Novahobbies' 37g Seahorse Tank Journal

[novahobbies]

Some more pictures:
Rugburn is in his new home...and immediately he took up residence in the back corner BEHIND the skimmer. LOL. Here's the best shot I've gotten of him so far:

Random featherduster shot:

"They won't notice me if I sneak in from under the leather...."

"Crap! I've been seen!"

New(ish) purple gorgonian:

 

[gemmy]

Awesome. I love the pics!!!!!!!!!!

 

[novahobbies]

Still more:





And finally, a current FTS. I wish I had steadier hands...it's almost impossible for me to get these shots clear. This one is a little fuzzy, but it's rare in that all 4 horses were in clear view at the same time.

OK. I think I've bored you enough for a little while....

 

[flower]

I could look at your tank all day. The horses are getting big.

 

[smallreef]

so pretty!!!

 

[novahobbies]

Thanks!
@Flower, yeah, they're getting to be big kids these days. The females have matched the WC girl in size, and the male is a good 30% bigger than any of the girls.

 

[novahobbies]

Got a 5g water change done today. That algae is still bummin' me out, but it didn't grow back nearly as much this time. Hopefully weekly water changes and some actual regular maintenance will sort it out. The horses are happy, though!

 

[novahobbies]

Uh-oh. What do we have here??

I went to the LFS today to get some water for the big tank (It's getting filled this week!!!!) and I found this lonely little orange monti cap sitting in a frag tank. How could I say no, I ask you?? He's going to go in the horse tank.
Slice, I SWEAR I'm not copying your tank!! Although....I can think of worse tanks to emulate. Yours is fantastic. How long did it take your monti to grow out?

 

[novahobbies]

New coral. Acclimating at the time of this pic. It's in now, but the lights are out.

 

[novahobbies]

I waited a couple days to post this, but it's official. I'm losing my big male Mandarin. I don't know if it's disease, or simple senescence.....but he started slowing down this week, then stopped eating altogether yesterday. Today his eyes are cloudy, and he's just breathing, nothing more....I can pick him up and hold him in my hand.

I don't think he has very long now.

 

[smallreef]

AWWW you may want to pull him out and euthanize him so he doesnt suffer...
do you have any clove oil?

 

[novahobbies]

No need. He was gone when I got up this morning. RIP, little man.

 

[gemmy]

Bummer!!! I'm sorry.

 

[novahobbies]

Last pic I ever took of him. Swim away, little dude....swim away.

 

[novahobbies]

Since I lost the male Mandarin, I decided it was prudent to do a 10g wc instead of the 5g I had planned for this week. That macro algae that was choking the corned is down to a manageable level, hopefully I can get it out completely eventually. I need to add more of the seagrass style, that might help starve out the other. All in all, the tank doesn't look half bad right now. Some pics tonight maybe, after I change the filter pad and the corals open up.

 

[novahobbies]

Video. I shoulda swiped the glass before hand, but the girls were begging for food so I just grabbed the camera and started rolling.

 

[meowzer]

WOW...they look great....and I see the gramma is still hanging around

 

[novahobbies]

Thanks! Yeah, he's an inquisitive little pisher, isn't he?

 

[novahobbies]

Boy, caught a great deal! I have a Tom Aquatics filter unit and ATO reservoir for my horse tank, but the ATO has had cracks in it since I bought it used. These were never a big deal, but lately I've had to stop using it because they got so bad it was throwing my salinity way out of whack. Replacements from Tom Aquatics were out of the question since it was old and used (I called and checked anyway, LOL!) and the cheapest I could find "new" was $90.00 on amazon.
Until today! Amazon Warehouse had a "used" one for $32, free shipping! Didn't take me long to click Buy! Should be here by Wednesday. I don't care about any part except the internal reservoir sleeve - if that is intact and uncracked, I'll be a happy happy camper!

And if it IS somehow cracked....well, Amazon's return policy is fantastic, so I won't be too put out.

 

[novahobbies]

SO happy. The new Tom Aquatics ATO reservoir came in, and I learned that they re-engineered the ATO so it wouldn't be so vulnerable in the corners like my old one. It's slightly less volume, but exactly the same actual size so it fit like a glove. No more salinity swings from a faulty ATO for me!
Horses are happy, the corals are all in good shape. Unfortunately the LED fixture I got for the big tank won't fit easily in this canopy without some major modifications, so I couldn't "test" the LED over this tank. I wonder if an 80W fixture would punch down far enough??