My slice of nature

[SubzeroLT]

Wah lovely photos!

Thanks. Wished i had an 'underwater' camera like yours.

[ahchris]

Thanks. Wished i had an 'underwater' camera like yours.

Oops your photos is so clear that i tot you are using underwater camera.

[37Alpha]

Very nice setup

[limz_777]

Re-did the mesh over the aquarium using thin fishing line (0.18mm thick). $5 for this reel.

They had thicker fishing line (line tennis string) but that would be unnecessary.

Spent an hour running a square mesh + diagonal around the egg crate.

This will suffice for now...functional.

Peace of mind that fishes won't jump out. And most importantly to keep them safe from accidental suicide.

how you thread the lines ? one by one or continuous

[SubzeroLT]

What i did : One continuous line for vertical. One continuous for horizontal. One for diagonal

[SubzeroLT]

Some equipment update :

Got an Apex Neptune WXM module for more control over the Ecotech MP10 wavemakers

Personally, i think my previous Jebao RW series are well worth the money.

Jebao's are super silent compared to the MP10. I'm now using my old Jebao wavemakers to help mix salt during water change.

Also installed an Apex Neptune ALD (Auto Leak Detector) module for the peace of mind.

Also set up an auto top off system using a Tom's aqua lifter

One thing i didn't like about the original Apex neptune breakout box was that it needed all ground wires be squeezed into one socket.

I purchased an additional breakoutbox from Sim Lim to be used for ground only.

Installed a UV filter. Slow flow rate for sterilization

Its interesting that the inlet hose is full of algae

But the outlet hose is algae free. Shows that UV works.

I read that UV removes iron. This is a trace element that corals require.

Parameters :

Ca : 430ppm (30ml Red Sea Foundation A daily)

kh : 8.4 (20 ml Red Sea Foundation B daily)
Mg : 1240 ppm (30ml Red Sea Foundation C daily)

Nitrate : 5ppm (running bio pellets with occasional Brightwell Aquatics Biofuel if i remember to dose)

Phosphate : < 0.03 (running rowaphos)

Salinity : Dropped it to 1.024

Iodine : 0.003ppm

Fe : 0ppm

Potassium : 370ppm

Started Red Sea Coral Colors regime today to push up the above parameters.

Half tank shot

The other half

Clowns hosting the elegance coral

[Guest]

Your potassium is a bit low, try to boost it up to 400

[SubzeroLT]

Your potassium is a bit low, try to boost it up to 400

Thanks for the tip. Attempting to correct it with Red Sea Coloration additives.

[SubzeroLT]

The scarlet skunk cleaner ship has grown quite a bit & manning a 'cleaning station' at a far end of the tank.

Now, fishes like this blue eye anthias would stop by its corner, reverse into the tight space for the shrimp to pick stuff off its body.

Electric Flame Scallop.

I've seen it move around at night but always goes back to its favorite spot in the morning without fail.

[daveyy]

The scarlet skunk cleaner ship has grown quite a bit & manning a 'cleaning station' at a far end of the tank.

Now, fishes like this blue eye anthias would stop by its corner, reverse into the tight space for the shrimp to pick stuff off its body.

Electric Flame Scallop.

I've seen it move around at night but always goes back to its favorite spot in the morning without fail.

very nice scallop, where did you get them?

[SubzeroLT]

I got them from Coral Farm.

They have nice small ones (~1.5" sized) recently.

[Whiskie]

May I know how long have you had the flame scallop? I've read that they need target feeding or liquids food. Had them in the past. When first bought, the "flames" are long but as day pass, it gets shorter and shorter before they kick the bucket.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[SubzeroLT]

I've had it since 10th Jan 2015. I do squirt about 1/2 teaspoon of phytoplankton in the general tank area (not target feed) about 2-3x a week.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[daveyy]

I got them from Coral Farm.

They have nice small ones (~1.5" sized) recently.

Thank you for sharing !

[lotu112]

Does your Harlequin shrimp feed on live starfish?

[SubzeroLT]

Does your Harlequin shrimp feed on live starfish?

Yep.... live starfish only

[lotu112]

Oh... But they look really unique . Does the dead starfish cause any impact to your water parameters?

[SubzeroLT]

So far water parameters are still manageable. I do measure my nitrate levels 2x a week. So far it maintains around 5ppm.

I also do have an 11W UV sterilizer running 6pm to 7am to help keep the water 'cleaner'.

Corals & fishes doing OK.

[SubzeroLT]

Added a purple tang last month. Had ich for about a week+ which went away.

I followed one of Xiggie's post from a long time back about using crushed garlic + mysis shrimp (Thanks)

I also reduced salinity to 1.024 (suggestion from Steven - Aquarist Chamber)

And added a UV filter.

Found it that it loves Ocean Nutrition Formula 1 & Julian Sprung Sea Veggies (Green).

But refuses to touch New Life Spectrum Thera A or Julian Sprung Sea Veggies (Red)

Golden Cloves. 2 polyps FOC from a fellow reefer in late Jan. Quite a few new ones have popped out.

Close up of 'clean' sand from a sea cucumber

Brown algae has been accumulating on the sea cucumber the past month. I gave it a light scrub-down with a toothbrush. Its so clean now.

Sea Cucumbers are known to harden/stiffen when threatened - some form of defense mechanism. However, it became extremely flaccid when running the toothbrush over it. Is this a sign that it 'enjoys' a scrub down?

The flame angel eats but not much. It picks up small left over pellets from the sand bed. Getting worried.

Any suggestions on what they like to eat?

[SubzeroLT]

And my clowns left the elegance coral & prefer the company of a goniopora coral.

My bubble tip anemone hiding in a low cave. Maybe i'll get a Porcelain Crab for it.

[ericmz]

Nice photography skill bro!

[SubzeroLT]

Nice photography skill bro!

Ha...thanks.

[SubzeroLT]

A couple of additions over the weekend.

Got a bubble tip anemone from Pinnacle. Built a small rock structure as anemone's seem to like a socket they settle comfortably in (and not move around). Seems to be working.

The anemone is too small for 2 clowns at the same time. Need to take turns.

Added a sea hare to the clean up crew

[limz_777]

nice sea hare, thats the eyes ?

[ericmz]

Wow! What camera system you use bro?