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.
in the beginning.
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!".
yep. it is illegal.
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.
back in the day.
1991
- Tampa Bay Saltwater aquacultured live rock lease site approved by the State of Florida.
- Second TBS vessel, "The Bathtub" goes to work.
- Barge of Bahamian coral rock is deposited on underwater farmland.
rock farmers are hard core.
1989
- 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", an indestructible craft made in Islamorada joins the fleet.
new horizons.
2000
- TBS storefront opens at 3111 W. Hillsborough Ave.
- 2003 TBS joins Reef Central.
Rock. rock. rock.
2005
- Richard plants rock every trip out to the farm.
- Pukani and Florida quarried limestone were top sellers.
- TBS is shipping live rock both nationally and internationally.
keeping it real.
2015
- TBS joins Reef2Reef.
- Richard begins planting Walt Smith International Reef Saver rock.
- 2017 Irma tears through TBS facility.
sunsetting on the farm.
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.
Tampa Bay Saltwater for Sale.
2021
Florida's original live rock farm is for sale.
The Lyon siblings visit TBS to learn about rock farming. While they contemplate a lifetime career, Londeree decides who will carry on his legacy.
Soon after, Tampa Bay Saltwater was acquired by M & J. State of Florida lifetime underwater site is transferred to the Lyon Siblings.
New generation of farmers.
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.
time to get rock in.
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 Fiji.
- Due to hot Florida summers, the Icehouse is created.
- Local pickups and Air Cargo shipments begin!
Starting to rock & roll.
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
rock'n through our toughest year yet.
2024
- Shipping to 130 airports and 48 states.
- 2nd year at Reef-A-Palooza Orlando.
- Orion re-powered with 2 new engines.
- Farm coral delivered to Mote International Gene Bank, first corals from the Gulf coast.
- Underwater farm roughed up by Hurricane Debbie.
- TBS warehouse breached with 3' storm surge, Hurricane Helene.
- All remaining equipment moved to new warehouse day before Hurricane Milton.
- Milton disorganizes underwater farm.
tampa bay saltwater
40th Year Anniversary
1984 - 2024
Celebrating 40 years of providing the best live rock on the planet!
rock in new places.
2025
- 20,000lbs Walt Smith Reef Saver Rock planting this summer.
- Added 2 new underwater farms!
- Reef-A-Palooza Orlando
TAMPA BAY SALTWATER ARCHIVES
