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View Full Version : Last week was interesting on Ray's Aquarium front..



RayAllen
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 01:04 PM
Do you ever have one of those weeks where your aquarium just seems to be taunting you with problems? You just want to do what ever it is that makes you feel better...

I should start by saying these these events are not a major problems, more of a annoyance.

1st Issue

On Friday I went to Gabes and bought to beautiful blue headed wrasses, I noted to my self that I do already have wrasses that all get a long well and introducing these new fish is a hit and miss. I already had a red corris, pink/purple belly and a unknown wrasse which was sold to me as a juvi X-masse wrasse but I now know it is not, lets call it for now unknown wrasse. They all get along swimmingly well.

Well I get the 2 blue heads home to acclimate and do so. Among putting them in their new homes they swim to the bottom to explore. Of corse all the fish in the aquarium take notice and start their territorial displays. We all know how that works, "this is my part of the rock get the heck away".

Now the fun part, The Unknow wrasse at 3~" rapidly changes color to a scheme ive yet to see since owning it for approx 5-6months. It then began its terrorizing of the new blue heads, repeatingly dive bombing them. I should say this Unknown wrasse is smaller than the blueheads by 1 1/2-2" or so, but fiesty. The unknown wrasse is chasing them all through the tank, not just a specific territory.

I turned off the lights early that night to allow them some peice, blueheads like to hide underneath rocks where the Unknown wrasse, like a corris will sleep beneath the sand. The next morning Saturday they are still alive and eat (great sign), but hide immediately to avoid the Unknown wrasses rath. I have to go to Austin, although I had a great time in the back of mind I wondered about my fish while gone. Come home yesterday afternoon and I can see one of the blue heads hiding, they are always together so i figured they are both the same spot. Dont see them much all day. This morning one of them is swimming around freely now and the unknown wrasse is not as aggressive, just protecting its territory now versus chasing all over the tank. Thats a good thing :bigsmile: I will keep observing over the next few days, hopefully both blueheads are alive and well and I can go on with a happy fish tank community.

2nd issue

I recently bought some new MH bulbs last week. I bought the newly designed XM 15k DE bulbs, looked great in pics ive seen. Well I get home from austin yesterday with the box waiting for me. Im excited and want to get them in the pendants right away. I fire them up, all is good the 1st 5 minutes or so. Then I start to notice the colors are not the same. The left side is red/yellow tint and the right side a crisp white/light blue which is what I wanted and expected. Of corse im upset and immedialely write the buyer telling them they sent me one wrong bulbs. Still have not heard back. This morning I took the bulbs out to really inspect them well, they look indentical and have the same stamp/markings. Then I noticed one is damaged. A little square peice that is soldered to a wire has come loose and is lodged at the top of the bulb. It still fires but at the wrong spectrum

Pics for reference
1st pic you can clearly see the difference in color from left to right
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/frogguy1/IMG_3442.jpg

now the damage
Good bulb
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/frogguy1/MH077.jpg
Bad bulb
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/frogguy1/MH078.jpg

Sent more messages and hope to have this resolved asap.

3rd and final issue could be bad or good

I bought some rock/coral from a member not to long ago. I was told at the time there was a hitchhiker (a crab) that could not be removed from the rock I wanted which held coral. I was told no fish nor noticeable coral had been lost. So I brought them home. This was over a month ago. This morning I notice something a little different in a small rock. Two red eyes looking back at me! Luckily it was a small rock and I was able to remove it quickly and now have the unknow hitchhiker in a bucket untill I know its safe.

Pics
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/frogguy1/crab002.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/frogguy1/crab003.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b108/frogguy1/crab004.jpg

What kind of crab is this? Both claws are the same size, and more blunt and round versus sharp. This tells me it most likely isnt a fish eater. Any ideas?

Thanks for reading this crazy long post.:bigsmile:

RayAllen
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 01:11 PM
During all this fun my wife lovingly pats me on the back, lol..

I should say, in this hobby we take risk. Some required at moments, but most not. I bought the fish knowing there could possibly be a problem as well as the rock with the crab. So we do tend to bring problems down on our selves at times. The fish issues we have all dealt with many species. Tangs, angels, wrasses, triggers- many of us keep together trying to find that happy mix, although knowing we should do so with caution.

I am one of those try and see what happens people versus not trying at all.

