The Life of Blue Spots Tank 1800L
- Thread starter Blue spot
- Start date
Blue spot
Member
Lol exactly Dave. Today I have found something eigther new .... Or puzzling . I mentioned that I had baught a tasseled file fish. I had read on live aquaria that they are not reef safe ( OK) and that they grow to 2 inches. Yesterday one of the guys in my lfs said it will get to 10 inches . After searching I have found mixed results 2 , 6 , 8 etc. Does anyone know the answer ?
dave.m
Active member
I suggest you use a tool like Google Images to identify your fish and get the real name for it, e.g. Chaetoderma pencilligera. Then go to a more science-based web site like fishbase to get the real poop on the fish you're interested in. Note that fishbase can be really slow at times.
Dave.M
Dave.M
Blue spot
Member
The experiment continues ! Co2 scrubbing is still doing realy well, told a couple of people about it and they are having similar results, so not a fluke . The only thing that I am finding strange is the increase in algae growth. I would have thought less co2 would be worse for algae ? But maybe I am confused on this. The one thing that has also took off again is byropsis . I had stripped out all the branching rock in the hope of removing the stuff. It has taken hold again. I am resigned to the fact that I have byropsis and that is that. The one thing I do notice is that it clings to the edges of the rock where it is easier to take hold , I am hoping that in time the calcious algae will grow in place of this so it won't get a hold so easy. One trick I have found is that if the byropsis gets on a coral, if I then put that coral in the sump for 2 days ... Something eats the byropsis. Maybe it's pods or something , but it shreds it.
On the tasseled file fish , it is going to be a monster . But I have already grown attached to her, I hand feed her and she follows me round the tank,I know it's only an ego thing , but I'm going to see what happens.
Blue spot (Bert) is in fine health at the moment , eating , settled and happy. We are know through the 1 year barrier so I'll keep everyone posted on progress.
Additions , I've had a couple of lovely corals , I think I pictured a couple above, and fish wise I've added three catalina gobies and to pictus blennies. On the health of the other fish I think I have seen a small amount of white spot on my powder blue tang . I've added lots more garlic to his food and some garlic seaweed to sea if that helps.
Lastly my pipe fish are eating flake ! I didn't know pipe fish would eat flake food ? But I 100% saw 2 of them hunting and eating it. They are not thin or anything, so not starving. The snakey pipefish I have had for around 2 years and the jans for around a year and a half. I have never seen them eat flake until this week. Is this normal ?
On the tasseled file fish , it is going to be a monster . But I have already grown attached to her, I hand feed her and she follows me round the tank,I know it's only an ego thing , but I'm going to see what happens.
Blue spot (Bert) is in fine health at the moment , eating , settled and happy. We are know through the 1 year barrier so I'll keep everyone posted on progress.
Additions , I've had a couple of lovely corals , I think I pictured a couple above, and fish wise I've added three catalina gobies and to pictus blennies. On the health of the other fish I think I have seen a small amount of white spot on my powder blue tang . I've added lots more garlic to his food and some garlic seaweed to sea if that helps.
Lastly my pipe fish are eating flake ! I didn't know pipe fish would eat flake food ? But I 100% saw 2 of them hunting and eating it. They are not thin or anything, so not starving. The snakey pipefish I have had for around 2 years and the jans for around a year and a half. I have never seen them eat flake until this week. Is this normal ?
dave.m
Active member
Fish in our tanks often learn to eat artificial foods through imitation of the behaviours of other fish in the system. It's sort of like adding a dither fish. The dither fish swims out into the open, survives and seems to thrive, so the other fish watching it come out of hiding and adapt their behaviour to match the dither fish.
Dave.M
Dave.M
Blue spot
Member
Thanks Dave . Was that a subtle way of telling me that I have not discovered anything new and their fore no one will be making a documentary about my flake feeding pipe fish 
I live in hope , I mean in this thread I have already given the perfectly designed fish trap and I have discovered how to grow byropsis at an alarming rate . I thought I was on for a Pulitzer . Lol. But seriously very interesting and thanks for the feedback Dave. Have you got any tips on byropsis ?
I live in hope , I mean in this thread I have already given the perfectly designed fish trap and I have discovered how to grow byropsis at an alarming rate . I thought I was on for a Pulitzer . Lol. But seriously very interesting and thanks for the feedback Dave. Have you got any tips on byropsis ?
