teenyreef Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Beautiful! I love the euphyllia. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 Thank you🙂 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted November 2, 2018 Author Share Posted November 2, 2018 so this weekend I am doing a renovation on the aquascape on this tank. I love the tonga and look but in such a small tank it makes it really limited for open space. It's getting harder to clean and my blenny has no hiding spots in the rocks so he's digging holes in the sand like a goby or jawfish. So we have decided to open up the scape. Once I am done, I will post pics. 2 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 Well I got behind with Christmas and my dad retiring, never did an update on the aquascape change. So here I go on what happened. It turned out to be fairly easy. the steps I took were as followed in case anyone ever wants to do the same or learn from any issues I had this time around. - made new salt water - siphoned some water from my tank into containers to put my corals in and my fish in. All containers had airstones added to keep the water oxygenated. - I removed the tonga branches because they were the issue in a small tank. - we tried our best to try not to disturb the sand too much but it certainly did get somewhat disturbed. - we rearranged the rocks that we kept and added a new piece of liverock which was cured. The liverock had feather dusters, bristleworms, and coralline on it so it should have been safe to add. once we got things as we liked it we used epoxy to keep the rocks together. I then did a very large water change, about 50% to remove anything that was disturbed. I made sure my new batch of SW's parameters matched so we would have no issues. I then added my corals and fish back in. Some corals were traded in as I wanted to go a different route with this tank. I had my Seachem Badge in place just to be safe. Everything seemed fine and looked good. Just to be extra cautious, I decided to test ammonia 3 days later with API test kit, sure enough I see ammonia, between 0.25 -0.50. It was pretty green. I then tested my nitrites and I had low readings. I tested my ammonia badge and it was not changing at all, so it wasn't working. It must have expired. I then tested my other tanks with my API kit, all results were yellow where the Spec was a very noticeable green. Now nothing in my tank was even acting as though there was ammonia but I decided to start dosing Prime and Stability. Unfortunately, Prime effects test results outside of Red Sea's kits and Ammonia badge so you have to wait 48hrs to test ammonia to get accurate results. So I dosed Prime 1 day which it works for 48hrs, then tested ammonia with my API. I did see it start to move after 5 days. It took about a week or so to process but the test did go from a very noticeable green to yellow. I don't think the issue was the liverock but it is possible, theres a good chance that it was from disturbing the sand, the epoxy I used or a combination. I have reaquascaped before, changed sand beds, and transferred tanks and this has never occurred before so it's a bit of a mystery. I lost nothing which was good. 2 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 An update on the tanks specs and maintenance routine Tank Specs 5.5g Fluval Spec V Aqueon 600 return pump - no powerhead Ai Prime Led - light schedule is David Saxby peak/respites but customized 4 - 5 lbs live rock and caribsea life rock Caribsea Sand Filter Media Filter floss Kent Marine Carbon Purigen Livestock Bicolor Blenny Trochus, nassaurius snails Hermit crabs Corals Mutant Hammer Green Hammer Rainbow Ricordea Superman Rhodactis Green/gold Rhodactis Blue Ricordea Various Zoas Red RFA Green/orange mouth RFA Green/white RFA Ultra Orange RFA Gracilaria Macro Maintenance - waterchange day 1.5 - 2g waterchange every week to 2 weeks using Red Sea Blue Bucket salt - day of waterchange spot feed frozen food to corals and broadcast feed powder food - scrape all algae off the glass - blow the rocks and hard to reach sand with a turkey baster to remove any detritus - brush off return nozzle of any algae with a toothbrush - vaccuum sandbed - rinse media bags lightly to remove buildup - change out filter floss - change carbon every 2 weeks - change purigen when it's exhausted - siphon out back chambers every 2 - 3 weeks Pump and hoses cleaned every 2-3mnths or as needed Weekly Maintenance Aquavitro Fuel dosed 1 time every 2 weeks ESV bionic dosed every 3 days change out floss stir sandbed 2 times a week use turkey baster on rocks feed blenny frozen 2 times a week the rest is veggie pellets Foods cyclops, mysis, and mixed seafood Aquaforest Lps food Omega Veggie pellets 7 2 Quote Link to comment
