My 4x2x2 FOWLR

[Kalib]

This thread chronicles the start of my new 4x2x2 setup after the old setup sprang a leak and i had to get a new one. Its been awhile since i've setup my 4x2x2.

After a long wait due to committments and time constraints, i finally got myself a new 4x2x2 setup middle of last year. My old 4x2x2 sprang a leak and so i had to get myself a new setup.

Due to school committments, i didn't really have time to do the piping and stuff until quite late in 2007.

This is the tank when it just arrived.

Finally did the piping for the tank.

So after setting up the necessary hardware, did a leak test and to my dismay, 1 of the joints was leaking. I had fixed the problem and did another leak test. When i was satisfied that the joints aren't leaking, i started adding salt(Redsea salt) to the tank and then place in the sand. Few days later, when the water was cleared up, i added in the liverocks. It was not until end of 2007 or early Jan 2008 that i started cycling the tank. As the rocks were from the previous setup, i detected no ammonia or nitrites despite throwing in a market prawn, but decided to play safe and went on to cycle for around 4weeks before adding any fish.

This is a FTS after setting up.

The day finally came for me to start stocking the tank, went down to the LFS and this is what i got from there. A magnificent foxface, added in Feb'08.

Soon after, the foxface was joined by a longnose hawkfish,3 camel shrimps and 3firefish(which all died within 2days 1 after another). Unfortunately, the shrimps rarely appear and i don't have photos of them. By the time i get my camera, they go back into hiding again. The 3rd shrimp might have died since i have never seen the 3rd one since introduction.

The longnose hawkfish died recently, fish disappeared. Initially thought it jumped out but i can't find any carcass nearby.

It was not until end April'08 that i added 6pcs of Longspine cardinalfish. Hard to get a good pic of them, the pic doesn't do justice to them, it can't capture the nice blue hue at the eyes.

Somewhere around June or July'08, can't remember, added a royal gramma and 4sally lightfoot crabs to deal with the algae problem.

Unfortunately, only 1 crab was left, the rest died over the weeks after introduction.

Around 3weeks back, i tried something new, the Royal Pencil Wrasse but it decided to go carpet surfing. Bought another piece yesterday, now keeping my fingers crossed it did not jump out and die again. Quite confident of this piece as it was eating mysis at the LFS and last night within 20mins of introduction, it was picking at the mysis i fed to the tank. This time round, i ensured i covered every gap to prevent the fish from jumping out.

Would try to get some pics of the wrasse and update.

Total livestock to-date:

1x Magnificent Foxface

1x Royal Gramma

1x Royal Pencil Wrasse

4x Longspine Cardinalfish

2x Camel Shrimp

1x Sally Lightfoot Crab

Equipment:

Reef Octopus(i think) Skimmer

2x 30W FL

Eheim 1262 Return Pump

Tunze Turbelle 6060 Wavmaker

[ReDDeviLs]

any idea why the fishes kept dying? maybe u had a predator inside?

[Kalib]

Not too sure why the longnose hawkfish died though. I'm still quite puzzled as it has been with me for quite sometime and eats anything from frozen mysis to pellets to nori. Only predator that could have done that was the sally lightfoot but i doubt it.

I strongly suspect the 3 firefish died due to poor handling on the supplier/collector side. This can cause mysterious, sudden deaths after introduction. I managed to find 2 of the 3 bodies. I bought them not long after the shipment came in as there were plenty in the tank. The fishes looked healthy at the LFS and eating in my tank the next day.

The cardinalfish were all badly handled at the LFS side when netting and packing, should have offered to net the fish myself. This could have stressed the fish too much and caused 2 of them to die. Looking to get a few more to form a small group when i see them around again.

The cardinalfish and firefish were bought at two different shops.

I did a water parameter test 2 or 3weeks back, looked fine. pH around 8.1 with nitrates under 5ppm if i didn't remember wrongly. Using Salifert Testkits.

[ReDDeviLs]

ic.. hope to see pics of ur cardinals!

[Kalib]

Okie.. I would try to update again later when i get a better photo, but they rarely stay still long enough to for me to get a sharp photo.

[Kalib]

Somemore pic updates..

After seeing my pencil wrasse swim around the tank for the last two days, i was shocked to find it missing today. Thought it must have died in the tank or jumped out, but can't find any body.

Then while feeding, i noticed a speck of red on the sandbed.

At first, i thought it was what's left of the fish until closer inspection...

Phew, just playing hide and seek in the sandbed!

And a rare glimpse of the camel shrimp..

Seems to be appearing a little more nowadays, but still mostly in hiding.

[nwyk153]

where did u get ur royal gramma? been looking for one for the past 5 years!

[Kalib]

I got mine from A*uamarin few months back. Don't think they have any in stock at the moment. I was at the Katong outlet last saturday but didn't see any.

[orsony]

where did u get ur royal gramma? been looking for one for the past 5 years!

Probably you did not look hard enough else won't take you 5 years. Hehehehe.

LCK had at least 2 shipments for the last 6 months. The last shipment was selling at $20. Will keep you posted if there is new shipment.

[ReDDeviLs]

i think lck still have them.

[nwyk153]

Will come down to LCK soon to have a look.. Thnx!

[LaW]

what you have looks to me its a brazilian gamma, not a royal.

but they are close cousins of one another.

[Kalib]

Seems like it, i had a closer look of a picture of a royal gramma, i think mine doesn't have the stripe that the royal gramma has.

[LaW]

3 things to differentiate

1) the stripe going thru the eyes. Royal got the a stripe running thru where as brazilian got none

2) the mouth. Brazilian got a bigger round mouth that makes it looks like a python snake's mouth

3) the color pattern, the part where the purple/velvet meets the yellow. Brazilian got colors both blended/merge in so you can sometime see dark yellow orangy color at the "meet" whereby royal's dun. Royal's is just yellow or purple, the color dun blend in like brazilian's

cheers

[Kalib]

I see, didn't realise there's actually so many other differences between the royal gramma and brazillian gramma. Thought the only way to tell was the stripe through the eyes. Thanks for sharing.

[Kalib]

Just some updates...

Recently acquired a bannerfish last weekend. It was a good specimen. Was eating pellets greedily at the LFS, it was even eating in the pail as i acclimatized it before introduction.

Apologies for the grainy pic though, would try to get a nicer pic up.

[Kalib]

Sharing some FTS..

When both lights are on.

Under Actinics..

[Firestarter]

Looks like its time to change your FL pink tubes!

[Kalib]

Soon... Didn't want to waste the tube that came with the set.

[Kalib]

Just two days ago, the actinic bulb spoilt. So, decided to spend some cash and replaced both FL tubes with arcadia FL. Well worth it IMO, very bright.

[Ah-lim]

Can try to put 1 more wave maker?

More flow less algae.

[Kalib]

Yup, i've been toying with the idea of getting a second wavemaker to improve water flow. I would think about and see where I can place it.

[Kalib]

Sharing some pics of my sump, running a Reef Octopus NW150(i think) skimmer.

Overall view:

Filter compartment:

[Kalib]

Happy new year all. Some pics for the new year.

Most recent addition, Bristletooth Tomini Tang.

Pic of my 4 remaining cardinalfish, all in 1 shot.

[demonsori]

bro..noticed the sand bed covered with detritus and seemingly algae in the initial stage of setting up right ??

just wanna know how u overcome it ?? mine just start to grey after 15mths with some grey furry stuff forming on live rocks too...