drummereef's 180g in-wall build

[aquaph8]

I had two of five make it through QT due to aggression. Now in the DT the dominant one still picks on the other. Its like putting 5 women together in a small room, eventually they will kill each other.

 

[drummereef]

I had two of five make it through QT due to aggression. Now in the DT the dominant one still picks on the other. Its like putting 5 women together in a small room, eventually they will kill each other.

Oh my LOL. I guess what bothers me is why would the first fish died in the bag on the way home. Seems strange there would be an oxygen problem that soon. The second one (who also didn't make it) was coming to the surface seemingly to get air during acclimation. I'm not sure what to do in that situation since adding an airstone would potentially cause the pH to skyrocket.

I guess the question is when fish are kept in hypo at the store and need a couple hours to drip acclimate, what are you supposed to do when they become stressed from oxygen depletion during acclimation? Seems like you'd be screwed either way...

 

[drummereef]

UPDATE:


Well after an interesting day I took some pics of the three amigos in the quarantine tank. I'll probably pick up a couple more Chromis in the next week or so. Hopefully I can find them closer to home so there's minimal transport time. Question... How often does everyone do water changes on their quarantine tanks?

Here's the pics.


Quarantine Setup

Full Shot

Snapped a quick shot of the Tang and Anthias too. The Lyretail Anthias is really starting to darken up. A nice deep reddish purple color. Such a pretty fish. And in the background the algae cycle continues. Argh...

 

[drummereef]

Hey guys, how long would you keep the Chromis in the QT? I know 3-4 weeks is typical for most fish but didn't know about these.

 

[kudora]

i would still keep them in there 3-4 weeks myself. i dont know if i missed it but i usually put a ammonia monitor in there also. i do water 2 gallon water changes every couple of days.

 

[goochesfish]

I started with 9 chromis and only 2 are alive today. They just keep picking each other off. Even with just 2 in a 150g, the larger chases and nips at the smaller one.

 

[drummereef]

i would still keep them in there 3-4 weeks myself. i dont know if i missed it but i usually put a ammonia monitor in there also. i do water 2 gallon water changes every couple of days.

Sounds good kudora. Thanks for the reminder on the ammonia monitor, I've been meaning to pick one up. I'll continue to do water changes every couple days too.

I started with 9 chromis and only 2 are alive today. They just keep picking each other off. Even with just 2 in a 150g, the larger chases and nips at the smaller one.

Wow, that's crazy goochesfish. For being so small they can sure be little bullies.

 

[drummereef]

UPDATE:


It's really starting to not be funny. :worried:

 

[crvz]

That does look annoying. Do you have an ID on that stuff? doesnt look like anything I've run across.

 

[psteeleb]

that looks like some sort of hair algae. A kole tang or foxface would probably make short work of it

 

[dvanacker]

looks like bacteria to me. I havent read the thread but have you been dosing any carbon sources?

 

[Taqpol]

Do you have any snails or other CUC in there yet?

 

[drummereef]

That does look annoying. Do you have an ID on that stuff? doesnt look like anything I've run across.

I agree with Pete, I think it's brown hair algae. It's really starting to get out of control LOL. My yellow tang doesn't hardly touch it and the snails I have apparently don't like it either.

that looks like some sort of hair algae. A kole tang or foxface would probably make short work of it

Are there some snails or other cuc you would suggest for it instead of a fish? I'm not convinced I want to add a fish to the system that I don't want long term at this point.

looks like bacteria to me. I havent read the thread but have you been dosing any carbon sources?

No solid carbon source yet although I'm seriously considering incorporating one in the next couple weeks. Can't decide if I want to wait for the Warner Marine product to come out or just go with NP or Vertex.

Do you have any snails or other CUC in there yet?

I had a few Astrea snails but all but one dropped off. I added them when there was little to no algae in the tank so I'm guessing it was lack of food. Now there's an overabundance haha. I thought about adding a couple Mexican Turbos. Do you think they'd eat this stuff?

 

[cromedogg33]

I would go with turbos. If you get a handful it shouldn't take them long to mow it down.

 

[crvz]

look at zebra turbos. they're a bit more expensive, and can get rather large, but a handful of them may solve the problem. I've had great success in the past.

 

[skimace7]

I have saved my first post for a good reason and your setup has inspired me!! I can't wait for the day I can do a big setup in my house... thanks for sharing.

 

[drummereef]

I would go with turbos. If you get a handful it shouldn't take them long to mow it down.

Perfect, thanks cromedogg.

look at zebra turbos. they're a bit more expensive, and can get rather large, but a handful of them may solve the problem. I've had great success in the past.

Awesome, thanks crvz. The last time I was in the LFS they had some Zebras. I'll check it out.

I have saved my first post for a good reason and your setup has inspired me!! I can't wait for the day I can do a big setup in my house... thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the kind words skimace7 and welcome to RC!

 

[snarkes]

Get yourself two diadema (sp?) urchins - the long spine guys and a foxface... Those (which incidentally would be cool additions anyways) would go a looooong ways towards your hair algae battle. Of course this is in addition to some turbos.

I had an issue with it a while back and this combo made my tank sparkling clean. Well that and some improved maintenance

 

[canyousee]

Brett has you know hair algae is a bane for all of us at one time or another,in my case off and on for years. I have tried just about every snail several fish and other remedies, yet they all just swim by it, crawl over it and do everything but eat it. The only animal that has mowed it down to nothing is a Dolabellia Sea Hare, a large ugly slug that I call my dear friend. The only problem is he eats himself out of hair algae in a few weeks in a 125 gallon DT. Hope this helps just make sure you have enough hair algae he is a eating machine.:thumbsup:

 

[drummereef]

Get yourself two diadema (sp?) urchins - the long spine guys and a foxface... Those (which incidentally would be cool additions anyways) would go a looooong ways towards your hair algae battle. Of course this is in addition to some turbos.

I had an issue with it a while back and this combo made my tank sparkling clean. Well that and some improved maintenance

Brett has you know hair algae is a bane for all of us at one time or another,in my case off and on for years. I have tried just about every snail several fish and other remedies, yet they all just swim by it, crawl over it and do everything but eat it. The only animal that has mowed it down to nothing is a Dolabellia Sea Hare, a large ugly slug that I call my dear friend. The only problem is he eats himself out of hair algae in a few weeks in a 125 gallon DT. Hope this helps just make sure you have enough hair algae he is a eating machine.:thumbsup:

Thank you snarkes and canyousee. I will look into all these options. I appreciate the help and advice.