Peach02’s 33G Reef

[Peach02]

Current photo of tank (last updated 2/5/20 DD/MM/YY)

Progress pics
28/1/19

6/2/19

10/3/19

19/3/19

31/3/19

13/4/19

24/4/19

9/6/19

4/8/19

16/8/19

7/9/19

18/9/19

10/10/19

4/12/19

6/12/19

14/12/19

1/1/20

19/1/20

1/2/20

10/2/20

2/5/20

I messed up my first build thread because I thought I was meant to edit the original post not reply so here we go again
old thread: (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/my-new-120l-reef-tank.545220/)
(photos from old thread)

My tank started 24th January 2019 Aus
It’s a aqua one minireef 120 marine set I added a extra powerhead though (slice voyager nano 2000)
There are roughly 16kg of live rock in
There is 10kg of sand
Sump is going well

Current inhabitants/ stock
2x fire fish
3x hermit crab
2x clownfish
1x bicolor blenny
1x coral beauty
1x stromb snail
1x anemone
1x maxima clam
1x Red starfish not 100% sure on type
Too many bristle worms (seen total of 4 killed 3)

We lost a Troshus snail on the way RIP Napoleon

Current problems: clam had Bristle worms showing up on it but I think I’ve solved that thanks to you guys

Future stock / fish wanted
Sand sifting goby / flame fish / wrasse / 2 mandarin fish

I’ll only get 2 of the above fish or 3 if mandarin fish are picked

Future coral wanted
Zoanthids
Leather coral
Torch coral
A plate coral
White Hammer coral
Maybe a sps

Any comments or suggestions are well received

Signing off 19/3/19

 

[ngoodermuth]

Looking good! Just keep in mind... clams, starfish, and anemones can all be "hard to keep" in newer tanks until everything settles in, so keep an eye on your parameters. Also, I would not recommend a mandarin (definitely not two) in a tank that size, as there is a very high chance it will starve- they are very specialized eaters. Same with a diamond goby (I'm assuming that's what you meant by sandsifting goby), although you could definitely get away with a watchman goby instead, and they will still sift sand though maybe not quite as much. And could you clarify flame fish? If you mean flame angel, it likely won't co-exist with your current coral beauty in your tank size either.

I know there is a lot to learn when it comes to compatibility and stocking, there are lots of good stickies in the fish forums and new to saltwater forums... I'd suggest letting the dust settle from your current additions and taking time to read as much as you can to keep your tank thriving long-term!

 

[Peach02]

thanks! With the mandarin fish if I was to get them I’d make sure they would eat frozen Copa pods l, sand sifting goby would probably be a yellow watchman goby and I’ve heard many mixed reports about the flame angelfish mostly that they will fight for a day or two then be good friends
Thanks for the advice though

 

[Peach02]

I’ll try and do weekly updates but I’m really busy with school lately
Did a water change on the weekend and discovered my salinity tool is broken so I’ll have to save up for one again (I’ll get a proper one now)
Thinking of getting a mandarin fish or two on Thursday (my LFS has two really really nice ones in store and after that Ill have all the fish I want for this tank)
Photos from the weekend

My Bicolour blenny decided the food clip would make a nice perch / seat / platform (no he isn’t stuck)

 

[NY_Caveman]

This photo is excellent. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Katrina71]

What a cutie!!!

 

[tdlawdo]

I’ll try and do weekly updates but I’m really busy with school lately
Did a water change on the weekend and discovered my salinity tool is broken so I’ll have to save up for one again (I’ll get a proper one now)
Thinking of getting a mandarin fish or two on Thursday (my LFS has two really really nice ones in store and after that Ill have all the fish I want for this tank)
Photos from the weekend

My Bicolour blenny decided the food clip would make a nice perch / seat / platform (no he isn’t stuck)

Wow super build!

Be careful with the mandarin. They are beautiful but require lots of copepods usually. And often die within 6 months due to starvation. They need a well established tank. Watch them feed at the LFS see if they have learned to eat other things .

 

[ngoodermuth]

Love the blenny picture, too funny!

I agree, I’d seriously re-think the mandarins. I’ve tried multiple times in smaller tanks when I started out in the hobby- in a 30g and then again in a 65g. In the 65g, I even had it eating frozen out of a feeding station 2-3 times a day... it still starved. I fed frozen, grew my own pod cultures, hatched baby brine- all in vain.

I wasn’t able to keep one successfully until I set up my 120g...

I’d just hate to see you go through all the same heartache I did. I poured so much effort into being successful, and it just doesn’t work out long term.

 

[Peach02]

Wow super build!

Be careful with the mandarin. They are beautiful but require lots of copepods usually. And often die within 6 months due to starvation. They need a well established tank. Watch them feed at the LFS see if they have learned to eat other things .

Yep, so I’ve seen them at the LFS for a few weeks now and they have definantly grown and I’ve done a lot of reading on how to teach them to eat other foods but thanks for the advice

 

[Peach02]

Love the blenny picture, too funny!

I agree, I’d seriously re-think the mandarins. I’ve tried multiple times in smaller tanks when I started out in the hobby- in a 30g and then again in a 65g. In the 65g, I even had it eating frozen out of a feeding station 2-3 times a day... it still starved. I fed frozen, grew my own pod cultures, hatched baby brine- all in vain.

I wasn’t able to keep one successfully until I set up my 120g...

