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Well it won't let me edit, so I'll have to post again.

since it is an LPS does it grow it's own skeletal base or does it encrust on a rock(meaning I should tie it down to something)?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I'm not sure what type of acan it is. It wasn't even labeled - it was in the 3 for $35 bin at work. I recognized it as an acanthastrea though, But I can't seem to find much info on the net about them - just pictures. I was hoping you guys might figure out what type it is. If not, oh well....it's very nice anyways.


What can I target feed it, and when should I do the feedings?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

What Acan is it? Lords?

Either way, Acans are pretty hardy. LPS, medium to high light, medium(ish) flow.....and target feedings if you want them to bud and reproduce faster. Generally speaking Acans will bud pretty easily. I would guess that if you target feed, that the frag you have will add another 2-3 heads in a month or two.

Well i got some new stuff...After this I'm going to have to stop for a little bit and save up some dough.

Here's a few pics of what I've added recently:

Yellow Cucumber:


Some Polyps:


An acanthastrea (only 2 polys) A little help here on the requirements please, I didn't do much research on these guys.



And another nice closeup of my rainfords goby:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Last time i saw a Helfrichi firefish, it was going for about $159....:%)

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

Wow, just looked it up and it is very attractive. That I'd buy up instead of a clown.

told you so IMO its one of the prettiest fish in the trade...you're gunna pay for its beauty though, even at wholesale this guy is pricey

"Do you quarantine?"

....of course I do....


or at least I know I should. If I were to be getting any fish that was more than $15 and/or was really sensitive, I would. Instead I just acclimate really well and try not to stress the fish out and try to stock in the right order to minimize territory disputes.

dont worry...I think we're all the same way when it comes to QT. I'm in the process of getting a quarantine set up, because when/if I ever get my anthias in, i'll need to QT everybody after that, for fear of losing them.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

But the Helfrichi firefish is just DDG

Wow, just looked it up and it is very attractive. That I'd buy up instead of a clown.

Do you quarantine?

....of course I do....


or at least I know I should. If I were to be getting any fish that was more than $15 and/or was really sensitive, I would. Instead I just acclimate really well and try not to stress the fish out and try to stock in the right order to minimize territory disputes.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 06-Nov-2005 17:20

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

No worries, it was just a suggestion. But the Helfrichi firefish is just DDG...we actually got one in last week, and I saw it in person. I almost died.

And good call on the not rushing the stocking...your tank is still new and could easily mini cycle, especially since it's small.

Do you quarantine?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I think I'll just stick with the clowns and the gobies. I think I'll get the clown goby first - sometime this week. I'll get the percs sometime later, in a few weeks. I don't really like to rush the stocking for a bunch of reasons.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

It all depends Matty, Pseudochromis fridmani is probably the most peaceful out of all of them. Most people have good luck with them.

Not sure what its like in the states, but here the premixed water is grabbed out of lfs' coral and live rock tanks. (i only go to a few different stores so i may be wrong too) which cant be that bad or even use bad quality products. some lfs here also sell true salt water brought from clean inlets. Which is suppose to be alot better than artifical salt( makes sense)

Looking good there Matty,

But that is all I can say, as I have no clue about the dark side.

One more thing though - quite some interesting wall paper there

Hope it works out well for you,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I was going to try hard not to comment on the wallpaper...really I was! ah well...I suppose it can't be helped (*snickers quietly*) .

Cant comment on the darkside much....but may I suggest moving the piece of LR that's on the top left of your scape to the top right where it may help hide some of the equipment better?

^_^ [hr width='40%']
"in any case, chocolate is hardly a rare comodity." said Chaos. "There are planets covered in the stuff"
REALLY?
"Indeed."
IT MIGHT BE BEST, said Death, IF NEWS LIKE THAT DID NOT GET ABOUT. ~ Theif of Time [link=Terry Pratchett]http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

Background coming soon.... unfortunately I can't help much with the wallpaper...stupid apartments.

and eventually I'll be getting around to the aquascaping part. Right now I just kinda threw it all in there. I still need a bunch more before I really try to work on the scape and hiding things.

Thanks for the comments though

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Got my lights today....Dual 96W Coralife PC fixture with one actinic and one 10,000K. It looks a little too blue for my taste so I may go with one 50/50 and one 10,000K in the future.

