It’s Alive!

Sorry I have not posted in a few days to all of my (at most 3) readers.  The last post I put on was about our new inhabitants.  On Monday we added 3 banded trochus snails and 4 Mexican Red Tip Hermit crabs.  Well I am sad to say, that 2 of the sails passed away the following day (RIP).  I knew this was going to happen and actually did not mind if it since the bacteria they produce will help the tank cycle.  On Wednesday we got our first diatom bloom! exciting.  Diatom is a brown algae and the reason it is exciting is because it means that your tank is cycling correctly because there is enough nutrients for the algae to grow.  And since we finally got this bloom it means there is now enough food for a Narcissus snail which I have been waiting for.  These guys are really cool.  Then spend 90% of their lives under the sand and the cool part is that they have this little “periscope” they stick up out of the sand to see if there is any food and if there is, they pop up out of the sand to eat.   They are really interesting.  Well, I just brought our first one home to see how he does (eventually want 6 or so to eat all the diatom since its kind of unsightly).  Well, the second he got in the tank sure enough, gone into the sand.  Oh well, hope he comes up eventually so I can watch him move around.  He is white with a very cool looking shell.  The other 1 of the 3 that did not die on Tuesday is doing great! he is pretty fast and zips around the tank all day cleaning the glass and rock.  The red tip hermits are doing good as well, just doing their hermit thing.

I got some money for my birthday (which was yesterday) and used some of it to buy another strip of LEDs which are now installed in the tank.  They make it a little more shimmery and will help the coral glow when we finally get some.  Going to wait about another 2 week so or so to get our first first which will be a Nemo (Ocellated Clown fish)…tank is still cycling but I think after another 2 week it will be good to do.  Have to make sure the water stays in check as they are pretty pricey (about $30 each) and I want a pair of them.

Anyway, will update you soon.  Picture of the diatom bloom attached.  Until next time, just keep swimming!

p.s. you can see what inhabitants we have in our tank at any time by clicking here

 

Fingers crossed!

World Wide Corals is having their 5 year anniversary celebration this weekend.  I just went up there and purchase 11 raffle tickets at $1 each.  They are having 7 different raffles which drastically improves our chances of winning.  I placed 6 tickets in the raffle for a $200 marine animal gift card which would be great! will be a great start to add some fish and corals after we get the new tank set up.  I placed the other 5 tickets in the Clown Fish raffle for a pair of Clown Fish which would be great as well since I was planning on adding an anemone to the tank first.  I think we all know that clown fish love sea anemones 🙂

Keep your fingers crossed! and of course I will let you know if we win.  The drawing will be Sunday night at 6pm.

Also for their anniversary celebration they are having 3 people who are rather known for their scientific work and books on marine aquariums.  I am going to try to make it to all 3 of these over the next two days.  Should be rather beneficial to the Reef Aquarium virgins like us.

Will let you know what I learn.  Until then, just keep swimming!