JCM's 65g reef aquarium

[JCM]

We just returned from a 12 day camping trip and fortunately everything still looks great. A buddy stopped by to fill the ATO but that's it.

 

[taulgrl]

Looks great! Love all of the macroalgae

 

[JCM]

I picked up a pair of Pseudanthias tuka today. I know the chance of success is super low, but I've got a few things going in my favor.

1. My tank was started with real ocean rock and is swarming with microfauna day and night.

2. The only other fish in the tank is a lawnmower blenny, so they won't be bullied.

3. I work from home, so can feed hourly to start.

4. They are the biggest, fattest Tuka's I've seen. The male is 4"+ and almost an inch thick. The female is 3"

5. They were eating PE Calanus at the store, and showed a mild feeding response to PE mysis.

6. My tank runs around 74 degrees.

Maybe I'm trying to justify an asinine decision and I realize I'm likely to fail, but I've always wanted to try. I've successfully kept a number of other anthias species but never one this difficult. Im considering adding a small group of P. dispar soon to give them company and in an attempt to strengthen their feeding response.

 

[JCM]

I finally got around to painting the stand. Its the same color as the walls.

 

[JCM]

I also made two new additions.

1 Macropharyngodon meleagris
1 Ctenochaetus binotatus

 

[JCM]

40 days of birdsnest growth. It's also turning very green though the picture doesn't capture it.

 

[JCM]

I've made a few more additions lately. A number of corals and a few fish. Current fish list is

2x purple queen anthias
1x meleagris Leopard wrasse
1x melanarus wrasse
1x lawnmower blenny
1x long nose hawkish
1x purple firefish
1x Randall's Goby
1x bristletooth tang

The macro algae is steadily disappearing (eaten), though I have a serious cyano problem on the sand. I'm trying to wait it out rather than use a chemical treatment.

 

[taulgrl]

Everything looks so healthy! Those anthias are spectacular. I'm curious how many fish you like to add at one time. I'm getting ready to add some more in the next month and I'm trying to figure out how much I should stagger them.

 

[JCM]

Everything looks so healthy! Those anthias are spectacular. I'm curious how many fish you like to add at one time. I'm getting ready to add some more in the next month and I'm trying to figure out how much I should stagger them.

Thank you! How is your tank doing? So far the anthias are doing well, its early still but I'm hopeful. I try not to add more than 2-3 at a time, unless it's a group of the same species.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I've made a few more additions lately. A number of corals and a few fish. Current fish list is

2x purple queen anthias
1x meleagris Leopard wrasse
1x melanarus wrasse
1x lawnmower blenny
1x long nose hawkish
1x purple firefish
1x Randall's Goby
1x bristletooth tang

The macro algae is steadily disappearing (eaten), though I have a serious cyano problem on the sand. I'm trying to wait it out rather than use a chemical treatment.

Looks great!

 

[JCM]

Looks great!

Thanks!

 

[X-37B]

Update?