I know you're supposed to inspect a new saltwater tank and its inhabitants every couple of days, but I think I'm going a little bit overboard! I check it probably every hour that I'm home.
I did it. I switched my 30-gallon to a 75. Can you believe it? I had to, there was no way I was going to fit clownfish comfortably into such a small structure.
I'm just so excited to have everything in my 75-gallon saltwater aquarium finally in place. I'd love to add more---but it's enough for now. It's about all I can manage.
No problems yet. The two clownfish (yes, two--I buckled down and bought a second) get along with each other quite well. I had one, Ollie, but even though I checked and fed Ollie religiously, I still felt like he was bored and lonely in tank. I know fish don't have feelings or at least I can't tell if they do--but it seemed to me he was sad.
So he got a brother...or a sister! Apparently, something I just found out...clownfish can change gender! So I guess they're not brother and sister after all, but mates because they probably will mate and then I'll have tiny little Ocellari floating all over the tank.
I thought of the perfect gender neutral name and it's a fairly unique one too. Kai. It's the new hip name. All the celebs are doing it. ;-)
Will I have to buy an even bigger tank? Oh no, didn't think that far ahead yet! I honestly can't believe I even bought the 75-gallon one but this has become more fun than I thought!
Should I be careful about this? I mean could the big fish actually eat the babies? I've heard something like this before but does this actually happen? Somebody please let me know!
Periodic water changes are becoming necessary and lucky for me, we just had expert Peter Cunningham, who runs the esteemed Aquarists Online with father John, write a post about this very concept on our site. Two or three separate water changesmeans unplugging my new heater, of course, cleaning filters and the protein skimmer, and replacing dirty pads or other filters. Pumps, powerheads, all gotta get done.
I think I'll buy a new aquarium cleaner because I've heard stories of Windex gone wrong and I've been told never, never, NEVER use it on a tank. (Yes, I pathetically almost did that and luckily a fellow tank aficianado stopped me just in time.)
I'm learning, I'm learning...
I probably will make many mistakes, but that's what all of you are for and I hope fellow aquarists and new friends will help me along the way.
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