Legacy
Tampa Bay Saltwater History:
It all began with Richard Londeree. He was raised in Florida with a fishing pole in hand and toes in the sand. On a family trip to Hawaii, Richard discovered the beauty of reef fish and corals.
Following college, living in Florida and needing a job, Richard soon was collecting tropical fish in paradise. One day, in view of the Skyway Bridge, he pulled up a beautiful clump of calurpa clinging to a small rock. He took the macroalgae covered rock with other finds to the Florida marine life wholesaler. To Richard’s surprise, the wholesaler wanted more of this underwater rock and so in 1984, Tampa Bay Saltwater began.
Yes, back in the day, Richard collected wild rock, when it was legal to do so. However, in 1989 Florida banned live rock harvesting.
If you know Richard, then you know he is resourceful. He had a crazy idea and pursued the state to lease him underwater land for the purpose of aquaculturing live rock for aquariums. This would protect Florida wild rock while providing aquariums with aquacultured rock. A 5-acre parcel was selected by Richard and approved in 1991. This was the beginning of sustainable living rock aquaculture.
"I want to see you guys be the world leader in the best live rock on the planet… and it will happen..."
-Richard Londeree 2/4/21
Photos from the Past to the Present
A Line in Time
1984
Tampa Bay Saltwater is founded.Richard harvests first live rock because Caulerpa was attached to it.1st TBS vessel was purchased, "The Critter Getter".Economical dive weights were rocks tied around the waist ..."may be meeting Jesus with this thing on!".
1989
Florida bans live rock harvesting.Possession of wild live rock is now a federal crime.A state lease or federal permit is required.Richard begins the lengthy process of locating and securing a suitable rock farm site off Tarpon Springs.
1991
Tampa Bay Saltwater lease site approved.Second TBS vessel, "The Bathtub" goes to work.Bahamian coral rock is deposited on underwater farmland with barge and crane.
1998
Richard continues planting rock, pukani and limestone.4th TBS vessel, a T-Craft, sunk on maiden voyage full of rock.Introducing "The Package", a combination of Gulf of Mexico products for new aquariums.5th TBS vessel, "Sea Lark" was an indestructible craft made in Islamorada.
2000
TBS storefront opens at 3111 W. Hillsborough Ave.2003 TBS joins Reef Central.
2005
Richard plants rock every trip out to the farm. Pukani and Florida quarried limestone were top sellers. He is shipping live rock both nationally and internationally.
2015
TBS joins Reef2Reef.Richard begins planting Walt Smith International Reef Saver rock.2017 Irma tears through TBS holding facility.2019 Richard hangs up his flippers and hires divers for TBS harvesting.
2019
2019 Richard hangs up his flippers and hires divers to harvest. Planting and collecting drastically slow. 2020 TBS begins to unwind; live rock holding equipment, dive gear and the boat is sold.
2021
Richard advertises Tampa Bay Saltwater is for sale. The Lyon siblings visit TBS to learn about rock farming. They contemplate a lifetime career, while Londeree decides who will carry on his legacy.Soon after, Tampa Bay Saltwater was acquired by M & J.State of Florida lifetime underwater lease site is transferred to the Lyon Siblings.
TBS Lives On
Retired F250 named "Bruce" joins the team.6th TBS vessel, a retired marine research boat, "Orion" a 26' Parker arrives in Florida.New TBS warehouse is strategically located between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa International Airport.Lyon siblings continue TBS's relationship with Walt & Deb Smith by ordering more rock.
2022
2,500 square foot warehouse begins to fill up.Big Ben, an 800-gallon vertical water storage tank and a 2,000-gallon sump boost the holding system capacity.Containers of dry rock arrive from Walt Smith International in Fiji.Due to hot Florida summers, Richard suggests a cold room within the warehouse.The Icehouse is created with insulated recycled Fijian crates over a weekend. Local pickups and Air Cargo shipments begin!
2023
TBS is in full swing, fulfilling weekly Air Cargo & UPS orders.Additional Walt Smith rock is ordered and planted.TBS joins Humble Fish. J and the resident goliath grouper come to terms as who is alpha on the farm.1st year vendors at Reef-A-Palooza Orlando
2024
We are shipping to 115 airports and all lower 48 states.The holding facility moves to a temporary location.2nd year vendors at Reef-A-Palooza Orlando.Orion repowered with 2 new engines.
40th Year Anniversary
Celebrating 40 years of providing the best live rock on the planet!