Nano pics update (12.19.04) *nice pics*

[dragon79]

Okay guys, I'll keep it short. I went with my g/f and I went to two shops. One was Tongs in Fountain Valley and picked up two small frags and two green ricordias for the price of 1 (they threw in the second one because it was so small):

"frogspawn"

"hammer coral"

"green ricordia *2 pics (1 in optical & 1 in digital)"

Left that place and went to a petsmart and picked up a steal of a price on a H.O.T. Magnum filtration system that cost in that store for 82.00 but walked out paying 47.00 as my brother gracially found a place where it was advertised for less (it was the net, hehe) and they honored it and price matched me!! I laughed the whole way home, but in short, I'm the proud owner of one, and I have to agree with Mike...The tank is sooooooo clean now, thanks bro!!

Bonus pics below are of what I already own. Enjoy:

<--torch

<--the tank

 

[Trogdor]

Nice looking tank. I am looking at getting one of those HOT filters at the first of the year. Do you know what the gph is on it?

 

[incysor]

Very cool Steven, congrats on the deal on the magnum.

B

 

[opihi]

looking good! adding some pink, red or orange corals will make your tank pop!

 

[dragon79]

I'm sure

looking good! adding some pink, red or orange corals will make your tank pop!

I am sure my g/f would like that. I'm thinking of getting her a red bubble anenome in the future for nemo to host in. (that is the desired anenome it likes right guys/gals?)

The tank needs some polyps too, nice colorful ones, but haven't my g/f and I have not found desired ones as of yet.


On a side note: I tested the water with the TruFast Kit for Ammonia, PH, Nitrite and Nitrate, and here are my results.

After using the filtration results it gave me awesome readings.

1.) PH is up from 7.3 to 8.2 (jumped fast from giving PH buffer each day)
2.) Nitrite levels are zero
3.) Nitrate levels are zero
4.) Ammonia was a close one...if anything I think it may be a .1 because according to the chart it comes with, it should have been a dark yellow, but mine was a light yellow, and it resembled the .2 which is slight green, but the light yellow looked in between the two, so I'll go with .1

Last week my results were slightly in every category, like .2 in everything. I am happy with the overall results, big time improvement since last week.

 

[opihi]

steven,
have you researched the RBTA? there may be some others who do not agree, but i do not suggest getting an anemone for a nano tank. they are better suited in larger tanks, and as the first inhabitant of an established system.

jeff

 

[djconn]

I agree with opihi. I tried one out in my 20 gal and it did okay for about 2 months. I went away on vacation for a month (had someone babysitting the tank) and when I got back it was gone. My guess is that the powerhead got him b/c there were still some remains stuck on the underside. I would really research before getting one. They like to move around a lot (might find your powerhead!) and they also have a nasty sting. Just some things to consider.

 

[dragon79]

I agree with opihi. I tried one out in my 20 gal and it did okay for about 2 months. I went away on vacation for a month (had someone babysitting the tank) and when I got back it was gone. My guess is that the powerhead got him b/c there were still some remains stuck on the underside. I would really research before getting one. They like to move around a lot (might find your powerhead!) and they also have a nasty sting. Just some things to consider.

their sting strong enough to the touch of our hands? if so , Yikes! How do you handle them? if they go by the power head, does it blow on them so hard it breaks them apart or something? I will read up on them and see what people recommend for caring for them.

 

[incysor]

Their sting isn't all that strong. It's the same as other bubbletips. Not nearly as strong as carpets, flowers, tubes. I've had two true percs that immediately dove into the RBTA. I've got a pair now, where the female hosts both the RBTA and the green BTA. The male hosts my goniopora. :?