Any opinions if I might be able to grow some sps near the top? I figured I'd definitely be able to grow lps and softies, but I wasn't sure about sps.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I recently added a background to hide the paisley...

I also tacked on a "door" to my sump to hide the wiring and what not.





and a mushroom that came in on the liverock.

[/font][/font][/font]

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I just got another 8 lbs of liverock last night, so I'm thinking of aquascaping, and as Babel suggested I'll try to hide the overflow box. I'll update with some pics later.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Nice Matty I'm like the rest though and don't know diddly squat about the darkside, except it costs more than I'm willing to spend right now, and I couldn't keep corries in it Otherwise it looks like a great beginning.

What size of tank is it? I have thought many times of tempting fate, just haven't gotten up the guts to do so yet:88)

Heidi

EDIToops sorry how did I miss that it was 2; 30 gallon tanks? Blonde moment I suppose...hml

Last edited by houston at 12-Oct-2005 19:06

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Thanks Heidi, But you shouldn't dismiss it just cause of the lack of cories, there are plenty of super interesting marine fish - like the jawfish. I noticed there's not a whole lot of activity over here in salty land. I appreciate the replys!

Well I just cleaned some algae and wiped the salt streaks. So this is about how it looks right now. I think I might still need a few more small ppieces of LR to create some front to back depth instead of it looking like a wall. I was hoping to go with the crescent look, I think it's supposed to be called an atoll formation? However I'm not sure if my tank is wide enough for that look.


mattyboombatty attached this image:


Looks blue right?

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 13-Oct-2005 12:59[/font]

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Here's my lonesome critter - a rock crab or somesuch thing.



mattyboombatty attached this image:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Matty,

I think it looks already very pretty.

That's unfortunately all I can say as a freshwater guy

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

looking good realy like the aqua scape!!! the crab looks like a manthraemerald) crab generly very good for your tank.

LF - Marine tanks are WAAAAAY easier than a successful planted tank. You are actually trying to grow algae . In all seriousness though, I think you could handle it with some reading.

Nano Reefer - Thanks! I'm still trying to get the perfect 'scape. I'll probably end up jamming another 5-6 lbs of rock in there.

The crab unfortunately isn't an emerald crab, that would have been nice. First it's brown, without a speck of green anywhere, and second, it's got big ol' hairy legs.

So I've been thinking about the stocking, and these are the fish I like - not the final stocking list by any means.

Royal Gramma

Yellow assessor

Yellowhead Jawfish

Pajama Cardinal
Banggai Cardinal

ocellaris clown

Any of the flasher wrasses
six/twelveline wrasse

rainfords goby
Green or yellow clown goby
neon goby
Blackray shrimp goby

Purple firefish

1-2 gobies of some sort are a MUST for me, as I really like them. I think I might get a couple/few yellowhead jawfish for my refugium (DSB). Everything else I'm still undecided about.

I don't even think I'm going to touch the corals list yet, except for some pulsing xenia and maybe some hammer coral, they tend to catch my eye. Otherwise I have no idea where I'm going with that.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hi matty

Nice set up happening
You give us freshy's hope
I tend to agree with you on the 'blue' look. (although I have seen some beautiful tanks with that look).

I think you need to determine what corals/sponges (clams etc) that you want before you put them in and deal with your lighting prior to introducing them.
Only because I think if you put in some lovely corals and they start thriving with the blue lighting and then suddently change the spectrum you could end up with certainly a sudden change in those inhabitants and possibly even disastrous results. I think (Someone in the Reef section should be able to help you out here)

Anyway, I just thought I'd let you know that I think you tank is looking way-beautiful and I hope when I'm better in the future to be able to follow in your footsteps with my current 4' x 2' x 2' tank. Your leap is inspirational

Deb
BTW: A school of blue/green chromis would be nice
& PS: sorry this went to the other post in error first too




In wildness, nature is not human-hearted!

Thanks deb, If you need help setting your tank up in the future I'd be glad to help!

I'll try to take the lighting into consideration, but I don't plan on getting any delicate corals for a long time. So any changes I make in the lighting would be minimal. For now though I'm trying to get used to it.

