What to do with a 55gal?

[jenjen]

Does anyone know what would kill nass snails but nothing else in my tank?

I have had 2 of my 3 large nass's die within the last week. So far the 3rd is ok, there are 5 small nass's that are ok, 3 other snails (I forget what they're called), a conch, a bunch of hermits & a fire shrimp. And of course the fish. Everything else is fine and active. And no the hermits didn't get them - I found both of them 'intact' but dead.

Param's tonight:

temp 79-80
ammonia 0
nitrate 0
sg 1.026

The parameters have been consistent for about a month, and the only one that changes even a little is nitrate but has not been higher than about 5. I do weekly water changes of about 10%.

 

[jenjen]

My goodness it's been a while since I posted in this thread. Just thought I'd put up a quick update. We've just passed the 4 month mark on this tank and things are settling in.

Current Livestock
Clarkii Clown mated pair
Tailspot blenny
YWG/Pistol pair (BOY do they dig!)
2x skunk cleaner shrimp
1x fire shrimp
1x conch
1x emerald crab
1x staghorn hermit (note: I target feed this guy phyto daily)
1x large feather duster
misc snails & hermits

I had a GORGEOUS orange peel angel (pictured above) but she didn ge'tt along with Mrs Clarkii and I ended up returning her. So sad!

The toadstool is doing great, and I have some GSP, clove polyps and a few zoa frags all doing well. I have some more GSP ready to come out of my other tank as well as a few more zoa's.

We have some BRUTAL hair algae. I never got an algae bloom in either of the other tanks... this stuff is no fun! So far it's just on one rock, but I'm sure it'll spread. I'm keeping a close eye on parameters, have increased water changes and I'm watching how much I feed. So far the parameters are staying in check but the HA is not receeding. Patience...

I'd like to add one more fish, or a pair. I'm trying to decide between a flame angel, or a pair of CB Banghaii's. I'd love a wrasse, but the tank isn't covered and I don't want to chance it. Whatever it is will need to be able to hold it's own with my grumpy lady clown.

I have to say, I'm having loads of fun with this system eventhough it's got next to nothing in it. Such a contrast to the other tank.

I'll post some pics later on. Thanks for looking.

 

[sltloser]

Good to hear an update of the tank! Glad things are still going pretty well. As far as the hair algae goes you could add a lawnmower blenny and he'll take care of it . How many and what kind of snails do you have right now? Adding some more snails might help with the HA also. Can't wait to see some updated pictures!!

 

[jenjen]

I have considered a lawnmower blenny, but nothing in this tank is significant enough to add a creature to combat it. I'm sure a lawnmower would have the HA under control in a week, and then wonder what else there was to eat. Also, I only want one more fish in this system and would rather something else. I'm still undecided as to what.

I'm going to continue to try and win the fight against the HA for a bit longer before I resort to some sort of dosing or filtration. For now I've upped WC's to 10% twice a week and am manually removing as much as I can before each WC. Previously I was changing 5% once a week. I have 5 snails which eat algae (I forget what they're called - their foot is black with a pink/purple bit around their face), and a couple of nass's - I could likely use a few more. Good thing about snails is I can always move them to the other tank if we run out of food in this one.

As for parameters, here's where we're at as of tonight:

SG - 1.027 (oops, snuck a little high - will reduce over the next week)
ammonia - 0
nitrate - 5 (has been consistent for 2 months)
phosphate - 0 (ha!)

I use RO/DI water and the filters are current, and I don't overfeed. So I will try waiting it out a little longer. It is a brand new tank afterall.

I have taken some pics, but am waiting until the tank looks a bit better before I post them up. I'll tidy it up on the weekend and will post some pics then.

 

[jenjen]

Well, I have had some car issues today and find myself at home unexpectedly. So what else to do but watch the olympics and do tank maintenance!

I cleaned up the back wall a little and did another water change. Then spent an hour trying to get decent photos. It's sunny as can be here today, so difficult to get pics without reflections and glare. But I managed a few.

FTS:

Right:

Middle:

Left (this is where most of the HA is):

 

[jenjen]

Crab & Fire Shrimp:

Staghorn Hermit:

 

[jenjen]

I'm pleased to say I'm winning the battle with Hair Algae. It's only been a couple of weeks and already it's giving in. I've been doing twice-weekly 10% water changes, with a full scrape-down of the back wall and any manual removal I can manage prior to the wc. I've been netting out as much of the scraped-off stuff as I can, as it plugs up my siphon when I try to suck it out. It's been a week since I scraped the back glass, and other than some film algae it's clean! Progress. Oh, I also removed the PH's and ran them in a bowl of vinegar for a bit, which nicely cleaned them up.

Today's water tests show that the water quality is pretty good:
SG - 1.025 (finally got this stabalized, was swinging from 1.024 - 1.027)
ammonia - 0
nitrate - 0
temp - 79

The zoa's are starting to open wider, which based on my other tanks is a good sign. I may see some growth soon. The toadstool looks like it couldn't be happier. Then there's the GSP... gotta love this stuff... I think it's tripled in area since I put it in. Amazing fun to grow, as long as you keep it contained.

I found a pair (male & female) of tank raised Banggai Cardinals yesterday, so my final fish purchase was decided. I brought them home & after a quick temp acclimation I popped them straight into the tank (note: SG exactly matched my tank). I absolutely love these fish. They're eating voraceously, so hopefully they'll do well. They've taken over the left-hand rock, and for now the Clarkii's are keeping to the right two-thirds of the tank.

