Crytone's 10 Gal. Nano [New pics/frags added Mar 6th, pg.3]

[Crytone]

Well, my parameters are STILL holding at Ammonia- 0, Nitrite- 0, and Nitrates ~5-10ppm so I feel the tank is done cycling. My coraline algae is growing more too and the bigger rock is looking more and more red everyday. I also did some slight re-arranging of the rock too (the rock between them now sits higher cheating a larger arch). I'm getting more and more anxious to start adding a CUC! Possibly have a few additions before the weekend is over...

I'm kind of wanting to add more rock but I think to keep costs down and to minimize a chance of any cycle happening at this stage, I'm going to use dry rock and let my LR seed it while the tank matures. I figure I want about 5-10lbs of LR or that's be about 5lbs of dry rock which would be about ¼ the cost of buying LR I figure. Another option is to buy rock from someone shutting down their tank. Any thoughts on this?

Also on the agenda is modding one of my AC70s into a fuge. I've literally scoured the internet for hours and hours trying to find the most info I can about this mod. I also ordered a 5w submersible light for my fuge which should be here tomorrow. It was in Canada too which saved me on shipping (the company everyone seems to buy these from in the states wanted $25usd just for shipping to Canada!).

A few questions:

1- I want the option to run carbon (Chemi-Pure Elite likely) in my AC70, does it need to be placed directly in the path of the water flow to be effective? I was thinking of placing it near where the intake tube enters. I've seen this done a few times before but really question the placement. I'll also likely run filter floss too.

2- I'm wanting to place my heater in my modded AC70. I notice that some people create a separate baffled area for a heater. I'm concerned as this would 'cut into' my fuge area for my chaeto. Would I be fine running it in the same compartment as the chaeto (and possibly touching the chaeto when it grows too large)?

[Crytone]

Well, a few new updates. I'll try to get pictures tomorrow.

First thing.. I got mad at my big rock since it was too hard to clean around. Took it out and with a quick hit with my trusty hammer, it wasn't so big anymore. Ended up getting 2 still rather large (but much more manageable) pieces and some rubble for my fuge when it's done. I still want to aquascape better so looking at getting a bit more rock (probably dry rock or cheap LR from someone) and curing it in another bucket.

In other news I went out today and got the start to my CUC (thanks to BWA). I didn't want to get too big too fast so I only got 3 Hermits, an Emerald Crab, a Turbo Snail, 2 Astrae snails and 3 Nassarius snails. The Sexy Shrimp were VERY tempting but I held back... Someday though! The Emerald crab is a little power house! He's been working non-stop since I finished acclimating him and placed him in the tank (really hoping he rids my tank of the green bubble algae)! I'm actually considering making this an invert tank now- I just love watching invert work! Do you think I'm off to a good start on my CUC? Did I make good choices? Should I add more? Suggestions?

Now a few concerns/questions:

1 (EDIT: SOLVED, see my next post below)- One of my Nassarius hasn't moved since I got home (was a 10minute drive and I came straight home). While acclimating he was in his shell and after I placed him in the tank and he's still exactly where I placed him (same with another guy but he has his feeler out and checking stuff out at least). The 3rd one burrowed immediately into my sandbed. Should I be concerned? I'm hoping I wake up tomorrow and he's fine but I'm a big worrywart that something is wrong!

2- I asked for Blue-legged hermits since they were out of Scarlet Reef Hermits (and apparently they are hard to get atm) but the ones I got, after getting them in the tank, do NOT appear to be Blue-legged hermits either.. I took a picture of one chilling on my rock below. After some quick research I believe it to be a Zebra Hermit (or Left-Handed hermit). It's left claw is bigger than the right. Am I correct in my ID of these guys? Is this good or bad? Should I try to take them back and get what I originally wanted or stay with these?



Thanks for any of the help and post any comments or suggestions you may have!

[Chase31]

i think it looks good, cant wait to get my cuc

[Crytone]

Thanks Chase21, I hope you'll get your CUC soon!

Solved concern #1. Turned on the lights after about 4 hours of them being off (for acclimation purposes) and the 2 Nass snails that hadn't burrowed yet (and 1 which I thought might be dead) burrowed almost immediately. I get the feeling I won't be seeing these guys much.

The emerald is so fun to watch! He's working so hard that I feel bad for paying him nothing for all this work.. He's a tough guy too, if I go near the tank he puts his pincers out to intimidate me!

I think the hermits may be slightly mentally challenged too.. I placed a few shells in the tank and 2 of them decided to move nearly instantly but the smaller guy moved to a shell that are likely WAY too big. He's struggling a bit to move but he seems happy. The other guy is currently testing his 3rd shell... They're fun to watch though.

I'm extremely happy how things are going!

EDIT: I finally identified the things pictures before that others thought was Aiptasia. It is, in fact, hydroids! Not exactly a good thing but everything I've read says they are relatively harmless filter feeders. Better than Aiptasia at least.

[Crytone]

Well, I finally settled on a fuge design and it's working great for me so far! It's a modified AC70 with an AC20 impeller (to reduce flow). It's modified to accept a cartridge (that has a filter floss and carbon in it). I opted to keep the heater in my tank though due to wanting the most chaeto possible. I also was thankful enough to get a huge ball of chaeto from a fellow canreefer yesterday that was teeming with life. Found a mini-brittlestar in it and various other pods! Huge thanks again to him!
So now.. PICS!

Top of the fuge. I placed the foam on the sides of the cartridge to hold it better and encourage the water to go through it (rather than around). Working well so far! Submersible halogen light is awesome too, stuffed it into the middle of the ball of chaeto.


Side view of the chaeto. Hard to see but there's some LR rubble at the bottom of the fuge (great pieces for fragging I figure). Also shows the submersible light I'm using! Running on a reverse cycle.


Finally got an OK picture of the Emerald crab the other week. He likes hiding!


Turned around after taking the fuge pics and someone wasn't happy with me...

[Crytone]

Got my first 2 frags! Bought one and ther other *mystery frag* was thrown in free. Ended up getting...

Small Xenia frag! Been in for about a day so far and doing good so far. I placed it in a mediumish flow area on the sandbed for now.


The other is a mystery but I believe it to be a Brown Montipora Digitata frag. Placed it higher up in a hole I found in my LR. Anyone care to confirm or tell me exactly what it is?


I'm still on the hunt for more frags though. If you have anything you think would work for me then please let me know!

[Crytone]

New day, new frags!

First is my new Candy Cane frag.. Not looking super great right now but hoping it comes around. Parameters are all good and even did a water change early this morning to 'freshen' everything up.



Next is my 1 of 2 new Button Polyp frags I got yesterday. They opened right up and are HUGE. But I noticed today that one was closed and upon closer inspection I found this...



That's right, one of my hermits NAKED (no shell) just chilling on it. I think they may be starting a commune in my tank.. I stared at him for a good few minutes and laughed since it looked so weird. I left and when I came back he was in a new shell that was 1/2 way across the tank and left his old shell at the frag.. Weird hermit wanted to go streaking I guess!