Isaac's CADE 1500s2/ Peninsula Reef Build

[Isaac Alves]

I love @AlgaeBarn But I’ve had the worst luck with my purchases for this build.

I ordered two pin cushion urchins to help with algae but UPS delivered them like this…

What the heck. Looks like a dog took a bite out of it. Not to mention the insulation is wet and there are two cooling packs but it’s been in the 60s here in SoCal the whole week — so not sure what thats about.

I acclimated the urchins and hopefully they will survive. I opened a ticket with @AlgaeBarn already.

My luck …is non existent.

 

[Isaac Alves]

After some debate internally with myself, I did ship my skimmer lid out to @FishOfHex —well, I just saw it listed on his site for sale if anyone is looking for an Ultra Reef Typhoon UKD-200 CO2 recirculating attachment:

That’s my lid . I wish I cleaned it better.

 

[Isaac Alves]

So far, the best consistent experience with online marine fish vendors is fishotel.com.

Picked up a juvenile dusky wrasse and came in this morning. Currently temp acclimating:

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[Isaac Alves]

Dusky Wrasse is pretty bold. He was getting checked a lot by the checkerboard so I put a mirror up to distract everyone. Bad video below but didn't want to get too close to let them have some time to get comfortable. But a beautful specimen of this species.

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[Daniel@R2R]

Beautiful fish!!

 

[Isaac Alves]

This is the final group of fish. A Blond Naso, a Hippo Tang, and a Timor Wrasse. These are all from Marine Collector's this time.

Here's a video of the received box:

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There are definitely issues with the packaging methodology. Again, like Ocean Devotion LA the animals are packed loosely and with not as much water as I would have liked. I think there's a weight issue these two vendors are trying to address. But, I'll say, that for the price of the fish, I think the patrons of their stores would be willing to pay more for extra water.

The other issue was that the bags are not sealed tightly enough -- so for instance, the hippo tang's bag was leaking.

I have to give it to Fish Hotel again. I've ordered larger fish and groups from Fish Hotel and they are just packed tightly in a nest with sealed bags. And the bags are full. Plus, the bags feel much thicker.

I did appreciate the expediency of shipping. And the communication with the Marine Collector's owner is very good. I also appreciated the write up on caring for a newly shipped Blond Naso -- I did not know about the issues with shipping this species so I appreciated the heads up and step-by-step guide.

I'll have pics of the animals later today. I want to give them time to settle in and acclimate to the new water and overall environment. I do have the Blond Naso and the Hippo in isolation boxes for now. The stepbystep guide for Naso's was to start them in an isolation box to ensure they eat. I figured I'd do this anyways to make sure my Chocolate gets use to them. I also have a mirror on the glass now to distract the checkeboard wrasse and the chocolate who both seem a bit more aggressive.

 

[Isaac Alves]

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[Isaac Alves]

Blond Naso and Hippo Tang in acclimation boxes from Marine Collector's. They seem active and healthy:

Hippo:


Blong Naso:

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Blond Naso and Hippo Tang in acclimation boxes from Marine Collector's. They seem active and healthy:

Hippo:


Blong Naso:

Nice additions!!

 

[Isaac Alves]

Acquiring new fish is the most stressful thing in this hobby for me. I think I've said that before. I probably also have more affinity for the fish than coral as well.

So the Naso's condition seems to be going downhill. He's been in this acclimation box the entire time. I have a pvc pipe and some vinyl blinds to give him some security. But he's not eating, he's laying on his side more and more...

He's slowly making his way back into the privacy pipe...

This behavior was seen very soon after shipment. But if you look at my earlier post with the video he seemed like he was swimming around. He'd go from laying on his side to swimming. And, after reading the document from Marine Collectors, " Blonde Naso Care Recommendations", I posted an image of it in an earlier post above, it seems that I should expect some odd behavior.

But, after showing Elliot the images from this morning, he is saying that this specific behavior is not what he was writing about, and is probably a spinal injury during shipping.

Marine Collector's is offering credit which is great .

But I’m

 

[Isaac Alves]

The Blonde Naso passed away. I’m still unsure why. The other two fish from Marine Collectors are bold and hungry— Which is what I like to see.

I’m wondering about cyanide— reading about Nasos shipped from Indonesia have likely been exposed to cyanide capturing techniques. I’m curious and reading more on this. I don’t know where Marine Collector’s sources.

I know fishotel sources their fish via Africa to try and avoid this tactic. But even they can’t be sure.

 

[Isaac Alves]

Full tank shot as of now:

I added in the cave structure I built and rearranged the rock around the overflow a bit when I introduced the hippo tang.

 

[Isaac Alves]

challenge now is to figure out why I’m getting such a huge algae outbreak. I think it might have to do with the Prazi tank treatment I did a month or more ago.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Full tank shot as of now:

I added in the cave structure I built and rearranged the rock around the overflow a bit when I introduced the hippo tang.

Looking great!!

 

[Reef-N-Stein]

How’s the new double algae clip doing? You like it? Clips holding up?

 

[Isaac Alves]

How’s the new double algae clip doing? You like it? Clips holding up?

I love it. Clips have been holding up — they seem to be able to grip the nori tightly enough that my rabbit fish doesn’t yank them out.

 

[Isaac Alves]

I got my @FishOfHex recirculating CO2 parts in. I think Travis cleaned my skimmer lid

So that’s this weeks reef project.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Full tank shot as of now:

I added in the cave structure I built and rearranged the rock around the overflow a bit when I introduced the hippo tang.

Tank is looking great!!!

 

[Isaac Alves]

Almost ran down the ReefMat to the cardboard roll

 

[Isaac Alves]

Time to install the recirculating CO2 scrubber attachment/upgrade from @FishOfHex

I think I’ve set it up properly:

Swapped the old Two Little Fishies Phosban 150 reactor for one of my older BRS reactors that strapped on fine with strong Velcro. This holds as much but is easier to change out media.

Added the collection cup as well:

I used 3M tape to attach the collection cup. Seems sturdy.
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Also added a T and valve to pull in outside air if the pH gets too high. But we’ll see. High ph is not something I usually have problems with.

Also added a quick connect on the CO2 lid attachment:

I’ll monitor pH and see if this helps keeping ph up or even just prolonging my CO2 media life.