Sold Out
written by Dave Burr
The Bullseye Pistol Shrimp has a specialized claw that creates a loud clicking noise when it is open or closed. You can hear this noise from outside the aquarium if you listen closely. The Bullseye Pistol Shrimp uses this claw to ward off predators and knock over potential prey. It will scavenge the aquarium eating bits of algae and scraps of meaty food. Unlike most other Pistol Shrimp the Bullseye Pistol Shrimp does not create a symbiotic relationship with gobies. It prefers to live by itself.
Predators: Triggers, larger Hawkfish, Groupers, Lionfish, and large predatory Wrasses may eat Bullseye Pistol Shrimp. They are best kept with reef safe fish.
Feeding: Offer the Bullseye Pistol Shrimp small pieces of meaty foods.
Growth: Maintaining proper pH, Ca, Alk, & Mg levels is important for shrimp. Providing additions of iodine will help the shrimp to molt and grow.
Acclimation: Take the time to do a drip acclimation with any shrimp as they do not tolerate rapid changes in water chemistry very well.
Care Level: EasyWater Chemistry: It is important that proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) are maintained. Raising magnesium levels gradually up to 1400-1600 ppm can help to combat algae outbreaks, just keep CA and Alk in line as you raise the Mg. Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates should be below .10 ppm. We recommend doing a water change when Nitrate levels rise to 10 ppm. It is important to replace your phosphate media when phosphates rise to .10 ppm. Media Reactors make the most efficient use of your phosphate media by fluidizing it.
Dosing: Vivid Aquariums uses and recommends dosing pumps to automate the dosing of additives and keep your levels more constant. A dosing pump can alleviate the chore of manually dosing your aquarium with Ca, Alk, & Mg 2,3, or 4 times per week and will benefit your aquarium by keeping your levels constant through frequent small additions of Ca, Alk, & Mg. Our tanks all progressed when we switched from 3 manual dosings per week to 70 automatic dosings per week and we got a lot more work done.
$ 14.99
written by Dave Burr
Colored Dwarf Feather Dusters come in a variety of colorations including beautiful pinks and yellows. Feather Dusters use their radioles, or "feathers" to filter plankton and small floating organisms from the water into their mouth located at the center of the crown. When disturbed, the Feather Duster can retract quickly into its tube for safety. If severely stressed it can discard its crown (feathers) completely and can grow a new crown.
Placement: When placing Feather Dusters in the aquarium you may bury them in the sand with the crown end of the tube protruding from the sand, or stick them in a hole in the rocks with the crown end facing outward. If they are retracted and you don't know which end is which lay them on the sand bed until they open and then place them into position.
Feeding: Offer the Colored Dwarf Feather Duster phytoplankton and marine snow.
Care Level: Easy
Reef Compatible: Yes
Diet: Omnivore
Range: Indo-Pacific
Family: Sabellidae
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates < .10ppm
Water Chemistry: It is important that proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) are maintained. Raising magnesium levels gradually up to 1400-1600 ppm can help to combat algae outbreaks, just keep CA and Alk in line as you raise the Mg. Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates should be below .10 ppm. We recommend doing a water change when Nitrate levels rise to 10 ppm. It is important to replace your phosphate media when phosphates rise to .10 ppm. Media Reactors make the most efficient use of your phosphate media by fluidizing it.
Dosing: Vivid Aquariums uses and recommends dosing pumps to automate the dosing of additives and keep your levels more constant. A dosing pump can alleviate the chore of manually dosing your aquarium with Ca, Alk, & Mg 2,3, or 4 times per week and will benefit your aquarium by keeping your levels constant through frequent small additions of Ca, Alk, & Mg. Our tanks all progressed when we switched from 3 manual dosings per week to 70 automatic dosings per week and we got a lot more work done.
$ 8.99 $ 9.99
written by Dave Burr
The Emerald Crab is a superb algae eater, and probably one of the very best at cleaning eating bubble algae. It is very useful in keeping reef aquariums clean.
Behavior: Large specimens can be harmful to small fish and invertebrates although this is less likely if there is sufficient algae for the crab to eat.
Growth: Maintaining proper Ca, Alk, & Mg levels is important for growth of their shells.
Feeding: If no algae is present in the aquarium you may supplement the Emerald Crab's diet with live macro algae, dried seaweed (nori), or mysis shrimp.
Tip: Don't forget about your water parameters when combating algae blooms. Water chemistry is every bit as important as a good clean-up crew.
Care Level: Easy
Reef Compatible: Yes
Diet: Omnivore, Herbivore
Range: Caribbean, Atlantic
Family: Majidae
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates < .10ppm
Water Chemistry: It is important that proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) are maintained. Raising magnesium levels gradually up to 1400-1600 ppm can help to combat algae outbreaks, just keep CA and Alk in line as you raise the Mg. Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates should be below .10 ppm. We recommend doing a water change when Nitrate levels rise to 10 ppm. It is important to replace your phosphate media when phosphates rise to .10 ppm. Media Reactors make the most efficient use of your phosphate media by fluidizing it.
