El Guappo's 10G Critter Cornucopia Pic updated Jan 15

[ElGuappo]

First things First I would like to send a huge thanks out to Red Coral, Coral Master (aka Snappy), And Riverfront for all your help and Great deals.

Equipment:

Tank - (Free - $16.99)
Mag Cleaner (Free - $12.99)
Digital Thermometer (Free - $10.99)
Marina LED HUB (Free - $14.99
Marina LED Light x 3 (Free - $9.99 each)
LR - (Free)
Sand 15LBS - (Free)
Aqua Clear Surface Skimmer Attatchment (used - $14.99 New) - (Free)
Rio Nano Skimmer (used - $34.95-8.74) -$26.21
Hagen Glo 2x24W T5HO (used) - $50.00
Aqueon 50w Heater (new) - $25.99
Koralia 1 (Used $29.95-$7.49) - $22.46
Koralia Nano (used $28.95 - $7.24) - $21.71


Total = $146.37

Live Stock / Corals

Pink Line Wrasse x 1 $34.99 Local Vender.
Fire Fish x 2 = $17.98 (sale price on LA) One Deceased Carpet Surfing
Sexy Shrimp x 4 = $39.96 ( Price on LA)
Bumble Bee Shrimp x 2 = $17.98 (LA)
Pepermint Shrimp x 2 = $8.98 ( Sale Price on LA)
Pom Pom Crabs x 3 = $29.85 JL
Acro $15.00 (2" - 5" as per guidlines) Thanks Red Coral
SPS x 3 = $30.00 (< 2" as per guidlines) 1 x Acropora Convexa, 1 x Ol' Yeller Acro, 1 x Sky Blue A. loisetteae Stag. Thanks Coral Master
Monti = $10.00 (< 2" as per guidlines) Green Monti Cap Thanks Coral Master
Zoa Frags x 2 = $10 ( as per Guidlines)
Toadstool Seedling = $5.00 (As Per Discussion Thread) I also have one for sale for $5. pm me if interested. Smaller than a dime.
Nass Snail x 2 = $3.58 JL
Small Turbo Snail = $1.95 JL
Astria Snail x 2 = $3.38 JL
Marg Snail x 2 = $3.38 JL
Scarlett Hermit = $2.99 LA
Bumble Bee Snail x 2 = $8.97 JL
Blue legged Hermit x 2 = $2.58 LA
Acro Crab x1 = FREE (Hitcher on small colony)

Total - $246.57

Grand Total. $392.94 Out of a Possible $395.45

Empty Tank : Oct 2/08
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2909119268_a8ae6f3ecd_b.jpg

November 15th Pic. mind the algae as the bloom is just finishing up.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/3032248521_749a87863a_b.jpg

December 15th Pic
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/3112957792_7c3069070c_b.jpg

Jan 15 Pic
Obviously there are some coral in there that are not part of the contest.
http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/Jan15FTS.jpg

Feb 15 Pic
http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/10GContestFront7.jpg

[JDigital]

J&L's Price is $19.95... so take off 25%.. $14.96 would be the cost to deduct from ur budget.
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=F-4140

[ElGuappo]

Ok some prices on things i may use and some additional info that may help others since i was already on the page looking at prices.

Aquaclear HOB Filters

30) $26.95 - $6.74 = $20.21
50) $32.95 - $8.24 = $24.71

Surface Skimmer $14.95 - 3.74 = 11.21

Rio Nano Skimmer $34.95 - 8.74 = $26.21

Koralia PH's

Nano $28.95 - $7.24 = $21.71
1 $29.95 - $7.49 = $22.46
2 $37.95 - $9.49 = $28.46

i also have a 50 watt elite heater i have no idea the value of gotta be less than the jager? $15?

Also i have a 24 inch coralife T5 fixture i am wanting to use. i just sold one for 50 was asking 55. wondering what a fair price for this would be? 50?55? 60?
its not on the jl site as its even cheaper than the cheap coralifes they have. if i recall this retailed at around 70 when i bought it.

I do not have all the above listed PH's filters etc but i have a couple. i just figured i would pull the numbers off the site for others. (just the ones of interest to nanos on the pages i was already on)

[JDigital]

Those prices are for used pieces of gear, correct?

[ElGuappo]

yes all mentioned equiptment is used. i have been running a 10 for 6 monthes now and i will just be tearing it down and starting over. it is currently being used but i will dry out and clean before startup. is a temp tank for now as i was just waiting for my rsm to cycle. should be done now.

[ElGuappo]

I will be editing the fisrt post with equiptment used and picks from each monthe. along with the prices of all used and new gear.

some items may be changed before the tank is setup.

[ElGuappo]

Equipment update.

[yeeg]

How do you get a free tank?

[JDigital]

How do you get a free tank?

Just part of the "free" items for the contest.

[JDigital]

btw... where did you get the surface skimmer.. I think i am gonna have to scrap my DIY arcylic one...

[ElGuappo]

btw... where did you get the surface skimmer.. I think i am gonna have to scrap my DIY arcylic one...

its actually made for and aquaclear hob filter but i am currently running it on this ans so far its doing well.

ive seen them everywhere, from riverfront, picses, petland, big als. i believe its actually made for FW so shops that specialize in SW probably wont have it. i beleive "toms" makes one aswell. under around $15 everywhere soooooooooooo does it fall into the "FREEBIE" SECTION??? LOL New price at JL is $14.95 and i got mine for free with purchse of a aquaclear 50 at picsies about 4 monthes ago.

