from trashed to prized maint thread.

[saabtech]

hello all. my name is Kevin.
i need to start a maintenance thread for my newlly aquired 125 show reef tank.
for a little background on the situation.
i knew nothing about nor did i ever own a saltwater tank before sept 19 2009. :confused:
i was the best canidate to take over a failing reef tank (due to harsh circumstances) the tank had not been maintained for about a year and the only thing that was done to it was an occasional filter media change, water top offs only (no water changes) and that was with normal tap water only. the tank was overgrown with hair algae (every square inch that recieved light) i didnt even know there was so much actual desireable things in it due to the forest of algae hiding everything!
the only amount of clean up crew that was alive was (from what i have seen) is 3 cleaner clams!..... yea thats it!!!
there was a coral beauty, a keyhole angle, a clowfish, a young brown with white spots sweetlips, a watchman goby and a heart urchin.
there was about 30 majano anemones!!!!
there was and still is over 50 various mushrooms and ricordias.
there is one (what i believe to be) carribean purple anemone

since all that i have gotten rid of the sweetlips (because i dont want a ugly brown 24 inch fish in there) and then i got rid of the coral beauty in hopes that would releave the stress level in the tank and gain a little activity from the other fish. that worked wonderfully! the watchman acually comes out the clown swims around a little but the keyhole still perfers to hide all the time (unless there is food)
i have since added a cleanup crew and three firefish.
every thing is getting very cool IMO.

[dmweise]

Do you have a lawnmower blenny? A copperband butterfly fish would do well at getting rid of the mojano anemones if you do not like them.

I have a copperband butterfly fish that keeps my tank free of nuisance anemones. My yellow eye kole tang, dwarf angels, and lawnmower blenny keep the tank free of hair algae. The lawnmower blenny does the majority of the work though.

[saabtech]

i have some pics in its early stages.


pic at one week, most of the algae got faced in another position after the move. so not all of it is facing up like it was.
http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/DSC_2900.jpg

http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_DSC_2870.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=DSC_2870.jpg)http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_DSC_2871.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=DSC_2871.jpg)http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_DSC_2875.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=DSC_2875.jpg)http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_DSC_2877.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=DSC_2877.jpg)http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_DSC_2880.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=DSC_2880.jpg)http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_DSC_2908.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=DSC_2908.jpg)


http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/DSC_2948.jpg

[saabtech]

Do you have a lawnmower blenny? A copperband butterfly fish would do well at getting rid of the mojano anemones if you do not like them.
no i dont have a lawnmower blenny. but i have managed to get rid of all but 5 majanos with a very cool trick that i kind of stumbled across and then modified.
there were some many majanos that when i placed all the rock back into the tank, there were several that were placed up against the glass walls. and within a day the anemone would move out of the shade and onto the glass. from there it was very easy to remove them without the chance of damageing them and releaseing ?spores? or whatever it is that allows them to reproduce.
of after several deliberate rock postions that allowed me to move the majanos onto the glass and then out of the tank i decided to play around with some ideas.
first i got a piece of pvc that was cut to support the placement of the anemone in darkness and it coax it onto the pipe. then i would remove the pipe and the pest. worked like a charm!! some of them were placed in a manner that did not allow the pvc pipe trick to work. so i got a piece of glass with a hole cut in it and placed it over the anemone. then i placed a rubber band around the anemone and the anemone would jump out of the rubber band and release itself from the rock and onto the glass.
all of the moves were done in less than 24 hrs.
now i only have 5 or 6 and the clown likes them. and i dont mind them either now that i know i can be-rid of them if i want.

[dmweise]

That's a pretty awesome trick!

