Another day gone without much work done ... read a couple of chapters of Apley and promptly dozed off in the afternoon. =
Well, just back from Henry's, bought the super-expensive Deltec underwater epoxy. Had to somehow glue some corals onto the rocks, since those irritating snails kept bulldozing them off the ledge. One of my corals once plummeted 10inches down, straight into the arms of my rose anemone. It was a good buy though!! I tried the normal type of epoxy, Salley's, and it was not sticky at all underwater, and had a disgusting off-white colour. Now, Deltec's cures in 3 hours into a nice deep purple colour which almost matches that of the coralline algae that's normally found on live rock, and it was so sticky I did everything underwater and the things haven't dropped off yet (touch wood!!!) It occasionally gives off some powdery substance before it dries though, and tints the water purple. I trust the protein skimmer will get the colouration out of the tank by tomorrow, but oddly enough, some of the gorgonians seemed to like it! My 3 new gorgs, which are shy, have started to open since then .. Hmmm.

Did some beachcombing at Changi beach yesterday, and I poached a spotted cowrie home! Don't think it's reef-safe though; they are reported to eat sponges and polyps, so it's now in my sump together with Octopus (yes, that's her name). Just saw Henry's fantastic octopus, it's a super-rare species that's yellow with black stripes all over, and it commands a 3-digit price!! Actually, mine too - just that mine has a decimal point right after the first digit. ;p I believe Underwater World's going to purchase that nice octopus soon ..

And, talking about Underwater World. Some cranky old woman from Sentosa gave me a call and offered an invitation-only free booth to exhibit my plants. Hmm .. had to turn her down, since the exhibition is in Feb, but she was so insistant. I'm suspecting a hidden agenda. No way I'm showing off my plants to let them profit from it. The last time I was kind enough to lend the Science Centre my darling Darlingtonia (cobra lily, another alpine carnivorous plant which I had to keep in a transparent fridge) it died the next day. No more. Not that it was particularly rare or expensive, it's just about the only live Darlingtonia in SE Asia at least. Had to return the fridge to Yakult with thanks, what a waste. These people are crazy - they think I'm some sort of commercial plant-breeder? Just a hobbyist, for goodness' sake ... they need to find something better to do or keep plants themselves.

Ah, I've yet to go down to Far East to get my african violets, Mr. Ye. I'm thinking of the shocking pink ones, need some plants in my room.