ReefWeeds Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I figured I'd start a tank page/thread! FTS 10/7/2015 FTS 7/9/2015 FTS 5/15/2015 FTS 3/31/2015 First day - setting up the rockscape and adding sand Day two once the water cleared, but before LR was added Tank on 2-10-2015 Anyway, here are the beginning stats: Equipment: Tank: Coralife BioCube 29 Sand: 20-30 lbs Nature's Ocean Bio-Activ Aragonite Rock: 15 lbs dry rock, 3 lbs live rock, 2 lb uncured full of crazy life rock Filtration: InTank media basket in rear chamber 2 Fuge: InTank fuge basket in rear chamber 2 Heater: Eheim 100W Pump: Stock MJ 1200 Powerhead: Koralia 425 x 2 Flow: Hydor Flo Skimmer: Tunze 9001 ATO: Tunze osmolator Lights: Stock NanoBox retro kit Crazy air pump/filtration sponge combo that we got duped into "needing" that is going to go once I'm sure the clowns are fully comfortable Current Livestock: Fish: 2 DaVinci Clowns - Vit and Mona 2 ORA Hybrid Cleaner Gobies Invertebrate: 1 Hawaiian Feather Duster and tons of hitchhiker ones 10 9 Banded Trochus Snails 15 Nassarius snails (the small ones) 6 Nerite snails 2 Astrea Snails 2 Spiny Star snails 15 Dwarf Cerith snails (plus more babies than I can currently count) 20 Dwarf Planaxis 2 Scarlet Reef Hermits 2 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp 1 Hitchhiker limpet 1 large and 1 small hitchhiker bright orange tunicates Orangish encrusting hitchhiker sponge Lots of mini brittle stars 1 Peppermint Shrimp 2 Stubborn Scary Crab Hitchhikers that seem to avoid trapping really well - Down to 1! finally caught on on 4/1 - and that's no April Fool's joke! Coral Stock: 1 Toadstool Leather 1 Finger Leather 1 Neon Green trumpet 1 Unknown trumpet-like thing - Traded 1 Taylor's Tree Green Star Polyp frag Orange Skirt Paly frag Jasmine Frag Maze brain frag (I think) - traded (it was a merulina) Red and green brain frag - traded ORA Pink Stylo frag ORA Mint Pavona ORA Red Sea Xenia frag (supposedly white) - moved to monster tank Assorted zoas - gobstopper, blue pinwheels, a lot of unknown Nuclear green palys Orange digitata Blue digitata Sour Apple birds nest Bud Bomber poci Duncan Darth Maul porites Sunset monti (encrusting) Various acans Blue mushrooms Orange ricordea florida Orange ricordea yuma Macro Algae: Chateo in fuge basket - removed fuge basket when installing skimmer Halameda on live rock Some sort of reddish/purple thing on live rock Feeding and Dosing: Fish: AM: few NLS small fish pellets, or NLS algae pellets or NLS Thera-a PM: Small chunk of Rod's original blend or 1/4 cube of frozen Hikari mysis Coral and Filter Feeders: Every other day, either Reef Roids, Reef Chili, or 4 ML of Brightwell PhytoChrom, Brightwell Zooplankton, Brightwell Microvore or 1/2 scoop of Two Little Fishies PhytoPlan Dosing: 1.5 ML each of Red Sea Reef Energy A&B daily (I just started this the week of 3/16/15 and seem to be seeing a difference in PE and color) - changed to every other day in April Calcium and Alk - 5 ML daily Magnesium as needed Parameters and Maintenance Schedule: Water Parameters: SG: 1.024 Ph: 7.8-8.1 Ammonia: 0 Nitrites: 0 Nitrates: < 8 Kh: 9-11 (trying to stabilize and keep around 9) Calcium: 400 - 420 Magnesium: 1300 Phosphates: 0 Water Changes: 4 gallons weekly, will probably up to 5. Right now, I'm using Catalina real ocean water. I like the fact that it is natural, purified ocean water rather than synthetic and I also like the ease of pre-packaged water. I do heat the water up to temp and test all parameters before adding to my tank. I haven't noticed any inconsistencies with the batches, so I'm happy with this right now (and I know some are completely against using packaged water) In process of switching to Red Sea Coral Pro Cleaning and such: Stir sand bed every other day, various areas Blow off rocks and such as needed Scrape glass as needed (I need to get better about keeping up with this as the coralline is starting to creep up on me) Filter floss: change out every third day - sits on top shelf of media basket in chamber 2 Planned Corals: Not sure yet on this, since this is my first reef tank, I'm looking to start out slow and with some easy ones Since I decided to go crazy last week, I'm not sure I stuck to the add corals slowly mantra. More as I figure this out! Link to comment
