Build it and They Will Come

Been a while since my last post.  I've mostly been hanging out at the Reef Tank forums... learning.  So I suppose a few updates are in order:

My single Stomatella now has company.  I've noticed at least three others.

Since turning my power filter into a chaeto house, water quality seems more stable.  Sure, there are nitrates, but they aren't increasing on a daily basis.  And it's been just over a week since the last water change.  I'm not stretching it to see how far I can go, but I'd also like to not have to blow through 50 pounds of salt in 6 weeks, either.

The last time I removed the power filter I noticed a single Neomeris annulata.  Then when incorporating the power filter once again, the annulata seemed to bleach and nearly go away.  This time I have a small mat of them.  I'll get pictures up sometime soon.

Within the past couple of days I've had another algae bloom.  Mostly cyanobacteria.  So any pictures before the next water change will reflect such.

I'm down to feeding the anemone once a week.  I generally give it three or four freeze-dried krill.  I'm basing this on the amount of krill I found during it's last waste expulsion.  It could probably eat every 5 days, but that's not the easiest thing to keep track of, so once a week it is.

I'm also noticing the beginning of purple and green coraline algae spots on the back glass.  I tend to neglect the back glass hoping that a coral will attach and use it as a growing surface.  Some corals seem like they only grow on the purple coraline, and others... well, I can't really see their perch like I can with star polyps so I can't really tell.

Lost another Dwarf Hermit Crab three days ago.  Not sure why.  Perhaps a lack of food?  I doubt it, but I don't know for sure.  The others (down to 6 from 10) seem to all be doing fine.  I don't know if I blogged about it, but a couple weeks ago I went and got 6 new larger shells for them.  At least three have changed shells.  I know for sure two of the larger ones have the new shells, and the smallest has move into one of the discarded shells.

I'm still working on charting water quality time frames comparing a power filter tank with a non-power filter tank.  It's a work in progress and will be published when results have sufficient data.

Running without the power filter (and a sump) definitely has it's drawbacks, but I'm learning to live with some particulates in the water.  They do eventually settle (over a few days vs a few hours), but are still in the tank waiting to be stirred up again.  I think that's why I'm letting the cyano and other algaes get more of a foothold than normal.  I'm hoping the algae, when removed, will take some of the settled particulates with them.

Other than the process of planning a benthic sump (which will obviously be documented), nothing much else going on except tank watching and forum reading.  I'll see what I can do to get pictures up soon.

The Silly Things Bristle Stars Do

For a while now I've seen where folks will exclaim that, during feeding, their stars will "reach out and catch" things as they drift by.  I always thought that was a little over-stated.

Two things have happened to start to sway my opinion:

I did a little "light" reading on Brittle Stars (how they aren't really starfish, their digestive system, nervous system, skeletal system, etc).  I learned the nerves in their legs are sensitive enough to detect light (which is how they know when it's dark even though they have no eyes), and that those nerves are also sensitive enough to be able to detect smell.

Over the past week or so, I've noticed that during feeding time (at least with mysis cubes) the Brittle Star, which generally has a few ends of his legs out on the substrate, will begin to sweep the substrate looking for food.  Today there was nothing of the Brittle Star exposed... until the cube hit the water.  Two or three legs came out from his hole almost immediately.  They were dancing around like a couple of Keystone Cops trying to get out of each others way.

Those legs didn't have too much luck with catching mysis... I noticed one, maybe two shrimp that the Brittle had caught.  It wasn't until I noticed the mysis starting to settle upon a rock positioned above his hole that I became a believer.  A leg pops out of a nearby hole, grabs the mysis directly, and disappeared back from where it came from.

I'm thinking that specific leg detected the odor of the mysis and went straight for it.  It's not quite like plucking food out of the water column that is drifting by, but almost.

So I think I'm more open toward comments as such.

It's also been a while since I've posted some pics.  Here's how things are going now:

Notice the tank has a mostly-green color.  That's the prevalent color of the species of coraline algae that is proliferating.

Looking closer at the coraline, it's still mostly green with some hints of purple at the top right and bottom left.  The bottom right rock seems to be encrusting with a grey coraline.  Hair algae can also be seen bottom left, as well as the last remnants of cyanobacteria.  The center rock, at it's bottom, shows the white color those rocks used to be.  And the mushrooms seems to be very happy.  The specs on the back of the glass are "chaeto critters", some sort of "pods".  They are everywhere.

Here you can see more purple and green coraline algae.  The anemone bowl is also starting to take some coraline.  The longer white specs on the bowl are some sort of tube worm.  The smaller specs are just substrate.  To the left, the chaeto can be seen.  It's about twice to three times as big as when I got it.  Not a good sign for my water, but at least I'm combating the nitrates and phosphates in some fashion.  Hopefully a RO/DI system is in my future.

I have a sponge and some sort of white feathery things on the vertical rock bottom right.  The Star Polyps (center) are still doing great, as is the Anthelia (top left).  The rocks to the left are still brown.  The purple coraline seem to prefer these rocks more than the green.

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.

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.

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.

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.

One Aiptasia Down and Analyzing the Future

As before, I have 3 visible aiptasia.  Two on the left side of the Star Polyp Coral and one on the back of the anemone's bowl.  I witnessed the Peppermint Shrimp on the back of the bowl last night and noticed the aiptasia wasn't visible.  But I wasn't sure if I just couldn't see it due to the Moonlight LEDs.

I checked again this morning once the actinics kicked in, and I'm pretty sure it's gone.  I'll double check later on in the week, but I think the shrimp just started paying rent.

