Fishroom Reality Check

[NY_Caveman]

That is a beautiful image.

 

[Victoria M]

In between meltdowns, there’s some sweetness...

That is just precious. Almost makes up for the melt downs doesn't it?

 

[Victoria M]

My husband could tell when he walked through the door that it had been a day. He would say "you want me to hold so you can kick em?" Always cracked me up.

 

[User]

That is just precious. Almost makes up for the melt downs doesn't it?

Almost.

 

[User]

So earlier today I pushed the button on my latest livestock. Went with BlueZoo since they had all three in stock, and pricing was comparable with what I could get locally if they were in. Free shipping didn’t hurt either. Expected delivery 10.30am Tuesday. Getting my TTM set up at 1.018sg tomorrow

Mccoskers flasher
Carpenters flasher
African Midas blenny

Also ordered a new seed of nannochloropsis, some brine shrimp eggs and some Grindal worms. Going to start some live food action too.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

In between meltdowns, there’s some sweetness...

Great photo! One of my favorite parts of reefing is sharing it with my kiddos.

 

[User]

Ok, so swung by petco and grabbed two more 10g tanks, and I got them to price match amazon pricing on two Aqueon 100w preset 78of heaters. Regular price:$ 28.99 at petco, matched at $10.95, lol. Manager was like “should have asked you what price before I said yes, I guess”

Anyway. Cleaned out the tanks, set them up on my new TTM bench, filled one with 1.018 (bluezoo ships at 1.018) , Saran wrapped the other.

Also- when I ordered my last inkbird, I got the one with the replaceable probe (the one BRS just rebranded and started selling as an exclusive for $20 more... ) so I plan to use the same controller for each of the TTM tanks, and replace the probe between rounds. Wash and vinegar soak the previous probe while the new one is in use.

And since my incoming sg is 1.018, and my tank is at 1.025, I did the math needed to raise my salinity to 1.025 during TTM. I made up a batch of 1.035sg saltwater, and a daily removal of 1/3 gallon of water from tank and replacement with this will get me to 1.025 the morning of my transfer to Observation. 12 mini water changes over twelve days. Easy.

Now- should I be anxious that I haven’t had a shipping notice yet? I’ve been reading some not great things about bluezoo since yesterday, mainly things where they claim things are in stock that actually aren’t. Uugghh

 

[Victoria M]

So does ink bird not sell those anymore? And I love the chart. Have you seen mine? It is purple.

I know nothing of bluezoo. I hope it all goes well for you.

 

[User]

So does ink bird not sell those anymore? And I love the chart. Have you seen mine? It is purple.

I know nothing of bluezoo. I hope it all goes well for you.

They do, but I got into it with someone last week about how BRS slapped their logo on an already available product then adding $20. I was even asked to post a pic of the replaceable probe “if you actually have one”, but I didn’t since I’m not a performing monkey.

I did see yours, and it reminded me of our conversation at Christmas about PowerPoint. Etc and making a chart... but things move so fast! I’m excited to try this hybrid ttm

 

[Victoria M]

M

They do, but I got into it with someone last week about how BRS slapped their logo on an already available product then adding $20. I was even asked to post a pic of the replaceable probe “if you actually have one”, but I didn’t since I’m not a performing monkey.

I did see yours, and it reminded me of our conversation at Christmas about PowerPoint. Etc and making a chart... but things move so fast! I’m excited to try this hybrid ttm

My ink bird has a replacable probe too.
I didn't do anything with that other chart idea either. lol

 

[User]

Shipping email just came through.

EXCITED!!!!!

 

[NY_Caveman]

I know nothing of bluezoo. I hope it all goes well for you.

I have had great success with BlueZoo and Greg their rep. is very hepful.

 

[Victoria M]

Looking forward to seeing some QT pictures today.

 

[User]

Looking forward to seeing some QT pictures today.

They arrived at 9.30, and I immediately put them to float to get up to temp. After 30 mins, I opened up the bags and tested salinity- I’m glad I did, because despite being told they would ship at 1.018 -and where I set my TTM1 up at yesterday- the water tested at 1.0215. 3.5 points off. So I have to drip acclimate them now too.

I pulled half the water out the TTM1 and put it back in the barrel, then refilled with a bucket of 1.020 that I had ready for the salinity ramp. I hadn’t added the salt to bring it up to 1.035 yet fortunately. That put the TTM1 at 1.0195- so I don’t have to drop acclimate quite so long going to get them within 0.001 then drop them in. The salinity will be dropping going in that direction so it’ll be fine.

The fish look good, but the sizing is a bit off- the Carpenters is almost 3/4” bigger than the mccoskers but not much you can do about that. Both are within the 1.5-2.5 range on the order. The Midas ended up being on he smaller end of the 2-3” range stated.

They came in a sturdy cardboard box with a styrofoam container. Couple wraps of paper for insulation, but no heat pack since it’s still 75of here at 10am right now.

Came with a care package of some food, a drip line and suction cup, and a sealed pipette of 5ml seachem stress guard. I added the stress guard since they’ll be in that water for an hour or so.

 

[DS204]

New livestock! Super happy for you. Thanks for sharing those pictures.

How long do you/will you drip acclimate for? I do it for about 20-35 mins, so I'm wondering if that's a pretty safe amount of time.

 

[Victoria M]

@Dean Smith Incase we forgot to share Neils favorite anxiety inducing fishroom https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/simons-450.330108/

 

[Victoria M]

Neil that looks like a good set up, despite the salinity being off. I always check too. And I often keep a gallon jug of really high salinity water incase I need to bring the salinty up for QT. I write what the salinity is on the side too, as it is often different depending how much salt I get to disolve. Been caught unprepared too many times. Great update.

 

[User]

New livestock! Super happy for you. Thanks for sharing those pictures.

How long do you/will you drip acclimate for? I do it for about 20-35 mins, so I'm wondering if that's a pretty safe amount of time.

60 minutes absolutely max. Typically 30-35 minutes though. It really depends on the difference in salinity though.

Going from higher to lower salinity is less of an issue compared to the converse situation- since they are having to deal with less salt, it’s easier in their system. Also, I try to only ever go 0.001 sg unit in 30-40 minutes- which is why I changed my QT water. I would have had to drop for like 2 hours to match, which is too long. This way, I got them within 0.001sg by drip in 35 minutes, then into qt.

Also, adding an ammonia reducer is a good idea. In absence of oxygen- ammonia actually exists as a non-toxic form. However, as soon as you open the bag, you oxidize the ammonia- it turns toxic. Depending on how long the fish has been bagged up and what volume of water is in the bag compared to body size, it could turn deadly very quickly. That’s why I also added the stress guard that came in the care pack.

However- I never normally drip. This is my first online purchase- I normally get livestock from 1 of 2 shops I frequent, so I know their salinity. I normally set up QT to salinity match the night before, then when I get them home, I float the bag for 20 mins to temp match, then empty the bag into a plastic rigid colander, then into the tank. I don’t normally have to be cognizant of ammonia etc since my fave shop is a 10 minute drive away. I can have them coming out of the tank in the store to getting into my qt in 30 minutes

 

[User]

@Dean Smith Incase we forgot to share Neils favorite anxiety inducing fishroom https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/simons-450.330108/

NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

(Rapidly rocks back and forth while moaning)

 

[DS204]

@Dean Smith Incase we forgot to share Neils favorite anxiety inducing fishroom https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/simons-450.330108/

WOW! I love it. I could spend all weekend organizing that room. That looks like a great project for me. An organized person's dream come true! Well, at least for me anyways. What a sad life, I lead.