Blue spot
Member
I am pleased to announce .... We have a beryl blue spot joining the tank ! Obviously I have no idea if it is a female blue spot but for my purposes I am going to assume it is, sorry ... She is. So my local lfs had about 5 blue spots in I have gone for one with the darkest colour ation, was still fat and healthy ( some looked a bit gaunt) and could hold their own ( not super shy). This was a bit of a risk for the tank as a lot of fish already have established territory , but I've added a new home to try and mix things up a little. So far so good. Beryl has made a huge sand mound and is already eating flake . Obviously early days but so far the signs look good. I'll get so pics.
Blue spot
Member
Blue spot update , so both fish are doing well. Beryl is much more boisterous hovering above her nest and holding her own. That's the good , now bad. Byropsis is back x10 . No idea why my phosphates and nitrates are good , still running co2 scrubber so maybe this has boosted it. If you've read further back I have tried a lot of the "natural" methods , slugs , pulling, boiling, sea hares all with temporary success , this time it's gone past that and is growing over my corals, I'm going to try raising my magnesium level, realy didn't want to do this but I think I am out of options. Wish me luck.
dave.m
Active member
Depends on what product you use. Some products are not as pure as others. Also, some products contain other heavy metals besides magnesium and these are not always listed, e.g. Kent Tech-M. These metals can also help put a crimp in the briopsis but are actually a source of pollution so you don't want to use them long term.
You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your size tank. It should take you a week to a week-and-a-half to reach your target range of 1400-1600 ppm. Monitor magnesium levels to measure your treatment's progress. See if you have success at the lower levels first to see if that is sufficient. Safer not to overdo it.
Monitor your alkalinity throughout the treatment as increased magnesium can throw your water chemistry off. You may have to add more buffer.
Run the treatment for about two weeks or until the briopsis plague disappears. Follow up with increased GAC to filter those heavy metals out of your system before they start to have a negative impact on the rest of your pets.
When not treating briopsis I would suggest you use a purer form of magnesium like Salifert Liquid Magnesium or Brightwell's Magnesion.
Go slow. Do a Search of RC or Google for more treatments and experiences. It never hurts to get as big a picture as you can before starting.
Dave.M
You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for your size tank. It should take you a week to a week-and-a-half to reach your target range of 1400-1600 ppm. Monitor magnesium levels to measure your treatment's progress. See if you have success at the lower levels first to see if that is sufficient. Safer not to overdo it.
Monitor your alkalinity throughout the treatment as increased magnesium can throw your water chemistry off. You may have to add more buffer.
Run the treatment for about two weeks or until the briopsis plague disappears. Follow up with increased GAC to filter those heavy metals out of your system before they start to have a negative impact on the rest of your pets.
When not treating briopsis I would suggest you use a purer form of magnesium like Salifert Liquid Magnesium or Brightwell's Magnesion.
Go slow. Do a Search of RC or Google for more treatments and experiences. It never hurts to get as big a picture as you can before starting.
Dave.M
Blue spot
Member
Byropsis update. I am still raising my magnesium levels at the moment , no change in byropsis yet , it's running rampant as I have stopped pulling it. I'll get a picture to show you what I'm up against. I did find something out though. My magnesium test was out of whack , when I change to a new test kit I am getting much lower readings so I am wondering if this low magnesium level has contributed to the byropsis taking off ? The corals do not seem to be minding the new higher levels as yet. I have one monti that I have had for a while looking a little ropey but apart from that no ill signs as yet.
Martini5788
New member
Update on magnesium raise. I've just hit 1450 on magnesium and my plate corals have disintegrate in a single day ! This must be one coral that doesn't like high magnesium levels. Lost 3 in a morning , completely stripped of flesh
Oh wow that's terrible. I'm sorry
. Which mag supplement are you using?
Blue spot
Member
I'm finishing off some fauna Marin , and then going on to the triton . I've started the calcium on the triton already , but my mag was taking forever to get through . Not any more though . I'm having to put in 100ml a day to get a rise of 20 . The worst bit is my byropsis seams to be getting stronger it's like some super algae . I've had an old rock outside in the garden for 6 months , all through winter. Looked at it the other day and the byropsis was still green on it . What chance do I have. its indestructible . Im gonna build my next house out of the stuff.
Martini5788
New member
Yes I got one from live aquaria last Friday, came in with white patches. It's still alive, I was pretty positive it was gonna die the other day but it's still hanging in there. Live aquaria sent me a replacement and it came in today actually. This one looks better than the other one. We will see. Bsj number one is in qt with kanaplex right now. Both got a formalin bath before going into quarantine. So we will see.
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