[ElGuappo]

So i have all my Gear now and am FAR too impatient. How bad do i wanna get this thing wet now. First tank pic updated.

[ElGuappo]

Does this count as a free item this is jls new and our used price. the one i am using was actually free with my AC 50 HOB filter. i assume yes but i would like some opinoins before i deduct this from my budget.

Surface Skimmer $14.95 - 3.74 = 11.21

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/pf-acpskm/Hagen+Aquaclear+Surface+Skimmer.html

[JDigital]

Does this count as a free item this is jls new and our used price. the one i am using was actually free with my AC 50 HOB filter. i assume yes but i would like some opinoins before i deduct this from my budget.

Surface Skimmer $14.95 - 3.74 = 11.21

http://www.jlaquatics.com/product/pf-acpskm/Hagen+Aquaclear+Surface+Skimmer.html

If you got it with your AC 50.. just deduct your AC 50 price.. :)

[ElGuappo]

not using the ac50

[JDigital]

not using the ac50

Free then. lol

[ElGuappo]

wow once i get all my corals and such im not going to have a whole lot of budget left. what to do for LS??????

[JDigital]

wow once i get all my corals and such im not going to have a whole lot of budget left. what to do for LS??????

I could split the bag I have... but not sure its something you would want..

As for budget, try adding a sump to the equation.. its gonna be tight for me.. LOL

[ElGuappo]

:twised:AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. the anticipation is killing me.:twised: only 4 days until i can get it wet....:mrgreen:

[JDigital]

:twised:AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. the anticipation is killing me.:twised: only 4 days until i can get it wet....:mrgreen:

I would have liked to bump the start date up, but still waiting for payment from a few people.. My tank is ready for water now too.. :razz:

[justinl]

Is there any particular reason why you are using a zoo-med powersweep? If it is for the sweeping action, be warned it usually doesn't last more than a month. cheap plastic gears give fast. plus it's a weak, big, ugly powerhead. imo MJs are the most economical. I prefer koralias but they're a little bit more expensive.

[ElGuappo]

Is there any particular reason why you are using a zoo-med powersweep? If it is for the sweeping action, be warned it usually doesn't last more than a month. cheap plastic gears give fast. plus it's a weak, big, ugly powerhead. imo MJs are the most economical. I prefer koralias but they're a little bit more expensive.

Mostly i just wanted to give it a try. i like the idea of the flow not being in a fixed direction. if it doesnt last fine(thanks for the warning) i will just put a used koralia in as a have a few lying around. agreed it is pretty big and the mounting bracket SUCKS. the flow wont be and issue as i think it may be closer to too much than not enough. i tested it in my current 10g and blew the Crap outta my torch (they claim the 214 is for upto 30 gallons). i do preffer koralias myself but wanted to try something new.

MJ's ??????????

[Chaloupa]

MJ's ??????????

Maxijets

[ElGuappo]

maxijets

ty ..... Doh

[ElGuappo]

OK so silicon should be dry today and then i can get some sand rock and water in tonight. :mrgreen:

[ElGuappo]

First tank shot after adding water. rock structure isnt final i still have to make room for a skimmer and such.

Didnt do much modding as i wanted to keep it as stock as possible just because of the original theme of a low budget tank. i know all plumping etc. is free but in real life it is not so i just decided to keep this tank as storebought as possible. all i did was silicon a piece of acrylic to the back corner creating a small in tank refugium.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2953691648_3dbf5e0286_b.jpg

[ElGuappo]

Whoops trying to hide all indications of my ignorance.

[ElGuappo]

Whoops.

[JDigital]

Well nobody has made any complaints yet to me restarting this thread so i will have this one deleted shortley.

I don't see any reason to delete?? We all have extra chatter in our threads.. Just causing extra work for the mods.

[ElGuappo]

First tank shot after adding water. rock structure isnt final i still have to make room for a skimmer and such.

Didnt do much modding as i wanted to keep it as stock as possible just because of the original theme of a low budget tank. i know all plumping etc. is free but in real life it is not so i just decided to keep this tank as storebought as possible. all i did was silicon a piece of acrylic to the back corner creating a small in tank refugium.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/2955755080_17dc5cda8c.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3219/2955752236_4c0c13f3cf.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2954903947_72af3fd9b2.jpg Mad skills look at the camera strap.

[JDigital]

I like the in-tank refuge... Nice idea!

[ElGuappo]

The actuall placement of it was the hardest part. i was going to do a flowerbox style along the side wall at mid hight. then just he whole side of the tank. now im debating having the inlet of my nano skimmer inside this to increase flow a bit. i think it worked out well as its a reasonable size and really doesnt take away from the tank size.

Thanks to doug for cutting the acrylic for me. the holes arnt excatlly semetrical as i free handed it i was just in a hurry to get it in. you probably wouldn't even notice if i didnt tell. not off by much.

[Ryan_Lap]

you probably wouldn't even notice if i didnt tell. not off by much.

Now Ill remember to dock points off in the end of the competition....:biggrin:

[ElGuappo]

Feel Free :mrgreen: between my roomate moving out and other crap im just happy to have water in it at this point.:wink:

Now Ill remember to dock points off in the end of the competition....:biggrin:

[Ryan_Lap]

I have no water :cry:

[ElGuappo]

Future LS and prices Updated.

[ElGuappo]

Thanks to red coral and kevin for hooking me up with a great deal.

