Three Questions And An Update

[Crazy fishes]

Since my last post where I believe I was going on about how brilliant macros is which was about two weeks ago I think, my tank has been going 'great guns'!! The parameters have barely changed in the last two weeks and I am starting to get what Ski called 'a feel for it'. I have measured the water parameters four times since I remember last giving an update and they have settled at:
temp 26 C
s.g. 1.025 (I have let it slowly creep up a whole 0.001)
pH 8.2 (most of the day)
Kh 9
Nitrate 2.5-5ppm
Phosphate 0.015ppm
Calcium 400ppm
and most importantly EVERYTHING LOOKS HAPPY AND IS THRIVING!!!
As things are settling so nicely I thought I would test if the time had come for an LPS; (Euphyllia sp.) Hammer coral.Yesterday, I purchased a nice specimen from the local fish shop and today it has pretty much fully opened. What a contrast to the GSP which took a good week and half to open. Although saying that the GSP did have to contend with wildly swinging water chemistry..... just to reiterate SH DON'T ADD CORALS TO A NEW TANK; I DID AND I WAS A FOOL!!!! Now I am an educated fool LOL. If there are any new nanoers reading this, a good place for information other than here is www.reefkeeping.com. I have been reading lots from there, Randy Holmes Farley has written some good pieces on water chemistry.

Now for the questions:

1) Does anyone elses Clown fish attack them when they clean the tank?
2) Where has the information about corals and fish gone? There was that species list thingy for corals; I can't find it?
3) When Randy talks in the pH article about alkalinity and calcium reacting at the ratio of 1:1 he is referring to carbonate alkalinity isn't he? It is just that bicarbonate would react with calcium and other 2+ ions Mg Sr etc at 2:1 respectively.
oh I have another question.....
4) Does that mean Kasswasser adds most carbonate to the tank?

Sorry Big C no pictures my battery for my camera is dead...

Regards

 

[BigC]

Sorry Big C no pictures my battery for my camera is dead...

That's no excuse....If you can afford to run a marine nano aquarium then you can afford a pack of Duracell.
Hurry up.... get a move on.... whats keepin ya! LOL
Regards
BigC

 

[Bean84]

1) Does anyone elses Clown fish attack them when they clean the tank?

Hey Crazy Fishes,

Just thought i'd pipe up and say that my tomato clown tries to 'attack' me when i clean out our larger tank! He thinks he is the boss! I think not!

 

[CageUK]

Yes one of our clowns always attacks me when I'm in the tank. It's not just a playful peck either. He backs off the the other side of the tank then the little sod takes a good run up and really gives me what for!
The smaller clown seems content to let big'un have all the fun.

Also, the shrimp always makes a bee line for my arm. It's ok when he's just walking on my arm or sitting in my palm but it really gives me the willies when he uses his little claws to look for food on my arm.

I think the fish just get bored and like the idea of a new plaything in the tank and boy do they make the most of it.

I used to think that the clowns come to the front of the tank whenever we approached because they thought they were going to be fed. I'm now convinced that they sense an intruder and come to the front to defend their domain!

Cheers

 

[Bean84]

Clowns hey! I know what you mean about them coming to the front of the tank, i can have Face offs at the surface with mine aswell!

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, my clowns used to attack me when I had them. First time they did it, the little punks scared me into bringing my arm out of the water and singing it against my metal halide bulb....

species list thingy?

Calcium is also a 2+ ion so Randy is talking mostly about bicarbonate. At most "common" seawater pH (7.9+) the reaction of calcium and "alkalinity" is driven towards bicarbonate. As pH lowers, carbonate becomes more energetically favorable.

Kalkwasser is another interesting beast as it adds calcium and I THINK bicarbonate through a reaction with ambient CO2.

Glad to hear things are looking up for you and your tank. At least now you know that SH wasn't lying to you when he said not to rush it with corals . Experience is always one of the best teachers and he sure has a bunch with nano tanks