Novahobbies' 37g Seahorse Tank Journal
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flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/420#post_3430587
Thanks, Louis. The moving help is gone, the pod is empty...and now my house is full of crap. I think a major fall cleaning is in order here. I've lived for 6+ months without even MISSING a lot of this stuff, so that in my mind is pretty strong evidence that I don't NEED it. As we were unpacking the pod, I asked myself more than once, "Why the hell did I pack THIS?!" A lot has already gone to the trash can. I even gave the movers an overstuffed chair, ottoman, and old style tube TV that I didn't even want brought into the house.
I don't want clutter.
As I look around I have to admit: even though there are a lot of things that I've missed....I've learned to live with less. I have a tendency to surround myself with things that make me comfortable, but when the Things start to take over the living space, I can definitely say there is a problem.
So, we have a New Plan. No floor-laying for me tomorrow -- or probably at all this week. Tonight and tomorrow are devoted to Going Through and Throwing Away. And yes, that process deserves the capital letters.
What does this have to do with my seahorse tank? Absolutely nothing. Does it belong in this journal. Nah....but it's my journal, so there. Stick THAT in your aquarium and filter it.
Since you brought the subject up.
I have a rule...if it has not been used in the last year..give it away or throw it away. I don't have any problem getting rid of extra stuff around the house or in the garage......
Except fish stuff
...I can't seem to make myself toss out even a small amount of hose...I have all those tiny extra parts they give you with power heads. I have two big bins full of stuff, plus some extra empty salt buckets stuffed. It has come in handy a few times but not enough to justify hoarding all those little parts. I can't be the only one.
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/420#post_3430587
Thanks, Louis. The moving help is gone, the pod is empty...and now my house is full of crap. I think a major fall cleaning is in order here. I've lived for 6+ months without even MISSING a lot of this stuff, so that in my mind is pretty strong evidence that I don't NEED it. As we were unpacking the pod, I asked myself more than once, "Why the hell did I pack THIS?!" A lot has already gone to the trash can. I even gave the movers an overstuffed chair, ottoman, and old style tube TV that I didn't even want brought into the house.
I don't want clutter.
As I look around I have to admit: even though there are a lot of things that I've missed....I've learned to live with less. I have a tendency to surround myself with things that make me comfortable, but when the Things start to take over the living space, I can definitely say there is a problem.
So, we have a New Plan. No floor-laying for me tomorrow -- or probably at all this week. Tonight and tomorrow are devoted to Going Through and Throwing Away. And yes, that process deserves the capital letters.
What does this have to do with my seahorse tank? Absolutely nothing. Does it belong in this journal. Nah....but it's my journal, so there. Stick THAT in your aquarium and filter it.
Since you brought the subject up.
I have a rule...if it has not been used in the last year..give it away or throw it away. I don't have any problem getting rid of extra stuff around the house or in the garage......
Except fish stuff
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3430800
Since you brought the subject up.
I have a rule...if it has not been used in the last year..give it away or throw it away. I don't have any problem getting rid of extra stuff around the house or in the garage......
Except fish stuff
...I can't seem to make myself toss out even a small amount of hose...I have all those tiny extra parts they give you with power heads. I have two big bins full of stuff, plus some extra empty salt buckets stuffed. It has come in handy a few times but not enough to justify hoarding all those little parts. I can't be the only one.
I have a similar rule. Mine is more along the lines of "used or appreciated in the last year." I certainly don't whoosh a star trek model around the room (or I sure as heck won't admit to it, anyway...) but even though a kit or a book isn't "used," so to speak, it's still appreciated as a kind of still art.
That said, there's still a lot of clutter that can go away here, I'm happy to say.
And I was SOOOO happy to see my big tank come out of the pod. Even though I know it might not get set up, it was just really nice to see that bad boy. I hope I can still use it one day soon.
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3430800
Since you brought the subject up.
I have a rule...if it has not been used in the last year..give it away or throw it away. I don't have any problem getting rid of extra stuff around the house or in the garage......
