Snow's 60G Secret Predatory Sanctum 🐲🐉 - Shutting Down

[Snow_Phoenix]

36 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

So glad Titus is doing better.

I am too. Hoping he'll make a full recovery in time. He might lose some weight in the interim, because I don't think he's eating again/yet since the accident. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Goblin sneaking around this morning: 

 

 

 

And guess who's back in action? 😄 :

 

 

He's definitely lost some weight and I didn't see him actively eating, but at least he is swimming around normally. 😊

 

I think Titus will make a full recovery - he just needs time to re-adjust. 

 

My family suggested that I retain him in the sump/fuge because he's a big fish, and he has more room to move about in here as opposed to my nano. I'm hesitant, but they did bring up a valid point. 

 

My nano is only 10G. Not much room for a mandy this size to be comfortable in, even short-term. But a smaller tank will allow me to target-feed him more easily, and he can regain his original weight quicker. 🤔

 

I'm a bit torn, tbh. I was thinking of putting in an order for a new, larger nanotank through my primary LFS, but now I'm not so sure. Gotta do what's best for the fish though. 

 

I'll definitely try to think it over. If I'm proceeding with a new macro-dominant tank, I want it to be roomy enough for the fish. And it needs to be large enough to support my percula clown & bicolor blenny too. 🤔

[Snow_Phoenix]

Quick shots of the reef today:

 

Odin peeking out of his burrow:

 

 

Superman shroom: 

 

 

Cubert on clean up duty:

 

 

Goblin still sneaking around in the elegance: 😅

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Bella's body condition continues to improve, and I'm quite happy with her progress: 

 

 

 

 

 

Here she is, meeting Thanos with her tiny dorsal fin all flared up: 🤗

 

 

I'm noticing improvements in Illaron as well, although he still needs more time (and food) to fatten up. Icarus is also doing alright, and Poseidon is still has what I call a 'dolphin butt', so he's fine. 😄

 

My attention is a little bit stretched with Titus added to no. of dragonets that I currently keep, and I'm trying to focus on his recovery + weaning him onto prepared food. 

 

I have to re-evaluate some of my long-term plans in keeping him. If I'm struggling too much, then I have no choice but to rehome him in the future. 😕

 

The sump/fuge isn't exactly an ideal place for a fish to live in. And after the recent accident, there are a lot of things that I'm reconsidering. 

 

If he was moved to the DT, then I can monitor him more easily, but Poseidon made it clear that he's the only mandarin that belongs there. I can't risk injuring either fish, so one will eventually have to go. 

 

I will contact my primary LFS later for help. They haven't reopened yet, but they culture their own rotifers, pods & artemia, and they're the best place I can think of to help me rehome him. 

 

I will still keep trying to feed him though. It's difficult because he swims off very quickly when he spots me coming. Maybe the extra long coral feeder tube I have can help. 🤔

[Snow_Phoenix]

He's eating again! 

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

I dropped an ultra-small portion of pellets on the dinner plate a.k.a. coral skeleton just to press my luck. He ate one, but was not very impressed. 

 

Well, at least he *tried - so now I can gage his appetite and readiness for training. 🙂 

 

I'll spam him with frozen stuff tomorrow. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Mornin'. 🤗

 

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Planning on doing a large WC tomorrow - some of the LPS look a bit shrunken, including the new large elegance: 🤔

 

 

 

When I turned off the pumps to broadcast feed the tank pellets, it puffed up again, but still not to its standard XL-size. I did notice some of the mouths 'pooping' though. 

 

But I'll do a WC anyway because it is time to do one. 🤷‍♀️

 

Poseidon: 

 

 

 

 

On the lookout for more pods and microfauna, I bet. 🤗

[debbeach13]

WC usually puffs every thing up again. That is one fat and happy fish.

[Snow_Phoenix]

11 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

WC usually puffs every thing up again. That is one fat and happy fish.

I hope so, and thanks! 😊

[Snow_Phoenix]

Poseidon playing with his reflection in the glass today morning: 🤗

 

Large elegance was back to normal today morning (taken during heavy whites) :

 

 

It was still large and wavy in the evening (milder whites, heavier blues) :

 

 

 

 

Mini elegance was quite puffy too: 🤗

 

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Goblin has adopted both elegances as his official playground: 😅

 

 

 

Other LPS were also large and extra puffy today: 

 

 

I think I'm going to slowly convert this into a LPS-dominant tank since these corals seem to adapt well in a high-nutrient environment. I still want to restock mushroom mountain with more shrooms though. Just the normal colorful morphs which you can get in any store. 🤔

 

Also, Leopold the leopard wrasse had a bit of a fright and bumped the bracing of the tank during the evening feeding session today. He lost a few scales on his head, but is eating, swimming and acting normally. 

 

I think the new scales will grow in in the upcoming weeks. 👍

[Snow_Phoenix]

Multiple updates incoming! 🤗

 

Update #1: Dragons.

 

Shadowed three of my four little dragons today - Illaron was discreet as usual, so I couldn't film him. 🤷‍♀️

 

Bella:

 

 

 

Icarus:

 

 

Poseidon a.k.a. Dolphin Butt: 🤣

 

 

Poseidon taking his time to have some bites: 

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Update #2: Conch. 

