A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by sfsuphysics

Just a FYI, I wasn't complaining in a serious manner. In the same vein as people who look at previously mentioned tanks and have a webgasm over them, my comment about the driveway was more more stubble way of doing the same thing, have you ever seen someone comment about how great a driveway is? .

That said, I am no longer jealous, because I would seriously be freaked the hell out if a fricking mountain lion decided to sit in my back yard. I'll take the strays cats wandering around my neighborhood ANY DAY over that

No worries Pal. I knew you weren't being serious. But seriously though, living where I do - hence the name A Reef Tank in the Desert, it seems a little odd to have the hobby that we do.

Here's a few pictures of some of the wildlife that I have been able to snap pictures of this year out at the house. The photos aren't great as most are with my iPhone.

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[Reefocd]

Rut Roh.... Shouldn't have checked in on your thread just before bed. I'm gonna have nightmares of being eatin by those wild bores, cats, lizards and one eyed owl. Your own private Jurassic Park...

[dotcommer]

Great pics. You really are in the desert. They say living in Scottsdale is in the desert, but you definately top it there.

[dave.m]

Excellent pics! Thx very much for those. I had no idea there were wild boars in your area.

Dave.M

[Newbie Aquarist]

And to think when the doctor told me after I got out of the hospital there would be two choices to live to accommodate my injury. One was Arizona, the other was Florida. Now I'm second guessing my choice. But after seeing the snakes, maybe not.

[Made2Rock]

Wayne,

About hijacking Dan Day, you are on your own. I like wild life but not the overgrown kitten and venomous snakes. I'll stick with bambi and those nut chomping squirrels we have here.

Joe

[Newbie Aquarist]

Speaking of Dan Day???????

[Made2Rock]

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

Speaking of Dan Day???????

The boar turned over the truck and the kitten had sushi for a snack while the snake provided the musical entertainment.

My daily threats are a 4 lb yorkie that can actually bite a finger or a huskie that will cover you in fur. I usually have to deal with both at once when I get home.

Joe

[Newbie Aquarist]

Originally Posted by Made2Rock

The boar turned over the truck and the kitten had sushi for a snack while the snake provided the musical entertainment.

My daily threats are a 4 lb yorkie that can actually bite a finger or a huskie that will cover you in fur. I usually have to deal with both at once when I get home.

Joe

You're to much dude.

[kegogut]

Its not the overgrown kittens you would have to worry about,its the pack of wild pigs that will tear you apart. lol

[Allmost]

may I ask, what are some of the benefits of using natural salt water ?

mostly the Ionic balance ? or the bacteria and live foods ?

thank you for sharing your great coral reef tank with us

[aquaph8]

Originally Posted by dave.m

Excellent pics! Thx very much for those. I had no idea there were wild boars in your area.

Dave.M

They're not Boars, they are javelinas. Technically they aren't even pigs.

[Made2Rock]

Originally Posted by aquaph8

They're not Boars, they are javelinas. Technically they aren't even pigs.

Looks like bacon to me.

[aquaph8]

They don't smell like bacon, haha

[dave.m]

Had to look up "javelina". Correct correct name is "peccary". Another common term is "skunk pig".

Except at five o'clock, when it is known as a peccary daiquiri, doc.

Dave.M

[Made2Rock]

So what do we take away from all of this????

When you order 400 gallons of saltwater you end up with a kitten that skinks like a pig but tastes like a daiquiri when its 5 o'clock somewhere.

Cheers
Joe

[samson78945]

I spent the past week going through this entire blog. This tank is unreal. Like my dream with even more! I actually ordered a bunch of new corals because of this! Thank you for re-inspiring me in the hobby. One day I would love to have something like this!

Sam

[aquaph8]

Joe, I think you pretty much got it LOL

[alpineroush]

Awesome

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by MurphysLaw

You pretty much talked me into switching over to the Catalina water from Fishy Bizness. Ill probably pick some up next week. Nice Mt. Lion!

I am really tickled with the results of the Sea Water. Even on my system, I saw immediate results after a 100 gallon water change. Everything seemed to open up nicely!

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by aquaph8

Thats a beautiful cat Dan, I have yet to see a Mountain Lion in the wild but I have seen a few bobcats in the last couple years. The last one was walking right down Silverbell, you wont see any house cats wondering around in my neiborhood The desert looks beautiful behind your house.

Originally Posted by jjk_reef00

Wow what a beast! They have one at the desert museum and I remember looking at it and thinking that I never want to see one in the wild.

Thanks guys! You both know what a beautiful place Tucson and our surrounding desert is.

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by dave.m

A guy near here once had a small zoo behind his house, including a cougar that had been bred and raised in captivity - totally tamed. One day while he was cleaning the cougar's cage, the cat was resting on its perch and nonchalantly reached out and took a playful swipe at his leg - tore the Achilles tendon clean off. The power of these cats is tremendous. They do not belong in zoos and they certainly shouldn't be treated like house pets like that fool of a (former) zoo keeper did.

Dave.M

No question! I leave my dogs outside for hours at a time and don't worry them in the slightest. A forest ranger told me when we first moved out here that as long as we see Deer in the neighborhood (their natural food), we shouldn't need to worry. I used to worry about our little Cocker Spaniel - but that was with the Owls picking her up!

[danfeig]

Originally Posted by Reefocd

Rut Roh.... Shouldn't have checked in on your thread just before bed. I'm gonna have nightmares of being eatin by those wild bores, cats, lizards and one eyed owl. Your own private Jurassic Park...

Originally Posted by dotcommer

Great pics. You really are in the desert. They say living in Scottsdale is in the desert, but you definately top it there.

Originally Posted by dave.m

Excellent pics! Thx very much for those. I had no idea there were wild boars in your area.

Dave.M

Originally Posted by Newbie Aquarist

And to think when the doctor told me after I got out of the hospital there would be two choices to live to accommodate my injury. One was Arizona, the other was Florida. Now I'm second guessing my choice. But after seeing the snakes, maybe not.

Thanks guys. There is no where else that I would rather live!

[coralreefdoc]

Not exactly my area of expertise, though I do have some quality background knowledge of a wide variety of different land based species as well (Biology, many years), but be careful w the dogs outdoors, Dan. Don't get too lax/trusting with that mix/diversity of skilled predators at your doorstep.

While the bobcats/mountain lions definitely pose a serious threat, especially if it wernt for the native deer population as you mentioned, they are naturally very weary of human activity/interaction ... But, with that said, the coyotes, assuming you have a population in your area, are the opportunistic/instinctive predators which could easily pick off your K9s, uninhibitedly ..

On a positive note, I remember recently reading you have a number of Danner Mag-Drives currently operational/in service... Find feasible replacements for those inefficient water heaters and you'll indubitably notice a significant decrease in peak water temperature(s) within your system ! If you'd like any recommendations or to run something by me for a 2nd, educated/knowledgable/experienced, opinion Id be glad to help. Feel free to PM me