[ElGuappo]

Got the nano skimmer in today and think i have found a rock formation that i can live with..... For now:wink: all that is left is too get the 2 pep shrimp i have in there taking care of some aptaisia out then put in contest LS. if the surface skimmer works aswell as i think it will then this could work out nicely. :mrgreen:

PS anyone have any nano fish they want to get rid of ? Cheap?

[tgoeujon]

any pics with the skimmer. looks good so far.

[ElGuappo]

its just a rio nano skimmer with the surface skimmer attatchment from a aqua clear filter. i will try to get a pic tommorrow but ive don a decent job of hiding it.

[OCDP]

Looks great.. I also like the in-tank refugium.. great idea, and it looks sweet! :mrgreen:

[ElGuappo]

well at this point i have 14 cents left in my budget. wow talk about cutting it close. i had to remove a nass snail to make room for my firefish in the budget.

LS goes in the tank tommorrow. Hopefully. i seem to be having a small algae outbreak.

[ElGuappo]

prices Moded as i had to use a different PH as the prior did not provide enough flow.

[ElGuappo]

Well since i now know we are using Jl and LA prices for evertyhing i have a little more budget to play with. very nice. dont know how i missed the fact that ALL LS prices were from these sites. :redface:

[ElGuappo]

Just looked at my tank to find that one of my fire fish went carpet surfing while i was out tihs evening. whats the story on this ?

Really Psssss's me OFF. i went got a slideing top so light woudl be better than a hinge. and i have no idea how it made it out of the tinny little sopt at the back.

[JDigital]

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=45252&page=4

Post #33.

[ElGuappo]

I have read this post and it really comes to no conclusion at all. just a couple peoples opinions and asking for more suggetions thus far.

Edit: The last sentence of the post just leaves it with the feeling its still open to debate. i have no problem having it come out of the budget.

[ElGuappo]

Okay so i am having a huge algae out break so i will be reomoving everthing form my tank for the time being. i may change out some of the corals but the ls list will most likely remain, with the exception to the firefish.

i will be keeping 1 firefish in my budget as he went linolium surfing. ( i think my roomie may have done something while i was out as i have no idea how it made it to where it did on the floor with a closed top?)

[rocketlily]

I was also having a huge algae outbreak. After adding a couple of little snails and 1 little crab, all the algae is gone. Even the cynano that was starting to develop is gone.

[ElGuappo]

Can we use super special pricing.??/ aka sale prices on these sites? JL and LA?

[ElGuappo]

So i have updated my LS list please check out this page as i am using the sale price on pep shrimp. just need the price to be whitnessed before the sale ends.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=497+525

[Ryan_Lap]

saw it $4.49:biggrin:

[ElGuappo]

TY and wow that was quick.:mrgreen:

[Ryan_Lap]

Pom Pom Crabs x 3 = $40.00 (Not on either site what i paid)


http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=497+501+1474&pcatid=1474

Found em

[ElGuappo]

ya but i cant find a price on them did you find that under crabs? i cant see it anywhere on the main crab page. nevermind i scrolled down.

Wow thats expensive. i have never paid that much for one OH WELL.

[Ryan_Lap]

Fire Fish x 2 = $25.90 JL


Firefish are on sale on LA

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=747+871+168&pcatid=168&N=0

[ElGuappo]

OUtstanding thanks for the heads up as i am paying for 2 but 1 went carpet surfing already. i have no idea how it made it out of the tank as its nearly tight. Can someone confirm the 8.99 Price for me again? TY

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=747+871+168&pcatid=168&N=0

[ElGuappo]

OK so the in tank refug seemed like a good idea until i noticed that everyday i have to save the life of a hermit or pompom by yanking them out of the cheato. i would like to put some egg crate ontop but this will not allow snails to get in there. any suggestions? also if anyone has a small acrylic dowel i could use as an escape route that would be great. i would just rough it up abit so that crabs could use this as a ladder to escape the refug.

[JDigital]

OK so the in tank refug seemed like a good idea until i noticed that everyday i have to save the life of a hermit or pompom by yanking them out of the cheato. i would like to put some egg crate ontop but this will not allow snails to get in there. any suggestions? also if anyone has a small acrylic dowel i could use as an escape route that would be great. i would just rough it up abit so that crabs could use this as a ladder to escape the refug.


Got any PVC pipe laying around? Sand it down, toss it in. :wink:

[ElGuappo]

Got any PVC pipe laying around? Sand it down, toss it in. :wink:

with the luck i have had with this tank sofar, i think they would crawl inside and die. but worth a try if i cant find a small piece of dowel. only needs to be 8 ". thats long not diameter.

[ElGuappo]

finally found pompoms on JL and i will be changing to this price. it is on the NEW and Noteworthy page and is half of the LA price.

[JDigital]

finally found pompoms on JL and i will be changing to this price. it is on the NEW and Noteworthy page and is half of the LA price.

Thanks for the heads up. :mrgreen:

[ElGuappo]

so while adding things to the budget i have been doing the math as i go and apparently made some errors. grand total was correct but LS total was way off.

Just a heads up for the rest of you to double check once in a while.

[ElGuappo]

Okay so today i got most of my coral mounted. all that is left is to mount the zoas. maybe add some rics. just a heads up i am totally going to abuse the larger than a twoonie rule with a YEAH LARGE ric. :twised:

Going to add a second PH i think so hoping the budget has some room .

[Ryan_Lap]

Yah I was running a koralia 1 and it just wasnt moving water around enough for me. Upped it to a koralia 4 and holy water movement. Maybe thats what broke the tank.....:biggrin:

2 1's would probably work good for you....or just upgrade to a 2 or 3 as that may be cheaper.

