howardj
Active Member
Started in August '07 - I was really proud of my little nano tank.. it started with my first live animal - an unknown pink nudibranch; he was fun to watch for awhile - it was alive and moving - what wouldn't be for a first time reefer?
He starved to death rounding the first month after cycle -heard that he ate zoas, didn't want him anyway.
Then I got a Really good deal on some coral frags from a friend that works at the LFS, some GSP, Zoas, and Mushrooms.
The addiction's addiction had begun. I bought my first fish - Scooter Dragonette.. not a smart idea. He was dead the next day "/. After learning that he lived on copepods, I felt dumb, and miseducated from my LFS.
My next purchase was a very small pair of Clarkii clowns - .75" (I'm sure they weren't paired yet, but they were in the same tank, same kind of clown, to me, they were a pair)
Zoas, Xenia, Acans, Mushrooms, Zoas, Anthelia, Zoas, yellow polyps, Ricordea's, and Zoas later.. my tank was full!
I was very anal about water changes - at first - once a week, every tuesday.
My Boxer crab purchase was in there somewhere.. in between the Zoas..
I slipped on water changes "Oh, I'll do it tomorrow, maybe the next day"..
Bad Idea.
As water changes slipped, so did livestock.. My boxer crab punched the lights out of some of my Nassarius Snails, other snails died, Hermit crab bodies - not molts - found laying places, boxer crab died 1 year later - HUGE cyano outbreak.. started small.. who woulda thought it would have taken off so fast? anyone? anyone?
Once again, I slipped.
In February, I set up a 10 gallon in my Bedroom, then, just recently.. September to be exact, I set up a 29 Gallon - also in my bedroom - I moved the Clarkii's over there, as well as the leftover snails and hermits.
1 Day later, the female (Lily) had been attacked by my Lawnmower Blenny, she survived two more days, and then eventually passed.
.
Now I am left with the smaller male (Herman).
Mom named them Herman and Lily - from the Munsters.
I didn't mind. They were the coolest things, Ever though. Everytime I opened the lid, there they would be - begging for food. When I put my hand in the tank, Lily would nip me as she was trying to protect her precious Xenia.
But now, after all of the babbling about the history, we move on to the future!
I completely tore down the 12 Gallon, washed EVERYTHING off, scraped, cleaned, and scrubbed like no other.
Today - the 12 Gallon is down no longer
I have 16+~ lbs., 20 lbs. of 1.2 year old live rock/sand.. hopefully the mini cycle won't last too long!
Pics Soon!
Please friendly critique on aquascape!
Thanks Much
He starved to death rounding the first month after cycle -heard that he ate zoas, didn't want him anyway.
Then I got a Really good deal on some coral frags from a friend that works at the LFS, some GSP, Zoas, and Mushrooms.
The addiction's addiction had begun. I bought my first fish - Scooter Dragonette.. not a smart idea. He was dead the next day "/. After learning that he lived on copepods, I felt dumb, and miseducated from my LFS.
My next purchase was a very small pair of Clarkii clowns - .75" (I'm sure they weren't paired yet, but they were in the same tank, same kind of clown, to me, they were a pair)
Zoas, Xenia, Acans, Mushrooms, Zoas, Anthelia, Zoas, yellow polyps, Ricordea's, and Zoas later.. my tank was full!
I was very anal about water changes - at first - once a week, every tuesday.
My Boxer crab purchase was in there somewhere.. in between the Zoas..
I slipped on water changes "Oh, I'll do it tomorrow, maybe the next day"..
Bad Idea.
As water changes slipped, so did livestock.. My boxer crab punched the lights out of some of my Nassarius Snails, other snails died, Hermit crab bodies - not molts - found laying places, boxer crab died 1 year later - HUGE cyano outbreak.. started small.. who woulda thought it would have taken off so fast? anyone? anyone?
Once again, I slipped.
In February, I set up a 10 gallon in my Bedroom, then, just recently.. September to be exact, I set up a 29 Gallon - also in my bedroom - I moved the Clarkii's over there, as well as the leftover snails and hermits.
1 Day later, the female (Lily) had been attacked by my Lawnmower Blenny, she survived two more days, and then eventually passed.
Now I am left with the smaller male (Herman).
Mom named them Herman and Lily - from the Munsters.
I didn't mind. They were the coolest things, Ever though. Everytime I opened the lid, there they would be - begging for food. When I put my hand in the tank, Lily would nip me as she was trying to protect her precious Xenia.
But now, after all of the babbling about the history, we move on to the future!
I completely tore down the 12 Gallon, washed EVERYTHING off, scraped, cleaned, and scrubbed like no other.
Today - the 12 Gallon is down no longer
I have 16+~ lbs., 20 lbs. of 1.2 year old live rock/sand.. hopefully the mini cycle won't last too long!
Pics Soon!
Please friendly critique on aquascape!
Thanks Much
