New Tampa Bay Saltwater Sponsor Forum

[JohnL]

Tampa Bay Saltwater

To the Reef Central Sponsor Forums

Thanks for your support of our community

[liverock]

Thanks for the listing, I will answer any questions folks ask here, but I do travel to the Keys every Monday and return on Thursday-Friday, so if the answer is delayed, it is because I am in the Keys collecting critters and live rock.

Any help we can offer here, please ask!

Thanks
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

[imgrtful]

richard thanks for all the great rock and anemones we have gotten from ya'll.the rocks are awsome and full of critters that our fish and tank love.thanks again for the friendly and knoledgeable service that you provide at tb saltwater

eric and melissa

[kaiyokanman28]

Richard,

I was just going over the testimonials on your website, and I have to say, I'm EXTREMELY intrigued about your live rock. I was going to set up my reef tank (my very first one) using Fiji LR and LS, but your company is really making me reconsider that choice...

I DO have a legitimate question. What really intrigues me is the myriad of life that comes on your LR and in your LS, but have there been any things in there that a beginner like me would have trouble keeping?

Have you had any reports from your customers of what sort of lighting they have found works best for your LR?

It's all so exciting, yet almost intimidating to look at 'The Package' and see everything that comes with it. Does your 'recipe' take all the life and critters that come on the LR into consideration?

*smiles* The prices are outstanding for everything that comes with 'The Package' I just want to do the research and do things right the first time before I truly take the plunge.

Thank you and Happy Reefing!

Andy

[kaiyokanman28]

Oh, and one other question...

I want to have a 4" DSB, though I haven't determined if having it ALL LS right off the bat has any advantages other than a whole lot more critters than laying down the LS that comes in the package over a bed of dead sand.

The package wouldn't come with enough sand to create a 4" DSB in my 46gallon tank (36x16x18). Could the package be increased accordingly in the LS area (By my calculations, I'll need close to 100 pounds of LS, and the 45 gallon package comes with 45 pounds of LS). Or would I be buying additional LS at your regular prices?

Thanks!

Andy

[SPC]

Welcome Richard, and thanks for the quality service you provide!
Steve

[sspargur]

I've spoken to Mary on the phone at TBS and she said that additional LS would be at the package price, $1.00 per lb.

I personally ordered a few bags of sand from PureAragonite.com and will seed it with the LS from TBS.

[kaiyokanman28]

That's good news to hear...

May just do that, or at least purchase another 20 or 30 pounds on top of the package...it's just a good deal all around with what I hear comes in TBS's LS.

Cheers!

Andy

[ljp3]

Richard,

I have to say you have the best rock I have seen, and that is just the first half, I can't wait to see the deco rock. My tank finished cycling on Thursday, so you will be hearing from me on Monday. Great job.

[liverock]

Thanks everybody for the good words, we really appreciate it!

I went to the Keys last week, and ended up staying until Sunday. Had bad weather mon-tues, but got to go fishing for three days and loaded up on yellowtail snapper and mutton snapper.

Also collected Blue legs, astreas, cukes, condys, flowers,emerald crabs,flame scallops, before I left. Drove home to tampa, 6 hours, as soon as I pulled up in front of our shop, my truck died, was a close one as if it had happened out in the middle of the everglades, I would have had cooked animals......

Weather is bad here again today, so my partner went to Panama City to catch american red snapper. We are stocked with rock, sand and critters.

I will be going back to the keys again Monday, be back thurs-friday!
Thanks
Richard TBS

www.tbsaltwater.com

[liverock]

Originally posted by kaiyokanman28

see below..

Richard,

I was just going over the testimonials on your website, and I have to say, I'm EXTREMELY intrigued about your live rock. I was going to set up my reef tank (my very first one) using Fiji LR and LS, but your company is really making me reconsider that choice...

Thanks we work real hard at this....

I DO have a legitimate question. What really intrigues me is the myriad of life that comes on your LR and in your LS, but have there been any things in there that a beginner like me would have trouble keeping?

Just follow the directions on the website, and if you have any problems just call us, or post here and ask for help!

Have you had any reports from your customers of what sort of lighting they have found works best for your LR?

Use MH or VHO or copact..or a combination...

It's all so exciting, yet almost intimidating to look at 'The Package' and see everything that comes with it. Does your 'recipe' take all the life and critters that come on the LR into consideration?

Sure does!

*smiles* The prices are outstanding for everything that comes with 'The Package' I just want to do the research and do things right the first time before I truly take the plunge.

