fishfreak0114 Posted July 5, 2017 Author Share Posted July 5, 2017 1 hour ago, teenyreef said: Don't make big decisions based on one alk test, either up or down. Test at least two or three days in a row, or even test every other day for a week. It's a lot easier to see trends and throw away "bad" measurements that way. In my tanks, I've noted that the alk level spikes a bit right after a water change, but then goes back down a day or two later. Also, make sure you test at the same time of day each time because alk goes up and down on a daily cycle. As far as fish go, I love yelow clown gobies, but many people (including me) have had trouble getting them to eat and survive. Also, they can nip at sps. A yellow watchman goby and pistol shrimp would be a great option and not too big, but they will definitely move some sand. In my 40, once I learned where they like to burrow, I was able to place corals on the sand in the spots they leave alone. Options 3 and 4 are both good choices too! Yah I definitely won't be basing my dosing off that result. Based on weekly testing before and after water changes, it seems that the general trend is 1dkh up from a water change, back down 1dkh by the end of the week. I will try testing every other day. I think what I'm leaning towards is a shrimp goby and pistol shrimp (not sure what one), and a yellow line goby or neon goby if they have one. I love the color of yellow clown gobies, but I've also heard that it can be hard to get them eating, and I think I'd rather go with a different shaped fish because Jim is a GCG. I always wanted a yellow watchman goby, but after seeing all the other variety of shrimp gobies out there, I'm very tempted by pretty much all of them. The struggle! My mom really likes the pink bar goby, but I'm not if a 29g is big enough for a 4" fish. Live aquaria says 10g for tem, but lots of other websites say 30g. Perhaps I'll end up deciding on the spot based on what they have, and how I feel about the matter in the moment. They're all so cute! 1 Quote Link to comment
teenyreef Posted July 5, 2017 Share Posted July 5, 2017 Green banded gobies are also great if you can find them 2 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 5, 2017 Author Share Posted July 5, 2017 I would love them, but they're near impossible to find in Canada 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 FTS P7051719 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051718 by orb1915, on Flickr The new Duncan was supposed to arrive as one head, but there's actually 2 big ones and these two little ones! I didn't see the little ones before P7051720 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051721 by orb1915, on Flickr The splitting process is beginning. It sure took long enough! P7051722 by orb1915, on Flickr Budgie favia P7051723 by orb1915, on Flickr Bernard is always poking out the rocks. Usually, he spends time in a hole near the back of the tank though P7051725 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051762 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051727 by orb1915, on Flickr Several of the baby plates have surpassed 1". I might start rehoming the larger ones soon. Based on the appearance of the baby plates, I'd say the original was never healthy. It wasn't puffy like these with actual noticeable flesh, and the little ones also have tentacles coming off and they happily eat mysis. P7051729 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051748 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051749 by orb1915, on Flickr The dendro as of yesterday I've been making regular attempts at feeding it P7051730 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051747 by orb1915, on Flickr Bad pic of the blue hornets. The haven't had any noticeable growth yet P7051731 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051732 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051741 by orb1915, on Flickr The blasto garden is my new favorite area of the tank. All 10 are doing well, including the radiant red (which was in way better shape than I was expecting). P7051734 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051735 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051736 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051737 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051738 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051742 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051746 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051753 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051755 by orb1915, on Flickr This is the radiant red P7051739 by orb1915, on Flickr Jim loves perch in this leather. It has gown a fair amount since I got it. It was a pretty much branchless nub before. P7051752 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051758 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051759 by orb1915, on Flickr 6 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Love the pics! That budgie favia is so pretty. Sorry about the dendro, have you tried a Lugol's dip on it? The pic of the porcelain is great! 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 25 minutes ago, Lula_Mae said: Love the pics! That budgie favia is so pretty. Sorry about the dendro, have you tried a Lugol's dip on it? The pic of the porcelain is great! Thanks Lula I did an iodine dip as soon as its flesh jumped ship. The outside has darkened slowly, which has been the first sign of recovery in the past. At first, the outside was almost bone white. 1 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 35 minutes ago, fishfreak0114 said: Thanks Lula I did an iodine dip as soon as its flesh jumped ship. The outside has darkened slowly, which has been the first sign of recovery in the past. At first, the outside was almost bone white. Well I hope the dendro straightens up and starts behaving for you! 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 I just wish I knew what was causing it so I could keep it from happening. There isn't a lot of info on walking dendro care though. It took me quite a while to even find out if it was photosynthetic or not! Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 I forgot to mention that as of Tuesday, my alpha and omega zoas (orange skirts, not on the island) are pretty much goners I think. No idea what happened. One day they were fine, open and happy, the next they had droopy skinny stalks and were closed I tested alk, and today it is at 7. Will test again tomorrow. I'm going to write my tentative shopping list for the Vancouver trip here in case I forget/lose my paper copy. Things I don't know if I would buy have a questions mark, things I want and will get if they're available don't Fish: 1x neon or yellow line goby 1x pink bar, randall's, flagtail, wheeler's, or highfin goby Inverts: 1x randall's pistol shrimp 1x emerald crab 1x electric blue hermit crab 1x Halloween hermit crab 1x Mexican red leg hermit crab 1x ghost anemone shrimp 1x white spot anemone shrimp 1x purple or white porcelain crab? Supplies: 1-3lbs dry marco rock frozen food? flake food? 1 Quote Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 5 hours ago, fishfreak0114 said: FTS P7051719 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051718 by orb1915, on Flickr The new Duncan was supposed to arrive as one head, but there's actually 2 big ones and these two little ones! I didn't see the little ones before P7051720 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051721 by orb1915, on Flickr The splitting process is beginning. It sure took long enough! P7051722 by orb1915, on Flickr Budgie favia P7051723 by orb1915, on Flickr Bernard is always poking out the rocks. Usually, he spends time in a hole near the back of the tank though P7051725 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051762 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051727 by orb1915, on Flickr Several of the baby plates have surpassed 1". I might start rehoming the larger ones soon. Based on the appearance of the baby plates, I'd say the original was never healthy. It wasn't puffy like these with actual noticeable flesh, and the little ones also have tentacles coming off and they happily eat mysis. P7051729 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051748 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051749 by orb1915, on Flickr The dendro as of yesterday I've been making regular attempts at feeding it P7051730 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051747 by orb1915, on Flickr Bad pic of the blue hornets. The haven't had any noticeable growth yet P7051731 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051732 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051741 by orb1915, on Flickr The blasto garden is my new favorite area of the tank. All 10 are doing well, including the radiant red (which was in way better shape than I was expecting). P7051734 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051735 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051736 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051737 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051738 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051742 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051746 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051753 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051755 by orb1915, on Flickr This is the radiant red P7051739 by orb1915, on Flickr Jim loves perch in this leather. It has gown a fair amount since I got it. It was a pretty much branchless nub before. P7051752 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051758 by orb1915, on Flickr P7051759 by orb1915, on Flickr LOOOVE the Blastos and all the cute critters!!! Do you know what's causing the Dendro to behave like that, or what led to it? 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 2 minutes ago, Weetabix7 said: LOOOVE the Blastos and all the cute critters!!! Do you know what's causing the Dendro to behave like that, or what led to it? Thanks Weetie If I find anymore new blastos in the future, I'll be sure to add them to my collection. I'm looking forward to getting some new critters this weekend! I don't have the faintest idea what's causing the dendro to lose its flesh every couple months. Too much food? Not enough food? Too much light/flow? Not enough light/flow? Low alk bugging it? Your guess is as good as mine. Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 7, 2017 Author Share Posted July 7, 2017 I don't think I ever posted this pic, but I came across it on my PB. I made these cupcakes two weeks ago and brought them in for my teachers and the science teachers who I work for. One teacher liked them so much that she paid me to bake a dozen for her family get together! P6241863_zpsmghwvrax by orb1915, on Flickr 2 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 Well I'm getting pretty psyched to go to Vancouver tomorrow. Tomorrow we'll be going to the aquarium, which I've been to many times but still really enjoy, and on Sunday we're going to try to get to the art gallery, as well as all the fish stores! I think my shopping list is pretty much done. I'm also pretty anxious to leave home because wildfires are raging all over the place. It's normal for this time of year, but around Merritt it is, as my mother has said many times today, "dryer than a popcorn fart" . If a fire hits, it'll come quick. And being three hours away, if Merritt people had to evacuate, we probably wouldn't even be able to make it home for the cat. Usually I don't worry about fires, except in my nightmares where I'm frantically trying to catch my clownfish as a fire burns its way down the mountain next to my house. It's just kind of a far off thought. But this morning in 108 mile, my grandparents had to evacuate and the fire is getting pretty darn close to where their house is. In less than three hours they had to leave. Let's just hope no one flicks a cigarette butt out their car window near Merritt for the next two days I'm happy to say that it appears that the dendro's mouth is healing. I fed it again today. I will be setting up a QT tank tonight. So quick question: if I get a shrimp/goby pair (which I'm almost positive I will) should both go into the QT tank? Or should the shrimp be in the reef and it will find the goby when the goby is added? 