I want to give many thanks to all of you at Talking Reef. I love this web sight; it gives a small town feel with an international flare. All the folks here are so helpful, and make me feel they are genuinely interested in my reef. I really never thought my tank could win. I have never really won anything like this before. And I want to thank all of you who voted for my tank.
My tank is a 30 gal cube. I started it in April 2005. I had just sold my 140 gal and took some frags an some of my favorite corals. Started it with 30 lbs LS and 15 lbs LR. The system is very basic HOB fudge, DIYskimmer, no sump or overflow. Never really had any problems with it (so far). Just some Zoo eating newts. (But I would not call that a problem.)
Full Tank Shot
Last edited by gwen_o_lyn; 10-05-2006 at 09:28 PM.
My tank is one year and 7 months old. I started this tank after I had sold my 140 gal LPS tank. I sold my larger tank because we would be moving in a little over a year or so. My thought was, why move such a large tank. But the reality was I could not live without a saltwater tank. I have had saltwater aquariums since 1976, when I just happened in a LFS “Pisces World” and had my first glimpses of under the sea.
This began the journey that I’m still on. With my eyes wide open, I saved up and bought my first saltwater aquarium. It was a 55-gallon tank with pure crushed coral and many beautiful pieces of bleached coral. I must admit I had some plastic plants in there too. Equipment in those day consisted of an under gravel filter, canister filter and regular T8 florescent bulbs or should I say bulb.
The network of information back then was so small. It consisted of fellow aquarists hanging out at the LFS. We would all go down and swap stories of dead and overflow till the shop closed. When I get involved with something I go head long into it. I began to read all the books I could get my hands on. I soon was being called an expert by those other aquarists. I hardly was, in fact the more I read the more I realized what I did not know.
I met someone who was upgrading their tank and I became the proud owner of a 300-gallon saltwater system. I had spent so much time at the LFS that they ask if I would like to work there. I thought this must be the most perfect job. Working there gave me a wealth of information.
Off subject one day in the store I was cleaning the tanks and I spotted a very small octopus. I would put a piece of shrimp in the palm of my hand and it would come over and take the food out of my hand. Someone came into the store and I showed him how friendly it was. Much to my surprise his jaw dropped and he said that it was very poisonous. After he left I looked it up in a book and yes it was a blue ring octopus. After that I became an advocate to inform everyone what was poisonous and what was not.
I spent 3 years working there till I got fired. Before you go thinking anything hear me out. I was fired because the owner over heard me recommending that the customer not buy a certain fish. The fish was not suited for there tank. The owner thought I should sell any and everything no matter what. I had helped build a large clientèle of saltwater customers so I really didn’t understand why I was fired, plus I had never been fired before. So I sat at home wondering what was up.
About two weeks later I received a phone call from a local company that maintained aquariums. He found out that they fired me and wanted me to work for him. So my journey continues. As the story goes I worked for this company for 3 years and ended up buying it. After a name change “Aqua Knowledge” was born.
While caring for all these tanks I had about 120 customers. I gained knowledge of compatibilities and what worked and what did not. I kept tanks all along when I had the business. I had a $100.00 a week habit of buying from the local wholesalers. And it seems as I look back there were many different fish available then today. Anyway I sold my business back in 1987 and moved to the mountains in Calif. I still kept a tank going but this was before Internet buying was in full force. So I just maintained what I had without much thought. I had a maroon clown that was over ten years old.
Anyway after about 2000 I started to look into the information on the net, and much to my surprise things have changed in the aquarium world. Interest was sparked once again, or should I say it was a full-blown forest fire!!!!
The learning curve was steep. I read everything I could get my hand on. I went out and got my 140 gal.
My 29 cube started when I sold my 140. I took a few of my favorite corals, and a few frags.
Here is a picture of it when I started in April 05.
I already had LPS and some soft corals and a few stonies. I thought it was quite easy and needed more of a challenge. So I started my nano cube SPS dominated tank. By growing up my coral gave me time to adjust and learn more about the interaction of ALK, CA, Mag, and Ph. I thought by watching it grow I could see the effects more. The equipment list when I first started goes as follows.
29 gal cube 30 lbs LS 25 lbs LR I used egg crate wrapped with plastic to form a plenum Phosphate reactor Canister filter w/ carbon 150 watt MH 10K bulb + 2 PC 65 watt actinic I have a wave maker that powers two power heads 350-watt heater
I did make some changes to my system along the way: -I added a HOBfuge with Cheto and Miracle Mud -Removed the phosphate reactor (took up to much room in the tank) -Added phosphate remover to the canister filter with the carbon. And a bag of MM -Added a dosing pump to the system -350 watt heater -Same lights -DIY skimmer
Maintenance: -I do 25% water changes 1 x week (faithfully) -I dose ESV b-ionic Low Ph formula (summer) -And the regular formula in the (winter) do to indoor Co2 -I change the carbon and PO4 remover 1 x month, change the bag of MM 1 x 6 months -I also change my PC every six months and the MH about every 8 or 9 months.
Congratulations Victoria! You deserved this win hands down. Like, hands down into the water wet to your elbows and beyond.
I am proud of your accomplisments and must also compliment you on your coral growth and photography skills. If I could get my arms through cyberspace i'd give you a hug. As I can't do that, you will have to settle for this... !!!
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
I want to compliment the Mods for a great formatting job on this thread.
Thanks, Guys and Dolls! (In reference to the old musical.)
__________________ Amphibious
Reaching my 70th BD, I realize that I cannot help but grow old. However, I refuse to grow up!!! My wife would tell you, "He may be 70 but, He's going on 17". Life is wonderful with a woman like that.
ryan 
!!!
