Performed 2.5g water change.
Fed them 1/2 cube of Mysis shrimp, and frozen chunk food (1/3 shrimp).

Trying to make the LTA feel at home...

Removed piece of tonga from under LTA - so it could settle in sand but it keeps falling over. We'll have to see how it does.

Here's a recent picture of Long Tentacle Anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis) with mated pair of Maroon Clown, Gold Stripe (Premnas biaculeatus) AKA Spine-Cheek Clown.

The LTA is looking better...

LTA is looking a lot better, but still somewhat on its side perhaps because it's half ontop of a piece of tonga?

More inhabitants, and live rock, changes, and maintenance...

Purchased from Jim's Exotic Fish:

• 1 medium Indo-Pacific White-Striped Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) (AKA Ambon Shrimp)
• 4 Cerith snails (Family Cerithiidae)
• ~1# of live rock - small tonga branch - placed where sponge filters were
• Hikari Mysis Shrimp (32 frozen food cubes, 100g total)

I removed the three sponge filter from the back of the Nano Cube - I had no idea there was so much of it back there. Changed ~10% water, but had to add ~1 gal to replace space occupied by sponges. I underestimated the amount of extra tonga branch I needed.

Fed them 1/2 cube of Mysis shrimp, and frozen chunk food (1/2 scallop).

Quite a lot of silt was thrown into the air - the LTA was not happy, and slumped over on its side, some sloughing could be seen.

Caulerpa and Halimeda emerging...

Observed:

• 1"-2" small patch of Maiden's Hair Plant - Caulerpa species
• ~1/2" sections (various) of Halimeda Plant - Halimeda species

Bought a 1/4# of frozen in-shell uncooked shrimp, and 1/4# of uncooked scallops from the grocery store. Seperated it all in to ziplock bags.

More inhabitants...

Bought from Mark's Tropical Fish, Studio City:

• 7" Long Tentacle Anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis) Bluish/bright green tentacles, with 3" red base
• 2 (mated pair) Maroon Clown, Gold Stripe (Premnas biaculeatus) (AKA Spine-Cheek Clown) - 1.5" & 2+"
• 4 scarlet hermits (Paguristes cadenati)
• 4" Sand Sifting Star (Astropecten polycanthus)

Performed 2.5g water change.

Performed 2.5g water change.

Performed 2.5g water change.

More inhabitants, and additives, and dosing schedule...

Bought from Jim's Exotic Fish:

• 1 Bumble-bee Snails (Family: Pusiostoma)
• 3 Cerith Snails (Family Cerithiidae)
• 3 Margarite Snails (Family: Tegula)
• Kent Tech*CB (A) Kent Tech*CB (B)
• Kent Strontium & Molybdenum
• Lugol's Solution (Iodine)

Started dosing schedule:

• 1/2 cap each, per week: Kent Tech*CB (A) Kent Tech*CB (B)
• 1/2 cap per week: Kent Strontium & Molybdenum
• 1 drop per week: Lugol's Solution (Iodine)

   

Performed 2.5g water change.

More inhabitants...

Bought from Jim's Exotic Fish:

• 1 bumble bee snail (Family: Pusiostoma)
• 6 red legged hermit crabs - possibly Laurent's Hermit Crab (Calcinus laurentae)
• 2 Nasarious snails (Family: Nassariidae)
• 3 Margarite snails (Family: Tegula)
• Gulfstream/Bakker Magnetics (Medium) Floating Aquarium Cleaner Magnet
• Rio 200 Powerhead (2 1/2"x2.5"x1.75"), Flow 138 (gph @ 0 head), 6 watts

I place the Rio in the lower back left of the tank aiming forward, to give a somewhat opposing current from the main pump at the top of the tank.

WARNING: Margarite Snails (Family: Tegula) Most Margarite snails found for sale are from temperate waters. In a reef tank they would slowly starve to death if they didn't succumb to the warmer temperatures first.

WARNING: Nassarius Snails (Family: Nassariidae): They are commonly preyed upon by hermit crabs.

WARNING: Bumble Bee Snails (Family: Pusiostoma): Unfortunately they are mostly carnivorous and have been known to eat sponges, some types of corals in a reef tank and detritus.

Of course, I found those warnings after I purchased them.

First inhabitants...

Bought from Aquarium Center http://www.theaquariumcenter.com/, in Sherman Oaks, CA:

• 4 Astrea snails (Lithopoma [Astraea] spp.)
• 6 real hermits white/black legs - possibly Red-striped Hermit Crabs (Phimochirus holthuisi) - perhaps a bad idea?

