★ 110 Gallon (In-Wall Office Dream SPS Reef Tank) ★ PROJECT GENESIS [Total Automation, DIY & More ]★

[WallyB]

MYSTERY SOLVED (Sunburst Fathead Anthias) Can eat BIG!!

As I posted before, I'm puzzled how my Sunburst Athias is so Fat and Healthy, yet he doesn't eat much during Feeding time.

I started using Glass Cleaning Magnet and as I moved it, a HUGE LIVE BRINE Shrimp started scurrying away.

Instantly the Copperband chomped at it, but Shrimp was TOO BIG, and he lost it after a 1/2 Bite.

The Sunburst was nearby and saw the Shrimp swimming away. He got it.

Took a few Chomps, but enough time for me to grab My Camera and get a Video of him on his Last couple of Bites, before Swallowing the Shrimp.



Maybe The Sunbursts does fill up when I'm not watching, but I will breed some Live Shrimp (Phytoplankon Feed) just for him and Copperband.

 

[Janci]

Another reef mystery unravelled.

 

[Rakie]

Mine likes little food, he'll eat something big if he's up late and alone otherwise the other fish will take it from him if he's struggling to eat it in one bite

 

[WallyB]

MAGMA WRASSE (UPDATE) Is OUT From Hiding & EATING

Finally the MAGMA Wrasse it getting comfortable in DT. Coming out to eat. Exploring a bit. Not afraid of Other Fish as much.

He does have an interesting personality, and he actually is quite aware of me. Friendly. Not Spooked.

He is eating COBALT Flake, Frozen BrineShrimp, and even woofed down a NYOS Soft Pellet..
..so hopefully some day will grow up to be an Adult MAGMA like this.

 

[WallyB]

Mine likes little food, he'll eat something big if he's up late and alone otherwise the other fish will take it from him if he's struggling to eat it in one bite

Since The Sunburst Anthias enjoyed the Live Brine Shrimp.....

I started a Brine Shrimp Hatchery. They will be feed to be nutritious.

I find it boring, so I got my Daughter to do it.
She can't wait to see if they hatch tonight.

 

[Rakie]

I have the opposite news!

My freezer was left open, all my fish food thawed out and went rotten.. there goes like $100 in fish foods (

Feed your brine selcon too! They like it

 

[WallyB]

I have the opposite news!
My freezer was left open, all my fish food thawed out and went rotten.. there goes like $100 in fish foods (
Feed your brine selcon too! They like it

Ooops. Sorry to hear. I know how you feel. Few weeks ago, I took out whole slab of Frozen, left it in Work Area. Smelled it few days later ($40 new pack).

Selcon is really hard to find here in Canada. (I tried)

 

[Rakie]

Selco Boost, or Vita Chem is similar. It's just fats and vitamins, great to add to foods.

 

[WallyB]

Tank Going thru Small Cycle (Brown Algae/Cyano) AND Algae Scrubber WOKE UP.

No concern on a Natural Young Tank Cycle.

I see a bit of Brown Yuck Algae on Bottom Layer Rocks (Carib Sea Rock. Not Live Rock)

A Patch of Cyano in one area (Live Rock)

Also I Peeked into Algae Scrubber and it was Fill up with a Harvest. (Bit different than before. The Algae Formed in a Clump a bottom, not on Screens)

Marking this date. To see how long it takes for next ATS Harvest, and How much.

I figure this is Related to my Nitrates going up from Usual N=10-15 to 20-25.

I added some MATRIX and improved the MATRIX Flow Thru.
Used to use baggies that got Clogged up.
Change that to and Egg Crate Tray with Nylon Mesh.

 

[WallyB]

CO2 Measurement (AutoPilot Meter) COMPARSIONS

I already know that CO2 can drop your PH. And Less CO2 or More Oxygen will bring up PH.

That is why I have OUTDOOR AIRLINES to my SKIMMERS (Which Slightly Raises my PH)

So I borrowed a CO2 (AIR QUALITY) meter from a Friend to do Some Tests.

Here are My results.

The Outdoor Test was from my BackYard.....(I do plan on going to a Nearby Forest to see if Air is Even Better)

The Human Breath Test is just me Blowing my Breath on the Meter. If I blew too much it would Read HI (Over the 5000 ppm Meter Limite)

But my OFFICE TEST is the Most Interesting. The LEFT TEST is my First Measurement. Then I opened the Basement Window for 15 minutes, and CO2 dropped to Half.

