Soft Coral Aggressive Reef

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

So...I thought I would start a thread to following the progression of my tank.

I had a thread a while ago documenting my "lagoon tank" but ended up scraping that project and getting a bigger tank. Shortly after setting that tank up (which I never got a chance to post here) I decided to take it down due to health issues. My fish and corals went to my brothers place temporarily while I sorted things out.

After figuring things out, I decided to set up the 130G again. I have also bought a 240G for the future since I know my fish will outgrow the 130. I really hope I don't have to set that up anytime soon though.

The tank is 130G with a 75G sump. Stand/Canopy are DIY but not quite done yet. I still have some painting to do. The tank is a peninsula tank that separates my kitchen area from bed/living area. I live in a studio style condo, so basically a 800 sq. foot room. The tank breaks things up nicely.

I guess I will just show some pictures and then explain how its set up later if anyone is interested. I really just wanted a place to post pictures as the tank matures.


FTS

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture015.jpg

FTS from kitchen side

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture012.jpg

Sump/Refugium...there are a few fish living in my fuge right now.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture013.jpg

X-Mas Wrasse living in the fuge

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture010.jpg

Fu Manchu Lion also in the fuge for now because he can't compete for food with the "big boys"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture276.jpg

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture597.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture242.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture233.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture101.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture073.jpg

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture126.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture120.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture151.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture0024.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture055.jpg

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

You can see in a few of the pics that two of the three puffers get ich sometimes. I have been soooo frustrated by this, to the point I was ready to give up saltwater. But it never seems to bother them and I have tried hypo with no luck already. I feel QTing them again would be more hurtful than helpful.

The only fish who get ich are the Burrfish and Dogface puffer. About 6 spots each and it seems to be monthly.

I think the fish all look quite healthy otherwise and I contribute most of that to the fact that they eat three times a day.

Once a month I buy prawns, mussels, clam meat, snapper, squid, chop it all up and mix it in a big bowl with silversides, mysis and the tropic marin immunity vitamins (I dont remember the name right now) as well as chopped up garlic. Mix it all together really well and then make individual bags that are frozen. Every night I throw one into the fridge to thaw for the next day.

The tropic marin vitamins have given my fish an incredible colouring.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

This was the tank a few weeks ago. I started barebottom but hated the look.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture585.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Picture607.jpg




You can see there was more rock too. I moved about 50 lbs from the tank to the fuge. So now there is about 60 lbs. in the display and close to 100 I would say in the sump.

[Keri]

GORGEOUS fish!! I love the red one, is that a nibiatus grouper?

I really like the idea of breaking up a small space with a peninsula-type tank.

Also, what is the puffer that looks like a green spotted puffer? Or is that what it is? Lol, I thought they were brackish but I don't know my Agressives very well.

[Chaloupa]

Your tank is beautiful!!!!! Love the pink fish (grouper of some kind?) very nice setup!

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

GORGEOUS fish!! I love the red one, is that a nibiatus grouper?

I really like the idea of breaking up a small space with a peninsula-type tank.

Also, what is the puffer that looks like a green spotted puffer? Or is that what it is? Lol, I thought they were brackish but I don't know my Agressives very well.

The grouper is a Variola albimarginata, White Edged Lyretail Grouper. Up to 2' in the ocean but more likely to stay around 20".

And yes a Green Spotted Puffer! My favorite Puffer. They are brackish to marine fish. Mine lived for years in brackish and made the transition to marine eventually.

[Keri]

cool beans

Btw: I totally Typo'd i meant to say "Miniatus grouper" - I've never seen a lyretail, where did you get him from?

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

cool beans

Btw: I totally Typo'd i meant to say "Miniatus grouper" - I've never seen a lyretail, where did you get him from?

I wonder if Nibiatus is a species of grouper though :D Im going to check.

Big Als. I went with my cousin to get him some freshwater fish and came home with that bad boy.

He actually ate through the first big bag they put him in! They had to triple bag him and put him in a bucket for me. He was not a happy guy about being bagged :(

I don't know if this is what anyone else has experienced but when I buy fish from Big Al's, they rarely ever have or get ich. This guy was fine during QT. For some reason its the only store I buy fish that don't seem to have it much. I should say though I don't go to many stores. Just a few.

[Keri]

I don't think I've bought any SW fish from Big Al's (just some CUC and a coral) I wonder if they prophylactically treat their FO tanks? Some places do, especially with tangs.

I've been lucky so far (knock on wood) and only had 2 fish come down with ich.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I don't think I've bought any SW fish from Big Al's (just some CUC and a coral) I wonder if they prophylactically treat their FO tanks? Some places do, especially with tangs.

I've been lucky so far (knock on wood) and only had 2 fish come down with ich.

Yeah I don't know but I am sure lots of people have bought fish from there with ich. I don't think there are many stores here in Vancouver that QT fish coming in. My LFS when I lived in Florida or places LiveAquaria I know QT fish before selling them.

[Keri]

I think those places must have the luxury of having tonnes of space and deal in higher volumes than most canadian places.


I woyuld Really love to be able to visit one of those SW wholesalers, it must be so neat.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I think those places must have the luxury of having tonnes of space and deal in higher volumes than most canadian places.


I woyuld Really love to be able to visit one of those SW wholesalers, it must be so neat.

I agree. The place I used to go in Miami was a big warehouse type place. They had these enormous holding tanks outside for LR! Very shallow but their LR was incredible with all the growth from being in the sun. I don't know how they QT'd fish but I do know they QT'd all fish before they went into the tanks where they were sold. I remember an employee being screamed at once for putting an un-QT'd fish in one of the tanks :neutral: I think someone had brought it back for credit and he just put it in the for sale tanks.

I wish shops here did this. Doesn't mean there is no disease but it cuts it down so much.

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

More pics...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi066-1.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi058.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi063.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi050.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi048.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Digi043.jpg