[saabtech]

here are a couple early vids.
http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_VID00022.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=VID00022.flv)
[/URL]
[URL="http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=Video2.flv"]http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_Video2.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=Video1.flv)
http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_Video3.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=Video3.flv)

[saabtech]

here is a video of some "smoke" coming out of the sand. the fist view of it is right away and the next view of it is at about 1 min and 15 sec?
what is this???

http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_VID00009.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=VID00009.flv)

[Still Learning]

Welcome to the hobby! For a newbie you sure have taken on a big task and it sounds like you are off in the right direction.

I didn't think clownfish host in majano anemones. Those almost look like baby green bubble anemones (those are good anemones). I thought majano and aptasia stayed relatively small.

What is your water change schedule gonna be? I would do a bunch of snails and crabs if you have haven't already. Also, if you run your lights between 6-8 hours it will help with the algae growth.

That puff of smoke is one of the many animals in your sand bed. Usually they are filter feeders or scavengers. All a sign of a healthy, well established aquarium. I like to look at my sand bed with a magnifying glass. It is amazing to see all the stuff we overlook.

Again, welcome to the hobby....

[saabtech]

Welcome to the hobby! For a newbie you sure have taken on a big task and it sounds like you are off in the right direction. thanks

I didn't think clownfish host in majano anemones. Those almost look like baby green bubble anemones (those are good anemones). I thought majano and aptasia stayed relatively small.
im sure they are. i think that there are many majanos and it seems like a general classification of several harder stinging, quickly reproduceing anemones. and i even if they are not that bad i dont think i needed 30 of them. i will keep 4-6 of them.
What is your water change schedule gonna be? I would do a bunch of snails and crabs if you have haven't already. Also, if you run your lights between 6-8 hours it will help with the algae growth. for the first 3 weeks i was doing 5-15 gallon water changes every 2-3 days now im doing 10 gallon water changes every week. i have added a k3 power head and that seems to have slowed the growth of the algae and i run the two 96w cf for about 12 hrs (10:00 to 10:00) but i cycle the two 150w MH on (first at 11:00 and off at 6:00 and the second on at 2:00 and off at 9:00) is this ok? i dont know? never really had any instruction on this just attempting to provide a daylight intensity pattern.
i have also added several large turbos and several small ones. and about 10 hermits and the algae growth is looking very slim. will most likly need to feed the turbos in a bowl or get rid of one or two.
That puff of smoke is one of the many animals in your sand bed. Usually they are filter feeders or scavengers. All a sign of a healthy, well established aquarium. I like to look at my sand bed with a magnifying glass. It is amazing to see all the stuff we overlook.
that is hard to judge the amount of "smoke" in the vid but it was a stream of about 2-3 inches. i really believe it came from the heart urchin that spends all its time under the sand. it may have been sperm?
Again, welcome to the hobby....thanks again
reply in bold and underline



Are you planning on removing any of the micro algae on the back and sides of the gl*****do you mean the ?barnicals? on the overflow or are you refering to the green algae because most all of the green stuff is gone. i will post a more recent vid. in a moment.

[saabtech]

vid from 10-19-09
http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_VID00001.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=VID00001.flv)

[Still Learning]

The main reason I don't think that it is a majano is that the clown is hosting in it. We have had a bubble anemone have lots of sisters that are about that size. I will do more research to see if clowns can host in majano.

Your tank is really coming along. A lot of people like to make the lighting do a sun up and sun down. If I read correctly that is what you are doing. If you start to have an algae problem again, keeping the HQI to 6-8 will help minimize the growth.

It could be sperm, but more than likely just a critter cleaning out its tunnel. There are lots and lots of things that can live in the sand.

Happy Reefing!

[saabtech]

got a protien skimmer (corallife super skimmer 220) it only took 3 days to break in and everything is looking good.
although it seems like the evaporation has increased since it was installed.

[saabtech]

some new closeups.

[saabtech]

+1

[saabtech]

how cool would it be to just have a dartfish tank.
i was thinking about keeping 3 orange firefish, 2 purple firefish, (one day having a Helfrich's firefish) 2 Zebra Barred Dartfish and 2 Scissortail Dartfish
i know that some of those may fight but maybe not. and that would be cool.

