Slowtwitch Posted February 10, 2016 Share Posted February 10, 2016 I think you need a possum wrasse to eliminate your pods. Biology over chemistry. Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 Thanks for all the suggestions! I think I'm going to start slow, and try dipping just one zoa rock that's small and fairly easy to get out. I think there's more going on with the zoas than just the amphipods, so doing the dip will help me see if there are immediate signs of improvement. In the long run, I'll probably have to put some kind of small wrasse in there at least temporarily to cut down on the amphipods. Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 I pulled the smallest zoa rock out of the tank and gave it a five minute dip in the Reef Prime stuff. A couple good sized amphipods came off, along with a whole bunch of very small critters that I can't identify because they're so small. I took a few pics and I'll see if I can zoom in the see what they are. Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 Here's a macro shot of the bottom of the dip container. For scale, the amphipod in the upper right is about 1/4" long. I can't see anything that's an obvious pest besides amphipods and bristle worms, but I'm far from an expert. Most of it just looks like detritus to me. Post Dip Stuff by TeenyReef, on Flickr Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 12, 2016 Author Share Posted February 12, 2016 I've seen no bad side effects from doing the dip last night. When I got home this evening, most of the zoas were open, but it's hard to say if they were improved. It will take a few days to see if it actually made any difference. Link to comment
vlangel Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 I've seen no bad side effects from doing the dip last night. When I got home this evening, most of the zoas were open, but it's hard to say if they were improved. It will take a few days to see if it actually made any difference. Wishing you and your zoas the best! Link to comment
metrokat Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Amphipods will self regulate when their nutrients are exhausted, but a predator might help. Did they send the reef primer for free? I know they send the polyp booster and reef roids monthly but I have those products anyway and I was wondering if they send other products to try. Are you on their reef pro page? Link to comment
vlangel Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Hey teeny, now that I turned one of my 5.5g feeder shrimp tank into an honest to goodness macro/softie display aquarium, I should probably read through your tank of the month write up to see how one really cares for a pico tank! Link to comment
dropped Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 Do you ever worry about testing anything other than Alk, Mg, Ca? Seems we are both getting a few SPS with harder to keep colors such as purple, blue. Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 14, 2016 Author Share Posted February 14, 2016 Wishing you and your zoas the best! Hey teeny, now that I turned one of my 5.5g feeder shrimp tank into an honest to goodness macro/softie display aquarium, I should probably read through your tank of the month write up to see how one really cares for a pico tank! Thanks, Dawn! I can't say that the dip really made a dramatic difference but we'll see what happens after a few more days. As far as how to care for a pico, I think the biggest thing is to watch the parameters. Things can change in a pico in big hurry. Even my 10g tank is far more stable. Amphipods will self regulate when their nutrients are exhausted, but a predator might help. Did they send the reef primer for free? I know they send the polyp booster and reef roids monthly but I have those products anyway and I was wondering if they send other products to try. Are you on their reef pro page? Yeah, this tank is full of examples of overfeeding - vermetid snails, big amphipods, and bristleworms. It's a constant battle between keeping the corals fed and not feeding everybody else. I haven't been very successful so far The reef primer was part of a Polyplabs giveaway that I won on aquaticlog.com. I will have to check out their reef pro page, though Do you ever worry about testing anything other than Alk, Mg, Ca? Seems we are both getting a few SPS with harder to keep colors such as purple, blue. I also test nitrates and phosphates, of course, but nothing exotic. I do have the Reef Colors kit from Red Sea but those tests are a serious pain in the patootie to run, so I've only done them a couple times. I do use Aquavitro Ions to dose my magnesium, which also has a few other trace elements in it. Other than that, I haven't worried much about it so far. Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 18, 2016 Author Share Posted February 18, 2016 I fed the dendros some mysis shrimp last night. It always cracks me up how much they can eat, even the tiny heads. You can see the entire shrimp inside the one on the left Dendros Eating Mysis by TeenyReef, on Flickr Link to comment
holy carp Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 That's a great photo. My dendro is a piglet, but it seems to be a different type. You can't see into it. Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 That's a great photo. My dendro is a piglet, but it seems to be a different type. You can't see into it. Thanks! These are very small and have never really grown much, other than to start new heads. I expect that if they eventually get bigger they won't be see through any more I'm a little late in getting my February FTS, but better late than never. In the past, I've fallen into the temptation to not do an FTS when the tank isn't do as well as I'd like. But after going back through all my old FTS's, I really regretted not having those "not so good" shots, to help me remember what I've dealt with, and to compare with how much better it looks when it's doing well. This month has been one of those months because I've been struggling with the zoas again. But I went ahead and took the picture, and I'm glad I did just so I can see how far it's come next month! 2016-02-18 Cadlights 4g FTS by TeenyReef, on Flickr Link to comment
