Hello everyone, time for a quick update.
The Yellow and Purple Tangs have settled in very well. I was very relieved to see that the Flame Fin and Rabbit Fish finally decided to leave the two newcomers alone. They still show them 'who's boss' every now and then, but they are definitely part of the 'family' already.
The Purple Tang was the first to feel at home. He's been eating like a pig. Mysis, nori, pellets, and grazing algae off the substrate, rocks and glass. The Yellow is a bit more picky. In the midst of the abuse he was getting in the first couple of days I could definitely tell his stomach was starting to look pretty pinched.
He looks perfectly fine now. But I have not seen the Yellow Tang eat any pellets or mysis. He seems to be sticking to algae and nori for the time being. I'm not worried about it because the belly has filled in nicely, and he's very active, picking at the algae clip and eating plenty. At the LFS he was eating pellets off the bottom of the tank while in quarantine. I guess its a matter of time until he starts eating them in the middle of the water column.
The Purple and Yellow Tangs were a great addition. I'm very pleased with they behavior and added activity to the tank. The Hippo Tang seems to be leaving the clowns a bit more these days and hanging out with the two newcomers. The Yellow is still a little skittish when I'm around the tank, and hides. It will take a few more days....
I didn't post an update about it, but I also put in the Six Line Wrasse. Its been hiding in the rocks and I only get a glimpse or two a couple times a day. It will probably take a few more days before it decides to come out into the open.
I dosed Mg and Ca for the first time and also an Alk buffer, but the Alk went back down pretty fast. (so to answer your question, Ryan, I don't think my Alk has been very stable). Regardless, the corals are all doing great, and showing a lot of growth. The RBTA has gooten great greenish coloring and the tips are looking more and more bubbly with each passing week.
I'm still ticked off at the sally light foot crab that now strategically stalks the anemone every time I feed it, waiting for me not to be around to try and steal the food from the tentacles, or even from inside the anemone, even after it has fully ingested what I fed it.
I need to get this on video. The crab just sits there and when I step away climbs onto the anemone. I fend it off with a bamboo kebab skewer and it goes and hides until I step aside and does the same thing... over and over again. Over time the crab is becoming less afraid of the skewer and as started fighting back. I'm going to have to come up with some solution to this. Perhaps feed the crab a piece and then feed the anemone... but that would be like giving up! I don't know.
As for next steps, I have 12 chromis ordered. They should arrive at the LFS this week and go through quarantine. I'm still debating on whether to add cardinals as well and I'm kind of stuck with my livestock plan for now. Not sure what else to add.
So far I have (in the order introduced):
- Flame Fin Tang
- Fox Faced Rabbit Fish
- Blue Spot Jawfish (x2)
- Black Clown Fish (x2)
- Hippo Tang
- Yellow Tang
- Purple Tang
- Six Line Wrasse
I'm also waiting on an order of corals and inverts that will be placed in the next few weeks.
That's about it for now.
Hope everyone has a great week ahead and great Thanksgiving plans!
Best Regards,
