Goldenmean's 55G Golden Path - Page 2

goldenmean · #11 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 04:56 PM

I know that if algae goes asexual it will release spores and you get much more algae. But what toxins would be released?
I guess I have something new to research!

On another topic
I am testing twice a day for ammonia and I am to do a water change when ammonia gets over 1ppm.
I have an elos test kit but this test only reads ammonia at .05/.5/1.
So I bought another at the closest LFS (instant ocean)
which measures at .2/.4/.6/.8. It doesn't go to 1. but okay I can do a WC at .8
I have been testing using both test and getting very different readings.
Last night the elos test wasnt quite the same color at .5 so I figured about .4. The IO test read at .8
So to be safe I did a 10% WC.
Elos is supposed to be a better test kit but which do I believe.
I guess I need to go find a 3rd test kit and see what it reads.

I just completed another set of ammonia tests.
Elos .5
IO is at .8

ChuckG · #12 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 05:39 PM

I don't remember all the specifics but when I had a fuge completely overgrown with it I did enough reading to make me decide to pull it all out and switch to chaeto.

Did I notice anything within my tank as a result of having the caulerpa? - No, it was thriving.

I believe that I read that the toxins the caulerpa release is not just spores. It has stuff in it that attempts to hinder growth of other inhabitants giving itself a better chance of survival or something like that.

**ReefSilly** · #13 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Did I notice anything within my tank as a result of having the caulerpa? - No, it was thriving.

Thriving is the key word here; soon it will cover everything even your coral.
Looking good

ChuckG · #14 (**permalink**) 08-13-2007, 07:43 PM

The caulerpa I had was only in the fuge, not the main display.

Now my chaeto grows like crazy.

I agree with Audrey though. In your tank, you will soon not have a place to put any coral. Ridding yourself of the caulerpa may not be an easy task either.

goldenmean · #15 (**permalink**) 08-14-2007, 03:52 AM

The TBS rock is filled with discoveries.
Last night I spoted my first crab. All I could see is hairy legs in a small hole in the rock. Today I saw a molt floating on the substrate of what appeared to be a porcelain crab.

The cool discovery of the day is that the barnacles are feeding.
I wasn't sure I had any live ones.
One rock has a lot of them a then there are a few of some other rocks.

goldenmean · #16 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 12:15 PM

Cool Discovery of the Day.
Somethings have been excavation the sand under a few rocks.
One is a big bad crab. I have seen the pointy black claw and his mouth.
Another one may be the porcelain crab that I found the molt to yesterday.
I have just caught a glimps of him and what I have seen has been a light reddish/pink. These are just simple burrows in the substrate under a rock.

Someone else is doing some rather extensive excevation with a big open area in the front of the rock and a wall of shells and rubble in the back. It has also moved a big piece of shell that had been a few inches away into his back door burrow. I have not caught a glimps of this guy.
Maybe a pistol shrimp because of all the workin the substrate. I didnt think there had been any popping noises then last night after lights out and when I was in an adjoining room I heard a strange noise. It is coming from the tank. I had heard that same sound the night before but had not attributed it from coming from the tank. It kink of sounds like a circuit breaker tripping. Of corse it stops when I come into the room with a flashlight to investigate and I stilll have not caught a glimps of it tho. I will.

Octoman · #17 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 01:29 PM

I've been trying to catch a glimpse of my pistol for about 5-6 weeks now, no luck yet. The only way I know he's there is the loud popping (started out as a quiet clicking, I think he's getting some size on him), and a molt that confirmed he was a pistol.

**ReefSilly** · #18 (**permalink**) 08-15-2007, 03:47 PM

Maybe a mantis

goldenmean · #19 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 02:42 PM

Tuesday I went to my to my favorite LFS to buy an Auto top off system.
I also buy a FasTest ammonia test. I told the guy that I was having inconsistant test results among the 2 brands. He told me that FasTest is made by the same manufacturer as IO (Aquarium Systems). One little reason that They are my favorite LFS! I buy it anyway.
I go home and conduct three seperate ammonia tests.
IO - .8
Elos - .05
FasTest - .2 (actually the color was somewhere between 0 and .2)

The IO test and FasTest are identical type tests
but the regents are from different batches.
The fasTest has expiration date of 12/07
while IO is a newer batch with expiration in `09.

I ran all 3 ammonia tests twice on Wednesday and the IO test always read at .8 IO tests are now in the garbage.
Elos and FasTest results were .05 and .2
Last night also tested for Nitrite and Nitrate
NO2 -.2
NO3 - 10

This mornings test results
Ammonia>>> Elos - .05 FasTest - 0
Nitrite .5
Nitrate 25

Cool Discovery of the Day.
The smallest hermit - The last 2 nights at around 3 am with the lights out.I have see the tiniest hermit crab.
Its shell is maybe 1/4" long and its legs are so small and all white.
He is really cute.
I tried to take a pic but it is too blurry to post and since it was 3 am I did not try taking multiple pics.

goldenmean · #20 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Maybe a mantis

I think that If I do have or get a mantis with Part 2 of my LR
I will not try to catch him. From what I have read the species of Mantis found in the Gulf of Mexico are not much trouble. I'll just have to replace snails and hermits on occasion.

.... that brings me back to my first tank in college and in my early 20's when I had a FW Pirana tank.
One of my pirana lived for 8 years.
He loved him some goldfish.