Europhyllia
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 01:11 PM
Interesting! Cute little roley poley crab.

Looking at Chucks addiction it seems to be a close match to the first ones pictured actually:
http://www.chucksaddiction.com/hitchcrabs.html

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/reefs/guamimg/crustacea/xanthidae/Pages/Image1.htmlhttp://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/reefs/guamimg/crustacea/xanthidae/Images/1.jpg

Actaeodes tomentosus

I hate when I spend money and it doesn't turn out right. Really messes up the enjoyment. Cyano would love that red spectrum!

RayAllen
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 01:20 PM
Just got a message from the bulb guy, new bulb will be shipped immediately at no cost to me. Woo hoo!

RayAllen
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 01:23 PM
Thanks Karin, the link was very helpful.

The little crab now will live in my fuge where he cant cause any damage.

txav8r
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 01:39 PM
Man! You had those lights setting at home waiting on you and you still came and rescued me?!

That's a true friend! Thanks again Ray!

RayAllen
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 01:59 PM
Jack, Do onto others as you would have them do onto you, One life do not live it selfishly, Call it Karma or what ever you want, but I help when I can.

Not a big deal man, I felt bad it took me 30minutes to get to you. Anytime..

jroescher
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 03:03 PM
Wrasse wrath. The wrath of Wrasse!

ErikH
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 03:33 PM
LOL I wish I could post the pics from Saturday here, haha.... :) Good times!

RayAllen
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 04:07 PM
LOL I wish I could post the pics from Saturday here, haha.... :) Good times!

haha, yea dont think they would work here.

alton
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 05:51 PM
Had a rock crab eat a bunch of my fish a while back. Went to Lowes yesterday bought a stick of 1/2" PVC, get home and notice sch 20 DOOH. Go today to Lowes and get some glass for my 29 and tell the gentleman 5/32" or 1/8". While getting it out of the truck I see the sticker on the glass 3/32". Not my week

CoryDude
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 06:35 PM
Those blue-head wrasses were beautiful. I thought about taking one home myself. Hope they both end up doing well for you.

What bulb brand did you order? I had similar issues with SPS Bluelife bulbs a few years back. I went through 4 different bulbs just to get 2 that were close in color. My wife and neighbors couldn't notice the difference, but it bothered me to no end.

Rock crabs give me the willies. I had one eat a medium sized maxima clam one time. Grossest thing I've ever witnessed.

RayAllen
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 07:08 PM
Those blue-head wrasses were beautiful. I thought about taking one home myself. Hope they both end up doing well for you.

What bulb brand did you order? I had similar issues with SPS Bluelife bulbs a few years back. I went through 4 different bulbs just to get 2 that were close in color. My wife and neighbors couldn't notice the difference, but it bothered me to no end.

Rock crabs give me the willies. I had one eat a medium sized maxima clam one time. Grossest thing I've ever witnessed.

I bought the new XM 15ks. The bulbs itself is damaged which is causing it to fire at the wrong color.
From my above post

(This morning I took the bulbs out to really inspect them well, they look indentical and have the same stamp/markings. Then I noticed one is damaged. A little square peice that is soldered to a wire has come loose and is lodged at the top of the bulb. It still fires but at the wrong spectrum)

ShAgMaN
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 07:50 PM
I had one of those crabs a while back (year or two) that hitchhiked the same way, and everything I read said beware. Also, If I remember correctly, it's endangered... Therefore I wont tell you what happened to the guy. From what I noticed in my tank, in the few months he was in there I lost numerous snails and he grew noticeably fast. Unless its a crab I can ID thats known reef safe when I dip, it takes a trip to the green belt.

ShAgMaN
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 08:02 PM
I think I ID'd to this:
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/crustacea/crab/eriphiidae/ferox.htm

RayAllen
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 09:16 PM
Im looking for a fish trap now, tired of these DIY traps not working well.

Freaking Unknown wrasse is in attack mode. Both of the blue heads are alive and ate tonight, but they go right into hiding. Id rather have them than the aggressor so im going to trap and sale or trade the unknown wrasse. Going to try and Id it.

ShAgMaN
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 09:23 PM
Good luck man.

CoryDude
Mon, 7th Feb 2011, 11:23 PM
I bought the new XM 15ks. The bulbs itself is damaged which is causing it to fire at the wrong color.
From my above post


Sorry, I didn't see that info on the original post. My bad!