[saabtech]

two purple firefish in the tank now. thanks to Reefs2u they were a great price. (need a little growing and fin repair but still cool)
pics in a moment

[saabtech]

pics

[saabtech]

i think they are trying to school with the orange firefish. they have been in the same corner as the orange ones all day (about 3-5 inches away)

[txg8gxp]

Cool looking fish, it would be cool to get a picture of all them together.

[saabtech]

more pics. and the purples and oranges are forming there hierarchy and starting to school. (a little more fin damage but i think it will stop once they sort everything out)

[saabtech]

and mo'

[txg8gxp]

The third picture is great. It is now set as my background.

[txg8gxp]

Ok, now the first picture is awesome..

[saabtech]

The third picture is great. It is now set as my background. thanks but im not sure which one your talking about. the third pic on the last post of page 2 (post # 20) or the third pic on the first post of page 3 (post # 21) ? or did you even see the last post on page 2.


Ok, now the first picture is awesome..
ahhh which one!? i like them all!!

but thanks anyway!:bigsmile:

[txg8gxp]

#3 of post 20 and #1 of post 21 are great.

[saabtech]

the funny thing is i dont even know the real names of either of those. anyone else wanna chime in on that?

[txg8gxp]

what about these?http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=597+598+665&pcatid=665


and mo'

[saabtech]

the funny thing is i dont even know the real names of either of those. anyone else wanna chime in on that?
bump on the id's of the pics. and


i picked up a large skunk cleaner shrimp today. nice simple addition.
will post pic soon. (maybe)

[saabtech]

some close ups.
the one of the clown is cool because the snail was getting a little too close and clowny was nipping at him.

[justahobby]

Amazing what some TLC will do to a tank. Keep up the hard work and pics.

What are you wanting an ID on?

[txg8gxp]

Saabtech was looking to ID these two..

[saabtech]

the first is a hairy mushroom im sure. but more specificly i dont know. (anyone else know?)
and i have no idea what the other one is. please chime in if possible.
and thanks stephen for the bump post.

[justahobby]

It looks like a red ricordia

[saabtech]

re-aquascaped a little.
looking better.

[saabtech]

here is a pic of my new cleaner shrimp. he is hosting in the purple anemone. i dont really like that idea because i wanted him to do some cleaning on the fish and there isn't a fish im my tank that will go anywhere near that thing!!!
the other odd thing i noticed......
i was spot feeding everything in the tank and after feeding big purple the cleaner shrimp jump right into the middle of the anemone and started stealing food from out of his tenticals. the anemone would start to fight back and latch onto the shrimp and once the shrimp couldn't take much more he would jump out about 8-10 inches and them slowly make his way back. weird!

[txg8gxp]

I like that layout. Everything looks spread out nice, makes it look like there is alot more going on.

[txg8gxp]

HaHa, your shrimp is all confused.

[saabtech]

i am slowly going to get rid of some of the mushrooms and replace them with other coral. all i want to know is what would you do?

[ErikH]

I would only put in the most beautiful pieces of coral I could find.

[saabtech]

well i had a shadow problem before so i rearranged. please excuse the sediment, just finish moving everything.
there is so much depth now it will be hard for the pics to display it.
and i got a new zoa and Kryptonite Candy Cane

[txg8gxp]

Looks great, the new additions look good.

[saabtech]

was in a hurry because i didnt want a long vid that took forever to upload.
but this vid will help show the depth of the rock scape.

http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_VID00018.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=VID00018.flv)

[txg8gxp]

Looks good, now it just need some led's.

[saabtech]

a better vid, i like it
http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/th_VID00019.jpg (http://s661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/?action=view&current=VID00019.flv)

[txg8gxp]

Looking really good, I can't wait to see it will a nice hint of blue.

[saabtech]

ahhh.... my only post buddy.... thanks stephen.

