Jump to content
Coral Vue Hydros

TriggerHappy about my Solana Reef


TriggerHappyDude

Recommended Posts

TriggerHappyDude
Are you getting fish from Aquarium Concepts? I don't think they quarantine their fish. However, for chromis, aggression may have been a problem. It's hard to keep small groups of them.

 

I did get them from Aquarium Concepts. However I don't think he lived long enough for any agression to do this to him, I think the stress got him. These are x-small Chromis, think I'd do better getting say 5 or 7 of them, making a school? Or is that too much for my 34 gallon tank?

Link to comment
  • Replies 601
  • Created
  • Last Reply
lakshwadeep

Yes, I think it was stress related to die so quickly. I've bought (at different times) a green clown goby and trimma goby from Aquarium Concepts, and both died quickly. I'm not sure about other LFSs, but I have had better success with Aquariums in edmond and Wet Pets in norman. For your chromis, try feeding a little at least once a day since they are so small. A school of 5-7 would be better, but that would mean other fish choices are severely limited. I think that feeding would also go a long way in keeping aggression down.

 

If you have a cover, then I would suggest some dartfish (except firefish) as they are very peaceful in small groups and will also school in the open water. The zebra/barred dartfish seems to be common in many LFSs.

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude

Well, I might have to backtrack my thoughts. Today, a 2nd Chromis was found floating around, but this one looked beat up. His mouth was wide open, eyes blood shot, and around his eyes/face appeared to have a look of taking some hits, damage, etc...missing colored scales if you will.

 

So maybe both have died from stress and being picked on? Any case I'm down to one Chromis now and a Yellow Watchman Goby. Who all seem fine. I will have them test my water, when I take these dead bodies back, just to do a sanity check on my tests. Hopefully he'll give me credit for something else.

 

I like the idea of 5 - 7 chromis school, would that be too much with the watchman goby, or should I just get a clown fish with whats left in my tank now?

 

The problem with dartfish are I don't like them, how they look. So either I load up on Chromis cause I like the school look, and not get too many more fish other than the Watchman who is there already, or I get others like clowns, etc...

Link to comment
lakshwadeep

The only other nano schooling fish that I can think of would be Trimma tevegae. You might also try schooling cardinals.

 

For the chromis, I think you should get 7 to hopefully spread out aggression. Those fish plus a watchman would be okay, but anything more is likely to border overstocking. Another option would be to buy different planktivores like a flasher/fairy wrasse or small basslets/assessors.

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude
The only other nano schooling fish that I can think of would be Trimma tevegae. You might also try schooling cardinals.

 

For the chromis, I think you should get 7 to hopefully spread out aggression. Those fish plus a watchman would be okay, but anything more is likely to border overstocking. Another option would be to buy different planktivores like a flasher/fairy wrasse or small basslets/assessors.

 

Maybe I need a clown and to start on my beginner corals?

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude

Here are some shots of my Blue/Green Chromis and Yellow Watchman Goby...

 

bebaf87f.jpg

 

27be956f.jpg

 

cb5ec2ee.jpg

 

f132a946.jpg

 

ad9229f2.jpg

 

37879173.jpg

 

af90bb4f.jpg

 

f360180a.jpg

 

f54d7953.jpg

 

117c3af7.jpg

Link to comment

Nice shots of your YWG! I love mine, "Goby" has been increasingly full of character as he gets settled in. Always skittish, but bolder and bolder as the months go by, he's fun to watch. Do you plan to get a prawn to see if they'll pair or just let him live in the rock? Mine lives under one of my biggest pieces of live rock in a tunnel system he's made that has two (or possibly three) entrances.

 

I've never gotten as good pictures of mine as you have of yours. I'll have to try harder!

 

 

Osric

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude
Nice shots of your YWG! I love mine, "Goby" has been increasingly full of character as he gets settled in. Always skittish, but bolder and bolder as the months go by, he's fun to watch. Do you plan to get a prawn to see if they'll pair or just let him live in the rock? Mine lives under one of my biggest pieces of live rock in a tunnel system he's made that has two (or possibly three) entrances.

 

I've never gotten as good pictures of mine as you have of yours. I'll have to try harder!

 

 

Osric

 

I don't know what a prawn is, and didn't know they paired with the YWG? Is that a shrimp?

Link to comment
lakshwadeep

Prawn is another word for shrimp, and I'm guessing osric is talking about a pistol shrimp. Watchmen gobies (aka shrimp gobies) are named because they pair with pistol shrimp to act as lookouts. Alpheus bellulus and A. randalli are two common shrimp that pair with gobies (not all pistols pair).

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude

So far the YWG seems pretty happy with his rocky home as well, lots of hiding spots some under ground tunnels etc...not sure how I would know if he needed a shrimp friend?

Link to comment
lakshwadeep
AKA prawn gobies, in fact :lol:

 

but not in taxonomy ;)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prawn

 

So far the YWG seems pretty happy with his rocky home as well, lots of hiding spots some under ground tunnels etc...not sure how I would know if he needed a shrimp friend?

