Luck be a Lady

[Reefering1]

Ive found that some fish may spit out flake soaked in ab+. So I would probaly just cut the shrimp small as possible and feed them that.

Sorry for your sorrows

 

[LadyMac]

Thanks! I’ll just smoosh it really good and let it thaw before feeding. It’ll do until I can make it to the shop to get some of their normal food.

 

[LadyMac]

That’s it. I think I’m cursed. Or this tank is. It’s not even done and I’m already battling these dang dinos. Testing nitrates and they are zero. How in earth. I feed way more than a single fish can eat.

Currently no funds for copepods, or anything else. Our power bill came in and since it’s “past due” it’s about 400$. Unexpected expense mentioned earlier is about 2,000. We have 600 in the bank. This isn’t working.

Sigh. I’m sorry. I feel im always negative and for that I do deeply apologize. Yesterday was the anniversary of dad passing and today of my brother in law. All this on us and there’s other things too and this just looming over. Grr.

 

[MrsBugmaster]

Sorry to hear of all your misfortunes. Keep your head up… it will be ok

 

[LadyMac]

So I think the IV sterilizer I got last time was actually the wrong one. Which explains why it kinda worked but not for long. I could have sworn I went with the one suggested here. This one is only 13 watts. And top that with the pump I had for it having exposed wires, I believe that was what had killed off things before. I think that was my electrical issue that I briefly mentioned. Pump was tossed soon as I saw those wires but now I don’t have anything to run said UV with.

I’m going to list the UV on marketplace with the heckin expensive tubing I bought for 60. I think that’s fair, and people can talk me down to 50
If they really want it. That’ll go to the surprise expense we have to take care of by the 10th. I’ll start looking for a different one, one that will actually do what I need done this time. So the Dino’s won’t be fought too soon. No corals.

I am planning to get some fish to help increase bioload. Maybe adding that will help with the Dino’s since my parameters are zero. Which I’m sure it’s because of the Dino’s. I’m dosing microbacter7 weekly starting yesterday. And I’ll open the skimmer. Which sucks cause it’s really stinky lol. Hubbs complains. The last one didn’t smell so bad.

When I do get the money up for a UV I want to hook it up via the manifold area in the sump if I can. I believe my return pump is strong enough but I have absolutely no idea how to do this and when asked in a group on Facebook the answer I got was (you need a proper uv and pump size for your tank.” Which yeah I got it but specifically HOW do you hook one up to a manifold… lol.

Good news it seems my lid is preparing for shipment. So I guess that means it’s complete. I hope. I can start thinking of fish to add to help increase this bioload.

Bad news is I think I need to toss the shrimp I bough because Hubbs saw something about shrimp in restaurants making people sick. Idk if it’s the same distributor or if mine would be affected but I really don’t want to risk killing everyone over some grocery store food. I’ll just have to see if he can get off soon enough to run me to the fish shop to get the mysis and brine.

I’m trying to be positive and work with what I can. At the end of the day even though I have the bubble algae, at least I have a somewhat thriving tank. So there’s that.

 

[LadyMac]

SHU box delayed til tomorrow. I’m wondering if they will deliver on Saturdays. Sometimes they delay til Monday. Til then, tank pic.

I’d scrape the glass but my pods live in the scraper lol.

 

[LadyMac]

So, royal gramma, flame hawkfish, or falco hawkfish, couple fire fish or cardinals and a pair of Picasso clowns for the 70 system? Any issues with any of these fish? Clowns would be dead last. Id love a wrasse but I just don’t think my setup is large enough footprint wise. What else can I shove in here? lol and in what order should I get them to make sure everyone can cohabitate.

 

[LadyMac]

SHI box arrived. It’s a bit different than the other I have.

Did a small waterchange on the clowns tank. My all was a tad low so this helped bring it up.

Aaaaand I got the CAD drawing for the lid on the LBAL tank :) I have absolutely no idea what I’m looking at but reading their page it seems correct lol. I trust them more than I trust myself. That feed port is going to look fancy.

 

[LadyMac]

I’ve always appreciated it when the older frail bettas would gently drift off in the night. I actually covet it because it’s never easy. You don’t know if they’re in pain or suffering. With that said, I’m having the largest issue with knowing if it’s time to say goodbye.

I have an old lady, Toph. She’s a samurai who I have had for quite a few years. For awhile now she has had some issues. She’s been blind almost the entire time I’ve had her. Hence the name. She’s no stranger to having to sniff her food out and carefully navigate her setup. I’ve done my best to ensure no sharp things she can run into and no places she can become wedged.

However lately, she’s no longer able to eat as well as she could. She has a tumor on her cheek, and I’m not sure if it goes internally at all causing her issues. I’ll watch her “hunt” but she isnt actually able to grab the pellets as well or as often as usual. At night she perches herself up to the filtration inlet. The tank is a fluval betta, so the fraying goes all the way along the left. It’s not that she can’t swim from there, it’s just a spot she can be near the surface to breathe easily, or that’s my guess. I know she can easily move from there in any case.

She has slowed down a lot. She still comes to the glass at a “tap tap” knowing I’m there. But I can twl she’s just not feeling like her old self. If I was reading most of this from a friend I’d absolutely tell them to let her go with grace. However, there’s that “what if she can go another week? Month? Maybe six? It’s almost the anniversary of her gotcha day, perhaps wait til after that.”

So anywho as I sit and struggle mentally on if I should let her go or hope she keeps going like the energizer bunny, some shots of Toph.

