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My Nano Reefs Part Eight

Last Updated: 9/2/09

On 3/1/09, I realized something! The day before, I had been looking on-line for someone else regarding hitchhiking animals on live rock at a site I had been to before. I put in the evening food. One piece landed on what looked like a hair. Later, I saw the food was at the other end of the "hair." I finally realized what those creatures are. I have a few vermitid snails in the 6 gallon tank. They are snails that look like tube worms but you really only see the tube. The snails are fixed with their calcareous tube. They throw out a line of mucus and use that to reel in prey, in this case, a small piece of squid I think. I can sometimes see a little bit of a head but otherwise, it would be hard to say that they are animals. My vermitid snails do not seem to throw out complex mucus nets, just strings. They are living on the dead brain coral live rock piece. Strange indeed.

On 3/7/09, I cleaned the aquariums.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 76.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.91
6 Gallon Tank: 75.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.01
Make up water: 75.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.44

On 3/14/09, I did the usual. The Duncan coral fell off the live rock; I had to put another piece of reef epoxy under it.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 75.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.12
6 Gallon Tank: 75.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.04
Make up water: 75.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.40

On 3/21/09, I did the usual. I forgot to put the supplements and buffer in with the salt for the first time ever! So stupid! I added them later to the sumps which was not ideal but better than nothing. So, the make up water's pH was without the usual buffer.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 76.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.76
6 Gallon Tank: 75.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.93
Make up water: 75.7 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.06

On 3/28/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 76.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.71
6 Gallon Tank: 76.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.90
Make up water: 75.9 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.27

On 4/4/09, I did the usual. The salinity readings were slightly over 1.025 but that last digit is not very accurate. I would have expected the salinity in the tanks to go up over time since I wipe some evaporated water off the lid and never top off with freshwater since the tanks stay full.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 76.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.95
6 Gallon Tank: 75.8 degrees F, 1.0255 SG, pH 8.02
Make up water: 76.4 degrees F, 1.0252 SG, pH 8.34

On 4/11/09, I did the usual. I think I know why the smaller tank maintains a higher pH aside from it getting less food input. It gets the bottom of the make up water which includes anything that is not dissolved. It is not much but perhaps some buffer.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 76.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.96
6 Gallon Tank: 75.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.04
Make up water: 76.4 degrees F, 1.024 SG, pH 8.34

On 4/18/09, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter which I should do more often.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.5 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.04
6 Gallon Tank: 76.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.08
Make up water: 75.9 degrees F, 1.0252 SG, pH 8.44

On 4/25/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.4 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.99
6 Gallon Tank: 76.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.04
Make up water: 75.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.39

On 4/29/09, I changed the back lamp on the 12 gallon nano cube tank. I could not get the lid off which they claim is so easy! So, I removed the screws and splash shield while it was still attached to the tank. I did not drop any screws in to the tank but I dropped the screw driver in twice! Also, some dust from inside fell in to the tank. The splash shield was pretty dusty inside.

On 5/2/09, I took apart the old 6 gallon nano cube lid. I had ordered new fans and a moonlight fix. While in there, I found a loose connection and fixed the old lid. Those fans worked fine so I left them in and had my father make two notches in the outer and inner edges for the moonlight fix. The nano cubes have all the lights on a single cord which means for those of us that use timers, we cannot run the daylights and nightlights on the timers. The moonlight fix disconnects the LED moonlights from the rest of the system and plugs them in to their own outlet.

I disconnected the 6 gallon lid and put the old one back on. They say it just "pops" off. That is ridiculous. I have to take off the pieces that hold the lid on with the lid and then break them off to change lids which I did before when the first lid quit. I wish I had known how easy it was to fix it; the little mushroom coral in there would not have suffered in the dark for so long. I then opened up the newer hood which I had just taken off. I examined the fans. The left fan would whirl around quickly when touched or blowed upon. The right fan though was stuck and only turned by hand. My father thinks the bearings were shot. So, now I have two working 6 gallon lids, five working 6 gallon fans (I ordered two replacements that I did not end up using), and four working 12 gallon fans (I got two of those two for the future). Now, I will have to make another order and get the moonlight fix for the 12 gallon. I was not sure if it was something I could do which is why I just got one to try out first.

Later, I did the usual tank cleanings.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.20
6 Gallon Tank: 77.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.10
Make up water: 76.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.46

The pH readings were a little higher than usual. I will recalibrate the pH meter next time. It may have been altered when I used it the Sunday before to test my ponds' pH.

That night, with the moonlights on, the green Ricordia mushroom coral was fluorescing, so beautifully!

On 5/9/09, we installed the moonlight fix on the 12 gallon tank. That night, the green star polyps seemed to fluoresce. Later in the day, I cleaned the tanks. I recalibrated the pH meter which may be why the pH results were more typical and way down from the previous week.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 79.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.84
6 Gallon Tank: 79.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.02
Make up water: 76.4 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.38

On 5/16/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.91
6 Gallon Tank: 77.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.97
Make up water: 76.4 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.31

On 5/23/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 79.2 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.89
6 Gallon Tank: 79.5 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.97
Make up water: 76.5 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.42

On 5/30/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.8 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.90
6 Gallon Tank: 77.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.00
Make up water: 76.2 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.39

On 6/6/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.1 degrees F, 1.024 SG, pH 7.95
6 Gallon Tank: 76.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.01
Make up water: 76.1 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.36

On 6/13/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 78.2 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.97
6 Gallon Tank: 77.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.00
Make up water: 76.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.35

The power went out late on 6/18/09. The next morning, I discovered that the pump in the 6 gallon tank was not working! I had a Maxi Jet 600 (160 gph) which I had bought as a back up so I installed that in the tank. Luckily, it was easy enough once I figured out how to take off the tubing.

On 6/20/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 78.3 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.99
6 Gallon Tank: 77.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.00
Make up water: 76.5 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.26

On 6/29/09, I did the usual. It was two days late because I was in the hospital all weekend. I was interrupted when doing the measurements so the temperatures probably went down a few degrees from what they were at the time of collection. I calibrated the pH meter.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 75.9 degrees F, 1.024 SG, pH 7.98
6 Gallon Tank: 75.0 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.95
Make up water: 73.8 degrees F, 1.024 SG, pH 8.29

On 7/4/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.1 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.84
6 Gallon Tank: 76.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.93
Make up water: 76.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.35

On 7/11/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.1 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.94
6 Gallon Tank: 76.1 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.99
Make up water: 75.1 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.35

On 7/18/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.9 degrees F, 1.024 SG, pH 8.00
6 Gallon Tank: 77.1 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.00
Make up water: 76.5 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.29

On 7/25/09, I did the usual. The pH meter was fluctuating more than normal so the first pH especially may be off. I will have to calibrate it next week.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.1 degrees F, 1.024 SG, pH 7.67?
6 Gallon Tank: 76.7 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.00
Make up water: 76.1 degrees F, 1.024 SG, pH 8.28

Jose was doing well in 2009. But, now I am pretty sure that I have not seen him in a few weeks. It was not unusual to not see him for days as he hides in the live rock but I usually saw him every few days when I put food in the tank. I fear he may be gone. I do not know if I should get another firefish or not. I worry that maybe Nemo did him in, and the hermit crabs and other animals ate his body.

I was surprised to find Grabby Too laying on the bottom of the 12 gallon tank on 7/30/09. At first, I was hoping it was just a shed exoskeleton but it appears to be his entire self. Something ate off a few of his legs but he was otherwise intact. I do not plan to get another mithrax crab. Grabby Too was well behaved but I do not think he ever ate a single bubble algae.

An hour later, I glanced in the tank and found a new animal! I was surprised to still find a new species especially one this big. I am not sure what it is. It is worm-like, very soft. The body can range from one to three inches depending on whether it is stretched out or sucked in. It can change its length in just a second. The body is brown with white stripes. When it stretches all the way out, it extends some white plumes at the end that resemble those of a tube worm or feather duster worm although the plumes are short. It is free-living (not attached to anything) although hiding in the live rock. It might be a peanut worm but does not look like the photos I found on-line of those.

On 8/1/09, I did the usual. I calibrated the pH meter.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.0 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.81
6 Gallon Tank: 76.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.89
Make up water: 75.4 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.21

On 8/8/09, I did the usual. I do not know why the pH in the tanks was so low.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.3 degrees F, 1.024 SG, pH 7.41
6 Gallon Tank: 76.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.82
Make up water: 75.8 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 8.20

On 8/15/09, I did the usual.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 76.6 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.75
6 Gallon Tank: 75.9 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.81
Make up water: 76.4 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.24

On 8/22/09, I did the usual. I also tested the alkalinity. In the 12 gallon tank, it was only 80 ppm (as CaCO3)! In the 6 gallon, it was 90 ppm. In the make up water, it was 180 ppm which is what it should be in the tanks. The life forms in there must really use it up.

The water test results for the day were:
12 Gallon Tank: 77.2 degrees F, 1.0245 SG, pH 7.72
6 Gallon Tank: 76.2 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 7.88
Make up water: 75.3 degrees F, 1.025 SG, pH 8.25

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My Nano Reefs Part Eight

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