180 build from scratch!

[michika]

Everything is really expensive in Canada compared to the States. Speaking only about livestock though, most of the highly prized fish come to Vancouver and that are diverted elsewhere, the US, Japan, etc. where the fish will be sure to get the best price. Canada gets last pick on a lot of things, but sometimes we get quite a few gems. Locally you are looking at about $70-$120 for a SMALL regal tang, less then 2". Mail order is maybe $40, and the same goes for a few local stores, but stock is always low.

I picked up my doctor tang for quite cheap because nobody knew what it was when it came in. Its all luck of the draw and first one in line up here.

 

[psteeleb]

I guess I don't understand. A regal tang at $120 is way more then the states, that I understand, but the mail order for $40 sounds about the same and is way less then your LFS. Maybe the PBT being less then mail order is just an exceptional buy? I think mail order in the states is often 50-60 but can be 70-80 seems like a seasonal thing but not sure (priced without shipping, sales maybe 40+S&H). In our LFS's they tend to be about 75% higher which is understandable.

 

[michika]

I'm thinking its an exceptional buy in this case. Mis-classfied or uncommon tangs are also exceptional buys here in town. Unknown tangs generally go for $20-$40.

Even salt is considerably cheaper by mail order, and its coming from a company that also has a brick and morter location. That is another Canadian quirk. Sometimes it just flat out doesn't make any sense at all!

A long time ago I decided that if I ever had a frag business I would sell for $10 a frag under 3", and never more then $50 for a small colony. When it comes down to it prices here, or at least in Alberta, everything is expensive in this hobby. If it isn't the LFS prices that get you, its the mail order plus shipping costs.

 

[michika]

So the ghetto milk jug refugium is doing well, its full already

The sump is finished, the tape is off, and its just waiting to be drilled. We will drill and install it after we move.

I picked up these two clams (this is at the store, and without the MH light on yet.

Just 'cause its cool, the Stonefish that is at the store. I call him Oscar, or Garbage Guts.

Here is the powder blue, and the orange shoulder tang

Feeding time

This is when Kevin put his hand in the tank to put my clams in

 

[michika]

I picked a total of 4 clams; 2 croceas, 1 maxima, and 1 squamosa

The green clam

Its hard to see in this poor photo, but its got blue dots all over the mantle

A previously purchased clam that looked good today.

I can tell I have low dKH again, I have cyano on the sand. We replaced the plugged check valve on the kalk. reactor so its up and running again. Kevin also played around with the calcium reactor when we got home, and we'll be putting it back online tonight.

 

[michika]

I just got home from practice, and my doctor tang had jumped out of the tank, and right into an empty 5g bucket. This tang was top of the food chain, and wasn't getting grief from anyone, not even the new additions. I'm furious, this tank seems to lend itself to jumpers, first my original Vlamingi and now my prized doctorfish. I am so upset over this.

 

[melev]

 

[psteeleb]

sorry to hear about the tangs, I love those fish.

and great looking clams

 

[jnarowe]

sorry to hear that. it's pretty unusual for tangs to jump isn't it?

 

[maroun.c]

Sorry to hear about your tang Catherine

 

[michika]

This morning I figured out what probably happened. I fed pellets and the blond naso pre-emptively tried to get the food by charging at the surface. The Naso came HALF! out of the water right at the food container. I am thinking that since the Doctor and the Naso hung out together a lot and showed the same behavior, that the doctor could have done the same thing but with some nori. We found nori stuck on the corpse...

The netting is going back on the tank asap.

 

[marlin_dory]

I have a question when u built the tank y didnt u lift the bottom glass piece and have the sides support the weight because on garf.org its says to to lift the bottom pane up 1/4 of an inch y did u put the panes on top of the bottom piece

 

[marlin_dory]

I have a question when u built the tank y didnt u lift the bottom glass piece and have the sides support the weight because on garf.org its says to to lift the bottom pane up 1/4 of an inch y did u put the panes on top of the bottom piece

 

[michika]

I am pretty sure that Kevin decided to do it that way for stability and strength. He consulted GARF, our local tank builder and a few other sources online and in person.

 

[maroun.c]

The three tanks and sump I had custom made all came witht the side glasses on the bottom too.

 

[michika]

I personally feel more safe with the glass resting on the bottom. When they don't I am perpetually worried that the bottom is going to fall through. A friend of ours had a 230g go by having the bottom falling though, as well the "builder" cheaped out and went with two thinner panes of glass rather then one single pane in the right size.

Kevin has told me that once we move, and once the big tank is on its way, that we will find another doctor tang.

Yesterday while I was counting buckets and preparing for the move, I realized that both my gigas, and my largest derasa aren't going to fit in their old containers for transportation. I have to go find someone who will eat 2 buckets of ice cream for me.

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13401611#post13401611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
I have to go find someone who will eat 2 buckets of ice cream for me.

haha - got any Blue Bell?

 

[jimgldn]

Nice clams!

 

[michika]

I am debating trying to bribe our neighbors since I always see them outside on their steps sharing ice cream. Hmmm...how strange would that be if some woman came up and offered you ice cream to eat, for free.

Thank you jimgldn!

 

[michika]

I have the opportunity to pick up a Mata tang. Anyone know anything about their personalities, or know someone who has or is currently keeping one?