1 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 Fingers crossed that no fires come. I dunno about the goby/pistol...maybe keep them together? Throw a little cheap sand in that you don't mind tossing? 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 That's a good idea. I'm mostly worried that I'll have to treat the fish, but I could probably figure that out. And conveniently, I have some sand that I took out of the tank. Do you think I should put it in a shallow container or something? Because I don't have enough to cover the whole tank. Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 You could try that, Weetie has been trying that in her macro tank! Easier removal too unless the pistol throws it everywhere lol 1 Quote Link to comment
Weetabix7 Posted July 8, 2017 Share Posted July 8, 2017 10 minutes ago, Lula_Mae said: You could try that, Weetie has been trying that in her macro tank! Easier removal too unless the pistol throws it everywhere lol Yeah, it worked great for me!! Lemme see if I can find the Amazon link for that... Pretty sure this is what I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D06SK6G/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_11?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3VLZFPMFCCNJQ 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 9 minutes ago, Weetabix7 said: Yeah, it worked great for me!! Lemme see if I can find the Amazon link for that... Pretty sure this is what I used: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D06SK6G/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_11?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3VLZFPMFCCNJQ 23 minutes ago, Lula_Mae said: You could try that, Weetie has been trying that in her macro tank! Easier removal too unless the pistol throws it everywhere lol Oh perfect, I have a container in my basement that should work Today alk is at 6.8 2 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 8, 2017 Author Share Posted July 8, 2017 I got the QT up, and there is a container roughly 5x5" with an inch and a half of sand in it. Is that enough? I hadn't seen my stomatella in a month, and I kind of thought he was gone, but lo and behold, there he was gliding along my fuge basket! Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 I had a great time in Vancouver! I'm not home yet, but there's an accident so I'm going to be stuck in traffic for a while. I thought it would be a good time to do an update. It'll probably be long because I'm bored. Yesterday, our first stop was Aquariums West. They had a lovely red macroalgae. I bought it knowing I would have to carry it all day. They also had some nice freshwater fish, and all very healthy, but I didn't think bags of fish was a practical thing to carry for 8+ hours. Those fish would be completely and utterly traumatized. We left the store, and within 5 minutes the rock that the macro is attached to poked a hole in the bag! We bought some ziplocks, and I triple bagged it and put it in my purse for the get of the day. The aquarium was fabulous as usual, I'll get up some pics another day. Sadly, their belugas died a while back for unknown reasons, so their biggest attraction is no more. People must have though I was a bitter for sitting at the bottom of a big display taking a picture of seemingly nothing There was, in fact, a mysid shrimp. In the gift shop, I got a t-shirt that says "I love fish". Perfect. I wore it today We had dinner at the keg, and bought way too much candy at a little candy store that has an insane amount of saltwater taffy. This morning, we went to the Vancouver Art Gallery and looked at their Monet and Emily Carr exhibits. I think Emily Carr might be my new favorite artist! We ended up going back to Aquariums West, where we got a peacock cichlid, a blehers (spelling?) rainbow, and I snagged their last 3 spot rasbora. Sadly someone had already bought the other 5. I'll have to get some ordered in for me in Kamloops. At King Ed's Pet Centre (which is very humid in the fish area, so mig that I had to take a break) I got what I think is feather caulerpa, as well as a frag of neon green trumpet. It really pops under blue lights, and was a steal at $10 IMO. Our final fish stop was J and L Aquatics. That's where I bought most of the stuff. I got there, looked in every tank, and began scoping out my purchases. They had so many gobies! I got to one tank that had neon, yellow line, tiger, and yellow clown gobies (and more) and got a little overwhelmed when presented with neon and yellow line at the same time. I got both... It's a good thing I don't mind upping my waterchange schedule if need be. My other purchases were a Halloween hermit crab (so cool in person), a white spot anemone shrimp, a ghost anemone shrimp, the tiniest candy cane pistol ever (not even an inch long, the lady had a hell of a time finding it), and a pink bar goby to be his friend. I'm fairly sure it is a pink bar goby. The lady at the store thought it was. They're so similar to the flag tail that it's hard to tell. It doesn't really matter though, they both get the same size and pair with shrimp. Exciting! Well we're past the accident and off to eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner! 2 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 1 hour ago, fishfreak0114 said: I had a great time in Vancouver! I'm not home yet, but there's an accident so I'm going to be stuck in traffic for a while. I thought it would be a good time to do an update. It'll probably be long because I'm bored. Yesterday, our first stop was Aquariums West. They had a lovely red macroalgae. I bought it knowing I would have to carry it all day. They also had some nice freshwater fish, and all very healthy, but I didn't think