Getting back in--- deep
- Thread starter BigDave
- Start date
BigDave
Premium Member
Got my PVC sheet in and started some practice cuts to find good speeds
Turn your volume down before starting the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWxMObV1gWI
Turn your volume down before starting the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWxMObV1gWI
BigDave
Premium Member
Took some video of the fish tank the other night while feeding.
Managed to catch the Engineering Goby on camera.
https://youtu.be/Ro0hb9ptAd0
Managed to catch the Engineering Goby on camera.
https://youtu.be/Ro0hb9ptAd0
BigDave
Premium Member
Yay! My aptasia is finally going bye bye.
Not sure if it was the multiple shots of aptasia-x I did, or if the peppermint shrimp are finally doing their job.
I suspect it's a combination of both. There's still a few little ones left, but the other night I was looking at the tank at 2am (dog needed to go out), and I noticed one of the peppermint shrimp was picking at one on a rock.
I'm betting that the aptasia-x broke down the bigger ones so that they were easier to manage for the shrimp.
I also went a period of less feeding (fighting a little algae bloom), and I think that caused the shrimp to start foraging more.
Not sure if it was the multiple shots of aptasia-x I did, or if the peppermint shrimp are finally doing their job.
I suspect it's a combination of both. There's still a few little ones left, but the other night I was looking at the tank at 2am (dog needed to go out), and I noticed one of the peppermint shrimp was picking at one on a rock.
I'm betting that the aptasia-x broke down the bigger ones so that they were easier to manage for the shrimp.
I also went a period of less feeding (fighting a little algae bloom), and I think that caused the shrimp to start foraging more.
BigDave
Premium Member
I started a thread about my chiller not keeping up with temperatures too well.
I have also been following another thread where they were discussing how well evaporative cooling can help with tank temperatures.
After all the talk about evaporative cooling, I decided to do a quick experiment.
This morning I added two fans to my tank. I'm not sure if they're big enough to produce much, but it's what I had. I'll be curious to see if it shows up in the temperature logs.
While it's a pretty large structure, I don't believe it's affecting the lighting too much. I really don't want to put this in the cabinet, but I might have too.
Future updates to come!
I have also been following another thread where they were discussing how well evaporative cooling can help with tank temperatures.
After all the talk about evaporative cooling, I decided to do a quick experiment.
This morning I added two fans to my tank. I'm not sure if they're big enough to produce much, but it's what I had. I'll be curious to see if it shows up in the temperature logs.
While it's a pretty large structure, I don't believe it's affecting the lighting too much. I really don't want to put this in the cabinet, but I might have too.
Future updates to come!
Crack1sWak
New member
What are you doing for a water change schedule? I am for sure following as I can see the progress you are making and that this will become even better than it is.
Crack1sWak
New member
Are you testing and doing them based on those results?
I can agree with doing them if the tank seems off, good luck.
Could you possibly post some current pictures of the tank and how the coral are doing I tried looking in the feeding video but it focused on the fish. I do have to say I like the livestock you have in the tank.
I can agree with doing them if the tank seems off, good luck.
Could you possibly post some current pictures of the tank and how the coral are doing I tried looking in the feeding video but it focused on the fish. I do have to say I like the livestock you have in the tank.
BigDave
Premium Member
The tank really hasn't changed since the last front tank shot. I moved a coral or two, but that was it.
I haven't had the money to add any more corals. I'm hoping to get some frags in a month or two.
I will say all the algae on the back glass is gone. The extra snails I've added have done wonders on cleaning it up.
I haven't had the money to add any more corals. I'm hoping to get some frags in a month or two.
I will say all the algae on the back glass is gone. The extra snails I've added have done wonders on cleaning it up.
Crack1sWak
New member
I have to say I feel you about not having the money for corals. I am going to college in a little under two months and need to save as much as possible so buying coral wouldn't help.
I'm glad to hear though that the tank is doing well. All of the snails I have in my tank keep reproducing and I have hundreds and they are everywhere.
I'm glad to hear though that the tank is doing well. All of the snails I have in my tank keep reproducing and I have hundreds and they are everywhere.
