My pride and joy

[Neil the Wire]

Hello all. My first day on here, but wanted to introduce my aquarium. Very much a work in progress, and a fair few challenges ahead I guess, but here's the details at the moment. Pics to follow.

Size
Tank dimensions 100cmX55cmX60cm
Tank volume 300 litres (66 imperial gallons/80 US gallons)
Sump volume c. 75 litres (c. 16.5 imperial gallons/20 US gallons)

Equipment
Lights 3X39 watt D-D Powerchrome aquablue+ T5s, 1X39 watt D-D Powerchrome actinic+ T5
Heaters 2X Visi-therm 150 watts
Circulators 2 Tunze 6025s
Protein skimmer Turboflotor Blue 1000 protein skimmer
Phosphate reactor Simplicity Chemical Reactor, running off a Rio Aqua Pump 400, with Reef Scientific Phosphate Remover
Return pump New-jet 2300

Water readings
Temperature 25.5 celsius (78 farenheit)
pH 8.1
Ammonia (NH4) 0
Nitrite (NO2) 0
Nitrate (NO3) 6
Phosphate (PO4) 0
SG 1.026

Livestock
1 common clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris)
1 bangai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni)
1 orchid dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
2 scarlet cleaner shrimps
1 peppermint shrimp
5 turbo snails

Coral & rock
30kg live rock
1 large leather
1 twin leather
1 cluster emerald polyps
1 pom-pom polyp
1 blue bush
1 feather duster
1 finger coral
1 twin trumpet
1 frogspawn

Deaths
3 turbo snails (in aquarium)
1 common clownfish (jumped out of tank)

Next stocking additions
1 tail-spot blenny (Ecsenius stagmatura)
1 mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)
1 yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavascens)
1 carpenter's flasher wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri)

Feeding regime
Twice daily alternating Gamma Blister forozen brineshrimp + spirulina & Gamma Bllister mysis shrimp
Bi-daily DT's live marine phytoplankton
Weekly Sera Marin coraliquid

Lighting regime
6 hours/day 1Xnormal, 1Xactinic; 5 hours/day 2xnormal

Current problems
Aptasia growth
Nuisance algae, especially on blue bush
Emerald polyps not flourishing/not clustered
Coral placement

[ROB]

Welcome to RC looks like you are very organised in your ways, one comment is how long has the tank been running as manderins need a very mature system as they feed on pods so could starve to death if not enough food, also you mention a yellow tang your tank is on the brink size wise some would argue to house a YT also if you do it should be the last fish in due it's nature of being very territorial,
I am not being negative just trying to offer some help,

have you any pics to show us on the corals as this could help,

Regards Rob.

[ROB]

Hi again temp is low ish but looking at your list you are using two 150 w I think these may be strugling with the temp do they seem to be on all the time,


Rob.

[Marine Life Uk]

Hi and welcome have you any pictures

[Neil the Wire]

Thanks Rob - I'm after any advice, and will always err on side of caution, so don't worry about me thinking you're being negative!

Tank has been running since last August. I'd heard 6 months for manderins - it'll be more like 10 or 11 by the time I get this. Does that sound OK? YT is planned to be last in. I thought the same re. size, but LFS reckon I should be OK.

Re. temp - I've got the heaters set to 26, and temp fluctuates between 25 & 26. They both come on and off at times (not really studied how much they're on, and a bit difficult to). You show your temp as 25, so why is my 25.5 low?

[ROB]

Ha ha well picked up on I have no idea why it says that at the moment its running at about 27.5 28.5 but fluctuates I will change it lol I think as you
say 11 months should be ok on the manderin just keep checking for pods or if you have room in the tank smash up a small piece of LR and make a small mound at the back of the tank and hope pods populate it you can add pods to the tank if you can get hold of them, as far as the tang goes I am sure someone will advise better than me on them but dont believe all they tell you in the LFS even if they are trusted, the best way to go is ask as many questions as you can and then ask again lol, you will get some very good info on here as the guys are all spot on and in no time at all you will be answering questions,
It's good to have you as a member,

Rob.

[Marine Life Uk]

Id always double check the LFS tbh as ultimatley they want your cash. Although dont ge me wrong there are some good ones out there.
I like to think myself different in this regard as we give advise freely and with or without a sale

[ROB]

Thanks Rob - I'm after any advice, and will always err on side of caution, so don't worry about me thinking you're being negative!

Tank has been running since last August. I'd heard 6 months for manderins - it'll be more like 10 or 11 by the time I get this. Does that sound OK? YT is planned to be last in. I thought the same re. size, but LFS reckon I should be OK.

Re. temp - I've got the heaters set to 26, and temp fluctuates between 25 & 26. They both come on and off at times (not really studied how much they're on, and a bit difficult to). You show your temp as 25, so why is my 25.5 low?

Hi Neil,

I have just changed my temp on my profile and noticed it said 25 and then I realised I had read yours and thought it said 23 sorry but I have now cleaned my glasses and poured another drink and mine is now 27 lol,

Rob.

[Tangman]

Hi Neil as Rob says manderins need a good supply of pods unless they are eating frozen food also the Yellow Tang is a bit big for the size of your tank as if they are in a tank that is to small for them they will bully other fish. Unless you buy a very small one and upgrade to a larger tank in the next couple of years something like a 4 or 5 x2x2 would be good for 1 Yellow Tang. Dont take all what LFS say as they are in business to make money and will sell you stuff thats not suitable, also you being a newby fish keeper they will see this as an advantage to part you from your money. Dont get me wrong there are a few good LFS that do think of the stock and not see it as a pot of money and if your not sure ask on here first as we will keep you on track. Twiggy

[Neil the Wire]

Hmm, looks like I might need to revise the YT - shame as I thing they're lovely, and it would have been a nice addition. Any recommendations in lieu of this?

Newby question - what are 'pods' exactly? I know the mandarin feeds of stuff in the substrate, but what are these exactly, can I check that I have enough to sustain the new fella?

[CP Ocean]

I'm my simple words they are small bugs :) that can be from 1-10mm there are different types but the common ones are copepods and anthipods, you can see them best probably at night, crawling on the LR. I never see them in my tank but I know they are there because now and again they shed their skin so you might see that floating about.
When LR is introduced they are quite common, but the fish will often eat them up pretty quickly unless you have alot of rock work for the pods to hide and multiply in. You can buy them live to add as food or try breeding them in a separate container, or as I plan to do if you have a refugium in your sump? You could try breeding them in there.