Note: This is a testimonial of my experiences with TBS
On a random urge I decided mid-december to set up a marine reef system again after several years. I spent a couple days reading on different forums and searching various spots on the web for reputable suppliers for LR/LS and after reading several of the testimonials and reviews decided to go with TBS.
I started off a bit leery of the process of ordering sight-unseen from an unknown entity and decided to mail the contact e-mail and ask a few questions first. Right away, Richard was in contact with me, answering my questions and explaining what I would be able to expect with regard to shipping time, delivery, and content. A few back and forth mails and reading the extensive ammount of information available at the TBS website, and I was ready to place my order for "The Package", as it is referred to.
I was put at ease by Richard's accessibility and willingness to communicate with his customers. Within a day, all my first shipment items were waiting for me at the airport.
Due to circumstances outside of TBS or my control, the items were unavailable overnight as they sat in a chilled warehouse waiting for the 5:30 opening. The items were so well packed and with enough water and insulation that everything was in perfect shape when I got them home and unpacked them. I had some very interesting critters show up once I placed the rocks and sand into the new tank. I arranged what I recieved as best I could, and started in on the intial task of getting the tank cycle started.
Approximately 4 days and 3 partial water changes later, all my levels were at optimal readings, and I sent Richard mail to prep and ship the second portion of "the Package". At this point, my tank was looking pretty good, the rocks I recieved had some amazing life and shape, many worms, live barnacles, live clams, and a ton of snails and random crabs started making their way out. Additional hitchhikers worth mention were a donkey dung cuke, a long haired urchin, and several crabs (more on them later).
When I received the shipping manifest from Richard for part 2 and realized there were 3 more boxes headed my way (making 6 total), I realized I had a bit more headed my way than I had expected.
Its important to note, I was already very happy with how things were arranged in the tank, and the lifeforms which were appearing in the rocks.
The second set of rock put the first to shame. More baranacles, several orders of magnitude more living organisms, some frags (gonipora I believe), and several fan worms and small anemones, many random sponges, plus a few plants stuck to the rocks. In addition to these items, the clean-up crew was unpacked and acclimated and placed into the tank.
I normally place high expectations on things and ask a lot, but was completely blown away by the value and quality of the items I received and the whole transaction end to end was smooth as could be.
Some pics of what I have:
http://flic.kr/p/9bEG85
http://flic.kr/p/9bBA2Z
http://flic.kr/p/9bEG5h
http://flic.kr/p/9bEFZE
http://flic.kr/p/9bBzVx
http://flic.kr/p/9bEFXW
http://flic.kr/p/9bEFXh
--/Nick
/SEATTLE
On a random urge I decided mid-december to set up a marine reef system again after several years. I spent a couple days reading on different forums and searching various spots on the web for reputable suppliers for LR/LS and after reading several of the testimonials and reviews decided to go with TBS.
I started off a bit leery of the process of ordering sight-unseen from an unknown entity and decided to mail the contact e-mail and ask a few questions first. Right away, Richard was in contact with me, answering my questions and explaining what I would be able to expect with regard to shipping time, delivery, and content. A few back and forth mails and reading the extensive ammount of information available at the TBS website, and I was ready to place my order for "The Package", as it is referred to.
I was put at ease by Richard's accessibility and willingness to communicate with his customers. Within a day, all my first shipment items were waiting for me at the airport.
Due to circumstances outside of TBS or my control, the items were unavailable overnight as they sat in a chilled warehouse waiting for the 5:30 opening. The items were so well packed and with enough water and insulation that everything was in perfect shape when I got them home and unpacked them. I had some very interesting critters show up once I placed the rocks and sand into the new tank. I arranged what I recieved as best I could, and started in on the intial task of getting the tank cycle started.
Approximately 4 days and 3 partial water changes later, all my levels were at optimal readings, and I sent Richard mail to prep and ship the second portion of "the Package". At this point, my tank was looking pretty good, the rocks I recieved had some amazing life and shape, many worms, live barnacles, live clams, and a ton of snails and random crabs started making their way out. Additional hitchhikers worth mention were a donkey dung cuke, a long haired urchin, and several crabs (more on them later).
When I received the shipping manifest from Richard for part 2 and realized there were 3 more boxes headed my way (making 6 total), I realized I had a bit more headed my way than I had expected.
Its important to note, I was already very happy with how things were arranged in the tank, and the lifeforms which were appearing in the rocks.
The second set of rock put the first to shame. More baranacles, several orders of magnitude more living organisms, some frags (gonipora I believe), and several fan worms and small anemones, many random sponges, plus a few plants stuck to the rocks. In addition to these items, the clean-up crew was unpacked and acclimated and placed into the tank.
I normally place high expectations on things and ask a lot, but was completely blown away by the value and quality of the items I received and the whole transaction end to end was smooth as could be.
Some pics of what I have:
http://flic.kr/p/9bEG85
http://flic.kr/p/9bBA2Z
http://flic.kr/p/9bEG5h
http://flic.kr/p/9bEFZE
http://flic.kr/p/9bBzVx
http://flic.kr/p/9bEFXW
http://flic.kr/p/9bEFXh
--/Nick
/SEATTLE
