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02-25-2005, 01:39 PM
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Movin' Up in the Pack
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Central FL, USA
Age: 37
Posts: 771
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"She saw a sea shell...." New Marine Tank pics
We decided to convert our 180 gallon freshwater tank to saltwater. No worries on the freshwater fish though... all of them have been divided up between two of our 55 gallon tanks which had become available and seem to be quite happy since both tanks are heavily populated with live plants 
The tank is still in its beginning stages so not quite as colorful as one expects to see in a salt tank..but for stage one I think it's coming along nicely
Currently there is 200 pounds of live sand and 150 pounds of live Fiji base rock in the tank. All of the shells were obtained from the shores of Tampa Bay (turning out to be quite expensive since medical bills got involved over the whole ordeal lol). Hitchhikers that came with the shells include some oysters, snails, barnicles, and plenty of copods.... all doing fine.... a couple of days ago we added two tiny Ocllaris Clownfish, 1 Royal Gramma Basslet, 60 snails and hermit crabs, and my favorite...the green brittle star....
Shells, oysters, rocks, et al...in center of tank...
Two of the MANY snails that hitchhiked in from Tampa Bay...
The Green Brittle Star
cont....
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02-25-2005, 01:41 PM
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Movin' Up in the Pack
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Central FL, USA
Age: 37
Posts: 771
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Two little clownies
The Roayal Gramma Basslet
Substrate...
The entire tank pic...not very clear but gives the general idea...
I'm anxious to watch it come together and really anxious to be able to begin adding coral! We'll see how our first inhabitants do though and hopefully in time the tank will really brighten up. I've never had a large salt tank before so this is pretty exciting for me! |
02-25-2005, 01:43 PM
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Welcome Home!
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Georgia
Posts: 8,668
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 Wow, it's gorgeous. Thanks for sharing! |
02-25-2005, 01:48 PM
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Movin' Up in the Pack
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Central FL, USA
Age: 37
Posts: 771
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OH! One more thing in the tank I wanted to share....
See the 10lb upside down white head of brain coral.....
That was actually found a couple of years ago in our own back yard. When we were digging in the yard to build the pond we dug that up ... I dunno if it was "naturally there" or somehow got dumped there by someone many years ago...but we boiled it up and felt the tank would be a great final resting place for it
The hermit crabs LOVE IT lol |
02-25-2005, 02:33 PM
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Paw-Talk Therapist
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Age: 27
Posts: 3,993
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Oh so this is what you wanted the sea shells for
Thats a beautiful set up you have there and i'm sure the sea shells have been worth while, i would love to get into marine myself but its very expensive to get into over here so i'll stick to the tropicals for now but i'm planning to oneday as i love the brightly coloured marine fish such as the clown fish! Thanks for sharing your photos
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Kirsty
 Visit Degu Rock - Dedicated to Degu Care & Welfare Worldwide  |
02-25-2005, 02:34 PM
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Fluffy Potatokisser
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Aberdeen, NC
Age: 31
Posts: 4,891
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The pics are awsome Deb! Great Job!
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Chin Mom to Lila, Skye, Ty, Rolex, Calypso, Lizzie, Jax, Sam, Sage, Lorenzo, Spitfire, Holly, Dylan, Leia, Punky, Kylie, Skylar, Jetta, Oreo, Emma, Forest, Georgie, Alexis, Picador and all the kits! Pittie Mom to Kali and Orion Rattie Mom to Drake and Dumbo Bunny Mom to Dutchie Plain ole Mom to Zach, Brandon and Connor!
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02-25-2005, 02:47 PM
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Angel to Abandoned Puppies
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Arizona now
Age: 37
Posts: 3,975
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Beautiful!! Absolutely beautiful.
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02-25-2005, 02:54 PM
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Tongue Tied..Literally!
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chicago
Age: 40
Posts: 4,256
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Deb, absolutely stunning! Just magnificent! You did an incredible job transforming your freshwater tank into a saltwater tank!
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02-25-2005, 02:58 PM
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Playful Pup
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: North Cali
Age: 28
Posts: 31
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WOW! great fish tank.  |
02-25-2005, 03:16 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,739
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It is gorgeous.
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02-25-2005, 04:11 PM
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Salamander Potatomuffin
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: New York
Age: 18
Posts: 6,847
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That's awesome!!! My mom wants to do saltwater but it's so expensive.
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~Stephanie
"We weep for a bird's cry, but not for a fish's blood. Blessed are those with a voice."
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02-25-2005, 04:26 PM
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Movin' Up in the Pack
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Join Date: May 2004
Location: Central FL, USA
Age: 37
Posts: 771
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The startup can be high which is what held me back for so long.... but if you do your research, are in a good location for it, and have been active in the fish hobby for a while the switch isn't too terribly bad... still a bit high though...
We already had the tank and all of the filtration required..we were also able to get an excellent deal on the rock and sand...
The rest came out of the ditch and backyard lol...
The fish themselves are expensive and that's why you have to be PATIENT ... with freshwater a lot of ppl just use "cheap starter fish" to get things established... e.g. 10 for a dollar fish.... but with saltwater the "starter fish" are ten bucks each so it's a bit more risky... Not to mention many of the saltwater fish being more difficult to breed and collect unlike the rabbit breeding freshwaters such as live bearers and cichlids etc... So you absolutely need to be able to "take it slow" and in doing so that spreads out the costs a bit..
After being established it really doesn't cost more or take much more work than a freshwater tank. My son's 40g salt tank has been self sufficient for two years now and outside of the Xenia's I've not added any $$s to it at all
What I find most fascinating is all of the life that no one purchased in the tank... it's amazing how many critters are crawling around in a marine tank and the way the plants themselves take on personality, move, eat, etc.... |
02-25-2005, 05:21 PM
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Paw-Talk Therapist
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Age: 27
Posts: 3,993
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__________________
Kirsty
Visit Degu Rock - Dedicated to Degu Care & Welfare Worldwide
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02-25-2005, 07:12 PM
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Paw-Talk Lifer
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Essex, UK!
Posts: 5,287
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Beautiful pics! We used to have a 6 foot tank with marine fish in.. I had Lion fish, various puffers inc The dog face, Clown Fish, in fact we had loads.. But as they gradually died, we never restocked, its very expensive, but I sometimes regret not having them anymore.. I especially miss the puffers, I had the most gorgeous Dog face called Pluto..
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Steph ~ Owned by 4 bunnies and 5 degus..
"The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man." Charles Darwin
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02-25-2005, 07:29 PM
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Paw-Talk Therapist
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Posts: 3,351
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Absolutely beautiful! Guy is hoping to set up a salt water here, but I gently remind him that I currently have a hard enough time keeping up with his 5 freshwater tanks  Maybe when he starts working regular hours.....though I have a feeling he'll sucker me somehow... |
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