It's too bad that the chromis get a little too big for my measly 30G tank. Otherwise, I would definitely get those...or maybe the blue reef chromis, which are awesome.

I got another 5 lbs of VERY porous rock (forget the name already) and changed around my rockwork. I think I'm really close to what I want it to look like now. I'll post some pics as soon as the batteries charge(and the dust settles).

In the last week or so I've been getting some pretty nasty algae which my cleanup crew isn't keeping up with. I've read though that this is to be expected, so I'm not freaking out yet.

I've also read recently that coulerpa(sp?) isn't the greatest macroalgae for use in the fuge. What I've read is that it can reproduce sexually on a large scale and can travel from the sump to the main tank and take over there as well. I really don't want this to happen, so I'll be trying to get rid of all of it from my sump.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 20-Oct-2005 12:35

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

How do you plan to get rid of the coulerpa? Will you have to strip the sump down?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

LF - Thankfully it hasn't been in there long enough to become fully entrenched. So I'll manually remove the big clump(green stringy algae in the front of the sump in above pics) and try to even get rid of the roots(brush down any rocks it has perched on). This stuff is really invasive and can grow back from seemingly nothing I guess, so it may take a while to get rid of. While doing a good job of nutrient export - it has its drawbacks.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Some pics from today:

Full view:

mattyboombatty attached this image:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

The overhang in the middle:

mattyboombatty attached this image:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

and a new shroom:


mattyboombatty attached this image:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

If its a crab and its hairy, get rid of it. They will stalk your fish when they are sleeping and you will end up with dead fish. Hairy crabs are very opportunistic and will munch on just about anything and everything.

I've also read recently that coulerpa(sp?) isn't the greatest macroalgae for use in the fuge. What I've read is that it can reproduce sexually on a large scale and can travel from the sump to the main tank and take over there as well. I really don't want this to happen, so I'll be trying to get rid of all of it from my sump.

Not only will the spores spread to the main tank, but if a big enough portion of it goes sexual, it can cause an ORP crash...thus most likely crashing your tank. It also releases a toxin called caulerpin. There are ways to fight it going sexual though....very regular prunings, and 24/7 photoperiod over the refugium seem to work well.

I would however remove it and add Chaeotmorpha algae to the fuge instead. It grows just as fast, isnt invasive, and rarely if never goes sexual.

BTW, the last pic of the new shroom you posted....looks like a ricordia to me..nice freebie

Thanks DRO - the crab has been banished to an isolated section of my sump where it can't do any damage. I couldn't bring myself to kill it.

I thought the shroom might be ricordia, but wasn't sure - I "stole" it out of one of the display tanks @ work. It's tiny, about dime size, hopefully it will grow and spread .

Yeah I'll go ahead and take out the caulerpa - sounds like it could be bad news. Is chaetomorpha called "brillo pad" algae? I've got quite a few different algaes in my fuge that I don't really know what they are. Maybe I'll post up some pics of each one, and maybe you guys know what they are. I've looked around a little on line but haven't really been able to ID them myself. Some look really similar.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Chaetomorpha is indeed "brillo pad" algae

I took out most of the caulerpa last night, and also got my first new fish! I got two yellowhead jawfish, both are settled into their new homes/holes in my sump. They even ate today, which made me extremely happy (so I overfed a little, bah!). I took some pics this morning, here's the best one I took:

mattyboombatty attached this image:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hey think when you get done with yours maybe you could stop by my house and help me figure out how to set up mine? I REALLY need help figuring out all that stuff lol

PLEEEEASE!!! lol

Tank looks great! Are you going to put fish in it or just snails and such?


Christina

Matty,

Upfront, excuse my ignorance and total lack of knowledge.

The one thing I don’t like about your tank is that greenish rock on the left bottom. Is there something on it that makes it look so green?

Another question: Why do you add fish to the sump and not the main tank?

Otherwise, it looks very nice. I can’t wait to see a lot of corals and other stuff () growing in your tank, not to mention some colorful fish.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Christina - look up(above your post) and see my first fish! And I'll definitely help you any way I can.

LF- that rock is pretty nasty isn't it? It's the only rock covered with algae - I think I need a bigger clean up crew, but I think the algae mess is supposed to be normal in the first few months. It should clear up after a bit, maybe with the help of some algae grazers.

