Ocean Live Rock 25 Gallon IM Lagoon

[Sump Crab]

Gotta say I’m curious about your ich. Are you sure it wasn’t velvet? Seems odd you lost all your fish. How long had you had them?

 

[jabberwock]

Gotta say I’m curious about your ich. Are you sure it wasn’t velvet? Seems odd you lost all your fish. How long had you had them?

Added them pretty slowly over the course of 5 months. The stupid Royal Gramma got everyone riled up. I am not SURE it was not velvet. Pretty sure it was ich though. I have about 30 more days to go of fishless.

Looking forward to restocking slowly. No more Royal Grammas for me.

 

[Sump Crab]

I’m old school and follow the 1 fish per 10
Gallon rule. Something to be said about not overcrowding and stressing fish. It’s been my experience that healthy fish do not succumb to disease. I live with what I believe to be velvet in my system and it only ever rears its head when I do something very stupid and stress everyone out, or try and add a tang. It’s been this way as long as i can remember.
Clean water, healthy diet, low stress is a combo for success!

 

[JoJosReef]

Today I want to talk about good hitchhikers. They do abound! All of these came in on the TBS Premium Ocean live rocks. We even had a discussion by email beforehand to talk about what I might like to see. They nailed it.

The urchin is an algae Roomba! Only draw back is that it does eat coralline.

It is also a bit of a daredevil.

I have counted a total of 9 limpets at one time. They are growing fast.

Yellow rock boring sponges

Lightbulb Nem has quadrupled in size. It has not multiplied.

2 Tunicate colonies. These guys were awesome, they only lasted 3 months. They would dissolve into an orange wad of gum and then multiply by reconstructing themselves with more cells. Then a limpet ate them. Very sad...

Porcelain Crabs, at least 6 individuals

A couple odds and ends were one bivalve clam thingy, a single barnacle that survived a few months, a few small bristle worms, lots of pods, lots and lots of micro bristle stars, and 2 bristle stars about the size of a half dollar, a cup coral that got smothered by sand, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Those gulf limpets are already algae eating beasts too! The one in my 10g completely eradicated my invasive ulva.

 

[jabberwock]

Those gulf limpets are already algae eating beasts too! The one in my 10g completely eradicated my invasive ulva.

I have 9... I don't scrub the glass very often to keep them in high cotton!

 

[jabberwock]

So, 30 more days of a fishless tank, here are a current fishless full tank shots. Then we will get back the build. Next topic is anemones. No BTAs here. RFAs and LBAs...

Blue light ramp up and down for 8 hours (4 & 4)

About 70% intensity for 4 hours

 

[jabberwock]

OK, fallow period is over. I will update that after I post this final retro update about nems. I had a hitchhiker "lightbulb" anemone come in on my Premium ocean live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater. It was about the size of a dime.

Took me several weeks to notice it. A lot of people ID'd it as an Aptasia, but I wasn't sure, so I left it. I finally got the correct ID, so it just goes to show you, that despite everyone's good intentions, people are not always correct... It has not multiplied, but it has flourished! It is currently the size of a racquet ball. A nice natural addition to my tank.

I only have limited experience, but knew a bubble tip was beyond my skills, and the maturity of my tank. I don't do clown fish, so I was looking for an alternative. I stumbled upon Rock Flower Anemones. The seemed easy enough, and perfect for adding some diversity and color to my tank. I ordered 5 for $100 bucks from Jamrock Corals in Myrtle Beach. Shipping was extra but very reasonable. They are not "ultras", but I did not care. That was November of last year. Very well packaged, all arrived alive and have been thriving in my tank. I could not be happier with them.

The next update will be my fish livestock choices that have all since perished from the dreaded Ich. I am ready to start adding fish again. Here is a teaser...

 

[JoJosReef]

Nems look great! Everyone labels their nems "ultra". Has no meaning in my opinion. Royal gramma coming next?

 

[jabberwock]

Nems look great! Everyone labels their nems "ultra". Has no meaning in my opinion. Royal gramma coming next?

Ha! No Royal Grammas, ever again. Both of the ones I have had were trouble makers. I guess I will not reveal just yet, see who figures it out...

 

[Catnip885]

Tank looks great! Love the live rock you got!

 

[Sump Crab]

Swissguard basslet

 

[jabberwock]

Swissguard basslet

Winner winner chicken dinner!

He is in the on deck circle. Probably going to add a Yellow Watchman Goby and a Possum Wrasse before he goes into the main tank.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Awesome journey love it

 

[Sump Crab]

Winner winner chicken dinner!

He is in the on deck circle. Probably going to add a Yellow Watchman Goby and a Possum Wrasse before he goes into the main tank.

I love basslets!

 

[Sump Crab]

Also I’m jealous of your new hitchhiker!

 

[jabberwock]

I love basslets!

A Swalesi?

 

[jabberwock]

I’m old school and follow the 1 fish per 10
Gallon rule. Something to be said about not overcrowding and stressing fish. It’s been my experience that healthy fish do not succumb to disease. I live with what I believe to be velvet in my system and it only ever rears its head when I do something very stupid and stress everyone out, or try and add a tang. It’s been this way as long as i can remember.
Clean water, healthy diet, low stress is a combo for success!

I agree mostly with what you say here. I would add that it is really important not to buy fish that will compete for a "niche" habitat in a small tank. Mix a bottom dweller with a rock dweller and a more open water species, and you can maximize the volume of your tank.

 

[jabberwock]

For folks who may not know, these fellows are the "Swiss Guard". The fish is named for its markings which resemble the uniforms. They are the Pontifical Swiss Guard. They guard the pope. They must be Swiss. They originated in the 15th century.

 

[toadstool_paradise]

Can’t wait to see the basslet in the new home! Beautiful tank

 

[jabberwock]

Can’t wait to see the basslet in the new home! Beautiful tank

Thanks, he is still doing great. I plan to add him mid next week...