So this weekend is the final stage of my journey before getting thee marine take. My little gold fish that started me off are moving to a large pond.
It's felt like reaching this point has taken years I thats because I started this process in my head when I got my first fish and its always been leading here.
So whats in store next?
I'll be placing my order for the tank,lights, skimmer & power head although some of the parts will take a few weeks to arrive Im going going to get very excited when I here I have a package to collect.
As one of my many hobbies Im also a keen photographer turning my hand to many different types of of photography including astro photography. Recently while searching the web I came across some photo's taken at night showing an amazing natural phenomena a Bioluminescent bloom in Hong Kong, this is caused by Noctiluca scintillans. Commonly known as the Sea Sparkle,[1] and also published as Noctiluca miliaris, is a free-living non-parasitic marine-dwelling species of dinoflagellate that exhibits bioluminescence when disturbed (popularly known as mareel). Its bioluminescence is produced throughout the cytoplasm of this single-celled protist, by a luciferin-luciferase reaction in thousands of spherically shaped organelles, called scintillons. Nonluminescent populations within the genusNoctiluca lack these scintillons.
There are around 12 species in this family of small sharks. Longtail carpet sharks and bamboo sharks are usually less than four feet in length. They are found in shallow tropical waters in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
They have long, cylindrical bodies with tails that are longer than their bodies. They have barbels on their snouts.
Many of the sharks in this family have spotted and banded markings on their bodies. They feed on the ocean floor and eat small fish and crustaceans.
Unfortunately these are not reef friendly as they will eat any crustacean in the aquarium. It stays relatively small, but requires at least a 180 gallon or larger aquarium as an adult.
Recently a captive Bamboo shark recently set a record for sperm storage of 45 months after laying a fertilised egg nearly three and a half years after it could have mated for more information visit BBC Earth.
Sorry its been a long while since I posted anything its been a crazy few months. I won a trip to New York with work (which made a little dent in the fund for spending money), I had to rush around trying to do the Christmas shop all while trying to manage 4 aquariums.
So whats changed so far? Well I was let down by the electrician coming to fit the new electrical out let need for the aquarium, Im now searching trade books for someone to do the job.
My female fighting fish succumbed to to old age an being chased by the male so I introduced two new younger females & one of my gold fish has just developed Pop eye as its only one eye I'm treating it as an injury but I will also keep an eye on the water quality
The usual routine of water changes, feeding, cleaning has also kept me busy so I've not had much time to do any more research. Although I have had the odd look at new fish when I have been out at my LFS and crossing off ones I fell in love with as they were un suitable.
Unfortunately no matter what we do we will always have an impact on our environment, from global warming caused by emission, litter people drop or that end's up in our sea's or accidental damage caused by divers. Our food chain also has effect's our reefs some fishing techniques brakes corals and other valuable breeding/nursery areas for smaller fish which eventually help feed bigger predators up at the top of the chain.
But there are things that the people who live around and work on the Caribbean's Mesoamerica Reef are trying to do to help protect the second largest reef in the world.
In between my research and current tank maintenance I like to take some time out to watch some TV for inspiration and also watch some video clips on you tube for more information on what other people are doing, how they do upgrades things like that. I thought I'd share some of my favourite fish related shows and Youtube channels.
Lets start with the TV shows: more for entertainment than learning something.
Tanked on Discovery Animal Plant, this might just be where I started saying to the family I want a marine aquarium. The tanks that Bret and Wade produce are stunning a bit like Orange county choppers where they do a lot of themed tanks. Their large installs can be seen in some amazing public places but they have made some as well as private installs.
Fish Tank Kings NAT GEO Wild, another great show amazing looking tanks they also do large public and private installations this team has a resident Marine Biologist Francis who is also a spokes person for Fluval.
River monsters Jeremy Wade this show has me hooked in many ways. Jeremy Wade follows up stories how fish are involved with the deaths of people on the river he thens fish's to find these river monsters. It's really gripping TV and the range of fish he catch's is amazing and terrifying.
Youtube Channels.
Please do not use these as your only source of information and my journey is really to give those about to take the step them selfs an idea of what to look for and hopefully encourage you to take the plunge. Use multiple sources, talk to your LFS and if you are lucky enough to have a local marine aquarium group talk to them you never know they may even help get you started. Also see my post of what I'm reading for books.
Mr Saltwater Tank TV a very helpful channel Mark share a wealth of knowledge tips and Product reiews. He also shares videos of his clients builds including a 6500 gallon outdoor saltwater pond and his own own home install. The Friday tips are worth a watch also.
Bulk Reef Supply.com Another great channel much like Mr Saltwater Tank covering DIY projects, how tons and product reviews.
I subscribe to both of the above channels and find the advice pretty much is the same.
