Here We Go Again! - Page 17

Melanie · 08-09-2007, 02:04 PM

Yeah! Today was the first day I could add livestock to my display tank. I acclimated my firefish and hermit crab for about 2 hours and they are now right at home. My poor sea star got about 5 min. of acclimation before the bag slipped and dumped him on the sand. Doh!

Firefish is happier than a pig in slop but Hermes is hiding out at the back of the tank. He's mad at me for moving him again.

I added this mushroom coral and piece of LR. Beautiful purple color. I did an iodine dip for 10 min. (according to instructions) and placed him in the tank. I need to tweak that acclimation procedure a little.

So, mushroom lovers, any tips on how to care for this/these little guys? I've read low to moderate light. Low flow area. Some sites recomend feeding twice a week with zooplankton mixture and some sites say no direct feeding (shrooms get it from the water when I feed the fish). Let me know what your experiences have been.

What do you think of this placement?
(It is the purple rock center left. That nozzle is actually pointed at the top rock and the angle makes it look like it's pointed at the shrooms.)

Dentoid · 08-09-2007, 02:28 PM

I see Piccasso is at work! You've come a long way baby! Remember the old Benson & Hedges ads that used that slogon? It's no longer politically correct and it's sexist, but I had to say it for nostalgia's sake.

Melanie · 08-09-2007, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dentoid

I see Piccasso is at work! You've come a long way baby! Remember the old Benson & Hedges ads that used that slogon? It's no longer politically correct and it's sexist, but I had to say it for nostalgia's sake.

I sure do remember that ad! And boy does it fit!

. I am excited to see a little life in the tank and I'm glad everyone seems to be happy (except a ticked off hermit crab.)

Thank you Dentoid!

PS Thank you too Dr. Hank for giving me such a great deal on the skimmer and lights. I wouldn't be so far already if it weren't for you.

cheeks69 · 08-09-2007, 03:39 PM

Looking great Melanie !
Love the aquascape

blue_eyes53813 · 08-09-2007, 03:49 PM

Looks great.. I love the rock work too

sasquatch · 08-09-2007, 04:28 PM

Melanie!!! thats GREAT! youve done a bang up job.Steve

Melanie · 08-09-2007, 04:45 PM

Gosh you guys are making me feel great! What a boost on my first day with livestock. Thank you thank you thank you!!

DrHank · 08-09-2007, 05:59 PM

I remember someone who said she couldn't do anything right. I guess she was wrong. Your tank looks great. I'm glad that I was able to help you out with the lights and skimmer.

Mushrooms don't need direct feeding. Before you know it you'll have 4 or 8 or 16. If you are looking for other easy corals that you don't have to do anything special for, look at pulsing xenia and green star polyps.

Also, if there is a local reef club that meets in your area, you may want to go to a meeting or two. Often a frag swap becomes part of the meeting. A good way to get corals cheap or free. You might want to check this out.

Reef Central Online Community - Reef Club Forums

Hope I don't get in trouble for steering you toward an alien site.

Melanie · 08-09-2007, 07:05 PM

Well Clownfish hasn't really made himself at home yet. He's been hovering in the corner of the QT. I checked parameters and ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate 20. I will do a 10% water change tomorrow. I needed to have the salt mix aerate overnight otherwise I would have done it today.

He looked pretty darn healthy when I bought him today. He's a little larger than I would have prefered, but he was by far the prettiest clown in the store. Pics tomorrow because I'm leaving him in the dark now.

Oh! Bonus! I found a mystery coral on the LR I bought today (with the mushrooms). I will try to get a pic of that tomorrow as well. But it is very very tiny. It's light yellowish brown with long tentacles around several small round heads. The closest thing I have found so far that looks like it is a pagoda cup coral.

Melanie · 08-10-2007, 05:34 AM

AAAAACCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My pump stopped working this morning!!!!

