The Tank

Some 18 months after getting our saltwater reef aquarium we decided it was time to really get it going. I've spent the last year or so trying to learn the ins and outs of the tank and not much has been happening in it. So, for Valentine's, we paid a visit to the store where we bought it and made a plan to really get the tank going. We added some more live rock, sand, got a big cleanup crew of conchs, snails, starfish, crabs and shrimp and picked out some fish. I even added some corals and an anemone (that drives me nut with all of its moving around the tank)! 

The kids and Matt named all the fish, after Top Gun characters (who came up with that idea I wonder?). 

We now have a beautiful display tank with the following fish. Their names are in parantheses and the star denotes who has claimed it as their favorite fish--

Hippo Tang (Maverick) *Matt

Clown Tang (Jester)

Yellow Tang (Lotus) *Emma Claire

Tomato Clown (Goose) *Chloe

Clarkii Clown (Sundown) *Oliver

We also have 4 small damsels (one of which has always been in the tank from setup) and 2 sandsifting gobys. 

Goose, Lotus and Jester. 

Maverick (aka Dory)

Ocala

We snuck away for a family vacation to Florida to watch Chloe race at the 2nd round of The Florida Winter Tour in Ocala. The weather was lovely, though it has been a very mild northeast winter this year (and I'm not complaining). 

For some reason, I didn't get too many photos, but of course, most of the time we were at the track. The kids did have fun. Oliver is old enough now that he can go and find pals to play with and Emma Claire is making her own pals too. 

Oliver and I on the plane. Chloe and Matt went down a day ahead to set up and start practice.

Emma Claire and her team BCR pals. 

At the hotel. Oliver and Emma Claire loved playing mini golf.

Big sister brought Emma Claire a cupcake from the driver's dinner and she was one happy, chocolate-covered girl.