OH NOOOEES! lol another split.. grats NG. man thats a beautiful pbt. glad to see hes doing ok.

Thanks =) I don't like the splits either!

Wow, I go on vacation and come back to a split!! Great update pics. Is ocean getting big? How's the flatworm sitchie-ashun? I need to update my thread to add the fiasco I returned home to. Congrats on the split. You get one of these:
:beer:

i have a dbl ballest and a single. granted i could split the dbl but........i dont know? but sounds that that lighting would work nice.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10657024#post10657024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Trigeek [/i]
[B]Wow, I go on vacation and come back to a split!! Great update pics. Is ocean getting big? How's the flatworm sitchie-ashun? I need to update my thread to add the fiasco I returned home to. Congrats on the split. You get one of these:
:beer: [/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks! =) What happened to your tank?

Ocean is doing great. He's grown a bit but has really fattened up and thickened. He looks much better then when I got him. FW's are still an issue. I am scared to death to use FlatWorm Exit after reading about people that lost their fish.

I could def use a few of those tonight!

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10657049#post10657049 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by customcolor [/i]
[B]i have a dbl ballest and a single. granted i could split the dbl but........i dont know? but sounds that that lighting would work nice. [/B][/QUOTE]

Oh okay, that makes more sense now.

on your nano, i believe horses require some sort of vertical sticks to wrap to when resting. it seems i also read the thickness of the sticks are also a concern?

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10656388#post10656388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoGurl [/i]
[B]So really I have to choose. Hardwood floors, or 240 with extras =) [/B][/QUOTE]

I know what i would choose ;)

They have vertical things to attach to. I have branching LR for them throughout the tank that they like. They also attach to the intake and thermometer and a wire digital probe.

I am looking at adding a few more things for them. Haven't decided what. And yes, it's good to give them different thickness of things to wrap.

[img]http://www.nanocorals.com/reefcentral/bc/bc51.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.nanocorals.com/reefcentral/bc/bc52.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.nanocorals.com/reefcentral/bc/bc55.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10656368#post10656368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoGurl [/i]
[B]Okay! Can you loan me $2500 puh leeeeze =) [/B][/QUOTE]

Sell some of that nocturnal rats of yours. :D

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10657387#post10657387 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoGurl [/i]
[B] FW's are still an issue. I am scared to death to use FlatWorm Exit after reading about people that lost their fish. [/B][/QUOTE]

That only happens to people that underestimate the infestation. If you've been proactive in sucking them out daily for a couple of weeks, treating the stragglers isn't a risk at all, imho.

And I've treated two different tanks that had red planaria, without incident. Just follow my directions as well as the ones Salifert recommends.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10658200#post10658200 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev [/i]
[B]Sell some of that nocturnal rats of yours. :D [/B][/QUOTE]

Never!

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10658204#post10658204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev [/i]
[B]That only happens to people that underestimate the infestation. If you've been proactive in sucking them out daily for a couple of weeks, treating the stragglers isn't a risk at all, imho.

And I've treated two different tanks that had red planaria, without incident. Just follow my directions as well as the ones Salifert recommends. [/B][/QUOTE]

I was doing really good but then kinda slacked off and they come back. Not as bad as before, but you can still see them for sure.

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10658219#post10658219 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoGurl [/i]
[B]I was doing really good but then kinda slacked off and they come back. Not as bad as before, but you can still see them for sure. [/B][/QUOTE] If FE is giving you second thoughts, [url=http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2198&cc=1]this[/URL] might be an alternative.

GL!

Wow, that's very interesting Token. Thank you!!

Your threads always amuse me so much! You are doing a great job, im super jelious of your things. From the 75g tank (im planning on doing one in the future), your PBT, your sugar gliders, e.t.c.

I have some qestions though, and im hoping you could help me out?

1) how did you plumb your overflow tubes and stuff? I saw on your thread you went from a bare tank, to all of a sudden filled with sand then water e.t.c. Do you have, or can you post some pics of how you piped the tubes? Im very interested. For my future 75g i was going to get a HOB overflow box, but i was told i should just get the tank drilled, so im looking at options now.