[sphelps]

just a heads up i am totally going to abuse the larger than a twoonie rule with a YEAH LARGE ric. :twised:

That's Ok, my one maze brain is pretty big, if it was in a standard 10gal you wouldn't be able to clean the glass with a magnet.

[ElGuappo]

i have already tried a 2 and thought it was too much in one spot for such a small tank. going to add a nano to the opposite back corner from the 1. i am hoping this will help draw more water through the refug as well. i had to put a piece of brance rock into it as i have had a hard time with crabs falling in. i changed the rock structure quit a bit so i dont think it will be and issue but i will leave this piece for now.

good thing for that budget increase.:mrgreen: WHens the vote for the second budget increase. 0- 50- 100????????

[superduperwesman]

i have already tried a 2 and thought it was too much in one spot for such a small tank. going to add a nano to the opposite back corner from the 1. i am hoping this will help draw more water through the refug as well. i had to put a piece of brance rock into it as i have had a hard time with crabs falling in. i changed the rock structure quit a bit so i dont think it will be and issue but i will leave this piece for now.

good thing for that budget increase.:mrgreen: WHens the vote for the second budget increase. 0- 50- 100????????

ahaha

[ElGuappo]

Well we are still well under $500 for the tank and thats a pretty low budget still. but i guess i should have voted for a larger increase the first time.:twised:

[superduperwesman]

Well we are still well under $500 for the tank and thats a pretty low budget still. but i guess i should have voted for a larger increase the first time.:twised:

Yeah I just thought it was funny because we'll see how many other people will be wishing the same thing in a few weeks/months but we just made a change already a little while ago.

I guess we'll just have to hope things grow like crazy

[Ryan_Lap]

Yeah I just thought it was funny because we'll see how many other people will be wishing the same thing in a few weeks/months but we just made a change already a little while ago.

I guess we'll just have to hope things grow like crazy

Especially when things start dying, jumping out of tanks, and running into powerheads....

[ElGuappo]

Especially when things start dying, jumping out of tanks, and running into powerheads....

NO SHIP... just one fish carpet surfing on day 4. still discouraged.

[Ryan_Lap]

Maybe if you find a "used one" you could find room in your budget to replace it.

[ElGuappo]

i have been told there is no used value on LS. just equiptment.

Plus i want that budget for another type of shrimp im trying to get.

[Ryan_Lap]

oh yah..my mind is slipping.:biggrin:

Well from what I see you still have a bit of cushion on your budget.

[JDigital]

Contest Reminder:

**Updated FTS and Budget Required today (Nov 15/08) to remain in the contest**

[ElGuappo]

FIRST POST UPDATED!

Just a night time pic.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3032254495_852f013559.jpg

Random angle pic.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/3033087270_efb0484647.jpg

[ElGuappo]

Well today i picked up a few more critters. i finally found some bumble bee shrimp x 2. i also found a nice ittle wrasse. its supposed to be called a pink line wrasse. supposidly i am the first owner in calgary of such a fish as its only been discovered in the last 2 years. this is what i was told at ocean city. its in the mystery wrasse family.

Any way i will be adding them to my budget after i put them in the appropriate tank.

[Delphinus]

Oh you can't post something like that and not post a picture. I think that's grounds for a warning mister. Correct this travesty at once!

[ElGuappo]

Working on a pic but hes still a little skiddish and not showing his face too much right now. looks like a six line only the stripes instead of being red and blue on the sixline, his stripes are indigo, pink and yellow. they colors are very pastel looking. they color around the eyes is orange gold. tail is still greenish like a sixline. to sum up its color a little better . GOLDISH WITH INDIGO STRIPES.

WILL ADD PICS WHEN THE FISH LETS ME !!!!!

[ElGuappo]

tried to find it in the books at the store wasnt in any of them which leads to to believe what i was told to be true. upon closr inspection looks very simular to a mystery in color but a sixline in patter. eyes are an incredible orange gold color.

Still working on pic but i can oly sit infront of a tank with a camera in hand for so long.:mrgreen:

[ElGuappo]

Editing my sexy shrimp price to the sale price on LA $5.99.

Could someone in the contest please confrim the price...
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=497+525

Thank You.

[Delphinus]

Very interesting about the wrasse. Now I want to check my wrasse field ID book but indeed if it's a new discovery within 2 years, my book will predate that. It sounds very interesting and all razzing aside (I know how hard it can be to photograph a wrasse, I can't even get photos of my sixline except by accident if he swims into the frame when I press the shutter release while I'm trying to photograph something else :lol:), I hope you do get a photo soon because I'd love to see it. :cool:

[noirsphynx]

Editing my sexy shrimp price to the sale price on LA $5.99.

Could someone in the contest please confrim the price...
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=497+525

Thank You.

And if you get to use that price but had the sexy's before the contest do you get to deduct another 25% off that?

[ElGuappo]

And if you get to use that price but had the sexy's before the contest do you get to deduct another 25% off that?

No i am not claiming any used value for any livestock. these were puchased for this tank anyway. just dont want any confusion toward pricing. i feel by the end of the contes all things in my tank will have gone on sale at some point on either site and thats good enough for me. after all this about putting a tank together as cheaply as possible right. this is only a 6 monthe contest so ia m not willing to wait for something to go onsale before i buy, but i will gladly use a sale price on something i have in the tank.

[superduperwesman]

Editing my sexy shrimp price to the sale price on LA $5.99.

Could someone in the contest please confrim the price...
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/aquarium-fish-supplies.cfm?c=497+525

Thank You.


