Our box of Ocean
 

This is a start to our aquarium keeping. It all started with a trip to Edmonton to pick up some Ball Pythons (0.3 2007 Normal, 1.0 Spotnose, and 0.1 Spider for those interested). On the way out of town we stopped in at Aquarium Illusions to look around. We ended up coming home with a Ocellaris Clown and some Live Rock. Luckily I had this all planned out and had SW already mixed and going at home.

So we come home with out 2 little purchases and some filter material to start our little piece of the ocean.

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So the tank went through the cycle and we enjoyed our little clownfish.

Over the last few weeks I added some crushed coral, bought 2 Maxi-Jets and 2 Koralia 2s. Nothing else was really done until the end of march.

I went back down south and on my way back I stopped at Golds in Calgary where the guys in there hooked me up with a new 24" New Wave light and 4 bulbs (1 Actinic, 2 Fiji, and 1 Blue Plus). I also got in another 3 pieces of Live Rock and 2 corals, 1 Torch and 1 Candy Cane.

On the live rock we noticed what a Presume is a button Polyp, upon further inspection I noticed another 2 unopened.

I finished building my stand and the next morning I hung the lights and moved the 15 gallon to its new location.

In addition I was using the 2 Mai-jets but replaced them for 1 Koralia 2 which I think gives the tank better flow compared to the Maxi-jets. The K2 is more GPH but its not as direct of a current and how its spreads out give the tank better water movement. What I would really like is 2 Koralia Nanos. I think this would be awesome in our tank.

Here it is as on last night.
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Here is what I think is the button Polyp. What do you guys think?
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We are thinking of coming back to Edmonton on Sunday. We would like to add more live rock, maybe a few more frags if we can find some we like, and a flame angel. We have been watching the classifieds as close as we can for some nice frags.

Nice rock. Great pictures too!

Thanks Leah. The tank doesnt look that blue but its impossible to take pictures without them looking as blue as they are. Its almost like all the camera is picking up is the blue.

Are you thinking of adding a skimmer or did I miss that?

I didnt mention it but yet we are watching the classified for a skimmer as well. Not alot of people like to ship even when offering to pay shipping and the original asking price. So We watch the classifieds and keep trying to make offers.

It's your white balance. If your camera has a custom white balance option this is the time to learn how to use it. Alternatively, most if not all photo editing software will allow you to adjust colours to compensate for white balance issues.

Yeah, that does seem to be a problem. Do you think the flame will pick at your corals?
Your clowns look really healthy. And very photogenic. Hehe.

Fkshui I have a kodak 740Z not sure if it has a white balance or not. What software do you reccomend to edit photos.

Leah I have thought about it picking at my corals but I figure its better to add now while I dont have alot fo corals then what I have a tank full and I have to pull the rock apart to capture him.

We only have the 1 clown and yes she/he is quiet the character.

I'm not very familar with Kodaks, but you should be able to access it if you switch the camera out of automatic to one of the manual modes. If white balance is available, you should see something like a "WB" icon on the menu somewhere - that's how Canon labels it. To custom set WB (again at least with Canons) you enter the proper setting mode and take a picture of a white card underneath your aquarium lights.

As far as editing software is concerned I just use iPhoto on my Mac, but any pretty much any software out there (including what probably came pre-loaded on your computer) will allow you to make the standard adjustments for colour, exposure etc. Photoshop is, of course, the industry standard but most people won't need to use one tenth of its capabilities.

Great start!! Yes those are Common Button Polyps. They may spread like a wildfire which may or may not be a good thing depending how much you like your other frags and how much you like the button polyps. Haha!

You may regret using crushed coral instead of sand in the future as you get detritus buildup in the CC causing nitrate issues.

When I woke up this morning our torch was on the floor. Apparently the putty that was used to secure it to the rock wasnt done to well.

So a little shuffling around and I think this will best. I found a hole in the rock that the Torch will fit in so I will grab some epoxy to secure it in for good.

We are running into Edmonton this weekend so maybe I can find some in there. We are hoping to find a little more live rock and a nice Flame Angel.

Heres what it looks like now.
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Here is the New Wave Fixture also
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I am also still experimenting on the order of the bulbs.
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imo, switch out that pure actinic and one of the fiji purples and replace them with 2 blue+

very nice tank.

lorenz0 why do you siggest this? I really like this colour I have now. I was thinking of changing the Blue + with another pure actinic.