WV Reefer Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 15 minutes ago, Clown79 said: An update on the tanks specs and maintenance routine Tank Specs 5.5g Fluval Spec V Aqueon 600 return pump - no powerhead Ai Prime Led - light schedule is David Saxby peak/respites but customized 4 - 5 lbs live rock and caribsea life rock Caribsea Sand Filter Media Filter floss Kent Marine Carbon Purigen Livestock Bicolor Blenny Trochus, nassaurius snails Hermit crabs Corals Mutant Hammer Green Hammer Rainbow Ricordea Superman Rhodactis Green/gold Rhodactis Blue Ricordea Various Zoas Red RFA Green/orange mouth RFA Green/white RFA Ultra Orange RFA Gracilaria Macro Maintenance - waterchange day 1.5 - 2g waterchange every week to 2 weeks using Red Sea Blue Bucket salt - day of waterchange spot feed frozen food to corals and broadcast feed powder food - scrape all algae off the glass - blow the rocks and hard to reach sand with a turkey baster to remove any detritus - brush off return nozzle of any algae with a toothbrush - vaccuum sandbed - rinse media bags lightly to remove buildup - change out filter floss - change carbon every 2 weeks - change purigen when it's exhausted - siphon out back chambers every 2 - 3 weeks Pump and hoses cleaned every 2-3mnths or as needed Weekly Maintenance Aquavitro Fuel dosed 1 time every 2 weeks ESV bionic dosed every 3 days change out floss stir sandbed 2 times a week use turkey baster on rocks feed blenny frozen 2 times a week the rest is veggie pellets Foods cyclops, mysis, and mixed seafood Aquaforest Lps food Omega Veggie pellets Looking good! i love the RFA with the orange lipstick! 😃 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 1 hour ago, WV Reefer said: Looking good! i love the RFA with the orange lipstick! 😃 Omg. I love RFA's. they are fascinating. 2 Quote Link to comment
Tamberav Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 4 hours ago, WV Reefer said: Looking good! i love the RFA with the orange lipstick! 😃 Holy crap I thought this EXACT same thing and was going to post but ya beat me to it... 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 28, 2019 Author Share Posted January 28, 2019 I love the description of lipstick! 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 29, 2019 Author Share Posted January 29, 2019 My red rfa is on the move again. This guy is so indecisive. Lol. Everyone has stayed in their area but this guy decided to move from a great spot to front glass. Woke up to find it right back where it started.🤣 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 29, 2019 Author Share Posted January 29, 2019 Need to do something with this empty area. I'd love a floating rock but they aren't cheap. Also thinking of putting a coral on the back wall. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment
A Little Blue Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Gorgonian would fill that space nicely and add some motion. Back wall....... easiest way would be to start with GSP mat, Cloves or Xenia. I’m sure there are other option as well. I have never had any luck with GSP but for some reason it loves my frag tank lately. And to be honest, I kinda like it as well. Even tho I generally can’t stand GSP. 🤣 1 Quote Link to comment
Firefish15 Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 Have you seen any of NanoRox's stuff? They look like good wall mounts. 1 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 30, 2019 Author Share Posted January 30, 2019 9 hours ago, A Little Blue said: Gorgonian would fill that space nicely and add some motion. Back wall....... easiest way would be to start with GSP mat, Cloves or Xenia. I’m sure there are other option as well. I have never had any luck with GSP but for some reason it loves my frag tank lately. And to be honest, I kinda like it as well. Even tho I generally can’t stand GSP. 🤣 Love the tank! I never had luck with gsp either. In all my tanks which sucks cause it's really pretty on the back wall. 2 hours ago, Firefish15 said: Have you seen any of NanoRox's stuff? They look like good wall mounts. I have seen them but not sure if they ship to Cda and I can't find an email. 1 Quote Link to comment
Firefish15 Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 He's a member on this forum. He also has a website. He'll be able to answer your question. Quote Link to comment
