Thinking of getting out or reefing

[Unarce]

Sorry for not being as clear as I wanted to, Karl. I can see where my post was confusing. I meant there are other acans worth splurging on nowadays...not just bower and maxima.

Peace,

Chip

I was kidding, bro. We just have a different idea of splurging. Your limit's likely greater than mine :lol:

 

[Unarce]

Rob - one thing I noticed, is there's no purple coralline algae on the rock.

 

[Anonymous]

Rob - one thing I noticed, is there's no purple coralline algae on the rock.

OK - How do you achieve that? There is none on the rock. The SPS is growing very slowly if at all. The coraline is a light pink on the back wall.

Alk 9.6 DKH
CA 380

 

[Meloco14]

As far as slow growth...maybe check your magnesium levels. I know magnesium has an important part in sps growth and often gets overlooked. If you are bored with this tank maybe you need to try something more challenging. Would you be interested in trying to breed fish? Or maybe you could try a seahorse tank, or a species only tank with something more challenging like a frogfish. You could go for more of an aggressive tank with a couple dwarf lions or something. While I agree that there are a lot of very attractive fish and corals out there, it sounds to me like you need more of a change than just adding a couple corals. Are any of these other ideas appealing?

 

[Unarce]

You have to seed the tank, if there's none present in the tank. If you can find a small piece of live rock or rubble with purple coralline at your LFS, that should do it. Placing it in near a powerhead or return will spread the spores and speed up the process.

 

[Meloco14]

Also, lots of people tend to go bigger when they are bored with their current tank, but here's a thought; why not go smaller? You could set up a nano for relatively cheap using some of your existing equipment. You can fill it with your sand and rock and those frags will fill up a small tank much better than your existing tank. You can get one or two small fish that you like and you'll have a smaller tank that looks and feels much more "complete" than this one does. Just a thought...

 

[Anonymous]

I just dumped my nano. It was too much work compared to my automated 58G.

Coraline that is growing on the back wall is not the same as purple coraline? I thought it was due to my lighting.

 

[Unarce]

There are a lot of different strains of coralline. Green, yellow, pink, purple, tan...I've even had the fluorescent orange kind. The more strains you introduce, the better.

 

[Anonymous]

Great - now to find a store with good LR with no pests on it.

 

[Anonymous]

I was kidding, bro. We just have a different idea of splurging. Your limit's likely greater than mine :lol:

LOL. It never occured to me that you might be kidding. Man, I need to get my head outta my rear.

My limit is pretty pathetic these days...obvoiously, since I still need to get you some cash for those montis!

However, relief is on the horizon...I take my state test on Saturday, and after that will be able to sell real estate down here. Then the sky is the limit.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Get a sandsifting goby, scooter blenny, or manderin goby. They are fun to watch. Why can't you get a tang?

I have a pair of blue hippos and i love to watch them. That's my babies.

 

[Anonymous]

Get a sandsifting goby, scooter blenny, or manderin goby. They are fun to watch. Why can't you get a tang?

I have a pair of blue hippos and i love to watch them. That's my babies.

No sand in the tank.

tank is only a 58G (36x18x21)

 

[Anonymous]

Stopped off at a LFS yesterday. NO good LR. The LR had a brown coating on them (like a dark brown cyano).

Adding a new piece of LR might be a problem as well since I will have to cure the new piece of LR and thay will probably result in killing off the coraline too.

The fish selection again was less than desired, damsels or every sort, clowns, yellow tangs, puffers, parrot, triggers. No wrasses or small fish.

 

[Meloco14]

If you are looking for coralline, there are some places that sell starter cultures of it online. I think ipsf sells plugs that you can stick in your rocks to help spread it. This may be a viable option since you can order it online, and it won't need to be cured. It might not be worth the cost to you to have it shipped, though. But it is an option.

 

[bleedingthought]

How many saltwater stores do you have around there man? It seems like there would me more options in NY.

And if you get fully cured rock from the store, you won't have to cure it again. The smell will tell you more than you would think. Try asking if they'll sell their display rocks, as those are usually covered or partially covered in coralline. I've been able to do that, with certain restrictions on the extremely nice rocks, and paid 8 bucks for the pound.

Also, scoring rock from people that are breaking down tanks is awesome! Sometimes even the LFS itself can get these to come in from customers...

And why don't you go ahead and try to purchase a fish online? Give it a try with something really flashy but still affordable!

 

[Anonymous]

There are a few.

Two I will not go to anymore because of incompetence.

One sometimes has OK stuff but nothing I want.

One is OK but is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ then $$$$$$$$$$$. Talking $69 for a ocealris clown.

I am affraid to order the fish online because they will be sitting in my hallway in the box all day until I get home from work. Thats after the FedEx punting ride.

 

[Anonymous]

I've gotten fish online but my mother-in-law lives right by me and she handles the acclimation for me til I get home.

 

[bleedingthought]

There are a few.

Two I will not go to anymore because of incompetence.

One sometimes has OK stuff but nothing I want.

One is OK but is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ then $$$$$$$$$$$. Talking $69 for a ocealris clown.

I am affraid to order the fish online because they will be sitting in my hallway in the box all day until I get home from work. Thats after the FedEx punting ride.

I wouldn't leave a fish sitting out like that for a while either. But maybe you can work something out to where they deliver on your day off (assuming you sometimes have days off during the week) or get it delivered Saturday (assuming you don't work Saturdays). Or like cvp does, get someone to acclimate it for you (I don't really trust anyone around here to do it, seeing as I don't have anyone close to me that has had experience with marine tanks). Or maybe get FEDEX to hold the box instead of putting it on the truck, picking it up early in the morning, acclimate it, and then go to work afterwards.

One thing though, the one LFS that has OK stuff but that you don't want can't order fish for you either? Are they cool enough that you could order the fish from an online store yourself, have it delivered to the LFS and have them hold it for you, and then pick it up after you get home from work? Maybe they would do that since you're a customer, or they could just work something out with you to where they charge you a small fee, say $10? Doesn't hurt to ask.

Just some ideas, I guess. HTH

 

[Meloco14]

If you do order online the best thing to do would be to have FedEx hold the box at their warehouse. I have done this a few times and I much prefer it to letting a truck deliver it. Then maybe you can take a long lunch break, pick up the box, and acclimate the fish. If you dont have enough time, you can at least leave the bags floating in a tank. They should be fine the rest of the day as long as they are floating to keep temp stable.

 

[Anonymous]

I dont get a lunch break. I dont knwo what I am going to do. Maybe I will just throw in 10 damsels.