As to the fish in the sump question - I think they will be the most happy there. They need a BUNCH of sand to burrow in, and there's not enough sand in my main display for them. Plus they are a little skittish - the jumpy type. Nobody will bother them down there. The reason I got them first is because, well, they were available and I really wanted them. They have quite the personality - always jumping in and out of their hole.

I should be getting my first corals this friday. Just some pulsing xenias and some colorful zoo's from a friend at work. The hardy stuff first so I don't kill anything .

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Is he in your main tank? What kind of goby is he? He looks quite friendly and OH so adorable! I am a little dumb when it comes to saltwater tanks. I know some good information about freshwater tanks, but I would LOVE to learn more about saltwater tanks. For starters, why do you have a sump? What exactly are they? Can I have a saltwater tank without them?


I will leave that for now....

Chrstina

Christina - The Yellowhead jawfish is just that - a jawfish. I have them in my sump because I feel they will be happy there, with all the sand and cover the algae will give them.

Sumps are very good for marine tanks for a number of reasons. They increase water capacity, increase oxygenation, add places for multiple types of filtration, and get the heaters/filters/other gadgets out of the main display. However good they are, they are not a "must" have.

Have a read at [link=wet web media]http://www.wetwebmedia.com" style="COLOR: #FFD700[/link] about sumps/refugiums and their use.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Matty,
First congrats on the new tank. I think your off to a great start.

I'm glad you did this, because I've already learned alot from you and I have been thinking for a long time about doing a saltwater liverock setup, but not yet. I have to ease my wife into it. I started with a 12g, moved up to a 46g and now the 72g. I do have an empty 46g sitting around.

One question, was the liverock you used cured or uncured and how long did the tank take to cycle.



My Scapes

It was cured. I never saw a "cycle" I just had to wait a few week for trace amounts of ammonia to disappear. I let it stay fallow for another month before I added anything, just for good measure.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

There are several places around here that sell you cycled saltwater. I thought this sounded liek the best bet for me personally. It would make it a lot more convenient and take a lot of strain off the owner, and the fish. What do you guys think?



Christina

Someone set me straight if I goof up here, but I don't think that you can buy pre-cycled saltwater. It would take quite a while for a store to cycle water in large enough quantities to sell, and the labor and materials involved for the process would raise the price beyond what many would be willing to pay. I think what you're seeing is actually "mixed" saltwater, which is usually reverse osmosis freshwater mixed together with bags or containers of marine salt like those for sale on the shelves. This water is sold so that hobbyists who do not have the time, space, or inclination to mix their own saltwater for water changes can just pop down and buy their own. It makes things easier for the aquarist, but the water does cost more than mixing your own and you can't be sure of the quality. The salinity might be different than that of your tank, the salt may not have been given enough time to dissolve into the solvent water, or the brand of salt used may not be reputable. For those who want to buy pre-made saltwater, it pays to check up on what exactly they would be getting. An associate or manager should be able to answer any questions you might have about their water.

Disclaimer: I'm an idiot, so there's a chance that not everything above is correct. To anyone reading, double-check what I said with someone else before you actually believe it.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I think Books has that one right

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Maybe I misunderstood what the lady was telling me, however the water she used I think she was taking it out of her fish tanks or out of the giant "pond" of live rock. I have no idea I did not see what she did. I am trying to learn abotu saltwater still. I don't want to do this until I know what I am doing, and evidentally I don't know much right now..... Oh well. Maybe I should go get a book for this. Anyone know any good saltwater tank books? Say Saltwater aquariums for dummies? lol



Christina

I thought most pseudos are aggressive...I don't want anyone beating up on my rainfords goby.

I think the 12 line just has different coloration. *I think*

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

So do you guys recommend me trying that? Would you do that Patchy? I thought this would help ensure that my tank survived better atleast until I was seasoned at conditioning the saltwater.... What do you think?



Christina

if buying it comes down to do you trust your store?
i get mine from a inlet that i know is clean as i found a web page from a long time reefer who lives near me and uses this place. obviously you dont want sewage dumped where you fishing or lots of boat traffic that dunp crap in the watter.

buying the water is very useful if you dont have the room but can be a pain to transport. so its all up to your circumstances really

Anyone know any good saltwater tank books? Say Saltwater aquariums for dummies?

