Randy's Tank and Learn Thread

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Order from Gulf Coast Ecosystems

Got my order of snails, macroalgae, gorgonia and sponges from Gulf Coast Ecosystems.

I’m trying another red tree sponge, in case the demise of the earlier one was from the dino and cyano issues after seeming to grow early on. Also try a red ball sponge. The earlier yellow ones seem to be doing OK.

Got three types of photosynthetic gorgonia, a mermaids fan, and three species of caulerpa. Most of the caulerpa is in a refigium, but I put some in the display where I think it likely the foxface may eat it (in my old tank it did so).

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Anthias

It’s been a rocky road for the Anthias. Three are very vigorous and eating well, including TDO chromoboost, Primer Reef Flakes, frozen mysis, and freeze dried brine and cyclops. All good. They are out front and schooling nicely.

One is moderately vigorous and sometimes schools with the others, and sometimes hides. But I do not see it eating.

The one resting near the tank bottom is hanging in there, but not eating or getting better.

One I have just not seen for a few days. No idea what happened to it. Died and eaten? Jumped into an overflow? (they do not seem jumpy in the tank). Still hiding?

Time will tell. Fingers crossed for at least three, which would be an ok number.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Caulerpa

As I expected, the caulerpa of all three types has almost entirely disappeared from the display. I expect the foxface ate it, perhaps along with the yellow tang.

Assuming it thrives in the refugium, that gives me another set of species to grow and then feed to the tank as a vacation feeder. :)

 

[jonelder68]

Caulerpa

As I expected, the caulerpa of all three types has almost entirely disappeared from the display. I expect the foxface ate it, perhaps along with the yellow tang.

Assuming it thrives in the refugium, that gives me another set of species to grow and then feed to the tank as a vacation feeder. :)

I’ve been wanting to try some out as well. I’ll give it a bit and see what you think of it first. My YT would never eat the feather Caulerpa that comes in on TBS rock. Was wondering about trying some other varieties.

 

[Minifoot77]

I’ve been wanting to try some out as well. I’ll give it a bit and see what you think of it first. My YT would never eat the feather Caulerpa that comes in on TBS rock. Was wondering about trying some other varieties.

I got Trumpet or bell caulerpa if anyone is interested.... I could pull it after my nudis clean it up but aptasia is probably infused into it at a cellular level

 

[jonelder68]

I got Trumpet or bell caulerpa if anyone is interested.... I could pull it after my nudis clean it up but aptasia is probably infused into it at a cellular level

Nice! Thanks. I might take you up on that sometime. Ottawa? Not Kansas are you?

I keep trying to give away some of my Pom Pom but everytime it gets some GHA coating and recently aptasia also . So can’t pass that along.

 

[Minifoot77]

Nice! Thanks. I might take you up on that sometime. Ottawa? Not Kansas are you?

I keep trying to give away some of my Pom Pom but everytime it gets some GHA coating and recently aptasia also . So can’t pass that along.

Illinois

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Videos!
I took some videos this morning. I think the tank is finally looking like I was hoping. :)

 

[dwest]

Awesome

 

[X-37B]

Videos!
I took some videos this morning. I think the tank is finally looking like I was hoping. :)

Very nice! I love the look of heavy coralline growth in systems.
It gives the systems a very unique look. Keep the vids and pics comming.

 

[offthehook]

Very nice! Are you using a lens over your camera? You have some nice pics and video and I can never get the true color, I have an orange filter but pics almost look worse with it.

The 3 anthias are looking great! Other two still struggling?

 

[Dan_P]

Videos!
I took some videos this morning. I think the tank is finally looking like I was hoping. :)

I don’t watch YouTube videos. I’d rather read about the aquarium :-)

I am a sucker for aquarium videos. Yours were very nice - a beautiful aquarium (I love the vigorous water flow) and you held the freakin’ camera still! I was so mesmerized by all the motion that I forgot to look for cyanobacteria.

A system to be proud of.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Very nice! Are you using a lens over your camera? You have some nice pics and video and I can never get the true color, I have an orange filter but pics almost look worse with it.

The 3 anthias are looking great! Other two still struggling?

It's a straight up iphone video. My lighting is quite white, not blue, hence no need to use filters. :)

Yes, sadly the other two are stull struggling.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don’t watch YouTube videos. I’d rather read about the aquarium :-)

I am a sucker for aquarium videos. Yours were very nice - a beautiful aquarium (I love the vigorous water flow) and you held the freakin’ camera still! I was so mesmerized by all the motion that I forgot to look for cyanobacteria.

A system to be proud of.

THanks!

No signs of cyano since the chemiclean. I expect it to come back, but so far it has not. Maybe the tank is still filled with antibiotic lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Love in the Tank

It continues to be working out to have added the female
Mandarin. Recall that the existing tank raised male came over to it almost immediately after adding the wild female. While
most of the time they are both out of view, it is quite common to see them hunting the rocks together.

 

[rayadog]

It’s been a rocky road for the Anthias. Three are very vigorous and eating well, including TDO chromoboost, Primer Reef Flakes, frozen mysis, and freeze dried brine and cyclops. All good. They are out front and schooling nicely.

Do you have to do anything special with your freeze dried brine? I should also ask is it cubed or loose

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you have to do anything special with your freeze dried brine? I should also ask is it cubed or loose

I’m not sure how much I will use it. I got it when I was concerned about the anthias taking foods I could put in a feeder. In any case, it is comprised of individual dried shrimp. I broke them into smaller bits by grinding between two fingers for a few seconds, then put them in a little cup, added water, swirled, and added it. I doubt it is as nutritious as my other foods, which is why I may not use it.

 

[Mickey]

Randy - very sorry about your anemone. I was way behind on this thread (life just got in the way) and just recently caught up.

If you are still looking for a largish coral to place in that flat topped island I have a good sized Green Pavona that I'd be willing to part with. Its about 6-8" across. I'm in CT so kinda local. I can send photos when I get home if you are interested as I'm traveling right now.

 

[rayadog]

I broke them into smaller bits by grinding between two fingers for a few seconds, then put them in a little cup, added water, swirled, and added it.

Does it float less after being ground? I was sorta experimenting the same. My chromis eat freeze dried cyclops all the same but didn’t feel I could get the same volume with it in addition to flakes or dry brine as I would vs. frozen. I struggle with getting the brine not to float but I didn’t try grinding much.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It might have floated if I just dropped it dry into the water, but swirled into a cup it went in pretty easily.