Rock on - Help Needed

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

I am starting my first tank in a few weeks and I am torn between Tampa Bay Saltwater base live rock, kp aquatics starter rock, and something like real reef rock. Can someone give me some pointers, pros, cons, etc. I am going to start with fish but eventually I want to add coral. Any help would be appreciated. Links below for clarification.

Base Live Rock – Tampa Bay Saltwater

tbsaltwater.com

Starter Aquacultured Live Rock

Aquacultured starter rock is a good way to set up your tank with out spending a lot of money. It has the all the benefical bacteriathat you need for your tank.

www.kpaquatics.com

https://a.co/d/2n2CkPX

exnisstech · Apr 17, 2023

I don't think you can go wrong with Tampa Bay or KP. Real reef rock is not live rock so I would opt for one of the other two. Oppinions will be all over on this topic. Live with hitchhikers or dead sterile and a year or more of uglies and frustration. I started my first tank 8 years ago using real live ocean rock. I'm on my second tank now using dead rock and will not do it again. Live rock rocks!

Edit : my bad I thought real reef rock was dead and now after reading the description it mentions looking like real coraline which leads me to believe it isn't really live rock

. I have only heard of KP and Tampa Bay here on R2R with all positive comments so personally I would opt for one of them as it is real live rock from the ocean

vetteguy53081 · Apr 17, 2023

DadHeller said:
I am starting my first tank in a few weeks and I am torn between Tampa Bay Saltwater base live rock, kp aquatics starter rock, and something like real reef rock. Can someone give me some pointers, pros, cons, etc. I am going to start with fish but eventually I want to add coral. Any help would be appreciated. Links below for clarification.

Base Live Rock – Tampa Bay Saltwater

tbsaltwater.com

Starter Aquacultured Live Rock

Aquacultured starter rock is a good way to set up your tank with out spending a lot of money. It has the all the benefical bacteriathat you need for your tank.

www.kpaquatics.com

https://a.co/d/2n2CkPX

this is a toss-up as they are both good.
If i had to buy more- It would be Tampa Bay

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
this is a toss-up as they are both good.
If i had to buy more- It would be Tampa Bay

Ok. At the risk of sounding like a 2 year old. Why?

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

exnisstech said:
I don't think you can go wrong with Tampa Bay or KP. Real reef rock is not live rock so I would opt for one of the other two. Oppinions will be all over on this topic. Live with hitchhikers or dead sterile and a year or more of uglies and frustration. I started my first tank 8 years ago using real live ocean rock. I'm on my second tank now using dead rock and will not do it again. Live rock rocks!

Edit : my bad I thought real reef rock was dead and now after reading the description it mentions looking like real coraline which leads me to believe it isn't really live rock . I have only heard of KP and Tampa Bay here on R2R with all positive comments so personally I would opt for one of them as it is real live rock from the ocean

Yeah that's the one that they used in the 5 minute beginners series from BRS

happyhourhero · Apr 17, 2023

You can also order from gulfliverocks. They pull from a similar site that tbs pulls from and you can get it shipped ground which works well if you are cycling a new tank. Much cheaper. I’ve ordered 2 times and was happy with both orders. My latest went straight into my existing display with very little die off.

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

happyhourhero said:
You can also order from gulfliverocks. They pull from a similar site that tbs pulls from and you can get it shipped ground which works well if you are cycling a new tank. Much cheaper. I’ve ordered 2 times and was happy with both orders. My latest went straight into my existing display with very little die off.

I have tried them several times and they are always sold out. I emailed them about what I was looking for and never heard back.

happyhourhero · Apr 17, 2023

DadHeller said:
I have tried them several times and they are always sold out. I emailed them about what I was looking for and never heard back.

I think they just run the premium deco. It took him a few days to get back to me as well. I ordered the nano special both times and this time he asked if bigger was ok and I said sure so I got 3 big rocks. Box before that was 6-7 pieces. You can’t go wrong with kp or tbs tho. I would get the nice rock over the base tho if you can.