No problem, that is what we are here for!
Thanks
Richard TBS

www.tbsaltwater.com

Thank you and Happy Reefing!

Andy

[kaiyokanman28]

SPLENDID!

Okay, ya sold me. It'll be a few months yet before I'm ready to put in the order, but you'll be the one I come to.

By the way, what really sold me were the stories you told and the history of your company and aquaculture. Those convinced me that you're the business and person I should be dealing with. Definitely make that a big marketing point as it's what made me feel more familiar with your experience and how you operate, as well as the problems you've faced.

By the way, I'm from the Federal Government, and I'm here to help. The governmental nightmares you've been through ring all too familiar of a tune, and a big reason why I'm getting back to school for my Masters in Marine Biology and coral reef ecology, growing my own business to pay for schooling and reefkeeping, and moving onto other non-governmental pursuits. Hmmm...perhaps an internship at TBS? Seriously, though, I applaud you sticking with the industry you've found so much love for and wading through all that red tape. Us reefers are the ones who really benefit from your persistance.

Cheers!

Andy

[liverock]

With the fed"s eh?

Then you know the game....you should see what it was like to get an aquaculture permit in the Keys, as it is all a marine sanctuary now..........and I am leaving again Monday to go back down and collect critters ....will be back thurs-friday..
Thanks
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

[sdharrington]

Hi Andy.
I'm a satisfied customer of TBS. I'ts been a year with my tank, and I still have beautiful rock. You asked a question about anything a beginner couldn't keep, so I want to give you some advice I wish I had when I first got my rock. After your tank settles in, you've done all your water changes, etc, eventually you want to think about feeding some planktonic food. I lost a lot of my beautiful sponge slowly and gradually over the last year, and started feeding Reeds Corals and Clams diet and rotifers (have my own culture, pretty easy to keep), and some of my remaining sponge is already growing more and looking a lot healthier. The TBS folks tout simplicity as a part of the ease of the package, and certainly that is nice. Thats why I went with them, as I was overwhelmed by all the choices I had to make. So, you don't need to feed planktonic food, but if you do, you will keep more of your life alive. My stuff didn't start waning for several months, so I would reccomend starting at about the 30 day point so as not to overwhelm the system with excess nutrients early on. Good Luck!
--Shelly

[kaiyokanman28]

Originally posted by liverock
With the fed"s eh?

Then you know the game....you should see what it was like to get an aquaculture permit in the Keys, as it is all a marine sanctuary now..........and I am leaving again Monday to go back down and collect critters ....will be back thurs-friday..
Thanks
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

Yup, I do know the game, and it's as frustrating for me as it is for you. I read your account about trying to get an aquaculture permit in the Keys. Definitely didn't make me envious outside of the fact that you did get it and your business is thriving from it.

Ummm...just out of curiousity...you won't be thinking about government and your troubles when you pick out the pieces of my live rock to send me, will you? *teehee* Though when the next hurricane comes through, I could put in a good word for you with SBA...

Yup, I'm sold. It'll just be about August or so before I get the tank all set up and ready for the LR. Bear with me until then...

Cheers!

Andy

[kaiyokanman28]

Originally posted by sdharrington
Hi Andy.
I'm a satisfied customer of TBS. I'ts been a year with my tank, and I still have beautiful rock. You asked a question about anything a beginner couldn't keep, so I want to give you some advice I wish I had when I first got my rock. After your tank settles in, you've done all your water changes, etc, eventually you want to think about feeding some planktonic food. I lost a lot of my beautiful sponge slowly and gradually over the last year, and started feeding Reeds Corals and Clams diet and rotifers (have my own culture, pretty easy to keep), and some of my remaining sponge is already growing more and looking a lot healthier. The TBS folks tout simplicity as a part of the ease of the package, and certainly that is nice. Thats why I went with them, as I was overwhelmed by all the choices I had to make. So, you don't need to feed planktonic food, but if you do, you will keep more of your life alive. My stuff didn't start waning for several months, so I would reccomend starting at about the 30 day point so as not to overwhelm the system with excess nutrients early on. Good Luck!
--Shelly

You bring up a lot of good points, Shelly, and I appreciate the advice. Like you, it was also the simplicity factor and the biodiversity on the rock that sold me on it.

