S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Originally Posted by RoxanneJ
http:///forum/post/3150620
Noooooooo, now wait......what I agreed with is that the bristleworms need to be dealt with, but I am very concerned that you have added a bioload to that tank with the babies in there, plus all the food now going in.
I'm concerned that your biological filtration has not caught up to the new inhabitants and then you plan to remove most of it, kill off the bad guys, and then put it back in.
I'm not sure that's a viable plan. I think you need to take this much slower.
I think your only option right now is to have a pair of tweezers handy and remove any bristleworms you see.
In a 3 gallon tank, your conditions can go very bad, very fast. With those babies in there, you have no wiggle room.
Yes Roxanne! Sorry, it was late!
Should have said you liked the freeze the rock idea, but on further discussion we decided to wait on doing anything for now, for many reasons.
I kept typing things in and deleting it. So, I just threw the tomorrow statement in and went to bed. Brain freeze. My apologies!
http:///forum/post/3150620
Noooooooo, now wait......what I agreed with is that the bristleworms need to be dealt with, but I am very concerned that you have added a bioload to that tank with the babies in there, plus all the food now going in.
I'm concerned that your biological filtration has not caught up to the new inhabitants and then you plan to remove most of it, kill off the bad guys, and then put it back in.
I'm not sure that's a viable plan. I think you need to take this much slower.
I think your only option right now is to have a pair of tweezers handy and remove any bristleworms you see.
In a 3 gallon tank, your conditions can go very bad, very fast. With those babies in there, you have no wiggle room.
I kept typing things in and deleting it. So, I just threw the tomorrow statement in and went to bed. Brain freeze. My apologies!
R
roxannej
Guest
Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3150690
Yes Roxanne! Sorry, it was late!
Should have said you liked the freeze the rock idea, but on further discussion we decided to wait on doing anything for now, for many reasons.
I kept typing things in and deleting it. So, I just threw the tomorrow statement in and went to bed. Brain freeze. My apologies!
LOL, no big deal. Sometimes it helps to have it written down so you can weigh the options when not in the middle of a long conversation.
http:///forum/post/3150690
I kept typing things in and deleting it. So, I just threw the tomorrow statement in and went to bed. Brain freeze. My apologies!
LOL, no big deal. Sometimes it helps to have it written down so you can weigh the options when not in the middle of a long conversation.
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Other than that, things are going well. Ponies are swimming and snicking away. Seem to be very happy!!
R
roxannej
Guest
Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3150890
Ok, so the deal has been struck with bristle worms. As long as they stay hidden, I leave them alone. If they come into plain sight, I have the tweezers handy.
Other than that, things are going well. Ponies are swimming and snicking away. Seem to be very happy!!
And playing "Where's Waldo" right?
http:///forum/post/3150890
Other than that, things are going well. Ponies are swimming and snicking away. Seem to be very happy!!
And playing "Where's Waldo" right?
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Originally Posted by RoxanneJ
http:///forum/post/3150943
And playing "Where's Waldo" right?
Absolutely!! They sure can blend in. Of course, it doesn't help that they are only like 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch.
http:///forum/post/3150943
And playing "Where's Waldo" right?
reefnutpa
Member
Hi Amy!
I'm very hesitant to add any comments to this thread as in the past I've found many on this website don't agree with my dwarf recommendations. Then again, I kept dwarfs for many years, my oldest pairs being 3 years old, the youngest just about a year old when I had a stuck heater wipe out my tank and took everything with it
With that said, my only observation is those that did things very different from me..... well.... don't have dwarfs any more.
For first time dwarf keepers, IMO it is best to start out with a basically sterile environment. Dry base rock, dry sand, no live macro's or anything. Cycle the tank naturally by starting an ammonia spike by using either the "ammonia method" (ie: adding pure ammonia) or by adding some flake food or other processed food to start decaying/start and ammonia spike. I do NOT agree with the "toss a fresh shrimp from the deli" in the tank technique. Why would you want some rotting flesh along with all the nasty bacteria decomposition of tissue causes in your tank. Uh-uh, not me.
