water changes and coral fragging...

[blindaquarist]

Hi there,
I am quite new to the hobby, and as the user name sugegests, i am totally blind. I enjoy the whole aspect of reefing, because I enjoy the ocean, and i enjoy learning about various life that live in, around, or below the surface. So far I've gotten a 14 Galon nanno cube off the ground with some mushroom polips, 2 clownfish, a kenyan tree corral, and a green leather.
I need help figguring out an easy way to perform waterchanges and I'd like to be able to get some of these corals fragged. As far as water changes go, I can get the water out, it is just figguring out how to get water back in to the tahnk wiithout having to physicaly dump it from one of those 5 Galon jugs. I figgure that mixing my own, as i can't see to use a hydrometer. Anyhelp that i could get I would sure appreciate.

 

[Ritsuko N]

Is there a reason why you cant mix your salt water in a 5 gallon bucket using something like a Maxi-Jet 1200 pump like many of us do and then when your ready to add the water to your tank stick a piece of hose like the kind commonly found in Home Depot to the out put nozzle on the Maxi-Jet and plug it in the water and pump the water from the bucket into the tank, there by doing your needed water change?

Fragging these three corals is a piece of cake as far as fragging corals go.

Mushrooms:

These are easy as all you have to do is cut the head off of a polyp, and using a very sharp razor plade cut the coral in half as if your cutting a pizza making sure that you get to half including the mouth of the coral. These two halfs can then be cut once again, and make sure to get a equal part of the mouth. This will give you four pieces of coral. These pieces can then be placed in a glass ash tray with crushed coral substrate which then has some bridal viel type mesh placed over the top of it to keep the corals in the ash tray. Use a rubber band to hold the mesh over the ash try so the coral frags dont get blown away in the tanks water current. In a week or two they should be attached to the crushed coral. You can then pick these frags up with a pair of tweezers and glue them with super glue gel to the rock of your choice as you see fit.

Kenya Tree:

This is another easy one. Just cut off a branch when its time to prune the mother colony with a sharp Razor blade. Take the branches that you cut off and wrap a rubber band around it so that its tight enough to hold the cut branch in contact with the rock you have chosen. Dont wrap the rubber band to tight around the coral branch and the rock or the rubber band will slowly cut it and the branch will float away in the water flow of the tank. It should be just snug enough to keep it in contact with the rock. In a week or two it should be attached to the rock and you can cut the rubber band loose. I use this technique with Xenia as well and Colt Corals too.

Green Leather:

I am assuming you mean Green Toadstool Leather (Sarcophyton Sp.), right? If so this is another easy one. You can simply with a sharp Razor blade cut a notch off your mother colony about the size of a quarter coin. Attaching it can happen in a number of ways. You can use the same technique as I suggested with the mushroom coral or you can use bridal mess held in place with a rubber band to hold the coral against the rock until it attaches at which point the mesh can be removed. This coral usually takes longer to attach soe it will be at least a couple of weeks before it starts to grow on the rock. Make sure you place it with one of the cut edges to the rock.

When fragging all these corals make sure you use clean cutting instruments. This can be done in Lugols Iodine. Als after cutting and mounting the corals soak them in one of the disinfectant dips or make one as per the directions from Lugol's Iodine.

For additional information on Fragging you might want to check out www.garf.org
They have a slide show and actual video presentations on their website.

HTH's....

 

[blindaquarist]

Oh I'd love to be able to make my own saltwater, however, there is no such thing as a talking hydrometer. You see as the username implies, I am totaly blind. I've got a computer that talks to me, and I read braille. I'm a pretty computer savy individual, but I can't figgure out a work around for making salktwater to the speciffic gravity that I need without using a hydrometer. As for fragging corals, maybe I should ask my question like this. How much can i touch my corals... I've yet to pul one out of the tank, as my lfs has always told me that I would get seriously injured. Now at this point, I have no doubt that you are probably wondering why a blind person is in to this stuff... Well, why not?

Hi there,
I am quite new to the hobby, and as the user name sugegests, i am totally blind. I enjoy the whole aspect of reefing, because I enjoy the ocean, and i enjoy learning about various life that live in, around, or below the surface. So far I've gotten a 14 Galon nanno cube off the ground with some mushroom polips, 2 clownfish, a kenyan tree corral, and a green leather.
I need help figguring out an easy way to perform waterchanges and I'd like to be able to get some of these corals fragged. As far as water changes go, I can get the water out, it is just figguring out how to get water back in to the tahnk wiithout having to physicaly dump it from one of those 5 Galon jugs. I figgure that mixing my own, as i can't see to use a hydrometer. Anyhelp that i could get I would sure appreciate.

 

[Ritsuko N]

This is a bit awkward as I dont mean to come off as being rude but do you have friends or a good neighbor that could assist you from time to time for a few seconds, someone who could after you have mixed the water and its set for a couple of days take a quick look at the Hygrometer for you and go "yep thats within 1.018-1.026, your good to go". You can always buy SW already mixed from many LFS usually if thats not possible. Just kinda reaching for air here...

