Here We Go Again!

[DrHank]

I would have to agree with Heinz. In the many posts he has made, I can't say I've ever seen one that I disagree with.

[tbittner]

They would sell that package as reef safe because it is reef safe. Doesn't mean the contents of the package won't eat each other though.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by DrHank

Coral banded shrimp are one of the more aggressive shrimps. They like all shrimp are cleaners. That's why they were added to the CUC section in at least one very reputable dealers. When you consider the volume of orders that these folks process, they don't question what you are ordering, they just process the orders. They expect you to determine what you want and they don't question what you order.

Also, many clubs place group orders to save members on shipping so it is common for the folks who are taking the orders to receive many incompatible items on the same order. Also, some folks have several tanks and order both predator and prey for different tanks.

I know that this doesn't make you feel any better but hopefully it helps explain why a good merchant didn't question your order. Sorry for your loss, but again it stresses the need for careful research before you buy.

It may seem easy for me to say but the reason that I do is to try to help. I can't tell you how many times I've made similar mistakes. I just wouldn't blame the merchant. I've got 5 peppermint shrimp in my tank so guess what? Not only no other shrimp but no lobsters and it also eliminates many fish types which would call them dinner.

Very good points. And I don't blame the site, it's more of a disappointed observation. It was MY fault for not researching each species in the CUC and just trusting this description:

Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes

The number of cleaners provided in these packages are based on years of experience, and are tailored to provide enough cleaning power for each specific size aquarium.
Pack is ideal for aquariums of 30-50 gallons.

I do have to be very careful what fish I add because I love shrimp and crabs and starfish and snails so much.

I actually think I have too many hermits in the tank anyway, so I'm going to let the coral banded stay for awhile longer. He isn't touching the corals or fish.

Here are my test results today at 11:00 AM:

Temp 78 degrees
SG 1.025
Ph 8.2
Ammon 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
dKH 11/196.9 ppm
Phos 0
Ca 520

[GeeWizzItsMe]

Great test results!!! Is the royal gramma in the DT?

[tbittner]

pssstttt, melanie...

I'll give you $100 to come over and get my tank to the point that the test results are as good as yours!

[Craig Manoukian]

CBS with claws, God didn't design these critters by accident, eh? As pointed out very aggressive, as well as the ornamental lobsters. I've see them, lobsters with no claws, gorge themselves on small fish.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by tbittner

pssstttt, melanie...

I'll give you $100 to come over and get my tank to the point that the test results are as good as yours!

Ahh, you don't want my crazy Ca levels! But I'll take the compliment on the rest.

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by GeeWizzItsMe

Great test results!!! Is the royal gramma in the DT?

Nope, royal gramma is still in the QT. He has at least another week in isolation before he's allowed to mix with the general population. Looks like he may come out next weekend if he still looks healthy and is eating well.

[Melanie]

I'm just going to post my sig here and get rid of all that writing! I'll update the list on my thread instead of updating my sig all the time.

Set Up: 72 gal bowfront, 20 gal sump w/fan, wet/dry trickle filter w/LR rubble, Octopus NW-110 skimmer, Rio 2500 pump, 2 Powersweep powerheads on a wave maker, Finnex HO T5 54 wt. X 4 light, 300 wt. heater, Phosban reactor w/carbon, 5 gal. fuge, RO system.
95 lbs. LR, 20 lbs. base rock, 65 lbs. LS.
Coral: Mushrooms, Pulsing Xenia, Starburst Polyp, Button Polyp, Cauliflower Colt Frag, Spaghetti Finger Leather, Colony Polyp, Zoanthids, Yellow Fiji Leather, Brain Worm, Torch, Ricordias
Fish: Firefish, Ocellaris Clown
Inverts: Too many to list! Feather Dusters, Shrimp, Sea Stars, Crabs, Snails.

10 gal QT: 8 lbs. LR, HOB filter, Prizm skimmer, Powersweep powerhead, 50/50 24 wt. light, Royal Gramma, some exiled inverts.

[ScubaDrew]

Laughed after reading this Melanie! I'm glad you enjoy these little guys as much as I do.

I just read your entire chronicle at work, you've come a LONG way, congrats. I added a subscription and will be following along from here on out.

I watched one of my snails crawl up onto the back of one of my red leg hermits yesterday and almost had tears running down my face I was laughing so hard. the hermit tried to lug this snail around the tank for a few minutes before tipping over and letting the snail crawl back off.

Drew

Originally Posted by Melanie

OMG, I almost forgot to tell you guys about the coolest thing that happened yesterday. Hermes, the hermit crab, was looking a little depressed in the little QT with no sand. I thought he might be hungry because the beast ate constantly in the big tank. So I pull out a little strip of the seaweed selects. I couldn't find the veggie clip so I stuck it on the end of a stick intending to place it under a rock. About one second after the strip hit the water Hermes perked up. He scampered over and waited while I lowered it and then GRABBED it off of the stick! It was so cute! It was like hand-feeding him. I will try to remember to get a video next week when I give him another piece. I love that little guy.

[Melanie]

Thank you so much Drew! Just for kicks I re-read the first two pages of my chronicle and laughed too. "Do crabs and snails count as livestock?" ha ha ha ha. I'm going to have to see when they converted me from FO to full-blown reef tank. I seem to recall only wanting to have fish and being pretty adamant about it. I hold Dentoid and Lynn completely responsible for that.

Now I'm in a hobby that costs me $100 - $200 a week. Granted that is because I keep buying equipment. My latest order should arrive in the next week or so. A fancy, shmancy refractometer; auto top off unit with bells and whistles; Salifert Mg test; and Koralia powerhead.

PS I subscribe to your chronicle too!

[Dentoid]

You have Reefitis! It's a virus that is contracted through the computer and the carrier is RS! Is that Gramma ready for the DT?

[Craig Manoukian]

A bad virus for sure!

[Melanie]

Originally Posted by Dentoid

You have Reefitis! It's a virus that is contracted through the computer and the carrier is RS! Is that Gramma ready for the DT?

Tomorrow! Gramma has been doing beautifully. Eats great; stays out in the open when I approach the tank; shows no signs of illness. Gramma has been in the QT for two weeks tomorrow so she'll be allowed to mix and mingle with clownie and firefish.

My plan is only one more fish, the neon blue goby. My friends tease me when they come over "Where are all your fish?" I say, "One is in front (Clownie, of course) and the other one is hiding." They reply, "You only have TWO fish in that huge tank!" (To non-reefkeepers, 72 gallons is HUGE.) I tell them, "Eventually I will have FOUR fish." Sheesh, they aren't impressed with all the pretty corals...just want to see fish, which in my experience, are a heck of a lot easier to take care of than the corals!

[hma]

Originally Posted by Dentoid

You have Reefitis! It's a virus that is contracted through the computer and the carrier is RS! Is that Gramma ready for the DT?

upps .... REEFITIS ..... I am shocked !

I think those am much sticking on and can become very, very dangerous...


uhhhhh... and sometimes also very expensiv. i am so sorry Melanie