Starting My 42g Saltwater Cube...

[cuticom]

The algae bloom is finally dead, just waiting for the snails to make the tank presentable, so far they've cleared off a heap, I'm just happy that the algae's dead LOL, all the dark black/brown stuff was pretty green algae LOL.

The sun coral is happy as can be, I did purposely get some polyps to die of though, they were on every side of the rock, and I had no way of fragging it, so some polyps that were too low to be fed died, but I've still got quite a happy colony.

The PJ Cardinals are also happy as and clean up all the bits of food the coral drops.

I'll be getting some more livestock next week as well, not sure what I've got $65 to spend and have a few ideas, maybe a yellow clown goby, or just one really big coral or a couple of small corals... as I said I dunno LOL.

 

[TylerFerretLord]

All that algae died at once? I's keep an eye on the ammonia and such just a precaution.

It's coming along nicely, keep it up.

 

[cuticom]

Not at once over a week or so, the skimmer pulled everything out before it converted to ammonia.

 

[cuticom]

Well I'm back with my new purchase, I just couldn't resist at that price, with that much liverock attatched and that many polyps... LOL. I got a blastomussa merleti, it's got maroon edging and neon green centres, over 100 polyps, probably more like 200, on two kg of liverock, for $45 LOL, I'm pretty happy, it's acclimatising now. Getting it home was fun they had to use 6 bags and put it in a styrofoam box to stop it breaking through the bags LOL.

Pics when it's acclimatised and extending

 

[cuticom]

The centres are actually far brighter, it's like a fluorescent lime green, but my camera won't pick it up. It's also got an encrusting coral and a couple of feather dusters

 

[cuticom]

Hey what sort of food does the blastomussa normally prefer? Right now I've fed it some of a frozen brinshrimp and spirulina mix, which is one of the foods my sun coral gets, but is their any particular suspended food blastos like? I'm putting in an order for some fish supplies, so thought I'd add in some new coral food as well....

 

[cuticom]

Hmm, you know I think I might need to start avoiding pet stores LOL, there were so many corals and fishes I wanted. Right now I wnat to concentrate on getting more corals, with teh clowns further down the track when I manage to actually save up the $90 I need for a pair LOL. But as for corals I kinda fell in love with, that are now on my list, I now want...
a brain coral, preferably a purple/green one ($30-60)
mushrooms, they had the coolest pink/green ones but they were way overpriced $15-50
a candy cane (oooh do I love those LOL) $25-40
Zoanthids (so purdy) $40+)
Red coralimorphs (I love the colour) ($25+)
Frogspawn coral ($30+)
Torch Coral ($30+)
Hammer coral (25+)

After all that I'm pretty sure my tank will be stuffed LOL

 

[SkiFletch]

Lol, stuffed is right

Blasto merletti really grow mostly off of light. They can eat, but only small foods, very finely chopped up mysis/brine. But it's really not necessary to feed them unless you're looking for fast growth, they'll self-sustain just fine on light.

Do make sure you keep your calc/alk/mg in balance though as they are a little picky when it comes to that. I noticed myself, especially with alkalinity. When alk was low, these guys closed up quick.

 

[cuticom]

Yup will monitor levels.

Hmmm need a bit of help, theres some sort of slug hihtchhiker on the glass, with a piunk striped dome halfway along, I tryed to get it out for photos and it split into two (uuuuurg) now I'm kinda worried... both halves are still alive and theres no way I can get them off the glass witho0ut cutting it to shreds... But basically it's shaped like a slug, has a mottle brown skin, and then a shell like dome thats pink with whitish stripes on it....

 

[cuticom]

Yay found it-
http/www.thereeftank.com/photopost/showp...amp;ppuser=7850

 

[nanocubeking]

They are very good cleaner uppers. I have got a few comming back.

 

[cuticom]

Does anyone have pics of brown jelly disease? I'm probably stressing for no reason, but the coral has one side with a patch of die off and the polyps aren't as healthy looking around it as they are on the other side, it could easily be that it's just not getting enough light but...

Does brown jelly present as like a heap of brown jelly like substance or waht? theres nothing like that, but as I said I'm stressing LOL.

 

[cuticom]

Hmmm have to say I'm really pleased with this coral, it's got so many hitchikers LOL

It came with quite a large encrusting coral, about 10 cm long, 4-5 cm wide, no idea what it is, but the blasto is growing around all edges of the coral so it obviously has no problems, the corals pale brown and covered in tiny pores.

Theres a single dark purple and orange polyp, I "think" it's a zoanthid, it's settled in the shadow of the rock though, theres no way where it is it could vere have gotten much light, so I'm a tad puzzled over that LOL

And there's a small featherduster, but it hasn't come out today, I hope it's okay

and some sort of small snails which actually look a lot like baby baby turbos, which would be cool.

Oh and the stomatella

Plus the coral itself is a good 15 cm x 20 cm.

LOL I'm sure this is pretty boring to most of you but oh well LOL.


So next I want to get a nice favites, then I think I'll start saving properly for my two clowns.

 

[cuticom]

Stomatella

Polyp/zoanthid thing

 

[SkiFletch]

Brown jelly is quick and obvious, acting rapidly in a matter of hours. Sounds like you're probably stressing for now reason