Snow's 10G Critters of Chaos (TOTM)

[debbeach13]

Sounds like you did enough for today. Agreed no driving when taking pain med.'s. Feel better. Now I have to look up red clown gobies. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

12 hours ago, debbeach13 said:

Sounds like you did enough for today. Agreed no driving when taking pain med.'s. Feel better. Now I have to look up red clown gobies. 

Thanks, Deb. Resting today. Feeling a bit better after sleeping. RCGs are a bit rare - I haven't seen one up close for years until my LFS uploaded their video. Was quite surprised to see a few of them available at the store. It is a public holiday tomorrow, but on the off-chance that it is open, I'll try to drive and have a look. I admit I am a bit eager to stock the nano with a 2nd fish. But nanofish choices have become limited lately. 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Deb, this was the goby I was talking about. Sorry if the pic(s) are poor-quality, but these are actually screenshots from an uploaded video by the store:

 

 

They also had a nice lamarck's which I've been eyeing on for a while for the 60G:

 

 

The lamarck's is pricey though. But the goby is affordable and quite unique. 🥰

[Snow_Phoenix]

Well, the lamarcks has been sold, but the RCGs are still at the store according to my LFS manager. Am still unwell, and tomorrow (Mon) is a public holiday + Tue is the store's regular weekly off-day, so closest I can drop by is Wed. Given that I'll be away this whole weekend, I might not be able to drop by the store at all until next week. The gobies *might be sold out by then, but I guess I'll have to wait another year (or three) until I see them again. 😕

 

If I'm lucky enough, my LFS *might pull in some GCGs in a year or so, and if I miss out on the RCGs, I'll try to grab a pair of GCGs instead. Not many fish are suitable for a nano this size with a mix of various corals. 

 

Also, I took several pics today. I've lost a fair few polyps of both my Red Hornets, Blue Hornets, Gold Mauls and Devil's Armor, so there are barren patches on the Zoa Ledge, unfortunately. 😕

 

The garden isn't as full or colorful as it used to be either. All due to neglected timely WCs and maintenance, thanks to my health. 😔

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

At least most of my other corals appear alright, although the colors are duller. 😕

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Shrooms aren't too good either. Some have browned out completely. 😕

 

 

 

Overall FTS looks okay though. Pickle is still a very happy and content clownfish. 👍

 

 

 

 

 

[debbeach13]

This tank is still to die for in my eyes.

[Snow_Phoenix]

Turns out I measured the salinity wrongly two days ago during the WC and it was 1.021. 

 

Brought the salinity up today to 1.024, replaced the floss again and also re-rinsed my carbon pouch. Corals look much better, especially the duncan. 👍

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also transferred 2 of my cynarinas from my 60G to this tank to recover. I'm not sure if they can, but I hope so. 😕

 

 

I put them in the back cornerof the tank, where there isn't direct light. They've both lost a lot of flesh. The one on the right used to be a rainbow of colors. 😔

 

At full health and size, each coral can stretch up to 6+". 

[debbeach13]

17 minutes ago, Snow_Phoenix said:

I also transferred 2 of my cynarinas from my 60G to this tank to recover. I'm not sure if they can, but I hope so. 😕

If anyone can nurse them back to their former glory, it's you.

[Snow_Phoenix]

1 hour ago, debbeach13 said:

If anyone can nurse them back to their former glory, it's you.

Thanks for the confidence, Deb. I should have moved them out of the 60G sooner, but I kept hesitating because I was holding off WCs in this tank and some of the corals in the nano were in trouble too. 

 

I definitely can't permanently keep them in here because I lack the space to do so. *If they manage to recover fully, they'll spread out quite a fair bit and bump against the shrooms. I'm unsure if cynarinas sting shrooms, but best not to risk it. My bicolored lobo seems to have no issues being next to my shrooms though! 🤔

 

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. 🤷‍♀️

[Nano sapiens]

10 hours ago, Snow_Phoenix said:

Turns out I measured the salinity wrongly two days ago during the WC and it was 1.021. 