Dan R Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 What are your livestock plans Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 I am planning on two clowns (pictured in signature), a goby/pistol combo and possibly 3 chromis if the bioload isn't too much. I'm new to this, so with the corals I'm not sure yet. I'm looking to start out with the easy guys and then work my way up! Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Well, found another &*^# aiptasia today. It was on one of my favorite shaped rocks. Luckily it was right near the top and easy to remove the rock. There was no crevice this time for it to retract into. I took a syringe (we have some from allergy shots for our Bichon, Stella), filled it with white distilled vinegar and injected the crap out of it. The thing fell off, so I rinsed the rock and put it back in the tank. Hopefully that is the last one, but I'm thinking I'm dreaming. Two in four days. Link to comment
GokesReef Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Oh they're such a pain! It seems like people are having success with a specific species of peppermint shrimp from liveaquaria.com (I don't recall which offhand) so you might want to get one in there sooner than later to keep them in check - the shrimp won't go for any that are "too big". The main problem is that by the time there is one in your tank big enough for you to notice, there are a dozen that are too small to see yet. This is why my new tank is all dry rock and frags get QTd first - my last tank got destroyed by aiptasia. It's good you're being so proactive though, you may well beat it before they become an infestation! Link to comment
GtTap Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I started out with the easy corals and found after 6 months I didn't favor them as much. I think finding corals that you really like and doing some research and asking a few questions on here might be a better bet. Just stay away from sps till you are sure your ready for that jump. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Ok, one more post! I took a photo of the hidden cup corals that are on one of the live rocks I added initially to the tank. They seem to be doing really well and I've spotted what I think are a few new ones just developing. They're really fun to watch. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 The main problem is that by the time there is one in your tank big enough for you to notice, there are a dozen that are too small to see yet. This is why my new tank is all dry rock and frags get QTd first - my last tank got destroyed by aiptasia. It's good you're being so proactive though, you may well beat it before they become an infestation! OMG to dozen(s). And double OMG to your tank that got destroyed by the suckers. I'm going to start researching peppermint shrimp right now. Now I'm second-guessing my choice to do dry and live. I kinda wish I went with the all dry like you mention. I started out with the easy corals and found after 6 months I didn't favor them as much. I think finding corals that you really like and doing some research and asking a few questions on here might be a better bet. Just stay away from sps till you are sure your ready for that jump. This is good advice. I've started the research process and I will definitely stick with it. After a few observations of bad advice from my LFS, I am going to be much more proactive in my own research BEFORE just taking what they say as truth. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Oh man. Found another aiptasia. this time on a piece of sea lettuce. I had ordered a nitrate busting package from saltwaterfish.com in anticipation of my fuge basket. I had it all sitting behind the rock and moved it over to the fuge when I got it. I'm wondering if the aiptasia came in on the seaweed. Link to comment
GokesReef Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Oh man. Found another aiptasia. this time on a piece of sea lettuce. I had ordered a nitrate busting package from saltwaterfish.com in anticipation of my fuge basket. I had it all sitting behind the rock and moved it over to the fuge when I got it. I'm wondering if the aiptasia came in on the seaweed. I would think he just walked over to the algae.. they probably came on the LR, where did you get that batch? Mine came in on a frag initially that was mounted on some LR. Live and learn! Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Oh good point. I got it at the LFS near here. They mentioned they dip all their stuff, but maybe the aiptasia make it through dipping. I am DEFINITELY getting peppermints. Found the species you mentioned on LA, I think I'll get three. I'm having trouble figuring out how many to get for my BC 29. Is three overkill? Link to comment
