Author Topic: Ghurlag's Tanks - Part 2 (Read 13383 times)

ghurlag · « **on:** February 05, 2010, 20:36:40 »

I seem to have broken the last page of my original tank profile....

At any rate, I have added some life to the tank, and relocated Chubby (the yellow damsel) to a 10g where he honestly seems to be happier.

Along with the blue-legged hermit crabs and nerite snails (thanks Joel) and eagle eye zoanthids (thanks Reef'd Up), I have added some coral frags: kenya tree (thanks hamiltro), brown button polyps, green star polyps, silver-tipped xenias, and pink montipora (thanks cyberwollf).

Today I visited Justin at Aquarium Specialists and picked up a McCosker's Flasher Wrasse, a Yellow Watchman Goby, and a Candy Stripe Pistol Shrimp.

The corals look good, the wrasse is hiding, the goby is parked in the front of the tank, and the shrimp burrowed under the biggest rock in the tank. I'll get some new pics eventually.

Rayman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2010, 20:43:51 »

looking forward to seeing the pics.

Kenn · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2010, 20:44:11 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 05, 2010, 20:36:40

Today I visited Justin at Aquarium Specialists and picked up a McCosker's Flasher Wrasse, a Yellow Watchman Goby, and a Candy Stripe Pistol Shrimp.

I was there yesterday and saw the items you picked up. AWESOME Wrasse ! Brilliant color.

As for the Watchman and shrimp...

I guess I will give up the title of being the only person I know that has this pairing on the board

(I think...I know however I will be corrected if I am wrong). Our tank wouldn't be the same without the pair. Hours of entertainment

ghurlag · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2010, 20:50:44 »

Yeah, the pair was something I kind of fell in love with a while back, and just decided to go for it. I got some clicks out of the shrimp - WOW!

Hopefully the goby and shrimp find each other again soon... I think the goby found his spot but I spooked the shrimp.

Kenn · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2010, 21:38:12 »

You did remember to make sure your base rock was touching the glass of the tank didnt ya? If not you would understand soon

ghurlag · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2010, 21:40:41 »

Yeah, I shouldn't have too many problems with them digging underneath. Even if they do, nothing is unstable enough to really shift around

hamiltro · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2010, 23:10:25 »

What happened about the banggai cardinalfish

ghurlag · « **Reply #7 on:** February 06, 2010, 00:14:55 »

When I got there, AS only had 2, and Justin recommended I have at least 3, so I went with plan B

HUNGER · « **Reply #8 on:** February 06, 2010, 23:54:12 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 05, 2010, 21:40:41

Yeah, I shouldn't have too many problems with them digging underneath. Even if they do, nothing is unstable enough to really shift around

thats good

Reefd Up · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2010, 13:26:36 »

Aww, sounds like it's really coming along! How are all the corals doing? Hope you have a lid on the tank for that wrasse...I lost a few that way (through eggcrate...so I'd get something better than that for a lid.) Love the goby-pistol shrimp combo! I've got a mated pair of the hi-fin gobies and pistol shrimp group at my work tank...they're so amazing to watch! Make sure to give the pistol shrimp plenty of tiny pieces of rubble so he can build his new apartment.

ghurlag · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2010, 13:35:15 »

All the corals seem to be doing well (no one has died yet anyway

) The pulsing xenias aren't pulsing, but from what I've been reading, I think my tank water is TOO clean. That's a problem I can deal with.

I was just telling my wife today that I need to get a glass cover for the tank, so that I don't lose anyone...

The watchman goby/pistol shrimp combo have opted to hide out for what I hope is only the next few days, under the biggest rock in the tank. Do they tend to move around? And what sort of rubble should I provide?

Reefd Up · « **Reply #11 on:** February 07, 2010, 13:50:56 »

Oh, they'll move alright! They'll tunnel pretty much everywhere...changing their living room location quite frequently. I give them broken coral bits, broken frag plugs, tiny tiny pieces of crushed rubble, etc. If you give them a few pretty pieces, sometimes they'll decorate the outside with it too...pretty hilarious. Mine take small coral frags I give them and stick them around the base of the rock like flowers. My coworkers really get a kick out of it.

My rule is I try to avoid giving the pistol shrimp pieces bigger than it. Don't know if it matters though.

ghurlag · « **Reply #12 on:** February 07, 2010, 13:53:54 »

That's good to know. I have a few pieces of not-so-live rock that I could pulverize (as well as some homemade base rock, but it ain't all that pretty)

Kenn · « **Reply #13 on:** February 07, 2010, 13:58:02 »

OK so now I HAVE

to get the camera out and see if I can get a new pic of my Duo ( this means you have to post yours

) when they come out

ghurlag · « **Reply #14 on:** February 07, 2010, 14:01:30 »

Oh, I see... Kick a man when he's down

I got some major clicking action out of the shrimp at one point because I couldn't leave well enough alone

My McCosker's Flasher Wrasse is out and about, treading in a limited part of the water column, not far from where he found a nice place to hide out.

