mwp
In Memoriam
OK, so I'm sitting in a money crunch (mostly due to our adopted puppy's vet bills and some bum luck with my car) and am hoping to get things going to where I can get these tanks paying their own way. Here's the current tanks and what's going on:
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The Cardinalfish / Goby / SPS / Clam 24 gallon cube:
1m/1f Bangaii Cardinalfish - these spawn about once per month but have yet to produce any viable larvae. Batches left in the male's mouth typically disappear in 2 days. Arificial incubation has not been successful.
1m/2f Threadfin/Bluestreak Cardinalfish - These spawn every 2-3 weeks and produce viable larvae and will typically hold to term. The main problem is larval collection and rearing. The larvae are NOT positively phototrophic. They are released at currently unpredictable times. Out of a few attempts to rear the larvae, all were done in less than ideal conditions. Longest survival was to around 3-4 days post hatch. SS-Rotifers were not available at the time of my last attempt to rear them.
2m/1f Apogon margaritophorus - Lattice Cardinalfish - These guys spawn sporadically, as often as every 7 days when things are good. MOST ALL broods are currently eaten by the males immediately. My one attempt at artificial incubation seemed to go well for 4-5 days before the eggs appeared to die off.
1m/1f Greenbanded Gobies - when things are right, they have a hatch every week producing viable larvae that are easily collected. My longest larval succes is around 5 days post hatch; for most all of these prior spawns I have not had SS rotifers to help along the babies in their first days of life. Lately I've been missing hatches because they're scheduled for the "weekend" and I'm not around (or sleeping in?!).
1m/1f ? Firefish - these guys are definitely a compatible pair. I really only see ONE of the two..the other is always in their bolt hole. They may be spawning, they may not, I have yet to see any proof such as eggs or larvae from them.
1m Red Scooter Blenny in a breeder net - he's onto frozen foods fairly well, around 1.75", but still a bit skinny and not very strongly colored. He still needs TLC in my book.
NON FISH - Mostly small SPS colonies. Available for fragging - A fair amount of pom pom Xenia as well, and a green Montipora capricornis that grows well. Currently there is also good growth of Caulerpa racemosa; most of the C. mexicana died off.
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The Mandarin / Seahorse 24 gallon cube:
1m/1f Green Mandarins - these guys spawn all the time and produce some viable larvae. These are top priority in my book from a personal interest standpoint. Not going ANYWHERE
1f Green Mandarin in a breeder net - perhaps for backup, perhaps for swapping females, or perhaps to be added into the main tank if it works out. No plans to let her go or move her at this time.
2m/1f Barbouri Searhoses - These guys are just kinda sitting around doing their seahorse thing. At times I think we've had a small "pregnancy" in one of the males, but I can't really tell and haven't seen any baby searhorses. There are plans in the works to obtain at least a 2nd female, but utlimately I was considering adding 2f/1m. Availability of both the ponies and the cash to pay for them is what's stopping me at the moment.
Non Fish - TONS of Caulpera prolifera in this tank...I harvest huge handfuls periodically. Coral life is mostly Gorgonians, some are doing better than others. At this time I wouldn't say any are ready for fragging except maybe the Galaxea colony tucked way up in the corner by the lights, a stunning purple and green colony.
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"Renee's Reef" 24 gallon cube:
1m/1f Onyx Perculas - we've had them for a year, the female has at least doubled in mass and is easily 3". The male has barely grown at all. I get the feeling that these "could" go any day now..they've been clearing the rock around their Frogspawn home for about 5 months now.
1 Decora / Purple Firefish - basically it's just kinda there because this is Renee's tank and she likes them. Didn't have the opportunity to get a pair otherwise I would've tried.
1m/1f? Ecsenius graveri (Red Sea Mimic Blennies) - Currently the larger (male?) Blenny is in a breeder net. They have spawned twice, well at least EGGS have show up twice that I am aware of. Since our move I have been unable to reestablish them in the tank as a COMPATIBLE pair...the big one likes to beat on the small one. To make matters worse, it appears they are decimating some of our favorite corals (Daisy Polyps). I have elected that these guys should go to a breeder who has the room and desire to try to work with these guys.
