Hello Community!
As a bored retiree I started to look for a new hobby to spark my interest I remembered having a 40 gallon long aquarium 45 years ago. I grew up in West Palm Beach Florida and specimens were relatively easy to collect. I would truck aluminum garbage cans from the beach for fresh water. I would collect items like French Angels, Coral Banded Shrimp in the Florida Keys (especially during lobster season) and bring home in a cooler with nothing but air stones and oxygen tabs. Once I found a Flamingo Tongue Snail ( look up, beautiful! ) on a gorgonian inside Jupiter Inlet. I found anemones under old burlap erosion bags on Lake Worth Beach (surfing allowed time to explore ). It was fun collecting on your own. Our theory was "throw it in, if it lives, it lives".
Wow! How times have changed. Now you almost have to be a chemist. But with the advent of the "inter-web", I've enjoyed the R & R , research (web) and reconnaissance (local quality saltwater shops). It really isn't rocket science, just knowledge. The more you know, the fewer mistakes you make, meaning more money for the species you really have your heart set on. THAT'S MY THEORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT.
Anyway, if your still totally bored here's my plan. Decided to stater small with Coralife Biocube.32, really like this start-up kit. Started lurking this tank awhile back on Amazon. Started out at $375 then after a wile started dropping, I MEAN REALLY DROPPING! FOR TWO DAYS IT WAS $215 (less than the 16). That's all it took for me to bite the bullet. The money saved on that allowed me to buy everything else ie; protein skimmer, RO/DI, heater, wave maker, thermometer, automatic feeder etc.
Fish Plan: Opinions appreciated
(2) True Percola Clowns-not sure captive or wild caught.
1 Green Mandarin Dragonet
1 Baggai Cardinal
1 Pajama Cardinal
1 Firefish Goby
1 Panda Goby (really like this one, looks like something from Pixar. Almost decided to down size size of other fish just to accommodate him alone.
Of course CUC's, live rock, live sand, anemones (starting with largest bubble tip I can afford for the clowns).
I've started building my own stand, couldn't find anything I was comfortable with. Again, found a DIY for building stands. Using marine King's Starboard material for stand top. Found a company that custom cuts for reasonable price.
Thanks for reading my late night babble. This sight has been a wealth of knowledge. Looking forward to trading ideas. Can't wait to put the first fish in.
As a bored retiree I started to look for a new hobby to spark my interest I remembered having a 40 gallon long aquarium 45 years ago. I grew up in West Palm Beach Florida and specimens were relatively easy to collect. I would truck aluminum garbage cans from the beach for fresh water. I would collect items like French Angels, Coral Banded Shrimp in the Florida Keys (especially during lobster season) and bring home in a cooler with nothing but air stones and oxygen tabs. Once I found a Flamingo Tongue Snail ( look up, beautiful! ) on a gorgonian inside Jupiter Inlet. I found anemones under old burlap erosion bags on Lake Worth Beach (surfing allowed time to explore ). It was fun collecting on your own. Our theory was "throw it in, if it lives, it lives".
Wow! How times have changed. Now you almost have to be a chemist. But with the advent of the "inter-web", I've enjoyed the R & R , research (web) and reconnaissance (local quality saltwater shops). It really isn't rocket science, just knowledge. The more you know, the fewer mistakes you make, meaning more money for the species you really have your heart set on. THAT'S MY THEORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT.
Anyway, if your still totally bored here's my plan. Decided to stater small with Coralife Biocube.32, really like this start-up kit. Started lurking this tank awhile back on Amazon. Started out at $375 then after a wile started dropping, I MEAN REALLY DROPPING! FOR TWO DAYS IT WAS $215 (less than the 16). That's all it took for me to bite the bullet. The money saved on that allowed me to buy everything else ie; protein skimmer, RO/DI, heater, wave maker, thermometer, automatic feeder etc.
Fish Plan: Opinions appreciated
(2) True Percola Clowns-not sure captive or wild caught.
1 Green Mandarin Dragonet
1 Baggai Cardinal
1 Pajama Cardinal
1 Firefish Goby
1 Panda Goby (really like this one, looks like something from Pixar. Almost decided to down size size of other fish just to accommodate him alone.
Of course CUC's, live rock, live sand, anemones (starting with largest bubble tip I can afford for the clowns).
I've started building my own stand, couldn't find anything I was comfortable with. Again, found a DIY for building stands. Using marine King's Starboard material for stand top. Found a company that custom cuts for reasonable price.
Thanks for reading my late night babble. This sight has been a wealth of knowledge. Looking forward to trading ideas. Can't wait to put the first fish in.