Saltwater aquariums for dummies is actually a decent book

You may also try

Reef Invertebrates by Anthony Calfo and Robert Fenner
Book of coral propogation Vol. 1 by Anthony Calfo

Pretty much anything by Anthony Calfo, Robert Fenner, Mike Paletta, Steven Tyree, Dr. Ron Shimek, or Scott Michael are good books with fairly recent info. The two books I listed above are probably the most up to date out right now.

As far as what you should do about your SW....I always mix my own. Its nice to know that if I have an emergency at 3am that I can mix up 50+ gallons of saltwater if I need it. Premixed SW from the lfs is ok, but there are a lot of variables. Different people mixing it, different salinity, has it been mixed well, is the store using ro/di water, are they servicing their filters like they should, are the storage tanks they are using leaching nitrate into the water.....Id rather mix my own and know what I have. Even if you buy your SW from the lfs, you will most likely stil have to have salt mix on hand to adjust salinity to your tank. If you are going to go to all that trouble, you might as well mix your own

Got my first coral today (unless you count the shrooms as corals)! I've been eyeing up a nice looking (and cheap) piece of green star polyps at work and I had to get them today. It's a really nice bright green - and an easy beginner type coral. hopefully it will overrun my tank like the stories I've heard.

I've got it in the sump acclimating right now, so I'll get some pictures if they open up tonight before lights out.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Oooo please do post pics, i would love to try corals with my newly converted Sw lionfish tank. but me thinks wait till i know my parameters will stay constant

Thanks for those book names I am going to look for them. Hopefully I can get started on a saltwater tank as soon as I get my raise, which will be very soon! I can maybe buy my tank and try to keep the water constant and in the meantime read all of those books you suggested. I can't wait!!! I also cannot wait to see some more pictures of your tank matty! It looked great from the start. I bet it will look ten times beter when you get finished!


Christina

Aright here we go:

mattyboombatty attached this image:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Nice. I really like the green star polyps, they just have a nifty look. I also have read that they are quick to spread and grow, so hopefully you'll have good luck with them.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Thanks books, they seem to be doing pretty well so far, though I havent really picked a spt out for them yet. I think I may let them spread from rock to rock on the substrate.

I got a turbo snail and a "green sea hare" to combat some of my algae. I've been waiting on a shipment my friends ordered - we all went in on some astrea snails, but it's been delayed and I needed something desperately. The green sea hare is just plain cool - here's a pic:



mattyboombatty attached this image:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

The algae in your tank doesnt look that bad....make sure you supplement Nori for the seahare so he doesnt starve. My reef club has a community seahare...he goes from tank to tank when needed

Well I've worked there for about 4 months and I've never seen one. I doubt I'd get away with it even if we had one in....my boss knows what size tank I have and employee purchases have to go through him. If it were a coral, that would be another story.

I got some pics of my sun corals devouring some mysis and cyclopeeze. Also a pic of the previously MIA shroom.





Give me a heads up before I crash the site with too many pictures

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Agreed---

I just have this thing against neon gobies. Idk what it is about them, they just bother me. So small and delicate, they just never seem to do well IMO, even tank raised ones.

If you buy the clowns young, often they'll form a pair. They're that weird thing where they can change sex...I forget what it's called...actually I know what it's called but I dont know how to spell it.

I've never seen a 12 line wrasse in person...hmm, new mission. Do they get bigger than the 6 lines?

What about pseudos?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Sounds good to me.....Id probably go with the clown, just because I find their behaviour to be more comical when there are two

Thanks DRO, I didn't think about that at all. Dang my small tank. I honestly couldn't afford anything larger though.

Maybe I'll go with another perc or a neon goby instead of the wrasse. What do you think?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Looks good Matty.....I would agree though that the 12-line would be too much for the tank, not because of size or stocking, but because of the pods and such that they will pick at. In a tank that size, even with the sump/refugium I think it will deplete the pod/mysis population down to almost nothing, which IMO isnt going to be healthy for your tank. The fauna/infauna do more for your tank than you would think.

Ok I think I have decided on the fish I REALLY want. I might want too many or they might not get along - if so please let me know. I'm still pretty new at stocking marine tanks.