It is now 7:26 AM and the first store to open is at 9 AM. I already spent my "budget" for the tank this week and a new pump was certainly not on it. Let's hope Firefish and Hermit crab and Mushroom will all survive with just a power head for 2 hours.

Going to pull my tiny powerhead off of my old skimmer and add it for a little extra circulation near the top.

Note to self: Add backup pump to my giant list of things to buy.

Melanie · 08-10-2007, 05:37 AM

Ok, as I was sitting here searching on-line to compare various pumps, my pump started again. This is very odd. Back up pump is still on my list.

Anselth · 08-10-2007, 06:04 AM

Excellent aquascape Melanie! How did you get that arch to work?

DrHank · 08-10-2007, 06:08 AM

Suggest that you look at Mag or Ocean Runner pumps. Probably something on the order of a MAG 7. I have a 9.5 on my 110 and an Ocean runner on my 65. They both work great.

I'd recommend that you avoid Via Aqua and any other chineese pump like the plague.

lcstorc · 08-10-2007, 06:16 AM

Melanie it looks beautiful. You have done a fabulous job and have come so far.
Glad the pump started working. I agree a spare is a good thing to have and we bought one the first time we had an issue as well. Now, if the pump dies even I know how to disconnect and swap out the old pump for the new. Since yours is internal (I think) it would be an even easier swap just in case.
I am so excited for you and your first coral not to mention clownie. Soon you will have a full blown reef with lots of softies.

Melanie · 08-10-2007, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anselth

Excellent aquascape Melanie! How did you get that arch to work?

Thank you Anselth!!

I actually just stacked the rocks that way. Very large rocks make it possible. I will need to add a little epoxy to the large rock on the left side of the arch because it is balanced a little precariously if I get some feisty crabs.

If you have one large, kinda flat or curved rock and a good bit of smaller pieces, you can do it too. Stack up some of the smaller pieces high on one side and low on the other. Then lean your large piece across the top (it will be sort of at an angle). Add smaller rocks under each side until you achieve the look you want and if you have a few small pieces you can stack them on top of the top. Then you don't have the totally flat look.

I wanted the reef to look sort of random so instead of doing two arches, I did one arch and a "pile" on the left with a V in the middle. The pile actually has a few small caves and I'm thinking of creating a semi-large overhang when I clean my tank. I don't like to mess around in there more than I have to. I did this aquascaping mostly in the dark because my tank had 0 visibility when I poured in the LS.

I used no pvc or epoxy or shelves. It's all just stacking so anyone can do it with no materials besides your LR.

08-09-2007, 02:04 PM	#241 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! Yeah! Today was the first day I could add livestock to my display tank. I acclimated my firefish and hermit crab for about 2 hours and they are now right at home. My poor sea star got about 5 min. of acclimation before the bag slipped and dumped him on the sand. Doh! Firefish is happier than a pig in slop but Hermes is hiding out at the back of the tank. He's mad at me for moving him again. I added this mushroom coral and piece of LR. Beautiful purple color. I did an iodine dip for 10 min. (according to instructions) and placed him in the tank. I need to tweak that acclimation procedure a little. So, mushroom lovers, any tips on how to care for this/these little guys? I've read low to moderate light. Low flow area. Some sites recomend feeding twice a week with zooplankton mixture and some sites say no direct feeding (shrooms get it from the water when I feed the fish). Let me know what your experiences have been. What do you think of this placement? (It is the purple rock center left. That nozzle is actually pointed at the top rock and the angle makes it look like it's pointed at the shrooms.) __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

08-09-2007, 02:28 PM	#242 (permalink)
Dentoid Over Achiever Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 10,239 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Here We Go Again! I see Piccasso is at work! You've come a long way baby! Remember the old Benson & Hedges ads that used that slogon? It's no longer politically correct and it's sexist, but I had to say it for nostalgia's sake. __________________ Scott Dentoid's Reeforama

08-09-2007, 03:39 PM	#244 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,630 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Here We Go Again! Looking great Melanie ! Love the aquascape __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

08-09-2007, 03:49 PM	#245 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 6,255 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! Looks great.. I love the rock work too __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

08-09-2007, 04:28 PM	#246 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,917 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! Melanie!!! thats GREAT! youve done a bang up job.Steve

08-09-2007, 04:45 PM	#247 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! Gosh you guys are making me feel great! What a boost on my first day with livestock. Thank you thank you thank you!! __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

08-09-2007, 05:59 PM	#248 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,251 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Here We Go Again! I remember someone who said she couldn't do anything right. I guess she was wrong. Your tank looks great. I'm glad that I was able to help you out with the lights and skimmer. Mushrooms don't need direct feeding. Before you know it you'll have 4 or 8 or 16. If you are looking for other easy corals that you don't have to do anything special for, look at pulsing xenia and green star polyps. Also, if there is a local reef club that meets in your area, you may want to go to a meeting or two. Often a frag swap becomes part of the meeting. A good way to get corals cheap or free. You might want to check this out. Reef Central Online Community - Reef Club Forums Hope I don't get in trouble for steering you toward an alien site. __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

08-09-2007, 07:05 PM	#249 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! Well Clownfish hasn't really made himself at home yet. He's been hovering in the corner of the QT. I checked parameters and ammonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate 20. I will do a 10% water change tomorrow. I needed to have the salt mix aerate overnight otherwise I would have done it today. He looked pretty darn healthy when I bought him today. He's a little larger than I would have prefered, but he was by far the prettiest clown in the store. Pics tomorrow because I'm leaving him in the dark now. Oh! Bonus! I found a mystery coral on the LR I bought today (with the mushrooms). I will try to get a pic of that tomorrow as well. But it is very very tiny. It's light yellowish brown with long tentacles around several small round heads. The closest thing I have found so far that looks like it is a pagoda cup coral. __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

08-10-2007, 05:34 AM	#250 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! AAAAACCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!! My pump stopped working this morning!!!! It is now 7:26 AM and the first store to open is at 9 AM. I already spent my "budget" for the tank this week and a new pump was certainly not on it. Let's hope Firefish and Hermit crab and Mushroom will all survive with just a power head for 2 hours. Going to pull my tiny powerhead off of my old skimmer and add it for a little extra circulation near the top. Note to self: Add backup pump to my giant list of things to buy. __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

08-10-2007, 05:37 AM	#251 (permalink)
Melanie Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 2,120 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! Ok, as I was sitting here searching on-line to compare various pumps, my pump started again. This is very odd. Back up pump is still on my list. __________________ My Reef Journey Latest Recap My Videos My Flickr Photos Pres. of Dork Club I love ScubaDrew and North East Coral! Read why HERE...

08-10-2007, 06:04 AM	#252 (permalink)
Anselth Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Jersey Posts: 906 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! Excellent aquascape Melanie! How did you get that arch to work? __________________ -Adam Learning on the fly My 70 Gallon Reef My 110 Gallon Build

08-10-2007, 06:08 AM	#253 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,251 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Here We Go Again! Suggest that you look at Mag or Ocean Runner pumps. Probably something on the order of a MAG 7. I have a 9.5 on my 110 and an Ocean runner on my 65. They both work great. I'd recommend that you avoid Via Aqua and any other chineese pump like the plague. __________________ Jim Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html Dr Hank's 155 Bowfront:http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-bowfront.html

08-10-2007, 06:16 AM	#254 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,473 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Here We Go Again! Melanie it looks beautiful. You have done a fabulous job and have come so far. Glad the pump started working. I agree a spare is a good thing to have and we bought one the first time we had an issue as well. Now, if the pump dies even I know how to disconnect and swap out the old pump for the new. Since yours is internal (I think) it would be an even easier swap just in case. I am so excited for you and your first coral not to mention clownie. Soon you will have a full blown reef with lots of softies. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

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