Pies Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 I read something ages ago saying that its almost impossibe to correctly identify them visually. Obviously lots of different species. I have many zoo's in my tank, they show no interest. I also have an abundance of sponge etc too. I wish they would eat clover! Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted October 1, 2006 Report Share Posted October 1, 2006 Just popped up to Jansens to have a look. Very nice snails, good size and look just like the photo. Would get one but looks like the shift to Kerikeri is going to happen sooner rather than later - i.e. no more stock. Enough of an issue what I'm going to do with what I've got. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 Had a tiger cowrie but it died Not too sure why although it seemed to get itself stuck in a hole in the rocks. Maybe they can't go in reverse. Got it from Jansens a year or two back. Certainly didn't see it munching on any of my softies. One thing I did notice was the fish that died a few days after the cowrie. I suspect that the fish had a bit of a chew on the dead cowrie flesh which I think I have read is toxic. Puttputt, is the move happening soon? Quick response on the house going on the market? Anything you want brought up (small) as I am coming down on Friday for the nite? Should do a tank tour - wife and kids staying at home BTW, I have a smaller tank (150 litres) that is sitting in the garage empty. Welcome to set it up in your new house if you want until you get the "beast" all sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted October 9, 2006 Report Share Posted October 9, 2006 hey Skippy, Yep things are moving fast, mainly because we decided that the new shop in the john butler centre is going to be delayed too long, and we have leads on a couple of shops coming up shortly. Saw some nice property last week - Kapiro rd, and are very keen. Also looked at a place not far from you but not enough land. If the our sale goes well, we could be up there just after xmas, somewhat sooner that end of next year!!.. Can't wait actually, every time i go up to Kerikeri, the harder it is to come back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 Puttputt wrote: Can't wait actually, every time i go up to Kerikeri, the harder it is to come back. Everytime I go down to Auckland I remember why I moved and I can't wait to leave The traffic does my head in. Two weeks back got to the harbour bridge in 2 1/2 hours and another 1 1/2 hours to get to off ramp at Mt Wellington. Makes one a bit grumpy going along the m'way at 15km after being in the car for 2 1/2 hours already :evil: Good news on the possible new shops. As you probably saw they haven't even started on the JB Centre so it will be some time before anyone moves in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 Everytime I go down to Auckland I remember why I moved and I can't wait to leave The traffic does my head in. Two weeks back got to the harbour bridge in 2 1/2 hours and another 1 1/2 hours to get to off ramp at Mt Wellington. Makes one a bit grumpy going along the m'way at 15km after being in the car for 2 1/2 hours already Most aucklander's would not disagree one bit. drives me up the wall too at times. Have often considered quiting I.T., moving to Mangawhai, become a builder and go fishing and diving every weekend It's only the money and good schooling for when the kids grow up that keeps me here. Trade off I guess :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 and good schooling for when the kids grow up that keeps me here. Trade off I guess :-? No trade off with the schools - my kids were always top consideration and the schools in Kerikeri are very good, better in fact than the ones they would have gone to in Auckalnd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 No trade off with the schools - my kids were always top consideration and the schools in Kerikeri are very good, better in fact than the ones they would have gone to in Auckalnd quite possibly. im comparing auckland with mangawhai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 Yeah traffic sucks. I left work today at about 4:50pm and didn't get home until at least 5:05pm, and its only a 17km drive! Traffic is a problem everywhere Note to all Aucklands - Stay there. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinity Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 I left work today at about 4:50pm and didn't get home until at least 5:05pm, and its only a 17km drive you most work in petone and live in hataitai! hang on thats 17 minutes. damn :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippy Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 Chimera wrote: Have often considered quiting I.T., moving to Mangawhai, become a builder and go fishing and diving every weekend Welcome to my life this summer except for the builder bit Just got to say bugger it and go. If you are into building there is plenty happening up here. Hopefully it doesn't turn into a mini Auckland June last year there was 52 subdivisions happening in Kerikeri so there is plenty of land that needs houses built on it. My neighbour is a builder and I barely ever see him. If you get a good builder you can get a very nice home up here for a fraction of the cost of Auckland. House cost is the same but land is still cheap. I know a good builder up here - our house won a silver award in the NZ Master Bldrs House of the Year. Absolutely no way I could have afforded it in Auckland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 I need a smaller mortgage and bigger fish tank,... story of my life... anyways, a little off this threads topic but cant be arsed starting a new one... i removed a dead acro today, it had completely RTN'd over the past couple of weeks, is entirely bleached now and brown algae growing on it. it was about the size of my fist although had never shown any sign of colour (perhaps a slight blue tinge). no idea what happened. was doing well til i decided to move it down lower in the tank as i thought it was getting too much light. didnt move that much down to make a difference so think it's just coincidence. i think it was an o/d on zeovit food at one stage my bad. i also got another purple acro about half a fist size that is bleaching (no sign of TN, just going mega pale) dunno whats happening to the tank, getting pissed off with it in all honesty. considering a 50% water change on the weekend as i can only attribute it to lack of one or more trace elements because of infrequent water changes. will probably strip the display tank down completely and halve the amount of rock in the next few months. i think there are many areas that are lacking flow coz of too much LR. also got a heap of diatom growth after I did 2 x 20% water changes in a week (previous change was 20% about 6 weeks earlier). might stick to 10% a week for 2 months and see what happens diatoms feed mainly on silicates right? things were going best when i was running rowaphos :-? might go back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 dry the acro out, paint it a colourful colour, then sell it on trademe for a rediculous (sp?) amount of money.... someone will buy it.... and the money from it can go toward your new 10x4x3 foot tank.. /me walks away dreaming about a 10x4x3 foot tank.... AHHHHhhhhhhh... :lol: :lol: sorry to hear about your coral(s)/tank chimera.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 makes me wonder if the writeup by 'tang' in the phosphate thread is true - it shares some resemblence to my tank, potential phosphate increases all of a sudden because of too much LR. the drop in pH in those areas breaks down the insoluable phosphate on the rocks, the sudden and unexpected addition of phosphate into the water column causing algae growth and a backwards step in acro colour. many of my acro's shown signs of colouring up and do so to a point, then take a backwards step all of a sudden. as those that have seen my tank, even though the LR is sitting on reef rack, its quite "packed" with LR. partly the reason I might strip it down and take half the LR out (plus the aesthetics of less LR IMO looks better too) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 If you do take LR out, i will be keen to buy some cool pieces for my tank to help it establish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 i have HEAPS of LR. display is packed with it, few large pieces in the fuge, a heap more in the sump. however its all in preparation for the upgrade the more bits i have now the more chance i can find the right size piece when aquascaping later! plus all the sump LR is mega clean and ready to rock... no pun intended whats left will be up for sale - if any! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie extreme Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 i also got another purple acro give it to me. you will get it back minus a small frag! patience is the name of the game. didn't you just upgrade your lights? all i can see are changes and more changes all the time! rtn? what is rtn? change things slowly! "lets get some bigger lights, and get a much bigger skimmer. lets start zeovit. lets buy large newly imported acro's. etc etc." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 yup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 give it to me. you will get it back minus a small frag! come pick it up patience is the name of the game. i realise that. didn't you just upgrade your lights? just upgraded??? try 4 months ago. things were getting BETTER after the lighting upgrade and now they're going WORSE. NO OTHER CHANGES have been made. all i can see are changes and more changes all the time! rtn? what is rtn? change things slowly! if i change something i'll wait 3 months. do i see any improvements after those 3 months? no, then work out why. i compare this to changes made on others tanks over similar periods with no changes, most are quite significant. "lets get some bigger lights, and get a much bigger skimmer. lets start zeovit. lets buy large newly imported acro's. etc etc." :roll: i can show you EXACLTY a timeline of what changes I've made and how corals have reacted. its when things go backwards AFTER they've just made considerable improvements is when you ask yourself why. here's an example, milli at mid june this year: milli as at tonight. why? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 another, montipora digitata (granted, i broke some bits off when getting a BTA out and placed them back in the rock, but note the ends of the acro in areas that have not changed between photos, why the die off on the tips and algae growth taking over?)... EXACTLY one month ago... tonight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 How is your alk/ca/mg ? How much does your PH change overnight? How much is your ALK/CA fluctating. Your coral growth (monti in particular) looks odd. I have the same coral, mind grows nice thick branches with bushy ends. When its stops growing its almost always low CA/ALK. As for the algae, its just normal algae attaching to dead coral, I think this is simply a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. Skimming enough? How much skimmate you pulling? One other thing could be, are you starving your tank of nutrients? I was reading a while back that your not feeding much at the moment? Maybee try and amp up the feeding for 2 weeks see what happens. Screw the phosphate, leave that for Layton to argue about, load the tank with food, cyclops 3-5 times a day, see if it makes any difference. Are you dosing anything (i've seen people latley dosing strontium, remember its a poison DONT DO IT!). If you are, STOP. As for comments about you changing lots, I was under the impression you change things with your tank far more than 1 once every 3 months, but I havn't been watching that closley. The advice given was good, take it slowly, stop tinkering and let it take care of it self. Good luck with it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KP Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 Although I not too experienced, I agree with pies, I had similar problems when I changed my alk/calc too fast. Not sure if you have dosed recently... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 How is your alk/ca/mg ? How much does your PH change overnight? How much is your ALK/CA fluctating. STABLE. completely stable in fact, i have been testing weekly for all 3 for the past 3 months. Even need to go get new Ca and Alk test kits... pH changes from 8.05 to 8.24 depending on time of the day, all in normal range. In the last 4-5 months I have not let any of these parameters jump out of normal range. As for the algae, its just normal algae attaching to dead coral, I think this is simply a symptom of the problem, not the problem itself. agreed, the algae is merely taking over what is dying off - so merely an observation. Question is what's the cause of the problem? Skimming enough? How much skimmate you pulling? AP902 maxed out. Skimming well, mainly dry although I empty about half AP902 collection cup weekly. Should I be skimming wetter? One other thing could be, are you starving your tank of nutrients? I was reading a while back that your not feeding much at the moment? I did feed little (3+ months ago), but feed alot more now after I noticed the blue tang getting skinny. I do overfeed, but also do have a decent skimmer for nutrient export. I also feed the corals phytoplankton and cyclopeeze every 2nd night. Feed frozen once or twice weekly (mysis and brine) Otherwise feed flake, pellets all the normal stuff. Are you dosing anything (i've seen people latley dosing strontium, remember its a poison DONT DO IT!). If you are, STOP. Nope. Have Calcium reactor maintaining tank, top up with baking soda, Mg and Ca chloride when needed (weekly or fortnightly) - same as a great deal of others do. Also dosed vodka every now and then (if any signs of cyano showed up) Only dose a maximum recommended amount in 24 hours as per the dosing calculator web site. As for comments about you changing lots, I was under the impression you change things with your tank far more than 1 once every 3 months, but I havn't been watching that closley. The advice given was good, take it slowly, stop tinkering and let it take care of it self. I realise things take time, I monitor it closely, take note of what I dose and change, it may seem more often than not but most of the time when I post I ask questions on products as opposed to always use them. I did start K-balance just over a week ago but these problems started before that, decided I'd try it to hopefully darken up some of my corals that looked so light they were almost bleached. Good luck with it! cheers. Ok, I'm not stupid (no smart arse comments please 8) ), I know it takes time - or rather good things happen slowly and bad things happen fast! To make a generalised statement on what the best and worst thing I've done - the best thing I did was upgrade to the new lights (only then did the acro's colour up really nicely) the worst thing I did was stop dosing zeovit (no evidence here, but when I stopped thats when things went backwards - in fact acro's got lighter coloured than when dosing zeovit - although this was around the same time the new lights went in) Could new lights and stopping zeovit at around the same time cause MEGA problems over the last 4 or so months? If so, how and how can this be corrected? Could have been caused from stopping zeovit and dosing vodka every now and then? I made the decision when changing the lights to go back to basic's, no zeovit, no other additives except regular water changes and dosing Ca, Mg and kH when needed. I noted the tank ran best (least algae) when I simply had the skimmer and rowaphos, nothing else! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay Posted October 10, 2006 Report Share Posted October 10, 2006 CHIM I HAVE TRANSFERRED THIS TOPIC BECAUSE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT CAN YOU PLEASE PUT YOUR PHOTOS OVER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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