 

[LadyMac]

Sorry for the lack of updates, it’s been busy here. Last week, Tuesday to be exact I put Toph down. She went super fast and peaceful. I miss her. I put Phantom in her tank in my nightstand and he’s frightened by every little move I make near the tank. Keep in mind that he was up higher (face level) so moving shadows is scary. I hope he can get accustomed to it. I plan to upgrade his tank soon as I can. Fluval is releasing a 5 gallon version of his 2.6 gallon. The other one I boxed up and listed for sale.

The little reef is doing ok, have some algae on the glass. Probably because the noopsyche has a lot more white than what I was running with the kessil. Doesn’t really bother me, it’s just on the glass. I do have some nice hair algae in the back portion, but also, I’m fine with that. It’s back there and not in the display. No emerald crab yet as I don’t have the funds. I think I’ll get the powdered all for reef first.

Big reef is at zero across the board yet again regardless of how much I feed the tank. A full mini cube doesn’t get eaten, even a half. So it’s just in the system. Still, dinos. Since I combatted them in the little tank with manual removal and almost completely blue lights, I changed the icon settings to be mostly blue. Today is day one. Will see if it helps. It may take longer as I have a lot less fish, zero corals, and it’s larger. Hot Lips isn’t sure what to think lol.

Oh! The Shu box came. It’s different than the first, only slightly. The hinges are on the other side. Also I didn’t get to choose anything with it. I would have gotten the front slotted. It’s not a big deal and I will get some use out of bit I’m sure.

Raining today, only a little. But the Table Rock fire is close ( I’m in between Pickens and sadly, roughly 18 miles from Table Rock) and r have had some smoke but no evac instructions. It finally is a little contained. Over 10,000 acres. :( it’s a beautiful place and it’s heart breaking knowing it’s burning because of irresponsible kids.

Anywho, pics of the reefs and uh, phantom and his extremely strange looking self. Oh! And my green alien still needs a name. Suggestions? I asked in a group and getting responses along the line of “Deez nuts” and “Old Gregg”. lol which… no.

 

[LadyMac]

How could I forget the main thing I was updating lol. My lid is supposed to be here Tuesday, if no delays.

 

[LadyMac]

LID!

They delivered it yesterday evening, about 6:30 pm lol. (My bedtime is about 7 because I get up so early, and it takes me at least two hours to wind down before drifting off)

Anywho, now that I have the lid, equipment wise I believe I’m done with the 70. Many thanks to @danieyella for the info on ClearView. It’s very nicely made. The little feed door handle is adorable and the printed feeder I made roughly a year back will fit in there, so I can now feed the frozen the same way for this tank as the smaller.

Still have dinos. I’m trying to raise nutrients but for some reason they are staying zero across the board. I’m to the point I’m just pouring the skimmate from the little tank into the big one lol. It does seem to be helping. I’ll test params this afternoon. There’s zero sponges and socks in here. The skimmer itself is off. I’m thinking about moving the zoa rock over. Maybe I will maybe I won’t. I don’t want to kill them. But I need more bioload in here and with the lack of cash, I’m low on options.

Buuuuut, lid pics! :)

 

[Stang67]

LID!

They delivered it yesterday evening, about 6:30 pm lol. (My bedtime is about 7 because I get up so early, and it takes me at least two hours to wind down before drifting off)

Anywho, now that I have the lid, equipment wise I believe I’m done with the 70. Many thanks to @danieyella for the info on ClearView. It’s very nicely made. The little feed door handle is adorable and the printed feeder I made roughly a year back will fit in there, so I can now feed the frozen the same way for this tank as the smaller.

Still have dinos. I’m trying to raise nutrients but for some reason they are staying zero across the board. I’m to the point I’m just pouring the skimmate from the little tank into the big one lol. It does seem to be helping. I’ll test params this afternoon. There’s zero sponges and socks in here. The skimmer itself is off. I’m thinking about moving the zoa rock over. Maybe I will maybe I won’t. I don’t want to kill them. But I need more bioload in here and with the lack of cash, I’m low on options.

Buuuuut, lid pics! :)

Just watch the salinity when adding skimmate.

 

[LadyMac]

Just watch the salinity when adding skimmate.

Oh good point! I didn’t even think of that. I should have. Oops. Thanks for that :)

 

[LadyMac]

Hello all, so sorry for being absent. I’ve had so much going on that I just haven’t even wanted to look on forums or anything.

Tanks are doing well. Lid came, fits nicely. Seems the Dino’s are gone in the 70 and some diatoms are showing up. Finally. Params seem to be within range.

35 was a bit high in nitrates last Saturday and I believe they are this week too. Ph low in both tanks even with agitation going on. I had to turn the noopsyche light to the blues ( sps?) because the euphilia was bleaching. Have lost two heads, one’s going as well. Just withering down to nothing.

Step mama passed last night. I didn’t even get a chance see her before hand. :( at least now, she’s no longer in so much pain. And she knows everyone loved and cherished her. I’ve tried to twll her daughter how sorry I am but ya know, words lol. I’m not great with them.

 

[LadyMac]

Retail therapy came in clutch this week. Well sort of. I didn’t spend anything. But o did have a local hobbyist offer me his little fire fish and o of course said yes. I’ve wanted one for quite some time. She’s in, acclimated and in the rocks… somewhere.

I need a name and any advice from anyone and everyone on what to do to ensure her happiness.

Also, awe she’s cute.

 

[Stang67]

Freddy

 

[tbrown]

Freddy

She said "She needs a name" so Fredonia!

 

[LadyMac]

Speaking of the Tunze ATOs( not one person said anything I’m just pulling from my brain about the giveaway) I may switch the two between the tanks. The five gallon tank I have under the 35 is long vs tall and I end up with it needing filled more often since the pump doesn’t go as low as the older model. Seems to evaporate more on that tank for some reason.

 

[tbrown]

More surface agitation.