just reloacated

[phoenix22]

I just recently relocated to Mt. Jackson (New Castle area) and was wondering if anyone could direct me to a local dealer for livestock.
Has anyone up this way used Tampa Bay Saltwater for liverock? I believe that that is the direction I would like to start in. (Pro's / Con's)
My tank (along with the rest of my house stuff) will be arriving early June and I can't wait to actually get started in this intriguing hobby.
Thanks for any input / advice.
I'm looking forward to "joining the addiction."

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[nuts590]

I don't know much of what's up that far north so I'm at a loss for help there...

However... I've got the TBS package about 20 feet behind me as we speak. Great stuff! It's a little touchy about high ammonia levels though. TBS actually has a forum under the sponsor section of reefcentral. It goes into detail there.

Pros: excellent service from the guys at TBS! The rock itself is great stuff, pictures don't even begin to do this stuff justice...
Also, expect very positive surprises when you get the 2nd half of your shipment. The "critters" they'll send usually include a few happy surprises.

Cons: destructive hitchhikers, playing "find the mantis shrimp" is only fun for the first 2 hours... 2nd round of "decorator quality" rock has so much life on it you will struggle to find places for new coral!! Believe me, I'm slowly replying to people who have sent me offers for frags (thank you all btw, expect mail shortly!) and I'm starting to wonder where I can fit things! I need a bigger tank already... lol

The only other negative I can think of is cinderella stories on the TBS forum. After hearing my wife read the 100th "my levels never went over ammonia 0.25 ppm & nitrite 0.25 ppm" post while I'm humping 5 gallon buckets of water up 80 year old basement steps to try to keep my ammonia below 4.0ppm got old... fast!

Needless to say I finally got my (*^# together, got the 2nd half of the package about a month ago, and all is well!

Hope it helps...
Nuts

[holeinone1972]

I am ot a real big fan of TBS rock only for the reason that unless you are going to be keeping a carribean, or atlantic reef, why start with all atlantic, and pacific rock?

Pacific rock, has less life on it, but it also generally never has mantis, or urchin headaches associated with it. Plus the corals that come with tbs rock, generally are not the corals you would ever purchase with your money to add to your tank, so why have them taking up real estate on your reef?

nuts590 you are not the only person complaining about super high ammonia levels, when rock is coming loaded with corals, algae and other living things on it, wether it is shipped wet or in water or not, things are going to die. The more things there are to die, the higher your ammonia level will be.

phoenix22
Welcome to the area, I hope you will be joining www.pmas.org We have a great group of people ready to help you along with your addiction.

Rob
ECC

[Doan]

First off let me say welcome phoenix.. I live up north and I would suggest first and formost check out some meetings like holeinone said. Really check out www.pmas.org and come to a meeting or two. It will save you so many headaches. Also everyone is really helpful and has experience they are more than happy to share. As for livestock stores up here I can suggest one. Seahorse in Allison Park right along route 8. Also if you get out to 79 and head out to Cranberry you can go to Pet Supplies Plus right in the Wal-Mart Plaza. The problem is that there really is nothing super close. It kinda has to be a trip kind of thing, I live over in butler and feel your pain but honestly the road trips make your tank better in the end cause you have alot less impulse buys and therefore know what you are looking for and how to take care of it or how it will effect other things in your tank prior to buying them.

Doan

[wee-reefer]

Welcome phoenix22!

[vijaysub]

Hi Phoenix,

Welcome to the area. I guess your closest LFS would either be in Butler ( right down 422) (I forgot the name of it) or down in Cranberry at Pet Supplies Plus.

If you don't mind a bit of a drive there are a lot of stores/sellers in the city and in the sotuh hills.

Vijay