Base Live Rock

Sustainably Harvested

Excellent Bio filtration

Fast and Fresh Delivery

TAMPA BAY SALTWATER

Base live rock sold by the pound ships submerged air cargo.

$6.00

Base Rock is a great multipurpose type of live rock.

So, what makes it base? Base Rock will have less visible lifeforms on the exterior. On average it is plain and simple on the outside but packed with goodness on the inside. It has been soaking in the Gulf of Mexico the same amount of time as its Premium counterpart. Base rock provides denitrifying bacteria, microscopic clean-up crews and a stress reducing natural environment for your aquarium inhabitants.

America's #1 Live Rock for Reef Aquariums

TBS is the oldest working aquaculture Live Rock Farm. The site is located in the nutrient rich water off Tarpon Springs known as the Sponge Captial of the world. Harvested with care, our Living Rock and Live Sand always travel submerged to preserve life forms vital for your aquarium's health.

Why Our Base Rock ROCKS!

Sustainably Ocean Aquacultured

Always Ships Submerged

Diverse Micro Organisms

Preferred rock to cycle a new tank

No Curing

Part 1 of the TBS Package for New Tanks

Cryptic Zones

Refugium Builder

Sold by the Pound

Air Cargo Item

Base rock is the most versatile type of live rock. Each rock is extremely varied, but all base rock is teeming with unseen life.

Base rock is a solid choice in the infrastructure of a professional aquascape. It is great in a refugium for macroalgae to attach. Base rock is what you need to grow unique sponges and tube worms that will proliferate in a dark cryptic zone. It is an excellent venue for gluing coral frags, too.

Cycling a new tank, aquascaping a masterpiece, refugium structure, cryptic substructure or frag platform; Base rock is the building block to success.

We suggest 2 pounds of live rock per gallon.

Ocean Aquacultured Rock; No Bottle Bacteria Used Here!

TBS Live Rocks are a visual feast of shapes, sizes, and colors. Bahamian, Philippine, Trinidad, Florida quarried, vintage Pukani and reef friendly Walt Smith are found on the lease site. Walt Smith Reef Rock is the predominate rock chosen for its sustainability, ability to attract and host life, and for its easily stackable shapes.

Ocean aquacultured Live Rock provides a natural looking environment for your inhabitants and an unseen health benefit for your system. Tiny holes and crevasses provide a refuge for microscopic critters like pods, filter feeders and other invertebrates to multiply, and move water through the rock. Water slowly pulsing through tiny tunnels inside rock aids the denitrifying process.

Planting and harvesting are done by hand. From receiving to shipping, each piece is handled with care. Rocks are selected on the ocean bottom and carefully loaded in mesh baskets where they are hauled up to the boat. They are inspected and placed in seawater filled barrels for the boat ride in. The fully submerged rock arrives at the warehouse and is placed in large holding systems filled with natural sea water. Moderate lighting is provided to maintain life forms until it is then shipped within 3-14 days. This extra care preserves a plethora of life forms that make ocean live rock vastly different from other live rock.

Just the Facts Jack About Sustainably Collected Rock

Flow– Consider best case water flow scenarios in your system; rock placement, wavemakers, wave boxes and smart pumps. Move detritus from crevasses by turkey basting live rock weekly.
Life Support Required– TBS Live Rock will arrive submerged in seawater, carefully bagged, and held in an insulated box. These perishable products require a functioning aquarium upon arrival.
No Curing- Ocean aquacultured rock shipped submerged should not be cured, it is neither sick nor dying.
Possibilities- Due to the multitude of varying life forms on our live rock, you may encounter a pest or predator. Consult our extensive Hitchhiker section for information. Keep in mind, not all life can be sustained in an aquarium. Certain critters that depend upon an ocean environment may not survive. We do our best to eliminate pest, predators and potential demise.
The Sea has Seasons- Live rock goes through seasons as the Gulf cools in the winter and warms in the summer. Macro algae, sponges, corallines and various lifeforms wax and wane according to seasonal temperatures.
Weather Dependent- We make every attempt to collect and ship weekly, but sometimes mother nature says No. Your patience is appreciated.
Shipper Abuse or Customer Neglect- In the event of box abuse caused by shipping carriers. Contact us immediately. We are not responsible for orders left at the destination air cargo hub or forgotten outside your door.

Examples of the Live Critters Found on our Live Rock

Dwarf Octopus

Lotto Winner! Set up a species-specific tank ASAP.

Gorilla Crab

Sump it or Puffer snack

Zebra Goby

Friendly Freebie

How Shipping Works

Most orders ship within 1 week. That’s fast & fresh delivery!

Sea

01

First, we venture out on the high seas aboard the workboat, Orion, for harvesting the underwater farm. There we seek the highest quality sand & rock for our customers. Onboard, rock and sand are transported fully submerged to the warehouse holding system. Inventory moves quickly, so harvesting is frequent. We do our best to keep all products in stock and ready to move. Keep in mind, that offshore diving is a weather dependent activity where our safety is priority.

After placing an order, we will reach out via email to schedule the date for air cargo delivery or bumpy road arrival. This is the time to confirm your aquarium is functioning and it is ready to provide life support. Good communication is vital for both of us, email provides a detailed record so we’re on the same page before the anchor drops. We aren’t Amazon, but we are fast.

Schedule

02 Air

03

Air cargo is our favorite way to move submerged live rock across the country. It is fast, safe and cost effective. After tendering your boxes at Tampa International Airport, you will receive tracking details to follow your shipment and know when to pick up. Flight fees vary depending on airline and airport location.

Small orders ship flat rate UPS. They arrive at your door a day after they are packed. Specific products that fit this box size are categorized as “Treasure Chests”. You will receive tracking information for your order via email. Flat rate shipping is charged at checkout. Please be home to receive these perishable items. Shipping is weather dependent.

Land

04 Delivery

05

WooHoo, it is the BIG day! Are you ready to get your hands wet? Is your aquarium prepared to sustain life? Put on some clean gloves and crack open the box. Prepare yourself for the smell of fresh ocean harvested products handled and packaged with great care. It is an honor to provide natural products sustainably harvested to benefit the health of your marine system.