myxsptlk Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 ...with these little guys Went to organism with a friend to buy food for them, and we had a look around and saw a little clownfish. Friend: Did you know that XXXXX (one of our other friends) is thinking of buying this clown and setting up a nano marine tank? Me: Really?? Damn that's so cool, I wanna do it too. Friend: DO IT!!! Me: Uhrm... but I'm kinda broke now Friend to John at organism: Do you have any little tanks that would be suitable for a nano marine? John: Yea man there's a tank over there that's just nice for one :-? and so.... While it was cycling, the poor clown died in the store so I've been waiting forever another one (two actually) to swim into Christchurch. And you guys know what happens when you sit and wait. You start to think... Maybe I need a skimmer. So I went out to buy a skimmer, which was twice the height of my tank, so I couldn't actually get it to "hang on back". More thinking... Maybe I can buy a canister filter to suck the water through the skimmer back into the tank? So I went out to buy a fluval. Then the girlfriend steps in and says why do you have all these ugly things all over the place? So the skimmer and filter have to be put away. In the meantime weekly trips back to organism bore the same news. "Nah not in yet man". So more thinking. Me to same friend who got me into this mess: I have a skimmer and canister filter I can't use. The skimmer's too big for the tank. Idiot friend who I'm amazingly still friends with: You need a bigger tank man... I'll give you the number for inside oceans. He made my tank and it's excellent Me: Wut? Really? Go away... Friend: Yea you need it! More thinking... Next day at work Me to conch: Do you think I need a bigger tank cos a 4ft's not too expensive is it? Conch in all his wisdom: Yea that little tank of yours is not gonna get very far. If you really want anemones and corals and all the fancy stuff, a 4 foot is really the minimum that most people recommend. You might as well do it while your tank's still cycling before there's any fish in it. Why bother thinking anymore... Picked up the phone and rang Tim at inside oceans (excellent guy by the way) Me: I'd like a 4 foot tank please Tim: Yea sure man no worries (didn't actually go down like this but the end result is the same) Soooooooooo....... Muahahah! And the girlfriend doesn't know yet... :oops: I stashed it in a mate's garage and have been spending the weekends building the lid and stand (she works weekends, long long hours) It'll just show up one day and this is what I imagine will happen. Girlfriend: #@$#@%$#@#$#@ Me: I got it cheap! Second hand! I saved money by building the stand and lid myself! (Why bother... I'm gonna get it anyway) So there you have it, from two little goldfish! I wish I had more time though cos everything's taking so long! But hopefully everything will be up and running soon. More about the tank: 4ft, with black background, corner overflow also painted black with eggcrate over it to prevent the little fishies taking a ride. I highly reccommend Tim, even an empty tank from him will bring a smile to your face. Oh and meet the family: Guessed it was the easiest way to take a good closeup of them, while they were still being floated. They came in yesterday. See the little guy in the corner zooming in the check out his new tank mates Just managed to snap him as he whipped past And this is where they'll be until the new tank's set up Wish me luck guys! Don't overthink! Don't listen to your friends who live their dreams through your wallet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Is that tank the Hailea one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 I love the story, very entertainingly written! I have recently become a huge fan of four foot tanks, the fish get to move around much more naturally with more space, and they are easier to look after. Good luck with your girlfriend...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxsptlk Posted May 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Is that tank the Hailea one? Yup that's the one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Yeah great story. One day I want to set up a marine tank. I love the clowns they look so cool. Now I want a marine more than ever :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxsptlk Posted May 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Good luck with your girlfriend...! Thanks! Hopefully it looks nice and pretty so she won't mind too much Now I want a marine more than ever Got a convincing friend? I can lend you mine, that guy's converted (pushed) more people into fish than I know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 good old conch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sapphire Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Great story!! Can't wait for the next installment...... !! We have a RSM but would love a 4 ft+ one day.... Have you decided on what else you're going to have in it yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxsptlk Posted May 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 At the moment, I have these three little fish and someone's holding a blue tang for me. I'm thinking of getting a school of chromis, 4 or 5, and if it's at all possible a pair of black clowns because they look absolutely awesome, and that'll be all. Won't have too much rockwork in there so the fish have plenty of space to swim around, plus it annoys me when I can't find my fish. The first night I got the wrasse he disappeared completely and I don't have all that much rocks. Out came all the buckets and fish food and bags I have under the tank in case he jumped out. But after awhile he showed up again. I watched him one morning and saw where he crawled out from so I know where his little sleeping hole is. I never even knew he could fit in there. Anyway hope someone can answer this. Do clowns sleep at all?? My clowns seem to be swimming all the time. Even at night when the lights go out. Clowns with anemones sleep in their anemones don't they? Where do they sleep if they don't have one? An anemone won't survive for very long in the little tank so should I provide something fake and swishy for them to host and sleep in? If anyone read my other post, one of them have been swimming along the perimeter of the tank at the water surface, with his nose above the water level. He's slowed down a bit now and swims down more often. But he hasn't eaten much since yesterday. The other clown and the wrasse eat heaps but this guy just wants to swim and swim and swim in the same direction on the same path. I'm getting a bit worried. Also, did anyone pm me? Hehe I got an email saying i got a new pm but my inbox doesn't have anything new. Cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sapphire Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 Sounds nice - I love B & W clowns (who doesn't?!). Also like your idea of chromis - they look great in groups (how many do you have to have to call it a school?!) I have one clown in my RSM and when I first got it it spent each night swimming right at the top of the tank in the back corner and would spend the day near a xenia until it found the anemone...... Then it spent nearly all it's time near it or in it and sleeps in it - the first night it slept in it I came out to look and it was so still I ended up poking it to make sure it was alive :oops: It looks much more "asleep" inthe aemone than it did when it was at the top of the tank. It will also defend the anemone from the CBB and the flame angel and will attempt to dig it out if it tries to retract under the substrate. Last week for the first time I saw it grab a piece of mussel that was meant for the star fish and took it right to the anemone and fed it. Anyway - although clowns are common etc and everyone says "Nemo" when they see one I think they are very entertaining and interactive and certianly worthwhile keeping. Hope all goes well with your tank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilson Posted May 25, 2008 Report Share Posted May 25, 2008 plus it annoys me when I can't find my fish. The first night I got the wrasse he disappeared completely and I don't have all that much rocks. Out came all the buckets and fish food and bags I have under the tank in case he jumped out. But after awhile he showed up again. I watched him one morning and saw where he crawled out from so I know where his little sleeping hole is. I never even knew he could fit in there. same thing happened to me when i got my 6line wrasse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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