Yeah I see it... but I'm confused. I mean I thought we were some what trying to simulate reality here meaning if you see a deal on something you buy it... i.e. "I'm gonna buy some sexy shrimp because I can use this price" but if you already have it??

I know we could argue this all day but I think the first price you post should be the one you stick with... meaning you should wait to update your budget until the end of the month and watch for deals that entire month but once you got it... you got it... and for what you "paid"... just like reality... kinda.

And then you watch for next months deals... just my 2 cents.

Any price that crosses the monthly deadline should be the price you stick with unless you take it out of the tank (sell it etc.) and I mean you can still cheat and "sell it" then "buy a new one" but I trust the honor system.

But we should try to reality... somewhat

[superduperwesman]

. this is only a 6 monthe contest so ia m not willing to wait for something to go onsale before i buy

A valid point

[sphelps]

Wait a minute. There's no way we can just start changing all our pricing due to random sales.
In order to use a sale price or "good deal" price you should have to buy it at that price. You can't buy something at regular price and then wait for a sale price later on to use, this isn't Visions Electronics.
Yeah I know it's a 6 month contest and you don't want to wait but that's how it is, if you think something will go on sale or you'll get a good deal later you should have to wait.
I think from this point on, unless you made an honest mistake or removed healthy livestock, once you update your budget it's final.

[JDigital]

Wait a minute. There's no way we can just start changing all our pricing due to random sales.

Agreed! No editting prices when you come across a sale months after buying something.

Sorry Guappo, but you need to revert back to the original price you had.

[ElGuappo]

Agreed! No editting prices when you come across a sale months after buying something.

Sorry Guappo, but you need to revert back to the original price you had.

no worries

I will get to it later i just finished with editing the prices and re editing is not on my list of things to do right now.

[ElGuappo]

So again what was once allowed is now NOT.

this puts me over budget so i need a ruling on what i can use for sale prices?

can shrimp that i introduced when i noticed the sale remain at that price???

Can the fire fish whos price i changed 10 days after i introduced remain at sale price?????? also 1 of the 2 is deceased. i know i will get no sympathy from JD on this.

will change the sexy price back but i guess ineed an answer on the others.

Also i am not the only one to edit prices after finder a better price than you already have listed. perhaps if this had a hard set of rules to start then this would be less of an issue. i understand that it is a first run and errors in rules will happen but when someone has been pricing and posting prices for all to see then suddenly get a complaint, that is BS. No one had any problems with this before now, i had posted changes the same as this before and asked if it was alright. i was told yes it was and now it is not. WHATS THE DEAL.

All i am saying is that i had an amount in my budget remaining and went and spent it today and just like that im over budget.

They way i see it i can do one of two things.

I can try to remove livestock that has sttled into this tank and is happy

Or just donate my 20 to the rest of you and consider doing this on the 5th try when maybe someone can be told one thing and the rules wont change 2 weeks later.

[sphelps]

My suggestion was to avoid that issue was "from now on"

But the shrimp price you updated today and you asked for conformation, so I don't know how changing that put you over budget?

[ElGuappo]

its not the shrimp from today that will do it its the goby and pep shrimp.

[sphelps]

Just change the shrimp and leave the rest, it wasn't clear until now so I don't think anyone can hold that against you.

[ElGuappo]

Updated

[superduperwesman]

Yeah don't sweat it too much... just watch for deals before you "buy" (post)... it's all good. You're definitely being honest about how your pricing which I respect.. I think we just want to simulate "reality" as much as possible... and a card laid is a card played ahah I mean a price displayed is your budget paid

[ElGuappo]

It would be much easier to wait until deals happened if i lived on the coast. i live in calgary and pretty much have no choice but to buy something i want whn i see it, or else its gone. i dont order LS online so i really have no choice unfortunatley.

Point taken. My argument is that i Knew before we could put water in here what i was getting but availablility was an issue from the get go for some things. I dont like ordering thru a store when it may not come in for a monthe it its back ordered or hard to get a hold off. Not really an argument now as the situation has resolved itself, but in a six monthe contest when you have a set stocking list and some things are not readilly available you grab it when its around. you cant wait for a sale on an american website and hope your your local vendors are going to have sexy shrimp, pompom crabs or bumble bee shrimp on hand.

[ElGuappo]

A couple pics

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3040630670_9d01eefbf4_b.jpg



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/3039791617_5ac7b5517c_b.jpg

[sphelps]

It would be much easier to wait until deals happened if i lived on the coast. i live in calgary and pretty much have no choice but to buy something i want whn i see it, or else its gone. i dont order LS online so i really have no choice unfortunatley.

I wouldn't complain about your 5 or more saltwater stores, we have 1 in Saskatoon and you're still closer to the coast than us. It always takes a little effort to get a good deal, same deal over here.

Tank looks good BTW.

[fishytime]

Secretive wrasse?

[ElGuappo]

Well i noticed today that one of my pompoms has an eggsac and im hoping i may get lucky enough for a few to survive. i have already noticed baby astrea snails in this tank and think its lack of preditors may enable me to have a small survival rate.

[ElGuappo]

whats the deal on items that breed in your tank. say for instance i do manage to yeild a few offspring from the eggsac of my pompom. can i sell these and use the money from the sale to reinvest into my tank???

Just figured i would ask in the off chance i get some young snails or shrimp.

[ElGuappo]

Well if these arnt the most mysterious critters ever. i dont think a whole lot is really known about them , but in the time i have set this tank up i have learned a few things. Like a pom pom with no nems will use things such as zoas in replacement.