Dosing: Vivid Aquariums uses and recommends dosing pumps to automate the dosing of additives and keep your levels more constant. A dosing pump can alleviate the chore of manually dosing your aquarium with Ca, Alk, & Mg 2,3, or 4 times per week and will benefit your aquarium by keeping your levels constant through frequent small additions of Ca, Alk, & Mg. Our tanks all progressed when we switched from 3 manual dosings per week to 70 automatic dosings per week and we got a lot more work done.
$ 16.99
written by Dave Burr
Giant Feather Dusters come in a variety of colorations ranging from tan and white to purple and tan. Feather Dusters use their radioles, or "feathers" to filter plankton and small floating organisms from the water into their mouth located at the center of the crown. When disturbed, the Feather Duster can retract quickly into its tube for safety. If severely stressed it can discard its crown (feathers) completely and can grow a new crown.
Placement: When placing Feather Dusters in the aquarium you may bury them in the sand with the crown end of the tube protruding from the sand, or stick them in a hole in the rocks with the crown end facing outward. If they are retracted and you don't know which end is which, lay them on the sand bed until they open and then place them into position.
Feeding: Offer the Giant Feather Duster phytoplankton and marine snow.
Care Level: Easy
Reef Compatible: Yes
Diet: Omnivore
Range: Indo-Pacific
Family: Sabellidae
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates < .10ppm
Water Chemistry: It is important that proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) are maintained. Raising magnesium levels gradually up to 1400-1600 ppm can help to combat algae outbreaks, just keep CA and Alk in line as you raise the Mg. Nitrates should be below 10 ppm and phosphates should be below .10 ppm. We recommend doing a water change when Nitrate levels rise to 10 ppm. It is important to replace your phosphate media when phosphates rise to .10 ppm. Media Reactors make the most efficient use of your phosphate media by fluidizing it.
Dosing: Vivid Aquariums uses and recommends dosing pumps to automate the dosing of additives and keep your levels more constant. A dosing pump can alleviate the chore of manually dosing your aquarium with Ca, Alk, & Mg 2,3, or 4 times per week and will benefit your aquarium by keeping your levels constant through frequent small additions of Ca, Alk, & Mg. Our tanks all progressed when we switched from 3 manual dosings per week to 70 automatic dosings per week and we got a lot more work done.
$ 44.99
written by Dave Burr
Behavior: The Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish that we sell are aqua-cultured making them a hardy aquarium fish that is great for beginners. Misbarred Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish are a unique variation - their middle stripe is only partial.
As with most clownfish, the Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish is best kept singly unless a pair is introduced together. It may attack other clownfishes and nip at passive tank-mates who wander near its host anemone or territory. Generally, it is a great fish for the reef aquarium and spends much of its time nestled peacefully in its anemone. If you plan to keep other clownfish, it is best to do it in a larger aquarium of 100 gallons or more and provide each clownfish, or pair of clownfish, with their own anemone. That way each fish has a comfortable home and quarrels will be reduced. Adding all of the clownfish at the same time will also help to reduce territorial disputes.
Symbiotic Relationship: The Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish does not require a host anemone for survival; however, it is a real treat for any hobbyist to observe the symbiotic relationship between the clownfish and its host anemone. The anemone provides a safe haven for the clownfish because its tentacles will inflict a painful sting on all but other clownfish. The clownfish, in return, chases off fish that threaten to pick at the anemone and brings it scraps of food. The Ocellaris Clownfish prefers the Long Tentacle Anemone, Rose Bubble Tip Anemone, or Bubble Tip Anemone.
Feeding: Offer the Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish mysis shrimp and frozen herbivore preparations 4-5 times per week. Their diet consists mostly of meaty foods, however they will accept some algae based foods as well. Soaking all fish food with vitamins will help keep your fish healthier and make them less susceptible to disease. We recommend soaking food in garlic as well when adding new fish and whenever your notice ich or other disease in the aquarium. Garlic will help repel external parasites and will boost the fishes immunity.
Feeding Tips: Remember to feed slowly. Leftover food will cause nitrates and phosphates to rise. If you see food falling to the sand bed and into the rocks, you should feed slower and give the fish a chance to eat before adding a little more. Using a turkey baster allows you to target food to different fish. For example you can feed the aggressive fish on one side of the tank and then squirt a little bit on the other side for the less aggressive fish. This way all the fish get a chance to eat enough.
Maximum Length: 3.5"
Care Level: Easy
Family: Pomacentridae
Reef Compatibility: Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size: 20 gal.
Range: Australia, Aqua-cultured
Diet: Omnivore
Water Conditions: 75-80° F; sg 1.024-1.026 (1.025 is ideal); pH 8.1-8.4 Ca 420-440 ppm, Alk 8-9.5 dKH, Mg 1260-1350, Nitrates <10ppm, Phosphates, < .10ppm
Water Chemistry: Maintaining Ammonia at 0 ppm, Nitrites at 0 ppm, and Nitrates below 10ppm will help to keep your Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish happy and healthy. We recommend doing a water change soon after Nitrates rise above 10 ppm. Maintaining proper calcium (420-440 ppm), alkalinity (8-9.5 dkh - run it 7-8 if you are carbon dosing) , and magnesium levels (1260-1350 ppm) will help to keep pH stable in the 8.1-8.4 range. We recommend a specific gravity of 1.024-1.026 with 1.025 being ideal for fish. Temperature should remain stable as well and should stay within a 2 degree range.