jquek

Yeah. I know about the bannerfish and camel shrimps being not reef safe but they were around before I have gotten any corals. So far, my hammer, frogspawn, torch, shrooms, gornio, zoo haven't had any problems. All except the open brain. Anyway, it seems almost impossible to get the camel shrimps out. Also saw the bannerfish nibble at the open brain and thats why seperated the bannerfish. But the open brain still receded without the bannerfish.

Bought a wellsophyllia/trachyphyllia radiata brain coral few days ago. Looks nice and well "expanded" when I bought it and introduced into the tank after acclimatisation. Placed it on the sand under 150W of MH. Subsequently, noticed that my long fin bannerfish nibbling at it and as such, it starts to recede inwards. Just to add, I also noticed my halloween hermit perching on top of it, I didn't see it eating it, but I think the brain isn't very happy too. I chased away the hermit and out of desperation (cos I lost a T. geoffroyi similarly too and don't want it happening again), I fished out the bannerfish and temporary housed it in the QT. Anyway, when I did that, I think not much damage (i hope) has been done to the brain yet but its definitely not expanding as much. Nevertheless, a night later, the condition seems to have worsen as it receded even more and some parts are showing its skeleton. I know that as a bad sign as the same thing happened to my T. geoffroyi. Sorry for the longish story, but need some advise as to why this is the case. Anyway, if this one doesn't pull through, don't think I will try this coral for the time being, though from what I read, it doesn't seem to be a very difficult coral. Anyway my other corals like shrooms, hammer, octo, torch seems to be doing fine. I suspect it could also be due to my other LS in the tank - possibly the camel shrimps?? Cos I know they aren't 100% reef safe. I know I have a crab hidden somewhere in the LRs. Possibly the crab too? And oh, I also discovered that one of my hermit died mysterously just next to this open brain in the morning with legs all over outside the shell. Sigh! Wonder what that is all about too??? Water parameters seems ok except for NO3 which is always around 30ppm (Salifert) - still trying means to reduce it. PO4 at 0.03ppm. NH4 and NO2 both undetectable. Ca is a little unstable in the tank but dosing Ca and Kalk to try maintaining above 400ppm. Alk is around 8. PH is within ok range too.

Yes. The translucent frogspawn is still around. Its very pretty but according to Eric Bornerman (sp??), its supposed to be bleached. Irregardless, will try my best to keep it around as long as possible. Was told to try feeding it regularly, but didn't really notice it grab any food. I do add DT and cyclopeeze regularly so not sure if it will help.

Thanks for the advice. Will probably shift the hammer or mushroom. Meanwhile keeping a close watch before I do that. The hammer is not touching the mushroom as yet but I can't say the same if they decide to extend one of their sweeping tentacles.

Longnose hawkfish on sea fan

Glove polyps:

Thanks for the comments. Like the blue/purple mushrooms too!!

Hammer and shrooms

Shrooms

Center-right

Centre ...

View from right ...

At abt 4mth ... some pics:

PMed you.

Upz! As aboove. $40. Self collect at Braddell or Sembawang. Interested, pls call me at 97712457. Jerry

Selling the above that is used for about 1.5 month (switched on for 6hrs daily). $40. Self collect at Braddel/Bishan area. Just changed to a 14KK bulb.

Hi Scarab and all, Eric Bornerman (hope I spelled correctly) from reef central said its bleached. Well, he is the expert so he is most probably right. Nevertheless, it still looks nice with its translucent green tentacles! So hopefully, it will gain back its zooxanthellae algae with time.

Thanks Scarab. Been opening up rather nicely since the day I bought it, but noticed its very sensitive to disturbances - close up rather rapidly whenever a snail moves past it or something. But its really pretty!! Can't really find much info on it anywhere but then again, I don't really have any good coral book.

Hmmm .... confusing.

Thanks Scarab! So its requirements generally the same as the normal frogspawn?

So confirmed its a translucent branching octopus coral? Or is it bleached?

Another pic:

Is it some kind of torch coral?

Oh ok. Got quite a few shrimps in there. But could the rapid drop in calcium levels due to the shrimps?? I don't think likely but I could be wrong.

Hi all, Need some help here. Have a 3 month plus tank currently. Everything is going rather well and about a month back decided to monitor the calcium level in the water. Shockingly, using the mini-labor test kit, calcium level seems almost undetectable (the solution didn't turn pink but rather puplish blue after adding CA2). Anyway, after obtaining some advice, I did water change (about 20-30%) and added the AquaPharm calcium additive. So it helped and eventually, manage to bring up the calcium level to above 400ppm. Good. Meanwhile Kalk is dosed (about 2L daily) hoping to maintain both Ca and alkalinity (about 9.6KH). However, in a week's time, the calcium level dropped back to less than 200ppm. Wondering how come the calcium level in the water drop that fast? So I added the additive again bringing up to desired levels. Yesterday, measured again and Ca level is at about 100 or 100plus ppm (its not very clear from the test kit when the level drops too low) when a week back its at 408ppm. Whats causing this rapid drop in Calcium (reference LS below)? Can't possibly add in a bottle (yes a bottle) of calcium additive every week right? Or can I? From what I read, adding kalk should maintain it at the required level isn't it? Maybe more kalk should be dosed? Need some advice here. Oh, and when I tested for KH yesterday, its high - about 14.8. Is it a cause for concern? Have a 3x2x2 tank with sump. LS include some fishes and shrimps (they don't need Ca do they), a rock of mushrooms, 2 leather corals, 2 small rocks of zoo (the above corals don't require much Ca isn't it?), a goniopora, a bubble coral, and recently bought this coral from T95 (its in their display tank too) yet to be successfully IDed - its like growing out of frags of tonga branch at the tip with luminous, transparent green (seen pinkish ones too), not too long tentacles- anyway, will try to get a pic of it. NH4-0, NO2~0, NO3-25ppm, PH-8 to 8.3, sg-1.023, temp-26.5 to 28 (using 2x 120mm fan) Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance. Jerry