Red Sea S-650 - Dave's marine adventure
- Thread starter DaveR11
- Start date
DaveR11
Well-Known Member
Thanks Oxy, the tally for today is 84 removed (including one medium sized one). Zoas are looking better and tomorrow going to use the Coral RX on the two rocks I can remove....
DaveR11
Well-Known Member
Well I've given the two Zoa rocks their Coral RX bath (interesting smell to the stuff....). Afterwards I could only see 6 nudibranchs in the treatment bowl. It also knocked out 4 amphipods and numerous baby snails. Photo shows the various creatures circled. No sign of the mystery worm, despite opening up the tunnel it had cemented over with coral sand. On putting the two rocks back into the tank I spotted 6 slugs on the one rock plus a single one on the other that hadn't been knock off despite swishing the Zoas around in the bowl as instructed.... I have also caught another 13 in the tank with the pipette. Still all the Zoas are looking much happier and are pretty much all opened up again. I also spotted 4 egg masses which have been removed. I'm going to have to keep a close eye on this for the next few weeks.....
Need to check Alk levels after today's water change as it was only reading 5.87 yesterday (with Ca at 385 and Mg at 1410). Corals are growing well but I'm seeing a steady decline in Alk despite regular water changes. I also fragged some pulsing Xenia so it will be interesting to see if that worked....
Need to check Alk levels after today's water change as it was only reading 5.87 yesterday (with Ca at 385 and Mg at 1410). Corals are growing well but I'm seeing a steady decline in Alk despite regular water changes. I also fragged some pulsing Xenia so it will be interesting to see if that worked....
DaveR11
Well-Known Member
I got home very late from work tonight and looked at the tank. What are all those things swimming around in the the water....? Then I realised my cleaner shrimp was releasing its larvae so I grabbed the camera. Apologies for the upside down view and out of focus section...
DaveR11
Well-Known Member
Just a little update on the Zoanthid eating nudibranchs.
On Sunday I dipped the two removable rocks covered in Zoas in Coral RX. I've been monitoring the Zoas in the tank ever since. Here are a few observations from my tank:
On Sunday I dipped the two removable rocks covered in Zoas in Coral RX. I've been monitoring the Zoas in the tank ever since. Here are a few observations from my tank:
- At high densities of nudibranchs the Zoas close up making the slugs easier to spot. However the Zoas stay open when there are only a few nudis around making them very difficult to spot. So I've been brushing the zoas with my pipette to get them to close so I spot and then pick off the slugs.
- The Coral RX was on partly effective. It knocked out a lot of my baby snails and amphipods but only got a few slugs.
- The slugs definitely take on the colour of the Zoas they are feeding on. @Oxylebius tells me they are harvesting the coral's algae. It also gives them camouflage as they crawl across the Zoanthid making them harder to spot...
- I've seen the occasional slug on the front glass so I guess a few go roaming for pastures new so it is not going to be possible to scour the whole tank.
DaveR11
Well-Known Member
I've seen a noticeable improvement in the fish in the hospital tank this week. The Chromis are not hiding away so much and everyone is front and centre when I feed them. Two weeks have now passed since the end of the Cupramine treatment. My only concern is the yellow tang who is still showing rapid breathing. No sign of any spots or flashing against the decor. Do fish suffer gill damage as a result of Ich or are there still parasites still hanging on in there? I've posted on the fish forum but not had a conclusive answer. I will keep monitoring.... The fish have a minimum of another month in quarantine before they can go back into the main tank.
In the display tank I was concerned that the algae eating part of the CUC were running out of food. I've got lots of little Trochus and Stomatella snails in addition to those I bought. Again after advice on here from @DaveK, @Blue Space and @Oxylebius I'm not going to downsize the CUC but did feed a small sheet of nori, which I put in one evening this week. Within minutes one of the cleaner shrimps and two hermit crabs were on it and next morning there was nothing left so going to add that to my tank feeding regime, at least until the messy yellow tang is back in the DT.
The Aeolid nudibranch saga continues (see above) with the slug total running at just shy of 400 removed. I'm persevering with removal by hand and I will try to get some airline and small diameter rigid pipe and try the @DianaKay method rather than my trusty pipette. Still the Zoas are definitely look better after the big removal sessions over the last week.
The corals are mostly looking good. I picked up a couple more little Acanthastria frags and now have a small developing Acan garden.
