1st half of Package arrived, however it was ice cold, should i be concerned?

[tlouie]

1st half of Package arrived today, however it was ice cold, should i be concerned?

The water was icy cold when I put my hand in. It hadn't been sitting on the freight dock b/c I got it right as if came off the cart from the plane.

The pieces of LR looked very nice, however from previous RC posts, I was expecting hitchhiker crabs and mantis shrimp to crawl off the rock, but much to my surprise, I couldn't seem to find any crabs. I've been staring into the tank for probably 3 hours straight, and I can't seem to find any crabs or shrimp yet.

I guess this is a good thing since most people don't want crabs and mantis on TBS rock, but I was kinda hoping for a bunch of evil crabs just for the fun of it.

I did find one brittle star, but it was dead, is this a sign that the shipment got too cold during shipment?

thanks for your help

[liverock]

Originally posted by tlouie
1st half of Package arrived today, however it was ice cold, should i be concerned?

The water was icy cold when I put my hand in. It hadn't been sitting on the freight dock b/c I got it right as if came off the cart from the plane.

The pieces of LR looked very nice, however from previous RC posts, I was expecting hitchhiker crabs and mantis shrimp to crawl off the rock, but much to my surprise, I couldn't seem to find any crabs. I've been staring into the tank for probably 3 hours straight, and I can't seem to find any crabs or shrimp yet.

I guess this is a good thing since most people don't want crabs and mantis on TBS rock, but I was kinda hoping for a bunch of evil crabs just for the fun of it.

I did find one brittle star, but it was dead, is this a sign that the shipment got too cold during shipment?

thanks for your help


The water is 53 degrees, today on the bottom where we harvest....you should be fine.
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

[tlouie]

Thanks Richard, I was getting concerned.

I have heard all the wild stories about the rock teaming with hitchiker crabs, and the sand being filled with micro-hermits, brittle stars, worms etc. And i spent a couple hours last night (including some dark time with a red LED light, looking for critters, and I have yet to see any mobile critters or Pods, which kinda concerned me that my shipment might have gotten too cold in transit. I know that ordering in the winter gives me less bio-diversity, and i'm probably looking a gift-horse in the mouth as most people want to be rid of hairy crabs and mantis shrimp.

Good to know that the water is cold now too, I look forward to the second part of the package.

Originally posted by liverock
The water is 53 degrees, today on the bottom where we harvest....you should be fine.
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

[liverock]

Yea this year is one of the coldest, water temp wise, we have had in many years....was 51 degrees today on the bottom, even an 8mil wetsuit does not cut it, after about 20 min. on the bottom, your toes and fingers go numb.....but topside today we have 75 degrees, and beautiful sunshine.....

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

[Splach]

Hey Richard,

With current water temps there do you recommend aclimatizing before putting the materials into 78 deg. water?

[liverock]

Originally posted by Splach
Hey Richard,

With current water temps there do you recommend aclimatizing before putting the materials into 78 deg. water?


Always, no matter what, acclimate everything you put in your tank.

The rock is shipped in 73 degree water.....so it can go either way with no problem!
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

[Splach]

Thanks Richard. I just read through the "the package" part of your website and I can't find anything on the acclimatation process for sand or rocks. Can you explain how to do this for us newbies?

[liverock]

Originally posted by Splach
Thanks Richard. I just read through the "the package" part of your website and I can't find anything on the acclimatation process for sand or rocks. Can you explain how to do this for us newbies?

We send those instructions with the Package...good point, I will have my web guy add the info!
Thanks
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com :rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

[gonefishin]

I too was concerned when I didn't see the amount of life everyone describes when I got my TBS rock. Dont worry you will see it. I thought i did a pretty good job looking for unwanted critters and in the three months I've had my rock have since cuahgt 4 mantis,3 gorilla crabs ( one is about 2 inches across) so don't get too worried yet. One warning. Tbs says you usually get a pistol shrimp as a hitchhiker (which may be true). watch closely as all three of the mantis I caught made a nice clicking noise when they were in the trap. Still hearing the noise in my tank so I am still trying to see whats left. I thought it would be exciting to get all of those too. NOw I am not so excited as the little buggers are hard to catch. Still very interesting though.

[Splach]

Seems like a lot of people have gotten a decent amount of credit at the local LFS for them though. Not enough to offset the $2K that my sand rocks and shipping are going to run me but hey, I'll take what I can get...

Casey

[cordell]

so if I order some tbs rock in the next few days, will it have all of the life that everybody always talks about? I mean the worms and pods and all the critters, snails, stars, hermits, etc.. are they just hidden in the rock b/c it's so cold? I'm about ready to get some of this stuff.. I've put it off long enough and now I have all of the tank equipment running steady, and the water has finally cleared pretty good. I just want to make sure that I get the great rock that I've heard sooo much about!

cordell

[JNievesmd]

I got the second half of my package Monday night and the rocks are just teeming with living things.

