Tank Thread Tank reached 38 years old...in 2009!

[Paul B]

There is a chance that I may have to take my tank down.* I don't know yet.* I need back surgery, which I assume is better than front surgery.* I have a real man condition from doing Real Man heavy work all my life and I don't mean carrying Supermodels on my shoulder as they don't weigh much.* I have 5 or 6 degenerative disks with compression fractures and everything is inflamed and some nerves are crushed. (sissy nerves)
I don't know yet as I am still going for shots in my spine with vodka/Grand Marnier/Prizapro but that isn't working real great yet.
I need to fix this so I can take care of my wife and she is all upset.

If I get this done, and I may go to the hospital for special surgery in Manhattan, (We passed it in my boat yesterday and boating on the East River through Hells Gate was probably not too prudent with this condition) I may need a month of rehabilitation (which is sissy bending and twisting like ballet dancers) My tank won't last a month if I am not here, my pipefish especially frown on that.
I can't change the water now and probably not for a year so we will see how that works out.*

Of course none of this may happen, they may say I am not candidate for surgery and should just run for President as I may be a candidate for that, but of course I would institute a draft where everyone would have to go into the army and that would include Men, Women, infants, Popes, and especially Liberals.

 

[4Fish]

Hey Paul. I know this might sound all boogee, but have you thought about using a tank maintenance service? I think about my tank as well. My reef is 20+ years old, I am 51, and I figured I could keep my tank going for another 20 yeas (I will be
71). Then what. Those buckets of salt do not get any lighter!!

 

[Paul B]

4Fish, I don't think I would use a service as my tank is not a normal tank. I don't worry about changing the water because I think the tank will be fine for a year like that. I think more about the feeding. I hatch shrimp every day for the many small fish I have and shuck clams for most of the rest of the fish besides buy worms all the time. My wife could probably feed them if I make up the food but there is also things like the LEDs sometimes croak and need some soldering, the pump for the Water cooled LED system sometimes needs to come apart for cleaning. The skimmer top needs cleaning and sometimes, like weekly I need to suck on the water top off line to get the water started because it gets air in it. It's all small silly stuff but any one of those would crash the tank.
I am not sure yet if I will need to be away for recovery or even if they are going to operate, I am just trying to prepare.
But thanks for the advice and I will look into it. I have a friend who owns a LFS that does that.
I also have neighbors that feed my tank while I am away but they know nothing about fish tanks.
I can get one of those to help me change water if I am home because I do have to carry buckets which I can still do, but it is a little painful. Right now I have a bunch of pain meds in my system so if I carried a bucket to my tank, I may throw it in my wife's underwear draw and she frowns on that.

 

[Paul B]

I took friends here yesterday (which was not the best place to go with a screwed up back but the pain/anti inflammation pills seem to work even though I didn't know if I was driving my boat or a plane as they make me a little stupefied) I let my friend do most of the driving.
That is the Manhattan Bridge and behind it is the Brooklyn Bridge. We went to the Statue of liberty just past here.
We try to go every year and when we get there we blast the National Anthem because I love my country.

 

[LongIslandAndy]

Sorry to hear about your back Paul, if you take the tank down could I have the UG filter

 

[Paul B]

No, it is going in the Smithsonian.

 

[Paul B]

It seems we are moving. We put a deposit on a much smaller place than my house is now. It is 100 yards from a beach so if I decide to bring my tank, I can fill it with NSW. The Sound there is 27 miles wide so it is actually the Atlantic Ocean water and very clean.
Now I have to give away so much extra stuff that I am never going to use and this week I will start throwing out rock and stuff I will never use. Eheim filters, bottles etc.


Anyone need any tropical plants that are about 7' tall and 7' wide? I won't be able to use them.

 

[LongIslandAndy]

Congrats Paul, will you be closer to Ronkonkoma

 

[Paul B]

Much closer than I am now. I will be out at exit 71 on the LIE in Baiting Hollow right near the water on the north shore. It's a condo but it has a huge garage and work shop about 25X18'. My closest friend my entire life bought the unit next door.
I need to find a marina for my boat and possibly a LFS

 

[xclusive252]

Wanted to say I went over Pauls house to pick up some dive gear he gave me (Gear at the shop getting serviced so I can use it hopefully this season) and his tank is great. He gave me a ton of ideas and is an amazing person. Some of his inventions are very kool and to talk reef and military brought back some memories. He also has a green thumb and also gave me some ideas for my garden. All and all great guy great tank and a beautiful home.

 

[Paul B]

Thanks Eddie, I hope you can use some of that stuff. It was a Pleasure meeting you.
Did the dive shop tell you the stuff was antiques?

