How to increase my posts (and build a tank).. - Page 2

rampantmarine · 07/24/2008, 01:28 PM

The algae in the tank was high, in spite of the picking, pulling, emerald, hermits...root cause is that there was too much organics and nothing competing for it. The rock was from the 30 gallon and I didn't have a skimmer on it. The skimmer I had was for a larger tank. I never intended the occupants to stay in the smaller tanks for very long, but it did take longer then I thought. The Royal Gramma and the clown that the Crab did in were small and he was about 1.25 to 1.5" across on the shell.

I will be updating the tang's progress - it is my hope that I can give someone hope as it improves.

rampantmarine · 07/25/2008, 07:26 PM

Well, Vinegar works!! I took a syringe, filled it with vinegar and injected it and squirted the vinegar as I was doing this. I kept poking back and forth jabbing the rockwork as I did this. It worked!! It's hard to see, and even harder to take directions "back, no the other way" when you can't see the front of the tank!

Here is a shot of the aptasia after injecting, it shrunk into a small white blob with shrivelled tentacles. It is just above the star snails shell between the rockwork. I got the three large ones and about 4 small ones.

Tommorrow I have to drive to the states to pick up my order from Fosters and Smith. I had two pails of Reef Crystals and a mag float shipped to a parcel depot about an hour from here. Total cost is $83, cost of one pail locally $99. So two for price of one - can't beat that.

rampantmarine · 07/30/2008, 06:03 PM

I picked up my order from Drs. F&S on Saturday and we couldn't find one part of my order. I put a quick call in to their order desk but with the poor Cell reception they couldn't hear me well, the lady did manage to let me know they ship everything individually, after this key tidbit of info - the missing Mag Float was found being shipped USPS. I will order again and this is a very economical way to import. The border staff were very friendly and used to this activity as the parcel service does a booming business in car parts.

July 27/08 1st set of basic numbers from the tank.

1.025 SG
Ph 8.2
dKH 15
Ca 380
PO4 .25 mg/L

Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite do not register.

From previous tests both PO4, and Ca seem in range but dKH is higher, Ca is bit low bit my tests do vary from 360 to 420. As I don't have anything other than Coraline using calcium, I should be fine.

The Live Rock I got last week stinks like nothing I have ever gotten. I did an ammonia test on the water it was in, 3.7. Never saw the test kit go that blue so fast. Put it in new water.
Guess it is going to be a while before those pieces hit the tank.

I always read the debates from some who advocate that a skimmer is not necessary. This is what you get after one day with nothing as a bioload. Sorry for the crummy picture.

I love my skimmer now, works like a charm.

UPDATE

The tang is eating Mysis and flakes soaked in Selcon and feeds very well. Still not a lover of Nori - it did eat it flaked and soaked in selcon. the colour has improved and you can even see more blue on the portion of the upper fin that I think was nipped. I have tried pellets but it doesn't seem to like them.

Any suggestions to get the veggies in it's diet? I am thinking of trying to find a flake version of formula two.

This picture marks two weeks of QT and peace.

rampantmarine · 08/09/2008, 06:53 PM

Last weekend I released my tang into the display, to take advantage of the better water conditions, here is how he looks now, his favorite food is Mysis shimp - soaked in Selcon. Selcon on the Nori he will eat, but not with gusto.

rampantmarine · 08/09/2008, 06:55 PM

Here is a current full tank shot under the lights, I still have 3 pieces of LR stitting in QT waiting to be added in a week or so.

One of the little frags I placed in the bottom of the tank and it has a bit of pink coral growing on it, at least I think it is coral... Sorry for the blurry pic, but I am not a good picture taker.

rampantmarine · 08/09/2008, 07:02 PM

Thought I would add my last set of numbers from August 1/08

1.024 Sg
8.1 Ph
Nothing registers for NH3, N03, or NO2
14 DKh
480 Ca
.25 P04

I have an opportunity to pick up a medium pinkish Finger Leather locally. I had thought about adding some Xenia, Zoos, or GSP.

