My first Nano (and SW tank)

[mtfish]

Thanks. Not much to look at yet, but soon...

 

As far as the research, it make no sense to rush into things. Especially in this hobby when you can lose lots of $$$. Also makes it easier Anyway thanks for the comment.

 

Anyone have any fish suggestions? Here are my ideas and some commets, correct me if I'm wrong!!!...

• False Percula - Hardy, 1 fish in a 10g would be ok.
  
• Yellow Clown Goby, Gobiodon okinawae
  
• Bicolor Blenny, Ecsenius bicolor - Would this get too big? And I've read it will eat small crustaceans, true? would my crabs/shrimp be in danger?
  
• Yellowtail Blue Damsel, Chrysiptera parasema - Hardy
  
• Rainfordi Goby, Amblygobius rainfordi - Eats green hair algae, sandsifter. Would this do ok with my mixed sand size?
  
• Domino Damsel, Dascyllus trimaculatus - Hardy
  

I like also Maroon & Tomato Clowns but they get too large, correct?

[mtfish]

05-08-06

Well it has been a while since I've updated. The period of morning for the firefish has ended and the wife and I picked out a False Percula for the tank. His name is Carl. The Perc is much more active than the firefish was, he's always swimming around and between the live rock. So thats the first change.

 

Second, I upgraded the MJ-400 to a MJ-600. I like it better, the 400s flow was reduced too much by the hydor-flo. I think the 600 will work better. If not the hydor flo is gone. I also got the replacement suction cups for the penguin powerhead and was able to adjust it's direction better. I think this will help fight the cyano.

 

Also in the cyano battle front, I got a phosphate test kit. Good news, phosphate level is <0.05ppm. RO really does work.

 

Finally in the cyano battle I've notice that the cyano the doesn't get cleaned out has changed from a reddish color to a brownish-red, I hope it's signaling a die off. Anyway I would definatly say I am winning the battle.

 

The LFS still hasn't got the Scarlet Hermits in so I'm waiting on those, and I still might add some astrea snail.

 

Also a event of note; the peppermint shrimp molted again, I wasn't freaked out like last time

 

I haven't had time for pictures, as soon as I get a chance I'll add Carl's picture.

[mtfish]

05-27-06

Wow, time flys. I've been meaning to update for so long but didn't get to it. Well then here is the long awaited (or not) update

 

First off I had another death. The enerald crab turned up dead one morning. I was bumed. I checked all the parameters and everything was within acceptable ranges so I figure he must have starved. I feel bad.

 

But onto better news, sometime around the 10th of the month my LFS finally got Scarlet Hermits in, so I bought two of those, 2 astrea and also a small mushroom rock. The mushroom rock only had 3 shrooms on it but I got a good deal.

 

Here is a current pic of the mushrooms...

 

I was so happy to finally have some corals in the tank, my dream was coming true. All was well for about 2 days, then on the afternoon of the 3rd day I noticed the mushrooms were attracting some unwanted attention from the cowrie (ry). They were missing small pieces and balling up all the time. I swear the cowrie didn't leave the rock for 2 days. I finally made up my mind and plucked the cowrie out, put them into some tupperware and drove to the LFS. I informed the owner that I had learned that these cowrie eat mushrooms. Luckily he is awesome. He let me return them, and exchange them for these...

 

 

Yeah to me! I got Ricordia!

 

On the Cyano front, I seem to have won the battle. All I did was scrape it up every other day for about 2 weeks, and added the scarlet hermits about 1.5 in. The scarlets took off and started on the cyano right away. I did one more major scraping after getting the scarlets then nothing and now I have no cyano. I'm glad I didn't use chemicals, and was able to deal with it naturally.

 

And on a final note, remember to watch your turbo snails. I had one fall and I found it on it's shell the next morning and he(she?) looked terrible. I actually thought it was dead, and as I went to tong it out it kinda slowly contracted. I flipped it and it sat there for about 2 days then took off and has been fine since. Moral of the story. Flip those snails!

 

Thanks for reading.

[wunstaboi]

good job! i might do a tank like yours =)

[mtfish]

08-01-06

4 Months Old

 

Well It's been a while since I've updated this as I've been quite busy with a new addition to our family My tank maintanece was a little less than perfect and I am suffering from a dreaded HAIR ALGAE outbreak. I'm trying to win the battle naturally and am cleaning the tank twice a week, doing about 30% waterchanges and blowing my live rock clean with a turkey baster daily. I've cleaned out my AC filter, and both powerheads. I hope the removing and nutrients the hair algae will starve. I'm also manually removing the algae by hand (as much as possible) every other day, and now feed the fish and shrimp every other day. The corals & tube worm get fed every third day.

 

I know the algea hitchhiked in on a chunk of live rock, and I had been battling it and was winning until my maintenence went to hell. I've tested my RO/DI water and the Phosphates are < 0.05ppm and the nitrate is < 2.5ppm. I also tested the tank itself and it shows <0.05 PO4 and <2.5ppm NO3, but I suspect that is because the hair algae is using it as quick as it's produced.

 

Enough talk, here is a shot of the tank as it stands, minutes ago...

I'm kinda embarrassed by the algae.

 

Since my last update, I added a Hawaiian Feather Duster, some Blue Xenia(which is doing nicely) and just today added a Kenya Tree Coral frag.

 

I had to move my mushrooms because they were getting too much flow and weren't doing good, they are looking better now that I moved them.

I also had to move the ricordia for two reasons, a) it was getting too much direct flow from a powerhead and The Turbo snails seemed to think it was a soccer ball and kept knocking it around.

 

Some random pictures, (excuse the algae, I'm working on that )

 

Ricordia

 

Xenia

 

Kenya Tree

 

Thanks for looking and for the compliments If you have any suggestions on the hair algae let me know! Thanks.

[mtfish]

10-11-06

~6 months

 

The Long Overdue Update!

 

My battle with the dreaded hair algae continues, I think we have reached a stalemate. It doesn't gain ground but I can't get it to go away. I'll have to keep trying.

 

To make up for my long overdue post, I'll share several photos

 

I added a "cup coral" Turbinaria peltata

Closer...

 

and a "green button polyp".

Closer...

 

Here's my false perc, "Carl" enjoying his Xenia...

 

And I found this guy hanging out in my AC refugium, he's been identified as a mantis shrimp 'baby'.

 

And the always popular full tank shot (I'm not real happy with the coral placement).

[Buehler]

Your tank is looking great! I'm about a month and a half into the hobby and loving it. Everyone's photos give me more and more inspiration!

 

I don't know a lot about corals (learning something new everyday on here), but is that "cup coral" any relation to the "Flower Pot Coral?" They look similar. How long have you had the cup coral? Easy to take care of?

[mtfish]

Thanks. Remember to take your time and everything will be great.

 

As far as the cup coral, I don't know if it is any relation but they do look similar. The major problem is that I only know the common name I was given when it was bought, which can vary regionally. I'm trying to nail down a scientific name then I can be sure.

 

As far as care, I've had no problems. I've had it for about 1.5 months and it actually has improved its color since I got it, so I think thats a good sign. I feed the whole tank with phytoplex every third day, and other than that I just keep up with water changes.

[mtfish]

10-26-06

Just a quick update, I added some purple mushroom a day or two after the last update and didn't get around to pictures. I also did a minor shifting of corals (like usual). Now I just need to be patient for a while and let everything grow a bit.

 

Purple Mushroom

 

Full Tank