Here We Go Again!

[sasquatch]

Hurray! no visit from the grim reefer is a good thing! is there a name on the skimmer I dont recognize it.What i dont get is how in the world can you stand the smell of pimafix? man that stuff knocks me over.Steve

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Hurray! no visit from the grim reefer is a good thing! is there a name on the skimmer I dont recognize it.What i dont get is how in the world can you stand the smell of pimafix? man that stuff knocks me over.Steve

Ha ha ha. The Grim Reefer. That's the first time I've heard that expression. Mind if I steal it?

I LOVE the smell of PimaFix! Mmmmm. Like something from Bath & Body Works.

I don't see a name on the skimmer. If I remember correctly, it was made by SeaLife.

So, I'm dreaming of my next purchase. I have quite a wish list, but as of this moment, I'm thinking 5 - 7 Blue/Green Chromis. Don't worry...I promise to wait until my nitrites are 0.

[Melanie]

Test Results 7/1/07:

• NO2 0.2
• NO3 2.5
• Alk High
• Ph 8.4
• Salinity 1.020
• Amonia 0.25
• Temp 79 degrees

Looking at my test results today makes me a little sad. I feel like it will be forever until I can add any more livestock. Please remind me that I will someday be able to have more than one fish in my 72 gallon tank.

Last night my Mexican turbo snail was laying on his side. He's so big I thought he could right himself. He was still on his side this morning and I thought, "Oh no, a visit from the Grim Reefer." I flipped him over and a few minutes later he was trucking around the tank like usual.

I was excited to see my serpent sea star poke his leg out this morning when I fed my clownfish. That was the first time I've seem him during the day.

My red starfish, named Impulse Buy, hasn't moved from the live rock where I put him on Friday. I worry about him.

My scarlet reef hermit crab has decided to hide 24 hours a day. He used to come out at night and sift up the sand but has found a cave and won't budge. I might try to lure him out this evening with a tiny piece of sheet algae.

I was a little conceerned about my temp going up to 79 and 80 degrees so I posted on the Beginners Thread for advice on bringing the temp down without buying a chiller. Today I closed the blinds in the room and hope that makes a little difference. I'll know tonight.

My clownfish has become quite the finnicky eater. He gets so excited when I feed him, but then sees it's the frozen mysis shrimp and turns up his nose. Last night he did the same with the Brine Shrimp Plus flake. This evening we'll see if he'll eat the Prime Reef Flake.

Feeding Schedule (Work in Progress):

• A.M.: 1/8 - 1/4 dissolved frozen mysis shrimp cube
• P.M. (MWFSu): 1 small flake crushed Prime Reef Flake
• P.M. (TRSa): 1 small flake crushed Brine Shrimp Plus Flake
• P.M. (Su): 3 X 3 piece Green Seaweed Selects

Note: Those of you that are reading this are probably wondering why I'm obsessing over a snail. I don't have much in the tank yet so I stalk him.

[lcstorc]

You probably already said but what are you using for filtration? hoe much LR and do you have a skimmer? If so what kind?
Do not get frustrated it will come together with tim. I also obsess about my turbos and I have a very full tank so nothing wrong there.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by lcstorc

You probably already said but what are you using for filtration? hoe much LR and do you have a skimmer? If so what kind?
Do not get frustrated it will come together with tim. I also obsess about my turbos and I have a very full tank so nothing wrong there.

Wet/Dry filtration
LR - not much about 6 med. pieces. Came with the tank.
Skimmer - Sealife - don't know what kind.

[lcstorc]

I would add more LR and perhaps a better skimmer. The ASM G series cannot be beat for the price IMO.
(Man they really should hire me I recommend them all the time., )

[Melanie]

Test Results 7/2/07:

• NO2 0.2
• NO3 2.5
• Alk High
• Ph 8.4
• Salinity 1.020/1.021
• Amonia <0.25
• Temp 79 degrees

I hope my Ammonia and Nitrites get to zero soon! Testing every day feels like overkill. Does anyone know if I need to worry about my Alk being high? If so, how can I lower it? It remains high even after a 20 gal. water change.

My clownfish finally ate something today. He kept getting so happy when I put food in the tank but then he'd get close and turn away. Today he ate a little bit of frozen mysis. I think I might try feeding just once a day. At least his fungus is all gone. Thank you PimaFix!