Since your tank is already up and running and the dwarfs are in it, I can only tell you my concerns. First of all, bristle worms are not suitable in a dwarf tank. While they rarely cause problems in a tank with the larger species of seahorses (note how I said RARELY, and not never) IMO dwarfs are just too small to deal with any potential 'sting' from a bristle. Not to mention the issues that would arrise should a tiny baby bristle worm be mistaken for food.
Amphipods are another "not wise" thing to have in a dwarf tank. I lost many, many baby dwarfs to amphipods. Copepods, yes...amphipods, no. Unfortunately, taking items from your reef to set up this tank undoubtedly introduced bristle worms, amphipods, copepods, etc etc etc. Again, not a real suitable home for them.
I have never used panacur myself in my dwarf tank. I never had the need. I never had a hydroid issue or unwanted critters in the tank. The only CUC I had were nassarius snails and spaghetti worms. No shrimp. No crabs. Not in a dwarf tank.
As far as feeding, I fed mine heavily in the morning and less heavy in the evening. The 10 gal tank had a glass top with a regular flourescent striplight. I would take the striplight off at feeding and lay it on it's side either in the front of the tank or on the side of the tank. This caused all the brine shrimp to stay down at the bottom where the dwarfs could feast away.
Again, since your tank is already together... I would just continue what you are doing and remove as many bristle worms as possible manually. You don't want to "nuke" the tank at this point using panacur or something because depending on the amount of worms and other things in the tank you could end up with one heck of an ammonia spike when things start dying off.
Not to jinx you, but I have yet to see a dwarf tank started with live rock, live macro's, ect that did not develop a hydroid issue within a few weeks of 2 or 3 times daily feeding of baby brine shrimp being started. So, keep an eye on the sides of the tank for teeny tiny jelly-fish looking like things or white specks with a few thread-like arms sticking out. Those are hydroids - deadly to dwarf seahorses and their fry.
When it came to feeding, I have 4 hatchers going at all times. Two hatchers have newly hatched bbs in them, the other two have day old bbs in them being enriched. Always have at least one extra hatcher going because sooner or later a batch won't hatch and you'll be scrambling to find some bbs so you can feed your dwarfs.
In it's prime, my 10 gal housed 50+ dwarfs and their fry. When I lost the tank, there were still 15or 20 year-olds in it that I raised. Quite heartbreaking for me to see the work of 4 - 5 years be gone so quickly, because of a heater.
It's been just about a year, I have yet to re-stocked the tank. Just can't bring myself to do it. I spend my free time on my Erectus pairs and their young. Not sure if I will re-start the dwarf tank again.... or not. I'd rather use the space for setting up pairs of H. capensis again, but they aren't available. So... it may be dwarfs again in the near future.
Best of luck...and keep posting updates. Dwarf seahorses will always have a little part of me - they are just such amazing 'lil things!
Tom
I'm very hesitant to add any comments to this thread as in the past I've found many on this website don't agree with my dwarf recommendations. Then again, I kept dwarfs for many years, my oldest pairs being 3 years old, the youngest just about a year old when I had a stuck heater wipe out my tank and took everything with it
For first time dwarf keepers, IMO it is best to start out with a basically sterile environment. Dry base rock, dry sand, no live macro's or anything. Cycle the tank naturally by starting an ammonia spike by using either the "ammonia method" (ie: adding pure ammonia) or by adding some flake food or other processed food to start decaying/start and ammonia spike. I do NOT agree with the "toss a fresh shrimp from the deli" in the tank technique. Why would you want some rotting flesh along with all the nasty bacteria decomposition of tissue causes in your tank. Uh-uh, not me.
Since your tank is already up and running and the dwarfs are in it, I can only tell you my concerns. First of all, bristle worms are not suitable in a dwarf tank. While they rarely cause problems in a tank with the larger species of seahorses (note how I said RARELY, and not never) IMO dwarfs are just too small to deal with any potential 'sting' from a bristle. Not to mention the issues that would arrise should a tiny baby bristle worm be mistaken for food.
Amphipods are another "not wise" thing to have in a dwarf tank. I lost many, many baby dwarfs to amphipods. Copepods, yes...amphipods, no. Unfortunately, taking items from your reef to set up this tank undoubtedly introduced bristle worms, amphipods, copepods, etc etc etc. Again, not a real suitable home for them.