The one bottom right is the oldest and is spreading well. Just out of shot there is this one, photographed in close-up.
They seem to really appreciate a little target feeding, which I do maybe twice per week.
The new polyps on my Duncan continue to grow and it won't be long before I can feed the little ones as well as their parents.
Finally on the coral front I have tried a couple of Acros which seem to have settled in and are starting to grow....
I've only really had a problem (so far...) with two corals I've bought. A green Palythoa, which is still hanging on but I think is the preferred food of the dreaded slugs and a small Xenia. I've 2 other species of Xenia which are growing really well so no idea why this one didn't like my tank.
So until next week a little abstract to finish with....
In the display tank I was concerned that the algae eating part of the CUC were running out of food. I've got lots of little Trochus and Stomatella snails in addition to those I bought. Again after advice on here from @DaveK, @Blue Space and @Oxylebius I'm not going to downsize the CUC but did feed a small sheet of nori, which I put in one evening this week. Within minutes one of the cleaner shrimps and two hermit crabs were on it and next morning there was nothing left so going to add that to my tank feeding regime, at least until the messy yellow tang is back in the DT.
The Aeolid nudibranch saga continues (see above) with the slug total running at just shy of 400 removed. I'm persevering with removal by hand and I will try to get some airline and small diameter rigid pipe and try the @DianaKay method rather than my trusty pipette. Still the Zoas are definitely look better after the big removal sessions over the last week.
The corals are mostly looking good. I picked up a couple more little Acanthastria frags and now have a small developing Acan garden.
The one bottom right is the oldest and is spreading well. Just out of shot there is this one, photographed in close-up.
They seem to really appreciate a little target feeding, which I do maybe twice per week.
The new polyps on my Duncan continue to grow and it won't be long before I can feed the little ones as well as their parents.
Finally on the coral front I have tried a couple of Acros which seem to have settled in and are starting to grow....
I've only really had a problem (so far...) with two corals I've bought. A green Palythoa, which is still hanging on but I think is the preferred food of the dreaded slugs and a small Xenia. I've 2 other species of Xenia which are growing really well so no idea why this one didn't like my tank.
So until next week a little abstract to finish with....
Beautiful ACANS!! & I L
VE the Duncans too 
Sounds like You are doing the right thing for Your fish....hope you keep the survival attitude UP, I imagine it's frustrating!
I hope you do get the airline vacuum set up....It's easy to just stick the stiff tubing in front of the powerhead to start the siphon & kinda fun to use. Run it into a filter sock clipped on the inside of a 5gal bucket & return the water to the DT pest free.
I haven't tried using a drinking straw but that might even work with airline tubing
VE the Duncans too Sounds like You are doing the right thing for Your fish....hope you keep the survival attitude UP, I imagine it's frustrating!
I hope you do get the airline vacuum set up....It's easy to just stick the stiff tubing in front of the powerhead to start the siphon & kinda fun to use.
Run it into a filter sock clipped on the inside of a 5gal bucket & return the water to the DT pest free. I haven't tried using a drinking straw but that might even work with airline tubing
DaveR11
Well-Known Member
Beautiful ACANS!! & I L
Sounds like You are doing the right thing for Your fish....hope you keep the survival attitude UP, I imagine it's frustrating!
I hope you do get the airline vacuum set up....It's easy to just stick the stiff tubing in front of the powerhead to start the siphon & kinda fun to use.
I haven't tried using a drinking straw but that might even work with airline tubing
Thanks Diana. I'm really pleased with the growth on the Acans and I love the way the Duncans sway in the current.
I hadn't thought of a drinking straw - one of those rigid ones might just be perfect! I'll let you know if it works.
spiraling
Well-Known Member
hahahaha that cracks me up. I hadn't considered putting my worm removal count into excel but now....??? oh yeah!
I love your close up acan pictures. How are you taking them camera, lens, etc. None of mine look that good and I want to know how.
DaveR11
Well-Known Member
hahahaha that cracks me up. I hadn't considered putting my worm removal count into excel but now....??? oh yeah!
I love your close up acan pictures. How are you taking them camera, lens, etc. None of mine look that good and I want to know how.
You are forcing my secret out here @spiraling I'm recording all my water parameters, water change volumes and ATO fill ups as well as fish and coral purchase dates. I wanted to record all the important stuff. So uber geek....
