biomekanic
Community Member
Getting back into the hobby after a long, long absence.
Way back when I did Q&A for a while on Bob Fenner's Wet Web Media, as P-F.
I set up my 1st tank in 2001, 29g mixed, and quickly moved on a 75 mixed. A bit later, I added a few nanos with mantis shrimp, as they're a favorite.
Had some ups and downs, and a huge down in 2006. I lived a couple of blocks from a railroad track, and they sprayed herb/fungicides on them. 2 days later, all of my tanks died at the same time. At that time, I had no way to prove that's what did it. So, I sold off a lot of things, deep cleaned others, ran carbon, etc. For me, the worst was losing my 1 mantis, Carl. He really was a pet. He'd beg for food, watch us from his tank in our dining/living room during game nights, threaten the cats when they'd look in his tank, etc.
After a few years, I was ready to get back in, and then got laid off in 2008 (day after my b-day). Wound up having to move, completely change careers after a few false starts, got divorced... and a lot of life happened.
And now, I'm finally in a home of mine (just purchased), with room, time, and with a bit of financial juggling, ready to get back into the hobby.
I kind of feeling like a Wright brother watching a jet go over, things have really changed.
The BRS TV videos have been hugely helpful in catching up.
My current dilemma is, I have 2 new 40Bs... do I want to use 1 was a sump, for a mixed softie/LPS, or 2 I want 2 tanks; a mixed and an Tampa Bay Saltwater 'insta reef' with rock flower anemones and mangroves?
Way back when I did Q&A for a while on Bob Fenner's Wet Web Media, as P-F.
I set up my 1st tank in 2001, 29g mixed, and quickly moved on a 75 mixed. A bit later, I added a few nanos with mantis shrimp, as they're a favorite.
Had some ups and downs, and a huge down in 2006. I lived a couple of blocks from a railroad track, and they sprayed herb/fungicides on them. 2 days later, all of my tanks died at the same time. At that time, I had no way to prove that's what did it. So, I sold off a lot of things, deep cleaned others, ran carbon, etc. For me, the worst was losing my 1 mantis, Carl. He really was a pet. He'd beg for food, watch us from his tank in our dining/living room during game nights, threaten the cats when they'd look in his tank, etc.
After a few years, I was ready to get back in, and then got laid off in 2008 (day after my b-day). Wound up having to move, completely change careers after a few false starts, got divorced... and a lot of life happened.
And now, I'm finally in a home of mine (just purchased), with room, time, and with a bit of financial juggling, ready to get back into the hobby.
I kind of feeling like a Wright brother watching a jet go over, things have really changed.
The BRS TV videos have been hugely helpful in catching up.
My current dilemma is, I have 2 new 40Bs... do I want to use 1 was a sump, for a mixed softie/LPS, or 2 I want 2 tanks; a mixed and an Tampa Bay Saltwater 'insta reef' with rock flower anemones and mangroves?