[ducker]

To be honest, I'm a bit concerned as well now. I was all set to order 30# once I have my tank up and running, and now I might look elsewhere or perhaps local, as I really want all the life on the rock. Otherwise I could purchase fully cured live rock locally for approx the same price.

I would rather the TBS though. (but only with all the life)

[tlouie]

Ducker,

Don't get me wrong, my TBS rocks still has more life on it that 99.9% of LFS LR i have ever seen.

My rock is covered with sponges, corals, mussels, barnacles, macro-algae, beneficial worms etc. I'm sure there are some baby snails that i might not see.

I was just commenting on the lack of hairy crabs and mantis shrimp with the first half of my order. By no means is this a bad thing, as most people can't wait to get rid of them. I was just looking forward to hunting mantis shrimp and bad crabs.

You should still go ahead and order your TBS rock, its excellent LR.



Originally posted by ducker
To be honest, I'm a bit concerned as well now. I was all set to order 30# once I have my tank up and running, and now I might look elsewhere or perhaps local, as I really want all the life on the rock. Otherwise I could purchase fully cured live rock locally for approx the same price.

I would rather the TBS though. (but only with all the life)

[seacritter]

I think you should be thankful that you don't have those pests to deal with. I have been hunting the hairy crabs and trapping mantis shrimp for 2 months now. Everytime I think I have got rid of everything something else shows up. The hairy crabs were not to bad to deal with but the 4 mantis shrimp that I finally trapped became an obsession with me. They are very smart and can reek havac and your tank. I could not wait to get them all out. When I got the second half of my package I found 6 matis shrimp in the water at the bottom of the bag of the live rock so I knew I was in trouble.....lol...........I think I must of picked off 20 red crabs from the rock too when I unpacked it. Don't get me wrong because I love the rock I got it was awsome to say the least but the critters were a pain in the but so be thankful you don't have to deal with that. I think you will be finding alot of these things anyway after about a month, I think you will be surprised on the things that are hiding in your rock that you have not seem yet....Be patient.

[Splach]

Seacritter,

how many lbs of rock did you get to receive so many crawlers? I was thinking I would be in the same boat as you but then I saw that my tank is about double yours... EEK

[cordell]

ok so when I'm ordering.. what kind of rock do I order? I see there is Keys live rock and Gulf live rock and Deco rock, and boat run? Which one should I get?

Also.. if I were to order it tonight, when do you think I could get it to my apt and in my tank? I plan to use the airlines shipping because we have a decent airport here that delta and a few other major airlines come through. Would it be next week sometime?

[Splach]

Most the time they do it next day if you order it while they are open. I would recommend "the package" because you get great rock, all the critters, and a 40% discount on the price.

[delta]

if you want all the life go with deco and boat run.it would be best to call to get the answers to your questions, Mary and Richard can best answer your questions as far as time and what you are trying to acheive. although you can go wrong with the package can beat the price in the long run in the end its the cheapest way to go.

i hope none of the red crabs looked like this
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/28890DSC00496.jpg
because he is a good crab


i got my second shipment last tuesday cold and all everything looks great, of corse i was there 10 min after it arrived:), but the LR was just like my first shipment. would have liked a few more nice open brains but what can you do landlord scooped em all up :)
however there were a few extras as well. two nice anemones, and two tree sponges.
only one cucumber arrived dead, but to be expected with 130lbs LR, 260 hermits, 65 astrea snails, 4 cucumbers, 3 perpermint shrimp, 3 serpant stars, 2 anemones and 2 tree sponges. with
all that the odd are something might die that one outta hmm ahh forget i dont have a calculator, lets just say one outta a whole
lot.

havent had time to post more on second shipment but i will soon under TBS rocks.

sorry to say the pink tip LTA met a sad death with a PH, even with a cover on it, a real bummer he was really nice and healthy:(

[cordell]

I would get the package, but I already have 120lb sand in the tank.. and I'm not sure if I can gather that large chunk of change for the 75g package. I know it would be the best deal now and in the long run, but I just can't do it now. :(

there isn't any way that if I ordered it early in the morning, it could be here like midnight or something? I'm not sure how airline shipping works and all.. just wondering. I guess I'll call Mary & Richard tomarrow.

thanks!

[cordell]

well it just occured to me as I was looking at the "The Package" chart, I realized that the package for the 35gallon tank has exactly the amount of live rock that I wanted to order anyways, and it has enough good live sand to seed my 120lb of aragonite that is already in the tank. After doing my math (yea right), I realize that if I were to buy just the rock(70lb) and sand(35lb) at the normal price, I would end up paying $420 before any shipping or packaging materials are added. That is almost the same price as the 35g package and it comes with the other critters and stuff! This just seems like the more practical way to go since I can't get the package for my size tank (75g) and I was going for that amount of LR and LS anyways. What do you guys think? I'm tryin to get some bang for my very few bucks, and I know that with tbs I will get it either way I go!, but any opinions on my idea?

