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

WallyB · Oct 1, 2018

Just a. follow up on the CLOWN infection. The 2nd Clown is doing good in Hospital Tank on Meds. I did see a white spot yesterday but now it's gone.

I went to store where I got the Clowns. To see for a possible 2nd clown replacement (for a pair)

When I originally purchased my Pair last week they had a tank with a few Dozen Clowns (all super healthy looking, NEW SHIPMENT)
The tank was NOW empty and the clowns moved to another tank. Only a few left. (No way they sold that many so fast)
Couple dying, and one looking bad with similar White mouth mark. Another one is different rough shape.
Only One I would say is good.

Talked to store and they were hesistant to admit (straight up), but I did get a feeling it was a bad batch with Bacterial infections since another store employee mentioned last batch of Wild True Percula clowns were wiped out very quickly.

I now highly doubt it was the Clown getting Zapped with Euphelia.
AND in Hind Sight while I was transfering him, he was doing something funny with his mount. LIKE SOMETHING stuck inside. Photo I posted shows that.

SO now it's clear why QT is so important. My SPS tank was a lot of work to get all those Great fish in via QT.

Rakie · Oct 1, 2018

Yep. That's why if you really want something, and the LFS is good, have them hold it for a week for you. If you're in regularly and are a good customer, there's no excuse other than they know the fish will die and don't want to lose the sale.

Most LFS have a mild amount of copper in their system (well maybe not most.. but the quick cash flipping ones do). They also usually do a 1 hour dip in Methylene blue / Malachite green in my area before putting them in their tanks that have copper.

My pro tip is never buy day 1 fish. At least 1/4 of them are functionally dead, just not physically there yet

WallyB · Oct 1, 2018

Lesson learned. But I'd never take such a chance in my SPS tank. Without doing QT.
The Kitchen tank is wild country, and honestly if all the Blue Green Chromis died, I wouldn't complain.

This store isn't bad, since that's where I got the Anthias, Blue Angel, my Tang and Magma Wrasse, Copperband.
The generally hold fish for watching a week. Lower Salinity, but no meds.

Yet, you do raise a good point. Another store where I go the Sunburst from, keep their fish in Yellow Water (Copper Tanks)
They don't sell till at least 2-3 weeks of observation, and only sell fish that are eating.

In the end you always take a chance no matter what.
This would have never happened if I did QT.

WallyB · Oct 1, 2018

HAPPY / Not-Happy (with new Corals)

So since the new Corals were Cheap (trade), my choices were limited.

The Teal Bird Nest (replacing the Stag) fits in nicely in at the end of the Right side structure.
(Super delicate. I broke it, THEN glued the broken stem on the plug SIDEWAYS)

The Orange Jack-o-Lantern (below) is nice and bright and will look great when it encrusts the rock.

But as nice as the Bonape Bird Nest looks nice by itself. It just doesn't fit into the Tank look.

Kind of an eye sore being so BIG and BRIGHT.
It's fine under Actinic when everything glows, but under T5's Stands out TOO much.

Maybe when the other Frags get bigger it will blend in.

WallyB · Oct 4, 2018

MAGMA WRASSE (has POPEYE)

I was passing by tank and notice the Magma Wrasse has a SINGLE Protruding EYE (Clear kind of pouch around EYE)

Been reading about this, and if this isn't bacterial (which would affect both eyes) then it got injured and it may go away on it's own.

I have no chance to remove him, and I have been very diligent not to infect this tank.

GOOD he is EATING well, and I'm soaking food in Zoe Vitamins.

Fudsey · Oct 4, 2018

I had a PJ Cardinal that had a bubble on his eye and lived about 3 years with it.

WallyB · Oct 4, 2018

Fudsey said:
I had a PJ Cardinal that had a bubble on his eye and lived about 3 years with it.

Thanks.
That helps me worry less, however I hope it goes away, or when he grow bigger that is doesn't stand out as much.
Most important is he doesn't get an infection (which appears that way since it's not cloudy, just clear)

Fudsey · Oct 5, 2018

I was told you could add epsom salts to the tank to help with the swelling

WallyB · Oct 5, 2018

Something NEW and EXCITING ( is in QT ) For SPS TANK

Let me give some clues before he comes out for a Hello Photo.

1) Rakie Recommended I get one
2) Really Personable and Cute
3) Can grow up to 4"
4) Carnivore
5) There should be no conflicts with the Fish I already have.

6) Here is a photo of him in Transfer Bowl

(What shocked me like never before, is a Pellet dropped into bowl by mistake and he ate it...Most fish are terrified during Aclimation)

6) I've never had one before (not this kind), nor do I remember seeing one in a LFS.

Fudsey · Oct 5, 2018

WallyB · Oct 5, 2018

Fudsey said:
LNH?

What the heck is a LNH?

Btw. Thanks for the Epson Salt advice to help Magma with his POPeye. I will consider it.
I used to use EPSON SALT for Magnesium.

