ZEOvit/200G Build Journal - 34G Solana [Archive] - Page 2

GreenSpottedPuffer

02-25-2009, 12:31 AM

Eats nori even! Wow, awesome!

And that's a freakish wave dude, serious wow, what can I say, man it looks awesome. Does the wave get any interference from the other powerheads?

Nah, thats the cool thing, they don't effect the wave at all. Nothing does. LOL. Its huge!

As the wave lowers the water level, the flow from powerheads on the low side, break the surface (ripple) and then when it goes back up, they don't break the surface at all. Kind of cool. But the wave box doesn't effect them at all and they don't effect the wave box.

The wave is actually MUCh bigger on this bigger tank than my older, smaller tank. It seems like maybe it just has much more time to "ramp" up and really gain energy. From what I have heard, these waveboxes work even better on an 8' tank!

spoot

02-25-2009, 01:40 AM

Looked smaller than 1" from the pictures, but you should be good with 1".

That is some awesome wave action, are you getting a lot of noise from the waves cresting into the overflow?

GreenSpottedPuffer

02-25-2009, 03:09 AM

Looked smaller than 1" from the pictures, but you should be good with 1".

That is some awesome wave action, are you getting a lot of noise from the waves cresting into the overflow?

I think it may actually be 3/4" inside diameter though. Either way, I am happy with it.

No sound at all. Doesn't effect the overflow.

BlueAbyss

02-25-2009, 05:12 AM

Everything looks awesome, keep up the good work! :biggrin:

GreenSpottedPuffer

02-25-2009, 05:40 AM

Everything looks awesome, keep up the good work! :biggrin:

Thanks! I will try. Hopefully things will grow in nicely.

I don't want too much more in the way of sps at all. Just want to replace what I lost. And add a tabling acro or two.

Then I want to add some more gorgonians and softies. Probably most Zoos. Also some LPS if I can afford it! I tend to only like the Aussie LPS which is always soooo expensive.

For fish, I don't know yet. I have always wanted a Sailfin Tang but feel the tank is a little small for one. I HAVE to try a Kole tang since that is one of the few fish my fiance has requested. Might start to get kind of crowded tang wise :neutral:

I have a Hawkfish on the way too I think.

Right now I have...

Naso Tang
Hippo Tang
Yellow Tang
Blue Spotted Rabbit
Harlequin Tusk
Copperband
Cleaner Wrasse
8 Chromis (3 months or so and only one death!)
Scissor Goby (not so lucky here...most died)
Orange Spot Goby
Blue Damsel
Fang Blenny (such a wicked fish!)
Pair of clowns

Adding:

Kole Tang
Hawkfish

Want to add but most likely no room:

Blue throat Trigger
Sailfin

We'll see...

GreenSpottedPuffer

02-25-2009, 09:58 PM

Just added up what this system has cost between new purchases, old equipment cost (when I bought it) and livestock...

:puke:

christyf5

02-25-2009, 10:42 PM

Good grief, you never do that!?! What were you thinking!!! :razz:

GreenSpottedPuffer

02-25-2009, 11:22 PM

Good grief, you never do that!?! What were you thinking!!! :razz:

Yeah I know...I wasn't thinking. Now the tank will never look good enough.

:laluot_08:

JDigital

02-25-2009, 11:26 PM

Yeah I know...I wasn't thinking. Now the tank will never look good enough.

:laluot_08:

I dunno.... it's looking pretty good! Then again, I didn't see the number that came up on your calculator.. :lol:

Rbacchiega

02-25-2009, 11:55 PM

I'm guessing 6 or 7...followed by some zeros

christyf5

02-26-2009, 12:45 AM

Yeah I know...I wasn't thinking. Now the tank will never look good enough.

:laluot_08:

Of course it will! That number will fade with time or the next time you see a really awesome coral/fish/etc that you have to have at the LFS :razz:

You don't wanna know how much I've spent over the years. I think of it in "trips to mexico" but I hold steady at the same calculation I made about 3 years ago :wink:

GreenSpottedPuffer

02-26-2009, 12:57 AM

I dunno.... it's looking pretty good! Then again, I didn't see the number that came up on your calculator.. :lol:

LOL...My computer calculator was about to explode!

I'm guessing 6 or 7...followed by some zeros

And we have a winner! Actually a bit more than the 7. And yes four zeros. Its the zeros that kill me.

Of course it will! That number will fade with time or the next time you see a really awesome coral/fish/etc that you have to have at the LFS :razz:

You don't wanna know how much I've spent over the years. I think of it in "trips to mexico" but I hold steady at the same calculation I made about 3 years ago :wink:

Oh Im not even going by how much I have spent over the years. I m just talking what the cost of only whats in this set up now. Basically I had a pad of paper and sat infront of the tank with the stand doors open and started writing everything down...

I know to some people $7500 isn't all that much and they have much more invested in their tank but to me thats a lot. Actually I guess I missed out the fish which would push that up over $8K. Anyways, just made me think about the tank a bit. Probably a good thing :D

Gonna need to hit the frag auction and see if I can score some nice deals this weekend instead of going to the shops.

JDigital

02-26-2009, 04:28 AM

And we have a winner! Actually a bit more than the 7. And yes four zeros. Its the zeros that kill me.

It's funny how a number that means nothing, can be sooo costly! :lol:

Rbacchiega

02-26-2009, 04:40 AM

At least, from what I've seen, it's been well invested. I think of some of the stuff I wasted money on in order to "save" money only to replace it later on down the road...

GreenSpottedPuffer

02-26-2009, 04:44 AM

At least, from what I've seen, it's been well invested. I think of some of the stuff I wasted money on in order to "save" money only to replace it later on down the road...

Yeah your right...I have learned that lesson in the past and did my best to get decent or high end stuff.

I am thrilled with how it looks but man...I really lost track of the cost!

GreenSpottedPuffer

02-28-2009, 11:22 PM

Was all over Burnaby today picking up livestock :D

Ended up missing the frag auction, which is fine since I found some sweet deals on zoas and fish.

Added a Kole Tang and Powder Brown tang. To my surprise there was really no aggression from the other tangs after the first 10 minutes. I am very happy to see them all getting along without issue. I guess the tank is big enough for the old tangs not to feel too threatened.

This rules out the Sailfin now and thats kind of why I got the Powder Brown instead. I think the Sailfin needs a bigger tank than my 200 long term.

Also added a Spotted Hawk Fish and bubbletip anemone.

I will take some pics in a little bit.

Many of the corals that seemed to brown after the tank move are already doing quite well again. Most of the color is coming back. Some have remained brown though :(

Oh and a male blue damsel (havent seen them too often). It found the female right away and they have been together ever since. Kind of nice to see them pair up so fast.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 12:22 AM

Got a few decent pics but I had to turn off the left side halide to do so. No flash, so the color is a little dark but close to actual I guess.

