First Foray into Reefkeeping

AnomMatty · May 29, 2024

Monday(5/27) - Ammonia - 0.375, Nitrite 0.05, Nitrate 0.25
Tuesday(5/28) - Ammonia - 0.5, Nitrite 0.1, Nitrate 2

Have been dosing ~7.5ml of Ammonium Chloride each day.

AnomMatty · May 30, 2024

First addition today. Our youngest daughter has dubbed him 'Derpy Derek'

esquare · May 30, 2024

Very cool, I really like hawk fish

AnomMatty · May 30, 2024

esquare said:
Very cool, I really like hawk fish

We were pretty set on a clownfish (or pair) as first, and saw this guy in the fish store in the past 2 weeks. He was still there today, so he came home with us.

esquare · May 30, 2024

AnomMatty said:
We were pretty set on a clownfish (or pair) as first, and saw this guy in the fish store in the past 2 weeks. He was still there today, so he came home with us.

I think you guys will enjoy watching him almost as much as a clown pair. I've never had a flame but I have had a longnose and Falco. It's fun to watch how they perch and move around. They are a different dynamic to the tank. Some can be aggressive I believe so since he was added first you may wish to use an acclimation box when adding additional fish. Also, be careful with small shrimp as Hawks can prey on them (at least the ones I have had). Larger shrimp should be ok.

Awesome fish

AnomMatty · May 30, 2024

esquare said:
I think you guys will enjoy watching him almost as much as a clown pair. I've never had a flame but I have had a longnose and Falco. It's fun to watch how they perch and move around. They are a different dynamic to the tank. Some can be aggressive I believe so since he was added first you may wish to use an acclimation box when adding additional fish. Also, be careful with small shrimp as Hawks can prey on them (at least the ones I have had). Larger shrimp should be ok.

Awesome fish

Thanks for the heads up! We're not planning on any shrimp, though I know they can potentially be a menace to snails as well. Trying to be thorough with stocking and adding, so fingers crossed.

AnomMatty · Jun 1, 2024

Derek has a healthy appetite, at least when it comes to frozen mysis. He eats freeze dried spirulina, but I believe the issue is it stays at the top. Absolutely 0 interest in pellets so far.

Have a small cuc, pods, chaeto, and a refugium light on the way.

AnomMatty · Jun 5, 2024

Derek had enough of me fiddling with flow last night.

esquare · Jun 5, 2024

AnomMatty said:
Derek had enough of me fiddling with flow last night.

Lol

AnomMatty · Jun 6, 2024

Shootout to reefbreeders for the cuc delivery today. Less than 4 hours and 90% of it is moving already.

First post update.

AnomMatty · Jun 10, 2024

Kessil A360X (Tuna Blue) and Hydros XP8 on the way through our LFS. Should be picking up this weekend.

Should also be adding a mated pair of Mocha Storm Clowns in the next week/two.

Trying to figure out ATO specifics. Leaning into a control 2 or 4 and Hydros ATO kit, but undecided on reservoir.

AnomMatty · Jun 13, 2024

A360X installed last night. I forgot to grab a pic but will today. Have a 2nd I found through the forum coming.

Wound up ordering the controller stuff and ATO online, as my LFS couldn't get ahold of anything that would accomplish my goals within the next couple weeks.

AnomMatty · Jun 13, 2024

AnomMatty · Jun 14, 2024

Daughter and probably future-son-in-law dropped off my Father's Day gift today. A blasto I off-hand said I liked and a couple other frags. Nervous and excited both

Quitting time can't come quick enough.

esquare · Jun 14, 2024

AnomMatty said:
Daughter and probably future-son-in-law dropped off my Father's Day gift today. A blasto I off-hand said I liked and a couple other frags. Nervous and excited both

Quitting time can't come quick enough.

Blastos are one of my favorite. One thing I have found is they tend to prefer low light.

AnomMatty · Jun 15, 2024

Long, long, lonnnngg day today. But I got them dipped and in the DT.

Still have to trim the frag plugs and place them.

They are:
Laser Eye Blasto (one I pointed out)
Milka Stylo (Mystery Frag)
Blowpop Zoa (Freebie)

I believe that's the order L to R, but I could be wrong about the ends. They're stressed out from shipping and probably even more from chilling in the sump almost 12 hours til I got home and had time to deal with it.

Props to Queen City Corals for their shipping methods. These things were double bagged individually, then bagged together, all in a thoroughly taped box with cold pack.

Also did a small water change, replacing water I pulled for dipping. (~3.5 gallons)

Pics of these in a good state attached, and fingers crossed these are around long enough to teach me some things.

AnomMatty · Jun 15, 2024

AnomMatty said:
They are:
Laser Eye Blasto (one I pointed out)
Milka Stylo (Mystery Frag)
Blowpop Zoa (Freebie)

I believe that's the order L to R, but

Entirely wrong. Zoa, Stylo, Blasto L to R
Looking much better today.