While all that was happening a few goodies arrived:

[B]2 x Vortech mp40 pumps[/B]
I really like the mp10 I have on my nano, so I figured this tank deserved 2 mp40s.

[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/mp40s.jpg[/IMG]

[B]2 x EHEIM Jager Aquarium Thermostat Heater 200W[/B]
I read that having 2 heaters that can heat half the tank volume each is better (safer!) than having one that can do everything. So I bought 2 of these...

It took a few more days of dust and swearing... the aquascape is finally complete!!

Front
[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/dry-scape.jpg[/IMG]

Left
[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/dry-scape-L.jpg[/IMG]

Right
[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/dry-scape-R.jpg[/IMG]

Sideways
[IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161/TheAaarrrggg/dry-scape-3q.jpg[/IMG]...

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JgkStL9oj0[/url]

So, off to the airport again for the live-sand, shipped straight from the seabed, since they didn't have any in stock last week. Monday gathering and shipment for a Tuesday delivery. Not bad.

Of course, adding the sand to a running tank was ... a mess, and the inevitable sandstorm makes a mockery of the crystal-clear water we could see before, so now it looks like:

[CENTER][IMG]http://www.0x0000ff.com/imgs/fishtank/blurry-mess.jpg[/IMG] ... [IMG]http://www.0x0000ff.com/imgs/fishtank/signs-of-life.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER]...

I'd read about using rods, or "pegging" for aquascapes, but never actually braved it before. I ordered a 10lb bucket of [URL="http://www.marcorocks.com/bondingmortar.aspx"]E-Marco-400 aquascaping mortar[/URL] and picked up some yellow fiberglass "driveway markers" from Lowes (as recommended by numerous [URL="http://www.tcmas.org/article_aquascaping_part2.php"]aquascaping guides[/URL].)

My (wonderful!) husband then got to work drilling holes...