Any comments?

IFbettas · 08/09/2008, 07:54 PM

Those are all easy corals to take care of, so as long as your paramaters stay stable they would do good.

A few weeks ago I got a little blue tang like this for free from my lfs because he looked like yours; bad HLLE, fins in shreads, and overall sad looking. He was doing really well in my care and lost almost all of the HLLE within a couple weeks, but then unfortunately he jumped.

zack1a · 08/10/2008, 12:52 AM

I admire your thread. You are exactly right, there are alot of people that will make many mistakes and then post negative comments on others. I guess they just forget their mistakes. I would just like to say that your tang has made alot of progress and you must be doing something right. Also, if you do decide to add xenia they can be a bit tricky. I added some and then they just dissolved. After some research I found similar stories and many theories about how a clean tank is not their best friend. With that in mind I wouldn't buy a xenia, as there are way too many people that would sipmly give it away. I know alot of LFS that try to sell it for $15-$25, forget that.

rampantmarine · 08/10/2008, 06:33 PM

Well, I had a question on whether you Quarantine Coral's like you do fish, and so I posted it on the Soft Corals forum. This was before I hit the books last night to look for answers. The short of it is yes, for between 2-4 weeks. So I picked up my first coral from another aquarist locally. Here it is a Finger Leather....

rampantmarine · 08/12/2008, 11:36 PM

I posted in a local F/S thread for saltwater livestock that I was in need of frags from local reef keepers, and I was lucky enough to find a fellow willing to assist me with the following:

#1 Hairy Mushroom

#2 & #3 Zoo's (red/green and green)

#4 More Zoo's (green)

#5 Purple/Blueish Mushroom

Missing from photo #6 Pulsing Xenia (They move in the current so all photos are blurry)

If anyone can give me the proper name (or a better name) please let me know. They are all in QT with the Leather Coral. All I need now is GSP & one nice Candy Cane.

Thanks

rampantmarine · 09/30/2008, 11:17 PM

Okay, sleeping at the keyboard here, well summer has come and gone in this area, and it is time to post an update.

Full Tank Shot

Some pics of the zoos..

I love the hairy mushroom - I am getting two more blue green ones Wed from a local reefkeeper.

And the mushroom has multiplied.

All other corals are doing well and with new heads popping out. I haven't added anything new to the tank as of yet.

rampantmarine · 09/30/2008, 11:30 PM

I had to travel for work a bit lately (reason for the green calcium loving algae - which has been removed since the last pic was taken), and I needed to come up with a means to top off the tank. Here was my DIY solution. Its crude, but it works like a charm. I used airline tubing running to a valve and set to slowly drip in to the tank. About 1 drip / sec hold the volume. A full pail of water lasts 3 days.

I started adding about 3 tsp of Reef Buffer to the top off water and it has helped bring up my Ph to 8.3 for the last test, so I will keep at it. My latest test results
were as follows. (I think my KH test kit is getting old, although I seem to recall RC having high test values about the time I purchased these buckets).

Date S.G PH Ammonia Nitrate Nitrite dKH Ca Phosphate

7/27/2008 1.025 8.2 0 0 0 15 19 380 0.25
8/1/2008 1.024 8.1 0 0 0 14 24 480 0.25
8/16/2008 1.025 7.9 0 0 0 15 22 440 0.25
9/27/2008 1.025 8.3 0 0 0 17 21 420 0.25

oh... my DIY top off.

Ehaze · 10/01/2008, 12:18 AM

did you loose that tang?

rampantmarine · 10/01/2008, 08:32 AM

No - He is very much alive. I turned on the lights to take the pictures, so it was still sleeping in the rockwork on the FTS.

Depending on the light the HLLE is silver or blue, the pitting on the belly is mostly filled in. The fin that was eroded has mostly grown back. He is getting bigger and swims like Phelps - Fast.

