The "Package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater

[ar20jl]

Hello,
As I continue to research possibilities for a near future reef tank, I'm finding much conflicting information. As far as liverock and cleanup crew, I was considering ordering the "package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater. http://www.tbsaltwater.com/thepackage/contents.html
The package includes 1 lb live sand p/g, 2 lb live rock p/g, 1 serpent or brittle star p/50g, 2 Tiger Tail Cucumbers p/50g, 1 blue leg hermit p/g, 1 pepermint shrimp p/50g, and 1/2 tubosnail p/g. These would be shipped in 3 shipments as the tank cycles. What's everyones opinion on this package? I've heard negatives about several of the components of this package as I've read through the forums. I want to make the best decision on my tank. Thanks for your input.

Jeremy

[zhenya]

Hello,
As I continue to research possibilities for a near future reef tank, I'm finding much conflicting information. As far as liverock and cleanup crew, I was considering ordering the "package" from Tampa Bay Saltwater. http://www.tbsaltwater.com/thepackage/contents.html
The package includes 1 lb live sand p/g, 2 lb live rock p/g, 1 serpent or brittle star p/50g, 2 Tiger Tail Cucumbers p/50g, 1 blue leg hermit p/g, 1 pepermint shrimp p/50g, and 1/2 tubosnail p/g. These would be shipped in 3 shipments as the tank cycles. What's everyones opinion on this package? I've heard negatives about several of the components of this package as I've read through the forums. I want to make the best decision on my tank. Thanks for your input.

Jeremy

Hi Jeremy, Welcome to Reefland!

What size and type tank are you planning to set up?
I think this "package" is a bit heavy on the live rock and depending on the size of tank it may be too much.
Also, I think if you thinking of constructing deep sand bed, you can use plain dry sand like the "Oldcastle"(formerly called Southdown)tropical play sand. You can seed this dry bed with some live sand from few different online vendors for maximum diversity of critters.
Depending on the size of your tank the amount of critters that they offer may be a bit too much, especially the hermits( if you want to have them at all ).

Check out also www.inlandaquatics.com for some other options for the critters. Do a bit more research as well as far as what is appropriate to keep with your DSB and a reeftank in general. I personally like to make my own decisions and don't like to purchase any "packages".
Good website to read about sand beds and critters in general...
http://www.rshimek.com

[ar20jl]

I'm considering either a 125 or 150. This is a little large for now, but I'd rather grow into the tank than not have enough room in the future. I've read bad things about the crabs, and if I can get away with less live rock and normal sand, I can save some money. I was considering the "package" because 1) It was suggested to me, and 2) a package seems to give you discounted prices on a wider variety of things --- but 300 pounds of liverock is pricey anyway, and I don't want the crabs if they may eat the snails. I will definitely check out your links to other sites. There's no way I'm pay $8 - $10 per lb of LR at the LFS.

Jeremy

[Reefland]

I'll comment that the recommendation of 2lbs of liverock per gallon in this case wouldn't really be too much since the Gulf cultured liverock is usually much more dense.

[zhenya]

Jeremy,

Don't get me wrong, I think that TBS live rock is pretty darn good and is teaming with life and is fine to have in a reeftank. Sometimes you may pick up some unwanted life on it( like mantis shrimp and sirolanid isopods) but this can happen with any rock from anywhere, you just have to be careful and inspect everything really well before placing in the tank.
Check also other sponsors on our sposors page.

As far as sand goes, I personally felt that TBS sand was a bit too coarse to use as a deep sand bed but it has some life in it when I inspected it. I just feel that you can construct it from dry sand and then use some sand from the TBS and few other vendors that offer it to achieve maximum diversity. You won't need much, just couple of pounds from here and there so I feel it;s much cheaper approach.

Good luck with your upcoming tank, I think 150g tank is a good size tank to have or start. ;)

[scubadude]

I'll comment that the recommendation of 2lbs of liverock per gallon in this case wouldn't really be too much since the Gulf cultured liverock is usually much more dense.

Ill piggyback on Scott's comment, as well as Genes comment about TBS rock teaming w/ life. There are actually many pros and cons to this determination. In better judgement for TBS you have much less transit time if you are in the U.S. thus allowing for less die-off on your live rock and/or live sand. However on the other flipside of the coin most everyone wants a Pacific biotype tank which IMO pacific rock for the most part is more suitable. If you want an atlantic biotype tank (desire atlantic corals/inverts) then the TBS rock/sand may be a better option. Here again to confuse matters even more bio-diversity is king! So ultimately I would want a little bit of atlantic rock and some pacific rock as well, but I would probably opt for more pacific rock.

[almostdiva]

I've never bought from them, but I inherited some of their rock from a friend when she dismantled her tank. It's MUCH more dense than pacific. It DOES have lots of critters and stuff.

I heartily second Gene's suggestion to buy playsand and seed it. I also highly recommend Inland acquatics. When I moved a year ago, I had the tank disassembled for like 3 months. Bought their "detritivore kit" and added some 'a la carte" worms and serpent stars. They do an AMAZING job of packing and shiping and are very helpful in suggesting. Call them on the phone -- they have lots more than what they post on the site.

I have also bought the pieces of packages from other Reefland sponsors with great success! I don't buy "kits" like scuba, I pick and choose...

I also don't use crabs hope this helps
Rebecca