ange062
New member
Honestly, I don't really trust ebay for livestock. I'm just goin to my trusty LFS. Prices are good, I can see the stuff before I buy, and pick it out myself and know its healthy.
My JBJ 28gal Nano Build Thread
- Thread starter ange062
- Start date
Honestly, I don't really trust ebay for livestock. I'm just goin to my trusty LFS. Prices are good, I can see the stuff before I buy, and pick it out myself and know its healthy.
RedAggie03
New member
Also check out the forums. There are a lot of people in Houston that are willing to trade stuff.
ange062
New member
So today I went and had my water tested to make sure that my biologicals were keeping up with my new bioload (aka Bolt the firefish). Everything is still looking great!
I've got the lighting timed out with my AC now, and the temps have been staying 77.5 to 81 so it seems stable in that regard. I'm currently running the lights for 6-hrs a day and the moonlight for 9-hrs.
I'll probably add a small CUC this weekend since the algea is really starting to bloom. Planning on getting:
I've also been thinking about what livestock I plan to add, and this is what I have come up with for an eventual goal over the next few months:
- Salinity: 1.023
- Ammonia: Very Faint Trace
- Nitrite: 0
- Nitrate: 10ppm
- pH: 8.2
- Alkalinity: 180
I've got the lighting timed out with my AC now, and the temps have been staying 77.5 to 81 so it seems stable in that regard. I'm currently running the lights for 6-hrs a day and the moonlight for 9-hrs.
I'll probably add a small CUC this weekend since the algea is really starting to bloom. Planning on getting:
- 1 Emerald Crab
- 6 Hermits (blue/red mix)
- 4 Cerith Snail
- 4 Nassarius Snail
I've also been thinking about what livestock I plan to add, and this is what I have come up with for an eventual goal over the next few months:
- Yellowtail Damsel (The Dood)
- Firefish (Bolt)
- True Percula Clown
- Flame Angel
- Coral Banded Shrimp
- Fire Shrimp
RedAggie03
New member
The ammonia level might spike if we get drunk at your place one night...just letting you know now. **** happens you know...
ange062
New member
Thanks fote! And Jason, if my ammonia levels spike after you come here, I am going to spike your mom, just sayin.... :uzi:
So, after the pleasurable water test yesterday, I got the go ahead from my LFS to go ahead and add a CUC. This is what I got:
$48 total, not too shabby... Wanna give a shout out to Fish Ranch in Houston again, for their excellent service, advice, and stock.
I have to say that I am surprised how effective they are. I had a mild brown bloom mixed with a mild green bloom, and after only about 6-hrs they have the substrate clean and are now working on the rocks. I may have to supplement them!!!
The turbo snails are working the glass, all the way to the top. Nassarius are just buried and waiting for some goods, though each have taken a short exploration trip around the tank. The hermits are voracious, and haven't stopped grubbin since they were introduced.
The emerald was shy for a bit, but he has been out exploring and mowing the grass for a while now, very fun to watch. The CBS has been mostly shy so far, but has ventured out once or twice.
Also, my LFS also threw in a zoa frag (about 40 small polyps!) and some macro algae that I liked for free. Planted the macro up front, and the zoa is already opening up and looking great (it's a mix green/orange).
At this point, pictures aren't doing it justice, so I will post some videos tomorrow. All the substrate excavation from the CUC has the tank looking a little disturbed, but I'll snag some vids tomorrow.
So, after the pleasurable water test yesterday, I got the go ahead from my LFS to go ahead and add a CUC. This is what I got:
- 3 assorted hermits
- 2 nassarius snails
- 5 Astraea turbo snails
- 1 emerald crab
- 1 coral banded shrimp
$48 total, not too shabby... Wanna give a shout out to Fish Ranch in Houston again, for their excellent service, advice, and stock.
I have to say that I am surprised how effective they are. I had a mild brown bloom mixed with a mild green bloom, and after only about 6-hrs they have the substrate clean and are now working on the rocks. I may have to supplement them!!!
The turbo snails are working the glass, all the way to the top. Nassarius are just buried and waiting for some goods, though each have taken a short exploration trip around the tank. The hermits are voracious, and haven't stopped grubbin since they were introduced.
The emerald was shy for a bit, but he has been out exploring and mowing the grass for a while now, very fun to watch. The CBS has been mostly shy so far, but has ventured out once or twice.
Also, my LFS also threw in a zoa frag (about 40 small polyps!) and some macro algae that I liked for free. Planted the macro up front, and the zoa is already opening up and looking great (it's a mix green/orange).
At this point, pictures aren't doing it justice, so I will post some videos tomorrow. All the substrate excavation from the CUC has the tank looking a little disturbed, but I'll snag some vids tomorrow.
ange062
New member
Oh, forgot to mention, my CBS has become partial to the bolt hole that my firefish Bolt was using, so it should be interesting to see how that turns out...
Also, decided to name the CBS "Tyson" aka Mike Tyson, a pun on the boxer shrimp thing. The emerald is "Claw", and still workin on the rest. All very distinct personalities so far.
Also, decided to name the CBS "Tyson" aka Mike Tyson, a pun on the boxer shrimp thing. The emerald is "Claw", and still workin on the rest. All very distinct personalities so far.
RedAggie03
New member
I can't believe you are naming your fish...****.
If your Tropheus keeps beating up on my other fish I'm going to name him "flush"
If your Tropheus keeps beating up on my other fish I'm going to name him "flush"
schneidergarret
New member
how is the coral banded shrimp i had once and he was snipping my fishes tails so i had to get rid of him
ange062
New member
**** Jason, you flush my tropheus and I'll keeeeel you! LOL
CBS seems fine so far, still pretty timid and has spent most his time hanging upside down in a cave that he stole from my firefish, which I thought may cause issues. However, this morning they were both in there, maybe they will end up paired, that would be cool. Will have to see what happens over the next few weeks.
