IM EXT 50 - Natura Icon is here!

[Arkayology]

Order from IPSF came in. I can't recommend them more. I got their live sand activator (with hermits and snails), amphipods, wondermud, mini brittle stars, x4 trochus, and some cultured live bacteria. All arrived fine via Fedex two-day from Hawaii. Great livestock and a good price for what you get. I highly recommend. I appreciate the biodiversity that I added to my tank.

 

[Arkayology]

I picked up a Yasha goby over the weekend. I need to find it a pistol shrimp friend. Pop Pop!

I'm looking for some wrasses, a midas blenny, and a flame angel to replace the one that passed (no explanation as to why).

 

[Arkayology]

I'm thinking about adding the following:
x1 Lubbuck's Fairy Wrasse
x1 Melanurus Wrasse
x1 McCosker Flash Wrasse
x1 Midas Blennie
x1 Leopard Wrasse (i've kept them before and know their needs)

That would bring me to 9 fish total. Thoughts?

 

[reef-rc]

I picked up a Yasha goby over the weekend. I need to find it a pistol shrimp friend. Pop Pop!

I'm looking for some wrasses, a midas blenny, and a flame angel to replace the one that passed (no explanation as to why).

Nice. I have a red-banded pistol shrimp in the new 60g tank that originally had a pair of yellow watchman gobies, but they didn’t make it back in March. The pistol shrimp is still around, though I haven’t seen it since shortly after its introduction. I hear it regularly and suspect it or the black sailfin blenny is occasionally moving the substrate around. I also have no idea what it’s been eating for the past six months.

 

[tautog83]

Melanarus can get pretty big for a 50 gallon ..what kinda leopard? Those 2 can get pretty decent size but others seem ok. 9 fish is a lot for that imo. I have same tank just the aio and currently have 5 with 2 more eventually but my flame angel will be biggest . I think the 2 bigger wrasses might be pushing it

 

[Arkayology]

Melanarus can get pretty big for a 50 gallon ..what kinda leopard? Those 2 can get pretty decent size but others seem ok. 9 fish is a lot for that imo. I have same tank just the aio and currently have 5 with 2 more eventually but my flame angel will be biggest . I think the 2 bigger wrasses might be pushing it

Are you thinking swimming space or bioload? Melanarus can get big but I've seen them in similar tanks and they seem OK. I am thinking an ornate leopard wrasse. I've kept them in a 2'x2'x16'' 40g in the past and it was plenty of space for swimming. I've always ended up having tanks that are too clean (low phosphate and nitrate) so more fish will help. Thanks for the comment.

Nice. I have a red-banded pistol shrimp in the new 60g tank that originally had a pair of yellow watchman gobies, but they didn’t make it back in March. The pistol shrimp is still around, though I haven’t seen it since shortly after its introduction. I hear it regularly and suspect it or the black sailfin blenny is occasionally moving the substrate around. I also have no idea what it’s been eating for the past six months.

Send it my way!

 

[Arkayology]

I added an Exquisite Wrasse, Midas Blenny, and McCosker Flasher Wrasse on Saturday. All are settling into the tank right now. I will add pics soon (I know, I know). Both wrasses and the blenny are eating mysis, spirulina-loaded brine, and LRS nano eagerly. There was a little aggression from the exquisite towards the McCosker on Sunday, but that has subsided as they figured out the pecking order. This brings my to a total of 7 fish, though the yasha goby and blue cleaner goby are very small and likely don't contribute much to the bioload of the tank. Total list as of right now:

x2 Wyoming white clowns
x1 blue cleaner goby
x1 yasha goby
x1 midas blenny
x1 McCosker flasher wrasse
x1 Exquisite fairy wrasse (I think it is a Fiji variant)

I am on the lookout for a few choice zoas right now and considering adding clams and some SPS in a couple months once the tank is more settled. This tank will mostly be SPS with zoas at the bottom of the rockwork.

I am not certain how I will add major and trace elements yet. I always used two-part (either BRS or B-Ionic) in the past but I may try kalk + Moonshiners or AFR this time around and see how it goes.

The bacteria addition from the IPSF has noticeably helped out in cleaning up the tank. The diatom bloom was reduced significantly two days after the addition of the substrate and mud from IPSF. I hope that means that the reef has a good diverse microbiome, though I don't plan to test it.

