Lunchbucket's New 58gal RR inprogress - LOTS OF PICS

[Travis]

How much are the clams not opening? Are they staying completely closed up or are they only opening about half-as much as normal? It almost sounds as though something may be nipping at their mantles when you are not around. I've never heard of clams having problems due to fish picking at algae on their shells, but there is a first time for everything.

 

[Lunchbucket]

they don't extend past the edge of thier shells so they are pizised!

when he pics at their shells he gets on teh inside edge too. not nipping at the mantle but trying to clean. they close up now when a fish swims by.

any advice? leave them for a while?

get rid of the fish? the clams?

Lunchbucket

 

[Travis]

I would at least wait it out for a few more days. If he is picking at the inside of their shells then I can understand why they probably aren't happy. But I would wait it out a little longer and see if they learn that he isn't trying to hurt them.

 

[Lunchbucket]

well i got worried as they do NOT look good. i took action and pulled out my eggcrate box that i had on my two clams when the last yellow eye picked at them. only bad part is that it was not big enough. good thing i had a strip of 3wide x 25 square eggcrate and a TON of zip ties. so i extented the top and sides w/ 3 extra squares of eggcrate. it made just enough room to fit the three clams!!! thank God!!

i'll leave them like this for a few days after they are happy i'll take it off again. we will see if it is the tang or the PM disease. also we will see if they get used to it this way

wish them luck!
Lunchbucket

 

[zmalexander]

Looks good, nice and safe!! Good luck!

-Zac

 

[Lunchbucket]

z- thanks man. at least they will be safe for now. then in a couple days when i know they are happy again i'll let them out. maybe i can teach them or the tang to be happy w/ eachother

Lunchbucket

 

[Anemonebuff]

Your tank looks awesome. Are you worried about the hydroids?

 

[zmalexander]

:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :mixed:

 

[Lunchbucket]

anemone - i was worried about the hydroids as i heard they will sting corals and damage them...but my corals actually keep them at bay and keep basing out w/ NO problems. they make the hydroids back down. sooooooo i can't complain too much. they look ugly and i hate them but i can't get rid of them easily if at all. so the corals will just keep backing them down and eventually i dont' think we will see them when the tank is filled up. not my 1st choice but it works

z - ????

Lunchbucket

 

[zmalexander]

Oh, I was just prepping for your response about the hydroids.......I know you hate them.

-Z

 

[Lunchbucket]

z - i figured that is what you were doing...but i was nice this time wasn't i.

but i DO HATE THEM VERY MUCH! i'm just happy they don't hurt my corals

oh my clam are out more today inside thier eggcrate box then they have been out in DAYS!! so i'm guessing the tang was ****ing them off. i'll see what happens in a few when i take the box off again

Lunchbucket

 

[zmalexander]

Awesome!!

I wonder if maybe a "on" and "off" acclimation period might work, where you take the crate off for a day or so, then protect them for a few days, and slowly increase the unprotected time....

Maybe that would help them acclimate without getting too stressed.

-Z

 

[Travis]

What all have you tried to get rid of the hydroids?

 

[Lunchbucket]

superglue, joes juice. can't really do a lot as they are in quite a few places. i will NOT take the rock out though. they will stay if i have to do that. i have not gotten after them a lot though. i haven't dilligently dosed them w/ anything. wish something would eat them

well i saw my yellow eye kole tang nipping at the algae in the algae clip not a lot but he saw Mrs. Clown do it and got curious. not quite sure why she likes it though??

Lunchbucket

 

[Travis]

Clownfish will eat nori. Mine always have. Heck, my chromis and anthias will even eat small amounts of it.

 

[Lunchbucket]

i just never thought she would go after it. hey guess they need some veggies in thier diet

Lunchbucket

 

[Lunchbucket]

i've been pulling algae every other week when i do a water change but i figured i better pull it at least 1x/wk. even though it doesn't grow that fast. i've also been blowing off the area where the algae grow to get the detritius out of the patch so i don't feed the fire.

any id on what this is?? hope not bryopsis...if it is..i'm pretty on top of it and it is dwindling every week

thanks
Lunchbucket

 

[arconom]

I like those tong grabber things Where did you get it? Also any news on the tank upgrade situation?

 

[Lunchbucket]

they are LONG hemostats. i think premiumaquatics sells some like the ones i have..they ROCK. great for algae removal and fragging

they only have bone cutters...but i think you can get hemostats at a medical supply store
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=coralfrag

Lunchbucket

 

[melev]

They call them forceps on Premium Aquatics site.

Btw, those look so nice and new and shiney. Mine have small rust spots. Any solutions to keeping them clean and new looking?