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

happyhourhero said:
I think they just run the premium deco. It took him a few days to get back to me as well. I ordered the nano special both times and this time he asked if bigger was ok and I said sure so I got 3 big rocks. Box before that was 6-7 pieces. You can’t go wrong with kp or tbs tho. I would get the nice rock over the base tho if you can.

Ok . I'll sound like a 2 yr old again, why? Wouldn't I want less variants that a premium rock brings while I start the tank out?

Sump Crab · Apr 17, 2023

Better yet get a little from both (KP and TBS). But honestly don’t go with dry rock!

Sump Crab · Apr 17, 2023

DadHeller said:
Ok . I'll sound like a 2 yr old again, why? Wouldn't I want less variants that a premium rock brings while I start the tank out?

if you set up your tank day one full of any of the premium rock shipped in water overnight you will see minimal die off. Wait a week to see how things go and if good go buy your first fish.

vetteguy53081 · Apr 17, 2023

DadHeller said:
Ok. At the risk of sounding like a 2 year old. Why?

Less pest- more life and color

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

vetteguy53081 said:
Less pest- more life and color

I think that's exactly the info I was looking for. I appreciate you

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

Thanks everyone. I think I will be going with Tampa Bay unless anyone convinces me otherwise.

jabberwock · Apr 17, 2023

Tampa Bay Saltwater for the win! This is a 7 month old tank. Check my build thread for details about hitchers.

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

Anyone know how much Air Cargo costs?

jabberwock · Apr 17, 2023

DadHeller said:
Anyone know how much Air Cargo costs?

I encourage you to start an email dialog with TBS. They hear you, and will work with you to deliver the best experience possible!

jabberwock · Apr 17, 2023

You are looking at 3 days to St. Louis, maybe don't get the premium rock to minimize die off.

areefer01 · Apr 17, 2023

DadHeller said:
I am starting my first tank in a few weeks and I am torn between Tampa Bay Saltwater base live rock, kp aquatics starter rock, and something like real reef rock. Can someone give me some pointers, pros, cons, etc. I am going to start with fish but eventually I want to add coral. Any help would be appreciated. Links below for clarification.

Maybe a bit more info to help guide you. Budget? Are you using all live rock, submerged during shipping, overnight, and their associated sand (package)? Are you splitting? And above all besides your budget what is your end goal? Size of display would also help.

I'm going to ignore best, better, and supplier and focus on your question on pro, con. In no order some pros:

Fully submerged
Can be over night
Little to less die off (fully submerged)
Aged rock, oceanic
Macro algae, sponges
Possible good hitch hikers
Biological filter established

Some cons:
Cost
Bad hitch hikers
Can't visualize rock size but there is an estimate

TBS and KP if you call them or email will give you an estimate on shipping. I've used KP and had it on my door under 24 hours and I live in Cali. I noted above the dreaded B word, budget. Most of it will go to shipping depending on the size of your display and quantity. However in my experience it was worth it although being honest it was 25 lbs...

Also most hitch hikers can be mitigated or managed by using transfer buckets or holding tanks. Also plenty of traps online DIY that show how to do it. In the KP shipment I received 2 decorator crabs (refugium), 7 red mitrax (display), and 2 unknown / gorilla (went into the overflow box living life today still).

TL; DR - think about what you want, your goal, and budget. Email both TBS and KP. See how it could work going all, or partial, etc.

DadHeller · Apr 17, 2023

I'm fairly open on budget. I would like to be able to aquascape it but not sure how much I will be able to do with live wet rock.

I will have a 40 gallon breeder with a 20 gallon sump to start with. After I get a bit established and I'm not TERRIBLE at this, then the 40 gallon will become the breeder, 20 will be a quarantine and I'll buy a bigger tank. Maybe something around the 130 range. Depends on how things roll.