thejerzboi
New member
Oh ok i got you, some awesome coral pics, cant wait to see them once you have them in your tank!
20 Long Mixed Reef
- Thread starter Musing.Dog
- Start date
Musing.Dog
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I bought 30 and used about 25lbs. Thanks, I have moved the rocks a couple times but I like them how they are right now.
@burnah
Thanks, everything's about to change when I can do it. The idea is a mixed reef of soft, caribbean corals and native macro. My stocking plans include a pair of royal gramma, and chalk bass. Other fish I am considering include masked gobies, and neon blue gobies. I'd like the tank to feel dense, jungle-like, and natural. This is part of the reason why I would like to do the rock wall. Rock walls give a lot of depth and I feel like this would compliment the dimensions of the 65 tall that I plan to use. I'm glad you like the beginnings though.
Musing.Dog
New member
I have caught the royal grammas hanging out in the same tube in QT. Most the time they are just out of view of each other. They are eating more today; they really like tetramin tropical crisps. They both spat out frozen formula one. I think I will see if they like frozen mysis. I am sort of surprised at how sure they were about spitting the formula one out. Didn't even look at it again... but they hunt tetramin crisp crumbles with gusto. Maybe it's a texture thing.
Musing.Dog
New member
I pulled the caulerpa a bit ago because it looked melty. The tank doesn't have a steady supply of nitrates because I forget to feed the snails.
My rock is getting some color.
Here a couple pictures illustrating the royal gramma interactions. They aren't very clear because I have to photograph them from my desk with zoom, and in secret or they hide.
This is a blurrier, harder to interpret picture but what's happening here is them hanging out under a bowl together. Still haven't seen any gaping or anything. They eat at the same time too albeit not right next to each other.
My rock is getting some color.
Here a couple pictures illustrating the royal gramma interactions. They aren't very clear because I have to photograph them from my desk with zoom, and in secret or they hide.
This is a blurrier, harder to interpret picture but what's happening here is them hanging out under a bowl together. Still haven't seen any gaping or anything. They eat at the same time too albeit not right next to each other.
Musing.Dog
New member
I made a mistake in quarantine with the grammas that ended up killing them. Not a first go at having fish but next time I think I can do it right.
Bought a peppermint shrimp a couple days ago, he's happily picking away at rocks. Haven't seen him out much, but I can see him under a couple main rocks most of the time.
I have also collected all the materials to begin building my rock wall for the 65 tall.
Bought a peppermint shrimp a couple days ago, he's happily picking away at rocks. Haven't seen him out much, but I can see him under a couple main rocks most of the time.
I have also collected all the materials to begin building my rock wall for the 65 tall.
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londonloco
New member
updates?
Musing.Dog
New member
Thanks for the interest. Sadly, not a whole lot has changed. Diatoms in the sand have faded but other brown film lifeforms are doing fine on the glass.
My peppermint shrimp is doing well and is quite bold.
My peppermint shrimp is doing well and is quite bold.
StephLionfish
New member
Hm, I didn't catch it when your thread updated.
Sorry about your fish. Mistakes happen.
I have two Peps in my reef that own the tank. It's funny how little shrimp can be so outright.
Scape is looking awesome. The algae will die off as the tank matures, and whenever you add some more macro.
EDIT- nvm on the macro. Strange it died off. Esp the prolifera.
Sorry about your fish. Mistakes happen.
I have two Peps in my reef that own the tank. It's funny how little shrimp can be so outright.
Scape is looking awesome. The algae will die off as the tank matures, and whenever you add some more macro.
EDIT- nvm on the macro. Strange it died off. Esp the prolifera.
Musing.Dog
New member
I know what to expect at least next time I go to QT fish.
I like the shrimp, he has a lot of personality.
I do like the layout as well. The prolifera did come back but only maybe four leaves and it isn't thriving. The nitrates get up to 20ppm when I don't do a water change for two weeks, you'd think it would do fine. The bulbs are really old? I had an issue where random leaves would develop fluid filled blisters and then rot out. I am not inclined to believe that it is a nutrient issue.
The algae doesn't bother me much. The micro brittles like to pick food particles out of it.
I like the shrimp, he has a lot of personality.
I do like the layout as well. The prolifera did come back but only maybe four leaves and it isn't thriving. The nitrates get up to 20ppm when I don't do a water change for two weeks, you'd think it would do fine. The bulbs are really old? I had an issue where random leaves would develop fluid filled blisters and then rot out. I am not inclined to believe that it is a nutrient issue.
The algae doesn't bother me much. The micro brittles like to pick food particles out of it.
StephLionfish
New member
I have my prolifera under crappy stock lighting in my 20g, so wouldn't think it would be the lighting.
I have prolifera in my 55g that is doing the same thing. I'm not sure why, but all of my mexicana went sexual all at once. I haven't figured out what changed.
