Classroom Pico Reef

[Laniac103]

I got some new inhabitants for the tank! I ordered 3 sexy shrimp but unfortunately only two of them survived, I guess I didn't acclimate them quite right. Also went a little crazy on a Halloween live sale so I'll be adding corals in a few days once they all get here.

 

[Laniac103]

Also its kind of hard to see because of the reflection, but I've noticed this weird, filamentous, almost mucus looking stuff growing in the back chamber. Any idea what it is and whether I need to be concerned about it?

 

[wonroc]

Sponge?

 

[xctorrez]

Nano fish like Trimma, eviota, red head gobies would be cool for a tank your size.

 

[Laniac103]

Nano fish like Trimma, eviota, red head gobies would be cool for a tank your size.

I think I'm gonna stick with just corals and inverts for now. If my students complain too much I might end up getting a fish, but to start with I think I like the idea of low bioload and not having to feel guilty about having a fish in such a small tank.

 

[Laniac103]

Are sexy shrimp nocturnal? When I come in in the morning they all seem to be out and walking around, but as soon as I turn the lights on they hide in the rockwork.

 

[Rtaylor]

Have you considered adding a maxi mini for the shrimp? I know AquaSD has some that are $20 if you don’t mind a mostly green one.

 

[Laniac103]

Have you considered adding a maxi mini for the shrimp? I know AquaSD has some that are $20 if you don’t mind a mostly green one.

I ordered 2 rock flower anemones for them that should be here sometime this week. Those should work right?

 

[dtm2420]

I have a 10 gallon and the flaming prawn goby has really caught my eye

 

[dtm2420]

 

[Rtaylor]

I ordered 2 rock flower anemones for them that should be here sometime this week. Those should work right?

Yes, that should be good

 

[ChaosAquaculture]

this is an awesome thing your doing for your students. Good luck! - kali

 

[Laniac103]

Yes, that should be good

I'm a little worried about putting anemones in such a new tank, but everything I've heard says that RFAs are pretty tough so hopefully I don't have any issues.

 

[Lineatus]

I wouldn’t worry to much, rock flowers are bulletproof

 

[Laniac103]

this is an awesome thing your doing for your students. Good luck! - kali

Yes, totally. For my students....

In all honesty though it has been pretty cool to see them get interested in the tank.

 

[Laniac103]

Got some corals added, the palythoa grandis and the leather haven't opened up yet but the the hammer and the fuzzy mushroom look great imo. Been getting some ugly looking algae cropping up, but it seems to recede over the weekend since the lights stay off when I'm not at school.

 

[Laniac103]

I also got two Rock Flower Anemones, but of course they only seem to want to stay in the back of the tank where I can hardly see them. The shrimp seem happy with them though so

 

[Laniac103]

The polyps on the leather are coming out and they are so bright! The picture doesn't do it justice, this might be my favorite coral in either of my tanks. Hopefully I can get it to grow nice and big.

 

[Laniac103]

Does anyone have any ideas on what I should be doing to make sure the tank will be okay over the thanksgiving break? I'm going to be out of town, and can't really come up to the school to feed it for about a week. I've got a timer for the lights, but I'm worried about starving the shrimp.

 

[Lineatus]

The shrimp will be fine for a week, I personally never target feed the sexies in my nano anyway! I’d personally be more worried about evaporation. Does the tank have an ATO? A very tight fitting lid? :)