Original TBS Package

Sustainably Harvested

Excellent Bio filtration

Fast and Fresh Delivery

Rock solid biological foundation for NEW aquariums.

Our Package provides the bacterial foundation for NEW aquariums with hand harvested live sand, live rock and dedicated crew of cleaners.

Image	Product	Price	Buy
Ultra Live Sand - Pkg $3.00	Ultra Live Sand - Pkg Live Sand sold by the pound and ships via air cargo.	$3.00
Base Live Rock - Pkg $7.00	Base Live Rock - Pkg Base live rock sold by the pound ships submerged via air cargo.	$7.00
Premium Live Rock - Pkg $7.00	Premium Live Rock - Pkg Premium Live Rock sold by the pound ships submerged air cargo.	$7.00
Florida Astrea Snail - Pkg $0.75	Florida Astrea Snail - Pkg Astrea snails are sustainably harvested.	$0.75
Florida Hermit Crab - Pkg $0.75	Florida Hermit Crab - Pkg Crabs are sustainably harvested.	$0.75
Florida Peppermint Shrimp - Pkg $8.00	Florida Peppermint Shrimp - Pkg Shrimps are sustainably harvested in the Gulf of Mexico.	$8.00
Florida Brittle Starfish - Pkg $8.00	Florida Brittle Starfish - Pkg Starfish are sustainably harvested.	$8.00
Florida Cucumber - Pkg $8.00	Florida Cucumber - Pkg Cucumber sustainably harvested.	$8.00

The TBS Package for new aquariums was developed over 3 decades ago by TBS founder, Richard Londeree.

The Package is a tried-and-true ratio of live sand, live rock and critters. It is based on aquarium size to achieve a stable, long term, healthy marine environment. It is shipped in 2 parts to minimize ammonia spikes while allowing the live rock and live sand to establish beneficial bacteria.

A tank set up using the Package combination of sand, rock and critters will require less maintenance, provide stability, improve inhabitant health and avoid troubles caused by dry rock syndrome. The majority of customers who order the correct size Package for their system experience 0 ammonia readings. This is because the live rock and live sand are working correctly.

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.

This Recipe works for ANY size tank!

2 pounds of Live Rock per gallon

1 pound of Live Sand per gallon

1 Florida hermits per 4 gallons

1 Astrea snail per 4 gallons

1 serpent or brittle star per 50 gallons

1 cucumber per 50 gallons

1 peppermint shrimp per 50 gallons

Live Sand is a vital ingredient. It is full of microscopic and megascopic organisms which help with denitrification, disposal of detritus and uneaten food. Live sand must be harvested well offshore in the ocean to be clean of pollutants and silicates. Our Live Sand will be a mixture of sand, shell bits, corallines, bivalves, starfish, snails and many organisms not visible to your eye, but very needed in your tank.

Live Rock is the predominant ingredient. It provides shelter and food for your tank inhabitants. Live Rock harvested from the ocean is full of life and bacteria essential to a saltwater tank. Ocean aquacultured Live Rock will have many animals visible and invisible to your eye. TBS Live Rock has sponges, worms, feather dusters, hard corals, algae, gorgonians, crustaceans, and bivalves living on and in it.

Clean Up Crew is an important ingredient. Florida hermits, snails, serpent / brittle starfish, cucumbers, and shrimp will work together to give you a low maintenance tank. These critters are key to a healthy saltwater tank and should be added in the proper amounts to achieve success.

There is Nothing like Ocean Aquacultured Live Rock & Sand

Sustainably Collected Live Sand

We harvest TBS live sand by hand on the ocean bottom. This is a tedious job but well worth the effort. Our Live Sand is so full of goodies it is harvested amongst flounders. Yes, flounders are very interested in sand collection. TBS Live Sand contains beneficial live bacteria. Many organisms not visible are found living within its layers. These microscopic and megascopic organisms are vital components for cycling a new tank. Natural bacteria help with denitrification, water clarity, ammonia break down, disposal of detritus and uneaten foods. These unseen life forms are of extreme importance for a healthy aquarium.

Sustainably Collected Live Rock

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 foundation rock chosen for its sustainability, for its ability to attract and host life, and for its easily stackable unique 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.

We plant and harvest TBS live rock 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 Tampa Bay Saltwater Collected Rock & Sand

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 and Live Sand will arrive submerged in seawater, carefully bagged, and held in an insulated box. This is a perishable product and requires life support provided by a working aquarium upon arrival.
No Curing- Ocean aquacultured rock shipped submerged should not be cured, it is neither sick nor dying. Curing will kill ocean harvested rock that is shipped submerged.
Basic care – Is provided by a clean-up crew of critters. Hermits, snails, starfish, cucumbers and shrimps will scavenge through it, scuttle across it and burrow in. Critters help aerate the sand and move detritus out from rocks. Maintain quality water parameters and perform regular water changes.
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

Tunicates

Friendly Freebie

Porcelain Crab

Friendly Freebie

Dwarf Octopus

Lotto Winner! Enjoy this short-lived creature in a species-specific tank.

How Shipping Works

Most orders ship a few days after harvest and arrive a week after placing your order.

That’s fast & fresh!

Place Order

01

It all starts with a great product, TBS Live Rock. Our goal is to provide you with the freshest products. Very alive from the ocean floor to your door. Peruse the website and place an order. We will personally reach out to you within 48 hours.

Secure your order via PayPal or Venmo. Confirm your aquarium is functioning and reach out to us with any questions. Good communication is vital for both of us. We prefer email because it provides a detailed record so we’re on the same page before the anchor drops.

Payment

02 Schedule

03

After your order is received, we will reach out with a detailed questionnaire to learn about your tank and schedule the date. Air cargo orders are ready for pickup on Mondays, UPS orders arrive to your door on Tuesdays and Saturday tends to be best for local pick up.

Tracking information is sent via email AFTER boxes have been checked in at Tampa International Airport or Treasure Chests personally delivered to the Tampa UPS Hub. It is your responsibility to pick up boxes from the airport and to be home for UPS delivery.

Tracking

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 gloves and crack open the box. Smell 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.

Sustainably Harvested

Excellent Bio filtration

Fast and Fresh Delivery

Rock solid biological foundation for NEW aquariums.