Well its been 2 months since I started and my Ammonia, Nitrite, and nitrate levels have all been 0 for a full month now. I will be getting the other test kits this weekend - I can't find them at any of the close LFS so I have to drive a bit to get them.
I am having some issues with algae. Mostly hair algae on one rock and cyano algae on the sand. I am sure the cyano algae is more to do with overfeeding at this point so I am working on that. The hair algae will be removed this weekend. My 2 kids will be spending the week with my parents and thus I will have time to finally aquascape my tank. I am going to create more flow and drill the rock and connect with rods and epoxy. I want it to be stable and I would like to create some nice tunnels and caves under the rock.
I have purchased 2 ricordea, but one came unattached from its base and slipped into a crevice. I thought it would be fine and looked healthy and figured it would attach there since it couldn't blow away. Well it slipped all the way into the rock - did not realize the hole went that deep and I could not get it out.
. The other ric is doing great, but I want to get it off its small base and put it on one of my rocks after I aquascape. I also bought 3 small frags that are growing nicely. I think they are polyps/zoas, but I can post pics later to confirm. I still have my two flower anemones that came as a hitchiker that split. They are growing nicely and although not the prettiest flower anenomes, they are the first sign of life I saw in my tank so they have sentimental meaning
. I have yet to see a single bad hitchiker. I have some asteria starfish and Stomatella snails (at least 10-15 of them).
I bought an Allardi Clownfish and my wife bought me a Caribbean Feather Duster and Royal Dottyback. I did buy a Lawnmower Blenny, but I have not seen him since the second day after I got him. I figure he is a goner
. I will likely get another one after I get my rocks set up correctly.
My want list includes 1 more fish (unsure of what kind), a couple shrimp (again unsure what kind), a nice selection of rics, and a bubble tip anenome. I am waiting to find the right anenome - I will know when I see it, but so far the ones I have seen in the store just did not look very healthy. I am perfectly fine with waiting.
I know this sucks without pics - this weekend I will put a bunch up.
Oh yeah - for newbies, get the magnetic algae cleaner - it works so much better than any of the handled ones!