Here he is on the 24th of September. He needs a buddy now, but someone equally peaceful. I am thinking of adding a butterflyfish (I have searched on RC and the web in general on the requirements and understand what I am in for). Any personal insights are welcome as to what you feed and how you got it to take foods at first are welcome. I understand the term Reef Safe is dependent on the individual . Species I am interested in are Copperbanded and Yellow Long Nose.

Ehaze · 10/01/2008, 08:42 AM

Nice save!! he looks allot better!

rampantmarine · 10/01/2008, 09:48 PM

Thanks Ehaze, I wish he didn't get that way in the first place but he has improved. I think the Nori I add gets eaten by the snails and other grazers - never see him touch it. He does hang out with the fish shaped clip.

I picked up my two new Mushrooms - I think they will end up being the same colour as the one I have, but that is okay. One was not fully attached - I put a rubber band loosely on it to hope it attaches to a piece of rock. I assume most of you use the gel form of superglue?

rampantmarine · 10/02/2008, 09:59 PM

THE DORI EATS NORI....

Sorry for the 'nemo' reference but it rhymed. After cleaing the algea eating stomatella's out of the veggie clip. I stuck some Nori in for the Snails to eat as I never saw the Hippo eat it, not once in the year I have had the fish. Not even a peck. Soaked in Selcon - Nadda. Dripped in Garlic Guard - turned and swam away. So I plunked it in with nothing on it and before I dried off my arm it was picking at it like a dog on the bone. After 8 pics I got one to prove it.

Okay so I shouldn't get this excited about a herbivour eating veggies, but it took him long enough. Now I know I won't be feeding the population of snails & other Algae grazers.

rampantmarine · 10/02/2008, 10:05 PM

Yesterday I picked up two more Hairy Mushrooms, the bottom one was rubberbanded to a small piece of live rock as it was not attached when I picked it up. Sometime during the night it found it's own home - I hope it stays there.

I also snapped a pic of the full wall I put the tank in as I added the door earlier this week. It finishes it off and makes everything appear cleaner. Trim will come much later when the baseboards go down. You can also see the relocation of the leather to a higher flow and higher light location - it seems to like it better.

ludnix · 10/02/2008, 10:06 PM

I really hope the tang pulls through. It looks like you've done everything possible to make a safe environment for him and looks like he's on the road to recovery.

PaulieWalnuts · 10/02/2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ludnix
I really hope the tang pulls through. It looks like you've done everything possible to make a safe environment for him and looks like he's on the road to recovery.

well said keep up posted and i like the logs you keep.

erbio · 10/03/2008, 04:36 AM

That hippo looked bad. I'm surprised he's still alive. No offense intended!

rampantmarine · 10/03/2008, 08:41 AM

Thanks for your encouragement, I also really appreciate that those of you who feel I should be banned from keeping fish remain relatively silent.

I had searched long and hard about HLLE when I thought that was what he was suffering from. I finally found a picture that matched the condition of my fish, but no one had ever posted before and after pictures and outlined what they had done to make the fish better. It is a shame that I didn't discover this site until six months after keeping Salt Water, there is so much to learn in this hobby and the resource here is fantastic. I often see a new person to the Salty side post on a local forum before purchasing anything, the mounds of advice must be overwhelming. I would have made different purchase decisions of that I am sure. I never, ever, would have run a tank without a skimmer. I am now firmly of the belief that if you don't add the skimmer - you don't do salt. Period. Yes, you can keep the fish alive, but in my experience they will not thrive.

I am considering picking up a little skimmer for my 10G QT as when I had my 30G QT setup I had an incredible time fighting algae and ammonia outbreaks. Anyone had experience with the â€œCurrent Fission Nano Hang-On Protein Skimmerâ€. It is small, at 6.5â€ by 2â€. One stated it ran the collection cup line to a pop bottle, so that should prevent an overflow of the cup. If you want to see what it looks like here is the link. It is a pump driven air injection, not a wooden airstone style.

