Paco
Move Don
I don't think this is necessarily true. It depends on what one is defining as a "refugium". In my case, it's just a section of my sump full of Chaeto and I have a Koralia Nano in there to keep the water moving around. Works great.
75 Gallons of Persistence
- Thread starter iwishtofish
- Start date
I don't think this is necessarily true. It depends on what one is defining as a "refugium". In my case, it's just a section of my sump full of Chaeto and I have a Koralia Nano in there to keep the water moving around. Works great.
iwishtofish
Active member
Well, I have put refugium in quotes before, as it really just refers to that section of my sump. Right now I have a big chunk of live rock with coralline, GSP, mushrooms, worms, etc. I also have some small chunks of dry rock I am trying to seed. I'm still not sure what the final purpose will be for that area. I will likely try to grow some frags, and maybe add some algae. 
iwishtofish
Active member
Good points, MrGoodbar - thanks!
iwishtofish
Active member
Hmmm...remove a sand bed, or get my wisdom teeth pulled? Which would I prefer....hmmmm.
My tank has been up, what, maybe 3 months or so, and it is unbelievable the junk that is coming out of my sand as I remove it. Now a lot of it could be dust from the sand, but I have flushed out some unidentified objects as well as some old pellets that must have been buried and slowly rotting.
I'm in the final process of directing the powerheads to flush the remaining sand from under the rock. Then I'll have a couple more siphoning events, at least. That is where I really go through my new saltwater (and the fibers in my back muscles). And it doesn't help that the only hose I have is a hair short for comfort!
My tank has been up, what, maybe 3 months or so, and it is unbelievable the junk that is coming out of my sand as I remove it. Now a lot of it could be dust from the sand, but I have flushed out some unidentified objects as well as some old pellets that must have been buried and slowly rotting.
I'm in the final process of directing the powerheads to flush the remaining sand from under the rock. Then I'll have a couple more siphoning events, at least. That is where I really go through my new saltwater (and the fibers in my back muscles). And it doesn't help that the only hose I have is a hair short for comfort!
hamiltonguy
New member
Come on man where's the new fish? You're killin' me here :fish2:
iwishtofish
Active member
I know, I know. Boooooooring! :lol: Once I get this project done, and clean it up, I'll tackle the QT tank. Have any fish suggestions for me?
hamiltonguy
New member
You could go the cliched clownfish route. They're really hardy. I've had mine for 4+ years and I'll admit they've seen some neglect but always pulled through.
Forktail and midas blennies are really nice too.
You could also get a shrimp (skunk cleaner, coral banded, peppermint.
Forktail and midas blennies are really nice too.
You could also get a shrimp (skunk cleaner, coral banded, peppermint.
iwishtofish
Active member
Yes, I'm considering clownfish because they are tough customers. However, if I go that route, I want a pair of clowns that are really exotic. $$$$$$$$
You have good taste in blennies! Do either of those require sand to thrive? I think the shrimp might be ruled out if a forktail blenny was in the house...
iwishtofish
Active member
Introduced a green clown goby to my "refugium" today. Had to fend off a couple hermits while he got his bearings. Then he perked up a bit and went into hiding. (I have a hunch I will never see him again.)
hamiltonguy
New member
Pearly-eyed Clarkii clownfish are pretty cool.
I'm not sure if the blennies need sand to thrive. I had one that never went near the sand. Always stayed in the mid-top part of the tank and slept in my monti cap but a couple weeks ago it jumped out. It's odd because I had it for well over a few months and it even ate out of my hand (not a smart idea because their bite is poisonous, just painful not fatal) but one morning I found it on the carpet.
Hmm, well that's no good. Why didn't you introduce it straight into the DT?
iwishtofish
Active member
hamiltonguy
New member
Wow spelling blunder, I meant pearly eye, pearly doesn't even make sense.
The clown goby is probably just a little shy, give it some time.
The clown goby is probably just a little shy, give it some time.
iwishtofish
Active member
No worry about the spelling!
Well, the clown goby has already shown himself. I had to use the net to catch him and remove him from the return section of my sump. A little while after that, he was swimming around up the glass. I tried to catch him again, with the intent of plopping him in the more secure DT, but failed. He is back in the rear corner of my sump, in too tight a space to net him. What's wrong with this dude, anyway? He's supposed to be hiding, not trying to escape! Hmmm....
iwishtofish
Active member
I also caught this critter:
I posted a separate ID thread, to try to figure if he is good, or bad. Most are bad, I believe.