BigDave
Premium Member
The end of the month is drawing close. I did end up having a bit of play money left over. The LFS gave me a steal of a deal, so I picked up a few new corals. Not sure the specific names of the two SPS, but they looked pretty healthy.
This is just a mushroom on a shell, but I liked the color... as if my tank needs more green in it
This mushroom rock I picked up a while back. I don't think I ever took a picture of it.
Now for Updates. My Green Birdsnest has been looking a little sad lately. I think I handled it too much when it broke off of its mount. I think that's still growth on its tips, so I hope that's a good sign
The blastamossa is a lot happier in it's new home. It's fully opened up since putting it here.
These zoas were hitch-hikers on the rocks. I never expected them to make it, so I never bothered taking a picture.
I am curious about one thing... I've started seeing these white dots all over the tank. I think it's just coroline starting in, but not sure. It looks awfully round.
And since I have moved things around, figured a FTS was in order after all.
This is just a mushroom on a shell, but I liked the color... as if my tank needs more green in it
This mushroom rock I picked up a while back. I don't think I ever took a picture of it.
Now for Updates. My Green Birdsnest has been looking a little sad lately. I think I handled it too much when it broke off of its mount. I think that's still growth on its tips, so I hope that's a good sign
The blastamossa is a lot happier in it's new home. It's fully opened up since putting it here.
These zoas were hitch-hikers on the rocks. I never expected them to make it, so I never bothered taking a picture.
I am curious about one thing... I've started seeing these white dots all over the tank. I think it's just coroline starting in, but not sure. It looks awfully round.
And since I have moved things around, figured a FTS was in order after all.
Crack1sWak
New member
I like the new pieces that you have picked up. I have to say I like where the tank is heading and things seem to be taking off.
Crack1sWak
New member
Hope the starfish turns out to be nothing. Would hate for something to happen with the tank.
BigDave
Premium Member
The starfish ended up not being 'nothing'. My green birdsnest is gone. We went on vacation for a few days and when we got back, there was nothing left but the skeleton.
The other SPS don't look much better. They still have color, but that's about it.
The LPS and mushrooms in the tank seem to be ok.
I'm not sure what to do about the starfish. There's too many to try and hand pick. I thought about a Harlequin shrimp, but I don't think I'd be up to the care and feeding it would require after the Asterina's were wiped out.
I also don't think it's all the Asterina's. The white ones seem to leave everything alone, it's just the dark colored ones I've caught on the bird's nest.
I haven't seen any on the new SPS.
Right now the tank is kinda just sitting there. I haven't had much extra money, so I haven't added any new livestock to the tank since early June.
I did see a nice looking tank that was mostly softies and LPS. My understanding is those can be easier to maintain. I was thinking about starting to head down that path. The T5's on the tank might do better with those types of corals to begin with.
I'm not completely set on doing SPS and acros, I just want something with movement that will grow and be healthy.
I also need to get some more fish into the tank. All my fish tend to swim around and then sit somewhere. I think my next purchase will be a Kole Tang and my Flame angel. Those will be my two larger fish in the tank. Maybe even add a yellow tang.
My skimmer also seems to be a bit underpowered for the tank. I was looking at larger skimmers. I'd have to redo part of my sump... mostly moving my macro algae somewhere else so I can put the skimmer where it currently sits.
The fans I added to the tank are doing very well. For the most part my chiller is only having to run once a week or so. My wife is home for summer break, so the house has been kept a little cooler. That's probably helped too.
I have the fans kick on half a degree cooler than the chiller does. Both cooling devices lower the temp by 1 degree before turning off. So if the fans kick on at 80.5 degrees, then the chiller kicks on at 81. The chiller then kicks off at 80 and the fans kick off at 79.5 .
Between the two, the tank has been a lot more stable on the temperature side. My evaporation rate has pretty much doubled. I went from burning 10 gallons a week to closer to 20 gallons.
The other SPS don't look much better. They still have color, but that's about it.
The LPS and mushrooms in the tank seem to be ok.
