Getting there....

[lcstorc]

It's always hard to get pics of the ones you want. If you want to eventually go reef then start looking at lights and extra flow. Stability is the key and these guys seem pretty happy.

[framerguy]

I just caught up here. Nice cronicle. I agree with Lynn about the snails, it was most likely acclimation. I also agree with Scott about the fish, the Blue Tang will break your heart. Get a Rabbitfish. I'll subscribe to your cronicle and check in more often.

[SmokeyNite]

Lynn, I actually ended up getting the Sunpod lighting with the MH, so I should be ok for reef building.

Thanks for the words, guys!

[SmokeyNite]

OK, I have one little concern about my tank at the moment. I have a piece of rock that I got from my fish guy that had a little growth on it. It's gotten slightly bigger, and while I was excited when I got the piece, I'm now thinking that its an aptasia. Could you guys tell me?

Its only on a piece of rock about 2-3 inches long and not attached to anything, so getting it out isn't going to be a problem.....

[BigAl07]

Looks like aptasia to me. It grows and spreads pretty quickly too.

[framerguy]

Almost definately aiptasia. It looks like a poster child shot of the stuff. Get it out asap!!

[SmokeyNite]

So I got the aptasia out and have been soaking it (the rock its attached to) in wicked hot water.

In the meantime, I got another cleaner shrimp at the rec of my fish guy. He said usually having 2 will make them come out more, and he's right!

For the first time, I saw one of the shirmp cleaning my goby, and they have been running all over the tank looking for more victims.

It's so funny to watch the newest shrimp try to chase down Seven (my six line) to try to clean him. He hasn't caught him yet!!

I think they have tramatized my Cardinal fish. He swims above them and the new shrimp races back and forth on the rocks below him, following his every move. LOL

[SmokeyNite]

Well, I got that bit of rock out, but lately I have found a 3-4 more aptasias, so the other day I went out and got myself a peppermint shrimp. He's taken care of all the little ones I've seen, but there is still a really big one hanging out in the back that he hasn't touched yet. Hopefully soon.

I tried a new fish store a little further from me than the one I normally go to. It was ok, but the guy didn't seem to know nearly as much as my usual fish guy. I also got myself a little firefish I named Cal, as in Caliente. My mom and I were so worried about him because when the guy tried to get him out of the tank, he jumped and landed on the floor behind the tanks.

When we finally got him home, he was out swimming around a bit that night, but the next day we couldn't find him. We have a lid on the tank, but there is a bit of space in the back and I was worried he might have jumped out. Searched everywhere.

More than 24 hours later, he appears!! YAY!! He's a shy little dude. He's made himself a home in a "cave" formed by one of my rocks. I'm happy I didn't lose my fish, and my mom's happy she didn't lose her $20.

I'm thinking that's it for the fish at the moment. Next (in a few months or more) I want to get an anemone. Once that's settled I'll get my 2 clownfish.

Are the fish numbers ok? It's not too much right?
1 Diamond Goby
1 Spotted Cardinal
1 6 Line Wrasse
1 Firefish
2 Clowns

Plus, my 2 cleaner shrimp, my peppermint, 2 turbos, 4 nassarius snails, 3 scarlet crabs and 4 red legged crabs.

Like I said before, I'd love to get a Foxface or a small tang, but I think that might be pushing the bio-load??

Can anyone tell me?

[SmokeyNite]

Bump

[SmokeyNite]

BUMP again....

[framerguy]

It depends on your maintenance diligence. With extra water changes to export nutrients and waste one more fish won't hurt. The "book" bio-load is 15" of fish but I don't know what other water volume you have. I have a 75g DT and I have 28" of fish but also have a large refugium and sump to add water volume for about 125g total. Plus I change 10% each week so the high load works for me. All that said, I think you would be fine!

[lcstorc]

Glad to hear the firefish was ok. I had one that hid for weeks on me. I was sure he jumped and became a kitty snack. Then one day there he was.
As far as the bio-load question with the addition of the clowns I think you are pretty maxed out. Another small fish or two might be ok but not a big fish. Your tank is really too small for a tang anyway. They need lots of room.

[SmokeyNite]

Well, I visited my LFS a few days ago to get some more water and there he had a Foxface waiting for me. I had asked him to keep an eye out for one for me, and sure enough, he did.

So, now I have a cute, shy foxface who isn't eating as much as I would like him to but he's getting along with everyone. I acclimated him for nearly an hour.

I just tested my water and my pH is at 7.8 and my nitrates are at about 20. Ammonia is at 0 and my nitrites are at .25

My SG is at 1.025 with water between 78-80.

My question today is- would a small in-tank fuge help with the pH and nitrates? or should I add more to my CUC?

[lcstorc]

The cuc is not really going to help with PH or nitrate issues. The fuge will help with the nitrates long term but it sounds like yours is a very new system. Do not add any more fish until the nitrites are 0. The presence of nitrites tells you that the bacteria has not caught up with your bio-load yet.
Best way to reduce nitrates is water changes.
Overfeeding and overstocking are the two most common causes of high nitrates but I wouldn't consider that too high with as new as the tank is. Do some water changes and give it some time. It should settle down in the coming weeks.

[framerguy]

Yeah, what Lynn said! Do a substantial water change (15-20%) and check again. That should at least get the PH up some and the nitrite down.