Except fish stuff
I have a similar rule. Mine is more along the lines of "used or appreciated in the last year." I certainly don't whoosh a star trek model around the room (or I sure as heck won't admit to it, anyway...) but even though a kit or a book isn't "used," so to speak, it's still appreciated as a kind of still art.
That said, there's still a lot of clutter that can go away here, I'm happy to say.
And I was SOOOO happy to see my big tank come out of the pod. Even though I know it might not get set up, it was just really nice to see that bad boy. I hope I can still use it one day soon.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Not much to report, but it's been a while so I thought I'd drop in. Didn't do my water change yet this weekend -- went to Epcot instead. Got home this morning to a strangely bare tank....took me a while to figure it out....my caulerpa must have gone sexual.
It's almost all gone, just dissolved away. I still have some fern variety left, and a tiny bit of grape, but I will need to do a 10g water change tomorrow to suck some of the dissolved plant matter out.
Oh well. I'm feeling kind of sick after the weekend and I couldn't get my act together enough to get the water change done today, but I'm sure I'll be better by morning. Seahorses, fish, starfish, etc are all doing well so far, but I want to swap out some water just in case.
Oh well. I'm feeling kind of sick after the weekend and I couldn't get my act together enough to get the water change done today, but I'm sure I'll be better by morning. Seahorses, fish, starfish, etc are all doing well so far, but I want to swap out some water just in case.
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3433375
Not much to report, but it's been a while so I thought I'd drop in. Didn't do my water change yet this weekend -- went to Epcot instead. Got home this morning to a strangely bare tank....took me a while to figure it out....my caulerpa must have gone sexual.
It's almost all gone, just dissolved away. I still have some fern variety left, and a tiny bit of grape, but I will need to do a 10g water change tomorrow to suck some of the dissolved plant matter out.
Oh well. I'm feeling kind of sick after the weekend and I couldn't get my act together enough to get the water change done today, but I'm sure I'll be better by morning. Seahorses, fish, starfish, etc are all doing well so far, but I want to swap out some water just in case.
I thought caulerpa was milky when it did that and would cloud up the whole tank. Wont desolved plant matter help feed the macros that are left?
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3433375
Not much to report, but it's been a while so I thought I'd drop in. Didn't do my water change yet this weekend -- went to Epcot instead. Got home this morning to a strangely bare tank....took me a while to figure it out....my caulerpa must have gone sexual.
Oh well. I'm feeling kind of sick after the weekend and I couldn't get my act together enough to get the water change done today, but I'm sure I'll be better by morning. Seahorses, fish, starfish, etc are all doing well so far, but I want to swap out some water just in case.
I thought caulerpa was milky when it did that and would cloud up the whole tank. Wont desolved plant matter help feed the macros that are left?
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
While we're waiting...here's a pic of my.....ahem..... Quarantine tank in the office.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Flower, caulerpa does indeed make the water cloudy. I was gone for the weekend, and it probably happened and was filtered out while I was gone. And yes, while the existing can indeed feed on the dissolved nutrients, there are certainly more nutrients than the existing algae can quickly absorb. Don't want the nutrients to hang around and cause a hair algae outbreak!
flower
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3433584
Flower, caulerpa does indeed make the water cloudy. I was gone for the weekend, and it probably happened and was filtered out while I was gone. And yes, while the existing can indeed feed on the dissolved nutrients, there are certainly more nutrients than the existing algae can quickly absorb. Don't want the nutrients to hang around and cause a hair algae outbreak!
I see, another leason learned. I won't keep caulerpa for fear of it going bad like that. Someone told me the edges get fuzzy just before it does it's thing.
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3433584
Flower, caulerpa does indeed make the water cloudy. I was gone for the weekend, and it probably happened and was filtered out while I was gone. And yes, while the existing can indeed feed on the dissolved nutrients, there are certainly more nutrients than the existing algae can quickly absorb. Don't want the nutrients to hang around and cause a hair algae outbreak!
