I know, it's been a while. It's been a bad winter where i live, EVERYONE has gotten sick, then gotten sick again, non-stop pretty much all winter >.<'
But it all seems to be letting up, not many people sick now. So i can finely do some fish stuff..here is the update.
I got fenbendazole, hydroids are now gone, i did some water changes after a week or so, maybe more of having the fenbendazole in there.
After water changes and letting the tank sit for a while longer to filter, i took 4 snails, rinsed them with fresh water, dried there shell, put them in freshwater for a minute or so, rinsed them again, dried them again, and put them in the 6g. They are working there hardest to clear the algae out (quite a bit had grown while it was empty for hydroids).
I figure i will put atleast 2-3 more in there to help with the algae work, and maybe in a week try adding the asterinas back. I didn't want to risk the starfish first, i figure they would have a harder time if there is any fenbendazole left in the system.
Yesterday i finally found a decent powerhead for the job. I got one that moves the head back and forth and spreads the movement of the water to cover a larger area (i figured this would be best?) but still leaving an area under the powerhead that would have less flow if any horse was tired/pregnant/sick and needed to rest.
I have a big sponge over the powerhead intake and a small one on the bottom of the filter intake. The one on the filter didn't end up being long enough for the entire piece, but it covers everything except maybe a centimeter at the top of the intake piece. I will try to draw or get a picture of this, i figure the sponge will slow the intake enough for that tiny area not to be a problem, but i would like someone to let me know for sure if it's safe later just in case. I'd rather not take chances.
So...i'm pretty close to horses i think
I've got a heater going, filter working fine, cycled tank, no more hydroids, some hitching posts, a power head...what am i missing?
I also have been adding phyto plankton to rebuild the copepod population after the hydroid problem, and i've noticed a slight increase of them on the back wall.
I do have a brine shrimp hatchery waiting to be used for the horses, i figure i will start the hatchery a day or two before i am expecting them so i will have them ready.
I figure in about a week or less, when the algae is gone and the tank looks pretty, i am ready.
Just double checking...do i seem ready? Am i missing anything?
I don't really have a cleanup crew besides snails/asterina starfish. I was thinking of looking into pepperment shrimp, i was reading about them and they are suposed to be good cleaners and keep aiptasia and other things away. Would these be OK in a 6g? And if so, will they bother the seahorses?
So excited, so close
Edit: pictures and filter illustration coming soon
