[Faith]

Hello everyone. I'm not exactly new here, but I haven't posted in about a year or more, so I figured I'd re-introduce myself. My tank has been set up since June 2000 and I was on here asking all the typical newbie questions and learning as much as I could. Then I just sat back for about a year and did regular maintenance on the tank while I waited for it to mature a bit. My set up is as follows:

75 gallon tank (no sump unfortunately)
~80lbs LR
DSB
440 watts VHO (IceCap 660 ballast)
Wavemaker with 2 powerheads
Excalibur skimmer (LFS brand, but actually works nicely)
HOB Filter for extra circulation and carbon when needed
SG=1.024
Temp=80F

I've been battling green hair algae for several months. Just a few weeks ago I got the boyfriend to agree to purchasing an RO/DI unit (Kent, 40 GPD). Before that, we were just using a Tap Water Purifier. This has helped some, but not that much.

Then, last week I realized I was overdue in changing my VHO bulbs. I've changed 2 of the 4 so far, and I think the enemy is beginning to receed a bit. I'll be changing the next 2 within the next week, so hopefully that will help even more. I

can't wait until I get rid of this stuff, it choked out my beautiful Pulsing Xenia. Luckily that stuff grows like a weed in my tank, so once the hair algae is gone, I'll get more Xenia.

Yesterday we added a new inhabitant to the tank. A little yellow tang was the first new addition in several months. He's getting along just fine, with the exception of the Velvet Damsel, who is not really attacking him, but rather batting the Tang with his tail whenever he sees him. The Tang actually doesn't seem to mind much and kind of ignores the Damsel, but if this continues the Damsel may need to find a new place to live.

Tank inhabitants now include:
1 very large Velvet Damsel, who may be getting evicted very soon despite my BF's protests.
1 Royal Gramma
2 Ocillaris clowns
1 Yellow Tang
Various snails, shrimp, starfish, worms, and hermit crabs
1 Torch Coral
1 Frogspawn Coral
1 very large Finger Leather

In the last few months I've lost 2 fish, and I'm very sad about both. One was a purple firefish who did very well for several months, but then just started wasting away even though he was eating well. I suspect possible cyanide poisoning.

The other was a wonderful little fish, a regular Cleaner Wrasse with a very neat little personality. I got him around August of 2000, without knowing their poor track record in captivity, and he lived for over a year in my tank. He dissapeared sometime around October. Cause of death is unknown, but from what I hear it was practically a miracle that he lived as long as he did anyways.

I've been hearing a very frightening popping or clicking noise from my tank at night. I've looked with a flashlight, but haven't seen anything. I don't know if it may be a mantis, or possibly a pistol shrimp. Obviously I'm hoping it's a Pistol Shrimp, but I'm not sure how to find out for sure, short of ripping the tank apart.

Anyways, that's about all for my re-introduction I guess. Now that I'm making some headway with the algae, I'm looking forward to getting some more fish and corals when the algae is gone, so I'll be hanging out around here more often.

~Alyce

[Aragorn]

Welcome back Faith! Good to see you.

[mrok12]

WELCOME HOME!!!!

MROK12

[naser]

ive seen the excaliber in action i would think youd need a bigger skimmer.... it might work but it seems like you need somthing to work alot better.

[scubadude]

Definately think the RO unit was a good move! I have had real good luck with a Lawnmower Blenny as far as the hair algae goes. And I know you dont have alot of room in your 75 but another option on the pistol/mantis shrimp issue is maybe a Y. Watchman gobie and chances are Very high that it will pair up w/a pistol shrimp but NOT a mantis....matter a fact the mantis may eat it Either way I would definately be prepared for some excavating of your Rocks and SB, but definately more so if its a Pistol.