Since I have made a couple of posts about my tank build, I should say who I am
My name is Diana and I reside in beautiful Bragg Creek Alberta. I have two wonderful Rottweilers and an English Staffordshire bull terrier. I am married to talented husband Frank and we own a tile company. I love ATVs, motorcycles, 4x4s and of course marine aquariums.
I got into this hobby at the end of November 2008...
We bought our house in Bragg Creek, and the previous owners were moving back to Alaska. He had a 44g algae infested marine tank with a Foxface and four damselfish. I was asked if I wanted it, and I said yes of course. I really had no clue what I was getting myself into. I was left with the tank, food, an ancient book and expired testing kits. The tank was backed into a huge window and had no backing it. I could hardly see poor Ed the Foxface, so I commenced cleaning and syphoning. The tank looked spactacular!!!
First lesson learned, ammonia, nitates and nitrites, nobody died. I had many tearful nights doing huge water changes and had no internet access or phone. I brought my water in for Colby at Elite to test, and he said my water was toxic and to change 50% ASAP, so I did, as well as bought new test kits.
The tank was cracked and the Ehiem filter stopped pumping air into the tank and the new fish (boxfish & cowfish) died on me. I was so mad we bought a Rena II filter but it worked very well. Then I learned about lighting, live rock, corals and many other things after I joined this forum back in February. We bohgt a 55 gallon and had new corals, and fish, things were thriving. Then I ended up in the hospital with a super virus in my lungs. I came home to all hell broken loose. I had Ich in the tank and although I tried my best to treat it, I lost another cowfish, boxfish, and a bunch or corals (corals could not take the emergency move to the old tank). I took all the rocks, coral and snails out and treated the display with copper for 4 weeks.
I had already bought a 260 gallon tank from a member here, and it sat there until we had to cut it apart to get it out of his basement in May. After the Ich outbreak I wanted nothing to with aquariums since I felt it was my fault for getting sick and they depended on ME to keep them healthy. However the tank was bought and paid for already. The 260 gallon was a challenge since we could not find anyone who could get it out, or move it for any amount of money and insure it if it broke. It took two full nights to cut it apart, but afterwards, my husband I alone, were able to move it home. It sat until tewo weeks ago apart since we are renovating and also wanted to enjoy what summer we were granted this year.
So here I am, still a newbie, but smart enough to know that things must be done properly the first time. The glass on the front is still not on the tank and we are building a background, as well as retaining walls inside. The 70g sump is with Colby being divided for the skimmer and everything else it needs. We still want it to be plumbed into the water lines on reverse osmosis, with everything in the basement, below the display. The pumps and filters that came with the tank will not be good enough for this, so wit seems to be the norm in this hobby). There is still so much that has to be done, it get intimidating at times. I am glad to have this forum as a wealth of knowledge for a newbie like myself.
Nice to be a part of the forums!