I will take proper coral pics soon since these ones are all about the fish! Water is quite murky too since I was moving rocks around a bit.

The new Powder Brown

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/00000000000000000000000111111100-2.jpg

The new Hawk

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/00000000000000000000000111111100-3.jpg

Bit of a group shot...you can see they are all getting along no problem. I am still so shocked about this. I figured there would be way more than 10 minutes of chasing.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/00000000000000000000000111111100000.jpg

You can see the Kole Tang in the middle of this pic.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/00000000000000000000000111111100-1.jpg

Doug

03-01-2009, 12:25 AM

Looking real nice.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 12:44 AM

Boy is the Powder Brown ever active! He really zips around the tank much faster than the other tangs.

I would say he is by far the most active, followed by the Hippo, and Kole. The Yellow is kind of mellow and slow and the Naso seems to just constantly be in cruise control

Naso has to be my favorite still!

Its also incredible how much filament algae the Kole Tang has eaten off the back glass already. He is a busy little guy too.

Rbacchiega

03-01-2009, 01:59 AM

When I find I'm getting a lot of filament algae in my tank I actually stop feeding for a day or two and it's all taken care of by the tang and foxface.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 02:04 AM

When I find I'm getting a lot of filament algae in my tank I actually stop feeding for a day or two and it's all taken care of by the tang and foxface.

I haven't really had much at all yet but I will keep that in mind. Not so sure it would work though with my tank because I have a bad feeling the tusk would get cranky if I skipped a day of feeding!

I guess the tank has been set up a week now or almost and I have yet to clean the front glass. Hasn't needed it.

I am interested to see what running ZEO right from the get go this tie does for the tank. After all the massive water changes or I guess additions to fill this tank, nitrates are now at 3. So I am starting ZEO with very low nitrates this time. That is 3 after a week of having the tank running...wish I would have tested day 1.

wisesam

03-01-2009, 02:08 AM

I love the powder brown. I want one too.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 02:23 AM

The full tank, still with just the one halide on...I still have a whole open side to work with on the left :D

LOTS more room...mostly for LPS I think.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa044.jpg

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 03:02 AM

Got some good shots of the Powder Brown. He certainly isn't shy and seems to like the camera.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa042.jpg

Love this shot of his tail :)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa037.jpg

Lurking in the shadows....

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa043.jpg

King of the tank

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa027.jpg

digital-audiophile

03-01-2009, 03:43 AM

Those reflectors seem to work really well!! There is hardly and extra light spill outside of the tank.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 03:49 AM

Those reflectors seem to work really well!! There is hardly and extra light spill outside of the tank.

Yeah you know I am very pleased with them.

It was important to me to get little to no light spilling into the room. There is only a little that spills out from the sides. Nothing bad at all though.

They are very much like spotlights. Although I still think the coverage is great. Some of the other similar reflectors do have a wider coverage for sure but the penetration of the Lumenbrights is great. My tank is only 22" tall but I would imagine on a 30" tall tank, these things would still rock.

For most people, 3 reflectors would be needed for a tank this size but I prefer the look of them fading away at the edges. I am filling those ends of the tank with all kind of softies. So far I have quite a few leathers and mushrooms over there.

Really want this to be a very, very diverse and mixed reef.

spoot

03-01-2009, 09:47 AM

I wanted the kole too! But I guess you pm'd first. Tanks looks great, and glad to see them all getting along. Is the tusk fitting in now?

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 05:18 PM

Yeah the tusk is fine now. He gets chased once in a while by the Hippo but nothing bad. The tusk tail is a little nipped up still though.

I think I have been lucky so far not go get any real aggression issues.

The one thing I am maybe concerned about is the tank size for the Powder Brown. Hes fine now but if gets big and is still this active, I don't know...

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 09:23 PM

Lance

03-01-2009, 09:46 PM

Actually let me answer that again...

He has eaten about 12-15 hermits this morning. He finally figured out how to get them out of their shell. I also see quite a few snail shells empty :(

He also decided to take a nip at a clam...he liked it! What a surprise. So he is slowly eating both clams now.

All this in one morning! Hahahaha...what a little brat. I guess he is hungry!

Doesn't change anything though, he is staying.

Ha Ha! Little bugger eh? That's why my hermits are in the sump. So far he's left the snails alone although that may be because they are large Turbos. Does yours like to hang out in a high flow area and just sort of hover in the current? Mine also hangs out with the Foxface quite a bit.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 09:53 PM

Ha Ha! Little bugger eh? That's why my hermits are in the sump. So far he's left the snails alone although that may be because they are large Turbos. Does yours like to hang out in a high flow area and just sort of hover in the current? Mine also hangs out with the Foxface quite a bit.

Yes he loves flow!

He is a little bugger though. He leaves big snails alone. I am going to have to rethink my clean up crew now. He actually leaves the larger hermits alone too but I doubt that will last.

I think I will add some smaller fish that hopefully will clean up what the other don't eat. The two damsels are good for that.

I will also pick up some more larger snails I think.

Any clean up crew ideas?

Lance

03-01-2009, 10:03 PM

Yes he loves flow!

He is a little bugger though. He leaves big snails alone. I am going to have to rethink my clean up crew now. He actually leaves the larger hermits alone too but I doubt that will last.

I think I will add some smaller fish that hopefully will clean up what the other don't eat. The two damsels are good for that.

I will also pick up some more larger snails I think.

Any clean up crew ideas?

Not really. I've just got the 12 Chromis who do a good job of picking off all the small pieces. And the large Turbos. I've got 2 peppermints and 4 hermits in the sump. A large Coral-Banded Shrimp might be OK, not sure.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-01-2009, 10:14 PM

Not really. I've just got the 12 Chromis who do a good job of picking off all the small pieces. And the large Turbos. I've got 2 peppermints and 4 hermits in the sump. A large Coral-Banded Shrimp might be OK, not sure.

Yeah my chromis do a good job too actually.

I highly doubt even a large coral banded shrimp would last 5 minutes around this guy. He ate a huge Emerald crab the other day as soon as he found it. Ripped all the legs off and then ate the body through the bottom of the shell.

He strikes hermits so fast that they don't even have time to get back in their shell and if they do, he picks them up and bashed them on rocks or the glass (which I don't like) until they come back out.

He is a pretty wicked fish! I love him!

Lance

03-01-2009, 10:44 PM

Yeah my chromis do a good job too actually.

I highly doubt even a large coral banded shrimp would last 5 minutes around this guy. He ate a huge Emerald crab the other day as soon as he found it. Ripped all the legs off and then ate the body through the bottom of the shell.

