Let the cycle (and fun) begin!

[radiata]

I beg differ... One never has enough rock!

(1) The more rock work you have, the more hidey-holes* you're giving your fish, which adds to their opportunity to retreat when threatened, thus adding to their sense of security in your tank, and thus adding to their health via less aggressive confrontations with other fish. I go as far as building additional hidey-holes in my tank once I have the structure in place.

(2) How will you keep unsightly algae off the rear wall of your tank? (Sounds like more manual labor than I'm willing to engage in, and I don't.) Don't have an "exposed" rear wall in your tank? Good for you! But, if you do have one, just cover it with more rock (and thus more hidey-holes).

* hidey-hole /hī′dē-hōl″/ noun

1. A secluded or isolated place; a hideaway.
2. An isolated or secluded place; a hideaway or hideout.

 

[northnjnano’s]

Thanks for the advice. With nothing to eat thought that may even be too much, good to know.

 

[northnjnano’s]

Radiata thanks, I’m very happy with the rock after a few weeks. Was worried it’s too much, going to get creative with wave makers and flow patterns, idk. Would love to do gsp across the entire back wall. Did pulsing xenia on one which was cool. Taking my time but agree lots of hide outs to help everyone lay low which hopefully will help as I plan to stock heavy over time.

 

[northnjnano’s]

Separate question. Anyone have a favorite fish trap? Clowns were easy. Now I have a six line, royal gramma, falco hawk and a blue dwarf angel to catch in my other tanks. Then I was planning to use the two 32 bio cube tanks as qt as I add more fish overtime but try to keep the rock/coral as is for a cool compliment to the main display. Hence I think I need a good trap? Tankmatez has a cool magnet style float, a bit pricey, was thinking of trying, any reccos? Just stick with food and nets?

 

[northnjnano’s]

Stocking strategy, please give me thoughts…advice, recco for substitutions or avoidances. Especially thoughts on when I can add my current remaining healthy stock (6line,royal gramma, cherub angel and falco hawkfish) vs what I think is propper addition path below based on research and others.

1st step Clowns - combined pairs from 3 tanks. Done…24 hrs in, exploring but sticking together as a pod, so far so good.

2nd step CUC and Goby’s/Blennies - Midas, Canary and twin spot blennies. Diamond, yellow face sleeper and watchman gobies.

3rd step - cuc and wrasse / gramma / hawks - six line, canary, leopard wrasse. Royal gramma. Falco hawk and flame hawkfish

4th step - cuc and tangs : yellow and purple (blue hippo or keyhole substitutes?)

5th step - angels: blue cherub / red
flame angel / flameback (too close to cherub?) / would love another yellow like a heraldi if I can’t go flameback?

6th step- the long game - pair of bullet hole mandarins and copperband butterfly

 

[MadReefer]

Separate question. Anyone have a favorite fish trap? Clowns were easy. Now I have a six line, royal gramma, falco hawk and a blue dwarf angel to catch in my other tanks. Then I was planning to use the two 32 bio cube tanks as qt as I add more fish overtime but try to keep the rock/coral as is for a cool compliment to the main display. Hence I think I need a good trap? Tankmatez has a cool magnet style float, a bit pricey, was thinking of trying, any reccos? Just stick with food and nets?

I have a BRS one I picked but used no clue how to use it. Think needs some rubberbands to be functional; you can borrow it if you want.
Or try the 2 bottle trick as I have done this in the past with no issues but took some fish 2 or 3 days to go in it.

 

[northnjnano’s]

Oh the bottle trick looks interesting, think I saw videos on yt and just thought that was legit fishing. I may start there and hopefully get the wrasse/gramma. Idk if that would work on the bigger fish. Ty for them offer, well see if i need to take you up on that, where located.

 

[northnjnano’s]

Ok bottle trick success on the wrasse, 30 minutes and that guy was in. Gramma, not a chance, non interest and way to quick to net. Cherub same as gramma. Falcon, trapped, he was so curious he Sat in my acclimation box and I just shut the lid. So 2 more into the display, gotta find a game plan on other 2 and well I’m already off track a bit from my original plan but love all the life going on in the big tank.

 

[northnjnano’s]

Help identify please, what are these white things in the biobal bag in my back chambers, presumably good, some sort of pods on the roids???

 

[Salted]

Help identify please, what are these white things in the biobal bag in my back chambers, presumably good, some sort of pods on the roids???

View attachment 60266

Pineapple sponges

 

[northnjnano’s]

Ty, thoughts are these bad or ok to leave, quick google search seems these are not desirable however not the worst pest either?

 

[Salted]

They are good, Never heard of them being referred to as pests or not desirable.

 

[northnjnano’s]

Today’s latest…one of my smaller tanks I think has brown jelly disease?

This has a mix of corals from hammer, torch, Xenia, zoa, gsp, anemones, mushroom, prob a few others. So hard to start removing individually. I dipped the Duncan’s a few weeks ago as they turned quick, thought I was fine and now seeing much more widely after losing a smaller torch.

 

[john90009]

What’s your nitrates and phopshates, I don’t think that’s brown jelly.

 

[northnjnano’s]

Tank update, the IM SR120 has now been up since February, survived summer vacation without any major crashes, I got the 35g’s water mixing station all setup with direct ato to the 120g (amazing) and have phyto and pods going. Lots of fun and lots of work!

Fish stock on the 125g
2 clown pairs (black and orange oscellarius)
Royal gramma
Bi-color blennie
Purple tang
Blue Hippo tang
Spotted Hawkfish
Grey watchman goby paired with pistol shrimp
Yellow Coris wrasse (last location floor, re-inserted into tank alive and ~2 weeks mia)

In quarantine
Flame Angel
Coral Beauty
Six Line Wrasse
Starry Blenny
Algae Blenny
Midas Blenny

Next up for the Quarantine / stock list???
Tomini Tang?
Spotted Mandarin Goby
2 spot goby
Purple Dottyback
One spot Fox face
Copper and butterfly

Time to start thinking about corals for all my rock, anybody in nnj, I’m looking for ideas and some fillers!

Any thoughts/opinions on the fish list, much appreciated!

View attachment IMG_2158.jpegView attachment IMG_2157.jpegView attachment IMG_2161.jpegView attachment IMG_2162.jpeg

 

[northnjnano’s]

Tank update, the IM SR120 has now been up since February, survived summer vacation without any major crashes, I got the 35g’s water mixing station all setup with direct ato to the 120g (amazing) and have phyto and pods going. Lots of fun and lots of work!

Fish stock on the 125g
2 clown pairs (black and orange oscellarius)
Royal gramma
Bi-color blennie
Purple tang
Blue Hippo tang
Spotted Hawkfish
Grey watchman goby paired with pistol shrimp
Yellow Coris wrasse (last location floor, re-inserted into tank alive and ~2 weeks mia)

In quarantine
Flame Angel
Coral Beauty
Six Line Wrasse
Starry Blenny
Algae Blenny
Midas Blenny

Next up for the Quarantine / stock list???
Tomini Tang?
Spotted Mandarin Goby
2 spot goby
Purple Dottyback
One spot Fox face
Copper and butterfly

Time to start thinking about corals for all my rock, anybody in nnj, I’m looking for ideas and some fillers!

Any thoughts/opinions on the fish list, much appreciated!

View attachment 60513View attachment 60514View attachment 60515View attachment 60516

And some tank pics