How large is your fish holding system(s)?
900 gallons
How large is your coral/invert holding system(s)?
350 gallons
We also have a 200 gallon live rock curing system and a 150 gallon quarantine/hospital system.
What kind of equipment do you have running on these systems?
Dolphin pumps, Lifegard UV, mechanical & chemical modules, oversized skimmers - made locally, can't recall the name of the company but I have been told they are ETSS "knockoffs" - big downdraft skimmers - titanium heaters, auto-topped off with Kent RO/DI. Invert system has a sump with MH pendant over it, Fiji rock, mangroves, macroalgae. Fish only has bio-balls, some live rock (NO lights over the sump w/live rock)
Most of this was bought second-hand from a store that went out of business - but it works for us!
What kind of substrate/rock/etc are in these systems?
Live aragonite, shallow layer all around, the coral/invert system also has about 50 lbs of Manono rock we brought from home, and a few pieces of Fiji throughout, as well as the Fiji in the sump. The FO system has a few pieces of Fiji here and there, but mostly resin replicas for hiding places/functionality in the FO system.
Do you introduce any additives to help when introducing new animals to these systems?
Not specifically for new arrivals - we spike the food with garlic and vitamin C. We dose the FO system with Kent Essential Elements, and the coral/invert section with Kent Tech CB A&B, Kalkwasser, a splash of iodine and bake for 45 minutes at 350......woops, got carried away
What is your routine acclimation process for new arrivals?
This is an interesing and controversial question. We used to drip acclimate everything - and after talking to a biologist about it, we started floating for temp, then moving fish & inverts straight into the system - mortality actually went DOWN (who'd have thunk?) I think a lot has to do with how fast the bag water goes bad once the bag is opened. I know a lot of people would disagree with me on this - but if my pH and salinity are in line with what the suppliers' systems are/were when the fish left, they are less likely to stress if they are moved quickly, versus if they are left in an open bag/bucket with water going through some fast chemical reactions as fresh air hits the water...
How much loss do you incur each week (rough percentage), and are you satisfied with that number?
This is a VERY interesting question. My numbers have changed dramatically for the better since I changed wholesalers. DOA are few and far between. This week I received a shipment and the ONLY mortality was a bag of 5 emerald crabs - one had died/been eaten and fouled the water, and all the crabs were gone in the murky bag, but all the fish, 50 or so, corals and invertebrates were in awesome condition. It is not unusual to have shipments with NO DOA, or one here or there.
I can count the number of fish I lose in a one or two-week period on ONE hand. I haven't worked out the actual percentage, but it's very low. It didn't used to be, but quality wholesalers make a world of difference.
The occasional fish that shows signs of illness is removed to the hospital system and treated, and we have a pretty good rate of recovery. Yesteday I sold a grouper that I got in January, he had developed a fungal infection (bit lesion on his side -- yuck), we treated, he healed, kept him til all the traces of the lesion were gone, placed him back out in the retail system, and 6 weeks later, he went home with a happy customer (who also knows all of this...)
Jenn