He strikes hermits so fast that they don't even have time to get back in their shell and if they do, he picks them up and bashed them on rocks or the glass (which I don't like) until they come back out.

He is a pretty wicked fish! I love him!

Yeah, I'm pretty pleased with mine too. Well, I guess we'll have to be the CUC. Frequent siphoning and water changes.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-02-2009, 01:06 AM

Yeah, I'm pretty pleased with mine too. Well, I guess we'll have to be the CUC. Frequent siphoning and water changes.

I think your right.

I do weekly water changes and will have to start siphoning out as much detritus as I can I think.

I really don't see much of anything collecting in the rocks (my tank is so open) but it would probably be a good idea. I think I am going to add more flow too. I could easily hide some powerheads behind the rockwork.

Lance

03-02-2009, 01:55 AM

I think your right.

I do weekly water changes and will have to start siphoning out as much detritus as I can I think.

I really don't see much of anything collecting in the rocks (my tank is so open) but it would probably be a good idea. I think I am going to add more flow too. I could easily hide some powerheads behind the rockwork.

Fortunately I have quite a bit of flow through the sump. (About 2700 GPH) so any detritus I can get up into the water column goes down the overflow pretty quickly. I could probably use another PH myself.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-02-2009, 06:35 PM

LOL...maybe I am just about done for fish. I just counted them all last night.

Naso Tang (Brodie)
Yellow Tang (Bubbles)
Powder Brown Tang (Brock)
Kole Tang (Cole)
Hippo Tang (Dorian)
Coral Rabbitfish (Jacob)
Copperband Butterfly (Gambit)
Harlequin Tusk (Hades)
Hawkfish
Pair of Clowns (Zeus and Hera)
Fang Blenny (Iceman)
Cleaner Wrasse
Scissor Goby
8 Chromis
2 Blue Damsels
Orange Spotted Sleeper Goby

Meh...who am I kidding...there will be more. Just no more tangs for sure. Small guys only.

Lance

03-02-2009, 09:26 PM

That is a pretty big list all right.

Mine are:

in the 225 gal:
Harlequin Tuskfish (Sydney)
Foxface (Michael J)
SF Tang (Poon)
Chocolate Tang (Cocoa)
Lamarck's Angel (Angelina)
Hawkfish (Hawkeye)
Lawnmower Blenny (Toro)
Bannerfish (Gil)
12 Chromis

And in the 90 gal:
Coral Beauty Angel (Halo)
2 Ocellaris (Marlin & Coral)
Green Mandarin Dragonet (Hookah)
Ruby-Headed Fairy Wrasse (Ruby)
Pajama Cardianl (PJ)
Yellow Watchman Goby (Toby)
Blue Gudgeon (Frankie)

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-02-2009, 09:32 PM

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-02-2009, 10:57 PM

Got a free Bubbletip clone over the weekend. Actually its a decent size already. Free because the mother anemone has lost color in my friends tank and he wants to see how it does in mine (plus I dont think he wants two of them in his tank anyways). It was in his sump for a week with little to no light but still looks ok after just a day or two in my tank.

I don't know if its stopped moving yet but I hope so. It was on the move all day yesterday. Hopefully its happy now.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb006.jpg

You can see the placement in this picture.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb017.jpg

Mrfish55

03-02-2009, 11:24 PM

Too lazy to read thru all 29 pages, what are the dimensions on your tank? love the layout looks great :thumb:

And Lance (poon) tang? you crack me up :pound:

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-02-2009, 11:33 PM

Too lazy to read thru all 29 pages, what are the dimensions on your tank? love the layout looks great :thumb:

And Lance (poon) tang? you crack me up :pound:

72"long x 30"wide x 22" tall

Its the 30" from front to back that I love about the tank and so do the tangs.

Lance

03-02-2009, 11:52 PM

Too lazy to read thru all 29 pages, what are the dimensions on your tank? love the layout looks great :thumb:

And Lance (poon) tang? you crack me up :pound:

Don't look at me! My wife is the one that names them all.

Lance

03-02-2009, 11:54 PM

72"long x 30"wide x 22" tall

Its the 30" from front to back that I love about the tank and so do the tangs.

Same dimensions as mine except mine is 24" tall. I agree the 30" depth is great.

Johnny Reefer

03-03-2009, 01:20 AM

...
Its the 30" from front to back that I love about the tank and so do the tangs.

.... I agree the 30" depth is great.
That's my next dream. That and 96 long. My 180 would become it's sump. But not for 8 years, at least, as I don't plan on moving again before then. Then there is the problem of paying for it and the associated equipment :sad:. Ah, to dream.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-03-2009, 01:37 AM

That's my next dream. That and 96 long. My 180 would become it's sump. But not for 8 years, at least, as I don't plan on moving again before then. Then there is the problem of paying for it and the associated equipment :sad:. Ah, to dream.

This is pretty close to my dream size. I would probably just go 96" long and 36" deep and keep the 22" tall. I am not someone who would want a really huge tank even if I have the time, space and money.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-08-2009, 07:51 AM

Pretty sad night...almost. Got home from the hockey game tonight to find my Harlequin Tusk on the ground! I knew right away it couldn't have been too long since he was flipping around a bit and in a puddle of water. I grabbed him and dropped him back into the tank--within 10 seconds he was begging for food.

I NEED to get my new mesh top built tomorrow. I am going to do what I have done in the past. Aluminum window screen with window framing. The top goes on all night until light on. I will take the top off when the lights go on if I am home. I work from home (beside the tank) and am home most of the day. If I go out, the top goes on. When I come home, it can come off. Not ideal but loosing fish to jumping is not an option.

I have no idea what happened but he gets super freaked out for a few seconds at lights out. He darts around and he has splashed a few times. I am pretty sure this is what happened.

Anyways...he seems fine. I don't think he was out of water more than a 2 minutes max. The lights had turned off less than 2 minutes before I got home. Thank god we didn't for that extra beer after the Canucks big win :D

On another note, I tested nitrates and got 0. Had to test again since I didn't believe it. Tested 4 times. LOL. 0 each time.

I have been feeding 5 times a day heavily to deal with ich and am shocked I have 0 nitrates. I think I am a real believer in ZEO now.

25 well fed, fat fish (8 large ones) in a 200G tank, no refugium, VERY minimal LR and 0 nitrates. Gotta be the ZEO! Corals are starting to look pretty nice too the past week ;)

wisesam

03-08-2009, 08:11 AM

So it's not a sad night after all.
Your fish survived the suicide attempt, nitrates tested 0. And the tank is doing great.

