Reesy's 20 Gallon Reef Adventure

[Reesy1989]

No i know its not the water thats killing the snails its because they cant get back up and the shrimp is getting them! lol

I'm not using a phosphate remover but i'm definately going to start my research on iy and get some out of my next pay!

I unfortunately have a problem with a younger sister who turns the light on after the scheduled time and then forgetting to turn it off!!

I also think that im feeding the tank to much so i've cut down on that. Im going to be a hardarse and not quit until all the blooming algea has gone!!

Wish me Luck!!

 

[Reesy1989]

Hi all,

Havn't updated in a while because......well nothing has happened.

Bit strap for cash lately because of financial problem that have come up and the money for the tank was used

However the fish are all still alive and the tank is going good. Little bit of an algea bloom but im determind to beat it again and starting with a good scrub down on the weekend

Will post when something new happens like the coral i'm getting for christmas.

Regards,

Reesy89

 

[seffieuk]

Sorry to hear about your finances Reecy, know how you feel though, am in the same position

Seffie x

 

[Reesy1989]

Update again,

Have given the tank a realy realy good clean this weekend and it is sparkling.

No new fish unfortunately with the run up to christmas and all that I havn't been able to purchase any new fish. However I am thinking of upgrading the tank to my 20 Gallon long that I have.

I might also save the little bit of money I have and buy a large tank again. This will be a longer term project as Im hoping for a 50 - 100 Gallon. This will obviously include a sump which i'll have to do abit more research but that'll all be in the new year now. Bills need to be paid before any expansion plans

However I am planning that once I have upgraded I plan to setup a seahorse specific tank and try and raise them.

In the near future i will be purchasing my first coral.

Regards,

Craig

 

[ben1987]

i know how you feel with the money too!

 

[Reesy1989]

Thats Christmas time unfortunately, loads of presents and not alot of money!

 

[Reesy1989]

So some big news.

I haven't really been on here much as there hasn't been alot to update you on, however I failed to mention why I was not doing much to the tank.

For the last month I have been culturing pods in the back of my tank. This is for my little Manarin that I have been hoping to get since starting to look at marine fish!

I have bought a coral previous to christmas and I will get to the picture in a bit.

I have a blueberry container filled with live rock pieces at the back of my tank. The understanding is that the copepods can thrive in this environment as no fish or CUC can get to the copepods so that means that the population will flourish and there will be a constant source of food for the manadrin.

I have done plenty of research on this little guy so I have prepared the tank for him.

Below is the picture of the culture book at the back of the tank, not a very good picture but I haven't given the tank glass a clean previous to the pics being taken lol.


Pod Culture


I have also bought a clam, known as a Fire Clam at the LFS is this correct? Currently feeding it Phytoplankton


First Coral woo! In the shop it was sold as a toad stool correct or?


My Beautiful Manadrin Goby! Will get better pictures once the tank glass has had a good clean


And the expected full tank shot!

Hope you guys like the pics cant wait to see how my manadrin gets on....hes bouncing around the tank full of life and constantly going back to the pod box for a nibble. Loving it!

Regards,

Reesy

 

[seffieuk]

Yes a flame scallop, difficult to keep!

Yes a toadstool, a nice long polyped one by the looks of it

The rock stack for the copepods is great, you are culturing outside of the tank though aren't you - as that rock pile will not be enough long term?

Seffie x

ps very pretty Mandy

 

[Reesy1989]

Thanks for that seffie.

I have a culture box in the tank but yes I also have a minature tank in the garage that also has pods being cultured. Im keeping them in there and will replenish the tank with them once a month. There should be enough copepods to keep the goby nice and fat as they have been cultured for a month without his presense and as far as im aware the only thing that will eat them in the tank apart from the manadrin is the coral?

That said i was very delighted yesterday when I put some Daphnia in the tank as a treat for the clowns and goby but he went for them. Not sure if he liked them but he certainly gave it a try. Well done little Mandarin!

Going to keep a steady eye on him to make sure that he stays live and well

Regards,

Reesy1989

 

[Reesy1989]

Mandarin update!