2) Is Ocean really hard to keep? They are my 2nd favourite SW fish (bicolor angel being my 1st) and i would LOVE one, like you don't understand lol. Well maybe you do, becuase i can see the love you have for Ocean, but you know what i mean. Are they really hard to feed, take care of, and do you notice if he is really sensitive or not really? From how i see it, if you find a good small one, healthy, eating well at the shop, if you buy him and keep water quality good, give him a lot of space, don't overcrowd, and feed a varied died (nori, frozen foods, flakes, soaked in garlic)... they will do pretty good. I know people with large tanks (over 200g) so im thinking if i were to get a baby PBT then ocne he got too big, or is approaching a larger size and looks stressed then i move him to one of my freinds tanks. Similar to what you are doing. Are there any tips on PBT's that you suggest?

3) I also think we need NEW PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol Especially some of Ocean, and FTS's please ;) That would be great! I need a new desktop background, thats why :P

Dr. Dolittle

Thanks =)

I don't have any photos of setting up the plumbing sorry. Basically all it is is a straight PVC pipe going straight down into my tank for the drain. The return is provided with a Mag5 and flexible airline tubing which goes into the return bulkhead and back into the tank.

You can sorta see in this photo. Directly behind the skimmer is just a straight pipe down into the water. On the far right you can see the return pump leading back to the return bulkhead.
[img]http://www.nanocorals.com/reefcentral/75/sump9.jpg[/img]

I would def drill the tank instead of having an external overflow box. If you can afford it, I would just buy the AGA 75 MegaFlow tank to save the trouble. It's worth the money IMO unless you enjoy doing things like drilling.

PBT are great fish. They are beautiful and personable with a lot of attitude. I have spent a great amount of time watching Ocean swim and interact in his tank. I am 100% positive this fish is happy (for now) based on a few things.

1. I bought him small. I believe taking a med to large PBT out of the Ocean and putting them into any tank will stress them out. The smaller PBT's aren't as used to the ocean and have less exposure to it.

2. Eliminate stress. Stress among other things can and will cause ich. I originally decided to pass on a PBT, and got a Scopas Tang. We then decided (mistakingly) to go ahead with the PBT and just put the two together since they were both small and would only be a short time. Wrong decision. They lived together (until the Scopas died), but Ocean was not happy. He would fast dart around, turn on his side, display his white bars, and other signs the PBT's do during aggression. You could just tell the way he swam he was not "happy." As soon as the Scopas was removed to QT (when we started treating them both for black ich) Ocean started to calm down. He acted a lot less stressed and comfortable in the tank. He still chases anything new we add into the tank, but that only lasts about 24 hours and then it's over.

3. Provide the proper tank. We have designed the tank specifically to keep Ocean and our zebra eel happy. Specifically to Ocean, we have not added any fish that compete with his swimming "zone." We have no other free swimming fish that take up space and threats to him. He also has rock work to swim in and out of. Something I plan to increase even more when we upgrade. I don't know if I would add another tang in with him regardless of the tank size. We also did not pack the tank full of LR. We used a lot of open top space to free up rooom for him to swim in the open as well as dive back into the rockwork. In a 75, you have to maximize space. The tank will not last a PBT very long IMO. It will work to raise up, but probably only about a year.

4. Varied diet. Get him started on as much variety as possible. Ocean eats three types of dried seaweed, many different types of dried flakes, Cyclop-eeze, and frozen brine and mysis. He also eats a lot of the natural algae off the rocks. I dose his foods with garlic extreme a couple of times a week.

5. Veggie clips. I am a strong believer in providing Ocean with a veggie clip with dried seaweed at least 3 or 4 times a week. He really looks forward to this and it gives him something to do. He grazes around the tank all day, and goes back and forth all the time to his clip. IMO this helps keep him interested in something besides just pacing a tank "bored" and hungry. Again, no stress.

6. Higher temps. I run my tank temps in the low 80's all the time. I am not sure if this actually does anything, but I kinda believe that the higher temps helps him fight off and recover from any issues he has. I have not seen regular ich on him or black ich since he was originally treated when he arrived.

Luck has a lot to do with it I'm sure. I think I got lucky and got a pretty strong PBT. He has done well and seems to have a big heart. That is another big reason why I am trying to do everything I can to make his life happy while he's around. I really think he's a great fish =)

[img]http://www.nanocorals.com/reefcentral/75/ocean11.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.nanocorals.com/reefcentral/75/ocean13.jpg[/img]

I don't have any FTS that are current. I have my frags all over the sandbed due to siphoning FW's out, so it doesn't look very nice right now. I keep delaying using FE but I think I am going to have to and get this over with once and for all. If I kill any of my fish I am going to be devestated and I'm scared to do it.

Chapter 2 tomorrow. You can buy the book at any LBS (local book store ha ha ha)

Wow, thats perfect Nanogurl :) Thanks a ton!

I have decided on doing the following. I wanted a 75g before as i said, but im going used (I will be on a tight budget). So, im going to be searching classifieds like a maniac for good deals on tanks! The tank size, and some other stuff, will not be determined until i find the tank i want when im ready. If i was ready now, i found a 90g tank, drilled, with a sump for $200! How good of a deal is that! So no stand, or canopy... but i would built a stand for $50 (i live in a new neighbourhood, so i could 'borrow' some 2x4's (lol) and build one. Then for a canopy i could search for one used or a brand new one. Like the 64w T5 I found for $69.99. That tank would be ideal for me! So if i got one that size, do you think a PBT would be fine in that tank? I love bare tanks, and you bring up good points about not getting a lot of swimming fish, and not filling the tank up with LR. So say I did get a 90g, i would probably get a PTB, 2 clownfish, and i thought maybe 3 chromis. That would be a stunning mix i think.

I was also talking to someone with experience with a ton of fish (and PBT's) and he said that it would be good to add my PBT as the first fish after a long cycle, and when im confident my water is as close to perfect as it can get. We know they can be aggressive, but if i find a small guy (about 3" is my goal), add him to the tank first... he will be the only fish, and will have less stress. Instead of being the last fish and having to worry about competing for senoirity, food, power, e.t.c. The tank would be hooked up with a great skimmer, a UV sterilizer, cheato, and a sump.

Anyways, thanks again for your awesome type up of care tips, i really appreciate it. Also the pictures are still gorgeous, even though they are 'repeats' lol. Thanks again!

Dr. Dolittle

You're welcome =)

Well, no I don't think a PBT would do okay long term in a 90g. IMO they need at least a six foot tank... which is why I am going to get a 125 instead of the 120 that I want. If I went the 120 route he would live longer in it then the 75, but I would still have to upgrade eventually.

The 90g for $200 sounds like a great deal though. With the T5 it would look nice. I like the Sun Tek ones if I went T5. I might do that for my 75 when I tear it down and keep my eel in it. Have to see.

Umm.. I actually think your friend is wrong. I think it would be a mistake to add the PBT first for many reasons. One, the longer the tank is up the better the quality of water will be to help him fight infections. And also, PBT's are very aggressive. If you add him first, each additional fish you add into the tank he will chase and pick on for a day or more... which can be stressful to both him and the new fish. If you can, I would def add him last, and no other tangs. It will help him not be stressed.

But that's just my opinion :) Haha I know the photos are old, but they were all I had. I'll get more soon.

[color=silver]240 gallon tank, not 125.[/color]

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10665126#post10665126 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev [/i]
[B][color=silver]240 gallon tank, not 125.[/color] [/B][/QUOTE]

LoL :thumbsup:

[color=silver]Give Ocean some ocean.[/color]

lmao. What are these voices in my head?!?!?!?!

[color=silver]Clown will do it. Save the ocean. Get a bigger tank.[/color]

[COLOR=silver]Marc - you want to lend NG the $2500 to get the big tank[/COLOR]

I agree with NG about the PBT - probably best as the last addition to the tank. I'm envious of your Ocean!

Spleen