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/cu...n+Skimmer.html

I need to get the QT up and running within a week as I am ready to add another fish. I also would like to do it before winter sets in hard, just seems strange bringing a fish home in the snow.

rampantmarine · 10/12/2008, 08:25 PM

Well I ordered that little skimmer I was looking at as well as the two powerheads, a mag float and an amonia reducer listed on JL aquatics site to help in aclimation. I had high readings on my last QT tank so I thought it may help. It may be snake oil but we will try it at least.

As the name of the thread is how to increase my posts - I have 88 now.

Latest shopping trip - ordered online from JL Aquatics - fast shipping and prices comparable to Dr Fosters (before the CDN$ dropped against the US$).

The actual size of the skimmer is shown with my finger for comparison - I don't have large mitts either!

I have to build a stand for the QT tank and then will get the skimmer set up and show you how it works.

rampantmarine · 10/12/2008, 08:27 PM

I noticed two days ago I had a big event in my tank...My largest mushroom split into two!

JustinReef · 10/12/2008, 10:11 PM

I think you have done a great job saving that tang and he is well on his way to recovery. He is starting to look great!

We have all made mistakes while starting out in this hobby or even after many years in the hobby but most here will not admit it. I think its great that you were not afraid to admit you had made a mistake and then documented how you solved it. Many people can learn from this thread now.

I can't believe someone told you to put the fish down! I find it disgusting that was his way of dealing with a sick fish. I guess it's all about the easy way out with some people. Im glad you spent the time help him rather than give up on him! He will be a very special fish to you for a long time!

Good work with the tank.

07/25/2008, 07:26 PM	#27
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Aptasia Update Well, Vinegar works!! I took a syringe, filled it with vinegar and injected it and squirted the vinegar as I was doing this. I kept poking back and forth jabbing the rockwork as I did this. It worked!! It's hard to see, and even harder to take directions "back, no the other way" when you can't see the front of the tank! Here is a shot of the aptasia after injecting, it shrunk into a small white blob with shrivelled tentacles. It is just above the star snails shell between the rockwork. I got the three large ones and about 4 small ones. Tommorrow I have to drive to the states to pick up my order from Fosters and Smith. I had two pails of Reef Crystals and a mag float shipped to a parcel depot about an hour from here. Total cost is $83, cost of one pail locally $99. So two for price of one - can't beat that.

08/09/2008, 07:54 PM	#32
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	Those are all easy corals to take care of, so as long as your paramaters stay stable they would do good. A few weeks ago I got a little blue tang like this for free from my lfs because he looked like yours; bad HLLE, fins in shreads, and overall sad looking. He was doing really well in my care and lost almost all of the HLLE within a couple weeks, but then unfortunately he jumped. __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

08/10/2008, 12:52 AM	#33
zack1a Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 411	I admire your thread. You are exactly right, there are alot of people that will make many mistakes and then post negative comments on others. I guess they just forget their mistakes. I would just like to say that your tang has made alot of progress and you must be doing something right. Also, if you do decide to add xenia they can be a bit tricky. I added some and then they just dissolved. After some research I found similar stories and many theories about how a clean tank is not their best friend. With that in mind I wouldn't buy a xenia, as there are way too many people that would sipmly give it away. I know alot of LFS that try to sell it for $15-$25, forget that. __________________ -Zack Give a man a fish and he will have to spend about two grand on a setup. Current Tank Info: JBJ RL 30

10/01/2008, 12:18 AM	#38
Ehaze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,259	did you loose that tang? __________________ 75g SPS tank, 30gal sump/refuge. Melev RO/DI, Coravue duel calc reactor, MSP 200 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40, Mag drive 9.5 return, autotopoff.com ATO, 2 CoralVue 250W SE finished pendants(with 20k Radium bulbs), powered by 2x Icecap ballasts, controlled by a ACJR.