[saabtech]

new coral.
aussie green :bigsmile:

[txg8gxp]

Looks nice, we need some pics of the aussie now that it has had sometime to settle in.

[Jordan N.]

The aussie does looks gorgeous; I love the NEON green.

The new rock work looks good too, I like all the little caves you incorporated. Only 'critique' I have is that the left side feels a little empty compared to the rest.

-Jordan N.

[saabtech]

thanks Jordan. you are correct the left and right side are lacking a little and this seems to be a never ending arrangement. hopefully i can pick up a few more key rocks to fill it in and fill it in.

that favia is awsome! thank to Gabe"S...fish and exotic pets"

[Jordan N.]

If you're looking for rock I would recommend checking out phenomenal aquatics; there fish always look so-so but they have a TON of live rock for really cheap. Several different kinds too; I'm sure you could find something to suit your needs.

-Jordan N.

[saabtech]

alright anothere shop to check ok. i will try and get there soon. thanks for the suggestion.

[txg8gxp]

Any new updates for us?

[saabtech]

my clown left his host anemone and has been swimming around for the past 2 days. he doesnt seem to eat much and im starting to wonder if something is wrong.
all my readings are perfect.
ph 8,2
nitrite.0
nitrate 0-4
ammonia 0-0.25
salinity 1.024
temp 80
????
no signs of ick or parasite.
not scraching on the rock.
i dont know.

[cyrus]

What are the white dendro looking ones on the right side?

[saabtech]

bleached out majano. (some people have said they are small bubble tipped anemones)

any one else have any input on the clowns behavior?

[txg8gxp]

Maybe the host wasn't very nice...

[saabtech]

:what_smile:bump


my clown left his host anemone and has been swimming around for the past 2 days. he doesnt seem to eat much and im starting to wonder if something is wrong.
all my readings are perfect.
ph 8,2
nitrite.0
nitrate 0-4
ammonia 0-0.25
salinity 1.024
temp 80
????
no signs of ick or parasite.
not scraching on the rock.
i dont know.

[phippsj]

My clowns only host at night. They ignore the anemone all day, and then fight over it at night.


:what_smile:bump

[saabtech]

he use to host it all the tme and only leave it fr food..
now he is not even eating much.

[saabtech]

my clown left his host anemone and has been swimming around for the past 2 days. he doesnt seem to eat much and im starting to wonder if something is wrong.
all my readings are perfect.
ph 8,2
nitrite.0
nitrate 0-4
ammonia 0-0.25
salinity 1.024
temp 80
????
no signs of ick or parasite.
not scraching on the rock.
i dont know.


:what_smile:bump


he use to host it all the tme and only leave it fr food..
now he is not even eating much.

now he is not eating at all!!!!!

[Europhyllia]

saab, why do you think you have any measurable ammonia in your tank? Did something die?

[saabtech]

i had a small leather die (1 3/4 inch) about 3 day ago (he let loose of his rock and floted into the dark and died) i siphoned him out (as much as possible) but im sure that i missed or just mixed up some of it.

[hobogato]

maybe i missed it earlier, but how long have you had the clown?

what food are you trying to feed it?

[hobogato]

since you are using a k3, you may want to check for stray voltage in the tank just to rule that out.

[saabtech]

he has been in the tank over 3 yrs.

what is the best way to test for stray voltage?
i have a fluke 88 true rms meter.



maybe i missed it earlier, but how long have you had the clown?

what food are you trying to feed it?


since you are using a k3, you may want to check for stray voltage in the tank just to rule that out.

[Europhyllia]

saab, I am guessing you already know this: leather corals can release quite a powerful toxin when they feel threatened or die.
Here's (http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bl_CoralCompetition_1.htm) a study on toxicity of corals in regards to fish.
I really like products like Poly Filter (not regular polyester filter but rather a resin coated filter pad that adsorbs all kinds of toxins). Or Chemi-Pure.
If it was me I'd run one of those. If nothing else it will absorb the extra ammonia, etc.
I could be totally off (and I probably am!) but a small water change and the use of a resin filter like that wouldn't hurt and perhaps would help.
Good Luck Saab and Clown!

