Myka's 69 SPS Tank 2015

[Myka]

So the SWC skimmer has been a royal pain in the butt. It keeps losing the foam head, then overflowing. The venturi seems clean, but I think the whole thing just needs a good clean. So I pulled the SWC and stuffed the ATB in there instead. I say "stuffed" because it barely fits since the Eheim pump takes up as much footprint as the skimmer body. I chose the ATB because it's used, and I don't have enough vinegar to clean up the new BK good enough. The ATB was an easy fix. The tank has run mostly skimmerless for the last 5 or 6 days because of the inconsistent foam head on the SWC. The ATB is picking some gunk up, but not much. It doesn't help that the tank is so new and way too clean. I've been feeding the heck out of the fish, and they are happy for this.

Ca 410 ppm (Elos)
Alk 143 ppm 8.0 dKH (Hanna)
NO3 undetectable (Salifert)
PO4 0.00 ppm (Hanna)

Still no nutrients. *sigh* I'm going to go feed the fish...brb

So I've pretty much decided I'm going to add sand to the tank. I'm itching to put a couple/few Jawfish in there. Plus the black bottom and black back make the tank look sooo dark. The LFS is waiting for Quality Marine to have stock of some Maldives Flame Anthias (P. ignitus) which I think will be a good fit for my tank size, but it's summer and QM doesn't have them in stock. I'll probably add a Yellow Coris Wrasse too, and one or two more Panamic Barnacle Blennies. I want to add a Perchlet, but I'm worried it might eat the Blennies.

The Panamic Blenny took a ride to the sump a couple days ago. He was happy to go back in the tank, and he reminded me that I have to silicone that rod onto the overflow lip. I'll get that done tonight.

[gregzz4]

Lookin forward to seeing it in action

[Myka]

Well, I finally got some nitrate in the tank! I took a 5-gallon pail from a client's tank and put it into my tank. The client's tank is 0.04 ppm PO4 and ~25 ppm NO3. Perfect dose of nitrate for my tank. Here's today's readings:

Cal 435 ppm (Salifert)
Alk 160 ppm 8.9 dKH (Hanna)
Mg 1320 ppm (Salifert)
NO3 0.5 ppm (Salifert)
PO4 0.00 ppm (Hanna 713)

I ordered a group of Maldives Flame Anthias (P. ignitus) from my LFS. This species is very similar to Dispar Anthias and similarly are difficult to get eating. I waited until Quality Marine had them in stock so that I could get the healthiest fish possible rather than getting my LFS to order the (cheaper) Anthias from an overseas supplier. They arrived on Wednesday evening, and picked them up straight out of the shipping box. There are 6 small females and 2 big males. I put them into a 40-gallon quarantine tank and got some brine shrimp eggs in the hatcher. I also ordered some live blackworms from Petland, but they won't be here until next week. Thursday morning I fed a mix of PE Mysis, R.O.E., and frozen Cyclopeeze. 5 of the females came out to eat, and pecked around, ate a few bits. Very good. The two males and one female stayed hiding behind the pot. Thursday afternoon they were fed again and they all came out and ate a few bits. I fed them twice more and most of them ate a few bits, but not as well as earlier in the day. They were all most interested in the Cyclopeeze, but ate a few Mysis. This morning the 5 females were out pecking and eating a bit, and the males and one female were interested, but no action. The Brine Shrimp eggs failed to hatch. So I mixed up a cube of Hikari Mysis, Hikari Spirulina Brine Shrimp, and R.O.E. All the fish except the one shy female were very excited about the Brine Shrimp, and quickly grabbed a piece, but promptly spat it out. They repeatedly did this. Grrr! I did see one female eat one Brine Shrimp. No interest in the R.O.E. nor the Mysis. The two males and one female remain very shy.

The smallest female has a mark on her back - I haven't been able to look close enough to tell what it is. She is one of the more active ones. It may be bruising or it may be aberrant markings which would be cool. There's a possibility that it's a sore, but at this point I don't think it is. That's where we're at now.

Here's most of the herd:

[gregzz4]

Nice looking fishies Mindy
Hope you have better luck with your herd than I did with mine - RIP all 7 Lyretails

[Myka]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Nice looking fishies Mindy
Hope you have better luck with your herd than I did with mine - RIP all 7 Lyretails

I'm hoping so! Jeez, you must have had a bad batch - Lyretails are usually pretty easy as far as Anthias go. I would have loved to put Lyretails in my tank, but they get too big. The Flame Anthias only get abut 3 1/2" which is one of the main factors in my choice.

[Myka]

New clam



Sarmentosa frag I got a couple weeks back. Browned out for now.



Dorky Blenny

[Skimmer Juice]

that clam is nice , really wish lfs around me would get some barnacle blenny's. Got a nice barnacle just need the fish , how many do you have ?