I had a black ocellaris that hosted some pink polyps. I also had an orange ocellaris that hosted my cleaning magnet. :lol:

I like the RBTA's. But they do move around. So any powerheads need to have some kind of sponge cover on the intake to make sure it doesn't get chewed up if it wanders too close to the PH. If you're gonna get one you need to upgrade your lighting. In my experience the RBTA isn't as light needy as some other anemones, but they still do require a decent amount, and 48w really won't do it. Mine's been running laps around my overflow box trying to get higher under my 65w lamps for the last month or so. It seemed ok with the light during the first 6 months or so with these lamps but hasn't been thrilled in the last couple months. I held off on replacing the lamp because I had the new VHO/MH canopy in the works. I just got it on last night, and tested it out for about 4hrs last night. The RBTA moved back down off the overflow and back to the rocks in the first 20mins or so.

I don't know of ANY anemone that a clown will host in that will be happy under 48w. All the ones that don't require much light have very strong stings, and will eat fish given a chance. Even clowns.

B

 

[opihi]

to me, moving is the biggest issue. if it decided to sit on your frogspawn, that could end up in a major disaster in such a small volume of water like our nano tanks.

secondly, RBTAs can get really big. if you search for more than a few minutes, you're bound to find a pic or two of a RBTA that reaches over 8" wide. there won't be much room for coral after that.

i'd stick with the corals and pass on all anemones. besides, you don't need an anemone to be a clown's host. my clowns have made a home out of a frogspawn colony, and other reefers have had them make hosts out of other things as well (xenia, euphillia, even powerheads!)

 

[dragon79]

i researched some sites....

I've been reading up for the past hour or so and found that what you guys are saying is true, and also with working with a false percula, the odds of it hosting one is not likely. I like the lighting the way it is now, so I am not going that route at all, for it requires much more care. Best thing is to start getting some very pretty polyps, and decorating around in the sandbed, as there is much room to play with. That should give it the color it needs, even those neon looking mushrooms look cool too. I'll keep everybody posted on that. Thanks again guys for your comments and expertise.

 

[mikeguerrero]

Hey Dragon,

I'm liking the look of your reef. I'm drawn in particular to the awesome amount of sand bed you have to play with. I can hardly wait to see the ypes of mushrooms you pick up; hopefull some nice contrasting colors against your reef; oranges and reds.


I'm really impressed by the fact that your purchases are mini in size, you haven't done the mistake of getting monster sizes like I have in the past. Your bi-color is so cool he's always been one of my favorites.

Like all the reefers suggest, stay clear of the Rose Anenome. I bent the rules and purchased one when I had the original nano only 24 watts, well technically I had an extra 10 watts so I had 34 watts.

My Anenome drove me crazy, he would literally do laps in my tank, we are talking he releases his hold on the rocks and goes for a swim trying to find a better place in lighting.

Only problem with this, is he bumps into everything since the tank is so small. Then if he lands, you think cool, I like him there, only to come back in 1 hour and see him doing laps again.

Once they have the lighting, I have seen them stay put but then again they are drawn to current so they can move again.

You wouldn't have any problem with power heads because you don't have one in your tank. I would take the 35 dollars for the rose anenome and buy yourself another ric, they do great in 48 watts of power, and they are just as beautiful if not more.

I have to tell you it's an awesome feeling watching nemo host a rose anemome, sort of makes you feel he has a home. But your nemo has so much personality I think he'll be okay without the anenome. Dragon, false Perculas do host. I've had luck with them all the time.

It sometimes takes more than 1 day for him to warm up to the rose. Some reefers shine a light at the rose in the night, when the lights are off and Nemo is usually drawn to him.

Keep your eye on Jumping Jar Jar. It was comical to have both our fish jump to the back filter area on the same day. I surely thought my six line had died and bam, I see him in the back swimming in the bio balls and along the heater. I'm happy neither of them got hurt in the process. Maybe Jar Jar was tired of pooping in the front of your tank and got shy and wanted to poop in private?

Mike

 

[dragon79]

just remembered something...

Hey I had a question about the ricordia.

