Novahobbies' 37g Seahorse Tank Journal
- Thread starter novahobbies
- Start date
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Hey Nova......any progress??
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Hey! I wish I had more to report - being unemployed stinks. I'm picking up jobs as I can to make ends meet, but it doesn't leave much for fun money. So the tanks have been in maintenance mode for a while now. The blueberry is still alive, but he's not doing well -- I'm sorry to say that my attempts at different foods have been pretty much for naught. Coral frenzy, Rod's frozen coral food, rotifers,etc have all been only halfheartedly received. We'll see. It's still alive, but there has been some loss on branches.
The seahorse tank has a snail and hermit crew, plus a diamond goby. The other corals (GSP, zoas, and palys) are all doing fine, and growing a bit. I just got word that a local store of mine has barnacle blennies in stock - may have to go look at those little guys. I figure the next "big" purchase I make will be the horses themselves....they'll be a congratulations to me gift after I catch a freakin JOB.
The seahorse tank has a snail and hermit crew, plus a diamond goby. The other corals (GSP, zoas, and palys) are all doing fine, and growing a bit. I just got word that a local store of mine has barnacle blennies in stock - may have to go look at those little guys. I figure the next "big" purchase I make will be the horses themselves....they'll be a congratulations to me gift after I catch a freakin JOB.
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Yeah, sorry your having a tough time. I am still employed, but have had to deal with a significant pay cut. Times are bad financially for most and I try to remain thankful I still have a job. People are getting laid off left and right around here. Hopefully, something will change for the better soon.
I'll be praying things get better for you. Amy
I'll be praying things get better for you. Amy
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
It's tough, but I'm still trying to be positive about it. I'm using the time to do some things I wouldn't have normally had time to do. I've brushed up on my HTML, resurrected an old website I used to run back in my trekkie geekdom days (not so long ago, mind you..) and I'm getting started on a couple projects that may lead to some money down the road. More importantly for my own peace of mind, I'm writing again. Bits and bobs, and who knows what will be submitted (let alone published!), but it's good for the narcissist/masochist in me.
The tanks are good (see my other post in the tips and techniques thread) but I admit I'd be thrilled if I could swing a couple hundred for a pair of H. erectus horses. The tank is definitely ready for them, and I love how relaxing they are to watch. It'll happen soon enough, I'm sure.
It's tough, but I'm still trying to be positive about it. I'm using the time to do some things I wouldn't have normally had time to do. I've brushed up on my HTML, resurrected an old website I used to run back in my trekkie geekdom days (not so long ago, mind you..) and I'm getting started on a couple projects that may lead to some money down the road. More importantly for my own peace of mind, I'm writing again. Bits and bobs, and who knows what will be submitted (let alone published!), but it's good for the narcissist/masochist in me.
The tanks are good (see my other post in the tips and techniques thread) but I admit I'd be thrilled if I could swing a couple hundred for a pair of H. erectus horses. The tank is definitely ready for them, and I love how relaxing they are to watch. It'll happen soon enough, I'm sure.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
OK, I failed. The Blueberry is no more. All the other corals are doing great, but the Blueberry just went downhill quickly. So it'll probably be photosynthetic gorgs for me from now on. I don't think I'll be trying that one again...too rare of a creature (and too expensive!!) to risk losing another. On the other hand, the adventures with the blueberry gave me an idea. I wonder if there's a market for realistic artificial blueberry gorgs.......?
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Sorry about your Blueberry.
I was waiting to see how you did with it, to decide whether or not I wanted to try. I guess I won't.
I agree with you. Too beautiful, rare and expensive!
I was waiting to see how you did with it, to decide whether or not I wanted to try. I guess I won't.
I agree with you. Too beautiful, rare and expensive!
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Yeah. It stinks, but there it is. I was willing to risk one specimen, and I had hoped I had enough nutrients available for feeding. Truth is, I don't think we can mix the high nutrient level (and thus high nitrates in our small tanks) with seahorses. I hope somebody figures out how to do it, but until then maybe this species should be better left in a non-photosynthetic reef tank only...for experts.
On the other hand, I've been drawing out plans for molding and casting faux varieties. I have been molding and casting models out of my garage since I was 16, and I have a lot of experience with silicones and resins. I keep thinking of using a resin core for the branches, tinted maroon, and have the core encased in dragon skin silicone that has a clear blue tint. I can "cast" the polyps in the dragon skin silicone ( Dragon skin is a VERY soft and flexible rubber that is used for prosthetics in the movie industry, among other things) and they can be tinted a berry blue as well. I can even make them so they fluoresce a llittle under our 420nm blue lights. Hmm. I think I need to see if there's a market for this in the coral forum...it would be a very labor-intensive project....
On the other hand, I've been drawing out plans for molding and casting faux varieties. I have been molding and casting models out of my garage since I was 16, and I have a lot of experience with silicones and resins. I keep thinking of using a resin core for the branches, tinted maroon, and have the core encased in dragon skin silicone that has a clear blue tint. I can "cast" the polyps in the dragon skin silicone ( Dragon skin is a VERY soft and flexible rubber that is used for prosthetics in the movie industry, among other things) and they can be tinted a berry blue as well. I can even make them so they fluoresce a llittle under our 420nm blue lights. Hmm. I think I need to see if there's a market for this in the coral forum...it would be a very labor-intensive project....
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
She's in the tank! Actually, she's been in the tank for about a month, but the earlier pics are hiding somewhere in the hard drive. Here's the recent shots....