2 yeallowhead jawfish(have in sump) 3.9"
1 rainfords goby(have in display) 2.6"

1 percula clown 3.1"

1 clown goby 1.4"

1 twelveline wrasse 3"

I think it might be too much with the twelveline wrasse, that would be the fish I'd take off the list first, even though I really like them. Let me know what you guys think.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 05-Nov-2005 15:28

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Yeah it was, thanks DRO.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

It should be fine to keep using. I have done the same with mine. As long as it was still pretty cold you should be ok

Hey if anyone reads this - My cyclop-eeze thawed out a little while it was in my freezer. It was still mostly frozen and really cold, but kind of mushy. I don't know how it happened because I have other things in the freezer that are still frozen. I also moved it to a different freezer, which will hopefully keep it frozen, but my question is if I should throw it out and get another because it says not to thaw.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Do you have that really cool Kent target feeder? It's so fun to play with..

No I just put him in a pitcher in the tank so it stays warm and in the light, with a bubbler. They aren't usually open before I start feeding yet, they open up when they smell/sense the food. If they were open I'd use a target feeder.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Most people haven't seen them, that's the problem! I've wanted to stock my tank with them since January and I haven't been able to find them. So, the search continues...


Nate...the whole site is going to know that scientific name within a couple of weeks. Can I start like, sci name of the week thread? How fun would that be...


Your MIA mushroom is cute. Glad to see that your sun polyps are eating well. Do you have that really cool Kent target feeder? It's so fun to play with...

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Nori = those dry seaweed wraps?

The algae is actually getting pretty bad. I have been pulling out the big long strands but I can't keep up with the small stuff. I guess it's normal and if it goes away(or gets eaten) I'd still want the sea hare, so I wouldn't mind supplementing his diet. It's like the BN pleco I have in my algaeless planted tank...

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

P. smithvanizi.....Princess Anthias

If you work at the LFS, why dont you order it in from one of your distributers?

I'll try, I'd get it half off I really don't know if it's available to us at all. I'll have to check it out.

Im suprised you found the shroom with it being that small

Me too, I think I got lucky...it's only a 30G tank though, it can't be too lost.

Can you hook me up with some P. smithvanizi?

If I even knew what that was...and if we got it in.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 04-Nov-2005 21:54

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Matty you work for your LFS?

Can you hook me up with some P. smithvanizi?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I may post more, but these marine forums would crash without you.

Without the both of you really. This site definitely lacks a healthy population of marine posters. Hopefully I can start helping out around here. And the both of you correct me if I post something malinformed.

*installs some lights on the dark side*

No wonder more people don't come over...it's so dark!

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

If you work at the LFS, why dont you order it in from one of your distributers?

Im suprised you found the shroom with it being that small! Ive lost big rics and havent been able to find them. They always seem to end up behind the rock and I dont notice them till I rearrange rock and find bleached, bone white rics

OK OK I'll pick both of your brains if you insist .

Oh we insist! LOL!

Calfo's Book of coral propagation is about $10 more on amazon than at marine depot. I'll see what the discounted price is.

I thought that you could by that combined with Reef Inverts for cheaper on amazon...but if it's cheaper on MD then by all means go for it. MD gets them in bulk I think, therefore yielding good prices.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

OK OK I'll pick both of your brains if you insist .

Calfo's Book of coral propagation is about $10 more on amazon than at marine depot. I'll see what the discounted price is.

And I found my MIA shroom...it was hiding behind the sun polyps...I found him whilst feeding them. I stuck him in a plastic cup with some sand(the best I could do for rubble ATM). That will have to do until I get some netting, or a needle and thread - I'm not much of a seamster so I don't have any on hand

the most you will usually do to them is make them reproduce!

Neat...I'll try that when he gets bigger - it's literally only the size of a pea. You can hardly tell it's a shroom.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Dream tank may be awhile..all depends on what goes on with Marcus and also on money/time/if Im here

I'm worried.

>.<

Not too badly, as long as you make sure to pick out drifters and keep them isolated to a rock you can remove

Will do. And I'll only pick the prettist of mushrooms. No worries.

Got any favorites?

