Rocks, Coral, ..............and worms???

Went to Victoria...picked up some rock. Woopee you're thinkin... Live rock...cool live rock too. (and no, the "rock" does not grow, creatures grow out of it from wherever the rock was collected) So 20 more lbs of rock, 1 soft coral called Frogspawn and 1 tubeworm!!! Very cool, called a giant feather duster. Very pretty but a bit strange. It is really a worm inside this casing that he builds to live in. Out the front of his home he has a bunch of feather like "branches" I would call them. But yes he is a worm and a pretty cool one at that! Also ordered in a new light. The one we have is just not gonna cut it. Metal halide lamp ordered and will be here in a few weeks. YAY. Then the possibilites are endless!

"AnK" the organism

So, we've named the organism. We figure Ank suits him fine. Don't know still what he is but at least he is alive and moving around, especially with the ammonia and nitrates really getting up there. Now that the tank has cleared (OH YAH) we can check out the rock better. It's pretty cool! Has some "algae" (plants in freshwater land) growing on it, and some formations that look like coral but who knows. It will go through a die off period so we don't really know what we will end up with in the end. It's pretty neat to look at and cool to see what is going to happen and hopefully what is going to grow.

P.S. the angels and all their buddies have welcomed in 2 newbies....a pair of blue rams or butterfly rams. Very very nice fishies from Dave at the Pet Centre. All fish are alive and well and THRIVING.

Gotta love Ammonia and Nitrate!

The tank is starting to clear. Tested the water today for both of the above and the levels are high on Ammonia and not on Nitrate yet...but wait .... just wait. It's all part of the cycling of the tank. It is just a bit unnerving. I don't ever like to see ammonia in my tanks but this is supposed to happen. Moved the rock a bit so it is better placed in the tank...a bit tough to properly place rock in the tank when it is so tall. Oh yah, have a little "organism". Don't know what it is but looks like a small caterpillar with a bunch of longer furry things out of its mouth. It's fairly small...roughly 1/3 of an inch. But it is alive and it does move around a lot!

Protein Skimmer

It arrived! Safe and sound. Now all I have to do is figure out how to work it. Shouldn't be too tough...?! Cora phoned us to make sure that is arrived. Yep...checked with her again that the tank would clear right? Yep it will add in the live sand now, put in the live rock ASAP and just wait! Larry and I get the live sand in the tank....ok don't waste any of that, it's worth it's weight in gold! In it goes...and in goes the live rock......Now the skimmer. Read the directions...read them again, and then one more time so that you do know what to do. It was a bit tricky to start up but Cora gave me a couple of tips. Is running, now we wait....

Sandstorm

EXCITING...we get to put in the sand! Must remember next time to READ THE DIRECTIONS! Was too excited....our water was up to temp, and seems to be the right salt mix so in goes bag #1 of Aragamax...hmmm seems very very cloudy. DUH, should've read the part where is said.....rinse lightly before placing in tank. Oh well, the second bag we rinsed...lets hope it clears. Ordered our Prizm Protein Skimmer today from Cora...also some "Live Rock" (no the rock is not "alive" but there are some creatures that may appear from it that are alive.....Cora says that it will clear. Just be patient. She hardly ever rinses hers so its no big deal. She sure is nice!

Kims trip to Victoria

You may ask...why would we be interested in Kims trip to Victoria? Well she picked up the first of many supplies from Hillside Tropicals. We bought our salt, and 2 bags of Aragamax sand and 2 bags of "live sand" Aragonite. (Our angels and their pals all transferred to the new tank and now on to starting this tank up.) Cora the owner of Hillside is sooooo helpful! I gave her the size of the tank, she provided the necessary sands to create the proper sandbed. We put in our water the night before our salt arrived so the chlorine would be gone. Garrie shows up with our stuff and we get excited! How many people would get excited to see a very very large pail of salt and 4 bags of sand arrive? Us of course...!

We sold our "spare" tank now what to do with the Angels?

Oct 10/04 Our 48 gallon tank is gone...sold to Rick and Jen to help them catch the bug! So now what...if we are setting up a salt water tank then we have to move out the inhabitants. Time to get another! (Man is my husband generous to be letting me play with all these fishies eh? psst...he enjoys them as much as me!) Rick and Jen are up for the weekend so off Rick and I go to buy a tank. Dave at the Pet Centre has a nice 46 for sale. Guess that will come home with us!

Set it up right away as now we are determined to start a marine tank. Put in water, let age overnight, planted that night.....man are the angels and friends MAD at me for disturbing their house!

Oct 11/04 Move in the guppies, swords and Endler's.

Oct 12/04 Move in 12 Angels (2 small the rest medium), 4 threadfins, 1 catfish, 1 male Borelli dwarf cichlid, and Bobs your uncle.

Oct 13/04 Fish all doing well.....gravel was aged and filter even though dried out was what I consider aged. No, I did not cycle the tank or do it all slowly. I pushed it a bit...ok alot, but I do know what I am doing in the freshwater world!

A visit to Victoria and a new plan

Our angel tank is swimming along nicely, the discus tank is doing well and that about sums it up. Off to Victoria to get our passports, visit Rick and Jen and check out some fish shops. The day starts out with a plan to visit Hillside Tropicals in Victoria as we had tried once before to visit this shop and wanted to see it. We're looking for some different fish, slightly different angel strains and such.

In the front window there is a beautiful reef setup. Wow, would be nice to have that ....but so much work (have you got the picture yet that this is a big deal to have a salt water tank..after all I did take the Saltwater 101 course and boggled myself)

In the shop we start talking to a nice man named Gordon. Larry has quite an interest in a salt water tank and was chattin him up a bit. Me, I was just admiring the most adorable fish; cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) what a face! And so fun to watch. Would love to have one....

Gordon is chatting away with Larry when Larry calls me over. Gordon was telling him how easy it really is to startup and maintain a Marine aquarium. In the end we chatted with Gordon for 1.5+ hours. Boy was he nice! And we got the bug. Can't be that tough....but lets wait until after Christmas to do this. It will cost a few dollars to start up...and the fact that we have a salt water setup converted to freshwater and no where for the freshwater fishies to go. Not in the discus tank that is for sure. It is full!

We also stopped in at Spechts, and a few others on the way home. The guy at Island Fish Zone I think it was called in Duncan was really nice too. Very helpful and reinforced the entire "how easy a marine tank is" thoughts..... Stopped in at My Fish Tank too. K, for all that are and will read this DO NOT SHOP THERE. They are sooooo very rude and don't stand behind anything they sell and treat you like you are so stupid. I can't say enough, we have dealt with them a few times and they broke the last straw.

So, on our way home we discuss the idea of owning a marine tank. Sure would be fun.....but what about the angels you ask? Read on....