Information request - Appreciate all your help - thanks... Ecsenius fdg, Alkalinity sources   10/20/07
Hello there everyone, nice to talk to you again! J
<Welcome>
This is going to be a jumble of information and questions as short as I can make it. You have seen in the past my nano. This is the quick version
http://www.reeferscafe.com/nano-reefs/11-woohoo-nano-aquapod-12g-modded.html
Currently I have a green banded goby in there ( getting fat ) a tail spot blenny
<Ecsenius stigmatura?>
( eating like a machine ) an emerald crab ( picks all day ) and 2 astrea snails ( constantly eating something ). Ever since I put the tail spot in he has basically cleaned off 90% of the rock vegetation ( just stuff that came in on the rocks ) which is great! However, since I don't feed the tank anything other than Cyclop-eeze once a week on Wednesday and pellets to my green banded goby once in awhile I am a bit concerned that the tail spot ( since he is not partaking in pellets ) is going hungry. I have tried algae and he does not like it. Strange.. lol Should I be ultimately concerned about him starving?
<If this fish gets thin, yes>
I have to assume there is plenty for everyone to pick at on the rock and the blenny does look healthy.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o46/mynd/green_banded_goby/PA050013.jpg
and everyone gets along
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o46/mynd/green_banded_goby/PA050005.jpg
Keep in mind there are some Zoa's in the tank along with a really nice Acan frag
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o46/mynd/AquaPod/acan101607.jpg
and that is why I feed the Cyclop-eeze once a week. Is there anything that you recommend that tail spot blennies like?
<Small diameter Spectrum pelletized food>
Whew what an intro for one question. Ok, next. I have been battling a ph dropping issue from day 1 almost 3 months ago. I use Seachem marine buffer to buff up the ph carefully testing the DKH to not go over 10ish. The next day from 8.20 the night before it drops to 7.9. Each and every day. SO, what I did was get an air stone and in the basement office I tested to see if the ph would rise. Wouldn't you know it, next day ( since I test at 9am and 9pm every day with a pinpoint ph meter ) the ph this morning and each and every morning since has been 8.2 on the button.
I would assume this means there is a high concentration of CO2 in the tank and the little vent on the AP12 is not getting enough O2 into the tank,
<Mmm, not necessarily>
thus the air bubbles are now keeping it steady. I want to get rid of the air pump and basically put some Chaeto in the back chamber with some LR and a 10watt submersible light. Before I do this test I wanted to know what you thought was the better solution between the 2 options AND if you think the addition of the Chaeto will ultimately keep the PH up as well as the air bubbles do?
<Likely need more of a source of bi/carbonate here...>
Whew, hope I explained that well. I have been all over your site and read the new questions daily from start to finish, so anything you might have on this site I have probably seen. You can reference me, but I want to hear your opinions.
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/alksci.htm
and the linked files above>
Thanks again for all you people do. It is a really nice feeling knowing that I can send a question in and get another opinion from knowledgeable people. There is just some security in that. I am not saying we always agree on what the person who answered us has to say or it might be vague, but 99.9% of the time everyone there has some excellent advice and suggestions. So thank you kindly again for all your help and everything you do.
Kind regards,
Mynd
<Thank you for your consideration. Bob Fenner>

Feeding... Ecsenius    8/18/07
Hi Crew,
I have had my tank for over 3 years and all my fish have been carnivores.
I now have a spotted cardinal and clown goby and just added a Bi colored blenny that a neighbor can not handle. I have plenty of hair algae but I have not seen him attempt to eat any.
<Not many types/species are palatable>
I am going to give him Nori. It is supposed to be a herbivore
<Ecsenius species? No>
but it eats whatever I put in the tank which is basically Mysis or pellets for carnivores. Is this going to hurt the blenny? And if I put in herbivore flakes I am sure my carnivores will eat it as well so will that hurt them?
<No, no>
I am sure bigger tanks have all kind of mixtures and it seems to work. But in the long run if fish eat what their system was not made for I would expect the fish not to last long. In the wild they know what they want to eat but when we give them flakes etc. we do not send along the contents information. Can they smell the difference?
Thanks
<? As long as the food/s are nutritious, no worries. Bob Fenner>

