IM 75g Ext "Ryan's TRB"

[Justfebreezeit]

Hey everyone. Mini update. Tank is going through a pretty thick bacterial bloom for the last few days. I'm not sure how well it comes out in the picture but its pretty gnarley.


It doesn't seem to be affecting the fish or anything. It makes me wonder though. I used candles with my last tank no problem but this did seem to start a day after I had a candle going for about an hour. This tank does have a lot more surface area so that might have caused it. Or it could just be the new tank syndrome. It's a little over 2 months now!

On that note I have corraline starting to speckle the abs bottom! By far the fastest I've ever had it grow, especially with dry rock. I did use The ARC corraline bottles and it started to appear before I added any snails(or anything that could possible carry in corraline). So it's safe to say viable spores are contained in those bottles if anyone was curious.


If anyone has any input on the bacterial bloom let me know. I imagine it will go away on its own but I ordered a UV sterilizer to clear it up faster, and I will have it ready in case something similar happens again.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I threw a UV sterilizer and cleared up the bacterial bloom. Clear as can be now. Here are some quick shots of some of my fish.



Everyone is doing great.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Your fish look awesome. That possum wrasse is really cool.
How're the sticks holding up? I had an easy green piece in mine and its starting to encrust a little how you had been describing.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Your fish look awesome. That possum wrasse is really cool.
How're the sticks holding up? I had an easy green piece in mine and its starting to encrust a little how you had been describing.

Thanks! Yeah he is cool, the last few days he is finally starting to traverse the tank as he pleases without being shy. He is almost always out now.

The acro's are doing ok. Definitely still encrusting albeit pretty slow, but again, i'm happy with them just surviving the next few months haha. My ORA stag is actually showing some growth on the brances, I will have to get a picture in the next few days.

Good to hear yours is encrusting! Nothing but good news! Its always fun when they finally cover all the glue and make it to the rockwork.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Thanks! Yeah he is cool, the last few days he is finally starting to traverse the tank as he pleases without being shy. He is almost always out now.

The acro's are doing ok. Definitely still encrusting albeit pretty slow, but again, i'm happy with them just surviving the next few months haha. My ORA stag is actually showing some growth on the brances, I will have to get a picture in the next few days.

Good to hear yours is encrusting! Nothing but good news! Its always fun when they finally cover all the glue and make it to the rockwork.

Definitely looking forward to more pictures!

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Heres a shot where you can see the growth tips. Its in the back of the tank so its almost impossible to get my phone to take an in focus shot. I put it back there so the height of the stag would be in the background. hopefully it pans out it has a great rich purple with indigo tips.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

When they become big massive colonies it’ll be hard to take a bad one!

That awesome that they’re still going strong. I’m sure they can do nothing but improve and grow from here.

What are you doing for chemistry right now? I’m asking because I’m not doing squat other than water changes.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

When they become big massive colonies it’ll be hard to take a bad one!

That awesome that they’re still going strong. I’m sure they can do nothing but improve and grow from here.

What are you doing for chemistry right now? I’m asking because I’m not doing squat other than water changes.

Nothing other than water changes as well.

I have manually dosed some 2 part twice just to keep it at 8.

I plan to get a kalk stirrer for the immediate future and have a dose I can bring online as well

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Nothing other than water changes as well.

I have manually dosed some 2 part twice just to keep it at 8.

I plan to get a kalk stirrer for the immediate future and have a dose I can bring online as well

That sounds like a solid plan. I like it.

Historically I’ve been very lax about testing and usually only did water changes for chemistry.
I’m planning on paying a bit more attention to chemistry this time around. I’m starting a collection of Hanna checkers and planning on doing some sort of kalk dripper or stirrer and then eventually switch to a calcium reactor.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

That sounds like a solid plan. I like it.

Historically I’ve been very lax about testing and usually only did water changes for chemistry.
I’m planning on paying a bit more attention to chemistry this time around. I’m starting a collection of Hanna checkers and planning on doing some sort of kalk dripper or stirrer and then eventually switch to a calcium reactor.

Definitely love the hanna alk checker. Makes testing alk often a breeze. If I had to do titration everytime I might of quit the hobby lol

 

[Calpoly2103]

Tank looks awesome ! I'm in the final stages of cycling. I was curious, what kind of clowns are those? They look really really really cool !!!!

