Valkyrie's 20g Box of Lightning

[Valkyrie]

A couple of hours ago I was finally able to order from "The Coral Dudes" a pair of maroon lightning clowns. So I figured, what the heck, I'll try posting my build and see how it goes. It'll give me practice for the 180g when we get it.

I already have a 29g and a 55g. But this is the first tank that I'm planning carefully. Not only will it have the 2 clowns, but a yellow headed jawfish, too. That's it, no other fish since it's just 20g. The 3 will be a bit of a load, but I plan to stay on top of the water changes and monitoring the parameters.

So here's a picture of what I have so far.

The eggcrate isn't going to be used, it's just there because I hate the sound rock on glass *shudder*. I'm going to use short columns of pvc to hold the rock up so that they don't tumble onto the jawfish when he burrows under them.

 

[Diesel]

When your fish will be delivered or did you put them on a hold?

 

[Valkyrie]

When your fish will be delivered or did you put them on a hold?

This is the second wave of orders for them and they won't start delivering until the first week of March. So I have all of February, plus I'll be doing at least 30 days of quarantine or as long as 73 days.

 

[Diesel]

This is the second wave of orders for them and they won't start delivering until the first week of March. So I have all of February, plus I'll be doing at least 30 days of quarantine or as long as 73 days.

I like your game plan.

 

[Valkyrie]

I like your game plan.

Thanks!
Oh, I meant 76 days, not 73. I'm not sure why that number will not stick in my head.

 

[Valkyrie]

Got things running finally. It's been cycling for about 2 weeks. Tomorrow we set up the 20g QT. I'm running a bit behind schedule, but I'm not terribly worried. I'm betting that the clowns won't be shipped until late March.

 

[Valkyrie]

The lightning clowns start shipping out on Wednesday! That doesn't necessarily mean mine will be sent out and I kind of hope not since we only just set up the QT this weekend. But, I have DrTim's, Stability and Prime on hand if necessary.

 

[Valkyrie]

The ugly brown stage. Don't you just love it?

 

[Valkyrie]

I got some trochus snails a few weeks ago and they're cleaning things up quite nicely. I forgot to get some cerith snails, but I'll get some next trip north. Took a pic today to share, I know it's pretty ugly. I would like to find a really nice cosmic background that doesn't cost more than $20, but so far the best ones have been nearly $50. No thanks.

I did get the lightning maroons on April 15th. They're so darn tiny! Right now they're in quarantine and will be for a while. Frankie, the black-capped jaw fish, is in another QT. His mouth is as big as the clown fish, so I'm bit worried about putting them in with him. I'm hoping they'll grow enough while in QT that I won't have to figure out a different plan.

Here's a pic of Frankie, playing a troll:

The pics of the clowns aren't very good, between the lighting and their diminutive size they're a bit of a challenge. Especially the smaller one that likes to stay in the back.

I haven't been able to decide if I wanted to commit to more than weekly water changes or not, so I doubt there will be much more than these 3 fish in the tank. I'd like to add some cleaner shrimp and/or a sexy shrimp, but I'm afraid the bio-load will be too great. On that note, I've decided to graduate this aquarium to a 40g. I have to convince my husband that I can find a place for it that isn't in the way, so it will be a while. I'm happy that he's agreed to support me changing the 29g to a 60g cube, IF I CAN EVER FIND A USED ONE that doesn't cost an arm & a leg, so I have to demonstrate some forward thinking...not something I'm known for, LOL. I always say, "I'll figure it out later", but that's not going to work this round.