Jack's tank log

k that must be why the mollies are hanging out closer to the rocks, to avoid the flow... ya thats what i used, the larger the grains the better i think

well figured i'd do an update... my black mollies had babies the other day even though there are only a male in the tank for a day before he got sucked into the intake to the protein skimmer. yesterday i moved everything out of my old tank and brought moved it to my new place and everything survived and the rocks are going through the 2nd week of their curing saltwater so they should be ready in one more, its good to finally see this tank come together

i'll post pics in a bit, everything is in what will be the fug im just waiting to get the lights for the bigger tank, they should be in tomorrow or Tuesday

so my lights came in two days ago, 2 URI bulbs and 1 geseman bulb, are so nice the next time i get tubes im definitely getting more gesemann. unfortunately one of my t5 ballasts dusted after putting the bulbs in so i moved everything into the main tank and all is well....

So the ballast just died with you replacing the bulbs? Did you maybe knock a wire loose in an endcap while changing bulbs or something along those lines?

it looks like it burnt a fuse in the part that plugs into the bulb

Just a little question...what do you use to control or get rid of your hair algae?

Colossus wrote:Just a little question...what do you use to control or get rid of your hair algae?

There are a couple things hair algae needs to thrive, light and a food source (phosphates being the most common). The key to controlling hair algae is eliminating the root cause/s of the problem.
Light bulbs shift colour spectrum over time. As K rating slide below 10,000K the lighting conditions become increasingly favourable for algae growth. Depending on the bulb type (CF, T5HO, MH) bulbs should be change every 6-12 months to minimize spectrum shift.

May foods (both frozen and flake) contain high phosphate levels. Selecting low phosphate flake and rinsing frozen foods in RO/DI water prior to feeding will help.
Running a phosphate removing media in a reactor will also help eliminate any phosphates leaching from rock or being added through feeding etc.

Small outbreaks can be controlled somewhat with some snails.
Manual removal works to some degree if the problem is in an isolated area.
In my experience punching your magnesium level up to 1500 -1600 works well (don't do this all in one day). The hair will die off over the space of a few weeks. If you choose this method I recommend aggressive skimming while the algae is dying off.

HTH
Matt

i by all rights should do an update on this but i don't have a camera to show you guys what ive been doing in the tank, but my brother took some shots of my things so ill post them up... ill get on updating and FTS later

some pics of the whole system:note that i can't see the picture im taking at the moment
getting some coral tomorrow







ill post a few more tomorrow,

I didn't know Mollies could be intreduced in a marine tank!? I used to have them in my tropical fishtank a long time ago!!!

And by the way...are you housing a Mantis Shrimp with in your reef!!!??? I hope not...this is the most lethal creature you can have in your tank!

Colossus wrote:I didn't know Mollies could be intreduced in a marine tank!? I used to have them in my tropical fishtank a long time ago!!!

i would only recommend them for a FOWLR and predators that are too small to eat a full grown adult but would eat the babies... mollies eat & crap (moderator edit) to much for a reef

the only danger of keeping a mantis with coral is that anything that isn't glued down will become part of its burrow, he already stole one of my richordia frags i got last week i've glued the nicer pieces i got down.. but i am out of glue

Edit: with that said there are some that make their homes in sps and any corals hit while hunting would definitely take some damage

it's not the corals that I am affraid of but your more your inverts and fish! You know that Mantis shrimp were seen ot actually crack an aquarium by hitting on the glass and people lost fingers to those beasts...

Go see on youtube...nice videos...this one for exemple:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHlnegJygis&feature=related

well on a screw up somewhere along the line i got another box of coral from fragalot today i will post pics when most of them have opened up, keep in mind the screen on my camera is broken and there is no other way to see what you are taking a pic of so they wont be that great.... once everything opens up there might be a few pieces for sale, once i find out what everything is.

they are all zoas, would also be willing to frag my red purple spotted mushroom if anyone would be interested


as for mantis shrimp breaking a tank, I've done alot of research and found nothing but rumors. of course a full grow peacock would break a 10gallon but i don't think i have too much to worry about

i don't see how it would really be any more dangerous then a lionfish, especially since mine seem to be incredibly shy, but hopfully getting some new bulbs will change that