Clumping Crabs

I noticed a clump of hermit crabs today.  Upon closer inspection they were feeding upon the carcass of the Peppermint Shrimp.  Time to update the tank specs.

I'm curious as to why I don't have much luck with shrimp, but everything else seems to do fine.  I'm sure there's a basic rule on that somewhere, but c'mon!  How much harder is it to keep a shrimp than an Anemone?

As it previous posts, the shrimp was only acquired for the elimination of aiptasia.  And it failed at that.  So between not doing it's "job", plus being nocturnal, the shrimp won't be missed much.

Anyway, RIP Peppermint Shrimp.

Long Time No Pics

Nothing much going on today:

• Cleaned glass and noticed I have green coraline algae.  It's on the back glass and the front at the bottom, so no need for a scraper yet.
• The "chaeto-bugs" are everywhere.  While cleaning the glass, the clowns had an appetizer to their mysis.  I don't notice, however, any inhabitants picking the "chaeto-bugs" off the glass for a mid-day snack.
• A combination of new flow and growth had dislocated the chaeto.  Got it tucked back down.
• Still noticing some cyano which points out my areas of low-flow.  I still either need more flow, or just flow rearrangement.  The powerhead I added to the right side of the tank doesn't seem to be alleviating the dead spot over there, so I'll start with moving that one around some.

And it seems as though I'm overdue for some pictures.

There is all sorts of strange things going on with this specific live rock...  A (relatively) large sponge, some white off-shoots, some orange outgrowths...

As you can see, the Star Polyps are coming back nicely after killing the aiptasia.  And also as you can see, the aiptasia is coming back.

Also notice the regrowth from where the mojano anemone used to be.  The flow is obstructing a clear view of the entire region, but enough is shown to get the point.

Water Quality, 5 Days Later

Just did a water test.  It's nice that 5 days after a water change, I'm still showing 0 nitrates & phosphates.  It makes me feel like I'm doing something right.

However, I don't think I'm doing everything right.  That chaeto has probably grown enough in the last couple of weeks to be able to absorb the nitrates and phosphates as they become available.  I cleaned off the glass last night (I was shocked to see how dirty the glass was Sunday evening when we got home).

So the chaeto definitely isn't fighting off the diatoms or cyano, but that's only because the chaeto is in the main tank.  One of the days (weeks, months, years) when I can install a sump, I'll be able to keep the chaeto in the sump, and hopefully all the nutrients the algaes (whether desired or nuisance) consider beneficial.  So once in the sump, I'm hoping to maintain an algae-friendly environment in there instead of in the display tank.

It's been a while since posting pictures.  I should probably go weekly on that anyway.  I'll have some pics up in the next day or two.

Once Again, Power Filter Changes - Undone

Removing the filter pads from the power filter did no good.  The layer of skim was still at the surface of the water even though the filters output was churning the layer.  However, with a lack of filter pad, the larger particulates were being swept into, then right back out of, the power filter.

So today I picked up some new filter pads and also two Hydor Koralia 425 power heads.  The pads are now in the filter to clean up the particulates in the water, and the nano power heads are installed to assist with lessening the dead spots caused by the flow of just the power filter and 750 power head.  I'm sure some tweaking will need to be done to the additional flow. I'm only hoping they're powerful enough to do what I need them to do.  They sure don't put out much.  But I was worried about having too much velocity in the tank, so they'll have to do.

Noticed tonight a bunch of "chaeto bugs" on the power filter input.  I wonder if the tank is feeding on them at all...

Once Again, Power Filter Changes - Baby Steps This Time

Instead of a power filter that has a lot of flow and aerobic areas (I'm thinking due to it's skinny areas of baffles resulting from the placement of filters and media containers), I am going to attempt to modify the filter slightly to hopefully provide more of a slow flow, detritus collection area.  And hopefully it will still also filter large particles from the water.

I've basically removed the filter pads and left the media containers.  I probably should have done the reverse, but the filter pads are just one more thing to clean and/or purchase.

We'll see how it goes.  Right now the water is mildly cloudy due to a recent vacuum of the substrate.  I'll check back later to see how the water looks.  And then in a few days see how well the power filter is allowing detritus to settle in it's deep canister.

Look Ma! No Aiptasia!

Or mojano, either.

Went by the LFS today to spend my $20 weekly allowance (or at least it seems that way).  I've been waiting for a couple/few weeks to pick up some Aiptasia-X.

On a side note, I think I had a "Hey Norm" moment at the LFS.  The owner called me by my name, lol.