Delphinus

03-08-2009, 08:20 AM

Yeah, indeed, how horrible. :p

Seriously though, glad you got there in the nick of time. What are the odds ... and man I hate losing fish to jumping (or escaping as in the case of eels). What a sucky way to go. I can't believe I lost my canary wrasse when I had eggcrate on the tank .. did he have a one in a million shot and fit through the squares just right? Or did he have enough inertia to lift the eggcrate up, pass through over the glass, and the eggcrate just fall back down onto the tank? Guess I'll never know. (And yes I know I've complained about this a lot and yes it was a year ago but yes I really do obsess over things like this. I want to know so I can take steps to ensure it can't happen again!!)

I like your idea of a cover when unattended although that's something I see not working for me for very long. I prefer something permanent that I can circumvent just enough for ease of feeding, like a little flapper hole I can open up to get my hand through..

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-08-2009, 08:30 AM

So it's not a sad night after all.
Your fish survived the suicide attempt, nitrates tested 0. And the tank is doing great.

...AND the Canucks beat the Sharks ;)

Yeah, indeed, how horrible. :p

Seriously though, glad you got there in the nick of time. What are the odds ... and man I hate losing fish to jumping (or escaping as in the case of eels). What a sucky way to go. I can't believe I lost my canary wrasse when I had eggcrate on the tank .. did he have a one in a million shot and fit through the squares just right? Or did he have enough inertia to lift the eggcrate up, pass through over the glass, and the eggcrate just fall back down onto the tank? Guess I'll never know. (And yes I know I've complained about this a lot and yes it was a year ago but yes I really do obsess over things like this. I want to know so I can take steps to ensure it can't happen again!!)

I like your idea of a cover when unattended although that's something I see not working for me for very long. I prefer something permanent that I can circumvent just enough for ease of feeding, like a little flapper hole I can open up to get my hand through..

Yeah, yeah...I said almost :) It was more like a wake up call to get my screen top done asap.

Very lucky not to go for the beer...me turn down a beer? So weird. I guess after spending like $50 on disgusting, over priced hockey game beers, I wasn't in the mood.

The mesh works well and is super light and easy to remove or replace a few times a day. It does block a lot of light though. So it doesn't work as a permanent solution. It works for someone like me who is home all the time. When it is over the tank, its just simply like a cloudy day. No big deal.

If I left the house for work each day though, I would have to come up with something else. I would most likely do the same thing though but light the tank starting at 4PM or whenever I got home.

Many of my friends in Florida used to go with nighttime photoperiods because of heat issues in the day. I used think it was kind of cool.

spoot

03-08-2009, 08:32 AM

Why no try building one of those nearly clear mesh tops from reefcentral? Would be a lot less hassle than having to put the screen on everytime you leave.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-08-2009, 08:46 AM

Why no try building one of those nearly clear mesh tops from reefcentral? Would be a lot less hassle than having to put the screen on everytime you leave.

Nah, I just dont like them. Its no big deal for me. I get into routines very easily. I don't see it as a hassle at all.

When I looked into the clear mesh in the past, I also couldn't find it anywhere.

EDIT: Although I guess making it out of the clear mesh would be great as long as its still easily removable. Same idea but may as well use the clear mesh if I can find it somewhere.

Jack

03-08-2009, 04:16 PM

Do both halides turn off at the same time?

Lance

03-08-2009, 04:48 PM

Mrfish55

03-08-2009, 05:06 PM

While your out getting materials for that cover, stop and get a lottery ticket! luck like that don't last long.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-08-2009, 06:06 PM

Do both halides turn off at the same time?

No, he is fine when the first one goes off. Its the second one that freaks him out.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-08-2009, 06:10 PM

[QUOTE=GreenSpottedPuffer;396836]Pretty sad night...almost. Got home from the hockey game tonight to find my Harlequin Tusk on the ground! I knew right away it couldn't have been too long since he was flipping around a bit and in a puddle of water. I grabbed him and dropped him back into the tank--within 10 seconds he was begging for food.

Holy Crap! Lucky or what? What could have been a disaster was in reality a pretty good night for you: Tuskfish OK, 'Nucks beat the Sharks, nitrates at 0, corals looking good. Must have been the "Lucky 7" in the date yesterday. Don't push it though, get that cover built! :wink:

Yeah I guess it was a good evening. Its been a while since nitrates were 0. Corals are looking either great or still terrible actually. I should have mentioned that a few that browned seem to be staying brown.

While your out getting materials for that cover, stop and get a lottery ticket! luck like that don't last long.

Yeah I think your right.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-08-2009, 07:56 PM

Apparently I had a mantis or pistol shrimp in the tank and my tusk found it. He was kind of parading it around in his mouth this morning. Occasionally bashing its head on the rocks. By the time I got the camera though, it was eaten. I don't know where the shell went though--maybe he ate that too! I was only able to grab one of the legs. It was very big.

Blue legs with purple stripes. The one leg I removed from the tank must be 3/4".

wisesam

03-08-2009, 09:03 PM

Could it have come with the live rock you got yesterday?

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-08-2009, 10:00 PM

Could it have come with the live rock you got yesterday?

Yeah most likely.

fishytime

03-09-2009, 02:48 PM

And the string of good luck continues....did you buy a lotto ticket yet:mrgreen:

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-09-2009, 05:44 PM

And the string of good luck continues....did you buy a lotto ticket yet:mrgreen:

LOL...not yet. But I was actually planning on it today. We'll see if the luck continues :)

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-09-2009, 06:19 PM

Now that the Powder brown has been here a week, I am finding he is getting quite bold with the other fish and it turning into a real bully. He may not work out so well. He hates the tusk who now has badly nipped fins, my Naso has nipped fins, Copperband a little bit of a nipped tail, Yellow Tang nipped fins...the only one I see chasing any other fish anymore is the Powder Brown. I will give it a few weeks and see if he clams down. Hopefully they are just working things out. Its flaring up the ich in the tank quite a bit though. Funny thing is, the Powder Brown doesn't really have ich. Its the poor tusk thats covered. Kind of weird but I guess he is stressed out. Should go away in a few days.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-09-2009, 10:16 PM

Added about 20 lbs. of LR the past week and so did some rearranging. Finally got the left side of the tank done too.

I am finding that there is way too much sps though and not enough variety or diversity. Not looking natural enough for me :) So I am after some more softies and LPS right now.

I have some beautiful photosynthetic sea fans coming from Cuba in a month or so too that will really finish this tank off I think. As well as a variety of photosynthetic gorgonians from both Cuba and Florida hopefully.

Really needs some time to grow in but I am starting to see some potential I think :)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb016.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb010.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb017-1.jpg

Lots more new pics to come later :D

Lance

03-09-2009, 10:24 PM

Tank is looking really nice! I like all that open space for the fishes to do their thing. In a few more months when the corals have filled in more it's going to look terrific.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-09-2009, 10:49 PM

Tank is looking really nice! I like all that open space for the fishes to do their thing. In a few more months when the corals have filled in more it's going to look terrific.

