Little Update On My 55g Reef

[sianeds]

It's been a while since I update you all on my progress so here goes.....

I rescaped my tank a while back with a view to getting a Cataphyllia jardinae and a torch Euphyllia. The rescape however caused an outbreak of cyanobacteria and a HUGE nitrate spike. I also lost my clam at the same time Clammy

Anyway onwards and upwards, I reduced my lighting times, reduced feedings and upped the water changes and put all new additions on hold and the cyano began to retreat 1-0 to Sian To help the cyano battle I added 10 Nassarius obsoleta snails this week and they have done brilliantly. I vainly hoped they may munch on the cyano and guess what.......they are eating it like there's no tomorrow!!!!

Another product of the rescape was hugely increased aggression from my Maroon clownfish Chico. She didn't like my coral placement and insisted on throwing my sun corals off the rocks We argued with her, told her not to, pleaded with her all to no use. The only thing I could do was remove something....it was Chico or the corals. Soooooo.........Much to my dismay Chico had to go. She is now in my spare 17gal which was going to be a dwarf lion tank. I feel it's much to small for her and really would not advise having a maroon clown in anything smaller than a 30gal but she seems much happier now. I will eventually swap my FW fishes into the 17gal and put Chico into the 30gal...but that is a big project so it can wait till we move house.

I added 3 blue/green Chromis which I have called Jesus Mary and Joseph. They are doing great and are a wonderful addition. I can't get them to stay still long enough for a half decent photo though.

I also added a single bright flourescent green mushroom. This was stunning for a few days then it completely disappeared I have searched the tank and found no sign of it. I can only assume it went for a walk and met my powerhead intake

For a few weeks I have been looking for a nice wrasse to join my tank but haven't found anything I really like. A few days ago the great Ebay stepped in and found me a Red sea cleaner wrasse for £6 a couple of miles away. I resisted the urge to bid for all of 2 seconds....

I picked the wrasse up last night After acclimating it I expected to put it in the tank and not see it for a few days. This morning it is swimming around happily and...drum roll please.............................It has eaten this morning!!!!!!! It is a bit bigger than i anticipated so we'll have to see what the future holds. Now I need to find a name for it

As a pleasant surprise when I picked up the wrasse I commented on the size of the turbo snails in the guys tank, I've never seen such big snails. He asked if I wanted them and I obviously said "How much?" he said I could have them for nothing!!! So I ended up with a big wrasee and 2 giant turbos for £6. Bargain

And finally the obligatory full tank shot as of 10mins ago..

 

[Miss Wiggle]

very good, tanks looking lovely

 

[tmreynolds]

Looking good Sian, new snails look like trochus to me?

 

[sianeds]

It could be trochus. It's hard to tell as they are covered in a mat of algae. They are happy little fellas though.

I have now decided to call the wrasse William Ralph Dean as he is a great blue

 

[SkiFletch]

Looks great Sian . Glad to hear the wrasse is eating allready

 

[sianeds]

Yeah thanks Ski I was a little worried as you know that I may struggle to get it eating, especially as I couldn't get an exact ID until last night AFTER I picked it up William is busy exploring his new home now and picking at my LR so all looks good.

 

[Lynden]

The mentioning of a Red Sea Cleaner widened my eyes a little. Proceed with caution, Sianeds, as Larabicus species are very delicate fishes that often die "for no reason" in aquaria. Furthermore, while they usually abandon their status as cleaners when brought into captivity, they will become semi-obligate stony coral eaters when they grow larger, thus leading to either the fish's starvation or a very un-reef safe fish. Hopefully yours will be an exception; though as with anyone, I wish that you might have researched the fish before purchasing it.

If yours does become an exception, then I envy you; but for all intents and purposes the Red Sea Cleaner is one species that belongs on that "should not be imported" list.

Everything else looks great in my opinion.

-Lynden

 

[atmmachine816]

Looks Fantastic

 

[sianeds]

The mentioning of a Red Sea Cleaner widened my eyes a little. Proceed with caution, Sianeds, as Larabicus species are very delicate fishes that often die "for no reason" in aquaria. Furthermore, while they usually abandon their status as cleaners when brought into captivity, they will become semi-obligate stony coral eaters when they grow larger, thus leading to either the fish's starvation or a very un-reef safe fish. Hopefully yours will be an exception; though as with anyone, I wish that you might have researched the fish before purchasing it.

If yours does become an exception, then I envy you; but for all intents and purposes the Red Sea Cleaner is one species that belongs on that "should not be imported" list.

Everything else looks great in my opinion.