Touching some corals wouldnt be all that bad but generally you really dont want to mess with them unless you really need to for some reason. The corals you mentioned fragging wouldnt be stressed too much with occasional handling or damaged but many are pretty delicate and easily damaged, some like Zoanthids can seriously hurt you potentially as they secrete a neuro toxin in the slime the generate and while there is some debate about how hazardous this is, as such touching them without surgical gloves is not a good idea.

No I really didnt wonder too much about why a blind person would keep a Reef Tank. Living life is kinda like a game, in that if you aint having fun, you aint doing it right. Just my take on it all...

 

[blindaquarist]

Oh good heavens, don't feel aquard. I realize this is a bit unusual*LOL* I have been asking my neighbors, and I've been getting to the lfs to get pre-mixed saltwater. I'm just trying to find an easy to water change so that i don't have to lift a jug up, make sure that I'm aligned with the edge of aquarium, and dump it in. I've been over on reef central, so I've found some folks in my area, and I was able to get some visuals on what my tank looks like. So far I've been doing everything right on my nanno tank which is a good thing...
As for coral fragging, is there any type of material that is about the consistency of coral so that i can get an idea for what its like to cutit? I figgure I better experiment with this on something other than a live corral so that i don't just start mutulating them...
I do appreciate your help It is most insiteful.

Hi there,
I am quite new to the hobby, and as the user name sugegests, i am totally blind. I enjoy the whole aspect of reefing, because I enjoy the ocean, and i enjoy learning about various life that live in, around, or below the surface. So far I've gotten a 14 Galon nanno cube off the ground with some mushroom polips, 2 clownfish, a kenyan tree corral, and a green leather.
I need help figguring out an easy way to perform waterchanges and I'd like to be able to get some of these corals fragged. As far as water changes go, I can get the water out, it is just figguring out how to get water back in to the tahnk wiithout having to physicaly dump it from one of those 5 Galon jugs. I figgure that mixing my own, as i can't see to use a hydrometer. Anyhelp that i could get I would sure appreciate.

 

[Ritsuko N]

Okay you got me there big guy, I cant really think of anything that would really simulate practice surgery or feel of a coral. I suppose for the Toadstool leather a Dried Shitake Mushroom that has been re-hydrated and then sorta dried off would be the closest thing I could think of. A Shitake Mushroom thats been soaked in water should give close to the consitency and feel of a Leather Coral allowing you to practice cutting nothes out of it or dividing the whole head of the coral as if it was a pizza and you were slicing it up.

As for the Mushroom and the Kenya Tree Im at a loss for any suggestions...

The Kenya tree I think would be the next easiest thing besides the leather coral. You can just sort of feel around till you find a branch and just snip it with clippers or a razor blade.

The Mushroom you will probably need some help to guide you while you cut as you need to get half the mouth on the oral disc when cutting it. You will need to make a pretty precise cut. While your sense of touch may be quiet sensitive Im not sure if you could feel the mouth on the oral disc and make the cut making fragging this coral quiet the challenge. This coral becomes very slimmy when irritated. Maybe if you cut the polyp close to the rock so that you have a bit of a stem to feel maybe you can lay the polyp out on its side and position the razor blade along the center of the stem and slpit it and the mouth in one slice.

Hope this helps a little bit.

 

[blindaquarist]

The advice that you are giving is most helpful. Don't worry we're al flying blind with me doing this, and think outside the box litterally with all pons intended.
SO what coral that you are growing in your nano tank do friends/guests/people that visit you find most apealing? What kind of fish do you keep in your nano tank?
Shoudl you be the least bit curious, if you google "Justin Mann arizona republic" you will find more info then you probably wanted to know about me in the paper.

Hi there,
I am quite new to the hobby, and as the user name sugegests, i am totally blind. I enjoy the whole aspect of reefing, because I enjoy the ocean, and i enjoy learning about various life that live in, around, or below the surface. So far I've gotten a 14 Galon nanno cube off the ground with some mushroom polips, 2 clownfish, a kenyan tree corral, and a green leather.
I need help figguring out an easy way to perform waterchanges and I'd like to be able to get some of these corals fragged. As far as water changes go, I can get the water out, it is just figguring out how to get water back in to the tahnk wiithout having to physicaly dump it from one of those 5 Galon jugs. I figgure that mixing my own, as i can't see to use a hydrometer. Anyhelp that i could get I would sure appreciate.

 

[Ritsuko N]

I just moved today and the water temp is hovering around 65 degrees so Im not sure what will still be alive in the morning. Its going up slowly buit surely. Unfortunately it will be about 10 pm before I can assess all of the loses that didnt make the move so well. Anyways I have the follwing...

