My fruits, someone Else's labor
- Thread starter Etoimos
- Start date
So I'm back from my trip and the aquarium did fine while I was gone. It's been cycling since May 1st, Ammonia has read zero since May 10th, Nitrites hit zero sometime between May 12th (last check before my trip) and June 1st (first check after trip). Nitrates climbed up to about 10ppm as tested on June 1st and have stayed at that level as of June 7th. Over the past week my pH has ranged from 8.32 to 8.65, averaging 8.49. My water temp is raising about 2
Okay, so it has been 2 months since I updated this thread and quite a few things have changed (they always do right?).
I ended up swapping out the ReefKeeper Elite for an Apex system...
My modules are hidden behind the calcium jug...
The new EB832s fit in the same spot as the RKE outlets did...
One thing I think I will do in time is to buy some shorter USB cables to use instead of the ones that came with the Apes products. For the small footprint of my system, many of them are just too long and make cable management harder then it needs to be.
I also picked up a Reef Octopus skimmer and setup the ATO system (the reservoir still has to be permanently placed and pumped from the closet behind the tank)...
I ended up swapping out the ReefKeeper Elite for an Apex system...
My modules are hidden behind the calcium jug...
The new EB832s fit in the same spot as the RKE outlets did...
One thing I think I will do in time is to buy some shorter USB cables to use instead of the ones that came with the Apes products. For the small footprint of my system, many of them are just too long and make cable management harder then it needs to be.
I also picked up a Reef Octopus skimmer and setup the ATO system (the reservoir still has to be permanently placed and pumped from the closet behind the tank)...
I also switched from the 250w MH to the Radion XR30 Pro for lighting.
Part of switching to the Apex system was getting the Automatic Feed System for when I was gone on trips. Unfortunately, there was no good place to place it on this setup. So, I had to make this shelf for it...
My initial testing with the AFS and PE Pellets that I'm feeding showed that the pellets would float on top to long and about 80%-90% of them would just go over the overflow (I'm trying to not turn off the pump while feeding). So I built in the feed chute you see on the right side. It sits in to the water about a half inch and contains the pellets until they start to sink.
The major complaint about the AFS is that the food compartment comes open when you try and remove it, dumping a bunch of food into your tank. So avoid this, I plan to always unplug my AFS and remove it from the tank to refill the food. This meant I would have to have the bus cable laying around loose above the tank. Having to fish the cable out would be no fun, so I incorporated a pug hold onto the shelf...
Part of switching to the Apex system was getting the Automatic Feed System for when I was gone on trips. Unfortunately, there was no good place to place it on this setup. So, I had to make this shelf for it...
My initial testing with the AFS and PE Pellets that I'm feeding showed that the pellets would float on top to long and about 80%-90% of them would just go over the overflow (I'm trying to not turn off the pump while feeding). So I built in the feed chute you see on the right side. It sits in to the water about a half inch and contains the pellets until they start to sink.
The major complaint about the AFS is that the food compartment comes open when you try and remove it, dumping a bunch of food into your tank. So avoid this, I plan to always unplug my AFS and remove it from the tank to refill the food. This meant I would have to have the bus cable laying around loose above the tank. Having to fish the cable out would be no fun, so I incorporated a pug hold onto the shelf...
We have also added some corals and fish...
A good sized frogspawn (and its tuxedo urchin buddy)
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Frogspawn\/slides\/Corals-Critters-9268-2.jpg"}[/IMG2]
http://cofamjeepn.com/Aquarium/Tuxed...tters-9310.jpg
Shelly the Goniopora
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Goniopora%201\/slides\/Goniopora1-9453.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The Dude, another Goniopora
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Goniopora%202\/slides\/Corals-Critters-9274.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Some blue mushrooms
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Mushrooms\/slides\/BlueMush-9454.jpg"}[/IMG2]
A plate coral named Flatty
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Plate%20Coral\/slides\/Corals-Critters-9272.jpg"}[/IMG2]
And 4 Ricordea on a piece of live rock
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Ricordea\/slides\/BlueMush-9456.jpg"}[/IMG2]
On a recent family vacation I found us driving by Alpha Aquaculture, a clownfish breeder. We spent about 1.5 hours there checking out their setups and all of the different designer clownfish that they breed. The kiddos really enjoyed seeing the newly (that morning!) hatched fry. The owner, Kris, was really nice and helped the wife and I pick out our new fish.