Thanks.

Im thinking about 6-8 months, things might really start to look how I hoped. The fish have even more room than you can see in the pictures because the pictures really don't give a good idea of the depth of the tank. Being 2.5' deep is really nice. Most people who come by don't really realize how big the tank is unti they look at it from the end. I will take some pics of the depth.

Right now I am just focused on dealing with this ich outbreak that the Powder Brown seems to be causing. Hes such a little brat.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-10-2009, 12:14 AM

"Hades"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb058.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb053.jpg

He's out of focus but I like this one :)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb118.jpg

Lance

03-10-2009, 01:04 AM

[QUOTE=GreenSpottedPuffer;397472]Thanks.

Im thinking about 6-8 months, things might really start to look how I hoped. The fish have even more room than you can see in the pictures because the pictures really don't give a good idea of the depth of the tank. Being 2.5' deep is really nice. Most people who come by don't really realize how big the tank is unti they look at it from the end. I will take some pics of the depth.

Mine is 30 inches deep too. I love the extra 6 inches. Large fish can turn around at full speed instead of having to put the brakes on.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-10-2009, 02:18 AM

Lance

03-10-2009, 02:51 AM

[QUOTE=Lance;397526]

Yeah your tank is just taller right? I think a few inches?

Yup. 72x30x24

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-10-2009, 06:59 AM

"Gambit"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb129.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb041.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb038.jpg

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-10-2009, 07:00 AM

"Brodie"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb113.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb028.jpg

Still trying to fatten Brodie up. He came to me very skinny and is just finally eating Nori. Should be able to get him plump soon enough :D

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-10-2009, 07:02 AM

"Iceman"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb111.jpg

"Dorian"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb116.jpg

"Cole"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb126.jpg

"Jacob"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb114.jpg

"Gizmo" :D

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb001.jpg

wisesam

03-10-2009, 07:38 AM

Nice photos.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-25-2009, 02:31 AM

Update picture. About 30lbs. more LR. Many new corals...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb010-1.jpg

JDigital

03-25-2009, 03:02 AM

Tank looks great! Nice photos!

Lance

03-25-2009, 03:14 AM

Aaaaahhhhhh! What a difference some rock and corals make. It was nice looking before, but now it looks terrific. I take it these are the corals you got at the O/A sale?

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-25-2009, 03:17 AM

Tank looks great! Nice photos!

Thanks. Thats a big compliment coming from you ;)

Aaaaahhhhhh! What a difference some rock and corals make. It was nice looking before, but now it looks terrific. I take it these are the corals you got at the O/A sale?

I got 4 colonies from the OA sale yes and many more frags from reefers on here. I will try to get some individual coral pics in the next few days because in the FTS, you really can't see the nicest coral. The pieces I think are the nicest are still just frags.

You can also see in the picture that my clowns FINALLY decided to stop hosting my Wavebox and move into the anemone. Such a small thing but I am so happy about that!

One other change is that the Powder Brown Tang had to go. My Hippo tang was really beating up on him. Im not sure where I am at with fish now. I want to add more but I worry my Hippo will go crazy again. You can't see the tusk in the picture and thats because the Hippo doesn't allow him to swim freely around the tank anymore. The Hippo may have to go.

spoot

03-25-2009, 04:24 AM

Looking good! The corals are colouring up very nice.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-25-2009, 05:39 AM

Looking good! The corals are colouring up very nice.

Yes they are...I am quite impressed considering how much I feed my fish. I really didn't think it was going to be possible to get good coloration out of my sps.

JDigital

03-25-2009, 05:45 AM

What type of light spread do you get with those reflectors? and are they SE or DE?

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-25-2009, 06:09 AM

What type of light spread do you get with those reflectors? and are they SE or DE?

Better spread than I thought. Its much better than it shows in the photographs. The edges and back are not as dark as they appear.

I am going to try to get a video of the tank one of these days. It would give a much better idea of how the lights are.

lastlight

03-25-2009, 08:05 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-25-2009, 03:50 PM

Wow this tank is looking tons better with each batch of new pictures! I quit reading about Zeovit but dang it you have me reconsidering.

Your Kole is beautiful. I'm planning on keeping one as my lone tang.

Thank you. I recommend ZEO to anyone who has a high bioload, feeds a lot or just can't get good coloration out of your corals. I would love to be able to get these results without ZEO and save a bit of money but for the $80 a month or so (including salt) its costing to maintain a 200G/75G sump, I feel its well worth it. Otherwise why bother keeping all the sps if your not getting the full potential out of them ;)

I would say that the tank has responded much quicker and better to starting ZEO at the beginning this time when the nitrates were already low. The first time I started ZEO I had a very high nutrient tank and it cause all kinds of issues at start up. I had stopped ZEO for about 2-3 weeks I think, so it really was like starting again but after the transfer to the new tank, nutrient levels were low and have stayed that way--I guess what I am saying is that if you are considering it, start right away.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 01:25 AM

I am still pretty amazed with what my ATI Bubblemaster skimmer pulls out in a 24 hour period. I cleaned it yesterday at noon and today at 6 pm, this is how it looked. So actually 30 hours ;)

I feed an insane amount, so I am happy this thing is pulling this much crap out each day!

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb002.jpg

Delphinus

03-27-2009, 03:09 AM

I suddenly have a craving for chai tea. How odd.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 03:12 AM

I really like these corner shots so...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb113-1.jpg

This Green Millie is growing extremely fast. Started a 3 months ago as literally a tiny little nub on a piece of rubble. Maybe 1/2" at the time. Its not growing up all that much yet but its branching like crazy and has encrusted a very large area and is killing any Zoas that touch it. Kind of cool.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb072-1.jpg

Just picked this green piece up infront of the stag from OA during the two for one sale. I think it worked out to being $30 :)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb090.jpg

This is the area of the tank that I am most excited about to watch grow in. I love this Green Monti and it grows like a weed! You can't tell from the picture but its really starting to branch up nicely. Sorry about all the sand...my Gobies "den" is just under that rock. There tends to be a lot of sand in the water column around there.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb001-1.jpg

Nice Frogspawn from Green Phantom.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb029.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb031.jpg

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 03:15 AM

This rock or island kind of has the diversity I want to see in the whole tank. Sponges, leather, Zoas, palys, mushrooms, LPS, SPS...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb098.jpg

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 03:18 AM

Ends of the tank...