Fast forward - the wife wanted to watch because I'd built this stuff up so much, including showing her a video of what happens.  I did the hard-to-reach aiptasia first - the one on the back of the anemone bowl.  While she watched, she directed me since I couldn't judge depth too well since I was looking over the top of the tank through the surface.  She let me know when it was dead.

Then I hit the mojano.  We saw some sort of bristle worm come out of there once the mojano was dead.  The worm was maybe a little over an inch long.  She about freaked.  Makes a person wonder what else is in  the tank.

The last two aiptasia were pretty big.  Big enough I had to regroup for another vial full.  Those are now down, too.  Here's what that problematic rock looks like now.

The purple barren spots on the bottom left of this rock had two aiptasia anemones.  They are now gone.  Also the barren spots in the center (with the white clumps) was where the mojano anemone was.  RIP.

I'm hoping the Star Polyp Coral will reclaim those areas of deep purple in time.

Definitely a good $15 spent.  And there's plenty left over for whatever surprises I'm yet to get.

Oh yeah, and today's pictures.  The cyanobacteria is still continuing it's march.  Also had to clean the glass today of both diatoms and cyano.

So It Would Seem & Thoughts About Past Failures

The "standstill" of diatoms and cyanobacteria has ended, which is a shame.  One step forward, one step back.

However I may know the cause.  During the last water change, I neglected to rinse out the power filter.  I'm sure it's pumping out a huge amount of nitrates - so much that the chaeto is leaving left-overs for the diatoms and cyano.

Just to verify, I'll monitor the tank following the next water change/power filter cleaning.  As it stands now, that won't be too long.  I project my next water change to be necessary by Wednesday, and that's without a test strip even hitting the water.

I'm wondering if I might be able to make a DIY "chaeto box" out of my filter.  I'll have to ponder that deeper before implementing.  Initially I'm thinking of removing either the filter or the media cartridge and replacing it with chaeto.  The area housing the chaeto will need to be lit, but I'm wondering if that will also cause nuisance bacteria to also grow inside the power filter canister.  This would provide a lot of flow over the chaeto and perhaps even give the chaeto a chance to suck up nitrates before re-entering the tank.

So many things needed in order to remove the power filter for good:

• Flow will be reduced - countered by additional power heads
• Large particle filtration will be eliminated - countered by a detritus collection area which will require a return pump, collection container, and an overflow box.
• Surface film will return - countered by an overflow box, but this layer would not necessarily naturally collect in a collection container since it floats.  Could also be countered completely by a surface skimmer - more research needed.  
• Surface film also inhibits gas exchange - countered by power heads aimed to break surface tension.

So my shopping list to remove the power filter once and for all is:  power heads, return pump, collection container, overflow box (plus required tubing and fittings), a potential surface skimmer, and more power heads.  That looks like an expensive list...

Off to greet tomorrow.

Today's Pics - April 16, 2011

Not much going on today with yesterdays water change and the 3 am water test, so here's todays pics.

And Yesterday Continues Today

I eventually found the time for a water change, but not time for pictures.  I'll get those later on today once the lights turn back on.  Same with water testing.  That'll have to wait, too.

Ended up flattening out the chaeto instead of separating it into multiple clumps.  It's about the size of an index card now.

After the cleaning, I didn't notice any "life" moving within the chaeto.  However, I didn't have much of an opportunity to stare at it, either.

Fed a total of four krill to the anemone today.  I can't be sure, but I believe I am beginning to understand it's behavior...  at least the hunger parts of it.

Shortest post ever?

New Sightings

While feeding the tank a mysis cube today, I noticed what looked like a piece of detritus on a small rock up close to the tank.  It was moving a little, but in slow, stop-start movements.  The power filter was off due to feeding, so I figured the weak movement was due to the power head flow from the opposite end of the tank.

I looked around the side of the tank to maybe get a better perspective, but I lost it.  I think the chaeto ball was blocking it.  So I kept an eye out...just in case.

A short while later I noticed two small elongated "pieces of detritus" on the rock.  So I watched.  They approached each other and did a full circle on the rock as if they were dancing.  Whoah.  That's not poop.

I then saw another one of these things "cliff dive" off the same rock, only to disappear over the lip of the ledge it ran at.

Then I notice something lime green twirling around in the chaeto.  I then see even more of these small creamy critters moving about at the perimeter of the chaeto.  I've never seen a copepod in person, but I'm wondering if that's what those are.  I don't have a clue as to what that lime green thing could be, though.  All these critters are pin head or two pin heads in size.

I also noticed the starfish caught some of the krill today.  He switched corners for the day and ended up near the dead spot in the tank.  I noticed him working the krill up his leg toward his body.  Eat well, my friend.

