Fin2you SW adventure

[Fin2you]

today has not been the Wednesday I had hoped for. That said I have had a number of people step up to offer me coral frags to help kick start my reef building, as well as had a number of private chats throughout the day of people offering help & tips! I juggled those around a sick child & one needing emergency dental surgery. Just getting to come downstairs this evening to feed the baby clown, even the goby came out to let me know he was still alive. which was so rewarding. then I got to curl up under a blanket & just listen to the P.S. (I kid you not I love it's "running noise" it is 1 of the most soothing relaxing sounds I have ever heard & I have tons of relaxation/meditation music!)
maybe tomorrow will be my fishy adventure day. I was recommended a couple different small SW LFS's to visit in the big city..... I need a day away from the house

[Fin2you]

I braved the hwy to go into the big city today. Unfortunately the 2 stores I stopped at were sold out of Refractometers. But I added to my CUC another snail & a lawnmower blenny.
I also found myself bringing home an Azure Damsel. There was 2 tanks of them. 1 tank the whole group was chasing each other around but then the 2nd tank there were only 3 of these in with a Clownfish & another fish. Of the 3 damsels; there was 1 hiding under the rock, another hiding in the back corner but when I stepped towards the glass it went straight behind the rock. The 3rd was hanging out mid tank, when I approached he backed up but slowly came forward. Definately a good fit I think to my tank. Right now I'm watching him darting around checking out all the different hide aways.

[Fin2you]

So yesterday morning I woke to a rock somehow shifted (think goby burrowed under a rock not set 100% against the bottom of the tank) causing it. After I fixed it I noticed the Damsel acting weird like it wasn't happy I closed up this 1 spot in the rock but I figured he would get over it. Since I walked away from the tank yesterday morning I haven't seen the Damsel since. I even got my daughter to stick her head around the corner to look behind the 1 rock & she said he's not there. Evening Feeding & again this morning goby, the hermit crab & the 2 visible snails didn't even blink at the portion of frozen Reef Complete I thawed out, yet the clown baby's inhaled like usual. I am really thinking he's a gonner & I have a fantastic CUC

[Fin2you]

Still 0 sign of the damsel; even after I spent some time putting new coral frags into the tank. pretty well safe to say he's a mysterious disappearance & I have a fantastic CUC.
I wonder if he didn't challenge a certain "Rocky" & lost.
I also checked out "Reef Wonderland". I talked them into selling me a frag of Purple Brain from $40 to $25 b/c the girls were begging for it. Probably could have found one thru here but it really was a unique nice shade of purplish pink I hadn't seen b4.

[Dearth]

If it's anything like my tank if a fish dies it is gone within a matter of hours between the snails, crabs, shrimp, bristle worms and some of the other fish nibbling at the carcass it is gone within hrs.

If one carpet surfs I have 2 cats that will take care of the fish for me.

When I lose a fish I view it as an opportunity to try a different fish and for the most part it has worked for me

[Fin2you]

I think it's all the badmouthing damsels going on... my shy Azure committed suicide. That's my story & I am sticking to it. That said you have a point, it does open up a huge selection for stocking the tank....
I am on Liveaquaria right now searching out some ideas!

[Fin2you]

new stocking ideas; (Already have *) *2 Ocellaris Clownfish, 1 standard & 1 black & white, *yellow prawn watchman Goby, *lawnmower Blenny, longnose hawkfish, yellow striped cardinal, Blue reef chromis & I'm still dreaming over 2 fish; candy basslet, & mandarin dragonet. I also found a cool Electric Blue hermit crab would I be able to put him in with the scarlet reef hermit I've already got? also do you think eventually I could get a Tridacna Clam?

[Fin2you]

I find the online world "funny".. Enough said on the subject let's move onto the more important things in life.our dog approves of the new tank. He will sit up on his haunches to view the activities. The cats are POd they can't fish in this tank either. (love Glass tank toppers. The kids are on cloud 9 regarding mom's choices made for mom's tank. I finally after days of wrestling with how should we stock the tank I put my foot down. I started this SW journey last fall with just a nano 5.5 gal coral build only for me. The kids begged for a Clownfish I said no it wasn't going to happen in my little tank. Hubby approved a bigger tank but essentially this is still MY TANK. I clean/feed/test & research. They enjoy. Enough of me trying to make them happy they have their Clownfish, which I love & am glad we got & the yellow goby makes me smile everything I see him frowning away in his corner. & The Blenny, crabs, macro starfishes & snails each have their place & that is fine. There is 1 fish I have said I want if I ever got a SW tank. So instead of trying to stock the tank with fish that would not be compatible eventually with my hoped for fish. I would rather just not spend the $ on them. There is still room on my rock for corals & there is still room to build up my rock formation. Which means more corals! Problem solved.
Oh so thrilled tonight when I went to feed to see the green algae growth on the back of the tank wall exactly where I hoped it would... Rocky found it too. I think he smiled at me as he chowed down. Don't understand the panic over a simple part of a natural system we all seem to want to recreate.... Get a natural algae controller.... Lawnmower Blenny are so dang ugly they are cute. Supplimental feed to keep him from starving if he's too fantastic at his job & let some real algae grow. It's part of a real system.😘
I love research, it is so cool the things you can learn about yourself as you focus on a task at hand. & there is nothing wrong with a break from your usual. Infact variety is a good thing. Each of my tanks gives me a certain different satisfaction. Plus this tank is pulling me back out to meeting new people & restoring my thoughts that there still are decent people left in the world.

[Fin2you]

This week has been fantastic for me & my tank; I took a day trip up north of me to meet with another fish keeper & we did a trade some fresh water plants for some corals. Win win for both of us!
Then yesterday I took some time to myself & went to Calgary to check out Wais Aquarium store & I had to go to Pisces for wet dog food & seeing as I was there I got 2 blue bulbs for my light. I installed them on the outer with the day white bulb in the middle. I think I will try either the Beauty Max or Color Max in the middle to see if there is much difference.
I think now my reef is set, I have found a very nice selection of different corals... Now to let everything mature & grown into itself. & for the fish to grow up.
Today is water change day.

[Fin2you]

Tank coming along fantastic except I thought "let's take the teal mushroom off the rock with the blue mushrooms & put him elsewhere to spread out my mushrooms". Ya it wormed it's way out of the glue & is hopefully somewhere around my tank rock in a cozy niche & didn't get chewed up thru the circulation pump. I believe another trip to Wai's to see if he has more larger than 1/2 the tip of my baby finger is in order. It is a beauty.
Tank really pops with the 2 Blue lights & the Beautymax bulb in the middle.