[lightcycler]

First I want to thank all here especially Lee for all the help setting up my tank. It is certainly not the most beautiful tank at this point but has come a long way in 6 months. Tank was started 8-12-07. I have had a pair of clownfish in the display for 1 week and measured a small amount (0.25 ppm of ammonia by red sea kit) today (Salifert test gave no reading for ammonia). The feeding in the tank went from once every other day for the inverts in the tank to 3 times a day now with the clowns. I'm feeding a rotation of frozen formula 1, flake formula 1, flake Brine shrimp, and flake cyclopeeze. Have fronzen cyclop, and brine shrimp on the way tomorrow. Also the alkalinity is 10.2 dKh Calcium around 450....(endpoint on red sea hard to read) (I think the high alk was from when I was using Kent salt and trying to reach 8.3 pH by adding buffer, which was impossible it seems. Haven't added any buffer for weeks now since switching salts. Other parameters are pH 8.2, S.g. 1.025, Nitrate 0, Nitrite 0, Temp 78 and my red sea kit always shows 0.1 phosphate.

I'm posting some pics for review.......there is certainly a fair amount of cyano still in the tank but the snails are making headway each day. I want to get your guys thoughts on how its looking .........I'm thinking its on schedule and moving along nicely.......agree???????

Its interesting watching the clown pair. The female (or female to be is changing in suttle ways) She can sure be a ***** at times lol. It seems to me her bottom fins (is that dorsal??) are getting blacker. I think I can see her size increasing for sure. They are so cool in the morning when its dark....thats when they seem to swim around each other like a good married couple lol. They both eat well and everything seems cool one week into the display.

The feather duster worm threw itself over the side of the rock and seems happy like that. The tube hanging down seems empty (not sure what to do with it at this point). Have a second one that seems to be less happy but is starting to stick its head out occasionly and more often.

Wish I could coax my serpent star out but about all I see is an arm taking the food I give him a couple times a week.

I'm guessing all the white spots on the glass are worms? Never have got a magnifying glass to look closer. Those seem to be slowing down as well. Does anything eat them or should I use a scrub pad to get rid of them? I have yet to clean the inside of the glass.........snails are doing a great job on that part.

Well once again thought I would post some pics and get some feedback.


6 month old tank with clownfish - a photoset on Flickr

[leebca]

I would only disagree with one of your comments. . .The tank looks pretty good to me!

You have a decent Coralline growth going and things are progressing nicely.

The 'spots' you see are likely hitchhikers of the LR. They can be any number of marine organisms. The most common is a small crustacean-type creature. Look closely. If they are moving they may be baby snails. If more or less stationary, they are not. They will need constant removal if they are not snails, by scraping the viewing side(s) of the display since fishes and snails won't bother with them.

Usually Angelfish are shy, but when I scrape my display that has these, an Angel will come out of its hiding and follow my scraper and eat these as I remove them from the wall. I just wish it would eat them while they where on the wall!!!

[lightcycler]

The spots are stationary. I will scrape them off.

Any worry on the alkalinity?

I have an empty aclimation tank that needs a fish in it. Just can't seem to decide what to look at next. A 75 gal is too small for a tang based on what I've read. I'm thinking about a dwarf angel but think that should go in last maybe. I'm a little worried about even a dwarf angel getting along with my clowns. Seems like they can have an attitude at times.

Maybe a known pair of Royal Grammas? Any experience with that?

One interesting addition. I have the magnetic algae sponge that I keep in the tank primarily for the digital temp readout. One of my clowns has decided to sleep on top of it. I think the other one may be sleeping on the top of the heater. It really is awesome to finally have some fish. The inverts have been neat to watch but really adds to the pleasure side to have a few fishes.

Thanks again for all the help.

[leebca]

Give a look in this post, near the middle to end section. It gives a table for Alkalinity and Ca. The balance must be there.
What is Water Quality.

As you increase Alkalinity, the harder it will be to maintain a higher pH, but the more steady that pH will be. I wouldn't try to force the pH in any direction, unless you are willing/able to lower the Alk and Ca content. But first, make sure they are balanced. . .Alk, Ca, and Mg.

You may not wish to try for another pair of anything. One pair will consider that they own the tank and consider it their breeding ground. Another pair of anything will see the first pair as depleting the available resources and there would likely be bad behavior and stresses in the tank.

I don't recommend any particular fish. There are thousands to choose from. The choice is very personal. Just aim for a compatible fish and don't over-stock!