Diary Of My Cycled FOWLR Tank!

estein02

estein02

Member
Tested my water this evening to see what effect the CUC might have and these are the results I got:
Temp: 78 degrees
Salinity: 1.026
pH: 8.4
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrites: 0 ppm
Nitrates: 0 ppm
Not sure why the Nitrates came down. Maybe all of the cleaning contributed to it as I haven't done a water change since the last test results when they were .5 - 10 ppm. Believe me...I'm not complaining about it.
Below are a few pictures of my CUC.


 
earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
No need to QT your cleaners just drip acclimate. I stopped taking head counts on my guys. Most likely the hermit left his shell to molt and will be back for it or will search out one that is a better fit.
 
estein02

estein02

Member
Originally Posted by earlybird
No need to QT your cleaners just drip acclimate. I stopped taking head counts on my guys. Most likely the hermit left his shell to molt and will be back for it or will search out one that is a better fit.
Did you put extra shells in your tank for the hermits?
 
earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
Originally Posted by estein02
Did you put extra shells in your tank for the hermits?
Yep my lfs gave me a bunch of different sizes.
 
estein02

estein02

Member
Originally Posted by earlybird
Yep my lfs gave me a bunch of different sizes.
Mine didn't even mention it. Surprising because they are usually really good at making sure the cover everything. I need to go get some so the little guys have room to grow. Thanks.
 
earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
Originally Posted by estein02
Mine didn't even mention it. Surprising because they are usually really good at making sure the cover everything. I need to go get some so the little guys have room to grow. Thanks.
Mine made no mention of it either. It's extra work for them. I had to ask.
 
estein02

estein02

Member
Thanks again...
I'm glad that I added a CUC containing much fewer inverts then what most of the sites recommend. The are doing a number on the tank...the diatoms are practically gone and the algea is not growing as quickly as it was before so they seem to be keeping it under control. I do have some green algea that looks like seperate clusters growing on the back glass (just looks like normal green algea) that the snails don't seem to be taking care of as quickly.
I know see what you mean be the turbo turds...they were all over the place! I adjusted the output on my maxijet PH pointing it more towards the bottom of the tank and that seems to have helped.
 
estein02

estein02

Member
Went to the LFS (a closer store then the one where I originally purchased the CUC)to get some shells for my Red Leg Hermits. The only shells they had that appeared to be big enough were turbo and astraea shells. I bought a couple, but I'm afraid that they might be a little too large. How often do hermits usually molt and look for a new home?
While I was at the LFS I picked up an Emerald Crab. Once the little guy got used to the tank (which didn't take long) he went right to work. What a cool little crab...almost wish I would have picked up 2! I tried to take a couple of pics, but they didn't come out to great...this was the best one.

 
greenwolf52

greenwolf52

Member
everything looks quite nice and i lke the way things are going for you...good job
what's a filter sock?

might be something i need
 
estein02

estein02

Member
Originally Posted by greenwolf52
everything looks quite nice and i lke the way things are going for you...good job
what's a filter sock?

might be something i need
Thank you...
A filter sock is essentially what it sounds like. It is a form of mechanical filtration, shaped like a big sock that goes at the end of the line from the overflow. They aid in removing excess food, detritus, organic waste, dust, and other particulates, making the water quality better and clearer. I know some people are not proponents of them, but I have been cleaning mine regularly and have replaced it a few times and it seems to do what it is supposed to do.
 
estein02

estein02

Member
Now that I am getting close to the point of adding fish to the tank the wife decides to throw in her 2 cents on fish the SHE wants. Please let me know what you think of this list and order in which to add them.
1. Lawnmower Blenny
2. Percula Clown
3. Six Line Wrasse
4. Foxface
5. Porcupine Puffer
6. Flame Angel
Any comments are greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
 
robdog696

robdog696

Member
Just some thoughts from a new hobbyist... sorry if they aren't much help. If you have tiny white specs in your tank these could be amphipods. Amphipods are beneficial to your tank. You'd be surprised how much stuff can survive on lr through the abuse we give it. It looks like you got some great lr and coral branch! Love how you setup your rock! Looks better than my tank! :( LOL! Where did you buy your coral branch?
Don't complain about wife's two cents. The more involved she is the more understanding she will be of the $ you spend on this hobby. LOL! However, I see two problems with your fish list.
1. Lawnmower Blennies dig sand out from under your rock. If you added your sand before your rock this digging could cause your rock to shift, and possibly topple over. There are two preventative measures for this, however. The first is adding egg crate under your rock, but you already have your tank set up. So I would ask some more experienced hobbyists if they think you should dig your rock down into the sand so that it is resting on the glass bottom of your tank.
2. The Porcupine Puffer requires a 90 gallon or bigger tank. The Valentini Puffer, Saddle Puffer, and Spotted Puffer your tank is big enough for. My girlfriend loves the puffers, and another of her favorites is the Flame Hawkfish. This fish has TONS of personality! I compromised with her and we got the Flame Hawk because it is reef safe.
Great work so far! You're going to have a beautiful tank!
 
estein02

estein02

Member
Originally Posted by Robdog696
Just some thoughts from a new hobbyist... sorry if they aren't much help. If you have tiny white specs in your tank these could be amphipods. Amphipods are beneficial to your tank. You'd be surprised how much stuff can survive on lr through the abuse we give it. It looks like you got some great lr and coral branch! Love how you setup your rock! Looks better than my tank! :( LOL! Where did you buy your coral branch?
Don't complain about wife's two cents. The more involved she is the more understanding she will be of the $ you spend on this hobby. LOL! However, I see two problems with your fish list.
1. Lawnmower Blennies dig sand out from under your rock. If you added your sand before your rock this digging could cause your rock to shift, and possibly topple over. There are two preventative measures for this, however. The first is adding egg crate under your rock, but you already have your tank set up. So I would ask some more experienced hobbyists if they think you should dig your rock down into the sand so that it is resting on the glass bottom of your tank.
2. The Porcupine Puffer requires a 90 gallon or bigger tank. The Valentini Puffer, Saddle Puffer, and Spotted Puffer your tank is big enough for. My girlfriend loves the puffers, and another of her favorites is the Flame Hawkfish. This fish has TONS of personality! I compromised with her and we got the Flame Hawk because it is reef safe.
Great work so far! You're going to have a beautiful tank!

Thank you very much...as far as I'm concerned, any advice I can get is good advice.
I will have to think about the blenny. My sand bed is not too deep and I pushed down on the rock pretty hard to make sure it is stable. I believe that it is, but I would hate for anything to happen.
The Flame Hawkfish is pretty cool looking...the wife likes it too
I was rethinking the puffer anyway because I am contimplating adding zoas down the road and they are not reef safe. I read that the Flame Hawkfish is reef safe WITH caution. Have you had any issues with yours?
Shoot me an email at RavnFan100@verizon.net and I will let you know where I purchased the LR.
 
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