bags of fish was a practical thing to carry for 8+ hours. Those fish would be completely and utterly traumatized. We left the store, and within 5 minutes the rock that the macro is attached to poked a hole in the bag! We bought some ziplocks, and I triple bagged it and put it in my purse for the get of the day. The aquarium was fabulous as usual, I'll get up some pics another day. Sadly, their belugas died a while back for unknown reasons, so their biggest attraction is no more. People must have though I was a bitter for sitting at the bottom of a big display taking a picture of seemingly nothing There was, in fact, a mysid shrimp. In the gift shop, I got a t-shirt that says "I love fish". Perfect. I wore it today We had dinner at the keg, and bought way too much candy at a little candy store that has an insane amount of saltwater taffy. This morning, we went to the Vancouver Art Gallery and looked at their Monet and Emily Carr exhibits. I think Emily Carr might be my new favorite artist! We ended up going back to Aquariums West, where we got a peacock cichlid, a blehers (spelling?) rainbow, and I snagged their last 3 spot rasbora. Sadly someone had already bought the other 5. I'll have to get some ordered in for me in Kamloops. At King Ed's Pet Centre (which is very humid in the fish area, so mig that I had to take a break) I got what I think is feather caulerpa, as well as a frag of neon green trumpet. It really pops under blue lights, and was a steal at $10 IMO. Our final fish stop was J and L Aquatics. That's where I bought most of the stuff. I got there, looked in every tank, and began scoping out my purchases. They had so many gobies! I got to one tank that had neon, yellow line, tiger, and yellow clown gobies (and more) and got a little overwhelmed when presented with neon and yellow line at the same time. I got both... It's a good thing I don't mind upping my waterchange schedule if need be. My other purchases were a Halloween hermit crab (so cool in person), a white spot anemone shrimp, a ghost anemone shrimp, the tiniest candy cane pistol ever (not even an inch long, the lady had a hell of a time finding it), and a pink bar goby to be his friend. I'm fairly sure it is a pink bar goby. The lady at the store thought it was. They're so similar to the flag tail that it's hard to tell. It doesn't really matter though, they both get the same size and pair with shrimp. Exciting! Well we're past the accident and off to eat at our favorite Chinese restaurant for dinner! Sounds like a productive day! Pics incoming soon, I hope... 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 Pics tomorrow for sure! I need to start an ID thread for a creepy worm and a snail that's either a nassarius or a whelk. For now, they're in a measuring cup on top of my tank. Everything was in the tanks as of 11pm, and they seem to be settling in. The ghost anemone shrimp gave me quite a scare. I went to scoop it up with my hand to put it in the tank and it jumped! I looked all over the floor, in the tank, on me, even in the Tupperware. I thought it was a goner, but then the light hit it at just the right angle and it became visible. It never left the Tupperware... All 3 fish seem to be doing alright, and the pistol shrimp has started to dig out the corner of the sand container. It hasn't met the goby yet, but the lights aren't on so I doubt it will until at least tomorrow. 3 hours ago, Lula_Mae said: Sounds like a productive day! Pics incoming soon, I hope... 2 Quote Link to comment
Lula_Mae Posted July 10, 2017 Share Posted July 10, 2017 Those see-through shrimp are hard to see! 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 I can't find either of them in the tank! Oh well, maybe I'll get a sighting once a month... In other news, it has been revealed that the worm eats macro. I guess that makes sense since it came off one of the macros. I had a little piece in there with it and this morning the macro is white where the worm had been. The snail didn't eat the worm, so I'm not yet sure if it is a bad one or not. The worm was suicidal, and crawled up the side of the measuring cup. I prodded it back into the water to see if it's alive. Not that it will be going in the tank, but I may see if it can live in a jar with a piece of macro if it's still living because I hate killing things. I think the shrimp and goby may have found each other. The pistol crawled out of his sandbox, and being so tiny, can't get back in. How ever, he is in the crack between the side of the tank and the container, and so is the goby. They're so cute! Both the other gobies are doing well this morning. @Lula_Mae, like with your GBG's, I couldn't really believe how tiny those two are until I saw it in person! I mean, they're as long as Jim, but so skinny in comparison. It appears that the Duncan stung the trumpet. I shall move it today. 1 Quote Link to comment
fishfreak0114 Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share Posted July 10, 2017 Alrighty so here's a few pics! I'll try to get a few up from the aquarium later. Unknown snail P7092152 by orb1915, on Flickr Macro eating worm (I think it's dead ) edit: it moved P7092149 by orb1915, on Flickr Halloween hermit. I've yet to see it in the tank P7092134 by orb1915, on Flickr Anemone shrimp. P7092135 by orb1915, on Flickr Itty Bitty pistol P7092136 by orb1915, on Flickr The dendro is healing up nicely P7092153 by orb1915, on Flickr new trumpet P7092154 by orb1915, on Flickr I found the white spot shrimp, but I have yet to see the ghost P7092155 by orb1915, on Flickr What I'm pretty sure is feather caulerpa P7092157 by orb1915, on Flickr P7092158 by orb1915, on Flickr No idea what this macro is. @Weetabix7, any ideas? P7092160 by orb1915, on Flickr Yellow line goby P7092161 by orb1915, on Flickr Neon goby P7092162 by orb1915, on Flickr tiny pistol P7092163 by orb1915, on Flickr The pistol and goby together P7092164 by orb1915, on Flickr The two little gobies together P7092165 by orb1915, on Flickr 3 Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.