I just bought another nitrate kit because I'm not sure if mine is still good. The nitrates are still under 40, but not zero yet. I have also noted an improvement since I don't have the emerald crab anymore. He was a waste maker machine and now I can keep my tank cleaner than before. I'm still teaching my brother how to feed the fish without overfeeding, but he gets to enthusiastic sometimes. I'm also keeping the tank free of detritus as much as I can by siphoning the substrate every week or two times in a week if I can.
Another problem I'm dealing with right now is the HA. I started last week to take out the rocks and put them in a bucket filled with the water I'm gonna replace from the tank and brushing them thoroughly to take off as much HA as I can. Then I just clean them with fresh saltwater before I put them back in the tank that way they just stay for a few seconds out of the water. I was really afraid of making my tank cycle again for doing this, so I started with all the small rocks last week and this week I did one of my big rocks and brushed again the small ones. The big rock I have in the middle is the one with the biggest issue, that ones is gonna be my next one. I think I have to keep doing this and lowering the nitrates to see if it helps. It is under control right now but, if I just let it be I know it will overrun my tank and become a nightmare and I don't want that. I have spend too much time and money in this hobby to let that algae ruin my tank. :cry:
My GSP after its cleaning yesterday it looked happier today. Haven't seen all its polyps out since 12/25 so I do believe we are making some progress here. I also notice yesterday during the water change that the salinity had raised to 1.029 so I freak out and put it back to 1.026. But that was my fault, I probably topped the tank off with saltwater one or two times. That could also be the reason why my GSP was closed and just after I brought it back to 1.026 its polyps were open today. Who knows? but, know I've learned something new about it. :geek:
Here is the picture I took of my shrimp after he pass away on 01/15. He had this big wound which I do believe was caused by Rusty. It looks like a big bite if you as me and he was the only one behind them. The other one also died a few days before this one, and I do believe Rusty also killed him even when its body was apparently complete, now I have my doubts. He just couldn't let them be, but I knew the risks. I took a picture of him today. My brother call him "the killer fish" lol. He can be a pain in the neck sometimes, but I do love all them (fish, corals, inverts even the rocks) they are still alive even when its owner is a rookie and is still learning the hobby. I tried to do my best for them. I don't want them to suffer I want them to be happy and healthy in my tank, so I can be happy too. :D
A full shot of the tank and my duncas they are big and fat thanks to the fomula one they have been eating. They are not fully open yet on this picture because of the recent water change, but they will be, my candy cane is fat too, but I don't feed it every week as I used to do because apparently is not necessary. :p
