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bleachandvomit

Been a while since my last update...

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by
bleachandvomit
, 03-19-2011 at 12:47 AM (9315 Views)
Hello everyone! I have some updates for my Elos and Mr.Aqua, sans pictures unfortunately.

Elos -
  • Monti caps were devoured by Nudibranchs (didnt realize they were so small !).
  • Alk related crash wiped out the Acros (switching salt mixes I presume)
  • Added sand! Tank seems more stable since adding it.
  • In the process of catching the Chromies, one down two to go.
  • Added a Blue Spot Jawfish - 2 months and going strong.
  • Lowered temp to 77*F, cooling fans kick on at 77.5*F.
  • Added DFS premium nano live rock to help seed the ecorox better.

All other livestock is still alive including the Clownfish, Mystery Wrasse, Helfrichi Firefish, GBTA, and Zoas. Since adding the liverock, the dead rock has colored up nicely and has started showing red, purple, and green coralline growth. In a month or two I will try some new coral.

Overall, good progress. A rocky start but everything is working out better than I imagined it would.

Mr. Aqua 17.4 gallon -
  • Hawkfish jumped one night that my girlfriend came home blackout drunk (causing a shit storm), RIP
  • Added various macro algae (big mistake on a skimmerless system, in my situation at least)
Needless to say this tank is a solid mass of Grape Caulerpa, Ulva lettuce, and Hair Algae which I find quite hilarious.

TLDR - Moved too fast with the Elos, but it is looking clean and more mature. MrAqua is F@#$!&.

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Categories
‎ Tank Entry , ‎ New Additions , ‎ Random Thoughts , ‎ Humour

Comments

  1. melev's Avatar
    It sounds like everything from this point is uphill. Stay alert and on top of things and you'll get it reigned in.

    I bought some emerald crabs for the angled tank to eliminate valonia, and surprisingly they devoured the caulerpa next. What a perk! You might get lucky that way.
  2. bleachandvomit's Avatar
    I also wanted to share what I've learned with these setups. I know reef forums are full of pompous know it alls, but here are some tips for those who want it.

    1. Just because it's cycled doesn't mean it's stable. I was showing zero readings for two months and out of nowhere I was hit with phosphates out the wazoo, nasty slime dino's, and nitrate buildup. Give it a good six months so you can assess whether or not your scheduled maintenance is sufficient in keeping everything in check.

    2. Seed that marco rock like no other. I was so afraid of bad hitchhikers that I only added a few pieces of live rubble to seed it. It turns out even after dipping all additions I still contracted various plagues and my live rock wasn't maturing with micro-fauna AT ALL.

    3. Marco rock or any similarly sold dead white rock can leech phosphates over time. They say it wont, but I beg to differ. The way I understand it is, hard phosphates are released overtime and "fall" down sort of like a sediment. Marco rock is dug from the ground and quarried. You do the math.

    4. Fish aggression shifts like the seasons. The individual personality of a fish must be observed and factored. Every fish in my tank has been not only friends but enemies with another fish.

    5. Jawfish are the best.

    XOXO
    Justin