A lot of new people posting too....they dont know that Dont worry about it, just keep on giving out info like you are

Will do...I just hope you read through my things to make sure I'm giving out correct info. I'd hate to say something really wrong. I may post more, but these marine forums would crash without you.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

What what?! You dont have a real tank to put them in Nate! Set up your dream tank, and then we'll talk. Okay?

Dream tank may be awhile..all depends on what goes on with Marcus and also on money/time/if Im here

Oh...I suppose...but how badly could a little experiment hurt?

Not too badly, as long as you make sure to pick out drifters and keep them isolated to a rock you can remove

Nobody ever picks my brain. They always ask you. Even though asking me is just like asking you...considering you've always been my guide...

A lot of new people posting too....they dont know that Dont worry about it, just keep on giving out info like you are

Of course! But you owe me frags!

What what?! You dont have a real tank to put them in Nate! Set up your dream tank, and then we'll talk. Okay?

In your sump right? You dont want them taking over your sps

Oh...I suppose...but how badly could a little experiment hurt?

LMAO...everyone knows they can pick your brain too...you post more than I do anyway

Nobody ever picks my brain. They always ask you. Even though asking me is just like asking you...considering you've always been my guide...

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Ummmm, I CAN read

Shucks...I forgot. Forgive me?


I want to try this mushroom sewing project too. My friend Lonnie was thinning out his tank from them...maybe I should pick up a couple and experiment. Can I use pink thread?

You can pick my brain too Matty. It may not be as fun to pick as Nate's, but I do know some stuff. Really.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Yup, Nori is just dried seaweed used for making sushi. You should be able to find it in the oriental section of your grocery store, or an asian market. Its cheaper than packaged seaweed in the lfs's....just make sure its plain ole nori and doesnt have any added seasonings

First casualty

My sea hare died yesterday morning sometime, and I don't think it had anything to do with my tank or acclimation because all three at work(lfs) died yesterday too. It's really weird because they were all really active - then boom....all dead. I still feel really bad though. I liked that guy.

So after checking my water out and finding everything was good(except alk and calcium which were just a touch low), I ended up getting a Rainford's Goby. My boss was supposed to be getting in a $40 variant of the rainford's but ended up just getting a regular one, though a very nice looking regular one. So far he's been a bit skittish and mostly hanging out in his cave, but he has come out to eat a bit. Maybe when he settles in I'll get a picture of him posted.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Oh and I got some pulsing xenia from a friend and a few TINY peices of capenella, which I still need to glue down to a rock. They seem to be doing pretty well so far. I think the xenia even managed to catch a small piece of brine that I had aimed at the rainford's.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I have a few pics for everybody today. I got some sun polyps last night - I already know that they are coming out for feedings cause I've been the one feeding them at the lfs . I don't have a pic of them all the way out, but they were out a bit this morning so I took a pic.



I also got two new shrooms, one is MIA because I guess I didn't glue him down well. I didn't have any netting to tie him down that way, hopefully the coral glue method will be ok. The other mushroom I have a pic of from this morning.



The pulsing xenia:



Capanella:



Rainford's Goby:



And a cute pic I got of my yellowheads(note the second one in the back):

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Nice!

Could you give us another full view. You might have mentioned this all ready. What is the substrate (crushed coral?)



My Scapes

I like it too,

Although almost everything you say sounds like Chinese to me .

Your yellowheads are a courious couple, aren't they!

And nice picture taking as well.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Tetratech - I suppose I could do another full view . The substrate is aragonite sand.

LF - Thanks, I just take a whole bunch of pics and show you guys the ones that turn out ok .

The Yellowheads just have the best personality, they are too much fun to watch - always peeking around corners for danger(and for food, those pigs).

I just ran up all the tests and I'll jot down my results. I've been slowly upgrading to salifert test kits. I've read that everything else is pretty unreliable.

pH - 8.2 (salifert)
NH4 - 0ppm (marine enterprises)
NO2 - 0ppm (marine enterprises)
NO3 - 0ppm (aq pharm)
PO4 - .1ppm (red sea)
Ca - 375ppm (salifert)
Alk - 3.0 meq/L (aq systems)

I think the calcium is nearly in order now, but the alkalinity I still need to get up. I've been dosing B-Ionics for the last few weeks. Before that I was dosing a 1 part all-in-one that wasn't doing anything for me. I guess I learned my lesson .

