I Have My F8's!

[divegirl]

Morning all!
Well after possibly the most stressful afternoon of my life I am now the extremely proud owner of 3 F8's
As a warning to everyone....even if you think you've found a reliable person at your LFS, please do not take this for granted. I, it would seem, was completely mis-informed about stocking levels and salt. Luckily for me I was served by the manager of the Marine department who gave me a step by step guide on what I SHOULD be doing......and they're all OK this morning.....so I got something right!!!
They are absolutley stunning little fish, lively and inquisitive....one has a name already...Cassanova, as he has a perfect heart shape on his back , but Dave and Dave are equally beautiful . I'll try and get some pics later on......but they're speedy little things!
I think my salinity maybe a touch high [still soaking my hydrometer], but I'm not worrying too much, as breakfast went down a treat and their colours are spectacular.

Lisa x

 

[lilacamy931]

SQUEAL! OH congrats congrats congrats. Pics when you can hon, they are speedy little things arent they? Aw Cassanova So glad you got them safely and they are chomping well. Hugs to new puff mum and babes

 

[youngfisher]

Wohoooo!
These should keep you interested while you plan a nano reef.


YF

 

[divegirl]

Wohoooo!
These should keep you interested while you plan a nano reef.


YF

Not a chance....my heart was in my mouth doing a little bit of salt!!!!

They are amazing though Just been re-vamping the Dp's tank [don't want them to feel left out ], and I'll try to get some pics of my nooobies!!!!

And Amy.....you are officially my favourite forum nutter!!!!!!


Now YF....What exactly would I need for a Nano........ Unfortunatley my kids have really banned me from any more tanks and fish [well apart from some Bumblebee gobies].....Oh and a new tank for my clown loaches......Hmmmmm......now where can I put that 6 footer!!!!!??

Lisa x

 

[lilacamy931]

LOL glad I didnt have to work too hard for that status divegirl!

Well a 6 footer, get rid of one of the kids beds and make them have bunkbeds? Yes I really am that mean

 

[divegirl]

Hmmmm....bunk beds for a 17 year old Goth into World of Warcraft and a 12 year old 'chav in training' into High School Musical and the like.....sounds like a plan

On a serious note.......WHEN ARE YOU GETTING YOUR FISHES?!?!?!!!??

Lisa x

 

[youngfisher]

You only need a small tank for nano reef.
Get an orca tl550 like I just got.
Has everything you need with it, apart from rock and water.

YF

 

[divegirl]

Stop it now!!!!!

Note to self........STAY AWAY FROM THE SALTY SIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa x

 

[lilacamy931]

That could make a good tv series with your kids!

The orca we were looking into as parnter wants a nano reef, he has decided to wait for my skills to get up to scratch before we try!

The GSPs??? I will be pestering the store on Friday and hopefully getting Saturday (please let me please!). I saw them yesterday and they are the cutest, all looking healthy and just recovered by white spot, the store is being good by keeping eye on them little longer. (I think he is just attached to all 20 of them ).

Cant wait, though give me tips on adding salt when I get there! They are going in freshwater as from store and then following weeks will raise salinity.

I will pester you know PICS!

 

[divegirl]

Did you get your hydrometer yet? If you have, get it soaking now [in salt water obviously]...it will make life sooooo much simpler! Mine is reading at 1.008 atm....like I said a touch high, but I'm not trusting it yet as it has another day and a half to go. OMG, I hope I'm doing this right!!!! My F8's were being kept at 1.006, so if it hasn't dropped by the morning I'll do a water change with fresh water to bring it down, I'm also expecting some sort of cycle [something I hadn't even planned on ....dumb I know ], because apparently salt water bacs are different to fresh water....just wish I'd known that before I'd ripped all of my other filters apart for some mature media!!!! And also....bad Mummy, I assume I need a different testing kit....something else to buy!!!! 'tis stressful, but then I just look at their lovely smiley faces and it's all worth while.....just glad I didn't have work today or I would have been having kittens by now. That said. I'm in at six in the morning.....so going to have to get up early incase we need a water change

Lisa x

 

[lilacamy931]

Oh hon! I understand completrely. I havent the hydrometer yet but am taking a different approach as the GSPs are currently in fresh water, so cloning the bacteria to big tank expecting a mini cycle, then will slowly raise the salinity so fingers crossed dont crash the filter. Really sorry to hear about the media! You are an excellent puff mum and willget them underway in no time! Anyone near you have marine tanks to help get some bacteria for the cycle?

And I know on their little faces! If not ready this sat will have to wait another week NOOOOO!!! (Only been waiting since March!).

The freshwater kit does up to a certain salinity, cant remember what though, relatively low salinity but you might be ok...otherwise it is the salt one hon! Have the other two names yet? I am in love with them and havent even seen them! So sorry Im mad"!

 

[jennybugs]

Stop it now!!!!!

Note to self........STAY AWAY FROM THE SALTY SIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa x

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I started with my F8 brackish tank and then 3 marine tanks later........here I am

Just to mention you'll be wanting your F8s at a salinity of approx 1.003 -1.005 SG ideally. They can cope with slight fluctuations in the SG as they live in estuarine conditions in the wild

 

[divegirl]

So Jen....am I right in thinking that I can wait til the morning and my hydrometer should be working by then...... If it's still running high I should just do a partial water change with fresh water to bring it down a bit? The tanks at Amwells were running at 1.006

Lisa x

Ps I am now according to my hydrometer slowly dropping......1.008

 

[lilacamy931]

Jennybugs at the lower salinity is she ok with the freshwater test kits? This was recomended to me elsewhere but unsure how true??

 

[jennybugs]

So Jen....am I right in thinking that I can wait til the morning and my hydrometer should be working by then...... If it's still running high I should just do a partial water change with fresh water to bring it down a bit? The tanks at Amwells were running at 1.006

Lisa x

Ps I am now according to my hydrometer slowly dropping......1.008

I have only ever used a glass floating hydrometer or a refractometer so can't advise on the swing arm types I'm afraid.
The slightly higher salinity will be fine until your next scheduled water change. I'd maybe do a freshwater change for your next one as I exlained in my pm

Jennybugs at the lower salinity is she ok with the freshwater test kits? This was recomended to me elsewhere but unsure how true??

I used freshwater liquid test kits for my F8 tank and the kits I use now (Salifert) are fine to use on FW or SW tanks