Next on the wish list for this tank is some algae's and/or grasses, and maybe some gorgonians. But those will wait a little, until I'm sure the system is stabilized.

I'll post some pics once the sun goes down and I can get some without all the reflections.

 

[jenjen]

Some pics from this afternoon. I really need to learn how to take better pics!

The new cardinals:

Toadstool:

Right side:

FTS:

 

[sltloser]

The tank is looking great, the little bit of HA and cyano isn't a big deal it's probobly just a little bit of residuale cycling. The tank is just getting use to the amount of food, and inhabitants. I can't wait to see the tank once it's matured . If you're interested i'm upgrading to a 180, i have a thread here and on marine depot. The one here is called 180 upgrade (skimmerless) Keep it up and keep the pictures coming!!

 

[jenjen]

Thanks sltloser - took a bit to find the build with the search disabled, but I tracked it down. I'll definitely keep an eye on it!

As for the cyano, all my tanks have had a bit of it for the first few months and then it goes away. So I'm not too worried. Plus, the conch stirs the sandbed up nicely, and you won't see a bit of it once he's made his way through.

 

[jenjen]

Speaking of the conch...

 

[sltloser]

HAHA i love those pictures. Conches are very cool animals, and seem to be great for keeping the sand bed clean

 

[jenjen]

Water changes are my life, but I think I'm winning. The HA is all but under control (other than the one rock which it will NOT leave). I still have some cyano, so I'm going to up my flow a little. Can't decide if I'm going to switch to two K3's, or move one to a K4. Currently I have a K2 & a K3. I bought the K2 for something else and just put it in this tank because I had it... it's got to go.

Anyhow, the cardinals are settling in and despite being somewhat picky eaters are finally starting to get aggressive appetites. They're gorgeous fish. Mr & Mrs now stay mainly on the right of the tank, far far away from the cardinals. But Mrs dashes in to steal food whenever she thinks their backs are turned. And the skunk cleaner shrimp has taken up permanent residence hanging upside down under the toadstool.

Here's a few pics from today. Hopefully I'll be adding a couple more frags this week.

FTS:

Left side:

Middle (can you spot Tiny Tim, the blenny?):

And finally, my diligent diggers:

 

[sltloser]

The tank is looking great jen! make sure you keep us posted with pics, and progress of the tank

 

[NYDiesel]

Tank is looking good

 

[jenjen]

Thanks for the feedback!

Water tests today, after yet another WC:

ammonia 0
nitrate 5
SG 1.026

I added some sort of red macro algae, with the hope it will absorb some of the excess nutrients and help fend off the cyano. I don't really like it in there, because it won't stay in one place and is flying all around the tank, but it's less messy than chaeto at least. I think I'll move it to the fuge on the other tank at some point, if I can't manage to wedge it under a rock or something.

 

[jenjen]

Mrs has decided after several months to try hosting in the Toadstool. :dance:

She started this a day or two ago, but today seems to be spending more time in there. She's also racing around the tank like a lunatic and won't let anyone near the Toadstool. The Banggai's are sticking to a back corner for now, and Mr is sticking to the far right side of the tank. Hopefully she calms down a little once she establishes her new home.

 

[thebkramer]

You have some absolutely gorgeous critters in your tank! Love the staghorn hermit! Never seen one, he's really cool! I wish my conch would stick his eye out through sand :sad: BTW..I was not able to spot your blenny in the pic you posted!!! He's good!
Beautiful! Keep them coming!

 

[jenjen]

You have some absolutely gorgeous critters in your tank! Love the staghorn hermit! Never seen one, he's really cool!

Thank you! The staghorn is a favorite in this tank for sure. He's cool because he isn't ok in a normal reef setup, so he's a novelty in this one. They are easily stung in regular reefs, and are only ok in non-agressive (ie: no LPS/SPS) tanks.

I wish my conch would stick his eye out through sand :sad:

I KNOW!!! I have 2 in my other tank who never do it. But this guy does ALL the time. Not sure why, but it's cool!

BTW..I was not able to spot your blenny in the pic you posted!!! He's good!

Look again... he's just to the right of the Toadstool, under the button polyps.

Thanks for looking!!!

 

[jenjen]

I scraped the back wall again to get the algae off. I've been doing this with every second water change, so once a week. It's definitely a lot less every time, but MAN it's not going down without a fight. And the cyano seems to be getting worse... or at least not any better. I've changed the bulbs and moved the powerheads to create a better flow pattern, but it just hangs on. I suspect it's because I tend to over feed, particularly since I got the Banggai's.

Yesterday after I did my WC I decided to plug the HOB filter back in. It just runs carbon and creates a little extra water movement. I plan to change the carbon weekly. We'll see if it helps at all. I had originally decided to go filter-less for two reasons: a) to maintain 'clean lines' by not having stuff hang off the tank, b) to minimize noise since the tank is beside my dining room table. If the filter helps things, I may consider a low-profile skimmer to replace it.

The actinics have only just come on, but I see Mrs is still hanging out in the toadstool a good bit of the time. Mr is still kept to the right side of the tank and the skunk cleaner shrimp who was living under the toadstool seems to have been evicted. He's over in Banggai territory at least for now.