Ive picked up two new Turbo snails today called Sam and Shaun 2.0
as well as a new addition
Arnie the arrow head crab
and Falacio the Feather duster worm
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Arrow to the tank!
Ive picked up two new Turbo snails today called Sam and Shaun 2.0
as well as a new addition
Arnie the arrow head crab
and Falacio the Feather duster worm
The Invasion Began...
The Hermit crabs invaded snail country!!
The snails that seemed so happy, one morning I found that Cross had over turned Sam and Shaun in a quest for new shells.
After research it turns out that Turbo snails cant turn them selves over :'( and they died.
The snails that seemed so happy, one morning I found that Cross had over turned Sam and Shaun in a quest for new shells.
After research it turns out that Turbo snails cant turn them selves over :'( and they died.
New Members
After my first test that meant that my water is nice and safe for life. These will be added to the two Dancing Shrimp (Hoff and Bunny)
MEET THE CRABS!
3 Hermit crabs; Chris, Cross and Griffin
2 Blue Dwarf Hermit crabs; Herbert and Hubert
MEET THE SNAILS!
2 Turbo Snails; Shaun and Sam
with some empty shells for them to play with, but dont worry there will be more to follow!
The new populous acclimatising
Just after landing in their new home
Scurrying off in all different directions
MEET THE CRABS!
3 Hermit crabs; Chris, Cross and Griffin
2 Blue Dwarf Hermit crabs; Herbert and Hubert
MEET THE SNAILS!
2 Turbo Snails; Shaun and Sam
with some empty shells for them to play with, but dont worry there will be more to follow!
The new populous acclimatising
Just after landing in their new home
Scurrying off in all different directions
Friday, 17 July 2009
First Test
Right with the aquarium wanting to charge £5 a water test, I decided to buy a test kit, which will save oodles of money in the long run. After performing the first test the results are;
Date: 17/7/09
PH: 8.4
Nitrate: 0.1
Phosphate: 0.5 - 1.0
With the results in mind time to go to the fish shop to buy my clean up crew.
Date: 17/7/09
PH: 8.4
Nitrate: 0.1
Phosphate: 0.5 - 1.0
With the results in mind time to go to the fish shop to buy my clean up crew.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Welcome one and all!
Monday has arrived and its time to visit the Aquarium wooo. The manager was expecting me he knew exactly what i wanted and it was these..
Two pretty little dancing shrimp (Rhynchocinetes uritai)!
I shall call them Bunny and Hoff - The life guards!
Taking them home we placed them in the tank with the light off for 15 min.
Tea break....
Back again they seem rather comfortable, so i opened the bag and dropped them in. They quickly found them selves a place to live.
Now to leave them for a couple of hours before i return to them to put the lights back on and take some photos
Lunch time....
That toasty was amazing but time to check on my new friends.
They seem rather busy cleaning the whole tank from the top too the bottom, ill leave them too it. But as soon as they have found them selves a little cave in between some of they have hidden. I guess they will stay there till they feel more comfortable.
The lighter on is Bunny, the darker on with the mustache is Hoff.
More photos will follow when they work there way round to the front of the rocks.
Two pretty little dancing shrimp (Rhynchocinetes uritai)!
I shall call them Bunny and Hoff - The life guards!
Taking them home we placed them in the tank with the light off for 15 min.
Tea break....
Back again they seem rather comfortable, so i opened the bag and dropped them in. They quickly found them selves a place to live.
Now to leave them for a couple of hours before i return to them to put the lights back on and take some photos
Lunch time....
That toasty was amazing but time to check on my new friends.
They seem rather busy cleaning the whole tank from the top too the bottom, ill leave them too it. But as soon as they have found them selves a little cave in between some of they have hidden. I guess they will stay there till they feel more comfortable.
The lighter on is Bunny, the darker on with the mustache is Hoff.
More photos will follow when they work there way round to the front of the rocks.
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Patience is a virtue apparently
Well with Simone ill from swine flu (probably) ive been bored and doing some window shopping online because i cant buy anything till tomorrow.
