Rett Mincher

I'll take the sump! 

Well with all the holiday stuff, I forgot to give you my number. 512-903-2205. call/text anytime

I decided to jump in with both feet. A friend of mine traded for a 5 gal hex pico, and didn't have space to use it right away. He had a red mithrax crab that started sampling his corals, so it had to go. He loaned me his 5 gal, since he has very limited space, and a little sand and some water. I got the tank set up and put some fossilized coral pieces I had from Missouri, but honestly didn't know as much as I thought I did, and the poor thing died. Learning experience #1 I suppose. A couple weeks later some of his other critters started acting up. His blenny decided coral was yummy, so he had to find it a new home too. So, here we go again. I'm trying to do research and do it right this time. I got the tank set up again, and added some LEDs. I put a strip of 3 blues in the lid by the CFL, and a strip of 3 whites over the filter compartment. I put some algae up there to be a biofilter. I got a variety of liverock from Aqua Dome, and Fishy Business. My buddy also gave me a few tiny crabs, a white mithrax, a red mithrax, and a gorilla crab, and a hermit, which I found out isn't really a crab at all, and also some different varieties of algae. The liverock was loaded with various critters. The largest creature in the tank now is a bristle worm, but probably the blenny by weight. There are some astarina stars, at least one brittle star, tube worms, and more stuff makes its presence known every. Next to come are some rescue corals and some snails and maybe a shrimp. I'm itching to get the 10 gallon and the 55 gallon in my closet set up, but easy does it. This hobby is expensive...but amazing. Such a plethora of life! But now the tank is cycled, so even more stuff should come. I cannot wait, but I'm trying to be patient!

Cool man(?),

I think I might take some off your hands, if it is better than pitching it. I'm happy to give you a start of some pretty cool Caulerpa if you wish. It works great in a refugium, and it is a neat strain.

http://www.aquaportail.com/fiche-algue-1364-caulerpa-peltata.html

This is a pretty mature example. That page is in French, but if you use Chrome, it translates it reasonably well...

I'm happy to bring a sprig if you want. Moderators, please note that I offered to barter, it was not required by Juiceman.

When would be a good time to meet? I'm off on Sunday. If tomorrow, will have to be after 7 or so...

Thanks!

I'm starting a pico, would you suggest this, or would it just take over? I really don't have much to give in barter, except for some caulerpa...

'cmon christmass money! LOL I got a 10 gallon thats burning a hole in my pocket

Thanks all! I have made a couple updates. Had to get more liverock! I'll get some more pics up soon. I'm hopelessly hooked though. I can't wait to get that 55 gal in my closet set up.

Hey folks!

My name is Rett and I'm an aspiring reefaholic. I'm starting my first tank with help from Peter Gott. Its a 5 gallon hex. I'm rescuing his cleaning crew, and getting a feel for the hobby before I get all the stuff to set up my 55 gallon. Practice makes perfect I suppose, since the first iteration didn't work out, and I killed a red mithrax crab.... :/ I suppose there is a learning curve here though. I'm having good luck so far with the second round. I bought some live rock rubble from Aqua Dome and discovered early this morning that it came with a bristle worm hitchhiking along. Its beautiful with a bright red tail, and maroon and tan and charcoal grey on its body I'm going to try to be a good reefer and post pics and updates regularly. I modified the tank a little with a couple little LED strips. I put a nice blue in the lid on the tank side, and replaced the carbon filter with a wad of algae and put a strip of white LEDs above it. It is amazing what a little blue will do to brighten up the colors in your tank, even a pico...

Glad to be here! Thanks in advance for all the good info!!!

Rett