TBS Part 2 pics and video

[Run4Fun]

Part two of the Tampa Bay Saltwater package is in the tank! This rock and the critters are incredible. I can’t believe all of the life in the tank. We have all sorts of cool hitchhikers including urchins and even a clingfish. All sorts of crabs (arrow, porcelain and many hermit crabs), snails, tunicates, and sponges. Two huge starfish – a brittle star and serpent star. Everything was packaged in NSW, so there was minimal die off and a small cycle. critters are all happy and healthy, and they are going to town on some raw shrimp. The rock shapes and are amazing. Richard sent us a great mix of large show pieces, curved pieces and flat pieces as well as some that serve as a perfect base to build upon.

We may make some minor changes to the scape, but nothing major. Based on this experience, I would highly recommend getting sand, rock and critters from TBS!

Here is a link to a video:

https://youtu.be/KfeOQXZ66a4

 

[Run4Fun]

 

[FlyingFishSKYw]

Wow! Your tank looks beautiful!

I'm in the process of upgrading from a 46 to a 75 and will probably order TBS for sand and some more rock.

How do you like the sand? It looks like varying size gravel and such...

 

[Run4Fun]

Wow! Your tank looks beautiful!

I'm in the process of upgrading from a 46 to a 75 and will probably order TBS for sand and some more rock.

How do you like the sand? It looks like varying size gravel and such...

Thanks! The sand is awesome. Mostly bigger sized granules and doesn't get blown around by my vortech. There is a lot of life that comes with the sand, including several different types of snails, so I'd totally recommend doing both LR and LS. Also, when there was a hitchhiker clingfish in the sand so it was a total score!

 

[moondoggy4]

Very nice, thanks for sharing.

 

[oblio]

Very nice looking set up for sure. Not sure of what type of tank your planning. However cool it is that you got all these "extras" don't cry when your corals are raped by some gorilla crab or some other "fun extra" that came with your rock. pests are just that, pests. Or 6 months from now you say "where is fish X?" oh you got a mantis shrimp as a gift with your rock. Why is it when you go look at some reefers tank that looks amazing you NEVER see all these fun extras? Its because your basically setting yourself up for one nightmare after another. I think its cool all the life, but tanks are not the ocean, and never will be. If your planning on keeping fish, you'll probably be ok, but if your keeping coral in there and plan on getting more I just don't see how this cant add to the work. I added on piece of life rock and then was presented with one pest after another for over a year. Lost lots of sleep, corals, fish, time.
Hope your experience is better than mine.

 

[sde1500]

Very nice looking set up for sure. Not sure of what type of tank your planning. However cool it is that you got all these "extras" don't cry when your corals are raped by some gorilla crab or some other "fun extra" that came with your rock. pests are just that, pests. Or 6 months from now you say "where is fish X?" oh you got a mantis shrimp as a gift with your rock. Why is it when you go look at some reefers tank that looks amazing you NEVER see all these fun extras? Its because your basically setting yourself up for one nightmare after another. I think its cool all the life, but tanks are not the ocean, and never will be. If your planning on keeping fish, you'll probably be ok, but if your keeping coral in there and plan on getting more I just don't see how this cant add to the work. I added on piece of life rock and then was presented with one pest after another for over a year. Lost lots of sleep, corals, fish, time.
Hope your experience is better than mine.

The guy is excited over the new rock, right now the tank looks great, and plenty of people have had great success with TBS rock. Its funny, I read through is thread, and maybe I missed it, but he never asked anyone's opinion on if he should get live rock or not. Maybe stick to sharing these opinions of yours on threads asking for thoughts on if they should do live rock or not.

OP, tank and rock looks awesome, love all the life and color given by those sponges and gorgonians.

 

[Run4Fun]

Thanks sde1500!

oblio- I understand your points and I'm sorry you did not enjoy your experience. I went into this eyes wide open and did a ton of research before purchasing. I found that anyone buying real live rock needs to understand the benefits and the potential challenges. I knew going in there would be both good and "pest" hitchhikers. That is the case with all LR and I'm good with that. The other option for me was dry rock and my opinion is that I'd rather get a true taste of the reef from a naturally harvested site that was done while keeping the environment in mind. I do not view all of these creatures as pests. They are an awesome part of a real environment and I plan to build my tank around this life rather than trying to force in fish and corals that may not work well with what I already have in the tank.