Ms. Peacock

[Islandoftiki]

Ok, home from work and getting busy!

I overshot my salinity by a bit and had to drain some salt water and replace it with RO/DI. We're now at 1.025, which matches all of the other tanks. Temperature is about 80 degrees. I'm going to lower to 78 degrees once the official heater is in the tank. I'm using my saltwater mixing heaters for the moment.

I cut away the vinly from the back of the tank in the area that will be the chaeto refugium so I can light it from behind.

Also, the live sand just went in. I installed the mechanical filters (sponges and filter pads). I'm running about 4x the normal amount of filter pad to help clear the water as quickly as possible.

Once the water clears, I'll install Betty's new den and start getting ready to move things over from the other tanks.

Stay tuned!

 

[Islandoftiki]

Sneak peek... Betty's new den is in the tank. A couple pieces of live rock from the 20 and 10 gallon tanks. Two euphyllia corals and a couple mushrooms. About 1/2 cup of sand from the 10 gallon tank. I'll steal about 1/2 cup of sand from the 25 gallon tank tomorrow.

Next thing to swap will be the MP10...

The chaeto fuge is up and kinda running. I have a temporary light on it.

Here's a quick picture...

 

[Islandoftiki]

MP10 installed...

And... we have waves going in the tank already.

 

[Calappidae]

Its really coming along! I'd wait until the water is clear before turning pumps on. It will clear alot faster if you let it settle.

 

[Islandoftiki]

InTank chaeto fuge basket with a temporary light:

 

[Islandoftiki]

Its really coming along! I'd wait until the water is clear before turning pumps on. It will clear alot faster if you let it settle.

I put a ton of filter pad in the filter holders. It's all mechanical filtration at the moment. The tank cleared almost completely in about an hour and a half. It should be crystal clear by the morning. Then I'll put chemical filtration in.

I dosed the tank with half a capful of Seachem Prime just to be on the safe side. If there should be any sort of mini cycle, it won't be toxic or stressful to any of the inhabitants.

The pumps are on and running. The reason for this is to suspend and remove as much of the fine particulate as possible before I add the critters.

 

[Islandoftiki]

I was transferring the chaeto from both the 10 gallon and the 20 gallon into the Nuvo and I found a super tiny little baby pest crab in the chaeto of the 20 gallon tank's fuge. It went into the chaeto fuge of the Nuvo and I guess he'll be the sump monster! No idea what species. It was much too small to tell... smaller than a pencil eraser. Good luck little guy. Stay out of the main display little guy!

 

[GrizFyrFyter]

I was transferring the chaeto from both the 10 gallon and the 20 gallon into the Nuvo and I found a super tiny little baby pest crab in the chaeto of the 20 gallon tank's fuge. It went into the chaeto fuge of the Nuvo and I guess he'll be the sump monster! No idea what species. It was much too small to tell... smaller than a pencil eraser. Good luck little guy. Stay out of the main display little guy!

Now I know what to do with the pest crabs....

Thanks for sharing your info. My tank is cycled, has a damsel in it (not sure if I'm going to risk it's life by keeping it in tgere) and the zoa collection has migrated into the tank.

 

[Islandoftiki]

All of the live rock and corals have been moved over from both tanks and I have a rockscape that looks pretty nice. Maybe some minor tweaking after all of the corals open back up and I can see what it's all going to look like.

This picture doesn't do it justice. I'll be getting some better pictures later. It's sort of a sloping rock wall with overhangs and interesting nooks and crannies.

Next step is to set up the mechanical and chemical filtration...

 

[Islandoftiki]

Ok, here's the mechanical and chemical filtraton:

Top level: Disposable filter pad, below that washable filter pad.

Middle level: Chemipure elite.

Bottom Level: Purigen and PolyBioMarine filter pad.

Everything was thoroughly rinsed and is now in the tank.

 

[Islandoftiki]

Here's a slightly better angle...

 

[Islandoftiki]

Somebody was pretty ****ed about being netted. Drip acclimating now.

 

[Islandoftiki]

Betty is in the tank now. She immediately headed into the rockwork and is hiding out for now. Barney is out and about and checking out everything. He's gone through Betty's den like 50 times now.

I temporarily put the light from the 10 gallon over the tank until the Maxspect light comes in next week. I also need to set up the ATO, which shouldn't take long.

The good news is that the tank is stunning. It's really stunning. Once all of the corals open up, it's going to be even better!

Oddly, my Tunze 9002 skimmer won't fit buy like 1/8"... Looks like I'll be picking up a new skimmer this afternoon.

 

[Islandoftiki]

Wow, check this out! Barney (the damsel) had decided that he really liked the mantis den. He swam in and out of it like 50 times while Betty was hiding. She came out and found the den and started setting up shop. Oh boy was Barney upset! He actually gave her the business! Brave fish! And good Betty for not killing him.

 

[Calappidae]

Wow, check this out! Barney (the damsel) had decided that he really liked the mantis den. He swam in and out of it like 50 times while Betty was hiding. She came out and found the den and started setting up shop. Oh boy was Barney upset! He actually gave her the business! Brave fish! And good Betty for not killing him.

Yep... that damsel is not gonna last too much longer :blown:

 

[Islandoftiki]

Yep... that damsel is not gonna last too much longer :blown:

You know, they've been living together for almost 2 years now. Here's the thing. The damsel is super stoked about the new tank. There's no question about that. He's beside himself happy with the tank and he wants it all to himself! He pretty much claimed it all to himself. Keep in mind, he's been hiding for the past two months. I haven't seen him out except for a few minutes here and there. I thought about not putting him in this new tank because he seemed so unhappy. He's happy now!

I think things will be ok in a day or two after he gets over the disappointment of not getting the mantis den, which he was obviously very excited about. Betty has shoved him out of there several times now. She hasn't hit him once. She's been extremely tolerant. I hope Barney doesn't overstep his boundaries... He's pushing it for sure. But if any mantis will tolerate him and sort him out gently, it'll be Betty.

 

[Islandoftiki]

Here's a quick tour of the tank:

 

[Fartin'Gary]

lol that is very funny! I have had a yellow tail there that basically shared the PVC with the mantis. Really it for some strange reason did not care at all. The 3 spot I have now did the same thing with a different peacock and still didn't care. Perhaps there is more to this that we think. Maybe they tolerate each other in the wild because the damsel is very good at defending it's area and the mantis always has floating food scraps. Who knows.

 

[Islandoftiki]

New Skimmer:

 

[Islandoftiki]

Skimmer is up and running!