Oh there are so many beautiful fish I can buy. Remembering my conversations with the local aquarium owner, he can order me pretty much any thing i can find on the net.
Well look what ive found!
One of my favorite things to hunt for on dives are these beautiful little worms called Nudibranch's they come in all shapes sizes and beautiful colours! So when i go and pick up some shrimp on Monday im going to ask about these beautiful critters.
Oh there are so many beautiful fish I can buy. Remembering my conversations with the local aquarium owner, he can order me pretty much any thing i can find on the net.
Well look what ive found!
One of my favorite things to hunt for on dives are these beautiful little worms called Nudibranch's they come in all shapes sizes and beautiful colours! So when i go and pick up some shrimp on Monday im going to ask about these beautiful critters.
Saturday, 11 July 2009
The Waiting Game
Now my tank is ready to go, all i have to do wait until the tank's temperature ph and bacterial levels are ready for life to be placed inside.
First step is to place cleaner shrimp on monday, these will start to eat the bad forms of bacteria and start making the tank ready for other less durable life.
Then at the end of the week more of the cleaning crew such as hermit crabs, turbo snails and the like.
I cant wait!
First step is to place cleaner shrimp on monday, these will start to eat the bad forms of bacteria and start making the tank ready for other less durable life.
Then at the end of the week more of the cleaning crew such as hermit crabs, turbo snails and the like.
I cant wait!
Purchasing
10/07/09 - Purchasing and Construction
The next day i dragged Gayna in with me to the aquarium again. I hunted around until i found the size tank that would fit in my house. I flagged down a shop assistant and told him i wanted it, he asked me what for and I explained, he enlightened me to the fact that this tank although a good size wasn’t nearly suitable for what I wanted. He took me over to the marine tank section, there stood several nice looking tanks with considerably larger price tags. After lots of consideration and being told that the biggest one wasn’t actually in stock, I went for the 100 Lt tank.
Included in the tank was;
The tank obviously
Thermostat
2 pumps
Lighting system built into the lid
Water purifying solution ( i dont need this)
Water filters (carbon, bio filters, etc)
On top of the tank (without stand) I had to get;
Protein skimmer (slim line version)
Current generator
2 x 1.5Kg bags of Live sand
3 x Live rocks
3 x 25Lt (75Lt) of Pre-made Salt water
They gave me a thermometer that sticks on the side as a gift as id spent so much hehe. As well as £30 of store credit when I returned the three jerry cans in which the salt water came in.
So now I had every thing, after some ‘Tetris’ style stacking in my car I managed to fit it all in. I drove my self and Gayna back to my house where we proceeded to unpack and play with everything. After much fiddling and reading of rubbish instructions we determined that the box set was missing one of the pumps that were needed and that the micro protein skimmer wouldn’t fit in the tank. After calling the Aquarium we took the skimmer and the pump to the store where they gave us the second pump. The manager showed us how to fit the protein skimmer in and how to damage the lid that so that it will fit. So now we took our stuff and went back home where we made some tea and tried again. We fitted the protein skimmer and the pumps, placing the thermometer in the new spot, we managed to fit it all in, HOORAY!
Taking the lid off and placing a section of it by the hob I heated up a knife and sliced through the plastic like it was butter. Putting the lid back together, I was now ready to start filling my tank.
Taking the first jerry can I emptied into the empty tank. I then took the two bags of live sand and opened them pouring them into bottom of the tank. Smoothing the sand out so it evenly covers the bottom. Filling the bags and pouring them out over and over again so I got all the obscenely expensive sand out and into the tank. Now for the fun bit, opening the live rock bags I placed them where I wanted them. Balancing one ontop of the bigger one so that it created an overhang it looked great. I now have to add the other two jerry cans of water into tank. Slowly pouring it using a jug so that it doesn’t disturb the sand that much or break the rocks. When the jerry canns were light enough I could pour them directly into the tank, pouring them onto Gayna’s arm to disperse the water before it trickled in worked rather well.