I see, another leason learned. I won't keep caulerpa for fear of it going bad like that. Someone told me the edges get fuzzy just before it does it's thing.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Er, I'm not sure what happened to the pic of the QT tank. Let's try this again.
Here's my "Quarrantine" tank in the new office. The floors aren't done yet, and the big tank is still sitting empty, so I'll leave the QT tank empty until the floors are laid in this room. Once the big tank is running, this will be the main QT system for the new reef denizens.
After the reef is stocked, however, what (pipefish) do you think (corythoichthys) I should do (dragonface) with the tank??
Here's my "Quarrantine" tank in the new office. The floors aren't done yet, and the big tank is still sitting empty, so I'll leave the QT tank empty until the floors are laid in this room. Once the big tank is running, this will be the main QT system for the new reef denizens.
After the reef is stocked, however, what (pipefish) do you think (corythoichthys) I should do (dragonface) with the tank??
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3433585
I see, another leason learned. I won't keep caulerpa for fear of it going bad like that. Someone told me the edges get fuzzy just before it does it's thing.
No, not fuzzy, but you can definitely see the spores forming before the event. It usually happens quickly, and if the spores were developing before I left then I apparently missed it. Usually if you see a section developing spores, you can remove that chunk and it will settle down. Once it starts, I suspect there is a chemical chain reaction that causes the algae around it to kick off as well.
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3433585
I see, another leason learned. I won't keep caulerpa for fear of it going bad like that. Someone told me the edges get fuzzy just before it does it's thing.
No, not fuzzy, but you can definitely see the spores forming before the event. It usually happens quickly, and if the spores were developing before I left then I apparently missed it. Usually if you see a section developing spores, you can remove that chunk and it will settle down. Once it starts, I suspect there is a chemical chain reaction that causes the algae around it to kick off as well.
gemmy
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3433677
Er, I'm not sure what happened to the pic of the QT tank. Let's try this again.
Here's my "Quarrantine" tank in the new office. The floors aren't done yet, and the big tank is still sitting empty, so I'll leave the QT tank empty until the floors are laid in this room. Once the big tank is running, this will be the main QT system for the new reef denizens.
After the reef is stocked, however, what (pipefish) do you think (corythoichthys) I should do (dragonface) with the tank??
I think the dragon face will make a great addition to that "QT".
Originally Posted by novahobbies http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3433677
Er, I'm not sure what happened to the pic of the QT tank. Let's try this again.
Here's my "Quarrantine" tank in the new office. The floors aren't done yet, and the big tank is still sitting empty, so I'll leave the QT tank empty until the floors are laid in this room. Once the big tank is running, this will be the main QT system for the new reef denizens.
After the reef is stocked, however, what (pipefish) do you think (corythoichthys) I should do (dragonface) with the tank??
I think the dragon face will make a great addition to that "QT".
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Not much to report. Four horses, two mandarins, and one sea star are still in the tank. Macros are gowing back, but I find myself wishing I could keep my macros in a separated fuge. When Caulerpa breaks loose, it almost always finds its way onto a piece of coral, and the coral definitely does not like whatever chemical makeup is on the "skin" of the macro. Starting to ponder the possibility of making a 15 gallon sump/fuge somehow fit the still-nonexistent new stand I keep threatening you guys with. Big mass of caulerpa or chaeto under the tank, and a nice coral outcrop for the horses. With maybe some SLOW growing macros in the background to hang on to.
I'm starting to see some hair algae since the mass Caulerpa melt-away. I'm picking off the small tufts I see, but I hope my macros I have left rebound to help absorb some excess phosphates.
I'm starting to see some hair algae since the mass Caulerpa melt-away. I'm picking off the small tufts I see, but I hope my macros I have left rebound to help absorb some excess phosphates.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Huh. This is what I get for not doing weekly water changes. These past 2 weeks have been ridiculously busy, between work, home renovation, and the holidays. I went to (finally) do a water change after 2 weeks, and what do I find? A horse with GBD in her tail, and a partially decomposed sea star who looks like he got stuck in the impeller of a powerhead.