[hobogato]

i just use a cheapo voltmeter/ammeter

[saabtech]

saab, I am guessing you already know this: leather corals can release quite a powerful toxin when they feel threatened or die.
Here's (http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bl_CoralCompetition_1.htm) a study on toxicity of corals in regards to fish.
I really like products like Poly Filter (not regular polyester filter but rather a resin coated filter pad that adsorbs all kinds of toxins). Or Chemi-Pure.
If it was me I'd run one of those. If nothing else it will absorb the extra ammonia, etc.
I could be totally off (and I probably am!) but a small water change and the use of a resin filter like that wouldn't hurt and perhaps would help.
Good Luck Saab and Clown!

i guess i will change my carbon now and do a 10 gallon water change. (thats all i can do tonight)
thanks for the input.


i just use a cheapo voltmeter/ammeter
stuck the probes in the water and a/c readings are very low (i think my body produces more voltage and current)

i guess we will see?

thank folks.

[hobogato]

try putting the + in the water and touch the - to a ground.

[Kristy]

Water change is always your best course of action when you're not sure what is going on. Ammonia, possible toxins from a leather, who knows? If you want more water tonight, shoot us a pm and we'll send you our address to come get some if you're interested.

-Kristy & Mike

[saabtech]

try putting the + in the water and touch the - to a ground.

tried that and found odd readings... sometimes i would read 10v. but i used a jug of saltwater with no electrical componants in it as a control and found the similar readings.

t
Water change is always your best course of action when you're not sure what is going on. Ammonia, possible toxins from a leather, who knows? If you want more water tonight, shoot us a pm and we'll send you our address to come get some if you're interested.

-Kristy & Mike

thanks you thats very kind.

[saabtech]

:cry_smile:i think it is time for him to let go... getting very weak.
i know he has been in the tank over 3 yrs (up to 5 i dont know) and the lifespan is about 3-5 correct?

[Jordan N.]

:cry_smile:i think it is time for him to let go... getting very weak.
i know he has been in the tank over 3 yrs (up to 5 i dont know) and the lifespan is about 3-5 correct?

5 to 7 is probably pretty common in the wild but they are known to live quite a bit longer --I've heard multiple reports of Clowns living over 20 years.

Sorry to hear your clown is having trouble; I wish I had some advice to give you.

-Jordan N.

[Neptune@gabesfish]

saab, I am guessing you already know this: leather corals can release quite a powerful toxin when they feel threatened or die.
Here's (http://saltaquarium.about.com/library/blank/bl_CoralCompetition_1.htm) a study on toxicity of corals in regards to fish.
I really like products like Poly Filter (not regular polyester filter but rather a resin coated filter pad that adsorbs all kinds of toxins). Or Chemi-Pure.
If it was me I'd run one of those. If nothing else it will absorb the extra ammonia, etc.
I could be totally off (and I probably am!) but a small water change and the use of a resin filter like that wouldn't hurt and perhaps would help.
Good Luck Saab and Clown!


I agree 100% .. everyone should always have a "Ohh Brown Stuff Pad" (Poly Pad) just in case you cant figure what is wrong .. I hope the clown toughs it out..

[saabtech]

the clown is looking better. (at least he is hosting again) still have not seen him eat in 4 days but he is not skinny so....?)
just got the Powder Brown i always wanted. stunning IMO!:shades:

[saabtech]

well the clown is looking better ( i still have not seen him eat in 4 days, but he is not skinny so maybe he is...?)
i got the powder brown tang i always wanted.
he is 5-6 inches and stunning IMO. very cool. he was very stressed so i quick accl. and then dumped him in the DT. i spent the last 4 hrs setting up my QT and then was lucky enough to catch him easily and get him in the QT. he is looking very good now. just chill but at least he has his balance.