Performed 2.5g water change.

Added live rock...

Bought from Aquatic Outlet in Inglewood, CA:

• 34# of premium live rock
• Doc Wellfish's hand held Algea Pad
• Lee's Ultra Gravel Vac

Finally - ready to start...

Finally bought the starting items for my new Nano Reef tank, from Jim's Exotic Fish, in El Segundo, CA.

• JBJ 24g Nano Cube Deluxe: glass with curved corners, (2) 36w 50/50 CF lamps w/ remote Fulham electronic ballast, (2) 60mm fans, L 18" x W 19.6" x H 19.7", circulating pump 290 GPH (est. ~18w), (2) NiteVU Moon (Blue) LEDs. **
• 30# of Caribsea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand (1-2 mm) Aragalive - water packed bag.
• 24g of natural sea water (NSW)
• 2 5gal plastic water containers
• Black Wooden Stand - not the JBJ assembly-required one, but a nicer one (they told me it was Advanced Aqua Tanks - but they seem to only deal in acrylic)
• Instant Ocean Hydrometer
• Coralife Digital Thermometer
• Visi-therm Stealth 100 Heater

Assembled it after work - see the picture. I only used about 18 actual gallons of water. I plan on continuing to use the NSW from Jim's.

** Both the CF and the Moon LEDs share a single ballast/power supply with a single on/off switch; although the Moon LED's may be turned on/off while the power supply is powered by a switch on top of the hood. While it is possible to connect the plug to a timer, once power is cut, the disadvantage is that the Moon LEDs can not be used. Another disadvantage is that the fans are also tied to the lights being on, so it's not possible to run the fans longer in order to cool the tank more (although the fact that the lights and fans are behind a splashguard with little access to above-water air, may limit any effect this could have).

   

Getting back into the hobby

After about 7 years out of the Reef Aquarium hobby (since our move from NYC to LA, CA), I was finally ready. I wanted to get something nice but also easy to fit into my already hectic schedule.

Equipment & Supplies

Equipment:

• JBJ 24g Nano Cube Deluxe: glass with curved corners, (2) 36w 50/50 CF lamps w/ remote Fulham electronic ballast, (2) 60mm fans, L 18" x W 19.6" x H 19.7", circulating pump (290 GPH, est. ~18w) no longer used, (2) NiteVU Moon (Blue) LEDs. **
• 30# of Caribsea Seaflor Special Grade Reef Sand (1-2 mm) Aragalive - water packed bag.
• Black Wooden Stand - not the JBJ assembly-required one, but a nicer one (they told me it was Advanced Aqua Tanks - but they seem to only deal in acrylic)
• Instant Ocean Hydrometer
• Coralife Digital Thermometer
• Visi-therm Stealth 100 Heater
• Rio 200 Powerhead (2 1/2"x2.5"x1.75"), Flow 138 (gph @ 0 head), 6 watts
• Newtek 1 outlet, grounded, 24 hr 7 day digital timer
• NVM Moonlight Fix: AC Adapter Variable 3-12v/ 1200mA AC Adapter, Dual Harness, Extra LEDs
• Coralife Mini Aqualight 9" (for Sump/Refugium) - 1x9w Actinic PC, 1x9w Day PC
• SRS Nanoskim Select A Flow 12/24g
• Nanocustoms ICA Chiller w/Silicone Tubing 16"
• Shockbuster GFCI
• 3.36 series Nanocustoms Modded Lighting Upgrade DIY: w/ Bare Ballast, Additional T-5 (10W) Actinic Blue bulb/bracket/ballast, 1x PowerCompact 36w 10K/7.1K Combo
• Rio Hyperflow 6HF (3.9" X 2" X 2.5", 350 gph @ 1ft) as new main pump

Lighting totals 3x36+10=118W, or 4.9W/gal, or 60W/Sq.Ft.