With all the water in, the rocks and the sand as well, all the equipment is set up and ready to go, time to turn it on!
With the water all murky time to go get put the kettle on.
Hours later I returned to see my beautiful tank ready!
The next day i dragged Gayna in with me to the aquarium again. I hunted around until i found the size tank that would fit in my house. I flagged down a shop assistant and told him i wanted it, he asked me what for and I explained, he enlightened me to the fact that this tank although a good size wasn’t nearly suitable for what I wanted. He took me over to the marine tank section, there stood several nice looking tanks with considerably larger price tags. After lots of consideration and being told that the biggest one wasn’t actually in stock, I went for the 100 Lt tank.
Included in the tank was;
The tank obviously
Thermostat
2 pumps
Lighting system built into the lid
Water purifying solution ( i dont need this)
Water filters (carbon, bio filters, etc)
On top of the tank (without stand) I had to get;
Protein skimmer (slim line version)
Current generator
2 x 1.5Kg bags of Live sand
3 x Live rocks
3 x 25Lt (75Lt) of Pre-made Salt water
They gave me a thermometer that sticks on the side as a gift as id spent so much hehe. As well as £30 of store credit when I returned the three jerry cans in which the salt water came in.
So now I had every thing, after some ‘Tetris’ style stacking in my car I managed to fit it all in. I drove my self and Gayna back to my house where we proceeded to unpack and play with everything. After much fiddling and reading of rubbish instructions we determined that the box set was missing one of the pumps that were needed and that the micro protein skimmer wouldn’t fit in the tank. After calling the Aquarium we took the skimmer and the pump to the store where they gave us the second pump. The manager showed us how to fit the protein skimmer in and how to damage the lid that so that it will fit. So now we took our stuff and went back home where we made some tea and tried again. We fitted the protein skimmer and the pumps, placing the thermometer in the new spot, we managed to fit it all in, HOORAY!
Taking the lid off and placing a section of it by the hob I heated up a knife and sliced through the plastic like it was butter. Putting the lid back together, I was now ready to start filling my tank.
Taking the first jerry can I emptied into the empty tank. I then took the two bags of live sand and opened them pouring them into bottom of the tank. Smoothing the sand out so it evenly covers the bottom. Filling the bags and pouring them out over and over again so I got all the obscenely expensive sand out and into the tank. Now for the fun bit, opening the live rock bags I placed them where I wanted them. Balancing one ontop of the bigger one so that it created an overhang it looked great. I now have to add the other two jerry cans of water into tank. Slowly pouring it using a jug so that it doesn’t disturb the sand that much or break the rocks. When the jerry canns were light enough I could pour them directly into the tank, pouring them onto Gayna’s arm to disperse the water before it trickled in worked rather well.
With all the water in, the rocks and the sand as well, all the equipment is set up and ready to go, time to turn it on!
With the water all murky time to go get put the kettle on.
Hours later I returned to see my beautiful tank ready!
Research
08/07/09 - The discovery
Well ive decided to get myself a fish tank for my birthday. Ive kind of always wanted a fish tank and to keep fish, but ive never really liked the look of any fish ive seen in shops. That was until i was out shopping with Gayna (mother in law) she has a tropical fresh water tank. When we went into the Havant aquarium and there i see a massive red sea fish tank. Next to this massive display were a series of smaller tanks with some beautiful fish for sale for reasonable prices, I was over joyed! Right that's what i want to do. I went home buzzing with ideas i spent several hours on the internet looking at fishes :D
Well ive decided to get myself a fish tank for my birthday. Ive kind of always wanted a fish tank and to keep fish, but ive never really liked the look of any fish ive seen in shops. That was until i was out shopping with Gayna (mother in law) she has a tropical fresh water tank. When we went into the Havant aquarium and there i see a massive red sea fish tank. Next to this massive display were a series of smaller tanks with some beautiful fish for sale for reasonable prices, I was over joyed! Right that's what i want to do. I went home buzzing with ideas i spent several hours on the internet looking at fishes :D
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