I’d just hate to see you go through all the same heartache I did. I poured so much effort into being successful, and it just doesn’t work out long term.

Thanks for the advice, how much do you think they eat per day?

 

[ngoodermuth]

Thanks for the advice, how much do you think they eat per day?

The problem isn’t the how much, it’s the frequency. They have very high metabolisms (think hummingbirds) so in order to maintain condition they eat constantly. If you watch them, they should peck every couple of seconds. A smaller tank just doesn’t have enough room for rock, so the population is depleted before it can reproduce.

I mean, if you could feed it frozen 5 or more times a day (2-3 was not nearly enough) and have a system in place to deal with the inevitable nutrient/algae issues that will come with said feeding...it might still starve [emoji13]

Here was my guy that ate frozen from a vase. Fed 2-3, sometimes 4 times a day. He lasted maybe 6 months, but still starved. This was in the 65g tank. And he ate frozen at the LFS.

 

[Peach02]

The problem isn’t the how much, it’s the frequency. They have very high metabolisms (think hummingbirds) so in order to maintain condition they eat constantly. If you watch them, they should peck every couple of seconds. A smaller tank just doesn’t have enough room for rock, so the population is depleted before it can reproduce.

I mean, if you could feed it frozen 5 or more times a day (2-3 was not nearly enough) and have a system in place to deal with the inevitable nutrient/algae issues that will come with said feeding...it might still starve [emoji13]

Here was my guy that ate frozen from a vase. Fed 2-3, sometimes 4 times a day. He lasted maybe 6 months, but still starved. This was in the 65g tank. And he ate frozen at the LFS.

I’ll look into auto feeders and feeding what it will eat (as in not feeding too much) 5+ times a day after training it to eat?

 

[ngoodermuth]

I’ll look into auto feeders and feeding what it will eat (as in not feeding too much) 5+ times a day after training it to eat?

And regular dosing of pods.... I added probably a bottle a month in addition to feeding frozen. You could also try making a baby brine shrimp feeder, but again... you'll need multiple daily feedings.

The thing about these fish, they are SO much easier when you have a big enough tank. My current girl is FAT, I’ve had her for two years and I don’t have to do a thing different for her. She just scoots around all day eating off the rocks... I will probably never buy one for a tank under 100 gallons again.

 

[Peach02]

And regular dosing of pods.... I added probably a bottle a month in addition to feeding frozen. You could also try making a baby brine shrimp feeder, but again... you'll need multiple daily feedings.

The thing about these fish, they are SO much easier when you have a big enough tank. My current girl is FAT, I’ve had her for two years and I don’t have to do a thing different for her. She just scoots around all day eating off the rocks... I will probably never buy one for a tank under 100 gallons again.

where can you get the pods to dose with, are they expensive?

 

[ngoodermuth]

Algaebarn is a popular source: https://www.algaebarn.com/
I buy these https://premiumaquatics.com/products/arctipods-6-oz.html and these https://premiumaquatics.com/products/arctipods-6-oz.html at my LFS (But, they charge a little more... I think around $25-30/bottle) just because they are local.
Marine depot has another brand AlgaGen, but I've never tried those.

 

[Peach02]

Algaebarn is a popular source: https://www.algaebarn.com/
I buy these https://premiumaquatics.com/products/arctipods-6-oz.html and these https://premiumaquatics.com/products/arctipods-6-oz.html at my LFS (But, they charge a little more... I think around $25-30/bottle) just because they are local.
Marine depot has another brand AlgaGen, but I've never tried those.

ok thanks so much, ill look into it and do you know how long it takes to get your build thread badge (just applied for it?)

 

[Peach02]

Algaebarn is a popular source: https://www.algaebarn.com/
I buy these https://premiumaquatics.com/products/arctipods-6-oz.html and these https://premiumaquatics.com/products/arctipods-6-oz.html at my LFS (But, they charge a little more... I think around $25-30/bottle) just because they are local.
Marine depot has another brand AlgaGen, but I've never tried those.

Algae barn Dosnt ship to Australia
Premium aquatics dosnt have any info on shipping internationally and seems to be USA only

 

[Crustaceon]

I’ve successfully kept numerous dragonets for years and I can tell you from experience that the only time they seem to thrive is if they have a large enough pod population to feed on and can find one every 5-10 seconds continuously. Now in an emergency such as quarantine or declining health and unless already trained to take frozen food, the one sure bet to get them to eat is Nutramar Ova. This stuff is gold and everyone knows it, so it can be hard to find as people hoard it. Be prepared to pipet those shrimp eggs into the QT several times a day as needed.

 

[Peach02]

I’ve successfully kept numerous dragonets for years and I can tell you from experience that the only time they seem to thrive is if they have a large enough pod population to feed on and can find one every 5-10 seconds continuously. Now in an emergency such as quarantine or declining health and unless already trained to take frozen food, the one sure bet to get them to eat is Nutramar Ova. This stuff is gold and everyone knows it, so it can be hard to find as people hoard it. Be prepared to pipet those shrimp eggs into the QT several times a day as needed.

Where would you reccomend looking for them, and if it’s online a place that ships to Australia because everywhere I’ve looked dosnt

 

[Crustaceon]

Where would you reccomend looking for them, and if it’s online a place that ships to Australia because everywhere I’ve looked dosnt

That’ll be tricky due to shipping. The stuff is just prawn roe and Australia has a strong shrimping industry, so you might want to check with your local fish market to see if they can get it for you.