10/01/2008, 08:42 AM	#40
Ehaze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thornton, Colorado Posts: 1,259	Nice save!! he looks allot better! __________________ 75g SPS tank, 30gal sump/refuge. Melev RO/DI, Coravue duel calc reactor, MSP 200 skimmer, 2 Vortech MP40, Mag drive 9.5 return, autotopoff.com ATO, 2 CoralVue 250W SE finished pendants(with 20k Radium bulbs), powered by 2x Icecap ballasts, controlled by a ACJR.

07/24/2008, 01:28 PM	#26
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	The algae in the tank was high, in spite of the picking, pulling, emerald, hermits...root cause is that there was too much organics and nothing competing for it. The rock was from the 30 gallon and I didn't have a skimmer on it. The skimmer I had was for a larger tank. I never intended the occupants to stay in the smaller tanks for very long, but it did take longer then I thought. The Royal Gramma and the clown that the Crab did in were small and he was about 1.25 to 1.5" across on the shell. I will be updating the tang's progress - it is my hope that I can give someone hope as it improves.

07/30/2008, 06:03 PM	#28
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	I picked up my order from Drs. F&S on Saturday and we couldn't find one part of my order. I put a quick call in to their order desk but with the poor Cell reception they couldn't hear me well, the lady did manage to let me know they ship everything individually, after this key tidbit of info - the missing Mag Float was found being shipped USPS. I will order again and this is a very economical way to import. The border staff were very friendly and used to this activity as the parcel service does a booming business in car parts. July 27/08 1st set of basic numbers from the tank. 1.025 SG Ph 8.2 dKH 15 Ca 380 PO4 .25 mg/L Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrite do not register. From previous tests both PO4, and Ca seem in range but dKH is higher, Ca is bit low bit my tests do vary from 360 to 420. As I don't have anything other than Coraline using calcium, I should be fine. The Live Rock I got last week stinks like nothing I have ever gotten. I did an ammonia test on the water it was in, 3.7. Never saw the test kit go that blue so fast. Put it in new water. Guess it is going to be a while before those pieces hit the tank. I always read the debates from some who advocate that a skimmer is not necessary. This is what you get after one day with nothing as a bioload. Sorry for the crummy picture. I love my skimmer now, works like a charm. UPDATE The tang is eating Mysis and flakes soaked in Selcon and feeds very well. Still not a lover of Nori - it did eat it flaked and soaked in selcon. the colour has improved and you can even see more blue on the portion of the upper fin that I think was nipped. I have tried pellets but it doesn't seem to like them. Any suggestions to get the veggies in it's diet? I am thinking of trying to find a flake version of formula two. This picture marks two weeks of QT and peace.

08/09/2008, 06:53 PM	#29
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Last weekend I released my tang into the display, to take advantage of the better water conditions, here is how he looks now, his favorite food is Mysis shimp - soaked in Selcon. Selcon on the Nori he will eat, but not with gusto.

08/09/2008, 06:55 PM	#30
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Here is a current full tank shot under the lights, I still have 3 pieces of LR stitting in QT waiting to be added in a week or so. One of the little frags I placed in the bottom of the tank and it has a bit of pink coral growing on it, at least I think it is coral... Sorry for the blurry pic, but I am not a good picture taker.

08/09/2008, 07:02 PM	#31
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Thought I would add my last set of numbers from August 1/08 1.024 Sg 8.1 Ph Nothing registers for NH3, N03, or NO2 14 DKh 480 Ca .25 P04 I have an opportunity to pick up a medium pinkish Finger Leather locally. I had thought about adding some Xenia, Zoos, or GSP. Any comments?

08/10/2008, 06:33 PM	#34
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Well, I had a question on whether you Quarantine Coral's like you do fish, and so I posted it on the Soft Corals forum. This was before I hit the books last night to look for answers. The short of it is yes, for between 2-4 weeks. So I picked up my first coral from another aquarist locally. Here it is a Finger Leather....