I'm not sure what to do about the starfish. There's too many to try and hand pick. I thought about a Harlequin shrimp, but I don't think I'd be up to the care and feeding it would require after the Asterina's were wiped out.
I also don't think it's all the Asterina's. The white ones seem to leave everything alone, it's just the dark colored ones I've caught on the bird's nest.
I haven't seen any on the new SPS.
Right now the tank is kinda just sitting there. I haven't had much extra money, so I haven't added any new livestock to the tank since early June.
I did see a nice looking tank that was mostly softies and LPS. My understanding is those can be easier to maintain. I was thinking about starting to head down that path. The T5's on the tank might do better with those types of corals to begin with.
I'm not completely set on doing SPS and acros, I just want something with movement that will grow and be healthy.
I also need to get some more fish into the tank. All my fish tend to swim around and then sit somewhere. I think my next purchase will be a Kole Tang and my Flame angel. Those will be my two larger fish in the tank. Maybe even add a yellow tang.
My skimmer also seems to be a bit underpowered for the tank. I was looking at larger skimmers. I'd have to redo part of my sump... mostly moving my macro algae somewhere else so I can put the skimmer where it currently sits.
The fans I added to the tank are doing very well. For the most part my chiller is only having to run once a week or so. My wife is home for summer break, so the house has been kept a little cooler. That's probably helped too.
I have the fans kick on half a degree cooler than the chiller does. Both cooling devices lower the temp by 1 degree before turning off. So if the fans kick on at 80.5 degrees, then the chiller kicks on at 81. The chiller then kicks off at 80 and the fans kick off at 79.5 .
Between the two, the tank has been a lot more stable on the temperature side. My evaporation rate has pretty much doubled. I went from burning 10 gallons a week to closer to 20 gallons.
youcallmenny
Member
To answer your question about the white spots, those are snail eggs. Nerite, I believe. I wouldn't count on them doing much.
As for the asterina's, I wouldn't get too bent out of shape. It's pretty rare to find the bad ones. I've never seen them do anything negative in my tank and they're all different colors. Typically these little buggers pop up because there are excess nutrients not being consumed elsewhere in the bioload. Continue to add some CuC and they'll diminish.
Interested to see what path you choose for coral and fish. I have done the flame angel and yellow tang but ended up removing both of them because they're both super aggressive and the flame angel picked on LPS constantly. I have a kole eye tang too but he's in my attached 40b anemone tank and he only has a pair of clowns living with him so he's pretty laid back. Be aware that these have a reputation for being the most aggressive of your selections if put into competition. Bristletooth tangs like the Kole Eye can have major attitudes.
Subbed. Looking forward to seeing where this goes. Really neat tank dimensions. Keep up the good work!
As for the asterina's, I wouldn't get too bent out of shape. It's pretty rare to find the bad ones. I've never seen them do anything negative in my tank and they're all different colors. Typically these little buggers pop up because there are excess nutrients not being consumed elsewhere in the bioload. Continue to add some CuC and they'll diminish.
Interested to see what path you choose for coral and fish. I have done the flame angel and yellow tang but ended up removing both of them because they're both super aggressive and the flame angel picked on LPS constantly. I have a kole eye tang too but he's in my attached 40b anemone tank and he only has a pair of clowns living with him so he's pretty laid back. Be aware that these have a reputation for being the most aggressive of your selections if put into competition. Bristletooth tangs like the Kole Eye can have major attitudes.
Subbed. Looking forward to seeing where this goes. Really neat tank dimensions. Keep up the good work!
BigDave
Premium Member
No updates from the last few months. Tank is 'surviving'.
Dragon goby died. I don't think the tank was established enough with enough pods for him. Need to find some other type of sand sifter as there's algae growing on the sand. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just don't care for it.
Otherwise, it's just normal maintenance for now. The soft corals and zoas are growing. All the SPS are gone. I don't think I'll bother with those any more.
Dragon goby died. I don't think the tank was established enough with enough pods for him. Need to find some other type of sand sifter as there's algae growing on the sand. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I just don't care for it.
Otherwise, it's just normal maintenance for now. The soft corals and zoas are growing. All the SPS are gone. I don't think I'll bother with those any more.
