[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks Amanda!
Hey thanks Garrett. Since your last post I tried to come up with a way to build a 'higher' perch for my hammer.
(which by the way...wow!! That hammer on the homepage video is incredible!!)
I build a sort of enclosure out of eggcrate, to which the pvc elbow 'cave' will sit inside. I cut out an opening and put the coral thru that--- I will then build up around it with rock and shrooms,etc to cover up the plastic.
It looks odd now-- but in my head I can see the finished product and I know I will like it.
Also--- there is a slight difference in the hammer- I think he just needs to get adjusted to his new spot , and hope he starts looking like yours soon Garrett- thanks!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

ok- came home today......with another attempt at xenia. The Chrysurus just eats it way too fast- this is a LARGE bunch of fat xenia (blue, although I can't find a google pic of the one I have)
also got a Bali candy cane coral frag.
and a green/yellow flowerpot.
Hopefully can get this xenia to jump.
QUESTION: does xenia react differently to HIGHER levels of salinity?
The small frag I moved to my nano had been nibbled til almost gone by the "C"-nator- so I moved it to the nano tank to see if I could do anything. It didn't come back- at all, just little nubs of what used to be xenia.
Last nite I played 'chemist' and took 2 cups of salt (instant ocean) and hand sprinkled it into the overflow tray of my nano- the xenia is beginning to come back!
Do they need a higher level , and if so, will that affect my other tankmates?
(my levels are at 1.023 main tank and 1.026 nano)

[plecosword]

I would go up to 1.030. sorry about your xenia, are blue ones really blue? I didn't see a difference at my lfs.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Really? 1.030? Ok- I don't mind going higher if that will help the xenia....but do you think it will have an affect on anything else in my tank? Is higher going to harm anything - thanks.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

And yes, at the LFS it had a blue color, I put it in last nite it was a nice blue hue, then when I woke up this morning (main lights off) it is a blue/purple) I will try to get a pic uploaded today. It looks like a cross between xenia and a kenya tree to me- not a long tenetacle xenia, but fat stalks, and clumps of 'palms'

[plecosword]

Well the salinity in the oceans is usually above 30 ppm wich would be 1.022, 1.030 may be too high for fish, they do better in lower salinities.
if with fish, I would go lower as in 1,026?

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Hmmm....thanks for the picture- I love visuals! I think to be on the safe side I will stay around 1.026 and see what happens. I don't want to stress anyone else out in the tank. Thanks Mario

[plecosword]

1.026 = 35 ppm

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

ok- so here is a pic of the xenia when I first put it in last nite- so it is not fully extended...but you can see the chubby stalks-- any guess as to which type it is-- I can't locate it in my books or online as a definite name. I will get a better pic 'if' he decides to come back, he is just kinda 'hanging' over his shell he came on- not withering or anything, just sort of slumped over. I opened up the window behind the tank, and it looks like the little baby stalks are trying to reach for the sun- so maybe there is hope he will be ok.
So far (I hate to say this out loud) the chrysurus is not nibbling at this xenia, yet
Also a pic of a rock I bought to give the tangs something to occupy them. also here is the bali candycane, the flowerpot

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Will give everything a day or two to get adjusted and take another picture of them open and well-

[plecosword]

good luck on the xenia!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Who has a duncan--- what color---- and where is the best place in tank for it to thrive?

[e_baer]

1.026 sounds perfect! In the red sea, the salinity can be as high as 1.035! But usually coral will thrive in salinities around 1.023-1.030. This allows a little room for error incase anything happens.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Elliott: do you have a picture of your tank?

[e_baer]

yes, i just added a abunch today. look in the totm thread.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Just a quickie update for Brian---Chrysurus is still doing fantastic! Color is incredible on him- glad I was able to aquire him at an early size to enjoy him so much before he changes!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Elliott, very nice- looks like a tank you would find in a fish store!

[e_baer]

Thank you very much!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

You have done a nice job Thanks for sharing the pics

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Woke up this morning to check on xenia--- still not up and flowing- so moved him to my cube, which I hope to regain the beauty I bought. We shall see, in the meantime, I will continue to raise the sg level in my main tank.

[plecosword]

I think it will be fine. I remember stace had one and she thought it died. a tiny little xenia poped out later on.

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Thanks for checking in Andre- that makes me feel better. The one shell I had put in there originally, seems to be bouncing back slowly, but nicely, forming little buds everywhere, they stretch for awhile, and go back at nite. But this new blue- I really want him to make a 'killer' comeback! Taking over whatever he wants! lol- I can just imagine it covering my backwall so nicely. It is just such a 'chubby' stalked thick xenia. And the blue was so pretty. We will see.......... I also moved the flowerpot to my cube tonite after work. I really am not wanting to say this out loud- but I don't think the chrysurus is going to let me have any soft corals. He nips and eats at everything!
WHO ELSE HAS A CHRYSURUS ANGEL???? And what else do you have in your tank? Please share with me!! I hate the thought of getting rid of him, as he is such a pretty angel- but if he is keeping me from everything else.....please let me know- thanks guys! Sweet dreams to you all- heading off for the nite!

[plecosword]

Angelfsih will nip corals more when they are not well feed, just like an peble tooth eel will eat fish when they are hungry and dont have crabbies to eat.
IDK much about this angelfish but if he continues, it will probably have to be him or corals

[plecosword]

I just did some quick reaserch on this species. It is not a very common angelfish and It grows to be 13"! thats huge.
also, it semi agg and its know for picking on little fish, so I guess he is small.
did you know they make clicking noises when they are stressed?
I literally had 3 pages open, one for images on him, other 2 for reasearch!

[michelle's ocean fantasy]

Andre: - yes on the clicking sound. (it's actually pretty cool) - but he only seems to do it when I approach the tank, like he knows it is feeding time. And he swims right to my hand waiting.
He is a pretty rare fish, that is what everyone keeps telling me- followed by: 'So...do you want to sell him?'
He is just a tad bigger than my Flame, if that gives you an idea of how big he is. So as far as the picking on smaller things- he actually was the one picked on when he got in, didn't think he would survive- (the sailfin would not leave him be!) Tried isolating him, finally the sailfin left him alone and he is doing great.
Eating: I feed in the morning before I leave for work, I have my son do a feeding in the afternoon after school, and I feed at nite. (so 7am / 3pm / 7pm) also I throw in a clip of seaweed every few days as a treat.
Lately I have been (ok I know as soon as I say this out loud someone is going to have a problem with the window- but hey, it works for me) lately I have been opening the blinds behind my tank, I keep them fully opened for 2-3 days, then shut 2 days, then fully open again for a few days. In about a week, I have enough green algae (long, about 1/2 inch) growing on my back wall, and everyone, naso, angels, hippo, yellow, sailfin- especially the blenney--everyone loves it! They are all over it, and it is gone within a couple of days- so I do it over again. I'm making a daily 'field' for them. So I don't think the feeding 'not enough' is the problem, as they graze all day. I thought maybe I got the wrong xenia- like it was too sweet. Also my problem is I am not buying in bulk, so the pieces I do get they don't have time to sprout everywhere. Do you mind telling me the site you were on, as I have been on a few, and they all give slightly different info on the Chrysurus. Thanks!