You will likely get very slow growth under that bulb selection with most corals. 10-14k is usually the preferred spectrum of light for coral growth, while the Actinics and Reef Blues are more for color and dawn/dusk before and after the Daytime lights.

I use a Gmann Actinic+ and Pure Actinic, 1hr before and 2 hours after, my 14K Metal Halides... as well as all day with the MH for added color in the tank.

No way is that Blue+ 14K.

Any clue what bulbs are 14K?? I read on the ATI site that they reccmond the pro colour bulbs with supplimental Actinic.

Most companies makes a bulb in that range... Giesemann, KZ, Aquascience, Hagen...

So If I use the 14K bulbs could I suppliment with the Actinic and still get good growth rate?

Beautiful start!
I saw a few very nice flame angels at marine aquaria today If you come in this weekend and are still looking.

Thanks for the compliments subman. Any chance you know where fish was harvested? I am looking for a Hawaiian Flame as I have heard they have the most Red.

Looking for something like this.

Are you aware that dwarf angels will often pick at corals? Some will take a liking to certain corals, and will kill them from nipping. They are hit and miss in reef tanks. Some leave the corals alone completely, some nip at only some corals, and some are holy terrors! Some will also be fine in the reef for a long time before they start coral nipping.

Ya Myka I understand. I wanted to introduce it now than have it added with all my corals and have to rip it all apart to get the fish out.

My thoughts are to put the Flame in then add corals. If I find there is a problem I will move the corals into a protected area until I can make it back into the city and maybe trade it for somthing else.

Have you taken a look at other species that are better suited or are you really set on a Flame? I really like a few of the dwarf angels too, but I like my corals (and clam!) better. I also think your tank is a bit small for a Flame. I wouldn't put one in a tank smaller than about 30 gallons, and i think yours is 20 if I remember correctly?

Check out this website for other ideas: http://www.nano-reef.com/fish/

Personally, I think your tank would be perfectly suited to a Jawfish, and then maybe an Orchid Dottyback. Or a shrimp/goby pair instead of the Jawfish...?

They were Hawaiian i'm 99% sure.

Actually...here is a much bigger list: http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...howtopic=74703

They do list Flame Angels on the 20g list, but they also have Maroon Clowns on the 20g list...so take it with a grain of salt that's for sure!!!

I'm just trying to give you other options. It's a pain in the butt to capture fish out of a tank, not to mention stressful on the fish. In the end it's your call. They are nice looking fish.

You could probably run front to back: Actinic-14K-10K-Reef Blue (or another Actinic), and that would yield good growth, and give you a nice color to the tank..

I am pretty set on the flame. I will be upgrading in the near future. I am hoping to find a smaller one. I looked at a Pygmy (Cherub) but really like the flame. I think the Flame will be a great fish to add a splash of red to the tank.

Thanks sub man do you remeber the cost? I think they were about $70 OR $80 at AI when I was in there a few months ago.

JDigital thanks for that I will definatly have to keep my eyes open. Is there a difference in quality between bulbs? Are the T-5's they sell at Petland (thats the only store in GP that sells T5) the same as a ATI, or URI?

I think the were $60 but can't say for sure.

Alright thanks for the heads up.

I agree as well that you have way to much blue light in there. Growth will be significantly reduced and it doesn’t look natural. I run 2 atinics for 10hrs and 2 10,000k and 2 11,000ks for 8 hrs. I find it brings out the natural colors of the fish and corals and the 2 atinics make the corals pop. I believe the ideal color for a reef is around 12,000k- 14,000k not the 22,000k you are running. Take the advice above and switch one fiji purple and one atinic for at least an 11,000k and a 15,000k, you wont regret it.

A trip to Edmonton yesterday and we came home with a bunch of stuff. In fact I am going to set up a 20H underneath the 15 gallon for some of the LR and fish.

We first stopped at Aquarium Illusions like we always do when we get into Edmonton. We were on a mission to find a flame and we had to meet noirsphynx there to pick up some fish from her.