NON FISH - Lots of corals in this tank. The stuff that's good to go from a fragging standpoint right now includes "Giant Feather Anthelia" which would take over the tank if I let it, and a Green Finger Leather Coral (REALLY BRIGHT GREEN under Metal Halides) that has gotten to the point where I need to prune it once in a while. There are also some tan Palythoas and mint green Palythoa's that could be fragged at this point. 1 Cleaner Shrimp (can't figure out what happened to the mate...just realized one was missing today but that also explains the wierd cloudiness I've been seeing in the water since returning from MN on Sunday)
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Renee's 6 Gallon Mushroom Tank!:
1f Red Scooter Blenny - at best 1" TL, stunningly colored and the most aggresive feeding Synchiropus we currently have. Future mate for the male in the first tank if I can get her up to size
1 juv Halichiores wrasse - it's an African sp. that will ultimately outgrow the tank..just in there for a while for Renee's enjoyment as she's always wanted a wrasse, I'd never seen the species before, it was her birthday........
Non Fish - nothing in here is up for fragging at this point...it's mostly single mushroom polyps of various types.
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Culture Station:
T-Isocrysis
Tetraselmis
Nannochloropsus
Nannochloris
L-Strain Rotifers with a mini copepod sp. in co culture..they just showed up and have stuck around.
SS-Strain Rotifers
Tiggerpods
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10 Gallon Larval Tank:
Currently used for incubating Mandarin eggs / raising baby mandarins.
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So, there's what I have going on. I'm thinking it's time to shuffle things up a bit. While I technically have ROOM for a 2nd 10 gallon tank, the hard part is convincing Renee to allow me to add it. I believe her resistance doesn't have ANYTHING to do with monetary investment, but more along the lines of "5 tanks is enough".
Changes:
1. Sell off E. graveri pair - I really don't want to do this but can't think of a tank to put them in to SAVE our corals; they seem like they'd be problems for the clams and SPS, and I don't even want to try putting them in the mandarin tank. Coral eaters and incompatible breeders get the boot in my book.
2. Not going to move the mandarins or seahorses.
3. Not going to move the Green Banded Gobies...they produce fine.
4. Not going to move the firefish...they're just kinda "there", not in anyone's way and while not being productive, not causing any problems either.
5. Not going to move the Percs...they're Renee's first fish and they're a beautiful pair.
That leaves me with the cardinalfish, the fish I initially set out to breed before being distracted by the mandarins! At this point I'm thinking that they'd be better suited in a tank designed specifically for breeding - this would allow for easier larval collection. While not "giving up on them", I'm realizing that I HATE spending an hour bent over the tank, knocking off my SPS frags, while trying to catch a brooding male. I'm also disappointed with the lack of productivity. I'm pretty much starting to think that at least PART of the productivity issue is that there are 8 cardinalfish in a 24 gallon tank and there IS some aggressive posturing between the three species.
As far as I can tell, my BEST next move would be to move at least ONE species of cardinalfish into the tank with the Onyx Percs...but which one to move? My first reaction was to move the Bangaii's as they're the only cardinalfish Renee likes (and it's technically her tank) but I'm also concerned that "MAMA" may tear them to shreds.
Moving the Lattice Cardinals is probably the other alternative...they're "speedy" and probably seem to be the ones on the bottom of the cardinalfish totem pole.
The Blue Streaks? Honestly I'm up in the air on them..they breed well, produce viable larvae, but are just a total pain to deal with in their current tank! Renee would love to see them go (in fact, I promised that once I succeeded in raising babies to saleable size I WOULD sell off the parents).
So, there's the current breeding situation in my world. Future plans - first up, at some point I intend to have both Red Scooter Blennies released into the current cardinalfish / SPS / clam tank...how far away they are from that point I don't know.
I'd love to add Blue Dot Jawfish to my crazy mess of breeding...in fact when we moved I re-setup Renee's 2 tanks with deep sand beds specifically for jawfish, only to end up not being able to find anyone who'd sell me a pair or even TRY to locate / discern a male & female. The cash situation won't allow for it now anyways and they're technically "out of season", but I guess ultimately keep that future breeding project in mind. The other truly desired fish to try my hand at would be Starkii Damsels, but honestly I think they'd need their own dedicated tank. Flameback Angels go onto the "wishlist" as well, but I fully realize that the odds of doing that in a 24 are against me.
-------
To sum it up, the goal is to start getting cash generated from the resources above. If cash starts flowing, I can probably make the case for a 2nd larval rearing tank which gives me greater flexibilty in working with the mandarins and at least 1 other batch of larvae at the same time. I'm thinking the Bangaii's are the most likely fish candidates for a wide variety of reasons, but I need to get them successfully breeding. There is room for coral revenues, and I may have to stop giving out starter cultures and start selling them.
So, I guess, put yourself in my shoes....if you could do ANYTHING with the resources I have, without expanding in terms of tanks, what would YOU do?
