Hello friends - need some help.

Dear Friends, for those of you who know me - you know I have a habit of putting myself a little too much into my work (I fight the IRS daily)

In the past several months I have been working way too much, too much stress and that means health issues and no time for the tank.

Anyway, I showed my 13 year old how to tend to the tank (180 gallon reef, been set up and stable for double digit years). over a month ago he goofed up and reduced the salinity in the tank to less than half where it should have been. All but a few corals died, most the fish and I wanted to take it down. My wife asked me to rebuild it, no real passion to do so after watching what I built over the years melt away.

I agreed to restore the parameters and then talk, it was getting there but a few days ago he goofed up again and accidentally drained the sump dry (do't ask, but he drained 70 gallons). I replaced $500 in burnt out pumps and got it going again - after spending $1,200 to replace the lights, more salt mix, media and RO/DI cartridges. ugh.

He is back on track and hopefully past the learning curve (fingers crossed).

It breaks my heart to look at my tank right now - but the boy is trying hard and learning, so I will continue to teach him and deal with the set backs.

I always wanted a predator tank, the family is interested as well (we are all suba divers)

So....my question. Does anyone know of a web site that lists all the potential predator fish that we might be able to keep ? we are several months away from stocking, he needs to show me quality care and maintain pristine conditions for at least 3 months before I let him advance. but I would like to plan the tank out since I know we will stock it all at once. I visited various sites but I would really like to find something dedicated to predator tanks. As divers, my kids (13 and 11) demand a puffer and lion fish - but I am intersted in seeing all the potential choices.

I hope all of you are well - I do miss chatting with my friends !!

 

You might want to check out Renee's site.

LionfishLair.com - Welcome to the Jungle...

 

+1 to this

 

thanks for the link guys.

 

The Fish Only & Aggressive Tanks on RC is where I get most of my info. Do you have any idea what types of predators you have in mind? Personally, I'd stay away from anything venomous with a youngster around.

A FOWLR tank requires so much less maintenance than a reef. Once you have everything set up and running, there's not much to it. My youngest is 15, and I can't imagine teaching him how to maintain the reef. The FOWLR tank would be much more rewarding because most of the upkeep is feeding the fish.

That's what really counts.

If you need any help, LMK. I have a 180 and a 300, only because I did the work upfront to keep the maintenance to a minimum. Good luck to you!

 

Hi Crimson Ghost

just wanted to add, that a 13 year old willing to take the responsibility sounds like a worth while investment to me

I know its a pain when things go wrong, but most of us have been there during the learning curve

It is good that you have decided to stick with it and build up his knowledge and experience

I on the other hand, only have myself to blame for issues I have along the way with my set ups LOL?

 

John...I am wagging my finger at you because you said you were going to work less and destress after you had your heart attack! Don't make me come down there!

 

+1
I dont want to have to dig up that thread but I will if I have to!

 

This stuck in my head since yesterday. The advantage of doing a FOWLR with a 13 year old, is that pristine conditions are not necessary. I know what you mean about the care side of it, though. There is a good amount of responsibility, but with a lower maintenance system, your son will be able to enjoy it more than just look at it as work.

Same deal with expenses, you don't need a $1,200 light fixture for a fish tank. The less light, the less algae, the less maintenance. My 300 is lit by one PAR 30 bulb. Looks great, no algae.

 

I know, I know....I was pretty good for a little while. I am going to get better soon and work less. I started leaving on time (2 hour drive home still) and then I get back to work from home. We lost some staff, and with the economy that way it is -- well, you know the story.

I spent $1,200 on a lot of things. A back up return pump, replacement bulbs for my fixture, media...ect.

FOWLR is what the tank might become. There are sparce corals that somehow survived, I am amazed too - he nearly turned this into a fresh water tank for a day.

Oh well. Condition requirements aside, he needs to elarn how to take care of the tank at the level that he has seen me do for years. Once he masters that then I will let him stock it, not before.

Surprisingly my refugium survived as well, it reduced in size of course - but its still there. the largest coral was my 2.5 foot toad stool, probably stood 10" tall and spanned 2.5 feet across. We watched it melt into a pile of goo - I didn't touch it, at the end we were left with 4 golf ball sized peices of it. I moved them around the reef and they seem content, polyps fully extended. I'll update down the line....