 

Cubert was a vaccuum beast today: 😅

 

 

 

 

I still can't believe he adapted so quickly to aquarium life from the shallow pools near the beach. He's easily the best gift my mother has gotten me so far: 🤗

 

I also spotted the hitchiker limpet that patrols my tank. It has actually grown a little - wonder how big it can get? 🤔

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Update #3: GCG 

 

Goblin is still in love with my elegance! Really love watching him perch all over this coral: 🥰

 

 

 

 

The elegance wasn't as large as it could get in this shot - because I snapped a pic while it was pooping: 🤣

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Update #4: FTV.

 

I also took a quick vid. of the tank before the evening feeding session:

 

It needs to be cleaned, but you can see how restless the fish are...because they know a food storm is coming. 😅

[Snow_Phoenix]

Still spreading cyano in the sump: 🙄

 

 

Red is his favorite color. 😕

[Snow_Phoenix]

Took several zoomed in shots of Nero this morning:

 

 

 

 

She sometimes dips down to swim in the mid-water-column section of the tank. Her male companion, Sushi, only swims down during feeding times. 

 

Also took a close up of my elegance coral and pearl bubble coral:

 

 

 

I think the pearl has receded a little, although I am unsure why. 🤔

 

All the other LPS pieces are fine and have full PE. 🤷‍♀️

[Snow_Phoenix]

The Big Guy was lurking today: 

 

 

Love his purple color. 🥰

 

Also shadowed Bella for a while:

 

Glass is still dirty, but it's not too awful yet. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Scraped the glass yesterday evening, so I could view the fish & corals clearly today morning. 🤗

 

Mini-mushroom mountain with a green rhodactis, superman, red devil & red discosoma: 🥰

 

 

Red devil: 

 

 

Tri-colored rhodactis: 

 

 

Mugshot of Thanos: 😅

 

 

Goblin & his elegance (as usual) :

 

 

 

I'm planning on doing some major maintenance/clean up + WC soon. I'll try to do a 50% WC, but if I'm too tired, then I'll only WC 20G (or 30G). The sump needs to be cleaned though. Cyano aside, it's time to replace the floss & media, and siphon out as much debri as possible. 

 

Definitely lots of work ahead. 🤔

 

Since I work slow, I estimate it will take me 2.5 to 3 hours to get everything done - including cleaning up the bathroom & washing the equipment afterwards. Have to definitely plan the day carefully, or split the clean-up to two timings in one day to ease the stress of doing it. ---> this is why I only WC this tank once every 4 to 6+ weeks, because it can be challenging for me. 😕

[debbeach13]

Every looks great just do what you can. I hope you do not stress too much.

[Snow_Phoenix]

16 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

Every looks great just do what you can. I hope you do not stress too much.

I think I'll split in two parts (or take breaks in between) - I really don't think I can manage cleaning out both the DT & sump. 😕

 

Scraping the glass yesterday actually gave me a back ache, but thankfully it was minor and some rest/sleep overnight allowed it to heal up somewhat. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Bo was playing with his reflection in the afternoon: 🤗

 

 

Doc on duty:

 

 

Freida the steinitz goby: 

 

 

Bella: 🥰

 

 

Thinking of picking up another LPS colony after the next WC. Hopefully, my LFS will have a nice large frogspawn in stock. I'm planning on moving the pearl bubble coral up - I think the lighting isn't strong enough for *it, on the lower/front/right side of the reef. 🤔

[Snow_Phoenix]

A few quick updates - Titus died today morning, and I spent the whole morning + afternoon cleaning up the sump. I WCed ~20G, but I intend to WC another 20G of the DT tomorrow. 

 

It definitely wasn't an easy day to begin with, but I'm glad I did manage to perform a WC somehow. The rest of the fish & corals are okay - I've tried keeping a blue mandy twice in this system and failed - so I'm sticking to what I currently have, and what I'm actually good at keeping. 

 

I need some downtime between all the fish additions with all my tanks anyway. Figured I'd hit the brakes on this thing until I'm strong enough to manage the care of more creatures (keeping 5 dragonets was really stretching me thin - especially since I couldn't keep them all in one place/tank - it was too challenging, and wore me down somewhat). 😔

 

Anyhow, here are some quick snapshots of the fish & corals today: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^His fin is blocking his belly - don't worry. I quickly checked to make sure he's okay after taking this pic. He's still chubby. 👍

 

I really don't think I can handle another dragonet. Maybe a small female ruby might be okay - but anything else bigger is too much work to keep up with. 

 

I think my current stock of 4 🐲🐉 are okay. The important part is making sure they eat enough - as long as they keep eating whatever I give them, my worries are lessened a bit. 

 

I'm planning on hitting the store soon to see if I can pick up another large LPS. They did have a lot SPS arrive recently, but sticks don't interest me atm. Might wind up getting a zoa for the pico too. I saw some pretty yellow ones around ~2 weeks ago, which I think I have the room for in that little reef. 👍

[debbeach13]

Sorry about Titus