The Adventures Of A Marine Newbie...

[jennybugs]

Tank stats so far

Temp 75.4
Amm 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 0
phosphate 0
SG 1.025
KH 120 mg/l
Ph 8.4
Ca 440mg/l
Mag 1200 mg/l

and an FTS

Battlestar is in the right hand corner and I've shifted the rocks about so Hooter can have more room

 

[orange shark]

looks great jenny

 

[ben1987]

Yeah looks great. Rocks looks nice a purple

 

[kj23502]

Wow!! Great pics. I love the galaxy too I am really intrigued by the goby. It's a Gobiodon rivulatus, grows to 2" and the minimum population in the wild doulbes about every 15 months.

"Marine species usually living on coral reefs but also recorded from pools, freshwater streams or lagoon mouths. Found on tabletop Acropora corals; a coral-commensal species. Monogamous. The male takes care of eggs deposited on a coral branch. Has the ability to change sex in both directions to favor reproductive success."

I love wetwebmedia.com for their info as well as this site. Pretty cool stuff you have Jennybugs. Mind if I ask how much they set you back? (I love the comical way in which you write. It's hilariously informing. )

 

[jennybugs]

Oooh thanks for finding out about Norm the Goby HA! He has noxious body slime!

I've been intrigued by him too and am hoping to get another. I heard they are like clowns where the larger dominant one turns into a female and they breed easily in captivity! He's such a character I paid £8.95 for him. I just need to get some of their favourite corals in now.

I'm almost embarrassed to say I paid £60 for the galaxy (no idea if that's the going rate or not) - yes, I loved it that much and it's a fair size specimen The rics were £15 each and the hammer was £29. The clowns were £28 for the pair (tank bred) and the trachy was £30.

Is that what you wanted to know?

 

[kj23502]

Wow that galaxy was a little spend I have no idea what they cost, but that sounds like alot to me. Just wondering how much Norm was. Thanks Jennybugs. How do you get your coraline growing so fast? Which salt mix do you use?

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, looks great

 

[jennybugs]

My LR came from a mature set up that was being broken down, but the coraline is spreading like wildfire on my tank walls etc.

Tropic Marin Pro Reef is the salt used at my LFS where I get ready mixed water and I use the same if I mix up at home

The galaxy was a little spend indeed, which is why I'm more infuriated at the issues with it in my tank. It's going back I have decided....this weekend. It chucked out mega sweepers again last night and although it's tucked away I don't want to take chances The shop said they'd never seen sweepers come out at the shop, although they did tell me that it possibly could, but it does it in the evenings in my tank

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

Jenny, the galaxia should be fine IF you have it in an area of low flow. That way the sweeper tentacles won't be able to reach so much and damage them.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Do you know what the solution is? Get a bigger tank so it can have a little spot all to itself or get another "species only" tank for it (both sound like perfectly valid reasons to get another tank to me ).

Loving your tank still by the way. Would still like to know your secret for keeping the sand looking so clean. Can never seem to manage to keep my white sand looking white for more than a few days

Edit: Oh yeah if your ever down in SE kent and want some GSP frags drop me a PM as I will start fragging mine soon (it is growing way to quickly).

 

[jennybugs]

Do you know what the solution is? Get a bigger tank so it can have a little spot all to itself or get another "species only" tank for it (both sound like perfectly valid reasons to get another tank to me ).

Loving your tank still by the way. Would still like to know your secret for keeping the sand looking so clean. Can never seem to manage to keep my white sand looking white for more than a few days

Edit: Oh yeah if your ever down in SE kent and want some GSP frags drop me a PM as I will start fragging mine soon (it is growing way to quickly).

I can see it now....a little tank on a table all on its own...a little beacon of light in an otherwise dark room...inside this little tank is a medusa stylee galaxea going crazy and whipping its sweepers about like a thing posessed

Admittedly the sand isn't as clean as it looks...there's brown diatoms sprinkled about it, but the lights are so good that the camera can't pick up the diatoms Also Hooter the conch is doing a GRAND job of sucking all the diatoms up!!!

GSP frags? Really? They would make a good replacement for the galaxea! Safer as well I bet?
Any pics of yours I can squint at matey?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

probably the bets pic of it I have to hand, its in the middle:

I have two types of this. One is a metalic green and has smaller polyps (and is thankfully contained to 1 rock). The other has larger polyps and really glows under blue lights.

It is pretty easy to keep, the only thing with it is that under good conditions it grows REALLY fast (hence the need to start fragging it as one of my colonies is starting to overgrow my xenia). Doesnt sting anything (as far as I know) and its easy to cut back and frag. Going to be fragging some over the next week so let me know if your interested. Probably wont be massive pieces but I started off with a bit that covered a couple of inches and it now probably covers at least a foot of rock (and its growing even faster under better lighting).

 

[jennybugs]

Well in that case put me down as a yes please chicks Thanks! Would you like a small frag of Montipora? I have a bit that fell off of this...
I got a nice Montipora digitata as a home for Norm

Glad to report that today all the polyps are opened out beautifully on it and it looks handsomely fuzzy
a Stylophora for upper structure

I also got a Starry Blenny

to hide in the rockwork and keep the algae in check

I am also pleased to report that my freebie red mushroom is coming back from the attack of the peppermint shrimp and getting better every day

and the Battlestar Galaxea has gone back to the LFS.

I am much happier now and loving my new SPS corals. They add a nice bit of structure to the upper levels. Just want some fillers now and am also getting some duncan frags in the new year

 

[jennybugs]

More pics slightly out of sequence in the time line of things

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Yeah a frag of that monti would be brilliant!! I'm still getting my fuge sorted at the moment (think I have the solution for it now) so give it a week for the frags to establish and I will drop you a pm .