(Tank Move and 8 week Update) 10g Nano, TBS live rock, live sand, hitchhikers, CUC (Original TBS Package)

[CallMeChris]

Your headed the right direction using live ocean rock and sand...that's the way I do things as well.

Been fun so far

I got my dates mixed up and my premium live rock pick up isn’t till next Saturday. Went to a new fish store instead

 

[CallMeChris]

Snack for later? Do they eat snail eggs? Guess we will find out!

 

[razorskiss]

Cool stuff! I found a mantis shrimp, the same hidden cup corals, a spaghetti worm, and close to a dozen brittle stars in the pico kit I bought from TBS. Ended up starting a new species only tank for the mantis but it seems like I find something new at least once a week on these rocks....

 

[CallMeChris]

I noticed earlier this week that one of my hermit crabs had a broken shell. I bought some shells at hobby lobby (made sure they were not painted or coated in anyway), boiled them in RODI water and put some of them in last night. I was lucky enough to see him transfer to one of the new shells! Just happens, so cool. Here’s some pics; before, during, after. It’s happily climbing around on a rock as I type

 

[CallMeChris]

Cool stuff! I found a mantis shrimp, the same hidden cup corals, a spaghetti worm, and close to a dozen brittle stars in the pico kit I bought from TBS. Ended up starting a new species only tank for the mantis but it seems like I find something new at least once a week on these rocks....

Mantis shrimp are cool! Think I have a spaghetti worm as well. Seeing more and more brittle stars.

 

[CallMeChris]

Still doing well, still finding new stuff everyday. Here’s some new pics:

Brittle star

Sponges

King of the Rock (favorite perch)

 

[CallMeChris]

3 Weeks Old now.

No water changes so far, just topping off with fresh RODI as needed. Nitrates at 20, and holding.

I’ve rinsed out the HOB mechanical filter (floss and carbon) in RODI Saltwater at the 2 week mark. That’s it far as filtering goes. Water looks great. No noticeable nuisance algae or pests.

Only feeding the hermit crabs 3 to 5 small pellets a day. At least 2 of them have switched shells to the new ones I provided. There are 4 of them that I know of, several snails and a lot of small brittle stars. A couple hidden cup coral mini-colonies, some very small macro algae growths, and I’m sure there is a ton of stuff I just haven’t seen. Seems like I notice something different every time I look in the tank.

There have been two egg laying events for the snails. I’ve seen one teeny tiny snail on the glass from time to time, so I guess not all of them were eaten

I think some of the brittle stars are using the barnacles as homes lol

Next major update will hopefully be this coming Saturday, July 1st. Scheduled to pick up 10lbs more rock, premium this time. Along with some blue legged hermits and some different snails and hopefully a red macro algae. This has been delayed due to weather and gulf conditions. Hopefully they can safely harvest this coming week.

 

[steveschuerger]

Looks good. Honestly with parameters like that you could probably cheat a little and toss in a coral or two. Looking forward to further updates.

 

[Lebowski_]

Looking great homie!

Sorry, just saw username, looking good Chris

 

[CallMeChris]

Looks good. Honestly with parameters like that you could probably cheat a little and toss in a coral or two. Looking forward to further updates.

Thanks! I’ve thought about it. Couple things holding me back. The addition of new live rock in a week from now with the potential of unwanted hitchhikers, and this is essentially a QT/Observation holding tank for live rock until I get my big tank set up in my new house. Closing on the house late July, so will be moving this 10g at that time (only 15 minutes away) then a few weeks after that I hope to have the new 120g tank setup and will be transferring almost everything in this tank over to that one.

 

[steveschuerger]

Thanks! I’ve thought about it. Couple things holding me back. The addition of new live rock in a week from now with the potential of unwanted hitchhikers, and this is essentially a QT/Observation holding tank for live rock until I get my big tank set up in my new house. Closing on the house late July, so will be moving this 10g at that time (only 15 minutes away) then a few weeks after that I hope to have the new 120g tank setup and will be transferring almost everything in this tank over to that one.

I love hitchhikers in general myself. So far the only unwanteds I’ve had have been a few aiptasia and a couple majano nems. Picked up the 8 lb nano “treasure” pack myself for the 22 cube I recently put together. That and 10 lbs from Gulf Live Rock. Thought about sand but stayed with CaribSea. Wish I could fit a 120 but the LR was already taken by my 90 FW. Good luck on the move!

