[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Tonight I came home to Angela's note - which made me feel better - (thanks) BUT I think my new hippo has ich!!!
I am so upset! I have never had anything like this - ever- not even with freshwater!
Called Aquatropics, was told to try and pick ich attack over kick ich ----- any comments?
You all know what I have in my tank- (I am trying to keep a running count in my signature) - help me !!
I can't get to my LFS until tomorrow at lunch- because there isn't one closer, and won't get home until 7pm-ish.I am doing a partial water change- EVERYTHING else has been GREAT up to now- I am getting paranoid

[eldalote2]

hey im using ich attack right now and they swear up and down it works but i am not sold on the stuff yet. i just dont see how it can work. i took my clowns and dottyback out of QT and started treating them in the DT with the ich attack, i am starting to see the ich on one of my clowns again and i am not happy, i will wait the whole 2 weeks before making my mind up. right now my mind is wanting to kick myself in the rear end for not keeping the tank fallow for 3 more weeks and my fish in the QT...

[eldalote2]

Oh, got a shipment in today and we got in some potters angels which look amazing!! im getting the smaller one if i can get it to eat (they seem to be picky)

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Came home with Kick*Ich - as Ich*Attack was not avail at the LFS in Ocala. I started my first dose tonight - I was trying to find a natural way to go about it - as I am AFRAID to hurt the coral/inverts. But it says on the bottle it is safe- and so far several LFS I called all say the same thing. It's their #2 choice with Ich*Attack being #!.
*** So - dose #1 / day #1 : we'll see what happens. (turned skimmer off per LFS) - they said to continue through the entire duration- don't stop when I see improvement- because it could come right back.
*** Also put a gatorade bottle in the tank, in hopes of catching the dominoes. Really- have no clue how I will ever get them out, short of renting a grouper for the weekend! (no I'm not going to do that- but it would make it easier)
I have to google a potter angel- I think I have seen one- not sure though.
Came home last night: (before knowing about the ich) with a red mexican hermit, he is going to town on the red algae! And he is only less than an inch big! (they had trouble finding one with RED legs- this was the only one)- for FREE
also got some squid for the tank - a nice cluster bunch of sea grapes for the tangs - which all 3 were eating last night. And he threw in a tiny (10 blooms) piece of green star polyps that had sprouted up in his tank-for FREE- I am going to try these again, seeing as how 'something' ate my other one-
Anyone in the Ocala area- make sure you stop by Aqualinks here and there. They are a tiny store, family owned. He's ALWAYS throwing in stuff for free, so I am trying to give him extra customers when I can! (carl) is a good guy!keep you posted! xoxo night to all!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Ok - today is day #2 of treatment, not adding anything per directions. Tang does look noticeably better, less spots. But I will continue throughout all 15 days.
My bottle trap for the damsels- useless, caught 2 nassarius snails.
So I will continue to search and google a trap to use. The one the store has is glass- do not want to put that in my tank, in case it should brek, or bang into something.
Everyone is doing ok- except the bubble tip is on the move - again- he is driving me insane. The sebae has not moved yet, nmor has it fully opened yet. The condy is doing fantastic. Corals=a-ok. Ciao! for now!

[pyromaniac398]

Lol watch that bubble. Mine walked into a powerhead when I got it R.I.P. Glad to hear the tang is doing better, hope it pulls through and you could use a piece of acrylic instead of glass... just my .02 you can get a sheet of it from Home depot or lowes for like 3-5 bucks

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks Logan- I will look for that tomorrow- as will probably end up tearing down the left side of the tank- hate to do it, but i want those damsels out! I think the condy may have stung the sebae during the night- we'll see. Everyone else is doing good on day #3.

[Br14n55reef]

I would report your problems to Bob Fenner or Scott V thee are pros. You know what web site I'm talking about. Seeing I cant say the sites name to reefbuilder members. Good luck to you. I hope you kick the ick and cyno problems.
Brian C

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks Brian- and yes, I have been on 'that' site- I like Bob Fenner.- SORRY to all- I have been off this site for a bit. Trying to relocate to a job closer to home-can't find yet- trying to help my mom open her gift store- trying to get my biz up and going online- trying to get those damn damsels outta my ocean! I am sorry to say they killed my baby crocea. YES they did to anyone who reads this and says 'na-ahhhhh' I kept noticing them hovering around him, then nips and quick bites then gone. I moved him a couple of times, but that didn't work- he was beautiful- AARRGGHH I want them out!! Ok- more later, everything else is good- my tank is good, levels are good, ich is gone- lots of love will be back soon---chelle

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Hi- back for a quickie: I am looking to upgrade my uv streilizer-any suggestions? Have a aquanetics 25 - (which is not doing anything) but now have $$ to get new, sooooooooo what are some suggestions for 180g? Thanks. (also where to buy best deal)

[Krazy]

Hi Michelle.

I've been VERY happy with my aqua u/v, I'd suggest a 40watt unit for your 180, I use the 57watt and my water is crystal clear.

I never belieived in U/V's until I grew some hair and bought one.

Emperor aquatics also makes a very good U/V

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks, Keith! I just found that out from the LFS in Gainesville this morning, I LOVE it when I hear something from a LFS and you guys say the same thing! Makes me more comfortable going there knowing THEY know what they are talking about, and not just highschool kids working after school!
I am going tomorrow to pick up a 40w- Thanks!
(also..... I have been in my tank since 8:07am this morning thru 4:13pm when my husband came home. FINALLY we were able to catch those DAMNsels and get them out of my tank!!!!!! So getting more fish/etc tomorrow also- will post pics tomorrow nite!)

[Br14n55reef]

cool more pics I can not wait!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

OK DAMNsels have been removed!!! I have since bought a really nice, calm cool lunar wrasse that everywhere I checked was ok and LFS told me ok. (they know what I have) well tonight I brought home a mandarin- and the moment he went into the tank the lunar started to 'peck' at the mandarin? He hasn't bothered anything else. Not the fish, not the coral, not the shrimp or crabs, nothing- why the mandarin? Do I need to bring him back? What's the deal?

[Krazy]

Its normal for some new additions to be "harassed" for the first 24-48hrs.

I'd say if its still doing it after 48hrs, get rid of the wrasse as IMO the mandrin is a much more beautiful fish.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Spoke with a MUCH better LFS - and have decided to never go to the local one again for anything. I will drive an hour & 1/2 out of my way to go to the pros. I am bringing the wrasse to Gainesville- anyone want him in that area go to Aquatropics. As he is beautiful--- but not reef safe. So I will stick with the fairy, flasher and other wrasses. And found out that my 6 line should be added last to avoid the initial nibbling of newcomers- true or not dont know. As the six is smaller than most. Keith I agree with what you said- but it wasn't just a nibble or jab- he literally was attacking the mandarin- and I thought it had something to do with the species. He wouldn't let him be. I also agree with the mandarin being a better choice, peaceful, beautiful, great to watch. Question: how many can you actually have in a tank? I am thinking of another. As long as I have more than enough copepods reproducing in a separate tank, they would be fine, right? Or am I linited to just 1 per tank?

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Update: in getting out the DAMNsels, my hammerhead had fallen from where I had in perched in the seafan. It broke. So I glued the small piece to an upside down clam shell- looks good. Put the other one back, doing well. And I glued the brown button polyp (still not sure what it is called) I glued that to my overflow box. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this glue I bought- it works in a matter of a breath- thats how fast! AND it out does any epoxy I've tried. I am going to buy some frags tomorrow - I will take and post pics tonight--- keep in mind: while trying to rid my ocean of those damsels- I had stopped decorating it. So don't look at the space as 'emptiness' - but rather think of the potential! Who ever is up late can log in and see my pics - it will be tonite- promise!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Here is some for now- remmeber- have not done much since trying to get rid of those DAMNsels. So now from this point you will see progress! woo hoo! Picking up a yellow/blue carpet tomorrow. + new sterilizer.

[Ganrin]

Mandarin Pair spawning in the wild, near the bottom of the page.
Google Image Result for http://www.islandream.com/photos/mandarin_fish02.jpg

"I also agree with the mandarin being a better choice, peaceful, beautiful, great to watch. Question: how many can you actually have in a tank? I am thinking of another. As long as I have more than enough copepods reproducing in a separate tank, they would be fine, right? Or am I linited to just 1 per tank? "

You can have a pair in a tank, and a 180 should be large enough to support 2. There are reports of spawning activity in captivity with a pair. The first dorsal spine is the distinction between male and female, on the male it is much longer than the rest of the dorsal spines, on the female it is just slightly longer.

Lined wrasses, 6line-4line-8line will all compete with mandarins for food and are all relatively aggressive for thier sizes.
Fairy wrasses (cirrhilabrus sp) and flasher wrasses (paracheilinus sp) are generally more peaceful. Both fairy and flashers require a quarantine period because they are prone to internal parasites, flashers also tend to be light sensitive out of shipping and will want to be acclimated in a dark environment.

[dori9941]

Originally Posted by michelle's ocean fantasy

OK DAMNsels have been removed!!!

When I try to count the time I've read that, and wrote it
Is there a Damsel support Group, lol
I must give love to all the damsels.
I still have 1. Only because I wasn't able to catch him after catching the other 2.

[dori9941]

Ganrin , thanks for the link I'm glad I checked out Michelle's Ocean Fantasy. I love links to pic. The anemone is huge

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

David- thank you so much for the info on the mandarins. I 'think' I have a male- but will have LFS double check for me. Also thanks for the link!
I will keep in mind the info on the wrasses- thanks for looking out!
Amanda- I liked the damsels- when I bought them - and still think they are cute- in fact I love the jeweled damsels and the fiji blues. BUT they get so aggressive and territorial! I gladly returned them to the store for someone who truly wants them to 'stay' in their tank. I will not be buying damsels again.
Bye to all- on my way to LFS.............

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Ok- started out to be a GREAT visit as usual to my favorite store in Gainesville- I brought home:
1 Blood shrimp- (waiting on more to ship in)
1 duncan straya ? need to check spelling
1 saddleback (yellow) anenome - BIG
1 hammerhead (2 heads) purple/green
1 danipora lombard ? need to check spelling
I also got:
1 chrysurus angelfish- cannot find ANYTHING on this fish other than he is a rare / expensive fish. ( didn't pay that much)- but my sailfin is irritating him, showing who is dominant per the LFS. Is this something just with this fish? Yes I know new additions get tagged as 'hey let's get the new guy' but is it because he is striped, like the sailfin? The sailfin doesn't bother the flame. <?>
Also a purple urchin.
UV unit: Lifegard Ultraviolet Sterilizer. 40w
Man this thing is HUGE compared to the unit that came with my tank! Needless to say we will put it behind the tank as it will NOT fit under the cabinet.
Few small problems when we got home- in the box were the wrong size hoses for the tank. The wrong size bulb, and the end cap for the uv was still at the store.(our #1 guy had put it together for us while we went to lunch, and it had fallen under the counter)
All in all- we will not go anywhere else, as we LOVE this store and the people who work there- we would not drive the distance otherwise. If anyone needs good service go there! Ask for Matias or Mike- those are who we trust!Pics coming--- anyone have a link to the angel I bought- pls help so I can print out the profile for my book- Thanks!

[Truett]