The photos are all taken on a Nikon D810 DSLR using the aquarium lights only and ISO set usually around 800 or 1600. I shoot in RAW and process the images in Lightroom. I find a little under exposure on the camera helps -0.7 EV unless there is a lot of the black back wall of the aquarium in shot when -1.3 gives a better exposure. The whole tank pictures are taken with a 17-35mm zoom all the rest with a 105mm macro lens. You get image distortion through the aquarium glass if you are not square on both vertically and horizontally to the tank. This is particularly obvious with the close up shots. Maybe I should do a photography FAQ - I'm a beginner at reefing but been taking photographs for a long time....
GTBlackIce
Member
Yes... You SHOULD give us a tutorial on photographing our tanks [emoji6] [emoji106] [emoji16]
Cheers!
Sent from my Xperia Z3
TheoDavies
New Member
Hello Dave...! I'm off to London Zoo today, but excited to settle down for a good read later
Hi Theo
to ReefSanctuary, a real Sanctuary of reef forums, with lots of very nice members
Start a tank thread & share your tank with us so we can follow along, we love pics
to ReefSanctuary, a real Sanctuary of reef forums, with lots of very nice members
Start a tank thread & share your tank with us so we can follow along, we love pics
DaveR11
Well-Known Member
It's Friday again so update time.
It is feeling decidedly autumnal here in the UK. Colder, overcast so getting worried I can keep the temperature high enough in the hospital tank which is in my garage. I put an insulting blanket around the sides and back this week to try to retain some heat. If I can find the time this weekend I will try to do something about the top of the tank. Still only three weeks to go before the fish can go back into the DT. The fish themselves are looking and behaving much better. Rather than skulking away they are out when I go to feed them and are all eating well.
Last weekend I went on a bit of a road trip to a distant shop (DFS?) in deepest, darkest Essex in search of a dosing pump - sorry @TheoDavies .... (Theo manages my regular LFS....). I did come away with a three channel dosing pump and calcium, bicarbonate and magnesium to start dosing. They also had some stellar Acros which I couldn't resist (the Scolys and Acans though magnificent were too expensive....).
I love the pale blue growth tips on this one
A lovely bright green one
Which has it own hitchhiking barnacles....
Any suggestions as to which species they are gratefully received.
There is also a coral specialist shop nearby and I picked up a couple of little frags plus this beauty....
My beautiful clam seems to a have settled in well. I placed her on a little flat rock as per the advice and the next day she was securely attached. She is opening up well and seems happy. I'm going to gradually move her up the rock work and I have placed picked out on the left hand side of the tank which I hope she will like.
The slug saga continues. I'm checking the Zoanthids daily and removing the two zoa covered rocks that are not puttied in each day and giving them a very close inspection. The nudi total stands at 455 slugs and 17 egg masses. Numbers are dropping off from the peak of 2 weeks ago so keeping my eyes peeled and my fingers crossed!
It is feeling decidedly autumnal here in the UK. Colder, overcast so getting worried I can keep the temperature high enough in the hospital tank which is in my garage. I put an insulting blanket around the sides and back this week to try to retain some heat. If I can find the time this weekend I will try to do something about the top of the tank. Still only three weeks to go before the fish can go back into the DT. The fish themselves are looking and behaving much better. Rather than skulking away they are out when I go to feed them and are all eating well.
Last weekend I went on a bit of a road trip to a distant shop (DFS?) in deepest, darkest Essex in search of a dosing pump - sorry @TheoDavies .... (Theo manages my regular LFS....). I did come away with a three channel dosing pump and calcium, bicarbonate and magnesium to start dosing. They also had some stellar Acros which I couldn't resist (the Scolys and Acans though magnificent were too expensive....).
I love the pale blue growth tips on this one
A lovely bright green one
Which has it own hitchhiking barnacles....
Any suggestions as to which species they are gratefully received.
There is also a coral specialist shop nearby and I picked up a couple of little frags plus this beauty....
My beautiful clam seems to a have settled in well. I placed her on a little flat rock as per the advice and the next day she was securely attached. She is opening up well and seems happy. I'm going to gradually move her up the rock work and I have placed picked out on the left hand side of the tank which I hope she will like.
The slug saga continues. I'm checking the Zoanthids daily and removing the two zoa covered rocks that are not puttied in each day and giving them a very close inspection. The nudi total stands at 455 slugs and 17 egg masses. Numbers are dropping off from the peak of 2 weeks ago so keeping my eyes peeled and my fingers crossed!