As EGBD is usually symptomatic of something else, I'm pretty sure that reduced water quality from the dead star is a contributing factor. Obviously I fished the carcass out, did my 10g water change, and will be doing another 10g tomorrow night for safety's sake. I'm also setting up the 10g as a QT tank and having some diamox called in from the MD before I head home. The horse in question is the wild caught girl, and the bubbles aren't severe, but they're enough to affect her bouyancy.
I haven't been really sitting in front of the tank to enjoy it lately...and it's plain to see that I should have been. Grr.....
As EGBD is usually symptomatic of something else, I'm pretty sure that reduced water quality from the dead star is a contributing factor. Obviously I fished the carcass out, did my 10g water change, and will be doing another 10g tomorrow night for safety's sake. I'm also setting up the 10g as a QT tank and having some diamox called in from the MD before I head home. The horse in question is the wild caught girl, and the bubbles aren't severe, but they're enough to affect her bouyancy.
I haven't been really sitting in front of the tank to enjoy it lately...and it's plain to see that I should have been. Grr.....
gemmy
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3438595
I am 100% sure you will be ok.....this is easily treated.....I just wish I knew why mine kept getting it
I'm kinda convinced that where the horses came from played a role. I'm going to get my horses from a breeder.
Originally Posted by meowzer http:///t/366648/novahobbies-37g-seahorse-tank-journal/440#post_3438595
I am 100% sure you will be ok.....this is easily treated.....I just wish I knew why mine kept getting it
I'm kinda convinced that where the horses came from played a role. I'm going to get my horses from a breeder.
flower
Well-Known Member
Nova, not doing a little 10g water change for a couple of weeks should not have that much of an effect...not sure about the mangled arm of a seastar thrown in. How big was the starfish?
I have not done a water change in my 56g SH tank since the puppies were born, this is week 12. Nor have I tested the water, the SHs are fine and happy, the water is clear and the macros look happy enough. My little yellow clown gobies disappeared and had to have died. I had my water temp go way down to 65 degrees one night. I have a chiller I added and a heater. I run that Aquaripure filter and the phosban reactor, in the sump. If the Aquaripure makes that much of a difference, it's worth it's weight in gold.
I have not done a water change in my 56g SH tank since the puppies were born, this is week 12. Nor have I tested the water, the SHs are fine and happy, the water is clear and the macros look happy enough. My little yellow clown gobies disappeared and had to have died. I had my water temp go way down to 65 degrees one night. I have a chiller I added and a heater. I run that Aquaripure filter and the phosban reactor, in the sump. If the Aquaripure makes that much of a difference, it's worth it's weight in gold.
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
I've got 15g of change water in the car, and I'm in line waiting for the diamox right now. Thanks for the well wishes!
novahobbies
Well-Known Member
Got home, set up the hospital tank, and got the horse settled. I used 5gallons of new water, and 5g of existing tank water. Once the pH, temp, and salinity looked settled, she got transferred.
Here's a partial shot of her tail....of course she's hiding, so it's hard to see....
I just added the first 250mg dose of diamox. The Bullet mixer is great for this, BTW. It's my understanding that I'll do a 250mg dose tonight, a 50% water change with a 250mg dose tomorrow, and a 50% wc with a final 250mg dose on night three....is that correct? Also, I didn't see if I should keep or remove the carbon during this treatment. Has anyone ever kept their carbon, or no?
Here's a partial shot of her tail....of course she's hiding, so it's hard to see....
I just added the first 250mg dose of diamox. The Bullet mixer is great for this, BTW. It's my understanding that I'll do a 250mg dose tonight, a 50% water change with a 250mg dose tomorrow, and a 50% wc with a final 250mg dose on night three....is that correct? Also, I didn't see if I should keep or remove the carbon during this treatment. Has anyone ever kept their carbon, or no?