Reid's 120g Oceanic Tech Build

[reidcrandall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15313728#post15313728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Taqpol
Will he eat the Nori off a clip on the glass?

He might, but I need to get a new clip. I threw my old one away a couple of years ago. Haven't had a tang since.

 

[reidcrandall]

The purple tang is feeding well from the clip, and also taking formula 2 flakes. No signs of stress or ick yet. I have taken the salinity down from 1.026 to 1.018 over the last week. On my way to hypo. But I am starting to wonder if it is still necessary if the fish shows no ill signs. I don't want to stress it unncessarily using hyposalinity if I don't have to.

In other news, one of the two crabs that made it into the main tank has been removed. I saw him in a rock that I could remove, and almost got him with some tweezers, but he went deep into the rock. I pulled it out and hoped he would jump for it, but he never did...

So I got a bucket of RODI water, put the rock in there, and he ran for it. VICTORY!

I lost some pods, and a sponge that was on the rock... but it was well worththe sacrifice.

 

[melev]

When I get a new fish, I put it in quarantine and just observe it for 21 days. If it looks healthy the entire time, and eats well, it is ready to go in the tank.

What kind of crab did you extract? Where are the pictures?!

 

[reidcrandall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15346946#post15346946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
When I get a new fish, I put it in quarantine and just observe it for 21 days. If it looks healthy the entire time, and eats well, it is ready to go in the tank.

What kind of crab did you extract? Where are the pictures?!

It looked like a smaller version of the crab that I found in there while curing the rock.

I didn't have time to snap a pic, because the wife and I were on our way out when I doscovered him, and I was already making her wait.

The last one in there looks like the smaller body type with smaller claws, but is more yellow/orange, and has black claws. He is ****ing me off.

 

[reidcrandall]

I also wish I had a macro lens already. The other day I saw what I believe to be a small astrea snail on the glass. Or at least I hope hat's what it was. It really looked like a mini version of the asreas that I have in there. Same shell, and same base/body.

I only have this bad picture, since I only have the normal lens at this point.

 

[melev]

Perhaps you are looking at a baby Limpet (looks like a cone or pyramid in shape). Or a collonista, which looks like a bb. I don't think I've ever seen a baby astrea.

If you see it again, take it out and put it upright on a paper towel and take a profile shot of it.

 

[reidcrandall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15347611#post15347611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Perhaps you are looking at a baby Limpet (looks like a cone or pyramid in shape). Or a collonista, which looks like a bb. I don't think I've ever seen a baby astrea.

If you see it again, take it out and put it upright on a paper towel and take a profile shot of it.

It was a cone shape. It really looks like a mineature version of the astreas that are in the tank. I will keep an eye out for it and try to get a profile shot.

What are the chances that its bad news?

 

[melev]

Virtually none. Based on what I can see anyway.

 

[reidcrandall]

Laid off today. Not awesome.

 

[Guy340]

I could be in a similar situation next week. Ugh, this sucks. Good luck to you Reid.

 

[Taqpol]

Thats horrible! How badly is it going to affect your fish tank/house build?

I'm sure you'll have all of our thoughts with you.

 

[melev]

Sorry to hear that.

 

[jb61264]

Damn...sorry to hear about the layoff, I hope there are other opportunities that present themselves to you soon. About six months ago where I work we had to let 9 (out of 50) go and cut back hours on many others (myself included)...I hate sitting on pins and needles wondering from day to day.

Even though it doesn't help much, hopefully you will be getting some sort of severence for a while.

 

[reidcrandall]

Thanks for the well wishes. I am getting the resume out there, and hopefully I can dig up another opportunity here soon.

This will definately affect the stocking of the tank. Going to have to cut way down on expenses until I find something new. If I find something in the next couple of months, it shouldn't be too bad. If it goes much past that, I will probably have to begin making some tough decisions.

I am thankful for tpportunities I have had, and am trying to keep a positive outlook. There was simply nothing I could have done differently. It was a financial decision for the company, and I had the least tenure (unfortunately, my superior results couldn't save me here. The company is rewarding those who have been loyal to them, which I can and must respect).

Hey, at least I wn't have to travel as much, and can get a few more new pics up!

 

[reidcrandall]

Good news and bad news...

First the bad... with some good. My purple tang has been doing really well for the past 21 days in QT. I was examining her last night with a flashlight in addition to the regular light and still see no spots. I think she may be ick free and loving it. I have not seen any signs the entire time.

However, I saw a tiny, tiny spot that looks like it may be hole in the head just above the yellow spot on her head. I haven't been able to get a good pic yet, but am going to try again today.

I am wondering if it could be caused by the instability in conditions in the tank due to all of the water changes I have been doing to keep the toxins down. I have been doing about 8 gallons a day for the past 3 weeks.

As far as diet, she has been devouring Formula 2 flake and a variety of seaweed with Selcon (I rotate purple, green and brown sheets).

Any advice? I have been thinking about moving her to the main tank, where the conditions are much more stable.

The good news is that I got my last crab out last night. I do have a pic of that guy, and I'll get it posted later today!

 

[Padrino]

Reid,
I have been doing a lot of reading in regards to sand beds. There is more and better biological filtration with a 4- 6" sand bed then any amount of live rock. Right now i am contemplating taking everything out of my tank and putting a 5" sand bed.

Remind me how deep is your sand bed?

 

[reidcrandall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15414525#post15414525 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Padrino
Reid,
I have been doing a lot of reading in regards to sand beds. There is more and better biological filtration with a 4- 6" sand bed then any amount of live rock. Right now i am contemplating taking everything out of my tank and putting a 5" sand bed.

Remind me how deep is your sand bed?

Mine is about 5". I have always run taks with sand for both biological filtration and the fact that I prefer the appearance.

 

[Padrino]

Post a FTS when you get a chance. I hink i may follow and put 5" sandbedt

 

[luther1200]

Sorry to hear about the layoff. I just went trough that, but luckly I got lucky. But just under 50 of my co-workers did get layed-off. It was brutal.

 

[Padrino]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15350983#post15350983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reidcrandall
Laid off today. Not awesome.

That is 5 or 6 of us in the same group that has been laid off this year, You, myself, TJ, Jeremy, and there were 2 others that i don't think were in our threads. Yesterday i heard that the resession is almost over and that things were going back up.... the next day i took a 5% paycut.... JUST awesome. my blood has been boiling ever since.