Testing Times Ahead?

[andywg]

I am not a man who likes to test his tanks where possible, I couldn't even hazard a guess at the last time my FW tanks were tested, but now I want to start to step up the coral growth and number of SPS corals in the reef I have to start watching a few parameters that I am dosing for. As a result, I have the below for the weekly test: nitrates, phosphates, pH, Alkalinity (KH) and Calcium. Before long I will also be testing for, and adding, magnesium. I really need to spend lots of money on a computer and probes to constantly do all this for me...

However, the results speak for themselves

And while I was down on the floor I decide to take some shots of the sump and the huge amount of life living on the sides.

And when buying some live shrimp for the Antennarius maculatus I happened upon this little guy at a price I couldn't say no to:

He's a Histrio histrio, or Sargassum Frogfish. These are meant to be the most voracious eaters of all the frogfish, consuming prey twice their length. One example was found with 13 conspecifics in its belly, some pretty decent cannibalism by anyone's standard.

And speaking of the other frogfish, he had a nice spot for dinner:

But I think I may need better portion control...

 

[BigC]

Andy you do have some wierd choices in fish.
Just a piece of advice from you.. please.. (I'm new to salties) My kit does not include a Calcium test, would you recommend I aquire one.
Tank inhabitants look brill by the way
Regards
BigC

 

[poopsydrew]

Another frogfish?? I will never catch up

Any luck getting the maculatus on dead foods? I have yet to get mine to even look at anything dead, but I am gonna keep trying everyday "just in case"

That hermit crab really demonstrates how well calcium dosing can benefit a reef tank.

Great pics Andy.

Drew

 

[andywg]

Andy you do have some wierd choices in fish.

Me weird? That's what I think about all you people who stock normal things like gobies and blennies et al

Just a piece of advice from you.. please.. (I'm new to salties) My kit does not include a Calcium test, would you recommend I aquire one.

It depends on what you want to achieve with the tank.

It is a useful thing to have to see if there is any deficiency, but I would expect a smaller nano tank with frequent water changes to be ok. I dosed with calcium last night for the first time this year. I find I have to dose to keep the alkalinity up far more than the calcium.

And remember, my aim for this tank is a heavy load of SPS corals, so there will be the potential for a large amount of calcium uptake, hence my testing for it. I shall probably get a calcium reactor before long. If you see one for not to much (mine was only a tenner) then I would recommend grabbing it, especially once you have a few corals in the tank, even softies can use up calcium.

Tank inhabitants look brill by the way
Regards
BigC

Cheers

Another frogfish?? I will never catch up

Indeed another one. I lost my newer Antennarius maculatus in the move around after getting the preds. This guy was so cheap I couldn't say no, and I have been interested in a Histrio histrio for a while (along with another A. striatus).

Any luck getting the maculatus on dead foods? I have yet to get mine to even look at anything dead, but I am gonna keep trying everyday "just in case"

That's the best way. Some people have success with a clear piece of rigid airline, others with feeding tongs and yet more with a piece of cotton through the food. Any luck with identifying your frog yet?

That hermit crab really demonstrates how well calcium dosing can benefit a reef tank.

Does it? The thing was only added yesterday, a matter of hours before the pic.

Great pics Andy.

Drew

Thanks, though I think one or two may have been from Nina rather than me.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

That first photo is great. The puffer is looking out the tank like "Is any of that food? Can I try and eat it anyway?"

 

[andywg]

That first photo is great. The puffer is looking out the tank like "Is any of that food? Can I try and eat it anyway?"

What puffer? I have no puffers...

 

[poopsydrew]

That's the best way. Some people have success with a clear piece of rigid airline, others with feeding tongs and yet more with a piece of cotton through the food. Any luck with identifying your frog yet?

No luck on the ID yet, but thanks for the airline idea, I'll try that.

Does it? The thing was only added yesterday, a matter of hours before the pic.

Well its shell and color looked so nice I assumed it was benefiting from regular calcium dosing, its a great looking hermie.

Drew

 

[cheesy feet]

Nice pics and very nice fish...That Sargassum Frogfish frogfish looks great, very spikey

 

[Lynden]

That first photo is great. The puffer is looking out the tank like "Is any of that food? Can I try and eat it anyway?"

What puffer? I have no puffers...

Barney... Puffers are Tetraodontidae and porcs (or as I call them, diodonts) are Diodontidae.

It is the major testing required that keeps me away from SPS... for now I prefer my test-free softies. Very nice new frog by the way... out of interest is there one species that it the easiest to feed on most occasions?