Zechenia's 28 Gallon Bowfront Beginner Reef [UPDATED]

Perfect

 

haha! off to a great start

 

I got my latest couple adds. Two skunk shrimp. They already are all over my rocks picking and cleaning everything.




Also, as I was in my tank acclimating them, I noticed that I was starting to get purple looking spots on my rock. Is it the starts of coralline algae?
Here are some Pics:

 

Well, today I had my first flood (unless you count me spilling a bucket of saltwater like my gf does lol). My skimmer that's been running fine for a while suddenly decided to go crazy. Came home to my tank being about two inches lower. Luckily, I have a skimmer with a drain plug and the bucket I have for it was only overflowed probably half a gallon. So not huge, but since I am in the process of putting together an auto-top off it was definitely scary (had I already hooked up the ATO, my salinity woulda been WAY outta whack with that much freshwater!). Also, luckily, I had water already made up. So, crisis mostly averted. Since I hadn't yet "fine" tuned the salinity off the new water, my salinity is .002 off what I like to keep it at.

Lessons learned: 1. error on the side of having the cup TOO high on the skimmer (going to take a while to fine tune it.... dont seem to be getting any skimmate now. Suggestions of the best way to get it dialed in?) 2. get reserve water perfect WAY before it's needed!

 

Reefcleaners CuC to the rescue!




Hope they spread out before my gf gets home. She is DEATHLY afraid of slugs... so snails aren't high on her list either!

Also... completely unrelated, we're about to get our second puppy

*Photo is at 3 weeks... so we've still got a couple weeks until we get it, and we haven't picked ours out yet

 

I do not think John sent you enough snails. lol.

What wonderful little chubby puppies. Sooo Cute!

 

I know! THERE ARE A TON! Already making a huge dent in my algae!

My top puppy choice:

 

cute puppies! and clownfish!;D

 

Oh I love the puppy smell when they are that age, and the grunting when their little bellies get full.

 

Well, so far my tank seems to be doing good! I was a little concerned (not really worried, more like curious) as I've had my shrimp for just over a week... and they've both molted twice already! But last night I noticed that one of them has a lime green belly. I suspected eggs... and sure enough when I saw a picture it's exacly what it looked like! I can try to get a picture but odds are it'll be hard. I'm taking it as a good sign though Also, one of my clowns has been doing the submissive dance a bit lately. I think they have figured out there genders... with very little fighting