I posted a separate ID thread, to try to figure if he is good, or bad. Most are bad, I believe.
iwishtofish
Active member
Thanks - I did put him back in the sump. I hope I don't regret it, as I think there are a number of similar-looking starfish, some good and some bad.
iwishtofish
Active member
Things are still going slowly with my tank. Here's an overview of where I think things stand:
I've introduced two fish thus far, without going the wise route of QT. My argument for doing so is a typical one, I think: I don't plan to add fish quickly, and if the only fish in the tank gets sick, there's nobody else to infect. The more I think about it, though, I realize that it is not necessarily a proper decision ethically. These fish could quite likely be brought back to health more quickly in a controlled environment - both medicated, if necessary, and fattened up to recoup was was lost during the transit. Anyhow, my second fish is "on the rocks" right now, literally, but I'll try to drop some food in front of his face today and hope for the best. We'll see if I get the energy to set up a QT (I have all the stuff) and do things right.
I pulled all the sand out of my tank. I did this with regret, as I much prefer the look of sand vs. barebottom. However, I found that even with just medium flow down low, my medium-grade sand would migrate to the point where bare patches appeared. I felt that eventually, the sand piles would get high enough to experience higher flow, and that all the sand would just end up at one end of the tank.
My dry rock has blue spots all over it, and one of them is finally starting to turn pink. I'm convinced now it is coralline, and that is good. It doesn't seem to be growing on any other surfaces, though. I haven't had any real algae outbreaks yet, just some light diatoms on the rock, and now some "clear" filamentous stuff that the hermits seem to be keeping up with. I am still dosing MB7 weekly, and feeding the tank enough to keep the cycle going.
More critters are starting to appear in the sump, thanks to the piece of live rock I added. An unidentified, small snail and the starfish are the latest. No pods yet, but a friend of mine is convinced they will eventually appear. The GSP and mushrooms are maintaining under indirect light from the PAR38 bulbs.
I turkey baste occasionally, and the skimmer removes waste consistently. It's mostly wet stuff, though, and the solids tend to adhere to the edges of the skimmer neck and cup. I stopped using filter socks so that particulates can make it to the sump to feed the filter feeders.
I suppose it is time to get the carbon and GFO reactors going. I expect an algae outbreak soon if I don't.
Next stocking plan is to add some corals - I may do an order from Dr. Mac's next week. I'd love a clam, but I'm not sure it's time yet. Would probably be fine. They are $$, unfortunately, but what isn't?
Sorry for the book.
I've introduced two fish thus far, without going the wise route of QT. My argument for doing so is a typical one, I think: I don't plan to add fish quickly, and if the only fish in the tank gets sick, there's nobody else to infect. The more I think about it, though, I realize that it is not necessarily a proper decision ethically. These fish could quite likely be brought back to health more quickly in a controlled environment - both medicated, if necessary, and fattened up to recoup was was lost during the transit. Anyhow, my second fish is "on the rocks" right now, literally, but I'll try to drop some food in front of his face today and hope for the best. We'll see if I get the energy to set up a QT (I have all the stuff) and do things right.
I pulled all the sand out of my tank. I did this with regret, as I much prefer the look of sand vs. barebottom. However, I found that even with just medium flow down low, my medium-grade sand would migrate to the point where bare patches appeared. I felt that eventually, the sand piles would get high enough to experience higher flow, and that all the sand would just end up at one end of the tank.
My dry rock has blue spots all over it, and one of them is finally starting to turn pink. I'm convinced now it is coralline, and that is good. It doesn't seem to be growing on any other surfaces, though. I haven't had any real algae outbreaks yet, just some light diatoms on the rock, and now some "clear" filamentous stuff that the hermits seem to be keeping up with. I am still dosing MB7 weekly, and feeding the tank enough to keep the cycle going.
More critters are starting to appear in the sump, thanks to the piece of live rock I added. An unidentified, small snail and the starfish are the latest. No pods yet, but a friend of mine is convinced they will eventually appear. The GSP and mushrooms are maintaining under indirect light from the PAR38 bulbs.
I turkey baste occasionally, and the skimmer removes waste consistently. It's mostly wet stuff, though, and the solids tend to adhere to the edges of the skimmer neck and cup. I stopped using filter socks so that particulates can make it to the sump to feed the filter feeders.
I suppose it is time to get the carbon and GFO reactors going. I expect an algae outbreak soon if I don't.
Next stocking plan is to add some corals - I may do an order from Dr. Mac's next week. I'd love a clam, but I'm not sure it's time yet. Would probably be fine. They are $$, unfortunately, but what isn't?
Sorry for the book.
shaggss
Active member
Yes you should! I just don't have the space for one. I am really sh1t scared of adding another fish as all mine are really healthy. I would definitely have a QT if I had the room.
I would wait until at least 6 months before adding one myself.....
Are you testing for Ca yet? The coralline will be using it up so you will need to starting dosing the more it grows.
Yep good idea, the more you can get on top of the algae now the better. Be careful with both though and only use the recommended amounts and flow of each.
Good luck!
iwishtofish
Active member
Thanks for the good advice, as always, shaggss. I have tested for Ca only once so far - it was 460. I will monitor it.
Now I just need to stop overfeeding the tank while trying to get this green clown goby to eat! I don't need a secondary problem!
