I'm not using the sand; Giovanni's tank was "dead" (with the exception of hermits and such) for the past 8 months or so. The rock has a lot of corraline on it, really really purple, but I'm no good with a camera. It should look nicer once I fill the tank, the water clears, and I get my lights over it (2 weeks, my cousin is building the canopy). That's good though, because there is a slight bubble algae problem. I'm going to pick up some emerald crabs, along with some other cleaning critters at this next meeting, and that should help. The no lights factor should help too.
I don't think I need to add more rock, as there's at least 180lbs of it. It is very VERY cramped in there right now, as the tank was not full and I wanted to have all the rock submerged so it would live. Once its filled, then I can spread it out, and it will look full.
My refractometer should arrive today; I had to use a cheap hydrometer that I calibrated with my RO/DI water to make my first batches. My Stockman Standpipe (Mr. Stockman made it for me, I didn't want to screw it up :lol: ) is being shipped out on Monday. The tank should start looking like a tank by Friday. I'll have more pictures of equipment and stuff as it gets more organized; there is SO much stuff.
It would be cool to be put in the database
. So far I've spent only around $1,000, and after I sell stuff from Giovanni's setup ($2,000), I should only be spending around $400 on Giovanni's setup, so around $1,400 total before livestock. But I should be able to get some cheap corals at CTARS meetings
. So my budget plan has worked accordingly