Midas Blenny feeding questions.  6/6/07
<Jamie>
Hello again Crew! At the rate I keep writing, I feel like we will be on a first name basis in no time flat! :-) I have a question about feeding my first tank inhabitant, a Midas Blenny. He is a great little fish, appears healthy as he eats well, has his favorite nook in the LR but is often swimming in the water column.
My question is regarding feeding this awesome little guy. I have reads the FAQ's here, and done some research. I know they like zooplankton and are grazers, nibbling throughout the day. As a result, I am feeding him 2 times a day, hoping this is adequate.
<A live sump/refugium would be ideal... Ecsenius spp. feed continuously during light hours...>
My question is specifically to prevent me from over feeding. I have read several different opinions on feeding guidelines. Some say what they can eat in 30-60 seconds, some people say what they can eat in 5 minutes is sufficient. I would like some clarification, specifically for this fish.
Currently, I am feeding almost exclusively frozen food: Mysis, and from a variety pack that contains frozen cubes of algae/seaweed, shrimp/scallop, brine shrimp, etc. My question is how much is too much per feeding?
<Just look at the tummy>
I am putting in about 1/4 of a frozen cube, 2 times per day. The Blenny eats what appears to be everything, and between meals is frequently out swimming near the top of the tank looking for more. I am reluctant to feed more as I don't want to screw up my water parameters, but I don't want him hungry, either. Any advice you could give would be much appreciated. Like I said, this is a subject it seems everyone has a different opinion on, so I would gladly welcome yours.
<Concave no, convex, yes>
Also, do you think the variety of food I have for him is adequate for a zoo plankton feeder such as the Midas Blenny?
<Is fine>
If not, what other foods should I be offering?
<Cyclop-Eeze, Mysids...>
I would like to try pellet food also for him, but so far most of the pellet food I have seen for a fish his size are sinking pellets.
<Look into the finer size of Spectrum...>
As this guy has never ventured to the lower half of the tank, I think they would go to waste. I am wondering if there are floating pellets out there, or should I skip them all together?
<Worth considering, using a brand like that mentioned which is nutritionally complete... Very useful for offering through automatic feeders (what I do) that can deliver a few times per day... very useful for when you are on holiday...>
As always, thanks for the advice. It is greatly appreciated.
Jamie
<And as welcomed. Bob Fenner>

Questions on nano tank setup/inhabitants  7/23/06
Good afternoon WWM Crew!  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your continued support.  I don't know if I would have had the courage to finally "take the plunge" & start my first marine aquarium if it weren't for your valuable website.  I have been researching & reading off & on about reef-keeping for several years & have found this website & the conscientious aquarist such a help.  I have several issues that I'd like your advice on & hope you don't mind the long e-mail.  
<Not at all>
First off I'll tell you a little about my setup.  I have a 12 gal JBJ nano cube dx (I know you are cringing but because of space restraints this was my only option....
<Can be made to work...>
me, my husband, and two babies under age 2 in an 800 sq ft house.  Space is at a premium.)  set up 7 mo.s now.  I have the back three compartments set up as follows:  #1- Chemi pure, carbon, small sponge that is rinsed weekly, and MJ 600 that has tubing aimed over the back wall and down towards the bottom to help w/ flow.  #2- 1/3 full of live rock rubble, Chaeto & light. #3- another MJ 600 powerhead, Visitherm heater & temp probe.  My sg is 1.025, temp a steady 78 degrees, ph 8.2, ammonia- 0, nitrates- 0, nitrites- 0.  I have about 14 lbs live rock, lots of encrusting coralline, Chaeto, red Gracilaria, and unfortunately an ongoing battle w/ hair algae, sigh.  I let the tank cycle 6 weeks before slowwwwwwly adding cleanup crew, then livestock.  This was very hard (self control- wise)!
<Heeee!>
  Inhabitants include 1 ocellaris clown, 1 skunk cleaner shrimp, 3 dwarf blue leg hermits, 5 Nassarius, 2 Astrea, 3 margaritas, 1 small colony of zoas, 1 small colony of pulsing xenia, an ever dwindling population of pods and two new additions:  a toadstool leather & a blenny (Ecsenius bimaculatus).  I do weekly 10% water changes and once a month a 25% water change using reef crystals & distilled water.
First question is regarding the toadstool leather.  It was quarantined for 1 week before adding.  Within an hour of putting in the tank, she had all her tentacles out & was looking happy.  Her base was nice and straight and columnar- about 3" in diameter & she stands about 8" tall.  Now, a week and a half later, her base is hourglass shaped.  She still looks healthy, but midway up her stalk, it curves inward & is about   1 ½" in diameter, with the top & bottom of the stalk still 3" in diameter.  Is this something I should be concerned about?  
<Mmm, not necessarily... a "natural" reaction to being moved...>
I removed a small sponge that was growing up against her stalk while she was in quarantine (didn't know if it could have been exposed to the air).  This didn't seem to affect her at the time.  Also, I've noticed that the margaritas & Astreas occasionally crawl up the stalk (about once or twice a day) and the cleaner shrimp and hermit crabs will climb on her also, but less frequently than the snails.  It doesn't seem to really bother her, as her tentacles stay out during their attention.  Is there anything I should do?
<Mmm, keep an eye on your fishes... as good/best "bio-indicators" here... for signs of distress, have a good deal/volume of pre-made water, another unit of Chemipure to switch out if the Toadstool changes the water chemistry too much, too fast in way/s that mal-affect the other livestock>
She is the showpiece of my tank & I've grown quite attached already...would be sad to lose her but I could find a new home for her if you feel she won't thrive in my tank.
<Mmm... will have to "trim", "frag" this soft coral in time...>
Concern #2:  The bimac blenny.  He was in a short quarantine (5 days) because I've read that this is best for blenny's, made even shorter because he didn't seem to eat a thing in quarantine.  Otherwise, he seemed quite happy & healthy spending much of his time perched on his rock.  My first concern is that I have never (in three weeks) seen him eat.  There is plenty of algae in the tank & I also feed a rotation of frozen formula 1, Sweetwater zooplankton, formula 2 flakes, brine shrimp, and small bio blend pellets.  Also, soak food occasionally in vita chem.  I feel like it's a good assortment & there should be something in there he likes.  The clown can be quite aggressive at feeding time, so I've tried putting her fav's at one side of the tank & while she is preoccupied, dropping the formula 2 flakes & bio blend pellets on the other side near the blenny.  I can see his little eyes moving as he watches the food, but he never makes a move towards it.  
<Hopefully is "nibbling" on this and that when you're not watching>
Also haven't seen him grazing on any algae either.  Are they bottom feeders, or do they eat from the water column?
<Actually a good deal of/from both... nibbling filamentous algae types that are attached, and small free-swimming animals in the near-bottom water column... more or less continuously during daylight hours>
Haven't been able to find this info anywhere.
<Have observed Ecsenius blennies for long hours underwater>
Then yesterday evening, noticed him rubbing a little on the rocks- which is normal behavior in a blenny from what I read.
<Also correct>
But he was also occasionally twitching & flashing his tail- if you can understand what I mean.
<Yes... a type of "non-verbal communication"... likely intended for the Clown and you>
But no other signs of crypt that I can tell.  The clown has never had it so I don't think it's in my tank unless the blenny has had it all along & just now showing signs.
<I don't think this is Crypt, or other parasite>
  Should I put the blenny back in quarantine or will this be too much stress?  Anything I can do to entice him to eat?  
<Just what you are doing really>
I haven't seen any signs of aggression from the clown- thought this might be stressing him but have ruled it out.
Next question-  Down the road (maybe in another 6 months or so) if everything is still going smoothly, do you feel it would be okay to add a dwarf feather duster & a Florida Ricordea to this system?
<These choices should go here fine>
After those two additions, my wish list is done- or am I maxed out already?
<Close to it, and more... with growth, asexual reproduction>
I'm aware of the allelopathy issues that can occur but would like to give it a try.  Maybe with the Chemi-pure & carbon & frequent water changes it could work out?
<Yes>
I would appreciate your take on this.
And my very last question...I promise!  What is your opinion of Boyd's vita chem.?
<A good product... I have used this...>
Is this a good product, or am I just feeding my hair algae?
<Only to a small degree... Worth using for the benefits it affords your other livestock IMO>
Thanks in advance for your consideration.  It is much appreciated!!!
-Jaime
<Thank you for writing so well, sharing... Your intelligence, learning and passion for life shine through. Bob Fenner>

