July 29th 2008 we went up to the local pet shop and I've been eyeballing this beautiful tank they have set up on the counter...Me, at this point, not doing a whole lot of research in the saltwater field decide to talk to one of the sales clerks. He seems very intelligent in the saltwater field letting me know what I can and cannot have depending on what type of tank I want to set up. So $600 later I'm walking out of the pet shop with all of the equipment I need for this minature saltwater aquarium that was "suppose" to cost $300. Heheh, just had to buy everything else he suggested. After doing much research and reading many forums I have come close to a fish expert. Well my husband tells me I have OCD when it comes to fish and the people at work think I'm crazy when I rattle on and on about them. heheheh...It's really nice when you meet some of your own kind, but that's another story...
Anyways, a couple months later and another few hundred dollars, the tank turned out amazing. I even entered a pic. of it in last months contest. Well, all good things must come to an end...The tank is in our bedroom and one evening we're trying to go to bed and I hear water constantly flowing in the back. It's not due to lack of water from evaporation, there is a leak somewhere. The plastic baffle on the back wall that seperates the tank from the filter was starting to leak! Can you believe that? Not even two months old... They apparently didn't use enough silicone or they're just trying to cut corners and produce mass quantities of these tanks. Thank goodness we kept the paperwork and I called the company back. They actually didn't give us any problems. All I had to do was exchange the old tank for a new one at the local pet shop I purchased it from. :::Oh, is that all?:: After, maticulously placing each rock and each coral in the perfect place.
We exchanged the old for the new tank and I had to empty all of the rock and fish out into a bucket. Then scoop all of the sand out and put it in the new tank.(In the process I think I discovered some baby shrimp, so that was exciting) Then place all the rock back in the new tank, fill the tank, put the coral in, then finally the fish. What a headache... At least no one gave me a hard time... Here's the pics of my project. If your thinking about buying the 29G Oceanic Biocube, I'm not trying to deter, I mean I love the tank, it's gorgeous. I just hope you don't have the same problem and if you do make sure you call the company and get it replaced asap.
Before
Some of the curious creatures
Process of taking the old down
Everything doesn't look so pretty in a bucket
Uh oh, they're back in the tank. Now we've got turf wars! Between fishfish gobies and jawfish
Dusky Jawfish cleaning out his home
Now he's got to move the rockwork around
The final product.