Curious to hear any and all ideas!
Matt
-------
The Cardinalfish / Goby / SPS / Clam 24 gallon cube:
1m/1f Bangaii Cardinalfish - these spawn about once per month but have yet to produce any viable larvae. Batches left in the male's mouth typically disappear in 2 days. Arificial incubation has not been successful.
1m/2f Threadfin/Bluestreak Cardinalfish - These spawn every 2-3 weeks and produce viable larvae and will typically hold to term. The main problem is larval collection and rearing. The larvae are NOT positively phototrophic. They are released at currently unpredictable times. Out of a few attempts to rear the larvae, all were done in less than ideal conditions. Longest survival was to around 3-4 days post hatch. SS-Rotifers were not available at the time of my last attempt to rear them.
2m/1f Apogon margaritophorus - Lattice Cardinalfish - These guys spawn sporadically, as often as every 7 days when things are good. MOST ALL broods are currently eaten by the males immediately. My one attempt at artificial incubation seemed to go well for 4-5 days before the eggs appeared to die off.
1m/1f Greenbanded Gobies - when things are right, they have a hatch every week producing viable larvae that are easily collected. My longest larval succes is around 5 days post hatch; for most all of these prior spawns I have not had SS rotifers to help along the babies in their first days of life. Lately I've been missing hatches because they're scheduled for the "weekend" and I'm not around (or sleeping in?!).
1m/1f ? Firefish - these guys are definitely a compatible pair. I really only see ONE of the two..the other is always in their bolt hole. They may be spawning, they may not, I have yet to see any proof such as eggs or larvae from them.
1m Red Scooter Blenny in a breeder net - he's onto frozen foods fairly well, around 1.75", but still a bit skinny and not very strongly colored. He still needs TLC in my book.
NON FISH - Mostly small SPS colonies. Available for fragging - A fair amount of pom pom Xenia as well, and a green Montipora capricornis that grows well. Currently there is also good growth of Caulerpa racemosa; most of the C. mexicana died off.
-------
The Mandarin / Seahorse 24 gallon cube:
1m/1f Green Mandarins - these guys spawn all the time and produce some viable larvae. These are top priority in my book from a personal interest standpoint. Not going ANYWHERE
1f Green Mandarin in a breeder net - perhaps for backup, perhaps for swapping females, or perhaps to be added into the main tank if it works out. No plans to let her go or move her at this time.
2m/1f Barbouri Searhoses - These guys are just kinda sitting around doing their seahorse thing. At times I think we've had a small "pregnancy" in one of the males, but I can't really tell and haven't seen any baby searhorses. There are plans in the works to obtain at least a 2nd female, but utlimately I was considering adding 2f/1m. Availability of both the ponies and the cash to pay for them is what's stopping me at the moment.
Non Fish - TONS of Caulpera prolifera in this tank...I harvest huge handfuls periodically. Coral life is mostly Gorgonians, some are doing better than others. At this time I wouldn't say any are ready for fragging except maybe the Galaxea colony tucked way up in the corner by the lights, a stunning purple and green colony.
-------
"Renee's Reef" 24 gallon cube:
1m/1f Onyx Perculas - we've had them for a year, the female has at least doubled in mass and is easily 3". The male has barely grown at all. I get the feeling that these "could" go any day now..they've been clearing the rock around their Frogspawn home for about 5 months now.
1 Decora / Purple Firefish - basically it's just kinda there because this is Renee's tank and she likes them. Didn't have the opportunity to get a pair otherwise I would've tried.
1m/1f? Ecsenius graveri (Red Sea Mimic Blennies) - Currently the larger (male?) Blenny is in a breeder net. They have spawned twice, well at least EGGS have show up twice that I am aware of. Since our move I have been unable to reestablish them in the tank as a COMPATIBLE pair...the big one likes to beat on the small one. To make matters worse, it appears they are decimating some of our favorite corals (Daisy Polyps). I have elected that these guys should go to a breeder who has the room and desire to try to work with these guys.
