just placed my order!

[elzool]

I have a 75g tank with 80 degree water at a sg of 1.024.
Now I'm just waiting.

I haven't picked up a tool at Sears yet, but I will tonight.

Anything else I should be ready with?

Tom Petty was right, the waiting is the hardest part.
wait... he may not have ever tried catching a mantis shrimp.

Wheee, I placed my order!

 

[flameangel88]

I've been trying to catch the mantis since sunday night and no luck. It gets smarter each time you try and the tool gets rusty after dipping in saltwater. Best thing is putting in a holding tank to get it. I'm sure you'll enjoy the pkg as we have.

 

[elzool]

I was thinking I'd have a rubbermaid container set up to place any rocks in that I think pesky critters are in.

Maybe that will help.

 

[flameangel88]

Especially with any rocks with holes in them.

 

[elzool]

How much water should I remove from my tank before putting in the sand and rock?

Would a quarter of the tank do?

 

[elzool]

Along with the water question, I have one more, for everyone.

How long after submitting your order through Richards site, did he get back to you?

 

[flameangel88]

Richard got back to me the same day.

As for water--since you have a rubbermaid fill it up while you check for rocks then fill the tank with sand and if water level comes up then take somemore out. I think I took out about 20% then fill if you need to.

 

[elzool]

Ahh, good thinking about the water... I was planning on filling another container just for the 'swishing'. Since I'll already have a container, that makes more sense to just use it.

Thanks!

Still no word from Mr Richard.

Maybe tomorrow.

 

[flameangel88]

He's good on email over the weekend. On my part 2 we corresponded over the weekend which I didn't expect a reply back. So you will probably get it Monday or Tuesday. Take it easy on your back and try to have someone to help at the airport as those boxes are back breakers.

 

[elzool]

whee doggie, it's on a ns flight this afternoon!

I cannot wait!

 

[beachroadbum]

awesome el!

 

[elzool]

Anyone know how long these packages can survive without care?
Mine is lost.

They bumped it off the original flight and no one has seen it since.

my poor package

 

[ratgrrl77]

did you get your package yet? As long as it is not left out in the heat/sun it should be ok for 2-3 days.

 

[elzool]

my luck, its sitting here in phoenix, outside, where it is currently ten PM and it's 85 outside the door of the air freight terminal and they still wont find it til' monday

 

[ratgrrl77]

hopefully not I'll keep my fingers crossed that they find it some where inside nice and cool.

 

[liverock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7318810#post7318810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by elzool
my luck, its sitting here in phoenix, outside, where it is currently ten PM and it's 85 outside the door of the air freight terminal and they still wont find it til' monday

Not to worry, this happens all the time, it went on a direct flight to PHX, but the plane had a mechanical problem, so they sent it to Vegas, and Vegas sent it to PHX this morning, and now you have it!

Which is why we pack everything in 5 -8mil bags, and pure 0"2 so it will be ok for days in the box, as long as there are no temperature issues....when I used to ship to south africa, one shipment took 5 days to get there and the rock made it!

TBS:rollface: :rollface: :rollface:

 

[elzool]

and now, it's in the tank
cloudy as heck, but that's clearing up

so far so good
pictures later

 

[elzool]

It's about 50% cloudy still.

I'm thinking after I get all the pumps, skimmers and whistles turned back on I'll start my first ammonia test.

Is there anything else I should be concerned about testing this early on?

Very few hitchikers that I saw.
Couple of little snails, at least one dark fuzzy crab I only saw for a second and a few worms.

It looked great going in. Pictures just do not do this rock justice.
Speaking of pictures, I don't have any yet.

 

[elzool]

Woke up this am, to four snails crawling around.

Have a cheap ammonia test that I am using.
Last night it registered between .2 and .3

Testing again right now. So far, it looks worse. Ten minutes to go on the timer. Oh well, I have water ready to go and flow.

How will I know if I have any bad shrimp or crabs?

 

[elzool]

Did a pwc this AM as the ammonia was at 1.2

Started posting my thoughts, musings and pictures in the TBS thread.