Over the weekend, I got a new fish to clean up the hair algae in my frag tank. It is a blotched rabbit fish. They grow quite big so I need to get rid of it eventually. They have poisonous spines so do not let inexperienced children by the tank if it is open. I decided to take the risk of putting it in an open tank, even though they are jumpers. I acclimated him to the tank and put him in. He started to act weird, swimming in place. I realized that my flow was very strong, and he couldn't swim. Neither my powerhead or pump are adjustable, so I pointed the pump down to keep detritus from sticking and the fish gets less flow. The powerhead is pretty strong so I pointed it a little downward. After I did that, in a matter of a few minutes, he was swimming about the tank normally. I was very relieved. He is incredibly peaceful and a good fish to clean up algae, as they are herbivores. They are not like damsels, darting around the tank, so you do not need to be concerned if it isn't swimming well. What is your favorite fish? Comment below.
11/28/2015 0 Comments Turbo snailsTurbo snails are a great way to go when cleaning algae. However they are recommended in fowlr tanks because they are extremely clumsy and could irritate corals. Some turbo snails do not have a large body so they can flip themselves back up if they fall on their back. That is your job to save them. Mexican turbo snails sometimes have a large enough body to flip themselves back up. Like all snails, they will climb out of rimless tanks. And if you don't have algae, snails will starve, they are not for decoration. They need care like fish and coral do. If you have a dump or refugium filter, they would define in there, because in most of these filters, there is algae. My recommendation is to keep these snails either in frag tanks, although they may irritate some corals, like candy canes, or in fowlr tanks for algae cleanup. Triggerfish, parrotfish, and any other types of fish with teeth will eat snails. That is why I can't have them in my 36. I have a small humu trigger. That is how I almost lost my beautiful maxima clam. You can also keep them in a live rock tank with a sand bed for a huge assortment of snails, which is kind of fun if you ask me. Just remember, snails are not meant for decoration, you need to take care of them.11/28/2015 Hair Algae IssueI have been having a hair algae issue in my frag tank. This is how I plan to tackle it. I am getting a herbevorous fish, such as a yellow tang. I can't find a small one at the moment so I sm going to get a blotched rabbit fish. Be careful of their venomous spines, this fish is not recommended for beginners. This fish will get rid of hair algae above the egg crate. I will then proceed to get some lettuce nudibranches for below the egg crate. These will definitely clean up below because hair algae is their main diet. You can also try some snails, such as astreas, strombus, and turbos. I can not get snails because my tank is rimless and the snails will crawl out of the tank. This is my plan to get rid of hair algae, and if you have an outbreak, here is an idea of how to take care of it.
11/26/2015 0 Comments Care of AcroporaAcropora is a beautiful sps. On the downside, it is harder to care for than other sps. You need very precise water, which means you will need either a calcium reactor or a doser. You need great water flow which is where powerhead and wave makers come in. Don't go for a cheap 20 dollar powerhead, find a good one with a good gph. You will definitely need a skimmer. Since I have a 20 gallon, I have a hydor nano skimmer. Bigger tanks require bigger skimmers, which will need a sump. Last but not least you need t5 or 3 watt LEDs or more. They have to have great lighting. Acropora is a great coral and this is what you need to have them.
11/26/2015 0 Comments What RO/DI unit do you haveMy RO/DI unit is a BRS 4 stage value plus RO/DI unit-75 GPD. It is great for small tank. Although, depending on what tank size you have, bigger tanks should use at least 100 GPD filters. It is very easy to use, and creates enough water for my 20 gallon. It looks like a big advanced piece of technology, but it isn't. For tanks 50 gallons or lower, I would recommend this filter.
11/24/2015 1 Comment Tank Crash!!So I went to my 20 gallon tank and noticed that my zoanthids were not doing so well. I tested the water and everything was great. I then tested the salinity and it was an unbelievable 1.035. I immediately rushed all of my corals to my other tank and begun a water change. I finally got it down to 1.024 but some of my corals, such as my utter chaos and eagle eyes are nearly dead. I tried an iodine treatment but it did not work out. Overall, it wasn't huge, I lost some money from the corals that died, but at least it wasn't all of the corals.
Saltwater aquarists are extremely devoted to this hobby. And you need to be too if you want to start a tank. This is no goldfish tank. Every day you need to pay attention to your tank. It is basically having an ecosystem in your home. Water parameters should be payed close attention to. This hobby is often called a rich man's hobby. Yes, this is an extremely expensive hobby. If you want to go cheap with your tank, it is less likely to be successful. I have put thousands of dollars into my tank to make sure it is great and in good condition. Just remember when starting this hobby, you have to be committed to it every day.
I have two tanks, one 36 gallon Bowfront and one JBJ 20 Gallon Rimless Frag Tank. These are the filters I have for both.
36 Gallon: Fluval Canister Protein Skimmer 20 Gallon: Overflow into refugium containing live rock and ceramic plugs Dosers and Calcium Reactors are very useful in reef systems. They provide calcium and other nutrients to your water when they are low and needed. They are a necessity for keeping a stable tank. A good one is a bubble magus doser. They tend to be extremely expensive but in the long run, they are cheaper than all the liquid and solid supplements you have to put in your tank. They are a fantastic thing you can rely on to keep your tank stable. Keeping an unstable tank can lead to many casualties and deaths of coral and fish because your water parameters could be good one day and horrible the next. That is why you should save up and buy a calcium reactor or doser.
11/16/2015 0 Comments My Favorite SPSThis is the coral that I would love to get:
Meteor Shower Cyphastrea Poison Ivy Acropora Seasons Greetings Montipora Sunset Montipora Killer Bee Acropora Jewel Stone Goniopora Comment below what your favorite SPS Corals are! |
ReeseI love saltwater fish tanks, coral, and sports. Archives
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