 

[CallMeChris]

4 Week Tank Update

Picked up the rest of my live rock from Tampa Bay Saltwater @LiverockRocks today! The 2nd half of my Original TBS Package. Premium rock, Florida blue legged hermits, Florida astrea snails and some macro algae.

Keep in mind this tank is mostly an observation/isolation cycling tank. All of this rock and whatever critters I can catch will be going to the new 115g tank that will be set up in about 5 weeks. I mention this, cause the tank is quite crowded, lol.

 

[LiverockRocks]

Love the texture and red macros! This small tank is Rock'in for sure.

How about that clear water.
It is cool to see how quickly the water clears right after adding ocean rock.
At Reef-A-Palooza Orlando, we quickly assembled 4 small systems with the TBS Package and soon after the pumps fired up...BAM! crystal clear waters, no filters, no carbon, no uv. Pretty cool to see ocean live rock in action.

Thanks for being a great customer and wishing you great success with the upcoming 115.

 

[CallMeChris]

Love the texture and red macros! This small tank is Rock'in for sure.

How about that clear water.
It is cool to see how quickly the water clears right after adding ocean rock.
At Reef-A-Palooza Orlando, we quickly assembled 4 small systems with the TBS Package and soon after the pumps fired up...BAM! crystal clear waters, no filters, no carbon, no uv. Pretty cool to see ocean live rock in action.

Thanks for being a great customer and wishing you great success with the upcoming 115.

Thanks! Loving the clear water, the cool rocks and critters, the colors and textures. Don't think it was ever cloudy, other than maybe slightly during the hour after installing sand or rocks.

 

[CallMeChris]

More pics

Fleshy Limpit,cool!

Any ideas on this brown one? Encrusting coral of some sort? Tunicate?

Red Grapes (Botryocladia)

Caulerpa Mexicana​

and Astrea snail

Looks like it is in a mini-cycle, no surprise with all the new additions at once.

 

[LiverockRocks]

More pics

Fleshy Limpit,cool!

Any ideas on this brown one? Encrusting coral of some sort? Tunicate?

Red Grapes (Botryocladia)

Caulerpa Mexicana​

and Astrea snail

Looks like it is in a mini-cycle, no surprise with all the new additions at once.

Lookin good.
Could be a star coral, should have touch of fluorescent green.

 

[CallMeChris]

Lookin good.
Could be a star coral, should have touch of fluorescent green.

Maybe a blushing Star coral?

 

[CallMeChris]

More pics!

Isopod, any idea which one? (Been ID’d as a Cirolanid, pest)

Decorator Crab. Teeny, tiny, and cute

I call him King Hermie, likes to site on top of rocks and survey his kingdom. Reticulated Hermit

 

[CallMeChris]

5 Week Update

Been 5 weeks since the start of the tank and one week since doubling the live rock with an additional 10lbs of premium TBS rock and adding additional CUC. See above for more info on that.

Ammonia at 0, nitrite at near zero, Nitrate at 50+…even after a 1.5 gallon water change, still 50+. Everyone and everything in the tank seems to be doing fine, despite the high Nitrate reading. Going to do a diluted sample test tomorrow to try and get a more accurate nitrate reading, then maybe another water change.

Discovered a pest Isopod this week, see above for pic. Also discovered a crab molt with black claw tips, see below for pic. Not unexpected, exactly why the live rock/sand is in QT. Haven’t seen the actual crab, been checking at night off and on. Haven’t seen another isopod either, yet.

Current Full Tank Shot

Crab Molt

Limpet?

Red Grape

Astrea Snail doing its thing

Fleshy Limpet still going strong.

Found another whelk, baby this time. Sucked it up with a turkey baster

Cool Sponges?

 

[CallMeChris]

Did some Nitrate testing using diluted samples. First test control of new saltwater, should be zero and it was. Second test was half and half, got close to 20, so real reading would be close to 40. Third test was one part tank water and 4 parts control water, got close to 10, so real reading would be close to 50. Using Red Sea test.

So, 40 to 50 on Nitrates. Will do another 1.5 gallon water change later today.