 

Shrimp gobies and pistol shrimp don't need to be kept together (it's mainly for safety just like clowns staying in anemones). Some gobies can be more shy when paired with a pistol. Also, pistols have their own "issues" such as moving things on the sand bed and digging everywhere.

Link to comment
  • 4 weeks later...
TriggerHappyDude

Ok so my two fish have survived a while now, over a month, and I'm ready to add some beginner corals, any suggestions and links to these kinds? I guess I could ask some locals in the fish club for frags? Is that a good way to start with some smaller corals and watch them grow?

Link to comment
Ok so my two fish have survived a while now, over a month, and I'm ready to add some beginner corals, any suggestions and links to these kinds? I guess I could ask some locals in the fish club for frags? Is that a good way to start with some smaller corals and watch them grow?

 

zoas or palys .... they are great starters & easy to care for... easy to find and most are pretty cheap unless you get into the Insanely priced Blue Hornets....

 

Check with local reefers and craigslist they are a great place to find frags for cheap... If you want to chance shipping I will hook you up with a friend I have bought numerous frags from him and his frags have been great.... He also sells on eBay...

Link to comment
zoas or palys .... they are great starters & easy to care for... easy to find and most are pretty cheap unless you get into the Insanely priced Blue Hornets....

 

Check with local reefers and craigslist they are a great place to find frags for cheap... If you want to chance shipping I will hook you up with a friend I have bought numerous frags from him and his frags have been great.... He also sells on eBay...

 

hook me up riche!!

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude

Those of you that know or have had Yellow Watchman Gobies, is it normal for their colors to look faded after a while? I've read where they will not show so bright when they feel they don't need to be dominant etc, and my guy/gal has settled into the tank with his one other Blue/Green Chromis and I guess might be comfy now?

 

They both eat fine, and act fine otherwise, just the fading from the nice yellow color in the above pics.

My water tests are normal. So didn't know if anything else could be missing?

 

Here is a before and after shot of my Yellow Watchman Goby...again, eating and doing well...in both pics.

 

Before:

f132a946.jpg

 

After:

_MG_5058.jpg

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude

Got some updates...wonder if you can name all 10 frags? (I can't!)

 

1.

_MG_5034.jpg

 

2.

_MG_5035.jpg

 

3.

_MG_5030.jpg

 

4.

_MG_5031.jpg

 

5.

_MG_5032.jpg

 

6.

_MG_5036.jpg

 

7.

_MG_5037.jpg

 

8.

_MG_5038.jpg

 

9.

_MG_5039.jpg

 

10.

_MG_5040.jpg

 

11.

_MG_5041.jpg

 

12.

_MG_5042.jpg

 

13.

_MG_5043.jpg

 

14.

_MG_5044.jpg

 

15.

_MG_5045.jpg

 

16.

_MG_5046.jpg

 

17.

_MG_5047.jpg

 

18.

_MG_5048.jpg

 

19.

_MG_5049.jpg

 

20.

_MG_5050.jpg

 

21.

_MG_5051.jpg

 

22.

_MG_5052.jpg

 

23.

_MG_5053.jpg

 

24.

_MG_5054.jpg

 

25.

_MG_5055.jpg

 

26.

_MG_5056.jpg

 

27.

_MG_5057.jpg

 

28.

_MG_5059.jpg

 

29.

_MG_5060.jpg

 

30.

_MG_5061.jpg

Link to comment

FINALLY! bout time you added some corals.. great start! better watch out for that xenia might take over your tank someday.

 

how's your new born doing? the picture are precious and awesome. wish i have a camera like yours! lol

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude
Trigger,

 

Do you have a QT? What process do you use to add new specimens to your tank? After the upgrades to the Solana, do you have enough parts for a QT?

 

Nope no QT, the frags were just added after letting them mix with some of my water for a few minutes in the ziploc backs they came in. I don't have any extra parts for a QT really, I have a 2.5 gallon mini tank I plan to use as my ATO water storage, that could become an emergency QT, but its not really what its intended for.

Why do you ask?

Link to comment
Why do you ask?

I've read that even if your LFS quarantines specimens, you should quarantine them for two weeks before introducing them into your tank. It improves the chances of the critters survival (esp. from stress) and it mitigates disease outbreaks, particularly ich.

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude
I've read that even if your LFS quarantines specimens, you should quarantine them for two weeks before introducing them into your tank. It improves the chances of the critters survival (esp. from stress) and it mitigates disease outbreaks, particularly ich.

 

Yeah that is good practice, I have only bought 2 fish and didn't do that, the corals came from a reputable reefer here near me and I trust his frags. But I do agree its a good idea to have one. I just dont.

Link to comment
TriggerHappyDude

I've numbered the pictures of my frags above, and need help with the identifying what I purchased.

Can you all please help with giving me the picture number and the species of coral frag in the picture.

I tried to take some solo pictures of each one alone for easy identifying.

 

Thanks!

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recommended Discussions


×
×
  • Create New...