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
yes. :-( She's lonely, but no plans for a new friend for a while....
gill again68
Active Member
Just read the whole darn thing! To much to say. Sorry about the job and hope that all goes well. I like the fact that you are finding the positives in a bad time. Was thinking about your Power head and thought you might make a foam mold around the Power head and hide it in the rock work? "I wonder if there's a market for realistic artificial blueberry gorgs.......?" how is that project going?
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Heh, thanks for the kind words. You sort of have to think positive in these hard times...otherwise you're just cryin' in your pretzels all day long, and that gets counterproductive pretty quickly.
As for your thought about the powerhead....you know, it's funny you mentioned that. I have been working on a magnetic faux rock frag rack that is made of polyresin and sticks to the glass like a koralia powerhead, and I too thought about making something similar to hide a magnetic powerhead. I've even carved the basic shape out of foam, but lacking the funds for the rubber mold, I shelved it for the time being. The blueberry gorgonian project is in a similar design limbo. I drew up the specs, priced the material, and I realized that it was cost prohibitive right now to even build a test shot - the prototype alone would cost me about $200.00 to make, so I'll shelve that until I have some spare funds to devote to it. The basic design is rather simple - I would make one mold of a gorgonian "fan" about 5 by 5 inches. I would cast 4 of these in deep reddish orange urethane resin, then encapsulate each fan in a thin skin of clear silicone with a hint of blue tint. Each fan would be glued next to each other, alternating sides so they don't look identical, and joined at a resin rock base with epoxy. The polyps would have to be pressure cast in blue dragon skin rubber and individually glued with extra silicone on the final model. I can mix a small amount of UV tint into the rubber to make them fluoresce a little under the actinic light.
Nah, I haven't been thinking about that project much...why do you ask?
Anyway...one slow step at a time. If you're interested in the magnetic rocks, here's a few pictures of one I recently finished:
Nah, I haven't been thinking about that project much...why do you ask?
Anyway...one slow step at a time. If you're interested in the magnetic rocks, here's a few pictures of one I recently finished:
gill again68
Active Member
WOW really like the rocks. I think I am going to try to create something for a Nano that I am trying to get going. Keep the ideas flowing on your other project.
You may come up with some more ideas in the down time. Ill be glad to take all the samples you dont like
Sorry to hear about the move and shutting down the big tank. Picking between 2 fish, how will you do that? I know take them both and set up another tank!
You may come up with some more ideas in the down time. Ill be glad to take all the samples you dont like
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by 2Quills
http:///forum/post/3293688
Just dropped in to check out your set up. The wifes been wanting me to build her a Sea Horse tank one of these day so I'm just trying to get some ideas for the future. You've got some really creative ideas...and a beautiful tank btw.
You know, that's the same way I got started in seahorses: we were gifted with a new tank, and while we were discussing stock list options my wife mentioned "seahorses." We were lucky that the tank we were given was actually pretty perfect for 2 or 3 horses, so off we went. My advice to you would be to read through the top three stickies on these boards, check out the big seahorse org forum, and have fun. I have a basic setup article I wrote for FAMA (before they went under...grrr...) that I can send you too if you like.
http:///forum/post/3293688
Just dropped in to check out your set up. The wifes been wanting me to build her a Sea Horse tank one of these day so I'm just trying to get some ideas for the future. You've got some really creative ideas...and a beautiful tank btw.
You know, that's the same way I got started in seahorses: we were gifted with a new tank, and while we were discussing stock list options my wife mentioned "seahorses." We were lucky that the tank we were given was actually pretty perfect for 2 or 3 horses, so off we went. My advice to you would be to read through the top three stickies on these boards, check out the big seahorse org forum, and have fun. I have a basic setup article I wrote for FAMA (before they went under...grrr...) that I can send you too if you like.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Gill again68
http:///forum/post/3293826
WOW really like the rocks. I think I am going to try to create something for a Nano that I am trying to get going. Keep the ideas flowing on your other project. You may come up with some more ideas in the down time. Ill be glad to take all the samples you dont like
Sorry to hear about the move and shutting down the big tank. Picking between 2 fish, how will you do that? I know take them both and set up another tank!
Hmmm...... how about pre-made backgrounds that are custom made for the standard "nano" all-in-ones? Nah..... probably would end up looking too generic. If you want one of these magnarocks though just PM me; I have a few here being finished up.
Yeah, not happy about having to pick one of the two mandarins, but you know ya gotta do what ya gotta do. There's definitely no room for another tank....as it is I'm trying to find some way of keeping some of my nicer LR in a tote with a powerhead. A year is a long time for that kind of storage, though.
http:///forum/post/3293826
WOW really like the rocks. I think I am going to try to create something for a Nano that I am trying to get going. Keep the ideas flowing on your other project.
You may come up with some more ideas in the down time. Ill be glad to take all the samples you dont like
Hmmm...... how about pre-made backgrounds that are custom made for the standard "nano" all-in-ones? Nah..... probably would end up looking too generic. If you want one of these magnarocks though just PM me; I have a few here being finished up.
Yeah, not happy about having to pick one of the two mandarins, but you know ya gotta do what ya gotta do. There's definitely no room for another tank....as it is I'm trying to find some way of keeping some of my nicer LR in a tote with a powerhead. A year is a long time for that kind of storage, though.
gill again68
Active Member
Would you mind sending me the basic set up article you wrote?