Acathastrea Lordhowensis
Xenia
Montipora Capicornis
Montipora Digitata(3 color morphs)
Nathans Green Millipora
Pastel Pink Zoanthids
Pink pather Pink Zoanthids
Dragon Eye Zoanthids
Neon Green Zoanthids
Kenya Tree Coral
3 Grape Corals (2 color morphs)
Montipora Foliosa
Fox Coral

Clams

T Maxima
T Crocea

Fish

Angler Fish
* Niether of the two mated pairs of Bangii Cardenals made todays move successfully :sad:

 

[blindaquarist]

Wow!!! You sure do have a lot of stuff in that nano cube. I wasnot aware that you could put clams in a nano tank, but i guess I hadn't read the stuff on nanotank.com yet*.lol*. How long did you have your Kenyan tree coral before it started reproducing? I've had mine since September, and I've not seen anything yet, so we'll see. Speaking of which I'm going to have to get over to my lfs here in the next day or two, and get some ro and salt water.

 

[Ritsuko N]

Yes Clams can be done in a Nano tank but its not generally recommended because of the small amount of water. This has a couple of effects on clams that are negative in most cases.

1. The small volume of water makes keeping the tank parameters such as Salinity, Alk, Calcium, Stronium and Magnesium levels stable due to evaporation and this small amount of water can easily have these other elements stripped from it rapidly. Clams are major calcium hogs! Maintaining the stability in the tank is a considerable challenge.

2. In Nanos there is rarely enough Phyto in the water for them to filter out and there is rarely enough ammonia that can be absorbed from the water to be converted to energy by the algae in the clams mantle to sustain it for very long. While you can add Phyto to the water the problem is that with such a small body of water the water quality can be severely trashed in short order.

Clams can be done in a nano. Obviously the bigger the nano the better, more room for errors. Start with a clam thats 2 3/4 -3 inches from the start as clams this sixe usually have enough algae in their Mantle to convert light into energy otherwise you will have to feed your clam. If you have a smaller clam then its best to place it in a bowl or dish in a bright area where it will open up and feed it heavily once or twice a week. Let the clam stay in the bowl for about an hour and turn the water from green(from all of the phyto you dumped in it) back to clear then place your clam back in the tank. To keep your clam mobile like this its best to place it in a clam shell half otherwise if you set it on your rock work it will likely attach to it making it near impossible to move your clam without tearing your tank all up. By putting them in a shell half they can attach and be easily moved in the tank or out of the tank if need be.

Another problem with clams is that many nanos use 14,000K or 20,000K bulbs. While a clam can live under that light its not optimal. 10,000K-12,000K will give the best growth and best color in your clam. They can be done under lights other than halides but this is not optimal lighting for some clams such as Maximas and Croceas.

As I eluded to earlier, clams will tax the mineral content of the water. This may require additions of calcium and various trace elements as water changes may not be enough to keep up with the consumption in the tank.

But clams are doable. I recommend the Maximas and Croceas as they are the smaller clams and they just happen to be the most colorful.

All those corals are in a 10 and 20 gallon nano. Corals unlike fish pose a very light bio-load in the tank. Its is possible to just about cram a tank to physical capacity with corals if stocked with the right corals. Tanks like that are often referred to as Garden Tanks. While you can have only couple fish in a Nano you can have a good dozen or so corals easily.

The Kenya Tree coral is a small frag of the many frags and mother colony I had while I was in Japan before moving here last year. I originally got the colony from another girl in Renton in the Seattle-Tacoma area three years back. When I got to the US the Kenya Tree I have was just a bud on a piece of rock rubble. Its now about 6 inches or so and about ready for me to start fragging again. Unfortunately this isn't a very colorful coral being some shade of brown as is typical, so its not in high demand. So getting rid of the frags is kinda touh to do and get any money in return. I usually let a colony get to about 9-12 inches and start wacking off branches. This takes about a year and a half to two. Sometimes this coral will start letting go of branches that will settle around the tank and attach to rocks and start growing.

Hope this covered all the questions...

 

[blindaquarist]

Yes that did help imensely... I might look in to converting my 14 gallon tank in to just a coral only tank, as Iwould have to do less bio load. ng that with my 14 gallon biocube. It's a neattank, and it's doing quite wel,

 

[Ritsuko N]

It doesnt hurt to have a fish or two if they are real small, but one thing is for sure, a coral only tank is a lot less maintenance intensive. water quality doesnt degrade nearly as quick and there is less chance of an algae bloom since your not feeding fish and thet re not pooping there by adding loads of nutrients to the water. It takes a while to add the number of corals you want and it takes time for them to grow and fill in the spaces but it makes for a jaw dropping display tank!!! If you need some inspiration to motivate you top that end have someone look at Sally Jo's 5 year old tank "Garden of Hope" thats a 55 gallon tank at www.garf.org and then have them tell you what they see. It might take a couple of minutes for their eyes to pop back in their sockets and inhale enough air to mouth words to describe it. There are no words in the english language or any other for that matter that can begin to truely describe her tank. Its a visual bomb shell!!!