CMMorgan
Counting my blessings...
Hi,
I am new to the forum, not totally wet behind the ears as a reefer. I have been on an escalating fish journey for many years ... starting with the cliche ping pong ball state fair gold fish to reefing (with a detour through brackish along the way.) I've made a lot of mistakes... lost a bit of coral and fish. (Seriously, if anyone sees my Anthia Frodo, please send him home...)
I've learned some very important lessons:
1- Never trust a tube anemone named Ursula.
2- Do not plumb through the wall to a sump in your garage ... in Florida ... under your brand new AC handler.
3- Check the expiration dates on test kits before you buy them ... don't trust old test kits.
4- If you think your tank just shocked you, it probably wasn't salt water in a paper cut. Unplug everything and check every wire.
5- Water changes make all things better... unless it floods your floor. Be wary of ATO's and ACO's.
Since moving to Florida, I have had two tanks... a 45 gallon bow front. I traded up to a 90 gallon and I am in the process of a new build for a 127 gallon custom acrylic on order from American Aquariums. I know that is not a big jump in gallons... they actually advertised it as 143 but they calculated from outside dimensions, not inside. I was looking more for size than gallons. My 90 gallon is very tall, making maintenance difficult. I had a very specific tank in mind... 72" long x 19" high x 24" deep. Short enough to reach the bottom, deep enough to keep macroalgae in the display tank and long enough for the fish to truly swim.
I will find the place to create a build thread and get that started. Our ETA is December - sometime. Once we have some information on the overflow locations (dual) ironed out, we'll begin the stand build. I look forward to learning from the wisdom of those who have sailed before me and perhaps helping some land lubbers along the way.
Regards,
Michelle
I am new to the forum, not totally wet behind the ears as a reefer. I have been on an escalating fish journey for many years ... starting with the cliche ping pong ball state fair gold fish to reefing (with a detour through brackish along the way.) I've made a lot of mistakes... lost a bit of coral and fish. (Seriously, if anyone sees my Anthia Frodo, please send him home...)
I've learned some very important lessons:
1- Never trust a tube anemone named Ursula.
2- Do not plumb through the wall to a sump in your garage ... in Florida ... under your brand new AC handler.
3- Check the expiration dates on test kits before you buy them ... don't trust old test kits.
4- If you think your tank just shocked you, it probably wasn't salt water in a paper cut. Unplug everything and check every wire.
5- Water changes make all things better... unless it floods your floor. Be wary of ATO's and ACO's.
Since moving to Florida, I have had two tanks... a 45 gallon bow front. I traded up to a 90 gallon and I am in the process of a new build for a 127 gallon custom acrylic on order from American Aquariums. I know that is not a big jump in gallons... they actually advertised it as 143 but they calculated from outside dimensions, not inside. I was looking more for size than gallons. My 90 gallon is very tall, making maintenance difficult. I had a very specific tank in mind... 72" long x 19" high x 24" deep. Short enough to reach the bottom, deep enough to keep macroalgae in the display tank and long enough for the fish to truly swim.
I will find the place to create a build thread and get that started. Our ETA is December - sometime. Once we have some information on the overflow locations (dual) ironed out, we'll begin the stand build. I look forward to learning from the wisdom of those who have sailed before me and perhaps helping some land lubbers along the way.
Regards,
Michelle