I have prolifera in my 55g that is doing the same thing. I'm not sure why, but all of my mexicana went sexual all at once. I haven't figured out what changed.
Musing.Dog
New member
Your prolifera in the 55g is doing well or also has blisters? I didn't catch which is true.
Musing.Dog
New member
I got an okay picture of one of my smaller micro brittlestars. I have one that is the size of my palm.
Just to say, the red macro earlier in the thread is still alive it's just behind a rock. It floated back there one day and is doing better there than where I had it so I have just left it there for now.
Just to say, the red macro earlier in the thread is still alive it's just behind a rock. It floated back there one day and is doing better there than where I had it so I have just left it there for now.
StephLionfish
New member
Oh, sorry the Prolifera in the 55g is doing badly. It hasn't grown at all in months, and used to get the blister things ( not sure if it still does. I've not checked in a while )
Neat little star. The colors on it are interesting.
Neat little star. The colors on it are interesting.
Musing.Dog
New member
I am not sure if there is enough flow or not to be honest. They don't kick up my sand at all unless they start up backward, which they do more than occasionally. Food stays suspended pretty well when I feed with the pumps on. I don't have cyano but I haven't had cyano at all. The diatoms do form more in particular corners though; this may just be placement. The powerheads feel huge in the tank though. I had to lay my rocks out around them. They are quiet though. Sorry that I can't answer your question well.
I originally intended to purchase the 425's as well but ended up with the 550's. I am unsure of whether this was a good decision or not.
I originally intended to purchase the 425's as well but ended up with the 550's. I am unsure of whether this was a good decision or not.
Musing.Dog
New member
Interesting little macro that came in my most recent Reefcleaners order. Sadly, UPS ditched my package on the doorstep without knocking as far as I can tell. Some other box inhabitants don't look as good as this specimen. John makes it right though even when it isn't his fault as well as provides a great selection. I don't regret my purchase.
I am reconsidering the rock wall idea. I know I will end up upgrading, I am thinking just stacking my rock will make it easier to incorporate into another system in the future. I was playing with ideas today.
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Musing.Dog
New member
I have had a few feather dusters for about a week. Recently I removed two empty tubes. One worm remains in the last tube. Last night my peppermint shrimp was trying to eat him through a break in the tube so I acted quickly and improved a hideout out of my turkey baster. The shrimp cannot get inside and I have since seen the worm poke his head out of the parchment-like tube a few times. He has not left the tube altogether. The worm does not have a crown and I believe did not arrive with one. We'll see how he does. I am looking to start up some cultures soon.
I saw my peppermint shrimp attempting to eat a bristleworm as well. Feeding some flake food made the shrimp forget about the bristleworm, the prey slinked away to safety. Same shrimp ninja-ambushed my arm a bit ago as well. I feed him almost every other day.
I saw my peppermint shrimp attempting to eat a bristleworm as well. Feeding some flake food made the shrimp forget about the bristleworm, the prey slinked away to safety. Same shrimp ninja-ambushed my arm a bit ago as well. I feed him almost every other day.
Musing.Dog
New member
Plumbing is getting closer to being done. I ditched the wall idea as I believe a stacked rock formation would be easier to use in future upgrades. I picked up the wrong size T so, the standpipe was restricting flow. Just testing with the 10 gal. The sump will be a 20 long. I can't decide when I should move the 20L contents to the 10 gallon tanks.
The water is well water and the tank is acrylic. The acrylic doesn't look green prior to water and the well water is not treated. Stand and tank are a little dirty from sitting outside.
The water is well water and the tank is acrylic. The acrylic doesn't look green prior to water and the well water is not treated. Stand and tank are a little dirty from sitting outside.
Musing.Dog
New member
Here's the sum of the tank at the moment. I am wheeling the 65 in tomorrow. The 20 long will be the sump so everything had to move temporarily. My shrimp doesn't seem concerned now that he's not in a cup. The fanworm is without doubt dead.
Musing.Dog
New member
The 65 now has water in it. Still tinkering with the plumbing though. The Durso setup is flushing, burping and gurgling. Lots of microbubbles too.
On a positive note, everything in the 10 is doing well.
Bought two ricordea a day or so ago. They are hanging out under a daylight spiral bulb at the moment. The little orange one isn't as happy about that as the green. The orange one looks better today though, bigger and flatter than in the picture.
The orange one is nicely colored, I think, with a green mouth. The 6500K bulbs don't show it off well.
On a positive note, everything in the 10 is doing well.
Bought two ricordea a day or so ago. They are hanging out under a daylight spiral bulb at the moment. The little orange one isn't as happy about that as the green. The orange one looks better today though, bigger and flatter than in the picture.
The orange one is nicely colored, I think, with a green mouth. The 6500K bulbs don't show it off well.