 

Brought the salinity up today to 1.024, replaced the floss again and also re-rinsed my carbon pouch. Corals look much better, especially the duncan. 👍

 

 

I also transferred 2 of my cynarinas from my 60G to this tank to recover. I'm not sure if they can, but I hope so. 😕

 

Good that you caught the salinity issue 👍.  Such is the nature of reef keeping that one oversight can cause things to go downhill in a hurry...

 

As for the Cynarina, I'd be very leery of letting them touch the 'shrooms.  With some regular feeding they have a good chance of repairing themselves.  Getting the original coloration back will likely take a while, though.

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

3 hours ago, Nano sapiens said:

Good that you caught the salinity issue 👍.  Such is the nature of reef keeping that one oversight can cause things to go downhill in a hurry...

 

As for the Cynarina, I'd be very leery of letting them touch the 'shrooms.  With some regular feeding they have a good chance of repairing themselves.  Getting the original coloration back will likely take a while, though.

 

 

Noted on the cynarina bit. I figured it'd take a long time for the colors to come in again. 😕

[Snow_Phoenix]

Geralt the hermit. 🦀

 

 

A few shots of Pickle. 🥰

 

 

 

 

 

Spaghetti worms. 💦

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Zoa Ledge #3:

 

 

Yuma pile:

 

 

Trumpet corals up close:

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Harvey says hi! 🦐

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

I actually made it to the LFS today. 😊

 

I'm glad I did too, because I managed to trade in several corals fragged from my tank and picked up these two! 

 

 

Turns out they had a mislabeled bicolor blenny that was actually a small tribal blenny in disguise! I was extremely surprised - because the only time I came across a tribal blenny in a LFS was easily 5 to 6 years ago, and that fish was a trade-in by another customer. This was a rare catch in a way. Luckily this lil' dude kept mottling up and his true patterns showed at the store, otherwise I'd have missed it. He was also eating very well at the shop. So I got him. And named him Galaxea, due to the galaxy-like patterns he has on his body. 🥰

 

 

 

 

 

Galaxea is quite bold. Already adapting well to the tank, perching out in the open. He lacks the yellow/orange half on his lower body, which bicolors usually have. The very end of his tail is a mild shade of yellow. His markings are incredible though, and I love him already. 😊

 

The second lil' dude is actually a 1" five-lined coral goby, and not a regular red clown goby (which I believe, doesn't have the five blue lines running down the face (?) 🤔). Difference between the two is that these guys have a more toxic slimecoat which can be gross/poisonous (?) to other fish (Pickle tried to toss him away from her brain coral, but took one tentative nip and made the fish equivalent of a 'gag'. She has now resorted to tail-slapping the goby to get him to move, and attempted to dump sand on him. He's staying put. 😅 ). 

 

I named the lil' fella Astro. He's still very shy though, and hides when he sees me coming. 😅

 

 

 

 

Strangely enough, there was another regular coral goby in the same holding tank as Astro at the LFS. It was harassing Astro quite a fair bit, and my LFS manager immediately separated them both. The moment they were separated, Astro began actively eating pellets at the store. 

 

Once again, both these gobies came in mislabeled. It was a shame that they were different types, because I'd picked them both up otherwise. 

 

Before anyone asks, no, I didn't QT both fish. Just acclimated them for 15 mins, then gently scooped them up with a basket and released them into the nano. Huge risk, I know. But I couldn't go through with the hybrid-TTM this time because I will be out of state for 4 days, visiting my gran up north. 

 

I debated simply leaving them in a QT bin downstairs, then start the hybrid-TTM when I return home on next Monday, but I have a wrenching gut feeling I'll be returning to 2 dead fish. 😕

 

I'm trusting my instinct for a change. I thought of paying for them and boarding them at the LFS for a week, but even my manager was hesitant. Both fish are quite small. The quicker they are moved into a stable environment, the higher chances they have for survival (I think). 

 

Hoping these two will pull through their first night without issues. (And Pickle doesn't accidently bury Astro alive. 😕)

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Forgot to mention, as a gesture of goodwill, I received 2 freebie SPS frags from the store today, courtesy of my LFS manager. 