Supplies

• Sav-on/Osco Simply Clean "premium heavy duty latex gloves"
• Aqua Medic Reef Tweezers
• Kent Pro ScraperM (Stainless Steel)
• Doc Wellfish's hand held Algea Pad
• Lee's Ultra Gravel Vac
• 3x 5gal plastic water containers
• Aquarium Systems/Marineland HoldFast
• Gulfstream/Bakker Magnetics (Medium) Floating Aquarium Cleaner Magnet

Additives/Test Kits:

• Kent Tech*CB (A) Kent Tech*CB (B) - 1/2 cap each week
• Kent Strontium & Molybdenum - occasionally 1/2 cap
• Lugol's Solution (Iodine) - 1 drop each week
• RO&DI water for top-off
• Natural sea water (NSW)
• Salifert Ca Profi Test
• Salifert NO3 Profi Test (it measures as Nitrate-ion)
• Salifert pH Profi Test
• Salifert Iodine Test
• Salifert KH Test
• Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Ammonia Test Kit
• Seachem Reef Buffer (to increase pH of FW dip) - for Quarantine/Sick Tank
• Aquarium Products Organi Cure (Copper 1.25%, Formaldehyde 17% in a tri-chelated form) - Quarantine/Sick Tank
• Vinegar - great for cleaning hard water stains (must rinse well)

Food/Suppliments:

• Hikari Mysis Shrimp (32 frozen food cubes, 100g total)
• 1/4# of frozen in-shell uncooked shrimp (from grocery store)
• 1/4# of uncooked scallops (from grocery store)
• Selcon
• .87oz Aquatrol Spirulina 20 flakes
• California All Natural Pet Foods' 12oz 3 in 1 combo 110 count frozen "feeder fish" (it's bloodworms, bring shrimp, and plankton, in small fish shapes)
• DT'S LIVE Marine Phytoplankton (7.5 oz)
• 1oz squirt bottle of LiquidLife's MarinePlankton (made with cyclop-eeze)
• 1oz (30ml) DT's Natural Reef Diet (Oyster Eggs)

Quarantine/Sick Tank:

• 3gal hex glass tank
• undergravel filter (not going to use)
• air pump
• ProFile 10 HOB filter - takes MarineLand Penguin size "A" Filter Cartridge
• glass top
• light fixture with a CC-15 bulb - Hagen Marina 15w "Aquarium Light Bulb"
• heater
• stick-on thermometer

** Both the CF and the Moon LEDs share a single ballast/power supply with a single on/off switch; although the Moon LED's may be turned on/off while the power supply is powered by a switch on top of the hood. While it is possible to connect the plug to a timer, once power is cut, the disadvantage is that the Moon LEDs can not be used. Another disadvantage is that the fans are also tied to the lights being on, so it's not possible to run the fans longer in order to cool the tank more (although the fact that the lights and fans are behind a splashguard with little access to above-water air, may limit any effect this could have).

Current inhabitants:

Inhabitants:

• 3x Orange Ball Corallimorph (Pseudocorynactis Spp., probably P. Carribbaeorum) - should be fed, mostly reef safe, but can get big enough (6") to eat fish or mobile inverts (neither likely in most aquariums) or even attack nearby sessile inverts, may spread rapidy, fluoress under blue light. (from JA 6/19/06)
• 1x Toadstool leather (Sarcophyton sp.) about 3" tall (from JA 6/19/06)
• 1x Yellow Stripe Maroon Clown (Premnas biaculeatus) (from JA 6/19/06)
• 2x Scarlet Hermits (Paguristes cadenati) (from JA 6/19/06)
• 3x 1/4" mystery snails (from JA 6/19/06)
• 4x Yellow and 1x Orange Sun Corals - not looking so good - apparently needs direct feeding (Tubastrea sp., or Epitonium sp.) (from JA 6/19/06)
• 2x Peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) - will eat Aiptasia spp., but have been known to nip "clams, corals, and other cnidarians", keep well in pairs or groups and will reproduce. (from JA 6/19/06)
• 3x Smooth red Mushrooms (Zoanthids) (from JA 6/19/06)
• 3x Smooth green Mushrooms (Zoanthids) (from JA 6/19/06)
• 1x Large (10") Green Brittle Star (Class Ophiuroidea) - I suspect when I find this in my tank next I'll snag it and trade it in at the LFS as it may chow on my smaller fish. (from JA 6/19/06)
• 2x colonies of Brown Button Polyps w/ white centers (Zoanthids), one 3" across, one 1" across (from JA 6/19/06)
• 1/2" Tan Starfish (Class Asteroidea) - this wasn't mentioned and I only happened on him. (from JA 6/19/06)
• 1x Stomatella Snail, hitchhiker, about 3/4" long (4/30/06)
• 1x Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica, Family Microdesmidae, the Worm- and Dartfishes) AKA Fire Goby**** (3/23/06)
• 2# of small branching Live Rock, to use for fragging (3/23/06)
• 1x 1.5" frag of Green SPS (Merulinidae Hydnophora, possibly grandis or ridiga) (1/26/06 - )
• 5x Smooth Orange Mushroom Anemones (Corallimorpharia Actinodiscus) on a 2" piece of Live Rock (1/26/06 - )
• 1x lone brown polyp with lighter disc (1/19/06 - )
• 1x Blastomussa wellsi colony - 5 polyps, bright red with green center. One polyp has a partial damaged corallite, the largest is approx 5 cm. 7 "children" have formed from around 4/06. (Faviid species, Family Mussidae "Mussids") (1/6/06 - )
• 1/2# of Live Rock frags - for fraging Xenia and polyps (1/6/06 -)
• 1x Pajama (PJ) Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera) - larger than the 1st one (10/9/05-)
• 1x Pajama (PJ) Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera) (10/2/05-)
• 1x colony of 2-3 dz polyps (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids) (on 5"x2" rock)(9/7/05 -)
• 1x colony of some "globe"-ish SPS (possibly Porites?) (with above on rock)(9/7/05 -)
• 1x 1/2" Scarlet Hermit (Paguristes cadenati) (9/7/05 -)
• 1x 1" Electric Blue Hermit crab (calcinus elegans) (9/7/05 -)
• dozens of "Hitch-hiker" banded Brittle & Serpent Stars (some Asterina spp)
• 1x 1" Ricordea mushroom with orange ring (Corallimorpharia Ricordea) (9/2/05 -)
• 1x 1/2" Ricordea mushroom - all blue (Corallimorpharia Ricordea) (9/2/05 -)
• 3x Peanut Worm (Sipunculid), 1 large and 2 small (~9/1/05, ~2/1/06 -)
• 5x 2-3" stalks, and 4x 1/2" stalks, of pulsing xenia (Xeniid) - this could be Red Sea or Fiji white fast-pulse/pop-pom species (8/5/05-) - was originally a single 2" stalk
• ~8x 1"-3" peices of sponge - from Josh (8/5/05-) - now twice the size/number
• 2x Hair worms (Spionids Polychaete Worm), first with two 4" tentacles, second with only one shorter tentacle observed (~7/1/05, 1/2/06 - )
• 11x green hairy mushrooms (Order Corallimorpharia) (was 5 on one rock) (6/30/05 -)
• 10's x 1/8"-1/4" Tunicate/Sea Squirt/Ascidian Zooid (Phylum Chordata, Subphylum Urochordata) - these are the largest of probably many (~6/1/05-)
• 4x Star Polyp colonies (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids) 1 1/2" ea (5/3/05 -)
• 4.5+# of Tonga live rock (placed in back section where sponge filter used to go)
• 100's x Tiny Serpulids (Spirorbidae) (~4/1/05 -)
• 6x Red-legged Hermits - possibly Laurent's Hermit Crab (Calcinus laurentae) (3/29/05 -)
• 4x Scarlet Hermits (Paguristes cadenati) (4/16/05 -)
  (16 Total hermits - 2 per 3 gal)
• 7x Cerith Snails (Family Cerithiidae) (4/1/05 -)
• 2x Narsarious Snails** (Family: Nassariidae) (3/29/05 -)
• 6x Margarite Snails*** (Family: Tegula) (3/29/05, 4/1/05 -)
• 3x "real" Hermits - possibly Red-striped Hermit Crabs (Phimochirus holthuisi) (3/27/05 -)
• 3x Orangeclaw Hermit Crab (Calcinus tibicen) (3/27/05 -)
• 4x Astrea Snails (Lithopoma [Astraea] spp.) (3/27/05 -)
• 2x Bumble-bee Snails* (Family: Pusiostoma) (3/29/05, 4/1/05 - )
  (21 Total snails - ~1 per 1 gal)
• 34+# of premium live rock (3/24 - )

EX-inhabitants:

• 1x 4" Sand Sifting Star (Astropecten polycanthus) (4/16/05 -5/25/06 DIED)
• 1 small (1") Bristle worm (4/30/06 EXPORTED)
• 8x medium Pulsing Xenia (Xeniid) on 4 LR frags (4/27/06 SOLD )
• 2x Aiptasia (Aptaisiidae "Rock", "Glass") Anemones on some recent LR frags (4/14/06 EXPORTED)
• 1x Medium Indo-Pacific White-Striped Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) (3/23/06-4/10/06 DIED)
• 4x stalks of green Frogspawn Coral (Euphyllia divisa) (3/27-4/10/06 DIED)
• 9x 1-2" stalks total of Xenia (Xeniid) on 2 piece of LR - this could be Red Sea or Fiji white fast-pulse/pop-pom species (3/21/06 SOLD)
• 1 large (3") and 2 small (1") Bristle worms (3/18/06 EXPORTED)
• 1x 3/4" Shiny silver ball algea - pest (Valonia macrophysa) (3/18/06 EXPORTED)
• 3x 2" stalks of Xenia (Xeniid) on 1 piece of LR - this could be Red Sea or Fiji white fast-pulse/pop-pom species (2/24/06 SOLD)
• 5x green hairy mushrooms (Order Corallimorpharia) on the original piece of rock I bought 5 of them on (2/10/06 SOLD)
• 5x 2" stalks of pulsing xenia (Xeniid) on 1 piece of LR - this could be Red Sea or Fiji white fast-pulse/pop-pom species (2/10/06 SOLD)
• 1x lone Aiptasia (Aptaisiidae "Rock", "Glass") Anemone in the brown kelp (2/1/06 - 2/4/06 EXPORTED )
• 2x Star Polyp colonies (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids) - the original 1 1/2" ea pieces (1/26/06 SOLD )
• 2x 2" stalks of pulsing xenia (Xeniid) on 1 piece of LR - this could be Red Sea or Fiji white fast-pulse/pop-pom species (1/26/06 SOLD)
• 1x 1.5" Red/orange Fromia (milleporella?) sea star (8/5/05 - ~1/19/05 DIED)
• 4x 2-3" stalks of pulsing xenia (Xeniid) on 2 pieces of LR - this could be Red Sea or Fiji white fast-pulse/pop-pom species (1/15/06 SOLD)
• 1x (medium-small, and bright red) Maroon Clownfish (Premnas biaculeatus) (AKA the Spine-Cheek Anemonefish) (10/9/05-10/15/05 DIED)
• 1x 1" Porcelain Anemone crab (Neopetrolisthes ohshimai) (9/7/05 -10/9/05 DIED)
• 2x small stubs of sponge (possibly) (9/7/05 -??) - whatever it was is gone.
• 1x Royal Gramma (Gramma/Grammatids loreto) (10/2/05-10/3/05 DIED)
• 1x Medium Indo-Pacific White-Striped Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) (4/19/05 - 9/9/05 DIED)
• 1x male Maroon Clown, Gold Stripe (Premnas biaculeatus) was mated pair (4/16/05 - 8/19/05 DIED)
• 1x female Maroon Clown, Gold Stripe (Premnas biaculeatus) was mated pair (4/16/05 - 7/8/05 DIED)
• 1x Polyps (Order Zoanthidea/Zoanthids) tiny frag (5/3/05 -6/?/05 DIED/LOST)
• 1x Colt coral (Family Nephtheidae) (5/3/05 - 5/21/05 EATEN)
• 1x Long Tentacle Anemone (Macrodactyla doreensis) with Bluish/bright green tentacles, red base (4/16/05 - 6/3/05 DIED)
• 1x White Nudibranch (5/3 - 5/23 EXPORTED)

Macro Algea:

• Botryocladia spp. red algea - mostly juvenile (from JA 6/19/06)
• (correct?) 1"-2" small patch of Maiden's Hair Plant (Caulerpa species)
• Pink, red, and green encrusting coralline algea (Family Corallinacae, Subfamily Melobesioideae)
• NO Green Grape Algea (Calurpa Racemosa) (-10/4/05 after it "crashed")
• Caterpillar Weed, Fuzzy Tip Algea - Calcified green on top half, white on bottom half, 2-3" sprouts (Neomeris annulata)
• Kelp, Sargassum (probably) - Brown, leaves on branches from central holdfast
• Calcified green discs attached together as if a chain (Halimeda)
• Short spiky green algea - pest (Bryopsis)
• 1x ~1/2" Shiny silver ball algea - pest (Valonia macrophysa) - has been as many as 4
• Red criss-crossing algea, (Gelidium sp.), a nuisance

* WARNING: Bumble Bee Snails (Family: Pusiostoma): Unfortunately they are mostly carnivorous and have been known to eat sponges, some types of corals in a reef tank and detritus.

** WARNING: Nassarius Snails (Family: Nassariidae): They are commonly preyed upon by hermit crabs.

*** WARNING: Margarite Snails (Family: Tegula) Most Margarite snails found for sale are from temperate waters. In a reef tank they would slowly starve to death if they didn't succumb to the warmer temperatures first.

**** 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.