NON FISH - Lots of corals in this tank. The stuff that's good to go from a fragging standpoint right now includes "Giant Feather Anthelia" which would take over the tank if I let it, and a Green Finger Leather Coral (REALLY BRIGHT GREEN under Metal Halides) that has gotten to the point where I need to prune it once in a while. There are also some tan Palythoas and mint green Palythoa's that could be fragged at this point. 1 Cleaner Shrimp (can't figure out what happened to the mate...just realized one was missing today but that also explains the wierd cloudiness I've been seeing in the water since returning from MN on Sunday)
------
Renee's 6 Gallon Mushroom Tank!:
1f Red Scooter Blenny - at best 1" TL, stunningly colored and the most aggresive feeding Synchiropus we currently have. Future mate for the male in the first tank if I can get her up to size
1 juv Halichiores wrasse - it's an African sp. that will ultimately outgrow the tank..just in there for a while for Renee's enjoyment as she's always wanted a wrasse, I'd never seen the species before, it was her birthday........
Non Fish - nothing in here is up for fragging at this point...it's mostly single mushroom polyps of various types.
------
Culture Station:
T-Isocrysis
Tetraselmis
Nannochloropsus
Nannochloris
L-Strain Rotifers with a mini copepod sp. in co culture..they just showed up and have stuck around.
SS-Strain Rotifers
Tiggerpods
------
10 Gallon Larval Tank:
Currently used for incubating Mandarin eggs / raising baby mandarins.
-------
So, there's what I have going on. I'm thinking it's time to shuffle things up a bit. While I technically have ROOM for a 2nd 10 gallon tank, the hard part is convincing Renee to allow me to add it. I believe her resistance doesn't have ANYTHING to do with monetary investment, but more along the lines of "5 tanks is enough".
Changes:
1. Sell off E. graveri pair - I really don't want to do this but can't think of a tank to put them in to SAVE our corals; they seem like they'd be problems for the clams and SPS, and I don't even want to try putting them in the mandarin tank. Coral eaters and incompatible breeders get the boot in my book.
2. Not going to move the mandarins or seahorses.
3. Not going to move the Green Banded Gobies...they produce fine.
4. Not going to move the firefish...they're just kinda "there", not in anyone's way and while not being productive, not causing any problems either.
5. Not going to move the Percs...they're Renee's first fish and they're a beautiful pair.
That leaves me with the cardinalfish, the fish I initially set out to breed before being distracted by the mandarins! At this point I'm thinking that they'd be better suited in a tank designed specifically for breeding - this would allow for easier larval collection. While not "giving up on them", I'm realizing that I HATE spending an hour bent over the tank, knocking off my SPS frags, while trying to catch a brooding male. I'm also disappointed with the lack of productivity. I'm pretty much starting to think that at least PART of the productivity issue is that there are 8 cardinalfish in a 24 gallon tank and there IS some aggressive posturing between the three species.
As far as I can tell, my BEST next move would be to move at least ONE species of cardinalfish into the tank with the Onyx Percs...but which one to move? My first reaction was to move the Bangaii's as they're the only cardinalfish Renee likes (and it's technically her tank) but I'm also concerned that "MAMA" may tear them to shreds.
Moving the Lattice Cardinals is probably the other alternative...they're "speedy" and probably seem to be the ones on the bottom of the cardinalfish totem pole.
The Blue Streaks? Honestly I'm up in the air on them..they breed well, produce viable larvae, but are just a total pain to deal with in their current tank! Renee would love to see them go (in fact, I promised that once I succeeded in raising babies to saleable size I WOULD sell off the parents).
So, there's the current breeding situation in my world. Future plans - first up, at some point I intend to have both Red Scooter Blennies released into the current cardinalfish / SPS / clam tank...how far away they are from that point I don't know.
I'd love to add Blue Dot Jawfish to my crazy mess of breeding...in fact when we moved I re-setup Renee's 2 tanks with deep sand beds specifically for jawfish, only to end up not being able to find anyone who'd sell me a pair or even TRY to locate / discern a male & female. The cash situation won't allow for it now anyways and they're technically "out of season", but I guess ultimately keep that future breeding project in mind. The other truly desired fish to try my hand at would be Starkii Damsels, but honestly I think they'd need their own dedicated tank. Flameback Angels go onto the "wishlist" as well, but I fully realize that the odds of doing that in a 24 are against me.
-------
To sum it up, the goal is to start getting cash generated from the resources above. If cash starts flowing, I can probably make the case for a 2nd larval rearing tank which gives me greater flexibilty in working with the mandarins and at least 1 other batch of larvae at the same time. I'm thinking the Bangaii's are the most likely fish candidates for a wide variety of reasons, but I need to get them successfully breeding. There is room for coral revenues, and I may have to stop giving out starter cultures and start selling them.
So, I guess, put yourself in my shoes....if you could do ANYTHING with the resources I have, without expanding in terms of tanks, what would YOU do?
Curious to hear any and all ideas!
Matt