 

Lime green monticap:

 

 

 

Orange setosa:

 

 

 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

I spotted many corals of interest at the shop today, including the lepto frag I traded in a few weeks back:

 

 

Absolutely in love with the premium zoas! Pricey, but gorgeous. 🥰

 

 

 

 

 

^Can you spot my pavona too? 👀

 

Not sure what type of coral this is, but I *think it's some sort of SPS. Super wicked. 😊

 

 

And my gosh, by far the largest elephant ear mushroom I've ever seen! 

 

[Snow_Phoenix]

Forgot to mention, Pickle 'helped' to rescape Mushroom Mountain a little. 😅

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this patch the most: 

 

[debbeach13]

Both of those fish are just so cute!

[Snow_Phoenix]

Lastly, a few FTSes for today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I plan on prematurely WCing the tank tomorrow before I leave. I won't be around for a bit to dose the tank, so the depleting levels worry me a little. 😕

 

I will be leaving the lights off for all 4 days though. Some of the corals willbe very cranky, and a few zoa polyps might melt away in protest, but I'm hoping everything stays intact until I return. 👍

-----

 

10 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

Both of those fish are just so cute!

Thanks, Deb! They seriously are super adorable. Hopefully they'll live long, healthy lives in this tank! 😊👍

[Snow_Phoenix]

Well, someone definitely lost the tail-slap battle and has now been booted to the front. 😅

 

 

Good night, lil' dude! 💦

[Snow_Phoenix]

A mixture of good and sad news.

 

Good news: Galaxea the blenny made it through the night, and is very active. Was foraging for algae throughout the tank, and constantly pecking at the rocks, including the occasional nip at a coral polyp or two. He's also full of personality, and I love his googly eyes. 

Sad news: I can't find Astro the coral goby. There's a very high chance he didn't make it through the first night - it's either that, or he's simply very good at hiding. I'll give it a week, but if he's a no-show, then it looks like I've lost him for good. Sucks because he was such a cute and unique fish, and I wish I had more time with him. 

On to other news, I did another 80% WC today afternoon, and replaced the floss and carbon. Tank was relatively clean with a very mild layer of algae film on the glass. Remaining animals appear to be healthy so far, and the cynarinas are still recovering slowly. Right now, everything is a bit moody because I just cleaned the tank, but it should perk up after a day or two. I'll be leaving early tomorrow though, so I'll just dose the tank right before I leave, and leave the lights turned off. Just hoping my SPS won't RTN while I'm away for the next few days. 

I think it's time to consider saving up for an auto-doser. Currently looking into Jebao and Kamoer ones, but I need to do more research. Everything's quite pricey lately. 

 

I only managed to acquire both my fish (and 2 snails for the 60G) yesterday without straining my wallet too much because I traded in a lot of corals - a *large chunk of red pavona, several zoas and palys (Purple Monsters, Green Starburst Implosions, SunnyDs) and an Ironman Discosoma shroom. I believe the pavona had the highest value among the lot, followed by the Purple Monsters and SunnyDs (gave a few polyps of each). 👍

(Oh! And I also gave a whole bag full of Chaeto from the fuge of my 60G. )

 

As long as trade ins are accepted, I'm able to acquire slightly more unique/unusual animals in the hobby at a bargain. 

 

Of course, the discount rack still exists, and there quite a few hidden gems in there, if you know where to look. 

You won't believe the amount of *hidden fraglets/bits and pieces of simple (yet beautiful) corals I've found lying forgotten underneath the grid that props up all the other frags in the frag tank. It's quite cool, really. 

[debbeach13]

4 hours ago, Snow_Phoenix said:

I can't find Astro the coral goby.

He will be swimming around or perched on top of mushroom mountain when you get home. I hope.

[Snow_Phoenix]

1 hour ago, debbeach13 said:

He will be swimming around or perched on top of mushroom mountain when you get home. I hope.

I hope so too. I tried using a flashlight to find him, but given the amount of crevices in this tank and how little this fish is, it is very easy to lose sight of him.

 

My blenny has a small belly from grazing the rocks. I'm happy at least one of them seems healthy and visible enough.