OK! Enough chat...Starting a 1000g+ Reef

[Bax]

I just got some nano streams for my fuge, very nice flow, I got two 6025s.

I ran a pair of CLs on my 75 but introduced a Tunze and then a MP40 to experiment with flow.

I am using a VorTech with two Tunzes, soon to be three in my 120, no CL, I am just playing with the flow to see how they mix. The synergy is very cool.

When I do my 240, I am planning two Vor Techs, Some Tunzes (probably three), and CL that will shift a "tide" every six hours. That should be fun!

 

[jnarowe]

The tide idea is very interesting. What I had hoped to do with the Vortechs is to have a break right at the reef wall. In other words, I wanted two to go on full force pushing the water across the tank, and then have two opposing pumps kick on when the water reached the reef wall area. I wanted to try and devise a breaking zone so that the corals near the top would experience some breaking surge. After seeing the MACNA video, I still hold out hope that I will be able to do it one day.

 

[jnarowe]

urchin

urchin

Here is a link to a good picture of the hairy pincushion I just put in my overflow. Doesn't say anything about it eating coraline algae but I have heard that they do. It is moving very slowly and working hard on the glass, so we will see how it does.

 

[jnarowe]

aaargh! damn Hawks let it go. Oh well.

I have been meaning to post about my experiments with Joe's Juice for quite a while, and I use the word "experiments" very loosely.

Since I posted a poll about aiptasia control I have been using peppermint shrimps and trying Joe's Juice, two of the highest rated "fixes".

First off, I have put a total of 38 peppermints into the main system with 5 in the fuge. To date I see zero depletion of the aiptasia in the display, but only spot one currently in the fuge. I have plans to get more for the display to see if that helps. I know I have to be patient and I have been so far, but they have been in the system for quite a while now and it may be that I feed to heavy for the shrimp to really care about eating aiptasia. I have also noted that the rise in aiptasia coincided with my removal of filter socks.

About the Joe's Juice: I have spent a lot of time trying this product in the display to no avail. It seems to make the aiptasia recede for a couple days, but then they come back strong as ever. I have one aiptasia in the overflow that I have easy access to, and it has withstood 3 appications of Joe's Juice, always returning to full strength within about 48 hours.

I also have a rock in my QT tank with several aiptasia on it. I have been dosing Joe's Juice to those as well with so far only one of seven seemingly not coming back. It has now been 48 hours and all are still there but the one. I also have a mojano on that rock which I hit with JJ. It has remained closed during the 48 hours but is still obviously alive, although possibly suffering.

So far, my conclusion is that this product has not worked for me and I am surprised by all the positive testimony that it gets.

 

[thekillerclownf]

try injecting straight calcium into them.
I've used bothPurple-up and kents part A (might have been partB). Iused this method and it semed to turn them into a slimy mush in a few hours. they let go of the rock they were anchoed to and then I vaccumed them out. I injected them between they're mid point and the base.

 

[thekillerclownf]

try injecting straight calcium into them.
I've used both Purple-up and kents part A (might have been partB). Iused this method and it semed to turn them into a slimy mush in a few hours. they let go of the rock they were anchoed to and then I vaccumed them out. I injected them between they're mid point and the base.

 

[Bax]

"aaargh! damn Hawks let it go. Oh well."


Try being a Giants fan!

 

[jnarowe]

thekillerclownf: Is that the same as using kalk paste?

Bax: Not on your life! :lol:

 

[gkarshens]

I have used the Tropic Marin Aptasia killer with great success. The aptasia literally melts before your eyes! My problem is they are in places that are hard to reach. I just ordered 10 peppermint shrimp for my tank.

 

[thekillerclownf]

thekillerclownf: Is that the same as using kalk paste?

you could probably use that if you turn it into an injectable liquid by mixing it. I just used a whatever bottle of Liquid calcium supplment I had on hand.

 

[Bax]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8983276#post8983276 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe


Bax: Not on your life! :lol:

That's my problem!

I was born a NYG fan, can't stay away from the Sunday beat'n no matter what! What can I say, it's in my blood, I was spawned in the Meadowlands!

 

[jnarowe]

well quick report:

Found 3 fish sticks today. All mollies but either there is some squabbling going on in the fuge or maybe they didn't acclimate well. I just hope that the two males weren't both in the 3.

The Jade Torch is down to one head but interestingly seems to have stabilized. I have been hand feeding it and the other LPS I can reach in hopes of reviving them. What is strange is that anyone who visits can tell you I put a lot of the right food into my tank and there doesn't seem to be any way that my LPS could be starving. I did note a drop in alkalinity again today and boosted it with baked baking soda.

 

[cseeton]

It is my understanding that mollies do best in groups of 1 male to 3-5 females. I also have been told that mollies will not breed in saltwater, only in fresh.

Perhaps, I I have been misguided someone will chime it?

 

[jnarowe]

well I had 2 males and 6 females... no idea what I have now.

 

[Enderrea]

wow, I had no idae that you could even put mollies in salt water. see you are teaching some thing new every day!
when you come to seattle where ya go for your buys?
have you tried Denny's pet world in Kirkland?

 

[jnarowe]

I just learned it myself. Actually, I don't really go to Seattle to buy...and Kirkland? Isn't that a Costco brand? :lol: No, never been to Denny's Pet World, although I have been to a few of his restaurants.

 

[Sparkss]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8993259#post8993259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cseeton
It is my understanding that mollies do best in groups of 1 male to 3-5 females. I also have been told that mollies will not breed in saltwater, only in fresh.

Perhaps, I I have been misguided someone will chime it?

I have read it reported that they not only will breed in saltwater, but can actually successfully raise their fry in a reef tank to increase the overall mollie population. I don't recall the exact post in this thread, but it is in there somewhere (it is an older thread, I know.. but that was the only one I had book marked. I know that there are others.. possibly even newer, and I know alot that are older) :

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=965490

I also saw at the LFS some saltwater raise mollies for sale, supposedly born and bred in saltwater to marketted as a "better" solution for those looking to add mollies to their saltwater tanks.


Enderrea, mollies are far from the only freshwater creature that can also survive in our reef tanks . There was a blue faced puffer (or something like that) that is a very popular freshwater fish to acclimate and bring over to saltwater tanks, but it doesn't do so well in a reef tank as it has an appetite for snails, crabs, etc (sort of like some wrasses do ). Check out the thread I posted above, you will learn a ton about mollies, acclimating them to salt water and why some people add them to their tanks

HTH

 

[Enderrea]

they have a small amont of salt water stuff, but they do have a pretty nice frag tank.
I'll take a look at the thred, so much funlearning all these little facts .

 

[jnarowe]

Thanks for the link Tom. It seems I did the acclimation correctly but perhaps the fish are nervous in the shallow water. I'll see how it goes, but it is really tough to see them since they hide like girls in the macro. Hopefully I can get them to reproduce and provide some food for the display. Plenty for them to eat in the fuge, but they are not responding to any food I have offered them. What a bunch of chickens!

 

[Sparkss]

alot of people just keep them in the display tanks , but I have read of several that do as you do and keep them solely in the fuge