08/12/2008, 11:36 PM	#35
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	I posted in a local F/S thread for saltwater livestock that I was in need of frags from local reef keepers, and I was lucky enough to find a fellow willing to assist me with the following: #1 Hairy Mushroom #2 & #3 Zoo's (red/green and green) #4 More Zoo's (green) #5 Purple/Blueish Mushroom Missing from photo #6 Pulsing Xenia (They move in the current so all photos are blurry) If anyone can give me the proper name (or a better name) please let me know. They are all in QT with the Leather Coral. All I need now is GSP & one nice Candy Cane. Thanks

09/30/2008, 11:17 PM	#36
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Okay, sleeping at the keyboard here, well summer has come and gone in this area, and it is time to post an update. Full Tank Shot Some pics of the zoos.. I love the hairy mushroom - I am getting two more blue green ones Wed from a local reefkeeper. And the mushroom has multiplied. All other corals are doing well and with new heads popping out. I haven't added anything new to the tank as of yet.

09/30/2008, 11:30 PM	#37
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	I had to travel for work a bit lately (reason for the green calcium loving algae - which has been removed since the last pic was taken), and I needed to come up with a means to top off the tank. Here was my DIY solution. Its crude, but it works like a charm. I used airline tubing running to a valve and set to slowly drip in to the tank. About 1 drip / sec hold the volume. A full pail of water lasts 3 days. I started adding about 3 tsp of Reef Buffer to the top off water and it has helped bring up my Ph to 8.3 for the last test, so I will keep at it. My latest test results were as follows. (I think my KH test kit is getting old, although I seem to recall RC having high test values about the time I purchased these buckets). Date S.G PH Ammonia Nitrate Nitrite dKH Ca Phosphate 7/27/2008 1.025 8.2 0 0 0 15 19 380 0.25 8/1/2008 1.024 8.1 0 0 0 14 24 480 0.25 8/16/2008 1.025 7.9 0 0 0 15 22 440 0.25 9/27/2008 1.025 8.3 0 0 0 17 21 420 0.25 oh... my DIY top off.

10/01/2008, 08:32 AM	#39
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	No - He is very much alive. I turned on the lights to take the pictures, so it was still sleeping in the rockwork on the FTS. Depending on the light the HLLE is silver or blue, the pitting on the belly is mostly filled in. The fin that was eroded has mostly grown back. He is getting bigger and swims like Phelps - Fast. Here he is on the 24th of September. He needs a buddy now, but someone equally peaceful. I am thinking of adding a butterflyfish (I have searched on RC and the web in general on the requirements and understand what I am in for). Any personal insights are welcome as to what you feed and how you got it to take foods at first are welcome. I understand the term Reef Safe is dependent on the individual . Species I am interested in are Copperbanded and Yellow Long Nose.

10/01/2008, 09:48 PM	#41
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Thanks Ehaze, I wish he didn't get that way in the first place but he has improved. I think the Nori I add gets eaten by the snails and other grazers - never see him touch it. He does hang out with the fish shaped clip. I picked up my two new Mushrooms - I think they will end up being the same colour as the one I have, but that is okay. One was not fully attached - I put a rubber band loosely on it to hope it attaches to a piece of rock. I assume most of you use the gel form of superglue?

10/02/2008, 09:59 PM	#42
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	THE DORI EATS NORI.... Sorry for the 'nemo' reference but it rhymed. After cleaing the algea eating stomatella's out of the veggie clip. I stuck some Nori in for the Snails to eat as I never saw the Hippo eat it, not once in the year I have had the fish. Not even a peck. Soaked in Selcon - Nadda. Dripped in Garlic Guard - turned and swam away. So I plunked it in with nothing on it and before I dried off my arm it was picking at it like a dog on the bone. After 8 pics I got one to prove it. Okay so I shouldn't get this excited about a herbivour eating veggies, but it took him long enough. Now I know I won't be feeding the population of snails & other Algae grazers.