I had in my mind that aquacultured rock was pretty much just chunks of concrete stuck in the water for 6 months and shipped to the buyer, with no critters and ugly gray rock. The photos, not only of the after-it-comes-out-of-the-water look, but what the rock looks like right from the quarry. Those were no chunks of concrete from some old building, that's for sure. So...as they say, pictures tell a thousand words, as well as good testimonials from satisfied customers.

Cheers!

Andy

[liverock]

Hi Guys
Back from the Keys!
Had three days of good weather, then we had a mini hurricane!
It blew 50 MPH day before yesterday, the good news is I collected a zillion critters and caught a boatload of yellowtail snapper, anybody hungry!

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

[liverock]

Originally posted by kaiyokanman28
Yup, I do know the game, and it's as frustrating for me as it is for you. I read your account about trying to get an aquaculture permit in the Keys. Definitely didn't make me envious outside of the fact that you did get it and your business is thriving from it.

Ummm...just out of curiousity...you won't be thinking about government and your troubles when you pick out the pieces of my live rock to send me, will you? *teehee* Though when the next hurricane comes through, I could put in a good word for you with SBA...

Yup, I'm sold. It'll just be about August or so before I get the tank all set up and ready for the LR. Bear with me until then...

Cheers!

Andy

A few years ago we had 2 hurricanes in a month, destroyed the live rock site......to make a long story short.....there is no help from any goventment agency as if you are operating under a "permit" of any type in Federal waters there is no help from FEMA as they exempt this activity.

I thought the rock had been blown away, but after about 6 months, when the sand receeded, bingo, it was all still there......which makes sence as the ballast piles from the spanish galleons which sank over 300 years ago are still in the same place. Our site is surrouned by ancient shipwrecks, one just a hundred yards from out site......

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

[SPC]

Hi Richard,
Please check your Private Messages on this board.
Thanks,
Steve

[kaiyokanman28]

Originally posted by liverock
A few years ago we had 2 hurricanes in a month, destroyed the live rock site......to make a long story short.....there is no help from any goventment agency as if you are operating under a "permit" of any type in Federal waters there is no help from FEMA as they exempt this activity.

I thought the rock had been blown away, but after about 6 months, when the sand receeded, bingo, it was all still there......which makes sence as the ballast piles from the spanish galleons which sank over 300 years ago are still in the same place. Our site is surrouned by ancient shipwrecks, one just a hundred yards from out site......

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

To be honest, I don't know enough about our (FEMA's) Individual and Public Assistance programs to speak with authority on them. I'm on the Mitigation side of the house that deals with grant management and project development to lessen both the hazard potential and effects of hazards (ie. hurricanes) in communities.

It DOES surprise me to hear that FEMA would exempt your activities from disaster assistance. Your aquaculturing is only a part of your business, but it's the part that produces your product, not where you're doing the actual business. Most of your business and distribution is actually coming out of your inland site. If having the live-rock site destroyed put you out of work for a period of time, that could be covered under "unemployment benefits" under FEMA's Individual Assistance program. Though, I also admit, I don't know if that would apply to busniess owners. I'm also not familiar enough with SBA's disaster programs to speak with authority. Though, you also may not WANT any government assistance after a disaster like that if you have the capital and financial steadiness to recover on your own. 90% of the assistance FEMA and SBA gives in times of disaster is of the low-interest loan type, not the grant or 'free money' type. I'd downright bet my life that you make too much to be eligible for the grant type of assistance that FEMA and SBA offer.

Now, if your warehouse and actual business site were damaged or destroyed by a hurricane, there is no question that you'd be eligible for disaster assistance if you're in a County that becomes part of a Federally Declared Disaster or an SBA Disaster. But again, those would be mostly loan-type of assistance that would be available to you get get repairs done and get your business back in operation.

Yes, I'm sure that you've already searched and toiled through all the options and recourses. Let's just hope you don't get hit like that again. *smiles* I also figured it was good information for everyone else reading the thread.

I'm making some calls and working with some people about some of the issues that you've had and I'm seeing what I can do to help you out in these areas. I'm not going to go into details right now or in this forum, as I don't want to get your hopes up or really talk shop in a public forum, but let's talk and discuss how to make your life easier in the future both when you're dealing with governmental and legal issues.

Cheers!

Andy

[sspargur]

Just ordered my TBS "Package" with Mary this morning. Will post pictures when it's delivered Friday 4/9.

Excited to get some beautiful rock from you Richard!

[liverock]

Originally posted by SPC
Hi Richard,
Please check your Private Messages on this board.
Thanks,
Steve

Where?