 

[Paul B]

My bluestripe pipefish completely grew back his tail that was bitten to just a stump by the much larger Janss Pipefish. I really love these bluestripes and they are probably my favorite fish. I wish I kept records because I don't know how old they are.
They can really suck up new born brine shrimp.
You can see here how his tail grew back.

 

[Paul B]

If anybody wants this giant fern free, let me know. If I move, and it looks like I will, I need to move this fern which is in a 15 gallon tub. It will die in the winter and needs to be brought inside. I don't have the room in my new house but I kept it inside my house during the last 3 winters. It seems to like indoors better as it needs shade or the tips of the leaves burn. It is about 6' high and 7' wide. I also have another palm looking thing with the same problems.

 

[Paul B]

I spend a lot of time interviewing Supermodels now to take care of my tank when I travel.

 

[Paul B]

I just gave away a 30' extension ladder for the move that I think is 95% certain we are doing. Now I have a bunch of tools and other things to unload as I can't bring almost any of this to the new condo. If anyone needs older car tools like timing lights, dwell meters, compression gages, ring compressors, cylinder hones, flexible dwell adjusters and long point adjusters, I will give them to you for free as I will not be using them. I was a GM Mechanic fifty years ago so I have tools for those cars as well as new cars but most of them I will keep for now.

 

[Paul B]

I priced a 125 gallon tank but I think I will build the new stand. I don't like those Girly Man iron stands they sell to people who don't know any better. I also want to build a base rock that will span the 6' width of the tank and keep my reef structure off the gravel. Hopefully it will only touch the gravel in 6 places. I have been wanting to do that for many years but couldn't do it on a fully functioning reef. If I move everything I will first set up a tank in the new location which is 55 miles away. I plan to fill it half way with NSW from up the block. Then I will drive to this house and remove half the rock and some of the gravel and water. Drive out there and put that stuff in to get the bacteria going. Then make another trip, maybe with a friend who has another car and bring the rest of the rock, gravel and livestock. I will wash my gravel in NSW and put it in on my new Reverse UG filter.
I don't know if that new tank will use a sump as I have not decided on that yet.
I will bring my existing, water cooled LED lights but I will have to solder in another row of LEDs as the new tank is 6" wider. That is going to be a problem because I have to remove a few LEDs to solder on new pipe.
I will also bring my DIY, 5' Skimmer and algae trough. The algae trough is mainly for dissipating the ozone after the skimmer.
This is the plan anyway. If it works out like that depends on if I can keep this house a little while as I move to the new place.
This may be in February and that room the tank will be in is not heated and I will have to add heat at the same time I install the tank .


Oh and my male flasher wrasse jumped out this morning. I will give up on those because I lost 3 of them so far from jumping. As they get into spawning mode, they are so excited, that they jump for joy.

 

[Paul B]

I am sure I will be needing help when I move this stuff. Especially the livestock as it will be winter and I have to wash off my gravel in NSW which is right near there.
I am not sure I have enough buckets, and strength to move all this stuff and keep it warm at the same time, but I will start figuring out my method of doing this.


(Andy, get your waders ready) :biggrin:

 

[TUSI]

I am sure I will be needing help when I move this stuff. Especially the livestock as it will be winter and I have to wash off my gravel in NSW which is right near there.
I am not sure I have enough buckets, and strength to move all this stuff and keep it warm at the same time, but I will start figuring out my method of doing this.


(Andy, get your waders ready) :biggrin:

Paul let me know when your making the tank move and I'll give you a hand. I'm not to far from you and if you need buckets I got some. Also have a van to move heavy stuff if you need anything heavy moved. I'm in construction so you name it I got it if it makes life easy for you.

 

[Paul B]

TUSI. Thank you, that is extremely nice. You are almost walking distance from me but the tank has to go to Baiting Hollow out on exit 71.
If I need help, I will call you. The van may be needed as I have large tubs that I can put rocks and gravel in. I want to bring them to Iron Pier Beach to rinse off the gravel and throw it in the tank to get the bacteria going again. The corals, if any are left I can take my time gluing in.

 

[TUSI]

TUSI. Thank you, that is extremely nice. You are almost walking distance from me but the tank has to go to Baiting Hollow out on exit 71.
If I need help, I will call you. The van may be needed as I have large tubs that I can put rocks and gravel in. I want to bring them to Iron Pier Beach to rinse off the gravel and throw it in the tank to get the bacteria going again. The corals, if any are left I can take my time gluing in.

No problem Paul I can go to 71 if need be.,just let me know