320g build/journey/experiment DIY :-)

[lastlight]

That green star can apparently go after your fish. I bought one for my first tank and then I noticed it attempting to trap some of my fish. Very cool little critters though.

[Greenmaster]

I am aware of that... I'm not to worried yet though... If I get some bottom dwelling fish I'll think about getting rid of him but all in all I fell safe, especially with my current tank stock.

[whatcaneyedo]

My green death brittle star recently died after 7 years. I never lost a fish to it but I never kept anything with it under 2" either. Anything under 2" would have been easily eaten by the lion or eel. Yours looks relatively large already but how big is it actually? The arms on mine maxed out at about 12" each.

[Greenmaster]

Mine are about 6-8" each I think. I will probably through the guy in the refugium when I can get better looking stuff in my tank.

[delo978]

Hey Green long time no see....glad to see everything is coming along after all your hard work...lol I decided to go the other way I custom made a 1.2G pico tank. I'll post a thread when i have time. I'll drop by one day and come see.

l8tr

[Greenmaster]

Hey Green long time no see....glad to see everything is coming along after all your hard work...lol I decided to go the other way I custom made a 1.2G pico tank. I'll post a thread when i have time. I'll drop by one day and come see.

l8tr

Sounds good. When I get the link I'll take a look.

[Greenmaster]

So I thought I would post a quick video of my lights turning off at the end of day.
The LEDs turn off slowly to simulate a sunset (or in morning sunrise) The start at a different time every day depending on the time of year, the time between the first set and last set turning off is the same all year though. I have 12 sets of LEDs with each set having 5 LEDs. This is the order of the LEDs shutting off. W = White at 6700k, WW = Warm White at 3000k, and B = Blue. At 0 min W, 1 Min W, 2 Min W, 3 Min W and a WW that should have gone off at 6 Min, 4 Min WW, 8 Min WW, 11 Min B, 15 min B, 19 Min B, 23 Min B, and the last set of LEDs turns off at 28 Min and is a B.
This is the times that the LEDs shut off in the edited video.
Sets of white (6700k) LEDs turn off at 11 seconds, 21 seconds, 25 seconds, and 36 seconds.
At 37 seconds a set of warm white (3000k) LEDs turn off (programing error)
The other sets of warm white LEDs turn off at 45 seconds and 52 seconds.
The blue LEDs turn off at 1:04 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45nvyn0GU5A&feature=channel_video_title#), 1:11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45nvyn0GU5A&feature=channel_video_title#), 1:15 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45nvyn0GU5A&feature=channel_video_title#), 1:26 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45nvyn0GU5A&feature=channel_video_title#), and 1:34 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45nvyn0GU5A&feature=channel_video_title#)
http://www.youtube.com/embed/45nvyn0GU5A?rel=0

Again I can't get the video to show up in the thread like I can on most other sites... oh well you will have to click the link.

[Greenmaster]

I just changed the audio and added captions :mrgreen:

[Greenmaster]

I got some new additions... Most of these photos were taken close to sunset so the "natural" light makes everything look bad... especially at sunset it's kinda yellow.
Halloween hermits... I got 2 they are a nice size... the shell of the large one is bigger then my male clown...
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Fish043.jpg


I also got some other cool fish... they are really small... but they are so cool I had to get them... and they make my tank look huge. I got two red headed gobies.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Fish071.jpg

Up close.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Fish060.jpg

Zoomed out a bit.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Fish063.jpg

The pair up close.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Fish075.jpg

Zoomed out a bit.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Fish079.jpg

FTS can you even see the fish LOL! Remember there is some nasty light coming in from outside :p

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Fish065.jpg

[Chaloupa]

Looks good!!!!! :biggrin:

[Greenmaster]

Finally after many days and stalking the tank till the wee hours... I caught my brittle star :D it is now in my refuge. at 12:30 am on the 28th... YAY! (although that means I don't "need" a harlequin shrimp anymore)

[Greenmaster]

Well I paid off my credit card and my "local" fish store gets stock in tomorrow :-) I'm going to take the 45 minute drive first thing in the morning and I'll post tomorrow evening/Thursday some time on what I brought home :-D

[Greenmaster]

YAY! Everything I wanted came...

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish051.jpg

First lets start with the fish I got most of... Zebra Darts... I got a few...

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/S1090054.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish057.jpg
20 of them actually.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish055.jpg

[Greenmaster]

My second addition was the Yellow tangs...

One

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish063.jpg

Two

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish072.jpg

Three

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish077.jpg

Four... and Five...