I was considering a pair of Picaso's or Davinci's, but now I'm not sure

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Tank looks awesome ! I'm in the final stages of cycling. I was curious, what kind of clowns are those? They look really really really cool !!!!

I was considering a pair of Picaso's or Davinci's, but now I'm not sure

Thanks for checking the thread out!

They are black ice clowns, the Male for me definitely looks way cooler though.

I like both of your choices as well, though if I could find a decent deal I might have done the mocha storms.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Definitely love the hanna alk checker. Makes testing alk often a breeze. If I had to do titration everytime I might of quit the hobby lol

Oh yeah, they’re wonderful. I also like the phosphate checker. The titration drives me nuts. I’ve been trying to find a calcium test kit I like, but have heard that the Hanna one becomes inaccurate over time.
Any suggestions?

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Oh yeah, they’re wonderful. I also like the phosphate checker. The titration drives me nuts. I’ve been trying to find a calcium test kit I like, but have heard that the Hanna one becomes inaccurate over time.
Any suggestions?

Im in the same boat. I didn't purchase the hanna because like you said the reviews are pretty iffy. I've tried salifert and red sea and not a fan of either.

It makes me test calcium very sparsely, same for magnesium.

I do use hanna for phos and nyos for nitrate.

I'd gladly pay a LFS to weekly test calcium and mag, but trusting the results are a different story.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Im in the same boat. I didn't purchase the hanna because like you said the reviews are pretty iffy. I've tried salifert and red sea and not a fan of either.

It makes me test calcium very sparsely, same for magnesium.

I do use hanna for phos and nyos for nitrate.

I'd gladly pay a LFS to weekly test calcium and mag, but trusting the results are a different story.

I appreciate your input.
I’ve thought about just taking my water out to be tested as well, but still never bothered, for similar reasons as yours. I’ve tried those same brands for calcium. I like Red Sea more, errr.... I dislike the Red Sea one less.
If I find one I’m fond of I’ll definitely let you know.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

I appreciate your input.
I’ve thought about just taking my water out to be tested as well, but still never bothered, for similar reasons as yours. I’ve tried those same brands for calcium. I like Red Sea more, errr.... I dislike the Red Sea one less.
If I find one I’m fond of I’ll definitely let you know.

Yea for sure! Share anything you find to make life easier. I'll do the same!

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Picked up this Lubbocks fairy wrasse at my LFS today, got it straight out of the shipment box was pretty pumped! I've had him for 3 days now and he ate the second day in and eats rather voraciously.

Going to release him in another night or two into the display.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

Digging it. But also hoping for more pictures when he/she makes it into the display proper.
Have you had much wrasse experience? I’m only asking because lately I’ve been considering one as potential pest prevention. I know six lines are common, but am curious about some of the fancier (not necessarily expensive) species.
Basically, just curious in general about your experience with wrasses overall. I’m eager to be educated.

 

[Justfebreezeit]

Digging it. But also hoping for more pictures when he/she makes it into the display proper.
Have you had much wrasse experience? I’m only asking because lately I’ve been considering one as potential pest prevention. I know six lines are common, but am curious about some of the fancier (not necessarily expensive) species.
Basically, just curious in general about your experience with wrasses overall. I’m eager to be educated.

I've read a lot about them recently, and have had a sixline in the past. The lined wrasses seem to be the best for pests but also the most aggressive.

The halichoeres wrasses (yellow coris, melanarus etc....) are also great pest eaters but for the most are much less aggressive.

The other wrasses from what I understand have a much more limited pest control potential and mostly just would rather graze pods.

I'm hoping my wrasses do some pest control but I mostly like how active and peaceful they are.

That's pretty much the extent of my wrasse knowledge lol.

 

[Rufus’ goofs]

I've read a lot about them recently, and have had a sixline in the past. The lined wrasses seem to be the best for pests but also the most aggressive.

The halichoeres wrasses (yellow coris, melanarus etc....) are also great pest eaters but for the most are much less aggressive.

The other wrasses from what I understand have a much more limited pest control potential and mostly just would rather graze pods.

I'm hoping my wrasses do some pest control but I mostly like how active and peaceful they are.

That's pretty much the extent of my wrasse knowledge lol.

Well thank you. I’m still grateful for what you have to share. I’m definitely going to look into a yellow melanurus wrasse based on your information.

I hope your little guy does well! Definitely looking forward to more pictures when he’s finished acclimating.