I have never used panacur myself in my dwarf tank. I never had the need. I never had a hydroid issue or unwanted critters in the tank. The only CUC I had were nassarius snails and spaghetti worms. No shrimp. No crabs. Not in a dwarf tank.
As far as feeding, I fed mine heavily in the morning and less heavy in the evening. The 10 gal tank had a glass top with a regular flourescent striplight. I would take the striplight off at feeding and lay it on it's side either in the front of the tank or on the side of the tank. This caused all the brine shrimp to stay down at the bottom where the dwarfs could feast away.
Again, since your tank is already together... I would just continue what you are doing and remove as many bristle worms as possible manually. You don't want to "nuke" the tank at this point using panacur or something because depending on the amount of worms and other things in the tank you could end up with one heck of an ammonia spike when things start dying off.
Not to jinx you, but I have yet to see a dwarf tank started with live rock, live macro's, ect that did not develop a hydroid issue within a few weeks of 2 or 3 times daily feeding of baby brine shrimp being started. So, keep an eye on the sides of the tank for teeny tiny jelly-fish looking like things or white specks with a few thread-like arms sticking out. Those are hydroids - deadly to dwarf seahorses and their fry.
When it came to feeding, I have 4 hatchers going at all times. Two hatchers have newly hatched bbs in them, the other two have day old bbs in them being enriched. Always have at least one extra hatcher going because sooner or later a batch won't hatch and you'll be scrambling to find some bbs so you can feed your dwarfs.
In it's prime, my 10 gal housed 50+ dwarfs and their fry. When I lost the tank, there were still 15or 20 year-olds in it that I raised. Quite heartbreaking for me to see the work of 4 - 5 years be gone so quickly, because of a heater.
It's been just about a year, I have yet to re-stocked the tank. Just can't bring myself to do it. I spend my free time on my Erectus pairs and their young. Not sure if I will re-start the dwarf tank again.... or not. I'd rather use the space for setting up pairs of H. capensis again, but they aren't available. So... it may be dwarfs again in the near future.
Best of luck...and keep posting updates. Dwarf seahorses will always have a little part of me - they are just such amazing 'lil things!
Tom
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Tom,
Thanks for the info. and your opinions.
I will continue with the bristle worms, and watch for the hydroids. Roxanne told me to expect them also. I am hoping to get lucky and not get them, but it is probably a false hope!
I have 2 bbs hatcheries going and was thinking of starting a third. 4 might be a better idea as I also feed baby clowns with them. If I get more than is needed there, I'll grow them out and treat my reef tank.
I'm still looking at the 5g and thinking about setting it up. Since everyone thinks it's too large, I'm playing with the idea of an in tank, what would you call it, sump? fuge? filtration system of some kind, putting in a divider and thus making the tank smaller.
Either way, this would take considerable time to cycle without the help of anything from another tank. So, the babies are staying put, for now.
Also, sorry about the loss of your babies. I know it's heartbreaking, but don't forget your 5 years of enjoyment. Those good memories should be enough to make you want to try again. Yes, they are amazing lil things!!
Thanks for the info. and your opinions.
I will continue with the bristle worms, and watch for the hydroids. Roxanne told me to expect them also. I am hoping to get lucky and not get them, but it is probably a false hope!
I have 2 bbs hatcheries going and was thinking of starting a third. 4 might be a better idea as I also feed baby clowns with them. If I get more than is needed there, I'll grow them out and treat my reef tank.
I'm still looking at the 5g and thinking about setting it up. Since everyone thinks it's too large, I'm playing with the idea of an in tank, what would you call it, sump? fuge? filtration system of some kind, putting in a divider and thus making the tank smaller.
Either way, this would take considerable time to cycle without the help of anything from another tank. So, the babies are staying put, for now.
Also, sorry about the loss of your babies. I know it's heartbreaking, but don't forget your 5 years of enjoyment. Those good memories should be enough to make you want to try again. Yes, they are amazing lil things!!
S
shrimpy brains
Guest
Oh, and if we quit posting cuz peeps don't agree with us. There wouldn't be anyone here!!
Seriously, all opinions, especially those based on experience, are important for us to learn and grow in this hobby. Please don't let anyone bother you into not posting.
Seriously, all opinions, especially those based on experience, are important for us to learn and grow in this hobby. Please don't let anyone bother you into not posting.