Things I still need to get:
-Hydros controller (thinking Launch and maybe an XP8 later on if needed) and accessories (skimmer and rope leak sensors
-Lid from Kraken Reef (or similar?)
-another Icecap Gyre - maybe a 4k for the other side of the tank. The 2k isn't enough flow on it's own.
-something for adding elements (see above)

 

[Arkayology]

 

[Arkayology]

FTS: 10/2/24

 

[reef-rc]

nice. mellow and non aggressive fish. definitely get that tank lid sooner rather than later. tank lid is not 100% guarantee but definitely necessary. my last wrasse went hard floor surfing as it somehow got around my lid and found it's way to the floor months back

 

[Arkayology]

nice. mellow and non aggressive fish. definitely get that tank lid sooner rather than later. tank lid is not 100% guarantee but definitely necessary. my last wrasse went hard floor surfing as it somehow got around my lid and found it's way to the floor months back

There is a lid that works for now but it is not as ascetically pleasing as it could be. I had one fish jump years ago and that was enough to teach me that any fish can jump at some point. I want the Kraken lid because it not only looks better but will be more secure that the current lid.

 

[Schulks]

I have a yasha goby in my 22g AIO tank. He is paired up with a candy cane pistol shrimp (Alpheus randalli) and I think it is perfect. The smaller pistol shrimp doesn't move nearly as much sand as my tiger pistol in another display. The only problem is getting a decent sized candy cane shrimp can be difficult.
I have had 3 yashas gobies. 2 I lost before realizing I need 1/8" netting and a really well fitting lid.

Pistol shrimp are so amazing. I lost the second yasha and left the pistol in the tank alone. At some point I realized he was MIA for nearly a year. One day I found him living in the back AIO compartment and he had doubled in size. They are so impressive.

The shrimp and his goby. lol

 

[Arkayology]

I have a yasha goby in my 22g AIO tank. He is paired up with a candy cane pistol shrimp (Alpheus randalli) and I think it is perfect. The smaller pistol shrimp doesn't move nearly as much sand as my tiger pistol in another display. The only problem is getting a decent sized candy cane shrimp can be difficult.
I have had 3 yashas gobies. 2 I lost before realizing I need 1/8" netting and a really well fitting lid.

Pistol shrimp are so amazing. I lost the second yasha and left the pistol in the tank alone. At some point I realized he was MIA for nearly a year. One day I found him living in the back AIO compartment and he had doubled in size. They are so impressive.

The shrimp and his goby. lol

Yeah, pistol shrimp are funny. You can't get one and expect to see it all the time. The Randall's in my previous tank I would see maybe once a week or two. I could here it though so I knew it was there!

 

[Arkayology]

 

[Arkayology]

My Fiji Exquisite wrasse became very reclusive two days ago. I noticed it was not swimming right and tended to do a lot of loops and preferred to lay on the sand in caves. No outward signs of injury or white spots/velvet that I can see. It still has a feeding response but isn't really eating the way it used it. It's a very fat fish but is now laying on the bottom of my sump for observation. I don't think it make it another day or two. I've noticed a few other fish, mainly the midas blenny and the McCosker Flasher wrasse are flashing/itching on the sand and rocks, but I don't see any white dots or anything that would lead me to believe it is ich/velvet. All are eating like pigs. I will be monitoring to see what is going on. I have a hospital tank that I can get out if I have to deal with disease, but so far I am trying not to over react.

 

[Arkayology]

Now both my Exquisite and McCosker's are swimming oddly and hiding a lot. Still have an appetite but can't seem to find the food in front of them. No obvious signs of ich or velvet. I might have to tear out the rockwork to grab get them into the hospital tank with copper. Not sure what else to do.

 

[Schulks]

I am very sad and sorry to hear this. Have you started a thread to see what the forum medics can come up with? I hope your fish are doing better.

 

[Tamberav]

You won't see spots with velvet very often but you will see fish breathing heavy.

Flashing/itching, erratic swimming can also be flukes and most are not visible to our eyes. Copper won't treat flukes.

 

[Arkayology]

I am very sad and sorry to hear this. Have you started a thread to see what the forum medics can come up with? I hope your fish are doing better.

Thanks. It's a bummer because I love wrasses. No, I haven't started a thread. Since I don't see anything outwardly wrong, I'm thinking it is some kind of internal pest or a neurological issue.

You won't see spots with velvet very often but you will see fish breathing heavy.

Flashing/itching, erratic swimming can also be flukes and most are not visible to our eyes. Copper won't treat flukes.

I thought flukes too, but I don't see any red spots/sores nor heavy breathing. The wrasse struggles to swim correctly. From rest it will swim upside down for a minute, right itself, but almost run into things. It can't seem to get food even though it looks like it wants it. Maybe I will try a FW dip to see if anything comes off.

 

[Tamberav]

Neurological issue could make sense perhaps but if the midas blenny keeps flashing.. could have more than one issue.

Most flukes do not show in a freshwater dip. I believe it is just 1 kind if my memory is intact.