This end will hopefully fill in with more softies as I find ones I like. Im really liking this end so far. And gives you an idea of how wide the tank is....almost 3'

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb046.jpg

This end is my Tusks territory. Unfortunately my Hippo won't let him leave this area much anymore. The Hippo may have to go if he keeps this up. The tusk is too important to me to see always stressed in a corner. I have noticed he has lost a lot of color lately and feel it must be due to the bullying of the Hippo :)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb052.jpg

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 03:22 AM

You can see so much of my LR is so white still :( Much of it was 'cooked' before it went into this tank and has yet to really get 'dirty'. I don't know if its the ZEO or not but coraline is not growing too fast right now.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb015.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb058-1.jpg

My Yellow Tang is FINALLY starting to gain some weight. You can see here he is getting there. Still a little skinny for my liking though.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb107.jpg

Lurking in the shadows :)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb048.jpg

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 03:24 AM

I suddenly have a craving for chai tea. How odd.

Mmmmmmm....:tea:

I actually drink Chai Tes almost everyday but now...

Lance

03-27-2009, 03:33 AM

This end is my Tusks territory. Unfortunately my Hippo won't let him leave this area much anymore. The Hippo may have to go if he keeps this up. The tusk is too important to me to see always stressed in a corner. I have noticed he has lost a lot of color lately and feel it must be due to the bullying of the Hippo :)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb052.jpg

I find it strange that many web sites list the Hippo as being peaceful, yet IMO they are one of the more aggressive tangs. Many reefers have had trouble with their bullying, including myself.
Your tank is looking great. :thumb:

JDigital

03-27-2009, 03:48 AM

Lance

03-27-2009, 03:52 AM

Dori isn't aggressive.... How could the rest of them be? :wink: :mrgreen:

Yeah, well that movie also has a Great White Shark as the chairperson to a "Fish are our Friends, not Food" meeting. :mrgreen:

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 03:53 AM

I find it strange that many web sites list the Hippo as being peaceful, yet IMO they are one of the more aggressive tangs. Many reefers have had trouble with their bullying, including myself.
Your tank is looking great. :thumb:

Maybe its just as adults that they get kind of nasty?

I am very surprised in a 200G that he is such a bully. He has so much room to himself yet he still insists on keeping the Tusk hidden away back behind the rocks like in the picture.

Its getting kind of sad that to see my Tusk, I have to go to that end of the tank and watch him coward behind the rocks :(

He used to be such an active fish! I actually wish he use those massive teeth of him and 'push' back. He is smaller than the hippo but I have a feeling hes much stronger. I just don't think he understands his strength. I have watched him rip prawns in half and smash hermit crab shells on rocks with force.

Now that I think of it, the hippo would get his @ss kicked if the tusk would just fight back! I don't want the Hippo to get hurt but I really wish he would learn a lesson.

I am getting a very large Sailfin on the Weekend from a friend--much larger than the Hippo and I hope the Sailfin can maybe distract the Hippo. This Sailfin is nice and peaceful but I am thinking maybe just its presence will be enough to put some order back in the tank...or it will completely backfire. If thats the case then the Hippo goes.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 03:54 AM

Dori isn't aggressive.... How could the rest of them be? :wink: :mrgreen:

I know! And my fiance even named ours 'Dorian' after her. We figure hes a boy.

JDigital

03-27-2009, 03:55 AM

Btw, nice pics on the last page GSP... Really nice tank. That "Tower" is gonna look awesome when those SPS frags fill out more.. :mrgreen:

Lance

03-27-2009, 03:58 AM

Maybe its just as adults that they get kind of nasty?

I am very surprised in a 200G that he is such a bully. He has so much room to himself yet he still insists on keeping the Tusk hidden away back behind the rocks like in the picture.

Its getting kind of sad that to see my Tusk, I have to go to that end of the tank and watch him coward behind the rocks :(

He used to be such an active fish! I actually wish he use those massive teeth of him and 'push' back. He is smaller than the hippo but I have a feeling hes much stronger. I just don't think he understands his strength. I have watched him rip prawns in half and smash hermit crab shells on rocks with force.

Now that I think of it, the hippo would get his @ss kicked if the tusk would just fight back! I don't want the Hippo to get hurt but I really wish he would learn a lesson.

I am getting a very large Sailfin on the Weekend from a friend--much larger than the Hippo and I hope the Sailfin can maybe distract the Hippo. This Sailfin is nice and peaceful but I am thinking maybe just its presence will be enough to put some order back in the tank...or it will completely backfire. If thats the case then the Hippo goes.

I hope you're right. My Sailfin is very peaceful. Whenever a new fish is introduced, he postures a few times and that's it. Then they are buddies.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 04:05 AM

Btw, nice pics on the last page GSP... Really nice tank. That "Tower" is gonna look awesome when those SPS frags fill out more.. :mrgreen:

Thanks. Some of the nicest pieces are little frags on that tower. There is a nice Lonaki (spelling?) and Tri color. I can't get individual pictures with my lens though.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 04:08 AM

I hope you're right. My Sailfin is very peaceful. Whenever a new fish is introduced, he postures a few times and that's it. Then they are buddies.

Maybe its just wishful thinking but I am hoping just his size will help here. Maybe the smaller Hippo will defer. Actually I highly doubt that...

*sigh* Im sure what I think will happen. Just hope it works out.

I also have my old Niger Trigger coming back. He has always been very peaceful. All I worry about is how the tank is going to handle both! The Trigger is going into a QT I have set up for a bit though. I don't want to add both at once.

I am SO excited to get my Trigger back!!! I was so sad letting him go a few months back.

You can see in that picture that you quoted there, the Tusk has filled in nicely. Hes quite thick now actually. During feeding time is the only time he cruises the tank freely.

wisesam

03-27-2009, 05:10 AM

Wow, I gotta come see your tank in person soon.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-27-2009, 05:28 AM

Wow, I gotta come see your tank in person soon.

Yeah I think its been a few weeks since you have seen it huh?

Colors just keep getting better and better.

lobsterboy

03-27-2009, 06:02 AM

Justin your tank is looking mighty fine. :mrgreen:

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-29-2009, 03:43 AM

Justin your tank is looking mighty fine. :mrgreen:

Thanks.

Well its been three days of peace between the Tusk and Hippo. All of a sudden, the Hippo completely stopped chasing the tusk and lets him swim freely again. Not sure what brought on the weeks of anger towards the tusk but hopefully it will stay like this.

Lance

03-29-2009, 04:04 AM

Thanks.

Well its been three days of peace between the Tusk and Hippo. All of a sudden, the Hippo completely stopped chasing the tusk and lets him swim freely again. Not sure what brought on the weeks of anger towards the tusk but hopefully it will stay like this.

Good to hear!

JDigital

03-29-2009, 09:31 AM

Maybe its just wishful thinking but I am hoping just his size will help here. Maybe the smaller Hippo will defer. Actually I highly doubt that...

*sigh* Im sure what I think will happen. Just hope it works out.

