My fishy aquarium.

[Mark Novack]

Should I try Polyfilter?

 

[Mark Novack]

I wanted to add that I do keep snails with the moray eels and triggers. I have about twenty that I can count at night, they breed regularly, and the smart ones that gather together and close up well survive. Anything shrimp, urchin, or crab, social cleaners or not, will not survive for more than a few seconds. No problem either with the sand stars. I put in three and they are thriving for the last 8 months.

 

[Millimylilly]

Wow your aquarium is beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

 

[Mark Novack]

This is not current. I took this tank down about two years ago. I had kept it for seven years.

The rock is in the new tank. A local marine specialist store emptied it giving me pretty much a blank check for restocking but then went out of business. Honestly though, even though I kind of got whacked on the deal, I hope my specimens sold well.

 

[Jon Fishman]

That's a huge clam.

 

[Mark Novack]

That's a huge clam.

It was 2 inches when I purchased it and all three clams were on the middle shelf with the third clam two specimens to the right of the bali slimer. The clam was 9 inches when it departed.

 

[Mark Novack]

17 April. 300 liter change yesterday. Only siphon and replenish, no sand cleaning. Nitrate 20 to 50ppm and lost an Anthias. I think it was injured by the pump I used to speed up the emptying and then it became food. I'm sorry my friend. I saw little Anthias pieces being delivered to the anemones by the two Clarkii.

 

[Mark Novack]

18 April. 300 liter siphon and replace. Put a protector on the pump. Nitrates <20. Things are looking better.

 

[Mark Novack]

20 April. Placed two big MarinePure blocks into sump flat side against the glass. Goal is nitrate reduction. I will be tracking the nitrate level and controlling it with water changes and see what happens in the next 8 to 12 weeks.

 

[Mark Novack]

The store where I purchased the MarinePure recently took down a display. They had some nice discasomas. Took a rock of pretty ones. If they are pretty tomorrow I will take a picture.

 

[Mark Novack]

24 April. Water changes are delayed waiting for a new RODI machine. My Vertex has served long and well but Aquamedic is offering the same type of machine for much less. I'll see how it runs and give my opinion on the new machine. It's up to 400 liters per day. If it fills my 300 liter bin in 24 hours I'll be content. I could not rationalize rebuilding the Vertex and changing cartridges for the price of the aquamedic complete.

 

[Mark Novack]

25 April. Installed new RODI unit. Aquamedic platinum line. It's giving 1:1 and it made 25 liters in 90 minutes. I gave that water to my carnivorous plants and now I'll fill my rain barrel.

 

[Mark Novack]

27 May. Update for nitrates. 20 April added Marine Pure blocks. Nothing to report yet. Nitrates >50ppm. Just wanted to say hello and that I'm still alive.

Thanks,
Merci,
Danke,
Mark

 

[Mark Novack]

5 June. The Clown trigger has been adopted by the Marine Biology Aquarium at the University Liège. He or she outgrew the others so quickly it amazed me. It swam right into the net to catch a shrimp. It's a mixed emotion because we had a rapport. It was almost domesticated.

The other issue was to make room for a Holocanthus Ciliaris that I have been looking for for a year. I saw one on a site at a fish store called Poisson D'or which is the size of a home depot. Drove two hours, looked in their 40 marine tanks. No Queen. Asked at the counter. Yes, a big one in back. One look and I was in love. A perfect and gorgeous Queen Angel of 8". She's timid for now but I'm sure in 72 hours she'll pose for a photo. What a fish. I'm not accustomed to bringing home fish in 5 gallon bags but she is not too big for the tank.

Thinking about removing the Stichodactyla. It's a beautiful addition but a danger to fish that are neither a bargain nor easy to find. If I pull it out I'll lay some Fungia or Cycloceris on the sand bed. I placed a Herpolith (it was priced to sell as another store had to replace their huge coral tank and they are juggling species) and no fish bother with it so Fungia or Cyclo should be OK. Fungia are easy to find, Cycloceris are less available at the present time.

I'll shoot some photos of the Ciliaris when she feels at home. No need to add stress.

Mark
The Brutal Reefer

 

[mmw64]

Well, not much of a photo, but there it is, well over stocked and a nitrate machine, it includes 2 morays, anemones, gorgons, soft corals and mushrooms, a ball sponge that grows well enough to round out the angelfish diet. Fish list is as follows.

2 Clarkii clowns
2 Occeleris snowflake hybrid clowns
1 Flame Hawkfish
1 Wrasse Hortulanus
1 Thalassoma Banana Wrasse
1 Thalassoma Cortez Wrasse
1 Picasso Trigger
1 Clown Trigger
1 Angel Navarchus
1 Angel Imperator
1 Angel Xanthometopon
1 Angel Loricula
1 Xanthurum Tang
1 Hepatus
1 Leucosternon
1 Dimitiatus cleaner wrasse
1 Zebra moray 50cm
1 snowflake Nebulosa Moray 25cm
8 Anthias Squamipinnis 2 male, 6 female

Amemones

2 Entacmea
1 Heteractis Magnifica
1 Heteractis Crispa
1 Heteractis sp?
1 Stichodactyla sp?
7 Crucifer

Awaiting a Queen Angel, five have crossed into the country but the reservation list is long. Barring losses, the Cilliaris will be the last addition.

Thank you for taking a look.

Mark Novack

Gorgeous tank!

 

[cracker]

Real nice ! Thanks for the inspiration !

 

[Mark Novack]

Well, her colors are a bit subtle and she's a picky eater but the colors should enhance as she settles in. I bought 6 pouches of live artemia and she ate enough to calm my nerves. I have submitted my prayers for good health and a long life.

Also, for any cat lovers, here are Sascha and Mischa, my two Coons. Before the Redsea mesh cover was installed, any jumpers would up in the yard. . Mostly Labridae.

Mark

 

[eggplantparrot]

amazing tank!

 

[Mark Novack]

11 June. 9 June reinstalled cannister filter. 17 liter capacity, three trays of siporax an inch deep and two bags of purigen layed flat in the top tray. No floss, I removed the impeller and it's fed by an in sump pump from the cleanest part of the sump. Immediate reduction of brown aglae and cyanobacteria. The fish seem healthier too. The water is crystal clear.

 

[Mark Novack]

14 June 18hr15, administered 160ml Femsal after observing blushing on fins and a few white specks. Major concern are the angels. Kh, mg, ca where optimum levels tested before adding Femsal.

Removed purigen, turned off UV and skimmer. Will turn on skimmer first thing morning. Day 3 and 5 treatments are 80ml if necessary.