ReefKeeping Adventures Minus the Sump by Tyson Lee

Third Month (October 24th - November 26th)

Feel free to mail me comments or suggestions:mailto:tyson.lee@telecheck.com

This has been probably the most successful and carefree the tank has been since first setup. I have had to do little in the way of removing algae as I was having to do before. I am still battling with the parameters in the way of Ph and Calcium, but all inhabitants look good and corraline is growing. <shrug>

 

Additions

 

Corals and Inverts

T. Derasa The Tridacna clam was one I could not pass up. The price was right at $30.00 and it exhibited mostly brown coloring. I figured I would place it near the top of the tank and see what happens. Well, I can only report good things thus far. It took it about two days for it to attach loosely to a rock. Since then, it extends his mantle daily and seems to appreciate my alkalinity and calcium levels. I say this cause today there is about a 2mm white ridge all the way around the shell. I can only assume this is calcium growth of the shell.

Blue Mushrooms This little colony is something the Mrs. had been wanting for a while. I picked them up at a LFS for about $25.00. It came on two small rocks. Since the addition of the blue mushrooms to the tank, they have fallen off and found new homes on other rocks.

Watermelon Mushrooms Another colony picked up at a LFS. These shrooms have some of the coolest coloration patterns I have seen. It is a much larger colony than the blue mushrooms also. I am not sure why I have taken a liking to mushrooms soo much, but they really seem fascinating to me. Especially when they take to active feeding.

T. Maxima Ok...ok..ok...perhaps its one I maybe should not have added, but to this point it is doing great. It is very small and has a purple/blue-green coloration to its mantle. Within 2 hours of getting it home, it had attached firmly to a rock. However, repeated battles with snails knocking him over, made me relocate him. Since relocation(about two days after receiving him), he has looked nothing but better and better. His mantle extends fully and he reacts rather violently to any outside stimulation, moreso than the T. Derasa. We shall see how long I can keep this little guy successfully with N.O. flourescents. Despite what I have read, I have spoke with ppl who have kept T. Maxima successfully under N.O. for over two years. Only time will tell.

 

Rock and Equipment

Did not add much in the way of equipment or rock this month. I think I will stick with what I have. I now have four powerheads in the tank though.

 

 Maintenance

Did all sorts of routine maintenance on the tank. Almost have all the bio-balls out of the Eheim. Removed carbon from the Fluval. Only using a minimal amount of floss in the fluval. It has basically been reduced to a pump.

Started using Kalk dripped at night for topoff water. Now using a combination of Kent A/B and Kalk. Still experimenting.

I have noticed a small amount of red hair algae wanting to accumulate in one area on my substrate. I have increased water-flow in that direction, but it has not helped at all. IT seems that it appeared when I removed the carbon from the canister. I suppose the carbon was removing some organics that my skimmer is not. My Nitrates remain at 0 through all of this. I suppose its possible to have organics that really are not reflected in the form of elevated nitrates <shrug>. I say all of this without much worry anymore cause everything is getting easier for me. It seems that once established, the tank is relatively easy to maintain. Of course, you must stress good husbandry with your water changes, and gravel cleanings, but this is part of the fun. When there is a problem, read up on it and tackle it any way you can. Its just like a big puzzle. J

10/24/97

1.023

8.1

Y

10/25/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y 1/2

Added derasa. Switched to Kent Superbuffer.

10/26/97

1.023

8.3

Y

Y

Added small blue shrooms.

10/27/97

1.023

8.2

Y

10/28/97

1.023

8.1

Y

10/29/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Derasa is now attached loosely to a rock near the top of the tank.

10/30/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Dripped Kalk overnight./dosing iodine every other day

10/31/97

1.023

8.1

Half

Cleaned skimmer cup.

Date

S.G.

PH

Alk

WC

Ca

Trace

Stron&Moly

Kalk

Iodine

Misc Notes

11/1/97

1.023

8.1

11.2

11/2/97

1.023

8.1

5

Y

Y

Y

Y

Now dosing iodine every day

11/3/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Derasa is doing well. Occasionally gets bumped by the snails.

11/4/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

11/5/97

1.023

8.1

Y

11/6/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

11/7/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Cleaned entire skimmer and removed more bio-balls from Eheim.

11/8/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

Added T. Maxima(1.5").

11/9/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

Added Watermelon Shrooms.

11/10/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

Y

Calcium around 380ppm and dKh still about 10-11. Dosing Kalk nightly.

11/11/97

1.023

8.1

Y

11/12/97

1.023

8.1

Y

11/13/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

11/14/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

Cleaned skimmer cup. Calcium 380ppm.

11/15/97

1.023

8.1

Y

11/16/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

11/17/97

1.023

8.1

5

Y

Y

Cleaned Fluval/Removed carbon and most of floss. Calcium=380

11/18/97

1.023

8.1

Y

11/19/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

Y

11/20/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

11/21/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

11/22/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

Noticed white growth marks on Derasa around entire shell.

11/23/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Y

Cleaned skimmer and cup.

11/24/97

1.023

8.1

11.2

Y

Y

11/25/97

1.023

8.1

Y

Both clams appear to be doing very well.

11/26/97

1.023

8.1

 

Attempt at pictures

 

Here is some more pictures of my tank along with the new additions. The T. Maxima clam has since been relocated and looks much better than when I received it. Also, don't forget to stop by http://www.acropora.com and cast your vote for the reef contest. My low-tech tank is there.

 

Conclusion

Looks as though time is the only essence in this hobby. If you have the patience, everything will work itself out as long as you have read up on what you are doing. Next month I hope to detail my propagation of Cladiella(Colt Coral). This coral has gotten huge over the past month or so and must be either propagated or traded in. I would like to try the propagation. Till next time......