I really should not have added fish to this tank and done a nocternal theme. the craziest stuff happens under moon lights. for instance i saw one of my bumble bee shrimp mount the other, and tonight i thought one og my pompoms was using a bristle worm for a nem and upon later inspection he was eating the bristle. great unexpected suprise.

All 3 crabs had 2 nems when i bought them and since have gone from 6 nems (2 each ) to 3 total and now back up to 5 nems. i have never seen one split its nem but it seems to me that they will fight for what nems are being carried by another.

Just a few fun facts i have come to notice.

[JDigital]

Well if these arnt the most mysterious critters ever. i dont think a whole lot is really known about them , but in the time i have set this tank up i have learned a few things. Like a pom pom with no nems will use things such as zoas in replacement.

I really should not have added fish to this tank and done a nocternal theme. the craziest stuff happens under moon lights. for instance i saw one of my bumble bee shrimp mount the other, and tonight i thought one og my pompoms was using a bristle worm for a nem and upon later inspection he was eating the bristle. great unexpected suprise.

All 3 crabs had 2 nems when i bought them and since have gone from 6 nems (2 each ) to 3 total and now back up to 5 nems. i have never seen one split its nem but it seems to me that they will fight for what nems are being carried by another.

Just a few fun facts i have come to notice.

That's pretty cool... You should try and get some video of it..

[ElGuappo]

my camera apparently is trash i cannot get a decent pic let alone a vid.

[ElGuappo]

Well havent posted any pics in a while and im up late doing a virus scan so here goes.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3052/3060358313_d72f44ab6b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/3061193818_85aa6bf468.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/3061187718_6d6f134b9f.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/3061188720_8908664dd8.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/3061191796_5844634031_b.jpg

[ElGuappo]

Added 3 Bumble Bee Snails yesterday. Budget Updated.


Also wondering if i can remove my turbo snail and recover that little part of the budget? it has been my plan from the get go to have these BB snails and the only reason i added the turbo was i had a algae out break that is now just barely coming under control.

[noirsphynx]

Love the bumble bee shrimps. I'm hoping to find a couple for my pico that houses my sexy's.

[superduperwesman]

Also wondering if i can remove my turbo snail and recover that little part of the budget?

Yes... it's alive... you could sell it or put it in another tank so I don't see why wouldn't you be able too?

[rocketlily]

Yes... it's alive... you could sell it or put it in another tank so I don't see why wouldn't you be able too?

This would mean that we could take out and replace stock anytime we wanted?

[sphelps]

This would mean that we could take out and replace stock anytime we wanted?
Yeap I think we established that is OK

[ElGuappo]

Good to know thank you .

[superduperwesman]

This would mean that we could take out and replace stock anytime we wanted?

Sure why not? It happens in non contest life all the time? As long as it's not some kinda in and out scam that doesn't simulate real life at all... and people will know and then I'm sure they'll have some words for you, but otherwise I don't see why not??

I mean you could "take something out" when it really died but that's not being honest... just use your best judgment. I think you can generally tell what's acceptable.

What if my other tank crashes and I quickly have to throw a fish few fish in my nano for a few days while I get things sorted out and they die... do I have to deduct them from my budget?? We can simulate a thousand scenarios but I think you just to the best you can to be honest and fair

[ElGuappo]

Just wondering about things like frags/offspring that we can sell/trade out of our tanks???

if i sell some thing like a frag that has grown out of my tank or say baby shrimp can i reintroduce that money back into my tank without it counting against my budget?

The reason i ask is i have noticed my zoas quite rapidly as there is already at least 3-4 new polyps on 1 frag. also i have noticed my sexies and bumble shrimp listen to "Barry White" fairly often ( had no idea they had little nano cd players for shrimp).:mrgreen::redface::wink:

Also if frags/offspring are sold/traded within the contest then obviously we would be able to adjust prices accordingly even if the sale was less or more than the original cost.

If frags/offspring are sold/traded outside the contest would we be able to leave our budget as adjusted presale and introduce the "sale money/ new frag" to our tanks under no penalty with records of sale?

Figured i would ask now before its an issue. main reason i ask is i dont know if they are all hithers or what but my snail population seems to be rising exponentially.

[scholar]

i would say no to this due to the fact that it could cause the budget to be endless. on nano-reef it was shot down instanly

[JDigital]

No sales from the tank...

[sphelps]

No sales from the tank...I'm confused. So you can take livestock out of your tank and deduct from the budget but you can't sell it. What should you do with it?

[Scythanith]

I agree with jDigital. Take it out of the tank if it doesn't fit into the theme and remove it from the budget. But if it's sick or it dies in tank or if you frag some and try to sell it it should not go back to your budget. Good for you if your tank is doing that well already that you're becoming overrun with corals but that shouldn't mean you get money back into your budget.

There are just to many variables being introduced to the rules and no one will know what's allowable or not.

Steve, you can sell it, but you can't claim that in your budget. You'll still have money in your pocket.

It seems people are just "trying" to make this difficult. Wes's post 5 above this one sums it up nicely I think. I like the "just use your best judgment" & "honest and fair". Common sense people.

[Scythanith]

ElGuappo, I dig the red acro on the right of the first picture!

[ElGuappo]

See now wasnt it better to get that out of the way now!!!!!!!

Thanks for the comments

[superduperwesman]

I don't think it's a big deal... how many frags you really gonna get in 6 months while still filling out your tank??

