First 8.5G cube tank, ocean water, learning curve.

[Gumbies R Us]

Here is my first Duncan. He is like Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive.
I was getting the temp equal for acclimatization and the zip bag must have not been fully closed. So it sank to the bottom of my 182L freshwater tank...

This baby is sound after that adventure

Photo from under blues only.

Nice looking Duncan!

 

[MikeCRK]

Nice looking Duncan!

Thank you! All corals opened first thing in the morning I will upload photos later today, here is a quick photo:

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

 

[MikeCRK]

Here is what arrived

- Clownfish
- Orange Cheek Blenny
- Feather Dust Worm, this one:

So apart from Meteor Shower Cyphastrea, which I am unable to take a proper photo right now (the rest is also far from album style):

War Coral Favites Pentagone

I had to hold it somehow, so that is why some of slime is out. I fed him and he seems to be super happy with it

Summer Breeze Zoa:

Jungle Juice Zoa

Fire Ice Zoa

Duncan, he was fed as well and seemed to be super happy with it Photo prior to feeding

Tequila Sunrise zoa

Rasta Zoa

and a bonus I got (can you please help me with identification? I forgot the name of it!):

and correct me if I messed up the names!

edit: and here is Clownfish, Blenny is hiding in one of the caves in the rockwork, eats well (poops too):

 

[1epauletteshark]

Here is what arrived

- Clownfish
- Orange Cheek Blenny
- Feather Dust Worm, this one:

So apart from Meteor Shower Cyphastrea, which I am unable to take a proper photo right now (the rest is also far from album style) I got:

War Coral Favites Pentagone

I had to hold it somehow, so that is why some of slime is out. I fed him and he seems to be super happy with it

Summer Breeze Zoa:

Jungle Juice Zoa

Fire Ice Zoa

Duncan, he was fed as well and seemed to be super happy with it Photo prior to feeding

Tequila Sunrise zoa

Rasta Zoa

and a bonus I got (can you please help me with identification? I forgot the name of it!):

and correct me if I messed up the names!

I have to see that blenny! Beautiful coral

 

[MikeCRK]

I have to see that blenny! Beautiful coral

Thanks! He is not a celebrity type but I will get him on the photo, he looks really like the one below:

 

[1epauletteshark]

Thanks! He is not a celebrity type but I will get him on the photo, he looks really like the one below:

:0 I love tailspot blennies

 

[MikeCRK]

:0 I love tailspot blennies

Yeah I noticed that they go under two names. Really cool guy hahaha he got a name Garry from my Mrs.

 

[MikeCRK]

and a bonus I got (can you please help me with identification? I forgot the name of it!):

Rainbow Incinerator zoa apparently

 

[MikeCRK]

I think all is going into the right direction

I am keep on seeing some worms coming out at night:

Shall I worry or not to worry? Worms generally are good as this is a part of cleaning team.

 

[1epauletteshark]

I think all is going into the right direction

I am keep on seeing some worms coming out at night:

Shall I worry or not to worry? Worms generally are good as this is a part of cleaning team.

Those worms look fine

 

[MikeCRK]

I just got refractometer. First measurement since tank started (2 months) and... 1025 spot on Only oceanic water and top ups from RO/DI.

Tomorrow larger water change. Fish came in, started to feed them and hermit lost his coat:

NO2: 0.2
NO3: 10
NH3/4: 0.2
PO4: 0

absolutely understandable small spike due to larger bioload.

 

[MikeCRK]

 

[MikeCRK]

Right after 20% water change (fresh from the ocean), all corals happy and pumped, looking like donuts.

 

[MikeCRK]

OK... so... my name is Michael... and I am a compulsive coral buyer... is this a known condition?
I was going to come back with a plating monti... came back with much more as a bonus... including acro which I do not have any hopes it will survive... but, it was snapped and got it as a gift...

This time photos from under blues:

 

[MikeCRK]

After trying to bring the PO4 to measurable levels I have added on Saturday 5 drops of PO4 fertilizer and repeated on Sunday. Visually the rock got a bit greenish, meaning PO4 kicked in. Today I did testing, also because I introduced some monties for a test last night:

NH3/4: 0 ppm
NO2: 0.1 ppm
NO3: 15 ppm
PO4: 0.03 ppm (was zero, as in the ocean water I am running the tank on)
KH: 7.5 (8 displayed overdose, 7 was all blue, the previous reading 7 could be the error)

Please advise are the SPS I introduced are getting well, I believe that water conditions and light are OK, what I am a bit worried is the flow:

1. looking fluffy, many polyps showing, I have noticed those are 'hiding' from time to time but not sure what would be the reason:

2. them getting OK, bit slimy but polyps are popping out from time to time and are nicely visible:

3. This one was a bit pale when I took it due to nearby acro in the original tank. I glued it on the body slightly... In 24 hours it is starting getting the color back and polyps look quite OK if you as me:

4. This one has really nice and visible polyps all over the place, it is also pale as it was in the shadow in the previous tank:

So.. please let me know how I could make them feel better and/or if you see any worrying signs

Thank you!

 

[Fapman]

loving the tank!

 

[MikeCRK]

A quick update from the tank.

So all seems to be good (just war coral still worries me). Thank you @T-J for help!

The corals are growing nicely. Pink zoa was worrying me as it is getting a color strange way (like bleached):

I am really happy that Green Terror paly got its main head fixed after being damaged by one of the hermits. Today first day fully opened! Now the colors please

and I would like to finish this update with the Sarcophyton, who is really seem to be happy all the time!

Hey @Fapman thank you! I like yours too! Similar setup

 

[MikeCRK]

 

[MikeCRK]

A bit of a drama happened today. My candy cane was not getting best, so I have moved it an inch lower and with less exposed to the flow location. Sounds about right yeah?
However, hermit decided to check it out and somehow managed to break it off the rock (epoxy was not fully settled?). Coral fell up side down onto a war coral... It was like that maybe 15-30 minutes... I glued it back but noticed that where it hit badly the war coral some of the skeleton is exposed?
It did not released the "string" so it did not die, extremely stressed.

Will it make it?

Blues:

White:

It "pumped" a bit since photos were taken. I am keeping it under 60% blues, earlier it was also under 20% whites (Aquanight gen2).

I am a bit panicking...

edit: despite looking as it had a hard time (before the incident) I can clearly see a new head coming out!

 

[MikeCRK]

Before:

Now (almost two weeks later):