Hi all,
I am starting up a tank again after 6 years. I know this is a reef forum but my tank will be FOWLR with Macro.
My last tank, (20 gallon x-high with a 10 gallon fuge) had live rock that 3 plants popped out of and grew like crazy without me doing anything special (big mistake letting that rock go but we were moving and Hurricane Sandy hit at same time so everything live went to pet store in next town that had power) Had seahorses first (my Avatar was my little girl), when I lost them, I had a Picasso Clown, Royal Gramma, Yellow Clown Goby and a Firefish (that committed suicide). Of course with an excellent clean up crew (the peppermint shrimp got big enough to eat lol)
My husband only agreed to a new tank because I said it would not flood (old tank protein skimmer hung outside the fuge) and will be covered so not bad salt creep (old fuge was on metal stand and totally open, not in a closed cabinet). I went into Petco and saw that the 20 gallon high had the perfect footprint for the shelf I wanted to put it on.
Woo hoo!
I am planning on building an in tank filter (display will be 12x18x16). ) I have my black acrylic, protein skimmer (Aquatic Life Protein Mini Skimmer) and waiting on return pump (Cobalt 900 Multi-Purpose Powerhead Pump) The first chamber will be filter media, second skimmer and third, return with heater. Because the tank is tall, I was thinking of putting rubble in bottom of first and second chambers (fish only tank)I have a Current Satellite I bought at closeout before move(brand new in the box) with bulb, not LED.
Was visiting family in Clifton so just had to go to Absolutely Fish. I used to take my son there to see the fish when he was little. I have read posts in past about it being expensive and not good salespeople but it was a great visit and comparable. For fish prices, the Royal Gramma was equal or cheaper then on line places people use. And they had many different horticulture clowns! Colors, patterns... had to walk away so didn't see one I wanted yet.
So, I picked a nice live rock, 2.5 pounds (isn't it purty?) Live rock got cheaper the more pounds you buy but was too much for me to put all live in. I brought the 5 gallon bucket with me and she covered the rock with water to take home.
Then I got my dry rock... had the salesgirl holding the rock as I asked, "okay, which rock is lighter?" until I got two nice "holy rocks" of good size. I was able to pick the dry rock I wanted for $3 a pound, 7.5 pounds (was actually surprised my husband didn't complain that he was paying for rocks lol)
I asked another salesman if he had any macro and he said he had some red graciliaria. Couldn't help myself so in the bucket it waits.... wish I asked for half portion but it didn't look that big in container. And there is little bit of chaeto and maybe grape in with it too... will watch that grape.
There is so much I have forgotten and new things that have come out in the last 6 years but I am sooooo excited to get my tank again, so please be patient with questions.
I am starting up a tank again after 6 years. I know this is a reef forum but my tank will be FOWLR with Macro.
My last tank, (20 gallon x-high with a 10 gallon fuge) had live rock that 3 plants popped out of and grew like crazy without me doing anything special (big mistake letting that rock go but we were moving and Hurricane Sandy hit at same time so everything live went to pet store in next town that had power) Had seahorses first (my Avatar was my little girl), when I lost them, I had a Picasso Clown, Royal Gramma, Yellow Clown Goby and a Firefish (that committed suicide). Of course with an excellent clean up crew (the peppermint shrimp got big enough to eat lol)
My husband only agreed to a new tank because I said it would not flood (old tank protein skimmer hung outside the fuge) and will be covered so not bad salt creep (old fuge was on metal stand and totally open, not in a closed cabinet). I went into Petco and saw that the 20 gallon high had the perfect footprint for the shelf I wanted to put it on.
Woo hoo!
I am planning on building an in tank filter (display will be 12x18x16). ) I have my black acrylic, protein skimmer (Aquatic Life Protein Mini Skimmer) and waiting on return pump (Cobalt 900 Multi-Purpose Powerhead Pump) The first chamber will be filter media, second skimmer and third, return with heater. Because the tank is tall, I was thinking of putting rubble in bottom of first and second chambers (fish only tank)I have a Current Satellite I bought at closeout before move(brand new in the box) with bulb, not LED.
Was visiting family in Clifton so just had to go to Absolutely Fish. I used to take my son there to see the fish when he was little. I have read posts in past about it being expensive and not good salespeople but it was a great visit and comparable. For fish prices, the Royal Gramma was equal or cheaper then on line places people use. And they had many different horticulture clowns! Colors, patterns... had to walk away so didn't see one I wanted yet.
So, I picked a nice live rock, 2.5 pounds (isn't it purty?) Live rock got cheaper the more pounds you buy but was too much for me to put all live in. I brought the 5 gallon bucket with me and she covered the rock with water to take home.
Then I got my dry rock... had the salesgirl holding the rock as I asked, "okay, which rock is lighter?" until I got two nice "holy rocks" of good size. I was able to pick the dry rock I wanted for $3 a pound, 7.5 pounds (was actually surprised my husband didn't complain that he was paying for rocks lol)
I asked another salesman if he had any macro and he said he had some red graciliaria. Couldn't help myself so in the bucket it waits.... wish I asked for half portion but it didn't look that big in container. And there is little bit of chaeto and maybe grape in with it too... will watch that grape.
There is so much I have forgotten and new things that have come out in the last 6 years but I am sooooo excited to get my tank again, so please be patient with questions.
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I'll be near Absolutely Fish next week so was hoping with the live sand and stuff it would be ready.... I do have a test kit to test. Well, we will see what a week brings.
Forgot about the diatoms! Thank you!