WallyB · Oct 5, 2018

Ahh. LNH="Long Nose Hawkfish".

Nope, that would not match the clues, since I recently just had a LNH in my Kitchen Tank. Was there for a couple of years.
And then one day couple of months ago he disappeared. I never found him. But the Overflow Guard Was off, so I think he went down the overflow.
I did like him a lot.

But your guess is pretty good.

WallyB · Oct 5, 2018

Cheap $14 LED (Utility Shop Light) Warm White (Photo Compare)

Since I don't own a Fancy LED Fixture, my options for Photography have been limited. Struggle with too much BLUE light.

Was at the Hardware store and for $14 I got a LED light Tube Utility Light for my DESK.

Decided to try it over the Tank to see if it would take better photos.

BLUE PLUS only (T5)

CORAL PLUS ONLY (T5's)

CHEAP WORKLIGHT (Warm White)

Utility-light has more color but it looks a bit fake, grainy, candy-ish, too much contrast)
Will practice some more, and maybe the Utility-light need to be raised like the T5 fixture since with my eyes, it was just too intense on the tank.

Maybe I should borrow my Daughters I-phone. I hear they take really good photos.

But the Utility Light is great over my desk. I can read my papers, bills, etc.

WallyB · Oct 6, 2018

Hmmm.

The New Fish in QT might be Better for the Kitchen Tank (been reading more). Wife and Kids will love him, and much more attention.

He sound perfect for that Tank and a Ideal replacement for LNH.

Almost impossible to get a good picture of him, but this is the best I got.

Here he is

A Red Flame Hawkfish.

I'd love to have him in my Office, but that Magma is a bit too small.
Also I understand he may be a risk to the Mandarin Goby.

In the Kitchen Tank, he would be fine. Nothing but Bullies. And the LNH with a Larger Mouth did fine in there.

WallyB · Oct 6, 2018

ACTUALLY......The FLAME HAWK will be PERFECT for my FRAG TANK (exactly where he is now)

I've wanted to add one fish to the Frag Tank for a Bio-Load/Nutrients.

-> Frag Tank has a Net Top (since used for QT)...And this Guy is a Jumper
-> He like Bright lights (I was thinking of using 1 MH bulb over it...Instead of purchasing a Proper Good Light)
-> Eats easy (And I have a Whole Jar of NEW LIFE Ultra Red Pellets I got Ages ago)
-> Will make Frag Tank more Interesting (not just Dumb Frags)
-> Hardy Fish (I will be using SPS DT water to run the Frag Tank)
-> The Frag Tank has good Aeration (which this Hawk Needs)

Down the road, when the Magma Wrasse get's bigger, I can consider moving the HAWKFISH over (SPS Tank or LPS Tank)

WallyB · Oct 6, 2018

GOOD NEWS about the Magma Wrasse's POPeye.

Before I used to notice it a Mile Away.

Today I had to look close to notice the Budge. The Swelling is going down.
That GLASS like GLOBE he had over his eye is actually gone.

WallyB · Oct 8, 2018

ALGAE SCRUBBER (Improvement) Flow/Lighting/Cheato [ For Slow Nitrate and Phosphate Reduction ]

So I've been wanting to Convert my Algae Scrubber into a Cheato Farm. (Finally Found a source for Nice Clean Cheato)

I removed my OLD SCREENS for the Upflow Scrubber and put in a fresh one that I got Seeded and Growing (with a Macro, but fine like Hair Alage)

In the MIDDLE there still is the One Grow Screen (Separator).

But on the right Side it's clean and now has Cheato.

The Santa Monica GEM LED light BAR USED TO BE under water, but I now Put it OVER TOP for better Even Cheato Coverage.

Will be interesting to See which MACRO GROW BETTER?

WallyB · Oct 8, 2018

Update on Water Parameters (Some Improvements)

-> ALK has been stable
-> CALC overshot a bit when I was mucking around with MAG while MAG Kit Was OLD/BAD.
-> The Nitrate has dropped mostly due to EXTRA WATER CHANGES.
-> The Phosphate the same reason, put I have used small baggy of PHOSGUARD.
-> Potassium improved because My test kit it new (Accurate Measurement)
-> Temp is slowly rising.....Doing this on purpose (to Raise TANK TEMP to 79.5-80)

WallyB · Oct 8, 2018

Update on Water Parameters (Some Improvements)

-> ALK & MAG is stable
-> CALC overshot a bit when I was mucking around with MAG while MAG Kit Was OLD/BAD.
-> The Nitrate has dropped mostly due to EXTRA WATER CHANGES.
-> The Phosphate the same reason, put I have used small baggy of PHOSGUARD.
-> Potassium improved because My test kit it new (Accurate Measurement)
-> Temp is slowly rising.....Doing this on purpose (to Raise TANK TEMP to 79.5-80)