Questions about tbs rocks

[Impunitus]

A few quick pictures of the wife's tank!

 

[Impunitus]

Ahhh double post...blasted R2R mobile app making me look a fool!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So I’m teetering on the idea of 20lb of rock from tbs, was buying base rock. Although I’m not really into creating a crazy intricate aquascape, I typically just stack rock in a fashion to just look as natural as possible. Guy at lfs was telling me the rock is butt ugly and not good for display tank, it just looks like a boulder or whatever. Anyone put base rock from tbs into display tank, does it look decent. I’d love pics!

That’s a ridiculous statement by an lfs that is likely trying to sell you something else. I would say the tbs rock is very interesting in look, shapes, and creatures attached. There are arched shapes, some with holes through it, etc.

 

[Impunitus]

So I’m teetering on the idea of 20lb of rock from tbs, was buying base rock. Although I’m not really into creating a crazy intricate aquascape, I typically just stack rock in a fashion to just look as natural as possible. Guy at lfs was telling me the rock is butt ugly and not good for display tank, it just looks like a boulder or whatever. Anyone put base rock from tbs into display tank, does it look decent. I’d love pics!

That’s a ridiculous statement by an lfs that is likely trying to sell you something else. I would say the tbs rock is very interesting in look, shapes, and creatures attached. There are arched shapes, some with holes through it, etc.

I was thinking the same thing. My LFS knows I don't only buy from them because they don't have everything I'm ever going to want. They have outright recommended other vendors when we come asking for stuff they don't have.

 

[Wonkabar]

I think the tbs rock is arguably nicer than any artificial stuff you are going to get if your looking for a “natural” look. Tbs is absolutely spectacular and the pros outweigh the cons by a large margin in my opinion. With that being said by all premium if you’re not putting it in a sump and call it a day.

 

[higher99]

I bought both base and premium rock from TBS 6 months ago and recommend it highly. I used mostly premium in my tank (I’d ordered too much). The premium has nicer shapes whereas base rock tends to be flatter, as you might expect.
I got some gorilla crabs, which are out now (caught two, a couple died), and a mantis. I’d like to catch her but she’s wary. I feed her krill once a week and she eats my snails. I do worry that she’ll kill a fish one day, but honestly I’m a bit fond of her now. I saw no parasitic isopods. The various native corals, sponges, feather dusters, porcelain crabs, and other life was and is fantastic.

My tank is a 40 gal cube and here’s looking in one side of it:

Love how clean everything is! What size did you get your wrasse at? It looks healthy!

 

[serval]

I bought both base and premium rock from TBS 6 months ago and recommend it highly. I used mostly premium in my tank (I’d ordered too much). The premium has nicer shapes whereas base rock tends to be flatter, as you might expect.
I got some gorilla crabs, which are out now (caught two, a couple died), and a mantis. I’d like to catch her but she’s wary. I feed her krill once a week and she eats my snails. I do worry that she’ll kill a fish one day, but honestly I’m a bit fond of her now. I saw no parasitic isopods. The various native corals, sponges, feather dusters, porcelain crabs, and other life was and is fantastic.

My tank is a 40 gal cube and here’s looking in one side of it:

Love how clean everything is! What size did you get your wrasse at? It looks healthy!

The H. leucoxanthus was only slightly smaller when I got her. For fish like that I order from Marine Collectors since I trust their QT system and shipping method.

 

[serval]

I bought both base and premium rock from TBS 6 months ago and recommend it highly. I used mostly premium in my tank (I’d ordered too much). The premium has nicer shapes whereas base rock tends to be flatter, as you might expect.
I got some gorilla crabs, which are out now (caught two, a couple died), and a mantis. I’d like to catch her but she’s wary. I feed her krill once a week and she eats my snails. I do worry that she’ll kill a fish one day, but honestly I’m a bit fond of her now. I saw no parasitic isopods. The various native corals, sponges, feather dusters, porcelain crabs, and other life was and is fantastic.

My tank is a 40 gal cube and here’s looking in one side of it:

Love how clean everything is! What size did you get your wrasse at? It looks healthy!

The H. leucoxanthus was only slightly smaller when I got her. For fish like that I order from Marine Collectors since I trust their QT system and shipping method.

View attachment 20260117_215825_0CE62DD0-8B22-4D69-B2B2-034F784D8C07.mov
The mantis is poking its head out in the lower right.

 

[Impunitus]

The mantis is poking its head out in the lower right.

Beautiful tank, and nice mantis! You likely can fashion a quick and easy bottle trap and get it caught very quickly. I just cut the top off an old water bottle, dropped a mysis cube in it, put the cut off top into the bottom (so they have to climb up into the bottom) and dropped it into the tank. Had my mantis caught within 30-45 minutes.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Thanks for considering TBS ocean farmed products for your system.
Always happy to answer questions, email tends to be the fastest way to get our attention.
Or if on R2R tag us.

Lots of good, good things happening at TBS. We have a new and improved website in the works, new packaging, and 2 new products hitting in the spring. (Just waiting for test results on one of them and the other is cooking in the sea.)