I also have my old Niger Trigger coming back. He has always been very peaceful. All I worry about is how the tank is going to handle both! The Trigger is going into a QT I have set up for a bit though. I don't want to add both at once.

I am SO excited to get my Trigger back!!! I was so sad letting him go a few months back.

You can see in that picture that you quoted there, the Tusk has filled in nicely. Hes quite thick now actually. During feeding time is the only time he cruises the tank freely.

A Trigger is definitely on my list for my bigger tank... I just find them so smooth swimming, I think I will go with the blue throat though, I've always liked the Nigers though, I guess I'll find out in a few months... Congrats on gettin yours back! :mrgreen:

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-29-2009, 04:09 PM

A Trigger is definitely on my list for my bigger tank... I just find them so smooth swimming, I think I will go with the blue throat though, I've always liked the Nigers though, I guess I'll find out in a few months... Congrats on gettin yours back! :mrgreen:

Actually...I spoke too soon :neutral:

Im getting him back after all! Plans have changed and I think for the best.

I actually wanted a pair of Blue throats more than a Niger but figured since my old Niger needed a home, I would take him back but now that he doesn't need a home, I will go with the Blue Throat. Don't think I can do two of them because if space but we'll see. I am going to get that Sailfin today and see how that goes for the next few weeks and then I will look into the Trigger (s).

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-30-2009, 04:13 AM

I added the Sailfin today from another members tank (he had outgrown it) and all went really well. None of the other tangs looked twice at him other than the Yellow, which worried me but in the end, he just wanted to swim along side the Sailfin. I would say the Sailfin is about 4 times the size of the Yellow :lol:

I brought him home in a small H2Ocean salt bucket which he really didn't fit into properly. I measured him at about 8" or a bit more with the tail and also about 8" tall if you include his fins!!! Also almost 2" thick! Hes massive. Makes my Hippo look tiny. Kind of scary to think he could get double this size...not likely but even at 12" I couldn't imagine this fish being ok in the 200G.

I don't think any of the other fish even saw him as a threat because he is so big. They were not at all scared of him but also didn't show the slightest aggression--he kind of just looked like he had been part of the group for some time.

I will try to get some pics tomorrow. He swims out in the open until I come to the tank and then he hides. Not used to me yet ;) Im sure it won't take long for him to figure out the nori comes from me.

spoot

03-30-2009, 04:27 AM

Awesome Justin, glad everything went smoothly. Can't wait for the pictures.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-30-2009, 04:42 AM

Awesome Justin, glad everything went smoothly. Can't wait for the pictures.

Yeah I am happy it went so well. I was really worried. This is the one species of tang I have always wanted but never had the tank for one. I would have loved to have found a small one and watched it grow this big but its always always nice to be able to give a fish a bigger home.

I am really amazed at how big an 8" Sailfin looks. I would have easily guessed it was more like 10"-11". I think its because they are so 'tall'.

Give me a call if your in my area and you can come by and see him and the tank.

JDigital

03-30-2009, 04:55 AM

Sounds like you had a better day with your tank than I did with mine.. :lol: Congrats on the Sailfin!! Can't wait to see the pics Justin... :mrgreen:

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-30-2009, 05:46 AM

Sounds like you had a better day with your tank than I did with mine.. :lol: Congrats on the Sailfin!! Can't wait to see the pics Justin... :mrgreen:

Oh no...what happened? :(

I will take some pics tomorrow for sure.

I will have to ask the original owner but I am pretty sure he is Zebrasoma desjardinii. He has a lot of spots.

JDigital

03-30-2009, 06:05 AM

Oh no...what happened? :(

I will take some pics tomorrow for sure.

I will have to ask the original owner but I am pretty sure he is Zebrasoma desjardinii. He has a lot of spots.

Oh just the first battle to rid my tank of some flatworms, well A LOT of them, plus did 4 separate 5G water changes throughout the day after a Chemi-clean treatment couple days ago, so that I could bring my Skimmer back online.. Was a long day of husbandry... :drinking:

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-30-2009, 06:11 AM

Oh just the first battle to rid my tank of some flatworms, well A LOT of them, plus did 4 separate 5G water changes throughout the day after a Chemi-clean treatment couple days ago, so that I could bring my Skimmer back online.. Was a long day of husbandry... :drinking:

Oh no...do I dare ask which kind of flat worms?

I have had some but never the bad kind. Mine were just the harmless brown ones that don't eat anything. All they can do is block light from corals if there are lots of them but I find they like shade only. And die off on their own since I don't think they find food in our tanks.

But I am assuming you have the bad kind :(

AEFW?

How did the chemi-clean work?

JDigital

03-30-2009, 06:18 AM

Oh no...do I dare ask which kind of flat worms?

I have had some but never the bad kind. Mine were just the harmless brown ones that don't eat anything. All they can do is block light from corals if there are lots of them but I find they like shade only. And die off on their own since I don't think they find food in our tanks.

But I am assuming you have the bad kind :(

AEFW?

How did the chemi-clean work?

As far as I know (and Christys ID) they are just red commensal flatworms, which are harmless, but a total eye sore, and they are (less now) all over the place.. siphoned a alot today.. but there are lots I can't get the tube into.. so hoping my new mystery wrasse will start to munch on those ones..

AEFW?

Chemiclean didn't seem to do much, and I HATED having my skimmer off. It was a rush decision one night (that I regret doing because it caused more headaches than good these past 2 days) after reading a thread on RC and thinking to myself "I'm gonna try that right now!!!"... I think I will stick to Pohls Coral Snow for keeping cyano in check.. :wink:

I should probably be typing this in my own build thread, instead of jacking yours.. LOL!!

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-30-2009, 06:24 AM

As far as I know (and Christys ID) they are just red commensal flatworms, which are harmless, but a total eye sore, and they are (less now) all over the place.. siphoned a alot today.. but there are lots I can't get the tube into.. so hoping my new mystery wrasse will start to munch on those ones..

AEFW?

Chemiclean didn't seem to do much, and I HATED having my skimmer off. It was a rush decision one night (that I regret doing because it caused more headaches than good these past 2 days) after reading a thread on RC and thinking to myself "I'm gonna try that right now!!!"... I think I will stick to Pohls Coral Snow for keeping cyano in check.. :wink:

I should probably be typing this in my own build thread, instead of jacking yours.. LOL!!

AEFW...Acro Eating Flat Worms, you would know if you had them (dying acros) and you can't really see them with the naked eye. Well its really hard. They are clear and take on the color of the coral they are eating.

The ones you have will go away with time on their own and are harmless. Yes an eyesore but not that bad.

Glad its just those ones.

spoot

03-30-2009, 08:58 AM

Yeah I am happy it went so well. I was really worried. This is the one species of tang I have always wanted but never had the tank for one. I would have loved to have found a small one and watched it grow this big but its always always nice to be able to give a fish a bigger home.