[1fstlightning]

I have always liked the Powdered Blue and The Powered Browns. Hopefully he pulls through.

[saabtech]

thanks. he will be great. he is eating everything i throw at him!!!

[saabtech]

a little update. i took the time and energy to clean my sump because i had measureable nitrate spikes in the DT and could not figure out why..... i brainstormed and came up with the idea that the sump is very ..... for lack of better words... toxic. i measured the nitrate in the sump chamber and found readings slightly higher. i decided to kill the pump and drain and clean the entire sump. boy what a chore!! there was alot of detrius below the bio-balls (1 inch thick) and was easily kicked up (every time my son jumped next to the tank i think it would release some (pier and beam house)) so 3 hrs and 30 gallon water change and 2 days later every thing is great. no measured ammonia-nitrate-nitrite-phos etc.

[saabtech]

read the prior post also (page jump)

next i need to post my testimonial on hydrometers and sumps and chemical filters.
for 3-4months i have used a hydrometer. my salinity was.......1.026
for about 1 month things have looked worse and the clown stopped eating and every parameter was within spec.
last thurs i got a refractometer and found my real salinity.......1.020
did that water change the other day and cleaned the sump and raised it to 1.022
i have also put in some chemipure elite and one of those little poly filters for emergencys in the last week.....

feed the tank some spirulina and THE CLOWN ATE!!!!!! after 7 days of not eating
i can't confirm what the problem was. i guess it was a combination of things. i think he will be ok if he keeps eating!

[saabtech]

:photo:powder brown in QT. eating everything i throw in there.

FYI. it is best to turn off the power head to feed him. he seems not to like to chase his food around too much.:D

[txg8gxp]

.FYI. it is best to turn off the power head to feed him. he seems not to like to chase his food around too much.:D

Lazy fish....

[saabtech]

new pics. and some sps frags from txg8gtp

[txg8gxp]

Looks good, I like the zoa's...I sure could use 2 for my new project...

[hobogato]

nice, that last zoa pic is a great pic

[saabtech]

nice, that last zoa pic is a great pic
do you or anyone else know what to call that zoa?

[hobogato]

sorry, i have never been good with zoa names, i am sure someone around here knows...

[saabtech]

new heart urchin. (the old one only lasted about 4 yrs)
this guy is about 1 and 1/2 inches in dia. (my old one was about 3 inches in dia)
i think they are really cool, nice sand sifter and detritus eater.

[saabtech]

some new pics.

[FireWater]

Dude, feed the acans. It looks like they are lining up for an all you can eat buffet. Looks good

[saabtech]

they get spot fed every night. they just eat it up and within 5 min they are extended again. they remind me of my kids!!! feed and feed and feed and they are still not satisfied!!!

[txg8gxp]

That first acan frag has grown out nice.

[hobogato]

looks great kevin

[txg8gxp]

Any updates?

[saabtech]

some new pics.

[txg8gxp]

all the sun corals look nice and happy...

[Europhyllia]

very nice. Love the suns :)

[saabtech]

a growth pic or two.

i got this birds nest early feb 2010 and it had 3 points to it. the first pic is early march and it has 5-6 points on it.
today is may and it has over 36 points on it.
http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/CSC_5535.jpg
http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu335/SAABtech/CSC_6304.jpg

[txg8gxp]

looking good, you going to move it to the rock soon?

[saabtech]

found my purple firefish after a week of MIA... he was in the overflow. i removed the original standpipe and all the filter block that are in there and installed a durso and there he was.
i released him back into the DT and he seemed to have not missed a beat.... he looked around and swam over to the old hangout and "darted" into his original hole.

[hobogato]

great growth on the bnest - you must be doing something right :wink_smile:

glad you found the fish too