If like in my case, have two ricordias, one big one on top and one small one on the side. My question is: Is it possible to remove the small one from the side and place it some place else? I notice they have a foot in which they plant themselves, which looks if you used your nail or something it could come off so as to be placed somewhere better where it's visible and gets good lighting.


Mike: I forgot to mention about the jar jar incident on sunday, silly fish!! How dare it try to jump out but only find itself in the back where the pump is. I asked the LFS and they said it's happened to them a few times with their display nano.

 

[mikeguerrero]

You might want to ask Incysor about if they are moveable by hand. I have had mushrooms fall off their rocks and then use the sand bed as an anchor, so it might be possible.

As for Jar jar, maybe he knew you were going to take pictures and said hell no, I'm not about having my picture taken,,, hehehe He thought he would be slick and hide in the back, little did he know you'd find him,,, funny how he saw you and then darted to the bottom of the filter...

Mike

 

[incysor]

You could probably try scraping it off the rock. Once you get it off though you'll need to let it attach to something else. Personally I'd just get a chisel and break the rock. That way it's not gonna blow around the tank until it manages to anchor itself again.

B

 

[dragon79]

whoa

You could probably try scraping it off the rock. Once you get it off though you'll need to let it attach to something else. Personally I'd just get a chisel and break the rock. That way it's not gonna blow around the tank until it manages to anchor itself again.

B

The scraping part sounds easy, like a chizel to scrape him off the rock and place him somewhere. Can this be done out of the tank? Seems easier. Then quickly put him back on a rock to anchor itself? Any lastly any suggestions according to how it looks right now, where I should place it? From these final few suggestions, I am going to carry out the task, but again will wait for last minute posts for today.

 

[incysor]

Re: whoa

You could probably try scraping it off the rock. Once you get it off though you'll need to let it attach to something else. Personally I'd just get a chisel and break the rock. That way it's not gonna blow around the tank until it manages to anchor itself again.

B

The scraping part sounds easy, like a chizel to scrape him off the rock and place him somewhere. Can this be done out of the tank? Seems easier. Then quickly put him back on a rock to anchor itself? Any lastly any suggestions according to how it looks right now, where I should place it? From these final few suggestions, I am going to carry out the task, but again will wait for last minute posts for today.

Chisel, xacto knife, thumbnail. Just try to keep it against the rock. Afterwards I'd put it in a small jar or cup in the aquarium with some sand/rubble at the bottom for it to adhere to. Once it's attached to that you can use superglue gel to stick that on another piece of rock anywhere you'd like. The gel doesn't really work well directly on the flesh of the shroom because they have a coating that they slough off pretty quickly.

B

 

[dragon79]

one more question...

incysor:

if i scrape him off, and I place him on the rock he wont likely grab to the rock?? Even if I kept in a jar long enough?? Sounds involved with the glue and all, but if that's the only way then that's how'd I'd have to do it.

I'll check posts when I get home tonight....

 

[mikeguerrero]

Dragon,

What I'm thinking is that once you remove him from the rock, he is very slipery. And even glue under his foot won't stick. So what might work is what he is suggesting.

You place him in a cup of aquarium water and then flip the cup upside down and let him fall to the bottom of your sand bed. He is sure to pick up the sand pebbles from that. Once he has this, he will be more bouyant, he will be anchored, won't float away.

But if you want him in a special place, you use this glue and since he has those pebbles it will stick better.

This is how I see it from Incysor's instruction: however lets wait for him to replay again,,,,

Mike

 

[incysor]

Re: one more question...

incysor:

if i scrape him off, and I place him on the rock he wont likely grab to the rock?? Even if I kept in a jar long enough?? Sounds involved with the glue and all, but if that's the only way then that's how'd I'd have to do it.

I'll check posts when I get home tonight....

If you can put a jar over it to keep it from getting blown around then it should attach to the rock just fine. You can also take a needle and thread and kinda sew it onto the rock. After it's attached you just snip the thread.