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

better watch tht rainfords goby is still there in the moring!

better watch tht rainfords goby is still there in the moring!

Why's that? He's been in there 2 days now and there haven't been any problems.

As promised a full tank shot:


mattyboombatty attached this image:

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Coming along very nicely Matty.

I hope those sun polyps do well for you! They certainly are one of the prettiest corals around. What are you feeding?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I'll be feeding them (hopefully) every day, maybe twice on my days off.

you can use a piece of thread and a needle to sew the mushroom onto the rock

You can peirce the shroom with a needle without seriously injuring it? It's such a tiny little shroom, and I definitely don't have surgeon hands...I'd hate to hurt it. I think I'll be using the rubble method. That sounds a little safer to me.

The one that stayed glued down looks like it's still firmly attached in a low flow area, it already had attached itself to some gravel so I think it will stick. The other one hadn't attached itself to anything yet. It was a really intense neon green/yellow....hopefully I'll spot it before it gets sucked up during the next water change.

Thanks for the advice DRO I'd love to pick your brain a little about corals...maybe I'll look into buying that book by Calfo you guys like so much.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

gorgeous, glad you went with the sun coral idea, it looks
gorgeous.

:^)

Maybe yours will grow to be even nicer than Nate's colony was. (shhh, dont tell him I said that)

Ummmm, I CAN read

You can peirce the shroom with a needle without seriously injuring it? It's such a tiny little shroom, and I definitely don't have surgeon hands...I'd hate to hurt it

you wont hurt it....you can mangle shrooms up pretty bad and the most you will usually do to them is make them reproduce! Slice that baby up like a pie with a razor blade!

Pick my brain anytime you want. Im almost always on messengers, Aim, yahoo, and msn...or shoot me a PM or email

OHH!!!

BUY CALFO'S BOOK!!!

The Book of Coral Propagation and Reef Invertebrates...

Those two boooks are some of the best money you'll ever spend, I promise. They're worth every penny, especially if you're getting into algaes, corals, and clams.

Go on amazon, I think you can buy both for a discounted price. If you can, buy the PocketExpert package too.

Like Nate said, keep those guys well fed. They need to eat. I got lazy with mine b/c of school and whatnot...dont let that happen. I cant wait to watch them grow. Maybe yours will grow to be even nicer than Nate's colony was. (shhh, dont tell him I said that)

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Feed the sun polyps like mad, they need it! They look like they will be a very nice addition once you get them fattened up. The centers of them when they are closed should be "bulging" up instead of concaved. It might take a couple months of heavy feedings, but you have a head start since you already have then trained

hopefully the coral glue method will be ok.

chances are the other one will float off before it attaches too. If you dont have any netting, you can use a piece of thread and a needle to sew the mushroom onto the rock....either that or you can use some live rock rubble in a lower flow are of your tank. Place the rubble in a small bowl and then place the shroom inside the bowl. It will attach to the rubble and then you can place the shroom where you want it

Last edited by DarkRealm Overlord at 04-Nov-2005 18:47

Ferretfish - *points at self for doing research before buying*

LF - yeah I'm still waiting on the snails that I need to help me fight it, that and I haven't pulled any out in a couple days. I'm still not going to freak out, I'll be patient for a while longer.

coz it might end up half way over the world and into my tank

now I gotcha

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Looks very nice Matty,

But it seems to me that your algae problem on the rock at the left is getting worse.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Shucks...I forgot. Forgive me?

Of course! But you owe me frags

I want to try this mushroom sewing project too. My friend Lonnie was thinning out his tank from them...maybe I should pick up a couple and experiment. Can I use pink thread?

In your sump right? You dont want them taking over your sps

You can pick my brain too Matty. It may not be as fun to pick as Nate's, but I do know some stuff. Really.

LMAO...everyone knows they can pick your brain too...you post more than I do anyway

Thanks Ferretfish, Megil

I've been feeding cyclop-eeze(taking them out and placing them in a bucket w/airstone), and I noticed they just grabbed up a mysis shrimp, but I'd gladly take any other suggestions as well.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

coz it might end up half way over the world and into my tank

tanks look good

Those are the best for them. PE mysis as well. Sounds like somebody has already steered you in the right direction.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish