Hello all,
This is my first post, so let me introduce myself :
I have been interested in saltwater for the last few years and have been an avid reader of your forum.
For the last 2 years my 50g tank was populated by a single tomato with no light other than the basement window and occasionnal office light. Lack of time prevented me from really populating. During those 2 years I did maybe 4-5 10% pwc but topped off and fed regularly. I also kept a flame angle for about a 3 months, but it died likely from stress from occasionnal tomato aggression.
Having now more time and really wanted to get more active in the hobby, I came acrross an opportunity last month from somebody that was tearing apart his 75G. I acquired all his lifestock along with the lighting fixture and skimmer.
Here is how I performed the transfer:
Day 1: Changed 15G (30%) of my system water with the 75 G system water
Week 1: started 50% light on (2x T5) + 5 % weekly pwc
Week 2: added about 10 lbs of cured live rock from old system started feeding anemone weekly with squid bit.
Week 3: 2x 5 % weekly pwc started after nitrate peaked from 30 to 60.
Started cleaning mechanical filter every 3 days, added 10 lbs more of cured live rock and reduced feeding regimen.
Week 4: Nitrate back at around 30. I have noticed that all the few hair algea spot that I had on the live rock is now gone. Likelly entirelly eaten by the inhabitants.
Now here is the reason behing my post: This morning my lawn mower blenny was lying dead. Last time I saw him 2 days ago he seemed ok. I assume my reduced feeding regimen of 3x a week did go well for him. The tankmates are pretty competitive when eating and I wonder if anything reached the bottom at all. Also maybe he strarved from the disapearence of the hair algea.
Other notable events or mishaps in the tanks in the last month are:
-A small 2% pwc went wrong when I used my top off water instead of my aged salt water 14 days ago. ( Salinity dropped from 1.023 to 1.020.)
- After recommendation from my lfs I started daily dosing with Red Sea No3 Po4-x reducer 10 days ago. I stopped after a single 4 ml dose when I noticed my anemone retreating in the live rock. The anemone now seems back in shape.
No nitrite or ammonia showing this morning. Nitrate still at 30 mg/L. Phosphate 0.25 mg/L. Ph and calcium good. temp is stable at 78F. All other inhabitants seem normal.
Any idea what went wrong? And, more importantly, how to properly care for a lawn mower to prevent this next time?
Any input welcome, Have a nice day!
(BTW, the original tomato specimen is still going strong and is now happy in my quarantine tank. )
This is my first post, so let me introduce myself :
I have been interested in saltwater for the last few years and have been an avid reader of your forum.
For the last 2 years my 50g tank was populated by a single tomato with no light other than the basement window and occasionnal office light. Lack of time prevented me from really populating. During those 2 years I did maybe 4-5 10% pwc but topped off and fed regularly. I also kept a flame angle for about a 3 months, but it died likely from stress from occasionnal tomato aggression.
Having now more time and really wanted to get more active in the hobby, I came acrross an opportunity last month from somebody that was tearing apart his 75G. I acquired all his lifestock along with the lighting fixture and skimmer.
Here is how I performed the transfer:
Day 1: Changed 15G (30%) of my system water with the 75 G system water
Introduced all the inhabitants (see profile) (side note there was also a tang in the orginal setup, but I donated it to my lfs being too big for my tank.)
Day 3: Started generous daily feeding of flakes, small pellets and frozen mysis shrimps.
Week 1: started 50% light on (2x T5) + 5 % weekly pwc
Week 2: added about 10 lbs of cured live rock from old system started feeding anemone weekly with squid bit.
Week 3: 2x 5 % weekly pwc started after nitrate peaked from 30 to 60.
Started cleaning mechanical filter every 3 days, added 10 lbs more of cured live rock and reduced feeding regimen.
Week 4: Nitrate back at around 30. I have noticed that all the few hair algea spot that I had on the live rock is now gone. Likelly entirelly eaten by the inhabitants.
Now here is the reason behing my post: This morning my lawn mower blenny was lying dead. Last time I saw him 2 days ago he seemed ok. I assume my reduced feeding regimen of 3x a week did go well for him. The tankmates are pretty competitive when eating and I wonder if anything reached the bottom at all. Also maybe he strarved from the disapearence of the hair algea.
Other notable events or mishaps in the tanks in the last month are:
-A small 2% pwc went wrong when I used my top off water instead of my aged salt water 14 days ago. ( Salinity dropped from 1.023 to 1.020.)
- After recommendation from my lfs I started daily dosing with Red Sea No3 Po4-x reducer 10 days ago. I stopped after a single 4 ml dose when I noticed my anemone retreating in the live rock. The anemone now seems back in shape.
No nitrite or ammonia showing this morning. Nitrate still at 30 mg/L. Phosphate 0.25 mg/L. Ph and calcium good. temp is stable at 78F. All other inhabitants seem normal.
Any idea what went wrong? And, more importantly, how to properly care for a lawn mower to prevent this next time?
Any input welcome, Have a nice day!
(BTW, the original tomato specimen is still going strong and is now happy in my quarantine tank. )