Parts of the anemone didn't look so hot when I got home.  It's left quarter appeared deflated, though the remainder of it looked very nice and healthy.  I went ahead and hand-fed it.  It didn't close up on me though.  And then a bit later the mama Clown fish began to eat what I had put near it's mouth.

Maybe I should quit stressing about the anemone and just let the clowns take care of it.  The previous owners said they never lifted a finger for it.  I think I'm game to try that for a week or two.  I'll watch to see if the Clowns feed the anemone.  If the path of least resistance gets me to my goal quicker, why not?

I was thinking last night what I'm going to do if that thing ever splits...  it HUGE.  It's gotta be 10-12" in diameter.  Hopefully I'll be one of the lucky one's in which the 2nd anemone resides close to the original - meaning it split for good reasons, not for bad.

Since I now have a phosphate test kit, I tested my tap water.  No phosphates. There are probably other things in the water that don't need to be, but at least I feel assured I'm not adding to the phosphate levels in the tank by using tap water.  That only leaves food as the source of new phosphates, and I've never been accused of starving fish, so I could get that under more control easily.

I find it strange, though, that after the last water change I had 0 phosphates.  The next day I'm at about .125 ppm, and so far it's just plateaued from there.  I'm beginning to think my rock is the primary source of phosphates in the water since it reappeared then leveled off.  If it were food, it would steadily increase every day.  We'll see what it's at before the next water change, which is in 5 days.

My hypothesis is that if the level of phosphates is still .125, my feedings are having a negligible impact on phosphates, meaning the levels are coming from the rock and substrate.  Or at least the diatom and cyanobateria are keeping up with food phosphates.

I'm a ways off from doing anything big with the tank, if ever.  I'm asking myself "what's my biggest problem in the tank?".  Hard to say right now, since I don't perceive the tank as having a major AND permanent problem.  Sure the diatoms and cyanobacteria are annoying, but they will pass.  It's like the tank has started another cycle since I added that last 15 lbs of rock.  Then more inhabitants came before that cycle ended and I'm back to square one.  So time should heal the brown and red colors.  Easy - time is free.

The next biggest issues I see are tied.  Nitrate levels, Ammonia levels, and phosphate levels.

Ammonia levels will eventually work themselves out.  Given enough time, the proper bacteria will grow to meet the demand of ammonia levels.  Once again, time is my friend.

Nitrate and phosphate levels will probably always be around either from food or from rock.  I know some believe macroalgae to be a bandaid (myself included), but exporting nutrients via micro or macroalgae is a legitimate practice (just one of many sources).  The key is to actually export it via harvesting, not to let the macroalgae grow to the size of a basketball... and I think that's where I become seemingly hypocritical.  I agree with it's use as long as it's harvested (removed), but not with it's presence for the sake of presence.

So perhaps the next thing I'll do is devise a rod on a suction cup to pin the chaeto to the side of the tank.  If it's mounted in the right spot close to a powerhead, it will spin.  Who knows...

And with the phosphates and nitrates being taken in by macroalgae, perhaps my browns and reds will dissipate sooner.

(I'm still back and forth about adding pods to the chaeto)

A Prehistoric Treat & Some Eye Candy

The Peppermint Shrimp, who has yet to earn his keep, came out from the rock he's been hiding under since acclimation to grab something, then retreat back to his hole.  I got a much better picture of him.

We were treated tonight to an early emergence of the Brittle Starfish as the Clown fish entertained us by skimming the half pipe of which the anemone resides, only to be interrupted by a starfish leg which they promptly shoo'd away.

And the photosynthetic bacteria of the Red Slime Algae glimmered in the Moonlight LEDs to top off the night.

This saltwater world can truly be amazing.

Observation - A Lack of Activity Leads to Closer Scrutiny Part II

I have now noticed red growth on the rocks. I am going to review the video I posted earlier because I didn't notice it earlier.

Here are some pictures just taken, along with the video just posted for comparison:

And the video:

Now that red growth has shown up, I'm going to do a little serious research on what it can be, it's causes, and, if considered a nuisance, what can be done to prevent these type of growth in the future.

Now that I've watched the video keeping an eye out for red growth, I'm seeing it.  Just didn't notice it before now.

Observation - A Lack of Activity Leads to Closer Scrutiny

So it's been 4 days now since the Damsels were removed.  I bet it's going to be another month before we get any fish back into the tank.  When it rains, it pours.

So with only 10 Dwarf Hermit Crabs, the needles on the gauges seem to be winding down.  After four days, nitrites are nearly at zero.  There is more than one thing going on that effects nitrates, so I'm not putting a lot of weight on it's results quite yet, but I will keep an eye on it to see if I can determine if nitrates are being converted to nitrogen.

If I would have known it would be so long before replacing the Damsels, they'd still be here.

So the tank is a lonely place now.  With fish AND crabs, the fish would draw me in, then I'd begin to study the crabs.  I still gaze into the tank habitually only to find three or four crabs within view... not much to see.  But habits are hard to break.  I now study the rock.  With the addition of flow, I can see detritus attached to the rock waving in the current.

As I go from rock to rock, I've begun to notice some algae.  I'm curious as to what it is - at least it's a nice shade of green instead of the brown stuff (not that the brown algae is gone).  Chances are it's nuisance algae, but at least it gives me something to do.

Once in a while I'll see a nice big piece of detritus resembling a dandelion seed.  Flow doing it's job:  CHECK.