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish088.jpg

This was one of my 4 DOA... but I threw it in the tank anyways... and lightning fast a Nassarius snail pops out of the sand...

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish094.jpg

This is a live cleaner

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish083.jpg

A hermit crab was kinda hungry... he decided to eat a Margarita snail and a couple Nassarius join in on the feast...

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/S1090056.jpg

And in final... a lousy FTS

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%204th%20additions/NewFish086.jpg

[Greenmaster]

In total I got:
20 Zebra Darts
5 Small Yellow Tangs (obviously they shipped 2 small 2small/medium and 1 large)
50 Hermits (2 DOA)
25 small Nassarius Snails
25 Cerith Snails
25 Margarita Snails (1 DOA)
3 Small Cleaner Shrimp (1 DOA)
2 Coral Banded Shrimp

[Lance]

All right! You got fishes! :Banane01: Whoo Hooo!

Nice choice with the Dartfish and the Yellows. Keep a lid on tight though, Dartfish are real jumpers.

[Chaloupa]

WOOOHOOOOO is right!!! Looks good....I think a school of Darts is in my tanks future as well! They are awesome!

[delo978]

Nice...I'll have to bring the wife and kids down

[Greenmaster]

You bet... and then again in like 6 weeks (I hope to get more fish in 6 weeks or less) :mrgreen:

[Greenmaster]

I got a Video of my zebras doing some schooling. The darts tend to separate a bit because there isn't enough other fish in the tank... also because they have so many, so they can divide into smaller schools.

http://youtu.be/xi-4yN_Paio

[Leah]

Love the Darts...I had two and they were one of my favorites, made the mistake of putting them with my assessors... needless to say they darted alright. :cry:

The tangs are beautiful too! :mrgreen:

[Greenmaster]

Ya the darting out of the tank was something that I didn't want for any of my fish... that's why I built the top long before I got my tank habitable.
And my darts have chosen their sleeping spot... it's under a rock. I'll see if I can get some video of them going to sleep tomorrow night... I was hoping to get it tonight but they went to be earlier then last night. They now go to sleep while the sun is setting rather then after it's dark.

[Greenmaster]

A short video of some of the fish going to sleep.
http://youtu.be/IHG4UIX3YMo

[Chaloupa]

AWESOME! Those tangs sure are looking FAT! :biggrin:

[Greenmaster]

Yup happy and healthy... I hope to be adding another tang soon... There is one tang that seems to be getting picked on a bit (the smallest one) but it seems to me like he is asking for it... it doesn't seem to mater where the other fish are he will go and crowd them till they chase him away... but because of the way my rock is, there is a ton of spots he can get through that some of the others can't.

[Greenmaster]

So it's been one month since I added my first coral... I thought I would post a new pic.

April 15th 2011
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Coral021.jpg

May 15th 2011
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/M1480014.jpg

[Lance]

That one coral looks pretty lonely. We'll have to fix that on Tuesday. :biggrin:

[Greenmaster]

:biggrin: Sounds good.

[Greenmaster]

I got a few more corals today (Thanks Lance you rock :rockon:)... but I came home in the middle of work, I kinda rushed the whole acclamation thing (only 1 1/2 - 2 hours) Plus I'm not sure how they will like my flow... Also my camera still sucks plus I kicked up a ton of junk while putting the corals in... but anyways here they are anyways; because, without pics, it didn't happen.

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance076.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance069.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance059.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance058.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance030.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance029.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance024.jpg

[Greenmaster]

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance022.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance018.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance014.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance011.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance004.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/CoralfromLance003.jpg

[Lance]

They are looking a little pouty, but I'm sure they'll come around; sometimes it takes a while. Then you can sit back and watch them grow. :biggrin:

[Greenmaster]

So I had an order for 33 fish... but I only got 12... I was supposed to get 10 hermits but only got 5. Now my tank has too much yellow/orange/red compared to blue/purple/black/green Of the fish that were supposed to come I have 1 black and a school of 15 blue... oh well here is what I got. (so far I haven't had any fish DOA and no acclimation problems)

The hermits (got 5 of 10)
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%2020th%20additions/Newfish003.jpg
The Dispar Anthis (got 10 out of 15)
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%2020th%20additions/Newfish013.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%2020th%20additions/Newfish027.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%2020th%20additions/Newfish024.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%2020th%20additions/Newfish020.jpg
Hawaii Flame Wrasse (got both Male and Female)
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%2020th%20additions/Newfish030.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%2020th%20additions/Newfish029.jpg
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/May%2020th%20additions/Newfish035.jpg

[lastlight]

Beautiful looking fish. Wow are you ever populating the tank at epic pace...

[Greenmaster]

Ya imagine if I had gotten all 33 of my fish.

[Sea Witch]

Wow, what an interesting thread! Glad I found it. :cool: :pop2: :pop2: :pop2: Hi neighbor. :wave:

[Greenmaster]

Wow, what an interesting thread! Glad I found it. :cool: :pop2: :pop2: :pop2: Hi neighbor. :wave:
Hello... If you ever want to take a look at the tank in person let me know :)

[fishytime]

Beautiful looking fish. Wow are you ever populating the tank at epic pace...

I was thinking the same thing........

you got some cajones my friend......30+ fish in a month in a tank that has no "real" live rock?.......hope things do well for you......

[Sea Witch]

Thanks Greenmaster--one of these days!

I have a question....don't you need at least a little live rock to seed the rest of your rock? I mean otherwise it will never come alive, no? And how much how often are you changing water......because you said you're not running filters or skimmers, right?

[Greenmaster]

I was thinking the same thing........

you got some cajones my friend......30+ fish in a month in a tank that has no "real" live rock?.......hope things do well for you......
So far so good...

Thanks Greenmaster--one of these days!

I have a question....don't you need at least a little live rock to seed the rest of your rock? I mean otherwise it will never come alive, no? And how much how often are you changing water......because you said you're not running filters or skimmers, right?
I added bottled bacteria... also the bacteria is everywhere it just takes a long time to reproduce so if you don't add it to the tank, either with LR or with an additive, it takes months to get going.
And about the filters/skimmers right I only have biological... if you look at the title of the post... (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=614735#post614735)320g build/journey/experiment DIY :-)... I built it... definitely been a journey... lots of DIY... the experiment thing is what I am working on... I have yet to do a water change.

[fishoholic]

No offense but I have a bad feeling for your fish, I can't imagine running that large of a system without filtration or doing a water change with that many fish in a new system :neutral:

[Greenmaster]

No offense but I have a bad feeling for your fish, I can't imagine running that large of a system without filtration or doing a water change with that many fish in a new system :neutral:
I don't take offense... I hope that people don't start hating on me because of my "experiment" cause I think that this can be good for people to see... but as with any experiment, failure would not be a surprise. I hope your feelings are wrong... On a side note I'm not going to just let my fish die... if I need to I can do a 50% water change within 3 hours.

[Greenmaster]

you got some cajones my friend......
Ya it came in on my first SPS frag plug... I saw it but didn't do anything about it... besides my tangs were getting tired of just eating the brown stuff. I thought they might want some color in their diet. I'll be getting some green soon enough but I need to get some sodium silicate.

[Sea Witch]

I don't take offense... I hope that people don't start hating on me because of my "experiment" cause I think that this can be good for people to see... but as with any experiment, failure would not be a surprise. I hope your feelings are wrong... On a side note I'm not going to just let my fish die... if I need to I can do a 50% water change within 3 hours.

Greenmaster, are you testing to see how the water is doing as time goes by?

[fishoholic]

I don't take offense... I hope that people don't start hating on me because of my "experiment" cause I think that this can be good for people to see... but as with any experiment, failure would not be a surprise. I hope your feelings are wrong... On a side note I'm not going to just let my fish die... if I need to I can do a 50% water change within 3 hours.

That is good to know, hopefully it wont be to late.....I kinda of have issues with "experimenting" when it involves live fish and corals. However I understand many people do different things with their systems and it will be interesting to see how yours turns out. I guess you wont know until you try, so I have to say I also hope my feelings are wrong. Best of luck to you.

[Greenmaster]

Greenmaster, are you testing to see how the water is doing as time goes by?
Yup... at one point I saw .05 nitrites (smallest hint of pink) and nitrates got up to 20.... I dosed some vodka sodium carbonate and splash of bacteria... was kinda scary cause I spilled too much vodka so I had a bacterial bloom and it got a little cloudy, and required a drip of sodium carbonate and to be checked on every couple hours but in the end it went to all 0's so I'm happy.

[Greenmaster]

That is good to know, hopefully it wont be to late.....I kinda of have issues with "experimenting" when it involves live fish and corals. However I understand many people do different things with their systems and it will be interesting to see how yours turns out. I guess you wont know until you try, so I have to say I also hope my feelings are wrong. Best of luck to you.
Thanks, Some items of note. I do have an aqua controller I also have someone in my house at all times that can "take a pulse" on my tank. I get updates from them about twice while I am at work. I also work in delivery so if I had to I could be home within 15 min of an alarm or a phone call. I understand that many people have issues with "experimenting" with live anything... but where would we be if people didn't try experimenting? I don't have the funds (not sure if you even can) to replicate fish and their reaction to my water chemistry so the only way for me to find out if it can be done this way is to try it... I have some more eccentric things I will be trying with my tank... but that is years away and only if my tank can stay stable and thriving. You know those first two fish I had that died... I almost gave up at that point... It made me very sad. I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach when I think about it... If all of my fish die... maybe I'll just do some brackish water something for a while... something with no experimentation.

[Sea Witch]

That is good to know, hopefully it wont be to late.....I kinda of have issues with "experimenting" when it involves live fish and corals. However I understand many people do different things with their systems and it will be interesting to see how yours turns out. I guess you wont know until you try, so I have to say I also hope my feelings are wrong. Best of luck to you.

+1. This is how I feel too.

I'm also interested to watch how yours does. I applaud your creativity and enthusiasm....it just makes me nervous.....but I do hope it turns out well. I think everyone has the right to run their tank the way they want, and there are lots of ways to achieve good results. I can think of several parts of saltwater aquarium keeping that are controversial with experts having strong opinions that are in direct conflict with one another.

[Greenmaster]

I won't be getting any fish for a month or so...
My sister had a house fire and I'm giving my "fish money" for the next little while to her to help her get back on her feet.
I don't know if this is against the rules but if it is please delete this post.

David and Marion Preece had a house fire and lost almost everything. I hope that some how we can rebuild her life close to what it was before the fire. Although there are many things you can't replace, (photos, souvenirs, and sentimental items) they are in great need of normal every day things like a broom, underwear, and a couple pairs of shoes. It is hard to imagine what it would be like to have nothing except a little dept on some items that you no longer have.
If you wish to donate please log into PayPal and make a payment to marion.david@homtail.ca
Even a couple dollars would help. Thanks.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Houseandstuff015.jpg

[DisneyCoralReef]

My heart goes out to the family. How devastating. Thankful there were no injuries. God Bless.

[Greenmaster]

***Correction***
marion.david@hotmail.ca

[Lance]

:sad:

[Greenmaster]

Alright enough of this doom and gloom. I have made good use of the de-stressing that my tank provides :-)
Here is a lousy FTS
This is the start of my Cano bloom... after just 5 days it has really taken off... I believe it is one of those stages all tanks go through. I will be monitoring the situation but I will give the tank some time to balance out. My zebras continue to school nicely... the Anthias suck.. They some times are in two groups but usually they are all over the place.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Full%20Tank%20Shots/Houseandstuff025.jpg

I still thoroughly enjoy watching everyone get cleaned by my shrimp... the clowns and the zebras don't use the shrimp, but everyone else does.

[Greenmaster]

A little clip of my cleaner shrimp (http://youtu.be/TuldA1UrLF8)...

[pscott99]

I have enjoyed this thread. Lost it and found it again today ! Two things come to mind.

"you've come a long way baby"
"if you didn't have bad luck you wouldn't have any luck at all"

All the best to your family and your new family of fishes.

I only have one concern that has already been covered I think. Keep those tests going for water quality. That is already a high bio load. I too love your fish choices. To see fish school in a tank must be really a joy.

[Greenmaster]

Well I thought I should update my tanks current situation :D
I'm now at the Cyano stage.... I'm waiting for some sodium silicate and some scarlet hermits (can't get them right now... still on waiting list for a few weeks)

FTS
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Full%20Tank%20Shots/Cyano020.jpg

Some other nasties on a free coral, I'm still happy I got the coral and I gave them a drink... I heard they like lemonade... So far it looks like they liked it so much they thought they would go to the store and buy some more... I haven't seen them since :p

http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Corals/Cyano017.jpg

[abcha0s]

Personally, I wouldn't mess with aptasia. I'd pull the coral out. It's not worth it IMO.

The project is really coming along. It was a little touch and go for a while with your pH problems and the LED episode. I'm glad you stuck it out. I'm still enjoying the thread.

[Greenmaster]

They are gone... for now :p
I'll be watching it closer for a week or so. If I see anything I'll get a few peppermint shrimp.

[abcha0s]

They are gone... for now :p
I'll be watching it closer for a week or so. If I see anything I'll get a few peppermint shrimp.

If only it were that easy :smile:

[Lance]

Personally, I wouldn't mess with aptasia. I'd pull the coral out. It's not worth it IMO.




