Many ways to skin a reef, this is mine. (54 Litre/14 Gallon)

[hotashes]

For those who like Pipefish, check out my Blue stripe pipe having a midnight feast. As well as letting the Wyoming clown know who's boss heh...

Enjoy,



Also on above post #80, thank you @Randy Holmes-Farley for the help.

A.

 

[NY_Caveman]

For those who like Pipefish, check out my Blue stripe pipe having a midnight feast. As well as letting the Wyoming clown know who's boss heh...

Enjoy,



Also on above post #80, thank you @Randy Holmes-Farley for the help.

A.

Cool! I love the tail on the Pipefish. Glad the Clown is not attacking, but just making a brief statement.

 

[hotashes]

Pipefish still alive since entry into my tank 2 weeks ago, which I'm happy with. Enjoys a feast on Mysis Shrimp (blister pack) as well as scoping for pods amongst rocks. Early days for the pipefish, however so far so good [emoji4]

As for dosing, been just focusing on the Mg as it was 1125 at best. Whilst using my Grotech NG III to dose I've been learning how simple it can be, when numbers are dialled in [emoji4]

Once I've got Mg to my target level (1330), I will focus on getting my Alk up to 8dKH which was 5.5dKH on last check. Then finally cal up to 420ppm from 370ppm on last check.

With all this fun, it wouldn't be the same if I hadn't added a new addition....... The suspense [emoji6]

Picked up a 2.7" Crocea clam from a fellow hobbyist here in the UK for £20/$26, collected it today. After inspection I noticed the rock attached had potential nasties, decided to detach the clam from the rock. Although this wouldn't be advised every occasion, I'd done a little research on how to take action. My method was twist clam gently 90° while attached to the rock (this was done out of water), then replace the clam and rock into the water again. Next remove from water and use scalpel to slice byssal foot from its base closest to the rock. This wasn't as difficult as expected and I would suggest the clam had already began to detach itself from my initial twist. Now the clam is off the rock, I was able to thoroughly clean.

Prior to this I also decided to pick up a Derasa clam roughly 3-4" for £25/$32. This clam has now been with me 2 days and seems to have survived the transition from previous tank.

These new clams have now joined my 1" Maxima clam and I plan to keep them going for the long haul. DON'T FORGET TO BURP YOUR CLAMS *grin*

Hopefully none of my new clams brought pyramid snail with them and I can happily maintain these clams with a healthy life.
On this note, I must thank @DSC reef & @jda who've helped me through deciding on these purchases [emoji1360]

Until the next time gang [emoji111]️

A.

P.S. @brandon429 the pico is still a work in progress, just got a customised acrylic lid, which I will drill access holes for cables/airline tube [emoji4]

@Vincent100 I will get to meet with you at some point and get my hands on some of your great coral *grin*, how did you get on collecting your prize Rainbow Chalice from the LFS today?

 

[DSC reef]

Were all part of a big family and team @hotashes and your very welcome.

 

[hotashes]

Today's clam love

A.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Today's clam love

A.

LOL, kissing clams!

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

These were at a LFS. 12-13" long. Sorry not best pictures

 

[hotashes]

These were at a LFS. 12-13" long. Sorry not best pictures

Did you know which sp.they were, they are a decent size though. I'd imagine they draw in plenty of nutrients

A.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Did you know which sp.they were, they are a decent size though. I'd imagine they draw in plenty of nutrients

A.

I'll find out. The biggest I've seen at LFS

 

[hotashes]

I'll find out. The biggest I've seen at LFS

@DSC reef
@jda
My go to on clams [emoji6]

A.

 

[DSC reef]

That large squamosa would go for 400-650.00 dollars over here.

 

[hotashes]

That large squamosa would go for 400-650.00 dollars over here.

The OP of this image is Cali based, @DSC reef you are USA based also aren't you

A.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

That large squamosa would go for 400-650.00 dollars over here.

Where's over here?

 

[DSC reef]

Florida.

 

[brandon429]

Hey that's the first clam surgery I saw off a rock attachment, nice n clinical/respects

 

[hotashes]

Hey that's the first clam surgery I saw off a rock attachment, nice n clinical/respects

Hey @brandon429 lets get clinical, see the rock above has a white patch from where Crocea was previously placed. If you scale the image up, you'll also see micro-bubbles sitting in the water.... Not that I'd advise it be done, actually I wouldn't advise anybody to... But.... The bubbles are from where I decided to dab the clam shell using a cue-tip bathed in 3% h2o2 to blast away whatever I could, as I would not be surprised if this clam had hitch hikers.... An asterina star came from the scutes

As for the underside of the attached rock,

Doubt most would want to toss that piece of rock in their tank. Anybody able to identify the hitch hikers I tossed away with rock?

A.

 

[hotashes]

2 weeks on and all looks ok, recent clam additions seem to have stabilised and settled. Will be keeping an eye on them immanently as we all know how quick they can take a turn for the worse. *TouchWood*

Been really working on getting my dosing levels right since the new additions as the big three were already unbalanced and no doubt would have been annihilated by the clams, after all they are filter feeders, although they love bright light too. Alk, Cal & Mg nearly where I want, respectively 7.5dKH, 420ppm & 1330ppm is my aim.

Upon last test a couple days ago NitrAtes were merely 5-10ppm, as for phosphates my glass needs a light clean every 3-4 days so they're steady [emoji6]

I've got the fish which initially was my first choice, however I just needed to source a supplier now in observation tank for 2 weeks.



A Pink-Streaked/Pajama Wrasse [emoji4]

I would have run this Wrasse through chloroquine phosphate, however I believe it is finicky and may not make it through. So I guess the copper QT whilst in the lfs will have to be suffice. Currently feeding on frozen blister packs and looks fine, sleeps on tank bottom at night [emoji6]

Current tank inhabitants to date;

Coral

Birdsnest coral green (Seriatopora hystrix)
Trumpet coral green (Caulastrea curvata)
Plate coral (Fungia sp.)
Duncan coral (Duncanopsammia axifuga)
Torch coral (Euphyllia glabrescens)
Acan coral (Acanthastrea lordhowensis)

Fish

Wyoming Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellari)
Bluestripe pipefish (Doryrhamphus excisus)
Pink-Streaked Wrasse (Pseudocheilinops ataenia)

Inverts

Blue Tuxedo Urchin (Mespilia globulus)
Blood red fire shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
Black foot Trochus snail x4 (Trochus sp.)
Nassarius snail

Clams

Tridacna Maxima 1"
Tridacna Crocea 2-3"
Tridacna Derasa 3-4"

A.

 

[NY_Caveman]

A Pink-Streaked/Pajama Wrasse [emoji4]

Great video! Ours swam weird for a day or two and still does occasionally. Sleeps wedged between rocks often too. When we got her, as expected, she played dead a few times during the unboxing and acclimation. Really a great fish.

 

[Preme]

following along for sure! I really like the scape, hoping to do something similar in my 7 gallon!

 

[Chrisfish]

Just went through your thread, really nice nano, will be following