A Little Blue Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 40 minutes ago, Clown79 said: Love the tank! I never had luck with gsp either. In all my tanks which sucks cause it's really pretty on the back wall. I have seen them but not sure if they ship to Cda and I can't find an email. Yeah, I can’t figure it out either. Not sure what light you’re running on your tank but I think you mentioned Prime HD somewhere. That’s what’s over my frag tank. So, there is a chance it might do well in your tank as well. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 30, 2019 Author Share Posted January 30, 2019 46 minutes ago, A Little Blue said: Yeah, I can’t figure it out either. Not sure what light you’re running on your tank but I think you mentioned Prime HD somewhere. That’s what’s over my frag tank. So, there is a chance it might do well in your tank as well. On this tank it the regular prime. My 25g is the HD. 54 minutes ago, Firefish15 said: He's a member on this forum. He also has a website. He'll be able to answer your question. I will have to get in contact with him. Thx 1 Quote Link to comment
A Little Blue Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 2 minutes ago, Clown79 said: On this tank it the regular prime. My 25g is the HD. I will have to get in contact with him. Thx Still, lighting is similar. You just have to fall behind on maintenance, water changes, testing and you’re good to go. 😂 Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 30, 2019 Author Share Posted January 30, 2019 1 minute ago, A Little Blue said: Still, lighting is similar. You just have to fall behind on maintenance, water changes, testing and you’re good to go. 😂 😁 I think that was the issue when I tried in the past, the tank was low in nutrients. I might try again if I can find a cheap frag. Quote Link to comment
A Little Blue Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 1 minute ago, Clown79 said: 😁 I think that was the issue when I tried in the past, the tank was low in nutrients. I might try again if I can find a cheap frag. Frag wouldn’t be a problem but shipping to North Pole might be. Don’t blast it with light and give it a bit of flow. I noticed it grows most rapidly under those conditions. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted January 30, 2019 Author Share Posted January 30, 2019 4 hours ago, A Little Blue said: Frag wouldn’t be a problem but shipping to North Pole might be. Don’t blast it with light and give it a bit of flow. I noticed it grows most rapidly under those conditions. That area in the tank is where there is the heaviest flow so if it likes flow, I might get one when I see it in store. My orange rfa closes up like a ball at night, every night, the only one that does it. Is this normal? Quote Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 43 minutes ago, Clown79 said: That area in the tank is where there is the heaviest flow so if it likes flow, I might get one when I see it in store. My orange rfa closes up like a ball at night, every night, the only one that does it. Is this normal? My yumas and mini carpet nem ball up like that too. They 'awaken' when I turn my lights on so I guess it is normal. Your tank looks great btw. 😀 Quote Link to comment
A Little Blue Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 3 hours ago, Clown79 said: That area in the tank is where there is the heaviest flow so if it likes flow, I might get one when I see it in store. My orange rfa closes up like a ball at night, every night, the only one that does it. Is this normal? My RFA don’t do that but if that is or isn’t normal, I really wouldn’t know. If it’s open during a day and eating, I wouldn’t stress myself about that. As to my GSP placement suggestion..... well, it’s exactly that, a suggestion. This has been my experience so far but my track record with GSP isn’t impressive, so keep that in mind. Quote Link to comment
vlangel Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Wow clown79, this little tank is gourgeous. You make me want to set up my 5.5 as more than a feeder shrimp tank. But alas, I already have more than I oughta. The RFAs are really nice. I think a gorge would be nice in the empty spot too. The corky fingers have longer polyps than a lot of gorges to give motion. They are just a plain brown or tan though. Quote Link to comment
Clown79 Posted February 4, 2019 Author Share Posted February 4, 2019 On 1/30/2019 at 9:27 AM, vlangel said: Wow clown79, this little tank is gourgeous. You make me want to set up my 5.5 as more than a feeder shrimp tank. But alas, I already have more than I oughta. The RFAs are really nice. I think a gorge would be nice in the empty spot too. The corky fingers have longer polyps than a lot of gorges to give motion. They are just a plain brown or tan though. Thank you so much. It's a fun tank. I hear you. I have 3 reefs, 1 betta planted tank, and my qt. Quote Link to comment
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