natalia_la_loca Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 So pretty angry zoas or no! Link to comment
holy carp Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 What is that cyphastrea in the front? it has such a cool indigo base color. Also, I hope you have a lid - I think your GSP is trying to escape! Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 So pretty angry zoas or no! Thanks! When I look at my own tank I tend to focus on whatever I'm worried about at that time. Doing an FTS really helps me to step back and look at the tank as a whole. What is that cyphastrea in the front? it has such a cool indigo base color. Also, I hope you have a lid - I think your GSP is trying to escape! It's a "Poppy Pickin" Cyphastrea, according the Pacific East Aquaculture where I got it And yeah, I definitely have a lid, and it's a tight one. I lost several green banded gobies before I finally figured out they were jumping out of a 1/4" gap in the back. Link to comment
lostsol95 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 I fed the dendros some mysis shrimp last night. It always cracks me up how much they can eat, even the tiny heads. You can see the entire shrimp inside the one on the left Dendros Eating Mysis by TeenyReef, on Flickr Nice shot! Link to comment
vlangel Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 I agree with Natalia, the tank looks so pretty and healthy even if the zoas are being disagreeable! Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Nice shot! Thanks! I love taking pictures of the dendros, they're just such a different color from everything else in the tank. I agree with Natalia, the tank looks so pretty and healthy even if the zoas are being disagreeable! Thanks, Dawn! The zoas just drive me crazy because they seem to be the only corals that don't do well in this tank. But I'm very grateful that everything else is staying healthy Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Zoas are annoying. I have my entire scrambled egg colony melt on me in one tank. Moved it over to another tank and the few polyps that managed to survive are opening a little. In that same tank, I had another zoa frag that was doing badly. Moved that frag to the tank the scrambled eggs were melting and now they are better than ever. I give up on them. Just gonna leave them alone and let nature take its course. At least with SPS, we generally know what we did wrong but zoas are just cranky fellows. Link to comment
reefernanoman Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Thanks! These are very small and have never really grown much, other than to start new heads. I expect that if they eventually get bigger they won't be see through any more I'm a little late in getting my February FTS, but better late than never. In the past, I've fallen into the temptation to not do an FTS when the tank isn't do as well as I'd like. But after going back through all my old FTS's, I really regretted not having those "not so good" shots, to help me remember what I've dealt with, and to compare with how much better it looks when it's doing well. This month has been one of those months because I've been struggling with the zoas again. But I went ahead and took the picture, and I'm glad I did just so I can see how far it's come next month! 2016-02-18 Cadlights 4g FTS by TeenyReef, on Flickr I do take pictures when my tank is not doing well! BTW, your tank still looks very nice! Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 Zoas are annoying. I have my entire scrambled egg colony melt on me in one tank. Moved it over to another tank and the few polyps that managed to survive are opening a little. In that same tank, I had another zoa frag that was doing badly. Moved that frag to the tank the scrambled eggs were melting and now they are better than ever. I give up on them. Just gonna leave them alone and let nature take its course. At least with SPS, we generally know what we did wrong but zoas are just cranky fellows. I know exactly how you feel! They are so mysterious, which of course makes them irresistibly challenging for me I do take pictures when my tank is not doing well! BTW, your tank still looks very nice! Thanks! I hope the zoas are doing better next time Link to comment
teenyreef Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 Tonight, after the lights were out, Flash, the rust goby, made a rare appearance out where I could see him. I got the cell phone camera out verrrrry slowly and quietly, and took several pictures of him, each one a little closer than the last, until he noticed me and disappeared. So this isn't a great picture but for a fish that's normally pretty much completely invisible, I think it's pretty good Rust Goby by TeenyReef, on Flickr Link to comment
D3monic Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Hey teeny do you think green banded gobies would get along with a yasha goby in a 28 gal or do you think there would be issues with territory and what not? Link to comment
spectra Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Tonight, after the lights were out, Flash, the rust goby, made a rare appearance out where I could see him. I got the cell phone camera out verrrrry slowly and quietly, and took several pictures of him, each one a little closer than the last, until he noticed me and disappeared. So this isn't a great picture but for a fish that's normally pretty much completely invisible, I think it's pretty good Rust Goby by TeenyReef, on Flickr Gotta love those hiding fish I have one like that also and any time I can snap a pic...... Link to comment
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