the ammonia cycle because of all the other stuff we killed doing this. With Part 2 we did not do this at all, instead we got the rock into the water as fast as we could to prevent die off. Beware doing any dips of any kind. Just my 2 cents worth. . .

Denny, HowardW, and the other experienced reefkeepers probably have excellent advice.

There is one rule: You MUST post pictures

as you work thru each bag of rock you can rinse the rock in the water it came with and take the left over sand, gunk, and water and move it to a spare tub.

run air stones in that tub and keep adding to it.

when you are done and that tub has had time to settle take a good flashlight and a clean container and start hunting for small hitchhikers....

I have found starfish, shrimp, crabs, mantis, snails, hermitcrabs worms, dusters, fish and pods that way every time...
not always all of the above each time... depends.

also this is a good way to check for any bad guys that might be hiding in the rocks.... if you got a crab in the left overs you are sure to have more in the rocks.....

also check that stuff very close, I have found pistol shrimp that were *TINY* in there like millimeters long! - 4-5MM

same for stars, serpent stars and brittle stars can be as small as 5-10MM across.

if you let it set things will crawl up , make trails etc... as long as it's getting air and has enoughg water you can keep stiring and let it settle and check again.

also an idea I have not tried but seems like it should work:

if you have enogh water and containers etc...

make a bait bag of raw shrimp (1-2 in a fine mesh filter bag)
put it in one end of a tub of water and put a few rocks in the other end, let it sit with air stones and see what comes out after a while.... that could be a way to draw out the crabs and mantis w/o all the dips, soda etc....

just lure them out with a good smell and a quiet tub.

 

[OgreMkV]

Get a plastic gripper (one comes with a scissor attachment). It really saves you having to put on the aquagloves just to get something. (But get the aquagloves)!

There's also a water abosrbant mat that I put down during water changes, getting packages, etc. Dr. Fster and Smith has them.

 

[goslugsgo]

Figuerres, I've enjoyed your posts for quite a while now and I'm glad that your extensive experience does not include a trip to an emergency room!
My chioce to use gloves, while influenced by pictures of horrible infections, is based on the knowledge that ancient Hawaiians dipped their spears in a zoanthid/palythoa mush, and death for the poked was quick and sure.
Getting thumped by a mantis or bitten by a fish really doesn't concern me. It's getting discharged from the hospital after a diagnosis of "unknown toxic shock" that keeps my gloves on. The biotoxins in marine aquaria are foreign to us and much of the medical community.
This is only my perspective and not intended to be didactic. I wish both you and snodine continued success and good luck.

 

[snodine]

I got aquagloves for a couple of reasons:

I do a lot of gardening and after digging in the garden all day I do not want to take a chance of transferring any dirt to the tank.

My tank is 24" high so I end up with my whole arm in the water and then I end up dripping it all over. When it dries on my arm the salt is annoying.

That whole "toxic shock" thing too.

Steve

 

[snodine]

Re: Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

Re: Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13226121#post13226121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by figuerres
as you work thru each bag of rock you can rinse the rock in the water it came with and take the left over sand, gunk, and water and move it to a spare tub.

run air stones in that tub and keep adding to it.

when you are done and that tub has had time to settle take a good flashlight and a clean container and start hunting for small hitchhikers....

I have found starfish, shrimp, crabs, mantis, snails, hermitcrabs worms, dusters, fish and pods that way every time...
not always all of the above each time... depends.

also this is a good way to check for any bad guys that might be hiding in the rocks.... if you got a crab in the left overs you are sure to have more in the rocks.....

also check that stuff very close, I have found pistol shrimp that were *TINY* in there like millimeters long! - 4-5MM

same for stars, serpent stars and brittle stars can be as small as 5-10MM across.

if you let it set things will crawl up , make trails etc... as long as it's getting air and has enoughg water you can keep stiring and let it settle and check again.

also an idea I have not tried but seems like it should work:

if you have enogh water and containers etc...

make a bait bag of raw shrimp (1-2 in a fine mesh filter bag)
put it in one end of a tub of water and put a few rocks in the other end, let it sit with air stones and see what comes out after a while.... that could be a way to draw out the crabs and mantis w/o all the dips, soda etc....

just lure them out with a good smell and a quiet tub.

Thank you all for the GREAT ideas. I've made a shopping list as I was reading through the posts:

- airstones
- tubs
- shrimp
- mesh filter bag
- batteries for the flashlight
- plastic tongs (suggestion from OgreMkV)
- beer (for medicinal purposes - in case of a major attack of thirst)

Steve

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13226328#post13226328 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by goslugsgo
Figuerres, I've enjoyed your posts for quite a while now and I'm glad that your extensive experience does not include a trip to an emergency room!
My chioce to use gloves, while influenced by pictures of horrible infections, is based on the knowledge that ancient Hawaiians dipped their spears in a zoanthid/palythoa mush, and death for the poked was quick and sure.
Getting thumped by a mantis or bitten by a fish really doesn't concern me. It's getting discharged from the hospital after a diagnosis of "unknown toxic shock" that keeps my gloves on. The biotoxins in marine aquaria are foreign to us and much of the medical community.
This is only my perspective and not intended to be didactic. I wish both you and snodine continued success and good luck.

Oh I am very aware of the issues, as I said I do not tell others to do what I have done.

Every time I see Tom Hanks in Castaway I cringe at his cut-by-coral shots.

I have had a number of acidents over the years with things like a big half whisky barel planter, I was working at a nursery and we were delivering a small tree, sliped and fell on wet decking and cut my finger something nasty...

I was also in a car wreck on time that involved us doing 360's in the middle of hiway 101 in northen california hitting a redwood and fliping over... and all 4 of us got out w/o any injurys but the 280z was totaled.

just a few of the crazy things i've seen / done ... and I am still in one pice

 

[figuerres]

Re: Re: Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

Re: Re: Re: Re: OK, I placed an order with TBS.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13226789#post13226789 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snodine
Thank you all for the GREAT ideas. I've made a shopping list as I was reading through the posts:

- airstones
- tubs
- shrimp
- mesh filter bag
- batteries for the flashlight
- plastic tongs (suggestion from OgreMkV)
- beer (for medicinal purposes - in case of a major attack of thirst)

Steve

Oh and flashlights.... check an army/navy surplus for a flashlight with a red lens, they work good for seeing cirtters in low light w/o spooking them back into the rocks.

 

[Drunes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13226197#post13226197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OgreMkV
Get a plastic gripper (one comes with a scissor attachment). It really saves you having to put on the aquagloves just to get something. (But get the aquagloves)!

There's also a water abosrbant mat that I put down during water changes, getting packages, etc. Dr. Fster and Smith has them.

Could not agree more get the gloves. Use to do this bare handed for years more luck than judgement. Then when I was in the Air Force and stantioned in the UK a British friend of mine that ran a marine stone in Oxford showed me why that could be a problem when some wild live rock from the pacific came in with a stonefish, that could have been a bad day. =D

This is great rock and nothing that dangerous but it is safer for you and your rock.

 

[figuerres]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13311139#post13311139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Drunes
Could not agree more get the gloves. Use to do this bare handed for years more luck than judgement. Then when I was in the Air Force and stantioned in the UK a British friend of mine that ran a marine stone in Oxford showed me why that could be a problem when some wild live rock from the pacific came in with a stonefish, that could have been a bad day. =D

This is great rock and nothing that dangerous but it is safer for you and your rock.

YOW! grabing a stonefish would really ruin anyones day :eek2: