Random Mutterings

I find it funny that in a hobby that everyone seems smart and capable, no one knows a damn thing. Well, that's not fair. Let me rephrase that. Everyone is so certain that only they are right, that no one can agree on anything. It's like the tree falling in the woods question, no one cares what you think but everyone wants to have their say.

Being a noobie, I am currently getting in touch with my inner sponge, absorbing any knowledge thrown at me, regardless of it being right or wrong. And like a sponge, I'm full of knowledge that is closer to bacterial waste than useful information. Before the people reading this (I'm including my imaginary friends) riots from my criticisms, let me say that I have learned some things that everyone agrees on. Let me put them in convenient bullet format for you.

*Anything that's pretty or interesting is as hardy as a snowball in hell.
*Whatever set up you have, it's not good enough for something awesome.
*Fish are crazy motherfuckers.
*If you want it, god will find a way to keep you from it. This includes being impossible to keep alive, find, or afford.
*Salt water fish need salt water to swim in.

There you have it. Concrete FACTS. I know that last one threw some of you. It's okay, just try harder to pay attention next time.

My biggest gripe about the weird eb and flow of knowledge in this hobby is that people who you should trust to give you accurate information will lie, lie, and then tell you the truth, which is actually wrong but they don't know it. This group includes those who are so full of themselves that you just want to poke them with a needle to release the hot air, aquarium store owners who creatively bend the truth, and forum posters. Forums posters are an odd creature. A few are helpful, giving their opinion but not forcing it, eager to help along a new reefer... Others however are mean, spiteful, seeking knowledge without having done any research, or tearing apart a new comer for the sheer pleasure of it.

I've been told by big headed hobbyist that Live rock isn't that important in a reef tank (with fish) and that with constant water changes, everything will be fine. (Why do that to yourself or the fish? ;_;) I've been told after expressing my interest in a fish unfamiliar to me that while it grows to need a tank that's at least 65 gallons, it'll be happy in my nano for awhile. After all, it grows slow. (Researching it, I also discovered it's a mean fish as well, and would love to eat my future soft coral.) And the forums, dear lord, the forums. I've seen posters tell their fellow humans that they're new at this, and just added a Mandarin to their freshly cycled 12 gallon tank. I've seen experienced reefers manage to fit in that they are an expert and they've won awards into every single post they write. ("Why yes, in answer to your question, the sky is blue. As an expert who has won awards for all the reef tanks I've ever made, I enjoy staring at the sky at least once a day.")

So, is this post all complaints and whining? Heavens no. I would just like to thank the individuals who are knowledgeable, enjoy sharing their wisdom, and aren't afraid to learn they're wrong and take the advise of others. You, good sir, are a a rare find.

Setting up the Tank

So, setting up a tank isn't nearly as difficult as you would think. Admittingly, I have things easy since salt water tanks are commerically available now and simplier than in the past. Plus, I'm still not entirely sure how lights and filters work. But hey, that stuff is boring. You know what isn't boring? Live rock! As you see to the left, I had a lot to choose from. Whatever pieces I picked would determine the entire look of my tank. How's a girl to pick? Easy. Use what I've been taught in various art classes. Pick a centerpiece and build around it.



Here's the piece I picked. I know, it might not look like much to some people, but I had this rock picked out a good 3 weeks before I had a tank to put him in. Bright purples and greens (Fiji rock I think) and such interesting bumps and bubbles to look at. Plus, it's round. This may seem like a silly thing to get excited about, but live rock rarely comes in 'round'. At least, none that I've ever seen. (And that live rock tank was pretty big.) I had my focus point. After that, the sales guy practically picked out the other rocks for me. I picked the small round rock (that was probably once a coral of some kind) and the large rock that was going to be the bulk of the tank. The two small ones were just lucky ones taken off the top.


So just what exactly do you do to set up a tank? Well, once you admit you don't know the first thing about lights and filters, the hard part is over. Find someone you trust and have them pick that stuff out for you. The only thing I made sure to learn is what supplies I needed to do everything I wanted. I understand my light's limitations and how to improve upon it. (Great lights = hard corals, average lights = soft coral, freshwater fish lights = dead coral) Now, once you have the tank, the fun begins.

This, is my empty 3 gallon Picotope tank provided by a secret source. (My boyfriend. Shh) It's perfect for my desk, budget friendly, and not difficult with an expert reefer on hand to help. (I don't suggest starting with a 3g. It's for experts only, and while I am most certainly not an expert, I had one on hand. So, tank, check. Next, rocks. A general rule of thumb is 1lb of live rock for every gallon of water. You can go over as much as you want, but do not go less! Live rock is one, if not the most important thing to go into your tank! In case you don't know (and I'm sure you do) live rock is a natural and fantastic filter for your tank. By using live rock, you're making as close to a natural reef in the ocean as you'll get, well, not in the ocean. Anyway, look it up if you want to learn more.

We have a tank. We have live rock on standby. Now, the fun! Get some live sand (I know, it sounds creepy doesn't it?) to fill the bottom of that tank. Generally 1lb of sand per gallon. Does that sound familiar? Anyway, people like to angle the sand, higher at the back, then shallower in the front. So, that's what I attempted.






Then, set up your rocks! Make sure to make some little hiding places or your future tenants will be stressed and unhappy. See my centerpiece round guy there in the middle? I'm so proud. It's simple, but that works for me. I already know where I want the coral to go, and where I hope sexy shrimp will one day wiggle there little butts. Of course, you needn't be quiet so particular. Sometimes winging it works!






Last but not least, the salt water. I buy premixed salt water, because it's only a 3g tank, I'm lazy, and inexperienced. I poured the salt water into a watering pitcher and added it slowly. I cannot stress this enough. Even going as slowly and gently as I did, I did a number on that perfectly situated sand. Oh well. You won't be able to tell what you've screwed up, not for awhile anyway. Welcome to your reward for all that work.

Congratulations my friend. You've started the cycle. Be prepared for the most agonizing wait of your time as a salt water tank owner.

I am now blogging.

Not an exciting first post, but everyone has to start somewhere. I needed a place to post my current obsessions and pictures, not for others per say, but for me. Therefore, do not expect grammar, spelling, or anything that makes sense. (Not that a public, widely read blog has one, or any, of those things.)

After eating in fine dining establishments and taking pictures of the food like a true backwaters Florida girl and having nowhere to post them and comment, I briefly considered a blog, but when I realized that I don't get out to fine dining establishments enough to warrant an entire blog about it, the idea died.

Then I was introduced to a new obsession. Salt water tanks.

I'd always been fairly impressed by the colorful fish available to the salt water tankers. I mean, look at fresh water tank fish. Brown, cream, the occasional blue-ish fish... and they just sit there. Watching you. Judging.

Then I saw a small (12g) salt water tank set up properly (though not very clean...). It had rock, water, and a small clownfish. I needn't describe a clownfish to you, but it wasn't just that he was pretty. He was interesting.

Following my finger, swimming to and fro like a dog wanting attention, I found that he was adorable (as should anyone when confronted with a happy clownfish). He had no idea he should be afraid and was just as interested in my finger as I was in him. My curiosity in him caused me to notice other things in the tank. At first glance, a rock covered in green gunk is not very appealing, but if you stare long enough, you notice other things. Tiny corals trying to fight the green invasion, tubes with feathers coming out, an oyster hidden on the side...

And this was from a tank with no coral! No cleanup crew! Nothing!

Well, such an interesting tank must be a ton of work. When I was told it wasn't, I scoffed. Surely there were things, maintenance I was unaware of, work that had to be done that would turn me off of the idea.

"No," I was assured, "the rocks do it all. Just watch and enjoy."

And so, my need to have one grew. I asked questions, read forums, surfed Wikipedia. There was so much to know! How had I never looked into this before?

With some help and generous donations, I now have a 3 gallon salt water tank cycling. If you have no interest in this, I suggest you look elsewhere for entertainment. This blog, while encompassing my hobbies as a whole, such as the very briefly mentioned fine dining hobby, will more likely than not be almost entirely about my up and coming salt water tank. About a month into cycling, I already have a long list of things to talk about.

That's for another day, another post. I will make it more appealing with pictures though, I promise.

Dee