10/02/2008, 10:05 PM	#43
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Yesterday I picked up two more Hairy Mushrooms, the bottom one was rubberbanded to a small piece of live rock as it was not attached when I picked it up. Sometime during the night it found it's own home - I hope it stays there. I also snapped a pic of the full wall I put the tank in as I added the door earlier this week. It finishes it off and makes everything appear cleaner. Trim will come much later when the baseboards go down. You can also see the relocation of the leather to a higher flow and higher light location - it seems to like it better.

10/02/2008, 10:06 PM	#44
ludnix Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Posts: 3,031	I really hope the tang pulls through. It looks like you've done everything possible to make a safe environment for him and looks like he's on the road to recovery. __________________ -Eric Sutter Current Tank Info: 14g Biocube

10/03/2008, 04:36 AM	#46
erbio Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NY Posts: 625	That hippo looked bad. I'm surprised he's still alive. No offense intended!

10/03/2008, 08:41 AM	#47
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Thanks for your encouragement, I also really appreciate that those of you who feel I should be banned from keeping fish remain relatively silent. I had searched long and hard about HLLE when I thought that was what he was suffering from. I finally found a picture that matched the condition of my fish, but no one had ever posted before and after pictures and outlined what they had done to make the fish better. It is a shame that I didn't discover this site until six months after keeping Salt Water, there is so much to learn in this hobby and the resource here is fantastic. I often see a new person to the Salty side post on a local forum before purchasing anything, the mounds of advice must be overwhelming. I would have made different purchase decisions of that I am sure. I never, ever, would have run a tank without a skimmer. I am now firmly of the belief that if you don't add the skimmer - you don't do salt. Period. Yes, you can keep the fish alive, but in my experience they will not thrive. I am considering picking up a little skimmer for my 10G QT as when I had my 30G QT setup I had an incredible time fighting algae and ammonia outbreaks. Anyone had experience with the â€œCurrent Fission Nano Hang-On Protein Skimmerâ€. It is small, at 6.5â€ by 2â€. One stated it ran the collection cup line to a pop bottle, so that should prevent an overflow of the cup. If you want to see what it looks like here is the link. It is a pump driven air injection, not a wooden airstone style. http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/cu...n+Skimmer.html I need to get the QT up and running within a week as I am ready to add another fish. I also would like to do it before winter sets in hard, just seems strange bringing a fish home in the snow.

10/12/2008, 08:25 PM	#48
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	Well I ordered that little skimmer I was looking at as well as the two powerheads, a mag float and an amonia reducer listed on JL aquatics site to help in aclimation. I had high readings on my last QT tank so I thought it may help. It may be snake oil but we will try it at least. As the name of the thread is how to increase my posts - I have 88 now. Latest shopping trip - ordered online from JL Aquatics - fast shipping and prices comparable to Dr Fosters (before the CDN$ dropped against the US$). The actual size of the skimmer is shown with my finger for comparison - I don't have large mitts either! I have to build a stand for the QT tank and then will get the skimmer set up and show you how it works.

10/12/2008, 08:27 PM	#49
rampantmarine Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 165	I noticed two days ago I had a big event in my tank...My largest mushroom split into two!

10/12/2008, 10:11 PM	#50
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	I think you have done a great job saving that tang and he is well on his way to recovery. He is starting to look great! We have all made mistakes while starting out in this hobby or even after many years in the hobby but most here will not admit it. I think its great that you were not afraid to admit you had made a mistake and then documented how you solved it. Many people can learn from this thread now. I can't believe someone told you to put the fish down! I find it disgusting that was his way of dealing with a sick fish. I guess it's all about the easy way out with some people. Im glad you spent the time help him rather than give up on him! He will be a very special fish to you for a long time! Good work with the tank.