hinnenkm Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 This thread is a new beginning because as some of you know, my Mr. Aqua 17.1 (which about a month ago was upgrade to a Fluval m60) just crashed last weekend. I had been really excited about the direction that system was going and then out of the blue I just started losing corals and fish... After a lot of trouble shooting, the most likely theory is stray voltage from the heater, but who knows?! There was a lot of life lost - corals, several inverts, and 5 fish. I am someone who prides themselves on taking great care of my animals and being meticulous with my tanks, so it's not been a fun week. With that being said, when my tank was crashing, I was able to at least get my clowns and dragon faced pipefish out of the system and into an extra 5 gallon that I have (to use in emergencies like this). My corals were put into the same 5 gallon and into my 15 gallon that is my clownfish/anemone tank (no build thread). Needless to say, this week has been spent thinking about my options... I kept going back to the idea that I don't want a big system again (even the 24 gallons was on the big end for me) and that I don't want to spend a couple hundred dollars getting a new all in one tank. I also have been tank sitting a Mr. Aqua 11.4 that belonged to my ex. I'd started taking care of it when we were together, but after the break up several months ago, there's no doubt that she doesn't want it back. Knowing that, I traded in some extra corals that I didn't have room for and got some store credit. I'm also planning on bringing my clowns into one of the trusted LFS because as of yet, no one has been interested in them on our local forum. All of this morning was then spent on tank maintenance and getting the 11.4 set up in my living room. So far, so good. It will be interesting to see what direction this takes and how some of my corals rebound. My goal is to keep this system simple, but I do want to get the Apex hooked up as well. Current equipment list: Aquaclear 20 filter Hydor Koralia 240 powerhead Nanobox Duo *New heater (going to pick one up tonight) Current stock list: Clownfish Bangaii cardinal Dragon faced pipefish (currently acclimating from the other tank) 2 gold ring cowries torches snails hermit crabs sea urchin 5 peppermint shrimp (to get rid of a couple aptasia) nassarius snails Now onto some pics IMG_0387 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0389 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0398 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0399 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0400 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0401 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0402 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0403 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0404 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0405 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0406 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0408 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0410 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0411 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0412 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0414 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0415 by katieh4002, on Flickr IMG_0416 by katieh4002, on Flickr Thanks for reading!~Katie Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted November 5, 2016 Author Share Posted November 5, 2016 When things are going well, they go really well. When they don't go well, it hits you hard. Just this week I noticed my clown had a tiny bit of white on his side (kind of like a scratch or like he bumped something). That night he had it on both sides and after doing some research, I am almost positive it was brooklynella. This was at 8 at night and I didn't have any meds to use, so I took all 3 fish out and acclimated them into water from my other tank that I lowered down to 1.009 for a hypo treatment. After they were in the 'hospital', they seemed to be perking up (more active and not breathing nearly as heavily). They were fine the following morning too, so after work I went to the store to get a few things to help better care for them and when I got home, they were all 3 gone. It's frustrating when you can't seem to catch a break after having things go so well for years... With that being said, now that the display is fishless, how long do I have to wait before introducing new fish? I've read multiple answers and don't want to jump into anything right away, but am curious. My corals and inverts remaining from the original crash all seem to be doing well though... hopefully that keeps up! Also, seeing as how there are no fish, what would you recommend for water changes? I've never been in this situation before...Thanks for all your help! ~Katie Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 I think it's 90 days Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted November 6, 2016 Author Share Posted November 6, 2016 I think it's 90 days Thank you, they said 8 to 10 weeks at the lfs too I'll be patient, but that's a long time! Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted November 23, 2016 Author Share Posted November 23, 2016 I am doing my best to be patient and run a fishless tank. I really miss having them in this tank though! Since there's no fish or anything, this tank has been really easy to just kind of let cruise for awhile, but I have added a couple things... I got a new fire shrimp and got some really great deals on zoas at last weekend's frag swap My goal is to get this tank stocked with everything I want and then add maybe two fish as a last step. As far as fish, I've been researching my options and really am not sure which way to go. I know this is a small tank, but want something that is somewhat of a challenge and something that's not very common. From my last build, I really really miss my pipefish - so I might possibly take it back in that direction. I have also really liked the ruby red dragonets, so am considering that as well. Another option would be an orchid dottyback, as we have someone locally who breeds them. Any thoughts or suggestions??? Thanks! Onto the pics (no edits or anything...) DSCN9789 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9791 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9788 by katieh4002, on Flickr This just keeps growing DSCN9774 by katieh4002, on Flickr Favorites, always! DSCN9775 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9781 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9780 by katieh4002, on Flickr My leptos are doing well - some of my favorites too! DSCN9776 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9782 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9783 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9784 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9785 by katieh4002, on Flickr Nothing special, but the coloring on these still gets me...! DSCN9771 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9770 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9768 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9765 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9769 by katieh4002, on Flickr DSCN9764 by katieh4002, on Flickr Full tank shot I've also started using Reef Roids and am excited to see the results. The feeding response you can see from the corals is really pretty incredible! As always, I would love any comments, questions, or suggestions on how to improve or keep growing in the hobby.Thanks and take care, Katie Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted December 25, 2016 Author Share Posted December 25, 2016 I got my pipefish!!After waiting to get fish back in the tank, I had to move a clown in a little early because the female in my other tank started beating up the male and I didn't have anywhere else to put him.... that was about a week and a half ago.Yesterday, after getting back from a road trip, I went to the LFS to get some water and browse. When I walked in, the owner handed me a gift card that my friends had gotten for me, so after seeing these guys and knowing that they were eating frozen - I walked away with them!I'm super excited to have pipefish again - especially these guys!The tank has been doing well, even after being gone for a week, except that before I left I had my peppermints eating acans instead of some aptasia that I've got in there.... Future plans include getting a few more select corals and maybe a pair of dragon faced pipefish as well.Thanks for reading and feel free to share and comments or suggestions you may have Also, if you want to follow on Insta, my main account is kamor0686. The one I have for the video doesn't have much on it.Merry Christmas!-Katie Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted January 1, 2017 Author Share Posted January 1, 2017 Breakfast time for the tank and Happy New Year! Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 glad i found this thread! the pipefish looks awesome!!! so this is only 11.4 gallons??? and you have 3 pipefish, a clown, and a banggai cardinal?? i am so gonna copy you and get a pair of pipefish for my 13 gallons tank...hahah Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 glad i found this thread! the pipefish looks awesome!!! so this is only 11.4 gallons??? and you have 3 pipefish, a clown, and a banggai cardinal?? i am so gonna copy you and get a pair of pipefish for my 13 gallons tank...hahah Thanks!! You could easily have some pipefish in your 13 This is the 11.4 gallon version and after I had got this set up, the clown and bangaii that were originally in here (and had been for a year or so) caught brooklynella and I lost them too... after that, I left the tank empty for 8 weeks. The clown that is in there currently is because the female from my 15 gallon started to beat him up, I isolated him and changed up the rock work, let him go, and she kept beating him up. He's been doing well in this tank though (knock on wood)! At this point, I've got the clown, the dragon faced pipefish and one of the banded pipefish (when I got home today, the other one was stuck to the filter in-take, which sucks because they were both eating!)... I'm really hoping that I can keep the rest of them doing well - the nanoV softfreeze zooplankton has been a great food for them and the reef frenzy as well - will probably start supplementing baby brine shrimp in the near future too Link to comment
ninjamyst Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thanks!! You could easily have some pipefish in your 13 This is the 11.4 gallon version and after I had got this set up, the clown and bangaii that were originally in here (and had been for a year or so) caught brooklynella and I lost them too... after that, I left the tank empty for 8 weeks. The clown that is in there currently is because the female from my 15 gallon started to beat him up, I isolated him and changed up the rock work, let him go, and she kept beating him up. He's been doing well in this tank though (knock on wood)! At this point, I've got the clown, the dragon faced pipefish and one of the banded pipefish (when I got home today, the other one was stuck to the filter in-take, which sucks because they were both eating!)... I'm really hoping that I can keep the rest of them doing well - the nanoV softfreeze zooplankton has been a great food for them and the reef frenzy as well - will probably start supplementing baby brine shrimp in the near future too sorry to hear about the new pipefish =( Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 sorry to hear about the new pipefish =( Thank you, me too. Link to comment
Scorched Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Sweet looking pipefish, they are just so alien-like. Link to comment
hinnenkm Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 Sweet looking pipefish, they are just so alien-like. Thanks and agreed - some of my favorites! Link to comment
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