Rant

[johnehr]

Man... I've had my tank set up for over a month and its fully cycled. I even have a little happy lawnmower blenny that loves to chomp on all my live rock and even some algae on the front of the tank. He wont eat any of the food I supply, I guess he prefers "real" food. (I've seen him take a dump so I know he's getting food and his belly looks plump.) Anyways, to the point!

I have obviously been wanting to put some cool fish in my tank for the last few weeks, and now when I can put them in, no one has them in stock... I want 2 oscelaris clowns (dont want perculas) and was going to get them from coral beauty but they sold them to someone else. ARGH! I guess since I didnt put a deposit on them or nothing, its fair game. But still. How discouraging! Blue Sierra has a mated pair for $90!!!! Yea right...

Maybe I'll just find some pictures of the clowns and tape them to the front of my aquarium. What do you guys think?

 

[MCSInc]

I know you are making a joke about taping pictures on the front of the tank but truely it is no joke. I had many cutout fish taped to the back of my tank and not just for the first month. Cuttouts are great and will save you a lot of money and sorrow right now. One month is commendable but 2 or 3 would be better. I also converted some mollies for my 100 gal to cycle with. Then I had someone to feed and the little droppings help with the whole cycling issue.

Patience is a killer.

 

[dnjan]

Spend this time making a list of other animals you want to add to your tank, and also note if any of them have to be added before others. Then, when you cruise the LFS's, if you find something appropriate that is on your list you can get that. That is the best way I have come up with for dealing with variable availability. Plus, it also helps you resist impuse purchases. If it ain't on your list, don't get it until you have gone home to re-think your list.

 

[johnehr]

Well I have a lawn mower blenny, some zoos, a kenya tree, a small frag of mushrooms, and the cleaner crew (including turbo snails, hermits, and 2 emerald crabs).

Im thinking about getting:
2 Oscelaris Clowns
2 Bangaii Cardinals
Flame Dwarf Angel
More Zoos
Purple Leather Corals
Eventually +6 months a BTA

Any suggestions?

 

[DonW]

Petco has suction cup seaweed clips that look like clowns and tangs.


Don

 

[dnjan]

Sounds like you have quite a lot for a month-old tank. I would take the unavailability of the clowns as a blessing, and spend the next month or two just getting used to what you have. What kind of moods does the Kenya tree go through? (fully-extended polyps versus partially withdrawn) What about the mushrooms? Are they moving around/splitting? Have your emeralds gone through a molt yet? How is the pod population? Which of the hermits is the meanest SOB on the reef? Have you watched your tank at night (under a red light)?

You probably have at least one "young tank" nuisance algae bloom to go through yet. It will be much more mild if you don't have as many animals adding nutrients to the water.

 

[johnehr]

I am in the middle of a brown algae bloom. Everything that doesnt have a turbo snail near it is brown (basically the overflow box and the hanging box, yuk). Its really cool to see some of my tonga branch grow coraline though. It keeps spreading YEA!

The kenya seems to be pretty close to fully opened when the lights are on and Im not messing with anything... Otherwise it will close up if I move it, mess with the powerheads, etc.
The mushrooms are just chilling.
One of the emeralds is lighter than the other so I think it molted before I got it.

I have no sign of ammonia or nitrites. Nitrates ~ 20-30 depending on water changes.

Haven't seen too much pod activity. I saw one the first day I got some live sand, but havent spent the time staring at my sandbed lately.

I got some scarlet? hermits from below sea level. I think they are slowly eating my bumblebee snails... Whaaaa... Those jerks! Other than that, they seem to get along.

I wanted to get the clowns because I absolutely want clowns and they are mega hardy compared to everything else I want. Also, since I have so much LR (~140lbs in 60 gal tank) and the ammonia and nitrites are zero, I dont see how they could get hurt. Also, I want to feed something!!!

 

[dnjan]

Wait until the nuisance algae bloom is over. Some nuisance algaes can contribute to elevated bacteria/pathogen levels, which can stress the animals. Putting a new animal in is stressful enough to everything anyway, so try to not add to the existing stress.

 

[gkeong]

was going to get them from coral beauty but they sold them to someone else

I bought a pair of mated clowns from they a month ago

 

[wrassehole]

look at vividaquariums.com. hes got the goods baby. heard good things

 

[wrassehole]

what about just taping a picture of the sea to the sump to take care of those annoying top offs? what do you think?

 

[johnehr]

I usually do business with dave from vividaquariums (just talked to zack the "zoo man" and he like vivid too). I just dont want to pay $40 for shipping $20 worth of fish. I guess Ill get some percs instead locally...

 

[wrightme43]

I really like Dave too. He has helped me stock all my tanks. Great Guy. STEVE

 

[Doug1]

Patience Is Your Friend