-Lynden

Yes I know about t's dietary requirements. I did see a picture of it before I bought it and I kinda knew what it was but you can never be sure until you see the fish in person. I did however buy it from an experienced marine aquarist who has kept it successfully for 2yrs. I also checked what it was eating (brine shrimp). It is pretty big now...in excess of 10cm so it's pretty much fully grown. Hopefully I will be able to keep feeding it. I would never have bought this fish from a shop but knowing it needed a new home I figured at the very least if I take it then I know it'll be given every chance I can provide...even if it means sacrificial stony corals being added to the tank in the future. I have assured it a loving home and every effort to keep it healthy, surely it's better with me than a total noob who wanted the pretty blue fish....

 

[Lynden]

Surely. I take back that previous comment, and I apologize for accusing you. Let's just hope that it remains that way. They do, however, often have a slightly different colour pattern by the time they start eating corals. Yours still looks like a juvenile.

Also I'm sure you know this, but fish are still capable of starving to death when on a diet of nothing but brine shrimp. Be sure to introduce more foods into it's diet.

-Lynden

 

[sianeds]

I'm already onto it Lynden. He was eating mysis last night, not as enthusiastic as the brine but it's a start. I know I'm taking a chance but hopefully it'll pay off.

 

[stang1]

Beautiful looking tank!

 

[Lynden]

I'm already onto it Lynden. He was eating mysis last night, not as enthusiastic as the brine but it's a start. I know I'm taking a chance but hopefully it'll pay off.

I'm glad (but also very envious) .

 

[sianeds]

PANIC STATIONS THIS MORNING!!!!

Last night I noticed William the wrasse had gone to bed in a hole in the rocks. I could just see his tail poking out and I was glad he'd found a safe place to sleep. However, this morning I was up super early, sitting in my usual spot next to the tank having a coffee (nessassary to enable me to partake in any form of morning activity) I saw he was still in his hole. This is OK....2 hours later he is still in the hole with no sign of movement....I am starting to get worried.

I instructed Softlad to drop a block of brine shrimp in as the fish were asking nicely for breakfast (the cowfish was spitting at me) and William can't resist brine...food goes in, fish feeding frenzy...no meovement from William

So methinks the inevitable has happened. William has died overnight. Coincidentally he has chosen the pile of rocks which I have epoxied together I don my rubber gloves and prepared to remove the body, not going to be an easy task. Once the corals are moved to the other side of the tank and some space is cleared for the rocks that need moving I get to work dis-assembling my best ever rock pile. When I finally get to the rock Williams body is wedged into........HE HAS GONE!!!

I figured he has fell out and start looking for the body....then Softlad pipes up from the corner (I make him sit in the corner) "he's swimming around at the other end of the tank"

Much relief all is well. So I begin to put my rocks back when I spot something on the sand.

MY FUNKY NEON MUSHROOM!!!!!!!!

After 10mins fumbling I managed to pick up the mushroom and find it a new home at the front of the tank where I can keep an eye on it and finished putting the rocks back. Naturally they would not go how I wanted them so my beautiful rock pile is no more

But I have my funky mushroom and my wrasse who is swimming around wondering what all the panic was for. I also have cold coffee but that is a small price to pay.

 

[sianeds]

OK so...everything is looking fine tonight. BUT......

The man I bought the wrasse from is selling his complete system, a 5'x2'x2' tank with sump and some fish...I think the only ones left now and a yellow tang and a massive queen angel. He has sold all his LR and corals but is struggling to get rid of the tank and big fish...so...I have offered to buy the lot from him. I told him I'll definately buy the tank if it doesn't sell by friday (payday) and if the fish also haven't sold I guess I'll have to take them too for a sensible price.

I won't know for sure until friday if I have the tank or fish. If I do get it then I have a problem. I have a space for it but no stand. I have a plan for the stand and it can be built pretty quickly and relatively cheaply too so that's not a huge problem. The problem comes from the fish...if I do have to take them I'll need water and lots of it. The tank is approx 125 uk gallons and I currently don't have a working RO unit I will be stuck with a tank I can't fill and BIG fish I can't put in my tanks. Also I would need to completely restock it with LR which will cost more than buying the whole setup.

Hopefully I will get the tank without the fish which will give me a chance to sort myself out. I also need lighting for it and possibly a skimmer? I am thinking that if I have to take the fish I will see about giving the queen angel to our local public aquarium or maybe trade her in for LR at the LFS (although I doubt I'll be able to)

Could this be the end of my humble but beloved 55gal reef??