I of course would be adding more rock later.. but I think this will entertain me and the tank for now.. and will get it well established.

:D

[delta]

yes it give you alot to entertain you. its just like old times my first reef was overtaken by tube worm they multiplied so fast i had to scrape them off the front glass to see in. never mind my protien skimmer,
i still cant get out the worm skeletons
that was built with wild harvested florida LR but due to living arangement i had to give up the tank to a friend :(
how lucky was he

thats the math we have all been talking about, i just hate buying all the life as an extra pod seeds, LS seeds, cleanup crew when i can get it all at the same price as just cured LR from most any other dealer
thats the math most cured Rock is $5 dollars a lbs well TBS its about 6/lbs for package LR plus they throw in LS, clean up crew and who know what else you might find..
all for that one low price

but to me live rock is just that rock full of life just waiting to invade your tank.
i just dont like tanks that dont change from day to day

don't get me wrong i do have a tank stocked with fiji LR and SPS i do love the tank but i just miss the little things you get from TBS LR

:)

[mx250]

Don't be so quick to discount how many hitchikers you have - they will show up slowly over a period of weeks. The "smart" ones have dug themselves pretty deep into the rock after being plucked from the ocean floor, dumped into a holding tank, shipped in an airliner at 5 miles high, and then plopped into your tank!

[Dexter1334]

I agree with mx250,
I got my first half early in december, I didn't see many crabs at first. I looked last night and there must have been 30 and that's just from the first delivery. Some of them were small but they are growing fast. I also got several brittle stars one small red star of some type, at least 5 anemones, (Not sure what kind yet) two christmas tree worms, all kinds of snails, sponges, coral,clams,mussells, and several types of shrimp, (one mantis).
You will find new stuff every day for months.

[docklink]

tlouie.... Just curious since it's been a couple weeks now, have you seen critters coming out ?

[tlouie]

Well my rock has tons of the usual outside critter like mussels, those clear worms etc.

As far as hitchhikers, I have found a small black snail with a bright red foot, looks like a true nasarius snail, only with a black shell and red foot.

I think i got some kind of conch snail, I saw it once on the glass, but haven't seen it again.

I also found one bad crab, its brown, sharp clawed, and hairy.

I think i might have a mantis or pistol, I hear occasional clicking. The exact source still eludes me.

I also got some small, 1" long by 3-5 mm wide lancelets in the sand.

Originally posted by docklink
tlouie.... Just curious since it's been a couple weeks now, have you seen critters coming out ?

[Dexter1334]

I have the first half of the 125 gal package delivered early december. The largest rock just fit in the tank and was touching the glass front and rear. I decided I needed to adjust it so I got a big masons chisel and a big hammer and knocked off one lobe of the rock which jutted out. The operation was a success. The rock was soft, sandstone I believe, and by knocking of that one corner I was able to position the rock so it was away from the glass and still see my three christmas tree worms.

I placed the rock in a big tub prior to the hammering so I wouldn't break the tank and in the process knocked off 4 pistol shrimp, one clam, 1 large red crab, 12 smaller crabs with striped legs and brown pentagon shaped bodies (unidentified yet). I never saw any of these the before I took the rock out.

In addition every day I see new types of life. I have a white crab about the size of a dime that has attached itself to the bottom of a piece of clamshell. Another crab living in a clump of red hair algae and completely covered with red hair algae so he is invisible unless he moves, two unusual large snails about an inch and a half long, in addition to dozens of smallsnails. Several small brittle stars ( I can usually only see their legs poking out). One small fuzzy red starfish I only see if I move a rock. Lots of pods and worms. New types of algae and plant growth, new sponges orange, blue,black and purple. I also have several different types of hermit crab that have suddenly appeared.

I think many of these were too small to see when I first got the package some are very small yet. The red crabs are getting large and there is at least one mantis drilling holes in my rock.

The longer you look the more you see and you only see half of what is there :)

[Dazz]

12 smaller crabs with striped legs and brown pentagon shaped bodies (unidentified yet). I never saw any of these the before I took the rock out.

Those are porcelin crabs. They are filter feeders and oportunists eating detritus. Very good to have in your tank. Mine have been multiplying and I now have well over 30 including multiple adults that are 2"+ claw to claw.

[mx250]

Do the (12) small crabs look like this:

http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/images/krabbi2.jpg

If so, the are porcelain crabs, and are desireable crabs (they won't bother anything and are cool to watch).