Waterworld Revisited
Late in 2005 Sam and I took a leisurely walk around Cartimar. We were thinking of getting an aquarium again, like we did a few years back. Back then we had a 20-gallon tank that housed freshwater fish, which required minimal care, and took up little but quite attractive space in our small living room. When we were in Cartimar amidst all the pet shops we saw something that we hadn’t thought of before, aquarium that could house saltwater fish.
It was fascinating, to think that we could bring the sea into our home. We did a bit of research on the internet to see if we were up to the actual work entailed in setting up and maintaining a saltwater tank. Looking back on it now, I suppose we were driven more by the newness of having a shared hobby, optimistically thinking that we could handle whatever lay ahead in our hobbyists’ lives.
We talked to a few shop owners and got a few quotes. After a few more days of thinking and looking at how much we were going to put into the activity we decided on a 75-gallon tank with all the attending equipment. And fish. We left it all up to the dealer, who had extensive experience setting up aquaria in some of the posh places in Metro Manila.
That was in December of 2005. After half a year of constant internet research, trips to BioResearch, buying monitoring equipment and water treatment substances, we experienced the first major setback, a contagious disease had spread through the tank and decimated its inhabitants. We had to wash the tank out with vinegar and leave it out to dry.
And then we tried again. After a few months of a revitalized tank, Typhoon Milenyo happened, and the several days of no power and not enough pumping of air by hand through the aerators sent the aquarium inhabintants to fish heaven. After that we accepted defeat and took everything down and put them away in boxes.
We still have the tank in the garage, though. We don’t have plans of selling it or the quarantine tank or any of the aquarium equipment which we still have in storage. I’m thinking maybe when Sam and I retire, we can spend all the time the aquarium needs from us. It’s no easy job, and next time we’ll know better.
When we had pets
I had often wondered how it would be like to raise a pet within the confines of city living. I imagine it would require a delicate balance between one’s welfare and the animal(s) in question. We live in a stand alone house and once kept a 75-gallon saltwater tank for several months, and most of our weekends then were spent shopping for pet supplies and scouring the internet for advice.
It came to a point when all my husband and I could think about were the fish and the tank and what we needed to do to keep them happy and thriving. We thought we were doing a pretty good job despite the hassles of having trucks full of seawater shipped to the house and the alternative method which was to use tap water and saltwater mix. Then came Typhoon Milenyo.
The days of power outages were what did the tank in. We were taking turns pumping air into the tank through the air hoses, but after a few days during which the fish went to the big blue ocean where all good fish go, we knew it was time to accept defeat.
The tanks are still in the garage, stocked upside down to avoid dirt build-up. We’re keeping it there on the chance that one day—when I’m retired or something—we can start all over again.
Weekend Animal Humor
You need to wait a bit, just let it run. This is funny, I promise you.
For real animals, there are new aquarium photos on the Aquablog. Just spent the weekend cleaning out the big tank, did a bit of redecoration. I think the fish like it.
New Photo Blog!
Finally! We have decided to put all the aquarium pics and info on a separate blog (and hopefully have it listed with the aquarists blog directories too). The AquaBlog is what we call it, and in it you will find some of the best photos we’ve taken of the two tanks we have at home and the fantastic creatures that live in them.
The blog also contains (or will contain, as we are still working on it) information the fish in the photos. The information is straight from the two main websites that we frequent for fish information, Marine Depot Live and The Marine Center. There will also be notes on our personal experiences while taking care of these fabulous fishes.
Here’s hoping there are other aspiring aquarists out there who might take the plunge and start a saltwater tank. Here’s to the chance to share info and experiences, and even fish!
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