So much has happened since my last post!!! I had a huge algea bloom in my water, not sticking to the glass or anything, just free floating green disgusting-ness. (Apparently right on the heels of the last post once I thought I was in the clear, silly me!)
I had actually gone away for the 4th of july weekend and returned home to find this-knowing that I was going back out of town the same day and couldnt deal with it. What a mess and worry the whole time I was gone. I decided to skip a feeding and turn the lighting back while I was away thinking that maybe that would help for the 2 additional days I would be out of town. No help. I came back to the tank looking pretty much the same. But the fish were still swimming and seemingly happy, at least when they were out near the glass and I could see them, so I was going to try to wait it out and work with it.
Slowly I started to see what looked like little nips taken from thier fins. I think the Coral Banded decided it was easy to catch since they couldnt see him coming when they were resting.
Then I noticed that I hadnt seen the FA so I decided that I needed to find the body and took everything apart so I could find him, and sure enough when I found the body my shrimp was standing on it.
I started talking more heavily to my LFS about some fixes to speed the process to try to help the Gramma before it was too late. But it was already too late (never did find him, I am assuming eaten).
We did introduce a UV to the tank for a week, just to help kill off the algae. He has been in the business for 27 years and has tested every parameter possible and still isnt sure what caused it unless phosphates were just a little high and a subsequent water change along with the UV helped nuetralize. Anyway, once the water began to clear (within a day) I realized how much I had messed up my rock work.
Now knowing that my fish were gone I moved on to inspecting my corals. They all still looked fine.
I havent had fish for about 4 weeks now and I am waiting about 4 weeks or so before adding any fish. (Stocking list suggestions are welcome!)
But in the meantime I have rearranged the rock structure closer to the original setup and moved the coral pieces around. (These were taken shortly after lights came on so most of the corals are still drawn up)
I also talked the LFS into letting me return my Coral Banded and replace it with a Cleaner Shrimp and a Blood Shrimp.
Still want tons but I am being more patient and waiting to make sure I dont have any more algae issues before diving in again. Please let me know any advice on stocking (I know the rules, but anything to stay away from or to definitely get would be appreciated) or if you know the perfect piece of coral to get for the top of the rock on the left etc, I would be happy to hear that as well!!!
Thanks Guys!