Teeny, Tiny Algae Chompers
Alright, I have done (what I feel anyways) is quite a bit of searching around, and I cannot seem to find out if the entire genus Ecsenius, eats undesired algae in the home aquarium.  
< I would be uncomfortable making a blanket statement that every species in the genus eats algae, but the majority of them do have algae as a major component of their diet.>
I would be ok with something such as the bi-color blenny, but just feel that 4 inches is too large.
<They tend to hit their maximum sizes, too! Most of 'em are good eaters>
I would much rather Ecsenius opsifrontalis, or the Ecsenius gravieri I would consider a close second, I created a thread on RC, did a search on RC and hear, and checked fishbase to see if the species eat algae, but I couldn't find out.  Anyways your advice would be grand, actually any 2"-ish  fish that ate algae and is reef safe would be great.  
<Tough call... hard to find a reliable algae-consuming fish that stays tiny...I've kept Ecsenius pictus, which stays pretty small, and does like to chomp algae, although not as its exclusive diet. I'm afraid that you may have to use a combination of a blenny, some snails, and manual extraction...Probably best to focus on the elimination of algae through nutrient export mechanisms...Blennies, tangs, etc. are all great, but they don't address the root cause of algae problems...Good luck! Regards, Scott F>
Thanks so much guys!-ducati24

Bicolor blenny not eating
Okay....things are getting back to normal slowly...no ammonia, no nitrates, ph 8.2, nitrates still a little high at 15 (doing 5 percent water changes weekly).
I've got 2 small Percula clowns, a rainfordi goby, cleaner shrimp, pygmy angel (a gorgeous fish!) and a bi-color blenny in my 46 gallon tank (plus a few
snails and hermits and baby starfish)  A couple of issues....although I see waste from the blenny, it does not appear to be eating any food other than sucking at the live rock...I have tried:  formula 2, brine shrimp, flake, dried algae, Cyclop-eeze, and
dried marine algae flake. <Its eating algae and pods from the live rock, which is a good thing.>  It also seems to sift the sand.  I have had it a couple of weeks....a guy at work tells me they eventually eat but it takes a while....what do you think?  Is there something else I should try? <I think that as long as it has stuff from the live rock to eat it will prefer to eat that.>
Also, my clown has had a small white raised spot by it's side swim fin for several weeks...it does not look like ich, it is a little larger.  A guy at the pet store told me clowns get that sometimes and are usually doomed....any thoughts? <It depends on what it is, if its Lymphocystis (Cauliflower looking as it grows) then its not usually fatal> It is eating and acting perfectly normal....doesn't appear stressed at all, so I have been just keeping an eye on it. <Sounds like you are on the right track Lisa, Lymphocystis is usually fixed with good water conditions.  Good luck, MacL>
Regards!
Lisa

Carnivore Bi-Color Blenny
I recently acquired a bi-color blenny, and it was to my surprise and shock when I saw it eat live brine shrimp and squid flesh. I saw that others have posted accounts of blennies eating carnivore flakes, but none that would eat flesh. Is there any fish that may mimic a bi-color blenny? I'm wondering if I have the real deal. 
<Erik, you have the real deal. James (Salty Dog)>
Thanks again,
Erik Cornelissen 

Re: Carnivore Bi-Color Blenny
Bi-Color Blenny
Thanks James. Does this imply that some blennies are omnivores, contrary to what is commonly thought, or that they simply eat flesh in new surroundings or under special conditions? 
<Erik, all fish will eat meat. Take a tang for instance or a Sailfin Blenny known to be algae eaters. That is a preference, but they will eat other foods readily. James (Salty Dog)>