CBS seems fine so far, still pretty timid and has spent most his time hanging upside down in a cave that he stole from my firefish, which I thought may cause issues. However, this morning they were both in there, maybe they will end up paired, that would be cool. Will have to see what happens over the next few weeks.
schneidergarret
New member
yeah i would just keep an eye on him cant ever be too safe and they get pretty big and mean
ange062
New member
Everything is still looking good in the tank, and everything is getting along well. I was beginning to think my CBS and emerald might have something wrong because they only came out of hiding spaces briefly at feeding time. Last night, however, I caught them in the middle of the night, with only moonlights on and they were both out all over the tank eating algae. I guess they just haven't acclimated to the bright lights yet.
I'll be out of town next week, but when I get back I plan to add a coral beauty, fire shrimp, and feather duster. I really wanted to go with a flame angel, but my LFS says I'm much better off with the coral beauty and they haven't steered me wrong yet.
I'll be out of town next week, but when I get back I plan to add a coral beauty, fire shrimp, and feather duster. I really wanted to go with a flame angel, but my LFS says I'm much better off with the coral beauty and they haven't steered me wrong yet.
ange062
New member
Well, contrary to my previous plans of waiting to return from Germany next week, I made a trip to the LFS to do a water change before the trip and also had the water checked.
No ammonia or nitrite, 5ppm nitrate, salinity 1.023, and pH 8.1. This tank setup was pretty amazing, it's only been up for 3.5-wks and it only had a very small initial mini-cycle. Probably since I used water/sand from an established tank at the LFS and fully cured liverock.
So I did a water change, scrubbed the glass with an algae pad, replaced the carbon with Purigen, and set the pumps to alternate at 30s since it seems to give better flow in the tank with less dead spots (albeit at half the turnover rate). Debating whether to add a powerhead on the wavemaker and run both pumps continuously, or upgrade the pumps to higher flow units and use the wavemaker on the stock returns. May just leave it alone...
Anyway, I got the go ahead from the LFS to add a little more livestock. I REALLY wanted this cool neon green long tentacle plate coral, but my LFS owner strongly suggested that I not do that. I also wanted to do a flame angel, which again he suggested against for now. He hasn't steered me wrong yet, and the one time I didn't listen to him and did something on my own I ended up having to return it, LOL. I swore I would take his advice from then on.
I ended up getting a fairly large chunk of liverock covered in green star polyps. Very cool looking, they are easy to care for, glow under the moonlight, and move around quite a bit in the flow. He also threw in a green candy cane coral that I liked for free. I wanted to add some more movement to the tank also, so picked out a nice and healthy looking coral beauty angel.
Everything is in and looks happy. The coral beauty is still a little shy, but is eating and doesn't look stressed. Both corals were open within an hour. The green star had part of the mat hanging off the LR where it was attached to something else in the LFS aquarium, but that has already attached to another chunk of rock in my tank.
Will post up some pics/vids later tonight.
No ammonia or nitrite, 5ppm nitrate, salinity 1.023, and pH 8.1. This tank setup was pretty amazing, it's only been up for 3.5-wks and it only had a very small initial mini-cycle. Probably since I used water/sand from an established tank at the LFS and fully cured liverock.
So I did a water change, scrubbed the glass with an algae pad, replaced the carbon with Purigen, and set the pumps to alternate at 30s since it seems to give better flow in the tank with less dead spots (albeit at half the turnover rate). Debating whether to add a powerhead on the wavemaker and run both pumps continuously, or upgrade the pumps to higher flow units and use the wavemaker on the stock returns. May just leave it alone...
Anyway, I got the go ahead from the LFS to add a little more livestock. I REALLY wanted this cool neon green long tentacle plate coral, but my LFS owner strongly suggested that I not do that. I also wanted to do a flame angel, which again he suggested against for now. He hasn't steered me wrong yet, and the one time I didn't listen to him and did something on my own I ended up having to return it, LOL. I swore I would take his advice from then on.
I ended up getting a fairly large chunk of liverock covered in green star polyps. Very cool looking, they are easy to care for, glow under the moonlight, and move around quite a bit in the flow. He also threw in a green candy cane coral that I liked for free. I wanted to add some more movement to the tank also, so picked out a nice and healthy looking coral beauty angel.
Everything is in and looks happy. The coral beauty is still a little shy, but is eating and doesn't look stressed. Both corals were open within an hour. The green star had part of the mat hanging off the LR where it was attached to something else in the LFS aquarium, but that has already attached to another chunk of rock in my tank.
Will post up some pics/vids later tonight.
ange062
New member
Thanks duncanste! And yeah, my LFS is awesome, can't give enough good reviews for them. Great advice, won't get me in over my head, and tons of freebies!!
Here are some pics from tonight:
Coral Beauty, my chick named him "Javier", that's what I get for asking her to name him while listening to salsa music and drinking wine, LOL
Firefish, aka Bolt
Yellowtail Damsel, aka The Dood, and one cluster of orange zoa's
Candy cane
FTS Right
FTS Left
Green star polyps
Mixed zoa frag
Here are some pics from tonight:
Coral Beauty, my chick named him "Javier", that's what I get for asking her to name him while listening to salsa music and drinking wine, LOL
Firefish, aka Bolt
Yellowtail Damsel, aka The Dood, and one cluster of orange zoa's
Candy cane
FTS Right
FTS Left
Green star polyps
Mixed zoa frag
RedAggie03
New member
wow, those look cool