bdare Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Careful with pepermint shrimp... they will steal food from coral and eat coral if they don't get enough to eat. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 Careful with pepermint shrimp... they will steal food from coral and eat coral if they don't get enough to eat. Great tip! thank you. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 This may be weird, but I LOVE watching the snails. First, the nassarius were my favorites - I love how they bury themselves in the sand with their little trunks coming out. Now the banded trochus are my favorites. These guys MOTOR around the tank and keep things pretty clean. Honestly - these guys are constantly on the move. They are so much fun to watch, they have a crazy twist motion when they need to dislodge something from their shells and they are really fast at righting themselves if they fall. Love this photo of Vit and Mona. I will say, these guys are more entertaining than the snails. Link to comment
Dan R Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 When my wife first saw a nassarius she figured out I had to have some. They'er pretty cool Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 When my wife first saw a nassarius she figured out I had to have some. They'er pretty cool I agree! And they really are doing a good job keeping the sand bed clean for me. Their trunks/snorkels are cool. Link to comment
Dan R Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 My wife also likes scarlet hermit I think I will stop by Pacific East this week and get her some. They were supposed to get some in. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 12, 2015 Author Share Posted February 12, 2015 I had a scarlet hermit as a hitchhiker! He didn't make it longer than a few days though. I think he was in some chaeto I had shipped from Saltwaterfish.com so I didn't properly acclimate him. I had ordered two more so he wouldn't be lonely when I ordered the trochus snails and those two are doing well. Feel bad for the first guy! They are fun to watch when they're active. I find mine mostly, well, hermit. I get nervous thinking they died in some corner and then I see them walking around. Link to comment
Dan R Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 They are fun to watch until they mug my zoa's Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 13, 2015 Author Share Posted February 13, 2015 I have a weird question. I need to change around some of my rockscape today (removing a sponge filter and bubbler I got talked into and don't need). The two clowns come to the surface anytime I open any part of the tank thinking I'm going to feed them. Are they going to jump out if I open the full top rather than the little door at the front? Am I being overly worried for nothing? I wanted to hold off on changing up the scape until they were comfortable with their surroundings and I'd say they're comfortable. Link to comment
GtTap Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 I have a weird question. I need to change around some of my rockscape today (removing a sponge filter and bubbler I got talked into and don't need). The two clowns come to the surface anytime I open any part of the tank thinking I'm going to feed them. Are they going to jump out if I open the full top rather than the little door at the front? Am I being overly worried for nothing? I wanted to hold off on changing up the scape until they were comfortable with their surroundings and I'd say they're comfortable. Well ive never had mine jump and my tank has been uncovered for years i dont think clowns will jump out of a tank. Now one thing they will do is bite the crap out of your hand just pray your dont bite mine eat my hand alive when i put it in the water. Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 piranha clowns! Link to comment
GtTap Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Whats your coral stocking plans? Link to comment
ReefWeeds Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 Whats your coral stocking plans? I think I want to start out with a toadstool and a frogspawn. I really love the xenias, but not sure as I've read about how aggressively they spread. Beyond that, I'm still learning about them! But I really love the toadstools and frogspawns. I really enjoyed looking at all of your corals! Whats your coral stocking plans? Link to comment
Cencalfishguy56 Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 My Xenia doesn't grow all that fast, faster than everything else but not not like some people say lol and get a peppermint shrimp had one and it knocked out my aptasia over night lol My Xenia doesn't grow all that fast, faster than everything else but not not like some people say lol and get a peppermint shrimp had one and it knocked out my aptasia over night lol Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.