Today is DAY 44... time for a quick update:
Managed to get the bacterial bloom (mulm) under control by reducing the NoPoX dosing by 50%. All parameters are still stable, although seems like it will take a while to get nitrates to the level that I want them to be.
Since the last post I have added a skunk cleaner shrimp (aka "Elvis"), two nessarius snails and a small mushroom coral frag just to test the waters. I know that the mushroom will spread like wildfire, but decided to just start with a beginner friendly coral that adds some quick growth. At the moment I am only supplementing with Red Sea's Foundation B to keep KH at around 8.5.
Now for the distressing news: My largest electric blue hermit crab (aka "Basil") decided to snack on one of the other two that had molted. I was hoping that it would pull through, but unfortunately too much of it was eaten for any hope that it would recover with the next molt... all legs gone. So this is the first official loss for me. The second (potential) loss might be my skunk cleaner shrimp. It successfully molted within a few days of being in the tank, but then disappeared with no sign that it had been eaten by any of the other inhabitants (no leftover carapace, antennae or legs floating around). I was prepared that it may find a place to hide after molting, but today is day 4 and it seems like they generally go into hiding for about 3 days. Holding thumbs that it will reappear, but in light of Basil's behavior I fear that he may too have met his end... Does Elvis still live or has he found eternal rest in Graceland?! :m15:
Overall, I am still very happy with the Red Sea Max C-250 tank (although a chiller is definitely still on the shopping list).