Budget doesn't exist in this hobby: Brian's 45g Build

[Etaloche]

Originally Posted by Myka

Also, your cycle won't take long with dry rock. If you want to speed it up, add Prodibio Start Up. I add this to all new tanks that are started with dry rock. Really seems to help establish the good bacteria (rather than bad). I just add one pack (I think it has 6 or 8 vials in it) as directed until it's gone. I know the instructions say to use it longer, but one pack sure helps.

I assume these are what you're referring to?

I actually picked up one of these and been planning to dose it daily starting tonight, are these similar products? If they aren't could I use both to help or should I just stick to one.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Etaloche

I assume these are what you're referring to?

I actually picked up one of these and been planning to dose it daily starting tonight, are these similar products? If they aren't could I use both to help or should I just stick to one.

MB7 and Prodibio BioDigest are similar (How similar? We don't know because there are no ingredients listed haha). They are both bacteria products. Prodibio Start Up also has the Ammo Lock vials in it which neutralizes the ammonia and allows you to add livestock sooner. If there is an algae bloom before the cycle is over, this Ammo Lock comes in handy because you can add a CUC (clean up crew). That's really the only difference. You could essentially do the same with MB7 and some other ammonia detoxifier like Prime or Amquel.

[Etaloche]

Originally Posted by Myka

MB7 and Prodibio BioDigest are similar (How similar? We don't know because there are no ingredients listed haha). They are both bacteria products. Prodibio Start Up also has the Ammo Lock vials in it which neutralizes the ammonia and allows you to add livestock sooner. If there is an algae bloom before the cycle is over, this Ammo Lock comes in handy because you can add a CUC (clean up crew). That's really the only difference. You could essentially do the same with MB7 and some other ammonia detoxifier like Prime or Amquel.

Alright, I'll stick with the MB7 and see how things go. Next time I start up a tank I'll definitely try out the Prodibio products. Who knows, at the rate I was upgrading, another upgrade might not be too far off

[Etaloche]

Been so busy with midterms and have been too absorbed in my tank to post any updates recently. My tank has been up for a little over a month now so I think an update is due.

After cycling the tank for couple days I did some reading on prodibio due to Myka's recommendation and saw that they claimed you could add fish 12 hours after using their product so I gave it a go.
I waited about 2 days after adding prodibio and went ahead and got a firefish to help with the cycle.



The firefish was very timid for the first couple days but now he's very active.
After I saw that the fish was happy and there was no spike in ammonia levels I went ahead and got a cleaner shrimp and couple snails as well.



The shrimp molted the same night I brought him in, was very cool to see.



Picked up my first coral while I was at J&L buying some supplies.
Thought I'd start with something easier and got some sunny D's.
There was some aptasia starting to grow on the rocks so I've actually had to frag it since this pic in order to break off the parts of the rock with the aptasia.



Next I paid a visit to fellow member Wheelman76's place to pick up some more corals.
His tank was super awesome and I picked up a tri-color acan and 3 different zoas: rasta, hornet, and wolverine I think









Next I visited gregzz4's place and picked up some more corals, purple and green plating monti and some GSP.
Anthony lent me his spare ebay LEDs and gave me some chaeto and caulerpa to seed my fuge on the same day.
I didn't realize how much more powerful these LEDs were and accidentally started bleaching the montis.
I quickly moved the corals to the lowest parts of my tank and turned down the lights from 50 to 30% to acclimate them to the new lights and looks like the bleaching has stopped.
Still learning I guess









The purple monti is starting to show some signs of recovery but I fragged a small piece off and mounted it elsewhere in case the colony doesn't survive.
Couple days later I saw that the green monti finally had its polyps extended and even saw some new growth so it's doing much better now.



The GSP didn't open up even after 3 days and was starting to get worried. I was told that these things are near impossible to kill though so I kept waiting.
Day 4 I saw a single polyp extend which gave me hope.
A little more the next day, and even more the next day after!
Now it's fully extended





The GSP seems to be the goby's favorite place to hang out


I also got a tiger pistol shrimp and a lawnmower goby.
Some of you might recall that the pistol shrimp and goby pair was how I first found out about this hobby and have always wanted to house them.
Couldn't be more excited to finally have a pair in my own tank!
The pistol shrimp actually made quite a mess and my water was cloudy for couple of days because of him. I even had thoughts about having to remove him from the tank but it's settled in now.
Took a couple days but the goby finally found the shrimp and they are now happily paired. Luckily they decided to house themselves right at the front of the tank so I get to watch them dig away all day long.



Finally, I got a pair of Banggai Cardinals just couple days ago.
They seemed to get along for the first 2 days but I noticed last night that the big guy was chasing the small guy all over the tank and now the small guy just hides in the corner.
Looks like the luck of the draw left me with 2 males so one of them will have to go and I'll have to try my luck with another.



It's been an exciting month to say the least and lots to still learn
Water parameters are still holding up with 0 ammonia and starting to see traces of nitrates. Greg also recommended that I should start monitoring my alkalinity so I got a salifert test kit.
Alkalinity was starting to get a bit low around 7.2 so I did my first water change last night and now it's up around 8.5 and the corals seem to be a bit happier and opening up much more.

[albert_dao]

Heh, looking good man! Come out my way and I'll give you a couple cool frags

[Etaloche]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Heh, looking good man! Come out my way and I'll give you a couple cool frags

Thanks! I will for sure pay a visit. I've been actually looking at couple frags you had, I'm especially interested in that rainbow acan you had for sale. If I placed it on the same rock the tri-color is on do you think they'd be ok? I've heard certain acans will grow beside each other while some will sting.

[maron6977]

Coming along nicely. Good job

[Skimmer Juice]

I had a firefish for 7-8 years he started burrowing with my pistol shrimp , fire fish was in great health fed him at night , next day I get home and he was dying but had no signs of sickness he was really fat so I thing he might of got hit with the bubble the pistol shrimp makes . SO I would be careful but mine could of been something completely different but that's what I think happened .

Tank looks like its coming along nicely !

[Etaloche]

Originally Posted by Skimmer Juice

I had a firefish for 7-8 years he started burrowing with my pistol shrimp , fire fish was in great health fed him at night , next day I get home and he was dying but had no signs of sickness he was really fat so I thing he might of got hit with the bubble the pistol shrimp makes . SO I would be careful but mine could of been something completely different but that's what I think happened .

Tank looks like its coming along nicely !

Ah, sorry to hear about your loss. At this point the firefish is simply too quick to hide along with the shrimp so there would be no way to seperate them without taking the whole aquascape apart. Keeping my finger crossed and hoping for the best. Everytime I hear the shrimp snapping around in his burrow I get nervous for couple minutes only to see the firefish peek out a bit later and I can breath easily again Haha. Thanks!

[Bblinks]

That Albert is a good guy....and Tyler too.