Earthquake damage finally got the better

[duanes]

if you see something you may want, better buy it cause it could be 6 months to a year before you see one again.

I'm a consummate beach scavenger, and go looking for stuff for tanks almost every day.

This morning this branch appeared, almost as long as the tank.

I hit Guam on my way to do a stint in Viet Nam, although I'll admit, the entire layover was spent in a bar.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Nice finding. You got free what pet stores will charge $30-60 for.

 

[duanes]

Considering your climate that allows you to keep fish outside year round, I'm always surprised that you don't keep a few stock tank "ponds", and/or make a few plywood tanks. I think either option would be more earthquake-resistant than all-glass construction.

I have considered this, and "if" I found keeping koi satisfying, it could be an option (I have kept them in the past, but they don't stimulate my loins the way cichlids do)

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/pond/koi%20and%20goldfish/.highres/IMG_3468_zpsa9bf21a3.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

But the cichlids of the Darian in Panama are my obsession, andI don't find viewing them (and most wild type fish) from above very interesting.
In the photo from a Cenote in Mexico, the M uropthalmus just look like generic cichlids and.....

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/Mexico/Azul/.highres/491ca6f0-74e5-4203-a270-25f63f1ef02a_zpsb848e42a.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

The pond (300 gal Rubbermaid) idea may happen yet (especially if another earthquake destroys this tank), or if the cichlids out grow these tanks, and because I do find keeping water lilies and mangrove equally fascinating.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/pond/lilies/.highres/002-7.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

I would imagine the mangroves I have now, will eventually out grow the 126 gal sump.

 

[cockroach]

A real PITA when a tank busts but it's always nice to find a good replacement and even more fun setting it up.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

I will say that I now feel duanes' pain more than I ever did. Just had a tank bust, but fortunately like duanes I have a spare tank to put the fish in and the fix is on the way.

Good luck with your mangrove plants duanes.

 

[mrrobxc]

Good luck duanes .

 

[duanes]

Patience is not one of my strong suits, but...with drilling a tank, important.
The template must be securely stuck to the glass to hold the drill bit in place.

Then a line to provide cooling water, here the ribbed tube will send and pour water over the hole area, to, and while the panel is being drilled.

And since tomorrow is a trip to the mainland, getting all PVC parts is also best done ahead of time.

So at this point, branches, some sand (put in predetermined soon to be planted corners) have been added along with enough water to reach 1/8 volume, and a couple ferrestrrial starter plants temporarily stuck in the wet sand.

 

[duanes]

Yesterday my new diamond drill bit, and new bulkheads arrived on the mainland.
The water plant was just fixed, so this morning, it was time to drill the tank.

New bulkheads attached.

Above inside the tank, below outside.

and PVC friction fit, to measure tank, to sump connections.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Are those scratch marks on the tank?

 

[aussieman57]

Looks like splatter from drilling to me.