I agree. You're Aiptasia-free now and keep it that way or you'll regret it later.

[lorenz0]

They are the devil's minions of this hobby! But that algae would drive me nuts! Takes alot of patience and persistance to get through that crap, good luck man

[StirCrazy]

aptasia isn't bad, just inject them with a kalk slurry while you don't have many.

Steve

[Greenmaster]

They hitchhiked in on a free coral, being a generous host I fed them some lemonade and they haven't been seen since... I hope that clears up the original post.

[Greenmaster]

Silica is found in the oceans anywhere up to 10 ppm and it is removed from our salts and our additives. Silicates help to produce some types of algae, that are more readily eaten by our pods, and other things in our tank (ie tangs and regular hermits).

I read about it in this article By Randy Holmes-farley (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/aafeature1)

[Greenmaster]

Between work and sick kids I haven't been able to put the time into monitoring and dosing the sodium silicate and since I want to do it properly I'll wait till I have the time and energy. On a side note I got quite the ich outbrake and have started a "Natural" ich treatment/experiment that I think will work. The experiment started on Tuesday afternoon and I have seen major reductions of ich on my tangs (may just be falling off to breed so we will wait and see on that one)... The flame wrasses still have a fair amount of ich on their front 1/4 (I think it's cause the shrimp are scared to get near their mouths) But overall I have seen a reduction. It will take 10 days before I will say if my experiment is being successful or not.

[Greenmaster]

I noticed the Ich on my tangs Monday afternoon and proceeded to monitor my tank. I couldn't see Ich on any of my other fish. My tangs didn't stay still enough for me to get a good picture of them, mostly the Ich was on their fins and face. But two of the less dominant ones had Ich all over. I watched closely all afternoon until lights out. When all that was left was the blue LED's I saw more Ich. My wrasses were covered in it. I couldn't see the Ich under normal light but under the blues was a different story.
http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx18/Greenmasterone/Ich/CoralandIch032.jpg

[Greenmaster]

Adding to the saga of trials and "FUN"
Well something has happened that I wasn't expecting... I'm having massive Cyano die off and some type of green algae (that I have wanted to grow) has started growing. But today it was huge the amount of Cyano that was lifting off the rocks or just decomposing where it was. There is still lots there but I would say close to 20% is dead or dieing within just a couple days... I was not expecting this and I don't finish work till later tomorrow so I hope that there are no deaths while it goes through this transition. All of the die off of Cyano is creating an ammonia spike and it's at .5, Nitrites are at .3, and nitrates are at almost 0. I was not expecting the die off to happen so quickly so I don't have any bottled bacteria on hand to help to jump start the populations in the tank... I'll keep you updated over the next 2 days (I have Tuesday off so I'll post Tuesday night if not sooner)

[Greenmaster]

So after 10 days there is no sign of Ich... I believe that a combination of three things saved my fish and put the Ich into remission.

1. Lots of Skunk cleaners... I have six or seven Skunk cleaners in my tank and they service most of my fish well, some of them are very bold, jumping onto a fish in open water and cleaning a fair distance from their post. (I also have two Fire cleaners but they don't like to clean.)
2. I added Brine shrimp cysts to my tank... lots every day, I would say that there wasn't one cubic inch in the tank that didn't have hatched brine shrimp filtering the water. Also I don't have a skimmer, UV, or anything else that can kill/remove stuff from the water, so they stay in the water column. Brine shrimp may or may not filter the Ich out of the water, but I felt it may help so I tried.
3. I fed garlic in my food. Not a huge contributor but I feel like it could have made a difference.

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

glad to hear your fish are doing well.

[plutoniumJoe]

I wish you continued good luck with the Ich outbreak. I was wondering what the justification was for the brine shrimp, do you see it as a food source to keep the fish healthy enough to fight of the Ich or does it in some way attract or break the Ich cycle?

[Greenmaster]

I wish you continued good luck with the Ich outbreak. I was wondering what the justification was for the brine shrimp, do you see it as a food source to keep the fish healthy enough to fight of the Ich or does it in some way attract or break the Ich cycle?
I'm not sure if the brine shrimp would eat them or not, but brine shrimp are filter feeders and they filter out usually phytoplankton. Phytoplankton ranges in size from 50µm to several feet in size. Ich in the Theront stage are between 40-69µm. I'm hoping that the brine shrimp will filter out and eat the Theronts thus braking the Ich cycle. If this works or not or even had any effect is unknown... the only way to do it would be to experiment with them and do several studies. But I know that if I ever get Ich again, I will be "saturating" the water with brine shrimp.