HUNGER · « **Reply #15 on:** February 07, 2010, 15:50:00 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 07, 2010, 14:01:30

My McCosker's Flasher Wrasse is out and about, treading in a limited part of the water column, not far from where he found a nice place to hide out.

thats good they are sharp fish

ghurlag · « **Reply #16 on:** February 07, 2010, 16:20:52 »

He's eating really well, too!

HUNGER · « **Reply #17 on:** February 07, 2010, 17:14:04 »

thats great glad to hear hes doing good

ghurlag · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2010, 17:31:17 »

I am seeing some tunneling from underneath the tank, so the goby and shrimp must be hard at work. I need to get them some more rubble so they can go crazy, though

The wrasse is looking better today, and spending a lot of time out and swimming.

While I am thinking about my tank... My GSP is losing its green. Any ideas on what would cause this? Too much light? Flow? I'll look it up on them internets to see what others have to say, too, but I'm interested in some local insight.

cyberwollf · « **Reply #19 on:** February 08, 2010, 17:51:26 »

Got a picture of it? GSP is pretty hardy. That kind has long polyps so I wouldn't go crazy flow

ghurlag · « **Reply #20 on:** February 08, 2010, 18:03:47 »

I've never had success loading off-site pics, but I'll see what I can work up here in a few

~reefchik~ · « **Reply #21 on:** February 08, 2010, 18:21:59 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 08, 2010, 17:31:17

I am seeing some tunneling from underneath the tank, so the goby and shrimp must be hard at work. I need to get them some more rubble so they can go crazy, though The wrasse is looking better today, and spending a lot of time out and swimming.

While I am thinking about my tank... My GSP is losing its green. Any ideas on what would cause this? Too much light? Flow? I'll look it up on them internets to see what others have to say, too, but I'm interested in some local insight.

I've got some GSP that is in a high flow area and is doing well. Then some in the low flow area is also doing well, and spreading fairly quickly. I don't think they are very fussy, really. Are you running actinic lighting?

Reefd Up · « **Reply #22 on:** February 08, 2010, 18:35:27 »

Quote from: ghurlag on February 08, 2010, 17:31:17

My GSP is losing its green. Any ideas on what would cause this? Too much light? Flow?

First off, just wanted to say...my first coral was GSP...and it took it FOREVER to turn green again. One trick I've learned in this hobby is that GSP is the canary in the mineshaft. GSP is hardy...but it's also the first thing to start looking weird when tank parameters get off. So, start looking now! It won't die...but it'll quit coming out or turn brown or get slimey or whatever. As much as I hate it, I keep a tiny piece in my two reef tanks just to warn me.

If the GSP is turning brown, you're likely at an excess-nutrient problem or a low-light problem. Most corals go brown in those two cases. Corals turn white (zooxanthallae leave the coral) with an excess of light (and other reasons.) If they aren't coming out at all...it's probably a flow or a really really bad nutrient problem.

I'm going to guess it's a nutrient problem since your tank is new...and GSP can pretty much grow under moonlight (not really, but you get my drift.) What are your nitrates and phosphates testing at? If they're zero, macroalgae may be consuming it before you can test for it (insert here a whole long discusion on organic/inorganic phosphates). You can try cutting back on feeding if you think you're feeding too much, running GFO (granular ferric oxide), or do more water changes. I'd avoid more water changes since your tank is new and the bacteria is trying to sort itself out.

In short, I'd probably just wait it out. At this stage, you're just trying to keep coral alive. Color will come later.

Let the tank do its thing and the rest will come.

ghurlag · « **Reply #23 on:** February 08, 2010, 21:44:37 »

Hurry up and wait. I actually like that approach right now

Reefd Up · « **Reply #24 on:** February 08, 2010, 22:54:36 »

LOL, sorry...corals just take some time adjusting...and new tanks too. Some SPS can take up to 6 months to recover from shipping/acclimation before they turn beautiful. A lot of experts recommend a tank to be 1 year old before adding SPS. (Don't personally agree, but I can see the point.)

Just relax. If the polyps are coming out, don't worry about color (unless they're bleaching.) Color will come with stability and tank health.

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Ghurlag's Tanks - Part 2 (Read 13383 times)

Reefd Up

Reefd Up

Reefd Up

Reefd Up