Has anyone purchased aquacultured live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater? Their LR is sent directly from a man made reef... sent in saltwater and doesn't need curing... and includes all the "marine organisms that have colonized the rocks".
Now, this sounds like a great idea to quickly establish a reef... but I believe the unknown hitch hikers could cause major problems.
Now, this sounds like a great idea to quickly establish a reef... but I believe the unknown hitch hikers could cause major problems.
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: darkgreen;">"Over the first years a wide variety of marine organisms have colonized the rocks. During the first year, organisms such as barnacles, oysters, algae, sponges, and tunicates were noted. After two years the tube coral colonies and solitary cup corals started showing up. They have continued to develop. Next, starlet coral colonies (Solenastrea hyades) appeared. </span></span></em>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: darkgreen;">Several species of Caulerpa are found along with fleshy red and brown turf alga. Bryozoans are also common, both encrusting and bushy. Many small invertebrates such as small crabs, snails, and worms live on the rocks, including limpets and astrea snails. The list of species continues to grow with every trip. See our current </span></span></em>http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/thepackage/organisms.html"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: darkgreen;">[I]catalog of organisms</em></span></span></a>[I]<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: darkgreen;"> consisting of pictures taken by our customers. </span></span></em>[/INDENT]
[INDENT][I]<span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="color: darkgreen;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><font size="2" data-gcupd="font-2"><!-- gcu-updated -->Harvesting of the rock is done by scuba diving. Rocks are hand picked and carefully loaded in mesh baskets that are hauled up to the boat and placed into tubs with Sea Water. They are inspected, sponges that don't survive are removed, and then they are packed in water filled buckets for the boat ride in.</span></span> </span></font><!-- gcu-updated SIZE --></em>[/INDENT]
[INDENT][I]<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: darkgreen;">Finally, the pieces are placed in large holding system vats. This allows time for any die off due to damage during collection. Large fluidized bed filters control ammonia and nitrite and protein skimmers remove excess organic wastes from the water. Moderate lighting is provided to maintain animals without causing algae blooms. Snails, urchins, and hermit crabs in the system control undesirable algae. The rock is ready to ship in 3 to 14 days."</span></span></em> [/INDENT]
Thoughts?
[INDENT][I]<span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="color: darkgreen;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><font size="2" data-gcupd="font-2"><!-- gcu-updated -->Harvesting of the rock is done by scuba diving. Rocks are hand picked and carefully loaded in mesh baskets that are hauled up to the boat and placed into tubs with Sea Water. They are inspected, sponges that don't survive are removed, and then they are packed in water filled buckets for the boat ride in.</span></span> </span></font><!-- gcu-updated SIZE --></em>[/INDENT]
[INDENT][I]<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: darkgreen;">Finally, the pieces are placed in large holding system vats. This allows time for any die off due to damage during collection. Large fluidized bed filters control ammonia and nitrite and protein skimmers remove excess organic wastes from the water. Moderate lighting is provided to maintain animals without causing algae blooms. Snails, urchins, and hermit crabs in the system control undesirable algae. The rock is ready to ship in 3 to 14 days."</span></span></em> [/INDENT]
Thoughts?