Feeding Schedule (Work in Progress):

• A.M. (M-W-F): 1/8 dissolved frozen mysis shrimp cube
• A.M. (T-Sa): 1 small flake crushed Prime Reef Flake
• A.M. (Su): 1 small flake crushed Brine Shrimp Plus Flake
• P.M. (Su): 2 X 2 piece Green Seaweed Selects

I've been reading up on lighting. I replaced my very, very old bulb with a new Reef Sun 50/50, 48", 32 watts, 6500K. What a huge difference it made. I also purchased LED blue moon lights. I can't see them at all so I must have installed them incorrectly. I will try to see how to properly install them on-line.

I bought some Stress Zyme and Stress Coat that I might use when I do my water change or add more livestock.

[cheeks69]

Those skimmers that usually come with the wet/dry filtration systems leave a lot to be desired. I would seriously consider upgrading the skimmer especially in a FOWLR. I would also seriously consider raising the SG to 1.025 especially because of the inverts, they usually don't last very long with lower SG levels.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by cheeks69

Those skimmers that usually come with the wet/dry filtration systems leave a lot to be desired. I would seriously consider upgrading the skimmer especially in a FOWLR. I would also seriously consider raising the SG to 1.025 especially because of the inverts, they usually don't last very long with lower SG levels.

Thank you so much Cheeks! I really appreciate the feedback and advice.

I bought the skimmer separately at the recommendation of my LFS. Seems like it works well when I do run it. I had it off during the PimaFix treatment because it would just pull that stuff right out and foam up everywhere.

I am trying to raise the SG. I've been adding a little salt mix to my top off water every day. Making it 1.021 instead of just fresh water. I don't know how long that takes to make a difference.

[lcstorc]

Careful with the Stress Coat. I don't know anything truly "bad" about it, but it will drive your skimmer crasy.

[Melanie]

Test Results 7/3/07:

• NO2 0.1
• NO3 0
• Alk Didn't test
• Ph Didn't test
• Salinity 1.020/1.021
• Ammonia 0.25
• Temp 79 degrees

I added StressZyme last night and hopefully I will start to see a drop in the Ammonia and Nitrites. Also the protein skimmer running again with the decreased feeding schedule should help as well.

My red starfish is looking scrawny. I haven't seen him moving around much to get algae. I will try to place one tiny flake of food under him and see if he eats it. I haven't tried to feed him directly before. I had hoped the algae would be enough.

I got my LED moon lights temporarily installed correctly and the tank looks so nice! I will ask my mom (the amazing photographer) to snap a few shots to show you what it looks like.

I'm sleepy. Happy 4th of July!

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by lcstorc

Careful with the Stress Coat. I don't know anything truly "bad" about it, but it will drive your skimmer crasy.

I bet it would! You should have seen the foam bath that came from Pima Fix. I had to shut off the skimmer. I haven't used it yet but I've read some great reviews. I will save it for when I do a water change or add livestock. I'll let you know how my skimmer performs.

[Melanie]

Today was a sad day. My clownfish died. I don't know what happened. The only bright side to him passing, is that I found a dead hermit crab in the tank when I pulled out the clown. I don't know where he came from because I didn't buy more than one scarlet hermit and my hermit is still alive and kicking..yet there the dead guy was! Crazy. That may have been raising my ammonia and keeping it up.

I picked up a firefish today (thanks to the poll!) so he is my only fish inhabitant for my tank. The LFS said he has been there a week and he is healthy and eating great. I slowly acclimated him to the tank and added him about an hour ago.

I used Stress Coat in the tank before I put her in. I also rinsed the filters, topped off the water, rinsed the algae off my sythetic corals, cleaned the glass and scooped up a little detritus.

I will test the water again tomorrow. I plan on doing a 20 gallon water change on Saturday.

Dr. Hank told me I should have rinsed or replaced my live sand before I started re-establishing my 4 year old tank. I had no idea. I hope I will be okay without having replaced the sand.

[lcstorc]

Do you have any LR in this tank? What are you using for filtration? Witout LR or other biological filtration you are likely to never get rid of the amonia.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by lcstorc

Do you have any LR in this tank? What are you using for filtration? Witout LR or other biological filtration you are likely to never get rid of the amonia.

I have very little live rock. Just a few decorative pieces. Maybe 10 - 15 lbs. For filtration I am using bioballs and I think they call it wet/dry or trickle filter. There are also 3 filters besides the bioballs between the tank and return.