14g (now 20g) Anemone/Ricordea/Goby Cube
- Nano Build
- Thread starter TriggersAmuck
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OP
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TriggersAmuck
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Update 8/13:
Added the following this week:
Added the following this week:
- 7 Rock Anemones
- 2 Green Bubble Tip Anemones (GBTAs)
- 1 Rose Bubble Tip Anemone (RBTA)
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OP
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TriggersAmuck
Well-Known Member
Update 8/22:
Added the following this week:
As to the lighting, amazingly with the large central rock dividing the tank up to the surface, 2 AI Primes just weren't cutting it to give the intense lighting these anemones need. When I added the 2nd one a few weeks ago my one GBTA started bubbling up very nicely. Now I'm seeing that with the newer BTAs as well. Unfortunately having 3 Primes on top of a 15" x 15" cube starts to look more like a Frankenstein science experiment. I will post a video soon (after cleaning up a bit of the algae).
Speaking of, the algae seems to be getting worse, so I have a date with my test kits this weekend to see if the NO3s and PO4s are still where I want them. I rinsed the Chaeto out this past week and was horrified to see how much detritus it had been capturing, so this might have been behind a NO3 spike (assuming there is one).
Added the following this week:
- 1 Green Banded Goby (bringing total count to 3.....awesome fish for a small tank!)
- 1 Red Head Goby (Elacatinus puncticulatus)
- Duetto ATO
- A third AI Prime LED (the original model I had sitting around from a former larger tank)
As to the lighting, amazingly with the large central rock dividing the tank up to the surface, 2 AI Primes just weren't cutting it to give the intense lighting these anemones need. When I added the 2nd one a few weeks ago my one GBTA started bubbling up very nicely. Now I'm seeing that with the newer BTAs as well. Unfortunately having 3 Primes on top of a 15" x 15" cube starts to look more like a Frankenstein science experiment. I will post a video soon (after cleaning up a bit of the algae).
Speaking of, the algae seems to be getting worse, so I have a date with my test kits this weekend to see if the NO3s and PO4s are still where I want them. I rinsed the Chaeto out this past week and was horrified to see how much detritus it had been capturing, so this might have been behind a NO3 spike (assuming there is one).
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OP
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TriggersAmuck
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The new Red Head goby is stunning!!! What one doesn't see in most photos is that under reef bluish lighting there are blue streaks in the body that really pop in addition to the obvious ruby red head. Awesome fish for the small nano, if you are looking for something a little "different" (and don't have the space for Triggers, which used to be my go-to fish!).
OP
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TriggersAmuck
Well-Known Member
Update 9/21:
- Tested the water for the first time in a long time
- Alk: 6.0 (oops....water change it is)
- NO3: < 1
- PO4: 0.01 (yay)
- Anemones are all doing well
- Even though the nutrients are clearly nice and low, hair algae still flourishes. I'm guessing the input is just matched by the algae's consumption (aided by the bright lighting for the 'nems, thus turning this tank into a full sized turf scrubber).
- I had to remove the Chaeto as it was looking bleached and not healthy. Still deciding whether to add another bunch or not.
OP
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TriggersAmuck
Well-Known Member
Update 9/26:
- Added a "Watermelon" Green Bubble Tip Anemone, still settling in. (Hey, LiveAquaria gave it that name, not me).
- One sexy shrimp added. (I think it is still in there somewhere?!)
OP
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TriggersAmuck
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Update 10/10:
- First sighting of the wee little Sexy Shrimp since I added it a few weeks ago. Figured it had become a snack, but it somehow found its way across the tank in a jungle of hair algae!
OP
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TriggersAmuck
Well-Known Member
Update 10/15:
- Added a container of sea lettuce from @AlgaeBarn to see if it thrives better than the cheato did.
- Tonight I'll add a container of the same company's copepods, as well as their coralline algae additive. All in the name of making this a less sterile environment and hoping to slowly win over this hair algae.
- I bought an IM MiniMax reactor and some RowaPhos, but I'm going to hold off adding that until I see how the tank responds to the lettuce addition. Measured phosphate levels have been very low, but clearly there is some level of phosphate driving the growth of the long hair. I think the levels must just be on the hairy edge (see what I did there?) where the algae is consuming exactly the amount being added. No need to add a turf scrubber when your whole tank IS a turf scrubber! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Miguel Negron
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The build is coming along beautifully!
OP
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TriggersAmuck
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Update 11/6:
- The inevitable finally happened, with the larger Fire Clown turning on the smaller one horribly. I managed to isolate the smaller in a floating acclimation box, and he appears to be making a comeback, eating well and eyes clearing up. I'll wait for the damage to the tail to heal completely then re-home one of them, probably at the LFS. I had been thinking this time was coming soon over the past few weeks but hadn't looked forward to having to remove all of the rock (with anemones attached) in order to catch the smaller one. He took care of that for me by fleeing to the top corners of the tank on the very day when the larger one unleashed its fiery (see what I did there?) fury.
- I had successfully paired two pairs of Maroons previously, so this was my first failed pairing attempt (a year in the making). Just glad that I caught the small guy in time to keep worse things from happening.
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OP
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TriggersAmuck
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Update 11/11:
- Mail order came in today: Watched as a $30 goby (Gold Neon Eviota Goby) floated right into my larger BTA (which completely enjoyed that snack).
- Of the two sexy shrimp, one seemed DOA.
- Remind me why I'm in this hobby again? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
RichtheReefer21
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Uve already surpassed the patience and commitment bailout-point most people who try this hobby get to. Ur built for this. The toughest battle is waiting to add anything until the tank achieves maturity. You go through the uglies, you live, you learn, you keep on swimming. Reefing is a marathon. Guys with 5+ years old reefs have losses. Chin up. Keep researching. Keep grinding.
OP
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TriggersAmuck
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Problem is I have roughly 35 years of reefing experience and still deal with these issues! LOLZ
RichtheReefer21
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U didnt come across that way, apologies. Here for the ride.
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OP
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TriggersAmuck
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Update 11/13:
- This morning, when I went to right the breeder cage my male Fire clown has been recovering in (it is a floating type, not a latch on type mount), the small clown went utterly berserk and thrashed for a period of what I can only imagine was less than three seconds, banging against every wall and the top lid until it was stunned completely senseless. As far as I can tell he is dead, as it has been an hour without any hint of motion. Holy ****. This is a new one for me, and I feel absolutely, horribly responsible, like I just aided in a horrific suicide.
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