A Midnight Lighting Classic
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/Fish\/Clownfish\/Midnight%20Lightning%20Classic\/slides\/AA-Clowns-9388.jpg"}[/IMG2]
A Frostbite Extreme
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/Fish\/Clownfish\/Frostbite%20Extreme\/slides\/AA-Clowns-9441.jpg"}[/IMG2]
And a DaVinchi Extreme
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/Fish\/Clownfish\/DaVinci%20Extreme\/slides\/AA-Clowns-9425.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Yes, that is three clownfish in the same tank. I talked to Kris about this and checked out a couple of his tanks that had a trio living it it. While it does not always work out, it is possible to have three in the same tank. We'll be keeping a close eye on them for any signs of severe aggression. The Midnight Lighting was slightly bigger than the other two and has already established its self as the dominate fish of the three. The DaVinchi has completely submitted to it (doing the sideways shimmy dance) and the Frostbite has become the 3rd wheel and spends the daytime separated from the other two (they all still sleep together at night though). Aggression from the Midnight Lighting towards the Frostbite is not too bad right now. It just kind of patrols its area of the tank, keeping the Frostbite away and occasionally nipping at it. One day after doing some rearranging in the tank, it did get a bit aggressive and chased the Frostbite around the tank for a few minutes. Once the Midnight cornered the Frostbite during feeding time and did not let it eat (I "spot" fed it a little later though).
We knew going in that if the aggression was too much that we would have to either get a second tank (thinking maybe a nano for the office area) or get rid of one of the three. As the Frostbite and DaVinchi are the household favorites, the Midnight would be the one to go if it comes to that.
We also have a Lemonpeel Angle in QT right now.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/Fish\/Lemonpeel%20Angle\/slides\/20170809_204217.jpg"}[/IMG2]
A good sized frogspawn (and its tuxedo urchin buddy)
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Frogspawn\/slides\/Corals-Critters-9268-2.jpg"}[/IMG2]
http://cofamjeepn.com/Aquarium/Tuxed...tters-9310.jpg
Shelly the Goniopora
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Goniopora%201\/slides\/Goniopora1-9453.jpg"}[/IMG2]
The Dude, another Goniopora
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Goniopora%202\/slides\/Corals-Critters-9274.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Some blue mushrooms
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Mushrooms\/slides\/BlueMush-9454.jpg"}[/IMG2]
A plate coral named Flatty
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Plate%20Coral\/slides\/Corals-Critters-9272.jpg"}[/IMG2]
And 4 Ricordea on a piece of live rock
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/LPS%20Corals\/Ricordea\/slides\/BlueMush-9456.jpg"}[/IMG2]
On a recent family vacation I found us driving by Alpha Aquaculture, a clownfish breeder. We spent about 1.5 hours there checking out their setups and all of the different designer clownfish that they breed. The kiddos really enjoyed seeing the newly (that morning!) hatched fry. The owner, Kris, was really nice and helped the wife and I pick out our new fish.
A Midnight Lighting Classic
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/Fish\/Clownfish\/Midnight%20Lightning%20Classic\/slides\/AA-Clowns-9388.jpg"}[/IMG2]
A Frostbite Extreme
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/Fish\/Clownfish\/Frostbite%20Extreme\/slides\/AA-Clowns-9441.jpg"}[/IMG2]
And a DaVinchi Extreme
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/Fish\/Clownfish\/DaVinci%20Extreme\/slides\/AA-Clowns-9425.jpg"}[/IMG2]
Yes, that is three clownfish in the same tank. I talked to Kris about this and checked out a couple of his tanks that had a trio living it it. While it does not always work out, it is possible to have three in the same tank. We'll be keeping a close eye on them for any signs of severe aggression. The Midnight Lighting was slightly bigger than the other two and has already established its self as the dominate fish of the three. The DaVinchi has completely submitted to it (doing the sideways shimmy dance) and the Frostbite has become the 3rd wheel and spends the daytime separated from the other two (they all still sleep together at night though). Aggression from the Midnight Lighting towards the Frostbite is not too bad right now. It just kind of patrols its area of the tank, keeping the Frostbite away and occasionally nipping at it. One day after doing some rearranging in the tank, it did get a bit aggressive and chased the Frostbite around the tank for a few minutes. Once the Midnight cornered the Frostbite during feeding time and did not let it eat (I "spot" fed it a little later though).
We knew going in that if the aggression was too much that we would have to either get a second tank (thinking maybe a nano for the office area) or get rid of one of the three. As the Frostbite and DaVinchi are the household favorites, the Midnight would be the one to go if it comes to that.
We also have a Lemonpeel Angle in QT right now.
[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/cofamjeepn.com\/Aquarium\/Fish\/Lemonpeel%20Angle\/slides\/20170809_204217.jpg"}[/IMG2]
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