 

[serval]

The mantis is poking its head out in the lower right.

Beautiful tank, and nice mantis! You likely can fashion a quick and easy bottle trap and get it caught very quickly. I just cut the top off an old water bottle, dropped a mysis cube in it, put the cut off top into the bottom (so they have to climb up into the bottom) and dropped it into the tank. Had my mantis caught within 30-45 minutes.

Thanks, I’ve indeed tried this. I caught my peppermint shrimp and a snail in the water bottle, but never a crab nor the mantis.
Yesterday, she seemed really bold was occasionally running around the rocks, always right at their edge. I set out a fish trap with a piece of krill and I just stood there, holding the string, waiting for her. But she didn’t go in. I got tired and bored and stopped. She outlasts me.

 

[Impunitus]

Thanks, I’ve indeed tried this. I caught my peppermint shrimp and a snail in the water bottle, but never a crab nor the mantis.
Yesterday, she seemed really bold was occasionally running around the rocks, always right at their edge. I set out a fish trap with a piece of krill and I just stood there, holding the string, waiting for her. But she didn’t go in. I got tired and bored and stopped. She outlasts me.

I luckily didn't even need a string on mine. I just set the trap and left it alone for 30-45 minutes which I think let mine be a bit more bold/curious. Mine had also been much more bold. He would stand his ground to our tongs and punched them multiple times! Was not hope of trying to catch with a net, so glad he played ball with the homemade bottle trap.

Good luck! Again, very beautiful tank :)

 

[serval]

Thanks, I’ve indeed tried this. I caught my peppermint shrimp and a snail in the water bottle, but never a crab nor the mantis.
Yesterday, she seemed really bold was occasionally running around the rocks, always right at their edge. I set out a fish trap with a piece of krill and I just stood there, holding the string, waiting for her. But she didn’t go in. I got tired and bored and stopped. She outlasts me.

I luckily didn't even need a string on mine. I just set the trap and left it alone for 30-45 minutes which I think let mine be a bit more bold/curious. Mine had also been much more bold. He would stand his ground to our tongs and punched them multiple times! Was not hope of trying to catch with a net, so glad he played ball with the homemade bottle trap.

Good luck! Again, very beautiful tank :)

Thanks (this tank is a huge pleasure!) and yes, I might re-try with the bottle trap overnight. That’s great to hear that it’s possible to capture them. Mine has grown a lot in the six months she’s been there. I do worry about her size. I call her “her” because she’s carried eggs or naupli, or whatever one calls their young, twice now. I’d imagine she’s feeding the fish in a way!
I have a Molly Miller blenny who chases her! He’s not afraid of anything. Mantis are well protected by their overlapping armor though. They’re amazing creatures.

 

[W31Olds]

I've got one also to catch and rehome. About 2.5 inches long. I hoping it will wipe out the pest snails and crabs. I live in Baltimore if anyone wants it.

 

[serval]

I've got one also to catch and rehome. About 2.5 inches long. I hoping it will wipe out the pest snails and crabs. I live in Baltimore if anyone wants it.

Mine has definitely preyed upon pest crabs. A fairly big ruby crab (that also came with the live rock, and is likely a Mithrax type) has survived and I like him. My purchased Pitho crab has also done well.
The snails the mantis eats are ones I’ve purchased and she goes through them pretty fast. She likes margaritas and astreas a lot.

 

[Michael Hughes]

So far I've seen two 15 lb buckets of TBS live nano rock (base rock). Both were covered in life.

This is in our lab so excuse the mess, but there are some interesting shapes in here. Here is 15 lbs in a 10 gallon:

 

[Michael Hughes]

Just a side note; fresh live rock from the Gulf of Mexico often comes in with Cirolanid isopods. These aren't parasites per-se, but are considered "micro predators". They will latch onto fish and feed on them, causing the fish some distress. IMO - they will die out over time. In other cases, people use baited traps to lower their numbers to hasten that process.

Will melanurus and other wrasses do a pretty good job of cleaning these out?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sorry, I’m not sure which wrasses will feed on these, Coris aygula likely would.

 

[LiverockRocks Verified Sponsor]

Will melanurus and other wrasses do a pretty good job of cleaning these out?

Just a note that isopods are not frequent hikers. Frequent critter hikers are whelks, porcelains, rubies and gorillas. Melanurus and Coris -most wrasses will eat isopods.
*I used a TBS Package for my personal tank and was thrilled to see an isopod on my female clown. The clown was annoyed by it for a few weeks, then the pod disappeared forever. imo they are not a big deal at all.

 

[EasternShoreman]

Thanks for considering TBS ocean farmed products for your system.
Always happy to answer questions, email tends to be the fastest way to get our attention.
Or if on R2R tag us.

Lots of good, good things happening at TBS. We have a new and improved website in the works, new packaging, and 2 new products hitting in the spring. (Just waiting for test results on one of them and the other is cooking in the sea.)

Can't wait to see what the new products are!!! Can you offer us a hint? Keep up the great work you do for our hobby!