[ElGuappo]

not so much for frags but for snails and such which seem to be breeding like crazy.

[superduperwesman]

not so much for frags but for snails and such which seem to be breeding like crazy.

Even still... how much money you think you'll really get for them in 6 months... I don't care if you want to try and sell them?? But unfortunately its not just me you have to convince :)

[sphelps]

OK sorry guys not trying to be difficult just want to clarify we're all on the same page.

So removing livestock and refunding the budget is fine, we just can't turn a profit to increase the budget, right?

Also what about trading. I thought we could trade frags from the contest tank for other frags without effecting the budget. That seems fair in my judgment but do others agree?

[superduperwesman]

OK sorry guys not trying to be difficult just want to clarify we're all on the same page.

So removing livestock and refunding the budget is fine, we just can't turn a profit to increase the budget, right?

Also what about trading. I thought we could trade frags from the contest tank for other frags without effecting the budget. That seems fair in my judgment but do others agree?

I say sell, trade, genetically modify all you want. I mean how many frags are you really gonna get to trade?? Unless your buying an entire colony deducting the price and fragging it up to trade for other stuff... which happens all the time so why would this be a problem?? Or unless your doing some trimming to clear room for a new piece... in which case why can't you sell it? Your taking value from your tank so why can you not put that value back in in another form? Same deal happens all the time so why would it be a problem.

I bought this colony.. fragged it in half and traded the half for this coral so I only deducted the price of the fully colony... I mean why is that bad??? I happens all the time. As for fragging growth... seriously you think you'll get enough growth in 6 months to be at a huge advantage by frag trading??? I doubt it will be anything substantial, so I don't care if you do it. And if you get that much more growth than me that you can frag it to sell for more budget/more frags you must be doing something right so you deserve all you can get from it.

[superduperwesman]

PS... Seasons Greetings vvv :D

[superduperwesman]

dont know if they are all hithers or what but my snail population seems to be rising exponentially.

Dude you can't sell those and you have to add a cost for them to your budget ;) ahah

[ElGuappo]

I agree with the free tradsies between contest tanks. i was just curious more than anything. Mostly i wanted to know as my pompoms are starting to carry eggs and the bigg daddy of them seems to be hanging out (near by) the female with the egg sac, so i dont think it is totally unexpected for me to rear some babies. who knows the hermits may get them but the pompoms dont seem to be bothered by the hermits and can fend them off easily enough.

So if my pompoms breed i can trade them for coral (from some1s contest tank) no questions asked?

Again just curious for the future, as i am positive either my pompoms, sexies or bumble bee shrimp WILL breed at some point and with the rate my snails reproduce i feel that a small turnover is not too far out of reach.

Again just speculation but just making sure what revisions are allowed before i (or someone else) need to remove newly breeded LS. This tank seems to be one big night club for inverts all that is missing is a CHAMPANGE ROOM.

[ElGuappo]

OH AND YES SEASONS GREATINGS TO ALL. :drinking::x-mas::morning:

[JDigital]

I don't even know why you guys are making this a topic... It is WAY to hard to track an accurate worth of corals being traded, fragged, etc...

Easiest way around it. No, We're not doing that in this contest.

[Scythanith]

I don't even know why you guys are making this a topic... It is WAY to hard to track an accurate worth of corals being traded, fragged, etc...

Easiest way around it. No, We're not doing that in this contest.

Agreed.

[ElGuappo]

So with a little help from fishytime i think i may have ID the wrasse. its by far the closest looking pic i have seen. mine has more blue in the body than the pic but its still close.

http://research.kahaku.go.jp/zoology/Fishes_of_Bitung/data/p155_02b.html

[ElGuappo]

OK so the mini acro colony i had decided to stn onme so i had to frag it. am i still on the hook for the full amount or can i drop the price to 1 frag.? if i sell the frags can i reintroduce that cash into my budget?

[dabandit]

Lol

[superduperwesman]

stn?

[JDigital]

OK so the mini acro colony i had decided to stn onme so i had to frag it. am i still on the hook for the full amount or can i drop the price to 1 frag.? if i sell the frags can i reintroduce that cash into my budget?

You responsible for the colony.

We already went over the re-introduction of cash to the budget. Not Allowed.

[ElGuappo]

Well keeping with the real life thing. in reall life i would sell these frags. not arguing but the whole "real Life" thing, but the aspect doesnt mean anything in this contest. that phrase keeps being brought up but has abslutly no bearing on this contest whatsoever. so i can sell these frags and keep the money but be stuck with and extra 20-40 bucks from the frags but UNLIKE real life i cannot put the money back into the tank. so now i have a huge void on the right side of my tank and money to spend from the frags that were from this piece but i have to spend that cash on a different tank, of something outside reefing. WHATS THE POINT????????????? THIS IS NOTHING LIKE REAL LIFE.

If you dont like this then stop using the phrase REAL LIFE. in REAL LIFE **** happens and it seems in this contest that youhave to handle "it" hitting the fan, but you can do nothing to recouperate aterards even if you are left with Frags that could be sold, but this has nothing to do with your budget. show me how this has anything to do with REAL LIFE.

edit

IN REAL LIFE THIS COLONY COST 45 BUCKS BUT THE FRAGS WOULD GET ME AROUND 60 AS I ENDED UP WITH ABOUT 6 FRAGS. IN REAL LIFE PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY CAN TO KEEP CORAL FROM DIEING OFF ENTIRELY SO INSTEAD OF LETTING THIS PIECE DIE I AM BEING PUNISHED FOR TRYING TO GET BACK SOME MONEY. SO NOW WHEN ANYONE REMOVES ANY PIECE OF CORAL FROM THEIR TNAKS FOR ANY REASON I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROOF THAT ITS NOT DYING. SEEMS TO ME THAT OUTSIDE OF JDIGITAL I AM THE ONLY ONE HAVING THESE ISSUES. WITH THE NUMBER OPF TANKS INVOLVED I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IM THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES, OR MAYBE I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THE HONESTY TO REPORT SUCH OCCURANCES.