[liverock]

Originally posted by kaiyokanman28
To be honest, I don't know enough about our (FEMA's) Individual and Public Assistance programs to speak with authority on them. I'm on the Mitigation side of the house that deals with grant management and project development to lessen both the hazard potential and effects of hazards (ie. hurricanes) in communities.

It DOES surprise me to hear that FEMA would exempt your activities from disaster assistance. Your aquaculturing is only a part of your business, but it's the part that produces your product, not where you're doing the actual business. Most of your business and distribution is actually coming out of your inland site. If having the live-rock site destroyed put you out of work for a period of time, that could be covered under "unemployment benefits" under FEMA's Individual Assistance program. Though, I also admit, I don't know if that would apply to busniess owners. I'm also not familiar enough with SBA's disaster programs to speak with authority. Though, you also may not WANT any government assistance after a disaster like that if you have the capital and financial steadiness to recover on your own. 90% of the assistance FEMA and SBA gives in times of disaster is of the low-interest loan type, not the grant or 'free money' type. I'd downright bet my life that you make too much to be eligible for the grant type of assistance that FEMA and SBA offer.

Now, if your warehouse and actual business site were damaged or destroyed by a hurricane, there is no question that you'd be eligible for disaster assistance if you're in a County that becomes part of a Federally Declared Disaster or an SBA Disaster. But again, those would be mostly loan-type of assistance that would be available to you get get repairs done and get your business back in operation.

Yes, I'm sure that you've already searched and toiled through all the options and recourses. Let's just hope you don't get hit like that again. *smiles* I also figured it was good information for everyone else reading the thread.

I'm making some calls and working with some people about some of the issues that you've had and I'm seeing what I can do to help you out in these areas. I'm not going to go into details right now or in this forum, as I don't want to get your hopes up or really talk shop in a public forum, but let's talk and discuss how to make your life easier in the future both when you're dealing with governmental and legal issues.

Cheers!

Andy

Thanks so much for the info.....as you said, help from FEMA comes as low apr loans....no freebies.....last year when all the local freshwater fish farmers lost their crops to freezing weather, there was talk of assistance from the feds, to this point I have heard of nobody who got any $$$$........self recovery is the way to go.....if able......
Thanks!
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

[kaiyokanman28]

Originally posted by liverock
Thanks so much for the info.....as you said, help from FEMA comes as low apr loans....no freebies.....last year when all the local freshwater fish farmers lost their crops to freezing weather, there was talk of assistance from the feds, to this point I have heard of nobody who got any $$$$........self recovery is the way to go.....if able......
Thanks!
Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

Freshwater fish farmers as in fish for eating or fish to be sold for aquariums? If it's the former, that would be covered under the USDA programs. If it's the latter, it would be covered under SBA and FEMA programs. But ONLY if there was a federally declared disaster. In the case of crop loss, that's not something that FEMA or SBA would be involved with if it was limited to that kind of loss. Though absolutely devastating to the fish farmers... (I always love it when I'm interviewed by the media in the field and asked the question 'Is this the worst disaster you've ever seen?' It's a rare reporter that seems to understand that they're talking to someone who's seen things like Puerto Rico being devastated and the Towers in NYC go down and a tornado knocking down a couple of houses in Ohio isn't exactly Armageddon...but it certainly is for the people who owned those couple of houses, but I digress ) ...who lost their entire crops, it wouldn't have had a significant effect on the County as a whole and the infrastructure for the Governor to call us in. So, no, it doesn't surprise me when you tell me that they haven't received any money that you're aware of.

Just like you're mitigating damage to wild reefs by aquaculturing live rock, I always like to see damage mitigated either completely or at least to the point where people can recover from disasters on their own without assistance. That's actually, the good part of the job...seeing that kind of thing.

*laughs* So...think we've irked enough people yet by taking things so far off topic? Like I said, once I get some more information, I'll email you some of the details, maybe make your life a little easier.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled program...

Cheers!

Andy

[kaiyokanman28]

Originally posted by liverock

I thought the rock had been blown away, but after about 6 months, when the sand receeded, bingo, it was all still there......which makes sence as the ballast piles from the spanish galleons which sank over 300 years ago are still in the same place. Our site is surrouned by ancient shipwrecks, one just a hundred yards from out site......

Richard TBS
www.tbsaltwater.com

Just a curiousity question, what sort of reefs have those wrecks turned into? Are you, as in you personally, permitted to collect critters from those wrecks, or does that fall under the 'no collecting from wild reefs' thing?

Cheers!

Andy