And more interesting Below....Is while I had Basement Window open to do the CO2 Test.
The Apex PH Probe actually showed a tiny bit of PH increase while the window was open (feeding Oxygen into my Sump Room).
There is a Fan that ventilates Air into Sump Room.

TANK PH (Result of OPEN WINDOW)

 

[Janci]

Interesting CO2 measurements.
I can't wait for the temperature to drop here and be able to open the windows.

 

[WallyB]

BLUE CHROMIS Fish (Replacements) Kitchen LPS TANK

The Kitchen tank was just Terribly Bare after the 2nd Last Chromis got Killed.

Not much nutrients/bioload in a 2 Fish Tank.

So I got These to get the Tank Looking Active/Colorful again.

A Skunk Dottyback and a Couple of True Percula Clowns.

It's been a Long time since I had Clowns. Last time was just before the WHOLE TANK got WIPED OUT by Velvet.

I did a good proper Acclimation and they are now in. (Dottyback is hiding for now).

This is a Risky Tank to start with, so no QT.

 

[WallyB]

Got a FTS with Skunk Dottyback Out (Bottom Left)

The KITCHEN tank is recovering. I am greatly relieved.

Last Week a Majority of the LPS all Shrunk/Collapsed. (ALMOST TO NOTHING but SKELTONS)

Not 100% Sure why. Lighting Program Change may have done it.

I went back to Original Program.

Did a 30% Water Change, it the LPS are slowly opening up (60% better) (as of YESTERDAY)

 

[Rakie]

Get a pair of hawkfish for that tank. They poop like champions, corals love 'em. Just get ones that won't get big enough to eat your shrimp !

 

[WallyB]

Get a pair of hawkfish for that tank. They poop like champions, corals love 'em. Just get ones that won't get big enough to eat your shrimp !

For Sure!!!
I miss my Hawkfish.
Haven't seen any lately, but if one shows up, I will certainly grab one or two (small).

I've been watching the Clowns. Wife and Kids will like them. (Nemo Movie)
They swim different from other Fish.
Lots of paddling, but they go nowhere.

Hawkfish looked great, but basically swam from Spot to Spot and Landed to rest.

I kind of like fish to move around and explore all over. Like a Tang.
Wish I could have another Powder Blue, or Powder Brown.
But they are sensitive to ICH, and I hate watching them die from it.

 

[Rakie]

I know you aren't interesting in starting a second build thread for a tank that's been built for a decade already, but I'm glad you featured it here.

And don't forget to get some weekly progress shots of your corals. Growth only tends to look significant when you look back in time

 

[WallyB]

I know you aren't interesting in starting a second build thread for a tank that's been built for a decade already, but I'm glad you featured it here.

And don't forget to get some weekly progress shots of your corals. Growth only tends to look significant when you look back in time

YUP...No point in doing a Build Thread on the Kitchen Tank. The build was finished ages ago. It's about 20 years old, and has been pruned a few times.

Last time I took a FT Photo of it was probably 6-8+ months ago. Today the New Clowns motivated me.

The only unfinished project on that Tank would be a Zoa Garden on a patch of empty rock. But I've had no luck with Zoas. Could be chemical warfare with all that LPS.

But boy o boy do I look forward to having to prune a SPS tank someday.
And the way I have my SPS Packed to the gills, there will be pruning/spacing needed even if only 50% of the Frag make it to colonies.

And....I have no clue which SPS will Plate, Encrust, or grow like trees (Tall, Skinny, Wide, Thick)....No idea.

 

[Rakie]

And....I have no clue which SPS will Plate, Encrust, or grow like trees (Tall, Skinny, Wide, Thick)....No idea.

Some would say that's a symptom of the hobby today. When I started everyone knew what a colony of this or that SPS would look like. Today since there's nothing but little frags it's kind of a surprise we gotta wait a few years for.

 

[WallyB]

And don't forget to get some weekly progress shots of your corals. Growth only tends to look significant when you look back in time

Doing exactly what you suggested, and it is useful (to watch better)

For me (and past) this is pretty good Growth for a Month. Plus a touch of Color UP too.

This Frag Needs some help, since Encrusting is beyond The Plug & PUTTY. (Nowhere to go....Flat wise)

Either I filled in some more putty, and also decision time if it will be move (but best to leave alone, since doing well)

 

[Rakie]

Leave him buddy. His growth will pickup and be faster on Live Rock, that always seems to be the case. Either move him where you want him, or let him be as is. So long as he's got some good PAR, he'll be okay.