yorkieUK's 4ft Glass Box (170 ltr UK / 45 gal US)

[yorkieUK]

Is it for any particular media that you gunna run. As a lot of people would shy away from using a canister filter for biological cleaning?

Nah!, it's just to improve the clarity of my water in the DT.
I've done away with the bio-balls and added a bag of carbon.
As for the Dinoflagellates, I'll just stick to regular manual removal and weekly w/c.

 

[yorkieUK]

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[yorkieUK]

Hi Fellow Reefers!
Here is my latest update.
My CUC now has the addition of a:

• Banded Brittle Starfish
• Cleaner Shrimp
• Red-Legged Hermit
• Sea-Hare

They all spent 3 hours being drip acclimatized this morning and all are doing well.
The rest of their tank-mates have accepted them well and everything looks great.
Here's a few photos of my Sea-Hare, starting with one of its butt!:laughroll

 

[DianaKay]

You sure know how to pick out "expert only" level care stuff :LOL:
Do you have any Caulerpa to feed the Sea Hare?

 

[yorkieUK]

You sure know how to pick out "expert only" level care stuff :LOL:
Do you have any Caulerpa to feed the Sea Hare?

I've got a supply available if I need it, but I'm trying blanched lettuce first.
It's had a good look all over the central rockscape this afternoon and cleaned some small patches of the GHA.
I've also got some Nori pellets and sheets.
How is the Scolly bambino???

 

[Mischko]

A little tip on Sea-Hares. Don't get the big ones, better get a baby Sea-Hare. They don't have a long life span and getting a big one, you never know how old it is already. What I heard and read, they don't feed/like Caulpera algae. Other than that, nori algae from the super market does its job, as lettuce, spinach, but try to feed them on the same spot. Seems to be also a good idea to have some depth of sand in the tank since it also munches on sand. Three other things to keep in mind when you want to keep them from my experience. Cleaner and Fire shrimps can kill them by trying to clean their body cavities pulling out their guts. Have your streaming pumps Sea-Hare safe. I got one decapitated and thirdly, when such a thing happens, god forbids, get that Sea-Hare out at once and have carbon handy.

 

[yorkieUK]

Hi Mischko,
I do quite a bit of research before buying anything that goes in my tank.
I've been lucky to receive a lot of good advice from the likes of :bow:Goma, DianaKay and Wrangy since I started.
I've seen too many people ignore the good advice on here, only to wonder why their tanks crash:waa:and burn in the first 6 months.:verymad:

You're right, the Sea-Hare is the most difficult-to-keep item that I have bought, but after plenty of research, I know I can look after it properly. My tank is a purely peaceful tank and will remain so. I've not lost a single inhabitant yet, whether it be a coral, critter or fish.
Again, that is due to the great advice that I get on here.
Slowly does it.

 

[Mischko]

I am confused now LOL.
Too many moving icons ;-)
What will be interesting for you, if you catch to see it, when the Sea-Hare releases the pink/purple ink to distract possible attackers. Has happened in my tank once and I was lucky to watch it. No idea if that ink has any influence on the tank at all, I couldn't notice anything on the corals, fish, snails and so on back then.

 

[yorkieUK]

From Liveaquaria.com

If it becomes startled, it may release a purple dye to repel attacking fish.
In the home aquarium, the Sea Hare will need a good chemical filter system to quickly remove this toxic dye before it causes problems.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+524+726&pcatid=726

 

[yorkieUK]

Everything is looking okay with the new tank inhabitants.
The Sea-Hare is doing a great job cleaning the rockscape of any algae.
It's easy to see where it has already been, compared to where it still needs to go!:LOL:

Here is a few more photos from today.

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[yorkieUK]

Well, my Blood Red Fire Shrimp had been a bit lethargic these last couple of days (I normally feed it by hand).
Then this morning I found it had molted and I was a bit worried at first until I realized what it was.
It is still keeping out of the way until it's new skin has hardened a bit.

As for the Sea Hare, it's doing really well.
There is a photo below showing it munching its way through some GHA.
When there isn't any algae to eat, it seems quite happy eating blanched lettuce instead.

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[Wrangy]

Good to hear mate! The tank is looking grouse!

 

[DianaKay]

How's your tank Yorkie Wayne? You've been too quiet lately, got me wondering. :lookaroun

 

[Wrangy]

+1 to Di, how's the tank going?? We need some more of those huge picture updates you're good at!

 

[yorkieUK]

Hi Di and Dom :hallo:.

The tank is doing fine. I've not added anything recently in order for everything to adjust gradually.
The Candy-Cane and Carnation that I got last month didn't survive:bmcflme:. I think it may have been my fault as they were exposed to air briefly whilst I was transferring them in to my DT:cursin:. I'm going to try some more next week:fingerx:.
Water perams' are OK.
All of the critters are doing well and growing, in size and numbers! The Blood Red Fire Shrimp has had a couple of molts, while the Cleaner Shrimp has just had it's first molt yesterday.
All of the fish are getting on really well and enjoy being out in the open together, however, getting them to stay still for a decent photo is impossible.
Because I'm in and out of hospital alot lately, I've made sure that there are plenty of Copepods in the water (you can see them on the glass in one of the photos) and among the liverock.
I've also got a culture of white worms growing outside to supplement their diet of live-food. They also eat a varied diet of frozen Mysis & Brine shrimp, Bloodworms and dried flake food as well as Nori sheets and sinking pellets for the Sea-Hare.

Next additions will be a couple of tiny baby Regal Tangs (from my LFS, they're only 1/2" big at the moment). By the time they mature, I'll be looking for a larger tank. Also want 3 Blue/Green Chromis and a Bangaii Cardinal this year.
Keeping it friendly!!!:hug1:

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[DianaKay]

Thanks for the update, sorry to hear that you haven't been well and that you lost your candy cane.
I don't think a brief exposure to air would cause the loss...I have fragged my candy cane a couple of times outside the tank & the air didn't kill it. I hope your next ones do better, I really love the bright green trumpets.

I think your pod picture is AMAZING....You have a good population of pods for sure
Don't stay away so long...ya worry me

 

[Snid]

Sorry to hear about your hospital visits... Hope you're doing ok and things are getting better.

Awesome pod action there...

 

[yorkieUK]

Thanks for your concern.

As for the copepods, I use a pipette to inject them into the cracks and crevices in my liverock at night.
They seem to last longer and multiply better than just pouring them into the water.
The last lot was put in four weeks ago (100ml) and there are still plenty in there as you can see.

 

[Snid]

Great tip! I'll have to consider doing that after my tank matures a little more. Thanks!

 

[yorkieUK]

:chair:Here is a video clip of my Sea Hare.
This is when it goes to the clip that I use for the Nori sheets and lettuce (but he's already eaten last nights feast).

[video]http://s777.photobucket.com/user/yorkieUK/media/5thJuly2014_zpse262c1a1.mp4.html[/video]Enjoy!