Obsession- Haunt to fill the mind. (webster's Dictionary) Yea that about sums up what this hobby has become to me. When I first became interested in saltwater tanks my wife was like, "I dont think so, it's to expensive and to much work, and I know you this is just a phase." 6 months later I am still Obsessed with the hobby, and she has come to realize that. It was supposed to be a Christmas present for me but like usual my wife could not hold it from me, and told me that she had gone to my
lfs and sat down and talked with them and told them what I wanted. They showed her how they had thier fish tanks setup and walked her through how a saltwater tank works. I really do love my
lfs people it's like I found a beautiful gem
lol. When I first got into saltwater I was putting my wife through nursing school so money was a little tight, so I could not really afford much. So I did the next best thing, I researched, researched, and researched. Being tight on money was probably the best thing that could have happened to me because if forced me to research. I know everyone likes the big tanks but I looked and looked until I found that the 29 gal. was just what I was looking for in a size. The thing is, is that I dont know what it is about saltwater tanks but I really dont feel the need for the big fish. I just love how there is so much going on in a marine enviroment even to the naked eye. there is a whole colony of life going on that is amazing. The thing is the reefs in the wild are dying at an incrediable rate and I feel it's going to be up to the average hobbiest to keep it alive through just what we are doing now people who have a nack for aniamal husbandry should keep up the good work, because you are really doing your part to help save this delicate ecosystem. Anyway sorry about the raving, I just feel very strong about the subject. So I already bought the tank and the
sump, got a great deal on my used
sump and well the tank is brand new. My wife for christmas bought me a used overflow box which is huge but hay it's more water volume. She also bought me a pump and a iron tank stand nothing fancy but its sturdy. My parents are giving me cash this year which is sweet, so that should buy my light. Work is giving me my ICP check for like 200 which is based on how well the company did for the year. That will buy me the protein
skimmer. I will be starting the cycling of my tank soon. I think I am going with about 2 in. live sand and 2 in. regular. I will be doing a base rock formation and seeding them with some
LR. I really wanted to do the whole thing from scratch, because then it seems more real for me, or that I am doing it myself, I cant explain it but thats what I want to do for some reason
lol, also going with all
LR is kind of expensive. I havent figured out what to put in the
sump as far as mechanical filtration is concerned. I no absoultely know bio-balls.
USA 
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