moving to hawaii...need advice

Hi all,

I just received my letter of acceptance to the marine biology program at University of Hawaii at Manoa. Although I am very excited to move there, I cannot bring my reef tank with me. I have a few options:

This is what my tank has:
Fish
*Yellow Tang
*2 Clownfish
*Royal Gramma
*1 green chromis

Inverts
*1 Brittle star
*1 cleaner shrimp
*5 hermit crabs
*snails
*derasa clam that went from 3 inches to 6 inches in 3 months

Coral:
*soft and SPS

My parents are retired now so they don't want to extensively take care of a whole 55 gallon reef tank. But I would like to add that while attending University of Iowa for my freshman year my mom did a really good job of taking care of it when it was at home. Currently the tank sits in a laboratory in the biology department at Iowa. I am not too keen on selling everything so I am wondering on what to keep and what to sell. The biggest issue is having to make my parents feed the fish or dose every day. I was thinking I could just keep the tang so he could clean up the live rock, but will that be enough food? Is there anything else you would get rid of? I just don't want to start over again because the system I have right now is close to perfect. I haven't changed the water in 6 months.

thanks,

Andy

 

I don't understand your dilemma.

You can't take it.

Your parents don't want it.

What options are you asking advise on? Sell it. EDIT: to the biology department, or gift it to them.

 

That's what I was wondering. I don't see many options.

If you haven't changed the water in 6 months it sounds like you aren't doing much maintenance anyhow. Sell it dude. You're moving to Hawaii. There are worse predicaments to be in. You can buy a new tank later. Or just sell the livestock and store some equipment.

 

Congrats on the acceptance. I agree with the previous posts.

 

Sell everything. Study your butt off. SCUBA the reef and enjoy natures fish tank. Graduate. Get a good job. Buy a huge tank with that fat paycheck when you are ready. ;D

 

i couldnt have put it any better

 

well my mom loves my fish tank almost as much I do, and my dad told me how he loved learning about everything. Basically, they don't mind, but they just don't want to be feeding fish every day, but I guess I could just sell it. When I said I haven't changed the water in 6 months, I meant because the water quality is perfect. Before this school year I haven't tested for anything before because every time I took it in to my LFS there was nothing wrong with my water parameters (and they used legit tests no test strips). The alkalinity, pH, nitrate, and nitrites never changed. I know it's a really naive thing to do, but I did try testing this year just to see how much iodine, magnesium, and calcium to add....now I just have a drip and add accordingly (I don't test anymore). My point is, I have some pretty tough SPS corals that were given to me in dull colors...they're thriving now. I had a green bird's nest 1/2'' frag that is the size of a grapefruit after 8 months, so why test. I'm just asking what you guys would do and I guess that selling would be best....I just don't want all the time and money I put into it to waste. Im just wondering if you think a yellow tang can live on the algae and feedings that aren't every day. (I could get an automatic feeder)

 

Personally, while I see what you are saying and I would like to keep my tank up when I go off to college, I would keep the unnecessary maintenance on the tank down to a minimum. Moving so far away, like you are, I would have no clue where the future might lead me.

If your parents are willing to take on the work and routine maintenance/upkeep of the tank, plus any random unexpected problems that may occur, then you could leave it at home.

I think donating to the university's biology department is a very good idea. As long as it is kept up, which I am sure it could be, it would be a better place for the tank, and an excellent addition to the biology department.

 

I have a suggestion for you...... hire me to come out to Hawaii and I will move your tank and care for it!!!! LOL

congrats to you and good luck

 

Hey I'm a junior at UH. Im a biology major. You can start up a new tank here super fast, but of course the corals you can get here are close to none. Doesn't matter, I snorkel most of the time anyway. Hope you transition well!