Still planning on vacuuming the tank today as soon as I get an hour free.  I'm also still planning to do something with the chaeto to reform it.  Since there are critters in it, I'm wondering if I should just flatten it out instead of breaking it up into smaller balls.

I was thinking last night what my next milestone will be.  It has to be a "free" milestone, so getting a live sump hooked up isn't on the list.  I think perhaps "zero nitrates/phosphates" followed by "coraline growth" will be considered my next milestones, unless my newness to the hobby is clouding what is actually yet to be.

I'll get some pics up later after the water change.

Word's Back on the New Coral...

...and it's not coral.

It's a Majano Anemone.  It's a pest anemone like aiptasia.

Looks like I have one more target next week when I pick up aiptasiaX or Joe's Juice.

Here's what I want to do to them:

Observations - Apr 14, 2011

Found a dead Dwarf Red Legged Hermit Crab today.

Cyanobacteria still seems to be at a standstill.  I may very well rid myself of it next water change (scheduled for tomorrow).  I have a feeling, however, the diatoms will be a longer battle.

The chaeto ball seems to be compressing itself more.  It hasn't changed size (smaller or larger) in the last couple of days, but it is now more dense.  I have a feeling that as the chaeto strands extend, they weave themselves tighter and tighter, especially when in form of a clump or ball.  So in order to maximize nutrient export, I will need to maximize chaeto exposure.  For that I suspect I will need to kneed the chaeto into a larger shape so that a majority of portions of it still receive at least light.  If parts of the chaeto die in the tank, the whole point of having chaeto will have been defeated.  When it dies, it just releases the nutrients back into the system.

I can foresee that when I kneed the chaeto, I will lose some strands to flow.  Loose strands do not necessarily pose a danger of dieing and subsequently releasing nutrients - it is simply an aesthetic problem.  It may be best if the chaeto is several small clumps instead of one large clump.  Smaller clumps would need little if any attention, at least until they become dense due to growth.

Definitely something to think about for tomorrow.

Here's todays tank pics:

The "unknown coral" seems to be doing quite well...  At least I hope it's coral.

Observations - Apr 13, 2011

Since adding the chaetomorphis macroalgae 5 days ago, I have noticed a significant reduction in growth of brown (diatom) and red (cyano) algae.

Generally by now my substrate would be mostly brown and I would have a few rocks with thick cyanobacteria and would be in need of a brushing and a vacuum.  After 5 days, I only have the residual cyanobacteria that I failed to net during it's last brushing on a rock or two.  I also have a small amount on the substrate where I also failed to catch it.  The glass and substrate are accruing diatom (brown) algae, but at a much slower rate than in the past.

When placing the chaetomorphis in the tank some loose strands got away.  Some of those strands are in dead spots in the tank, and others have found themselves stuck in the power filter intake.  It's actually easier to see the individual chaeto strands growing than the chaeto clump.  The chaeto clump actually compressed during the first few days.

I have no complaints whatsoever about adding the chaeto.  I have to wait for the chaeto to grow larger before it starts to actually starts making headway on nitrates.  In it's current size, it seems to be able to absorb all phosphates - I've tested zero on phosphates since the last water change when I added the chaeto 5 days ago.  Once the power filter builds it's bacteria up again (it was removed for 4 days), I'm hoping the chaeto will be large enough to handle the nitrate output it will give so that my new "normal" will be zero.

Since rescuing the new inhabitants, my tank seems to have started another cycle.  If it were simply fish and soft coral, I would probably let the cycle go on about it's business.  However, the anemone is very dear to us.  Judging by it's size, it is a grand old anemone.  And from research they aren't easy to keep.  So perhaps I'm being extra-diligent.  I'm trying to minimize the effects of a cycle while still allowing the cycle to complete.  I can't afford nutrient spikes, but I do realize some of that needs to be in the water so that the particular bacterias can find their equilibrium, which only prolongs the cycle.  But that's OK.

Since arranging the rock, the starfish has relocated to the left corner.  Yesterday during the rock rearrangement he was under the anemone bowl.  The starfish is easier to see now since it's in a corner where the rock isn't against the back glass.  That will make showing it off a lot easier.

Here's some pictures from today:

The tank in it's entirety.

The right corner - here you can see the little bit of cyano that I was not able to catch on the substrate.  The bottom right rock is generally overflowing with cyano after just a few days.  But with the chaeto, it only has what I was not able to brush off last time.

Another "morning stretch" from the anemone.

The bit of cyanobacteria on the tall rock on the right has been there since my last brushing.  I was not able to reach those areas on the rock before rearranging the other rocks.  Next time I'm in there with the brush, I'll be able to reach it nicely now.  This is also the corner the starfish has claimed.  The chaeto can also be seen here on the left.

Preemptive Strike Realized

I put yesterday's plan into action.  I've isolated the anemone bowl as much as I can.

The rock close to the bowl has been moved to the back corners.  I think I have the coral where it needs to be for flow.  (knock on wood) There should be little else reason to necessitate moving rocks further.

Jax's Reef - in it's entirety

Close-up of back right corner where mushrooms are now housed.  The Peppermint Shrimp has claimed this corner as well, at least for now.

The isolated anemone.  We jokingly call this the anemone's "morning stretch".  It does this for a few hours each morning.

The back-left corner where the Star Polyps and Anthelia are now residing, as well as the Chaeto.  The anthelia receive really good flow in their current location.

Potential Anemone Preventative Care

Just a few (hopefully) quick things...

Noticed the anemone has had some what appear to be "irritated" tentacles.  They are shriveled and white.  I've noticed the clowns picking on those tentacles the last couple days.  Those tentacles just so happen to hang over the bowl edge to where they may be coming in contact with the anthelia.  I don't know if anthelia "stings" or not, but I moved it away from the anemone bowl.  I haven't yet looked to see how much flow the anthelia requires.  It's in "low" flow now, so I may end up moving it again to a better flow spot.

Since I moved the anthelia, I'm thinking of moving the remainder of the rock adjacent to the anemone bowl to avoid future coral contact.  That will be for another day.

I scrubbed cyanobacteria from a few of the rocks also.  While I was at it I went ahead and kept on brushing. Did all the rocks except the anemone bowl.  If the power filter wasn't installed, I probably would not have done that just due to the amount of detritus that was stirred up.  So now I'm waiting for the "dust to settle" so that I can hand out some mysis.

The surface film on the tank was about 75% gone... at least until I started stirring up the substrate and brushing rock.  I don't like stirring all that stuff up at once.  I don't know what effect it has on the inhabitants.  Maybe I'll start spreading it out over the course of a week instead of everything at once.  Speaking of which, I expect a pretty full skim cup tomorrow.

Nitrates are still at 10.  Just another patience game to play with the chaeto.

Found a dead shrimp today.  Judging by the location of the shrimp I see on a daily basis, I'm guessing the carcass I found was the new one.  Time to update the tank specs to reflect the change.  I still think I need to have a total of at least 4 just to keep the "territory" covered.  But those will have to come with time.

The first shrimp I got was a nice pink, even during acclimation.  The second shrimp was brown the whole time until it was in the tank for 10 minutes or so.  Then it turned pink, but I wonder if that had anything to do losing it.

I suppose that's it.

Slow Day in the Tank

Slow days in the tank get me thinking:

• Since removing the power filter, I've developed a thin skin of compounds on the surface of the water.  These compounds need to be skimmed, but, due to my lack of current equipment, they cannot be.  I can point my single power head enough toward the surface to disturb the water, but a majority of those compounds are just too big to be skimmed by my equipment.  Also, when the power head is adjusted, the anemone seems to need to readjust.  I like him where he is.
• With these compounds collecting at the surface (due to their bond with a hydrogen atom, they float) the gas exchange between the water and the surface is negatively affected.  At least the power filter would disturb the water tension to allow for better gas exchange.  It also has the effect of tumbling this film which allows the skimmer to grab what it can in addition to the filter capturing the larger particles.
• Also without the added flow the power filter provides, I have more dead spots in the tank for detritus to settle.  That means more frequent vacuums, which equates to more maintenance and more salt mix.

I think my list of "pro's" to keep the power filter in the tank was not thought out enough.  And since adding the chaeto, I've at least taken a step to stem the tide of the power filter's big negative effect.

So guess what - the power filter has been reinstalled.

I hate the fact that I simply cannot keep my hands out of the tank for more than a week.  However, I want the best for the tanks inhabitants.  I am not afraid to experiment to improve the conditions of the tank.  I am also not afraid to undo any changes I make if those experiments net a negative effect.

The chaeto will simply be my low-budget nutrient removal device until I can afford an under-the-tank solution.  And the chaeto will benefit from the installation of the power filter as well.  Due to the chaeto's location in the tank, the power filter will provide plenty of flow to it.

I also took some pictures today.  

The mushrooms are doing surprisingly well. They aren't spreading yet, but they are getting larger.

The anthelia is doing well.  It seems to be getting nice and thick.  It, too, has not yet started to spread.

I can almost see the anemone growing day by day.  It now easily "over-flows" the bowl it resides in.

The star polyps are NOT doing so well.  The aiptasia at the bottom left has stung enough to create a purple barren spot.  And the dark brown coral right of center seems to be doing a similar thing to it's neighbors.  I am hoping to get the aiptasia removed next week since the peppermint shrimp aren't interested in it.

All Eyes are on Nitrates

It's been three water changes since removing the power filter and nitrates have not budged from 10ppm.

More seriously, phosphates seem to be accruing into the water column at an average of .06ppm per day.

Even though I'm performing water changes to get the nitrates as close to zero as possible, phosphates are actually REQUIRING the change to be made.

Yesterday I did pick up some Chaetomorpha macroalgae (chaeto).  I don't have a "hobby refugium" or a "water treatment tank", so I just plopped the fist-sized chaeto in as much flow as i could while having it be stationary and not interfere with anything else.

To be quite honest, I was hoping for less than 10ppm nitrate this morning when I tested the water.  But I can live with 10ppm nitrates.  Maybe the chaeto will keep the phosphates down long enough that a water change will be necessary due to a buildup of ammonia.  And as it grows, it will be able to remove more nitrates and phosphates in a given time period than prior.

So I guess the race is on between ammonia and phosphates to see who crosses the water-change finish line.

What Do I Do with My Spare Time?

Generally I'm performing tank maintenance.  Or creating things that allow me to track the history of water conditions so that I can at least anticipate a water change.

I just did a water change 4 days ago.  Ammonia and phosphates had risen to the level of what I've termed "half stress".

Performed another water change today.  Ammonia had again risen to "half stress", and if I was reading the phosphate test correctly, it had neared "stress" level (I should probably get into the habit of reading the phosphate test in the same lighting from day to day, today I read it at the tank, not the sink where I generally go).

I've created a graph that is automatically generated from a spreadsheet I record water conditions in.

• Ammonia stress is .25 ppm.  When ammonia reaches that level, it is a "100" on the above graph.
• Nitrite stress is .5ppm.  That is equal to "100" on this graph.
• Nitrate stress is at 40ppm.  That is also "100" on this graph.
• And phosphate stress is at .25ppm, which equates to "100" on this graph.

Anemones and some coral are nitrate sensitive.  And being that I have an anemone, I should probably reduce the scale on nitrates so that 20ppm is "100" on the graph.

Simple enough:  When a line or two reaches or approaches the 100 mark, time to change the water.  I just can't believe I'm changing water every 4 to 5 days on average.  And for each change I'm using at least 10 gallons.  Never read that anywhere.

Some folks brag about how far between water changes they go.  I guess I'm bragging about how often mine are...

Settling Up

In the two days since removing the power filter, I am beginning to see the type of filtration it provided.  Like here, I have a film of material that is settling to the surface of the water.

I have a way of removing material that settles to the bottom of the tank (siphon vacuum), but I do not as of yet have a way of removing the surface material, at least in great enough numbers to keep the surface clean.

The protein skimmer is Hang-On-Back with an input 5 inches below the surface.  It might be assisting with cleaning up this surface layer, but it doesn't seem it's affecting it directly.

I pointed my power head toward the surface, just enough to break the surface tension (which also helps in the water surface gas transfer) which only resulted in stirring up that layer and bringing further down.  I ended up pointing the power head back in it's original direction.  I'll let that material settle to the surface again.

I think what I'm needing to deal with this is what is accurately being referred to as a "settling tank".  With the use of a weir for an overflow, this surface material should be skimmed off the top.  I'll probably need some sort of tank or bucket to catch this utilizing a sock filter, then a water pump to move the water back up into the tank.

For now, it's a simple enough design that won't require the detailed planning of a typical hobby sump/refugium.

I think I'll start getting some prices on stuff.

2nd Attempt at Power Filter Removal - Part IV

Tank is still looking good and the water tests have surprised me a bit:

With not feeding yesterday (to assist the tank with the removal of all that aerobic bacteria living in the filter), the ammonia level remained undetectable.  Good.  We'll see what it is tomorrow after feeding a single mysis cube.

With ammonia in check, the remaining partners in the nitrification cycle should remain in check, as well.  Nitrites were the same as yesterday, as were nitrates.

With the water change and lack of introduction of food, phosphates dropped a bit from an estimated .125ppm to .06ppm (instead of being 'in between' 0 and .25, it's now a closer color to 0, but not quite 0).

What really surprised me was a lack of skim.  I'm usually dumping 3/4" to an inch of skim a day.  Today's was 5/8", so just over one half.  Once again, probably attributed to a lack of feeding yesterday along with a good substrate vacuum.

We'll see how levels progress with minimal feeding for the next week or so and see if this I'm doing the tank better.

Here's how things look today: