Temporary dosing schedule

• Kent Tech*CB (A) - 1 capful
• Kent Tech*CB (B) - 1 capful
• Lugol's Solution (Iodine) - none
  

Observations

• The Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia divisa) is down to just 2 of the 4 stalks.
• The Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) molted and seems to be doing fine.

Salinity reduction, and re-tests

Did a 32oz water change with the RO water, in order to reduce the salinity.

Test results:

• Temperature = 77F
• SG = 1.0265 (unadjusted for temp) (NSW = ~ 1.026, ranging 1.022 -1.035 depending on the "sea") - often aquarists keep it 1.023

The change brought it down by 0.0015. Another change would bring it down approximately to 1.025. I'll wait a week.

Water testing

Using Salifert Profi Tests:

• Temperature = 78F
• SG = 1.028 (unadjusted for temp) (NSW = ~ 1.026, ranging 1.022 -1.035 depending on the "sea") - often aquarists keep it 1.023
• KH = 8.0, Alk = 2.86 Meq/L (NSW = 8 KH and 2.9 Meq/L)
• Iodide = ~0.08 ppm (NSW = 0.02-0.03 ppm) - I averaged two measurements
• Iodate & Iodine < nsw =" 0.03-0.04">
• Calcium = 405 ppm (NSW = 400-425 ppm)
• pH = 8.0-8.3 (NSW = 8.1)
• Nitrate = 0.0 ppm as Nitrate Ion (NO3 Ion)
• Ammonia = 0.0 ppm (Aquarium Pharmaceuticals)

Results:

• Reduce Salinity
• Skip Iodine additives for a week and retest
• Add a bit more Calcium additives for a week and retest

Observations, and water change

Observations on new inhabitants:

• The Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia divisa) is not doing so well. 2 of the 4 stalks never really opened once in the tank, and as of last night one stalk was completely gone! Another is 50% gone and I don't have good hopes.
  
  
• The Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica) is very shy - it was out the first night for an hour and have only seen it a few minutes each morning. It ate the first night, but it ignored some flakes the following night.
• The Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) is somewhat shy - it hasn't left the back of the tank below the rocks
• The new branching Live Rock doesn't seem shy - it's right where I left it. Although I haven't seen it eating ;-)

Performed a 2.5gal water change.

Blastomussa wellsi colony, Green SPS (Merulinidae Hydnophora, possibly grandis or ridiga), and the Pulsing Xenia that moved into the neighborhood uninvited. Notice the droop on the lower Blasto:


SPS (possibly Porites?), with Polyps (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids). Compare as it was purchased back on 9/7/05, and back on 1/7/06. The SPS has made some advancements but the polyps have spread considerably:

Feeding

Feeding:

• 3 drops of LiquidLife's MarinePlankton (made with Cyclop-eeze)
• 1 tsp of DT'S LIVE Marine Phytoplankton
• 1 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods
• ~1/10th tsp DT's Natural Reef Diet (Oyster Eggs)
• 1/2 cube of Mysis shrimp

I need to start feeding less but more frequently.

New inhabitants!

Used my trade-in credit (plus I owe one more LR frag with a few stalks of Xenia on it) for:

• 1x Medium Indo-Pacific White-Striped Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
  
  
• 1x Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica, Family Microdesmidae, the Worm- and Dartfishes) AKA Fire Goby*
  
  
• 4x stalks of green Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia divisa)**
  
  
• 2# of small branching Live Rock, to use for fragging.

Fed them a pinch of Aquatrol Spirulina 20 flakes.

* Do not do well with active or aggresive tank-mates, such as tangs, gobies, etc. Eat plankton, copopods.

** Will take med-large chunks of meat. Can be aggresive, keep its distance. "Tubular tentacles with branchings and knob-like ends." Prefer lower lighting and lower water flow.

Full view of tank, now with green Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia divisa):

Harvesting and Trade-in

Harvested 2 LR frag with a total of 9 stalks of Xenia, and brought it to Jim's for trade-in.

Starfish pix

Sand Sifting Star (Astropecten polycanthus):


Tiny hitchiker Brittle Star (possibly Asterina spp):

Bristle worm capture, and maintenance

Noticed a sizable bristle worm under the front left brown Kelp algea clump, and since it didn't seem to be moving very quickly, I decided to attempt a capture.

With the thick gloves on, I ripped out the algea with one hand and captured the bristle worm with the other.

In all, I exported:

• 1 large (3") bristle worm
• 2 small (1") bristle worms
• 1 quart of brown Kelp algea
• 1x 3/4" Shiny silver ball algea - pest (Valonia macrophysa)

While inspecting the algea I was removing, I was able to "shake-off" upwards of a dozen small 1-2" starfish.

Bristle worm in situ:


Bristle worm in bucket with US Penny for size conparison:


Current view of the Nano Reef Tank:

Misc pictures

Blastomussa wellsi colony, Green SPS (Merulinidae Hydnophora, possibly grandis or ridiga), and the Pulsing Xenia that moved into the neighborhood uninvited.


SPS (possibly Porites?), with Polyps (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids):

Maintenance and feeding

Performed a 2.5gal water change.

Feeding:

• 5 drops of LiquidLife's MarinePlankton (made with cyclop-eeze)
• 1 tsp of DT'S LIVE Marine Phytoplankton
• ~1/10th tsp DT's Natural Reef Diet (Oyster Eggs)
  

Feeding...

Fed 1 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods.

I was going to do a water change but the water from the garage was in the 40's and I didn't have time for it to warm up.

Performed a 2.5gal water change.

Feeding

Feeding:

• 5 drops of LiquidLife's MarinePlankton (made with cyclop-eeze)
• 1 tsp of DT'S LIVE Marine Phytoplankton
• 1 "feeder fish" by California All Natural Pet Foods
• ~1/10th tsp DT's Natural Reef Diet (Oyster Eggs)