[superduperwesman]

What is stn??

I've stuck with mostly soft corals cause they are easier to keep. But since my last fts my Anthelia has shriveled up. Hopefully it makes it but if not I'll have lost something too.

But now I'm confused?? I saw some black clowns at the lfs that I liked so if I bought those (which I didn't cause some lady beat me too it) and took out my orange clown I could remove his cost from my budget... right?

[JDigital]

We've already gone over this before Guappo.. I don't know why you're argueing. :question:

We're not recouping money back into the budget.

wes: stn = Slow Tissue Necrosis...

[ElGuappo]

I wasnt argueing with the prices i was argueing with your usr of the term "real Life".

OK since there is absoulutly NO point in selling these frags i have decided to leave everyone of them in my tank. so now istead of 5 pieces of sps i now 11. i will NOT be adding any value for the frags as the colony was already accounted for.
and yes some frags are larger than 2 inches and some are smaller.

I will also be trading one of these frags and that frag will go in the tank as it cost me nothing except something of equal Market Value that was removed(but not the budget) from this tank. and yes THIS DOES HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE.

[fishytime]

Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood :biggrin:

[JDigital]

I wasnt argueing with the prices i was argueing with your usr of the term "real Life".

OK since there is absoulutly NO point in selling these frags i have decided to leave everyone of them in my tank. so now istead of 5 pieces of sps i now 11. i will NOT be adding any value for the frags as the colony was already accounted for.
and yes some frags are larger than 2 inches and some are smaller.

I will also be trading one of these frags and that frag will go in the tank as it cost me nothing except something of equal Market Value that was removed(but not the budget) from this tank. and yes THIS DOES HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE.

Well, I removed "real life" from my post, and it still answers the question. So I don't see what you're getting all bent out of shape about. Sorry if I used the wrong word. :rolleyes:

I don't understand why I gotta answer a question about recouping money into the budget, when it was answered 3 posts before. Seems redundant.

If you need to frag a colony so it doesn't die, make a post about whats happening and what your gonna do. I'm sure everyone would understand, and not expect you to account for each frag on your budget. :)

[JDigital]

Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood :biggrin:

No its not... It's F'ing cold outside. :eek: lol

[ElGuappo]

a Couple of pics from today.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/3119605628_1161c681bb_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/3118776871_ae866cb9d9_b.jpg

[fishytime]

Hey.....nice shots man.

[ElGuappo]

Ok so here are some randome pics. also i am thinking a may swap a bunch of LS out of this tank for other LS is this a Problem?


http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/BumbleBeeShrimpandFirefish1.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/FirefishandWrasse1.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/FirefishandWrasse2.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/ZoaFrag14.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/NewAcro11.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/NewAcro21.jpg

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/NewAcro31.jpg

[karazy]

omg i love those purple zoas with the pink rings. looking good!

i hope you still have some of those zoas when i get my tank up ;)

[ElGuappo]

Ya i got them at red coral. i have no idea what they are called so i will call them Saskatoon Berries. why because thats what saskatoon berries look like.

They grow so fast i cannot believe. that frag started out with like 6 polyps.

[JDigital]

Ya i got them at red coral. i have no idea what they are called so i will call them Saskatoon Berries. why because thats what saskatoon berries look like.

They grow so fast i cannot believe. that frag started out with like 6 polyps.


I like those greens ones more.. :mrgreen:

Looking good

[ElGuappo]

I like those greens ones more.. :mrgreen:

I never noticed the blue on them until now.

i think the pink and blueish ones ar called cat eyes, but im not sure. no idea of the names of the others.

[ElGuappo]

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/10GContestFront7.jpg

[ElGuappo]

Just a repost of last month as nothing has changed except i moved the zoas to their original position.
Will get a better pic when i get time.

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/qq145/ElGuappo78/10GContestFront7.jpg

[ElGuappo]

just got home from 9 days in the hospital, so i will post a pic when i am feeling better. thanks to u know who for keeping tabs on my tanks.

[ElGuappo]

Soooooooo at what point did i get disqualified??????????????????????

[ElGuappo]

i still have this tank running as of now. i have movved it into a different 10 as the in tank refuge didnot have teh effect i was looking for. will try to get pic tommorrow. of course i have since added more coral and better light but all in all its the same.

once i get around to setting up my cubes it will be moving in there. may have to rethink my fish list as i just lost another firefish to lino surfing the other day.

[rocketlily]

Nice to see an update. Mine is still running as well.

[ElGuappo]

i have started to cycle a 15 that this 10 will be going into. Nopt much of an upgrade i know, but after seeing what the mp 20 did for my 45 i went out and bought a mp 10 for this 15 G. got some amazing waves going and let the cycle. continue. i will add some pics of the current 10 after lights on tommorrow.

[ElGuappo]

Guess i should add that most of the ls is still there with a few exceptions. currrent ls is

1 pink streaked wrasse
1 purple fire fish
1 tail spot blenny
2 pom pom crabs
3 sexy shrimp
hermits and snails.