An update on the Plant tank build.
I got a tank, a light, and some rock, well about 70 pound of rock. I bought some Instant salt, the reef type in the big box from AC. The owner told me that he was pleased that I had got my tank, and started building the system. Maybe he remembered me from past years of looking and not buying. At least he got some money out of me, most likely won't be the last. Considering the loitering I have done, and the questions I have asked, I suppose they deserve something. Nice toilet they have. I think a decent clean toilet is a good indication of the premises as a whole.
So a 55g, with a 48 inch light, and rock. When I picked up the rock phil gave me enough water to cover the rocks, but just not enough to cover them when I put them in the tank. I was not expecting to buy rocks so quickly, and I still had to clean the tank, and find a space on a work bench in the garage. About an hour later and I had the rocks in place, and the water out of the tote box and into the tank, but some rock was still sticking out. My phone had messed up and was in having the display replaced, so my old phone did not have all my contacts, well all the contacts except the one I needed, the only person I know who has saltwater. I could see him browsing reef2reef, so I sent a PM, inbox full, suck a duck, just my luck. Tried sending a friend request, hoping it would instigate a reply, no. I left two messages on his Wall or what ever you call it, but still no luck. Finally went to the verizon store, to see a mutual friend, he was on vacation. Got a text sent through to the mutal friends work phone, hoping he would reply, no. Well at least I had the salt, went to Wal-Mart, bought distilled water, fifteen gallons of it and started mixing. Got it in the tank, and put the light on top. Played around with the light combinations, sat and looked at it, plane rock with hair algae. I did say I wanted Macro Algae, turned the light off, then on again and looked at it again for a couple of minutes. Then I turned the lights off in the garage, and switched the moon lights on, the atinics, then the whites, then switched them all off, fell over the bike and hit my leg. Time to go to bed.
Need to get some flow going. At present it is a large spoon. Its rather funny to watch an adult canoeing nowhere. Did notice some strange rectangular amoeba like think moving up the glass, along with some worms and other small star shaped objects, also an Amphipod I believe. Finished off my BRS order and got two Maxi-Jet power heads, maybe not the best, but will work to mix salt when I upgrade, as well as a refractometer. Salinity I not sure of, but with only rock in the tank I not too worried. I would have liked to have bought some sand, but maybe I can get some live sand from AC later. I did go to a local fish store in Columbia, was surprised by the amount of Saltwater tanks he has. Noticed he had some Atlantic Coral rock that he had removed from a salt tank two hours earlier. This Atlantic rock had some beautiful red filament type and leather like coral like shape. Had to have it so bought another 40 pounds. Looks like the 20long will have to come out, or I buy another 48 inch long tank from petco at a $1/g.
Brought the new rock home and put it in the tank, fortunately I had enough water to cover the new rock. Still worried about no flow, so rigged up a HOB filter to at least move some water. Pipe was not long enough to reach. Finally got it long enough, but what a racket it made. Wife still does not know I have the tank, and I have not figured out my alibi. I'm thinking of telling her that a guy owed me some money and he gave me the setup. It worked for the guns, why not a fish tank?
Everyone tells you what you need to start a salt water tank, but I'm beginning to think that the first thing you need is water. It sort of stares you in the face, especially when you have a large tank. Maybe the first peice of equipment you buy should be a RO/DI setup, that is the next thing I'm looking for.
I know it does not exist if there are no pictures, but really it is a pile of rocks in a tank full of water on a work bench in a garage, with hair algae. Maybe I can get a picture up.
Bryn