They had a lot of cool fish there that we looked at while we browsed for our flame. Finally we found the tank with the flame in it but were told he is a coral muncher. We were pretty sad until they told us they had 3 more in the back!!! So a trip to the back and we found our flame. It was defiantly the most red of the 3 of the them and the one that always seemed to be out in the front allowing me to look him over.

While we were back there noirsphynx found us and we got out Firefish, 6line wrasse, and cleaner shrimp (which the dude at AI wanted to trade me for a smaller one so I did). We diced we wanted to check out Marine Aquaria while in town so off we went before purchasing our flame (plus we wanted to see if Marine Aquaria had any flames, and if they have more red).

I was impressed when I first walked into the store. Very clean and a very nice looking store over all. I wasn't to impressed with no lights over the fish, and I mean no lights what so ever not even light that weren't turned on. I also wasn't impressed with the attitude of one of the staff members (I presume the owner) when I asked him if there was anyway to get a little light over the tank with the flames so I could check them out. They had some really nice fish (the Goldflake Angel and the odd colour Potters Angel stand out in my mind) in there but I wont be going back.

On the way back the traffic on the bridge was crazy, back up for 3 miles but we finally made it to Aquarium Illusions where we bought 2 fish, some Live Rock, Hermit Crabs and a Hammer Coral. Backseat full with a cooler and off to Grande Prairie we went.

Finally arriving home we got everyone acclimated and into the tank. I kept the lights dim over light using some blue incandescent bulbs on one side of the tank. I also made sure the top was covered overnight in case the 6line or Firefish want to commit Hari Kari. So far I see everyone but the Cleaner Shrimp and the Firefish.

So I suppose you guys are wanting to see pictures, I guess I could post some.
Full Tank Shot
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Hermit Crab (1 of 8)
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Hammer Coral (Front view, Side View, Close up)
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6 Line Wrasse
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The tank Centre Piece
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There is actually 2 other fish in there and the shrimp. One is the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, the Firefish, and I am not going to say the third until you guys promise not to flame me. Also no all these fish wont be staying in this aquarium, some of them will be moving to the 20H in a few day or a week. A bigger tank is in the works right now you need to know this before I post the picture of the last fish.

Ryan
I would like to see other fish......PLEASE!!

I just went to check to see if he had come out yet and he was stuck to the Maxi-Jet intake !!!!!! I have him in a separate container inside the aquarium where there is a little flow going through it but not chance of getting blown around. He doesnt look so good which is sad he was doing so good at AI.

Well first the secret fish didnt make it. He wasnt looking so good this morning when I turned the lights on and he finally passed. It was 1" long Regal tang and I am really sad to see him go. I might try another one in a few months but dont plan on it anytime soon.

On the bright side I took out about half the rock and put it in a separate container to blow off a lot of the die off. I didnt realize how much was on it until I put all the lights on. So anyway when I moved the rock the Firefish came out and he hasnt gone into hiding since. he has not turned into the centre of attention in the tank.

I also shot some pictures of some of the sprouts the Hammer has on it. The coral is full of them.

Blue Hermit
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Wrasse Hole
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Sprouts
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g7...n/100_3118.jpg

What you have been waiting for.
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Forgot to mention I fed NLS and all except the Flame ate it. Then I put in a little chunk of frozen Mysis and everyone but the 6 Line wrasse. So as of right now everyone is eating!!! The clown and firefish are the most aggressive eaters in this tank.

How long has the tank been running?

It's looking good Ryan. I'm glad everyone acclimated so well. Great pic of the firefish too! I saw those teeny tiny regal tangs, super cute and super tiny. Too bad the little fellow died.

Its been going for a few months now.

Thanks Dawn. He is a trickly little devil to capture with my camera. Seems the camera wants to focus on the rocks behind him. Everything looks good on the little screen but once they are uploaded the rocks are clear but the Firefish is a little blurry.

umm i was wondering why i was getting emails about this thread lol

So when i told you to switch out some of your bulbs is for the fact that with only 4 bulbs your extremely limited and you want to make the most of your ability to get the highest output. imo pure actinic's should only be used to bring out color in your coral. 14k bulbs on the market would vary, you have the KZ new generation, GE blue +, Aquamedic 14,000k , ati blue +, I would run 2 of these and probably something like an actinic + and not a pure actinic. the actinic+ are ussually around 60% actinic but they actually do good for the coral. give it a go, i am sure you would be happy with the outcome