He is continuing to bumble over the rocks in search of food but is constantly coming back to the rock stack for a definate meal.

Pod population is looking good at the moment, you can see them at night on the glass if you shine a flash light at the glass.

I'm having a thought, Please tell me if you think this is a good idea.

The mandarin is happy enough in the main display tank however, I have decided to setup a 5g tank with a copepod rock stack at the bottom (the one in the currect setup) and keep the Mandarin in there on a tempory basis. I will them create a larger rock stack in the display tank and add more live rock to the tank. This way I am hoping to create a more steady pod population in the main tank. Thereby not needing my pod culture in my other tank.

I think that this would be more beneficial in the long term for the mandarin?

If I decide not to do it then I'll keep replenishing the pod population in the main tank from the pod tank every week - 2 weeks?

What are your thoughts?

Reesy1989

 

[seffieuk]

Mandarin update!

He is continuing to bumble over the rocks in search of food but is constantly coming back to the rock stack for a definate meal.

sounds good

Pod population is looking good at the moment, you can see them at night on the glass if you shine a flash light at the glass.

They can qucikly decimate a pod population in a small tank

I'm having a thought, Please tell me if you think this is a good idea.

The mandarin is happy enough in the main display tank however, I have decided to setup a 5g tank with a copepod rock stack at the bottom (the one in the currect setup) and keep the Mandarin in there on a tempory basis.

oh no, poor Mandy

I will them create a larger rock stack in the display tank and add more live rock to the tank. This way I am hoping to create a more steady pod population in the main tank. Thereby not needing my pod culture in my other tank.

More rock, more pods, good - but as long as rock is well cured add it with Mandy still in tank

I think that this would be more beneficial in the long term for the mandarin?

The extra rock will help, but you will never have enough rock in there to sustain the Mandy without a culture outside the tank

If I decide not to do it then I'll keep replenishing the pod population in the main tank from the pod tank every week - 2 weeks?

Every couple of days, add them at night

What are your thoughts?

Reesy1989

Seffie x

 

[Reesy1989]

Thanks Seffie,

So you dont think that I should take the Mandarin out and put it into a smaller tank for the time being?

I thought the pods would be established in the tank enough, especially with the rock stack, If I make the rock stack larger and made continue to culture pods outside the tank that should surely be ok.

I have done plenty of research for this fish so I know as much that is to know about them. I am quite happy with my purchase and believe I can give the Mandarin a comfortable life without any possibility of starvation.

Although he was thin coming from the LFS I am hoping that he will not be to far gone by the time I've had my chance to fatten him up

On a positive note however I put the flakes in the tank for the shrimp, clowns and the goby yet the little mandarin did give them a try, he ate spat out, ate spat out and then ate and ate again, but he didn't seemed to fussed and hovered over the rock stack and started hunting again.....but thats a step forward ??

Regards,

Reesy1989

 

[VictorMeldrew]

Hi Reesy

just catching up with this and have only read snipets but it looks like things are progressing nicely. Just a heads up here mate, I had one of those flame scallops and I will let you know what happened, when I added it to the tank it quickly found a small hiding place, which was unfortunatly at the back of the reef, so I hardly ever seen it, then when it did start to venture out, several weeks later, I had to stand and watch as my cleaner shrimps eat it in five minutes flat. It was a real shame, I did not notice if you have any shrimp yet, but if you do or plan to keep shrimp It would proberly be best to sell or something.

All the best for the new year
VM

 

[Reesy1989]

Hey Victor,

I have 1 cleaner shrimp and there has been no problems with either. Fortunately the scallop sits at the front of the tank and he doesn't reli move towards the back, it'll either be up on a ledge at the front or towards one of the front corners.

Also lil update.

I have decided not to seperate the Mandarin just yet. I will soon be spliting the culture as it does seem to be getting a little hectic in the one container. Once I have successfully split them and they are continuing to multiply I will then use my culture to the best of my abilities to fatten up firstly and then train the mandy to accept other foods

Regards,

Reesy1989

 

[aly_starh]

Are you using a phosphate remover? If so, how?

thanks