I am really amazed at how big an 8" Sailfin looks. I would have easily guessed it was more like 10"-11". I think its because they are so 'tall'.

Give me a call if your in my area and you can come by and see him and the tank.

Definitely, but most likely not for a few weeks, as it's finals season, and I have a lot of catching up to do.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-30-2009, 05:11 PM

A few pictures of the new Sailfin at breakfast this morning. Obviously taken with a flash and no tank lights.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb119.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb118-1.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb121.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb124.jpg

You can kind of see how thick he is in this one!

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/bbbbbbb125.jpg

Delphinus

03-30-2009, 05:23 PM

Desjardini - because the yellow lines in the dorsal fin are arcs instead of straight stripes. Not that it matters, both desjardini and veliferum are very pretty tangs IMHO.

Flatworms - look into a canary wrasse (sometimes called a yellow coris wrasse but it is not a coris relative at all). I don't think Chemiclean will do a thing for flatworms. That's more a cyano treatment.. But look into a canary wrasse, they do a bang up job of eating flatworms. Mine took about 2-3 weeks to completely eradicate the flatworms in my 115g. And they are a very pretty fish. Another alternative is the exquisitedly coloured close relative, the radiant wrasse.

And AEFW, yeah, you'd know if it was. Inside the tank, you'll only see the damage on your SPS. You'll only see the flatworms if they fall off your acros when you dip them..

Sorry for the hijack GSP just figured I'd do a quick brain dump before I disappear back to work..

Lance

03-30-2009, 05:40 PM

Nice score Justin. He's a beauty; and I'm sure he'll fit in with no problems. My Sailfin is a model citizen and one of my favourites. Have fun with him.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-30-2009, 08:07 PM

Nice score Justin. He's a beauty; and I'm sure he'll fit in with no problems. My Sailfin is a model citizen and one of my favourites. Have fun with him.

Yeah he is a beauty! Nice to get a new fish that is so healthy and you know is eating, ect.

I feel really bad for the original owner though since I know it was one of his favorite fish :(

No problems so far...I worried about the Yellow but he actually seems to 'like' the Sailfin. Follows him around a lot.

Skimmerking

03-30-2009, 08:40 PM

hey man, i have the same tang love him they get very fat indeed..... hows the tusk fish doing, what do they eat other then shrimp

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 01:06 AM

hey man, i have the same tang love him they get very fat indeed..... hows the tusk fish doing, what do they eat other then shrimp

Well the tusk eats all the food I feed the tank...Nori, prawns, mussels, squid, clams, pellets...pretty much everything.

He also eats shrimp, crabs, hermit crabs sometimes and anything he thinks he can get out of the shell. But I find he doesn't care about inverts as long as he is fed well. I only see him eat inverts on days that I don't feed quite as much.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 01:07 AM

Some daytime pictures of the Sailfin and 'friends'.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/339.jpg

The four tangs and the Rabbit thats thinks hes a tang...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/353.jpg

You might notice in many of the pics I have posted of the Sailfin, the Yellow is right behind him. The Yellow (Bubbles) has followed the Sailfin all day. I thought it was coincidence at first but I don't think so. Its kind of like he look up to him or something :D

I need some ideas for small fish. I have way too many big guys and not so many little guys. Really need some more variety. I have been considering an Emperor Angel but maybe instead a bunch of small fish would be nice.

JDigital

03-31-2009, 03:23 AM

Why not add a few wrasses, like a Mystery, Hooded Fairy, Sixline... Maybe some pygmy angels? Flame and Eibli, Lemon Peel..

Most of those are active swimmers, unlike the watchmen gobies and such..

That sailfin is gorgeous... I was drooling over the big one at Red Coral tonight..

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 03:47 AM

Why not add a few wrasses, like a Mystery, Hooded Flashers, Sixline... Maybe some pygmy angels? Flame and Eibli, Lemon Peel..

Most of those are active swimmers, unlike the watchmen gobies and such..

That sailfin is gorgeous... I was drooling over the big one at Red Coral tonight..

Yeah I like your ideas. Maybe a few small angels would be nice (and easier) than a big one.

I definitely want a Wrasse but not until I sort out a screen for the top. I have been lazy with that.

A few more of the Sailfin :)

Close up

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/392.jpg

Getting his teeth cleaned

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/388.jpg

Size compared to my Naso

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/390.jpg

spoot

03-31-2009, 04:09 AM

JDigital

03-31-2009, 04:31 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 04:32 AM

He is georgous Justin! Looks really healthy too. I really envy your reef lighting, it is so much easier to take pictures. Maybe I'll bring over my camera next time too.

I think the smaller angels are said to nip corals too, but there are some nice ones. We have a Eibli in our 90g, and he is quite a character.

Yes I bet your camera is better than mine ;)

Yes the smaller angels do nip corals sometimes I think. I will have to do some research first. Not going to be adding more fish for a bit I don't think anyways. No rush.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 04:34 AM

Amazing pics Justins!! Really Really REALLY nice sailfin... the orange banding and speckles is so sweet! :mrgreen: Definitely stoked for you.. I'd be photographing it just as much I think.. :thumb:

BTW, I meant hooded fairy, not hooded flasher... LOL

LOL...I figured that was the fish you meant. And they are very nice. I just worry about jumping at the moment.

He is very cool to photograph because he actually stays very still and watches the camera for the most part. He is very friendly...one of the nice things about getting a fish from someones tank.

Drock169

03-31-2009, 05:23 AM

I'm glad the sailfin is doing well in your tank. He looks so small in there compared to my tank. I wonder if he recognizes the hippo.
I've pretty much cut my feeding in half now that hes gone.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 06:23 AM

I'm glad the sailfin is doing well in your tank. He looks so small in there compared to my tank. I wonder if he recognizes the hippo.
I've pretty much cut my feeding in half now that hes gone.

I think the tank size is good for him...Thanks again Derek! I seem to be taking care of all the fish that outgrow your tank ;)

You have the healthiest fish I have ever seen in home aquariums...Im serious. All your fish are thick like I have seen them in the ocean and the color is amazing!

Hes not eating so much yet but hes picking at nori. He seems to be really shy. He won't get in the mix with the other tangs. He will start to eat but if they come to eat too, he backs off and watches from a distance.

He nibbled at some prawns I chopped up tonight but again, didn't eat too much. Hopefully he just needs a few days to settle in.

Drock169

03-31-2009, 07:05 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 07:34 AM

I was feeding him nori everyday and PE mysis mixed with garlic, selcon, the 2 zeo supplements (until the tropic marin arrives), and spirulina flakes to bind everything into larger clumps for him to eat.

OK, they get Nori basically all day to graze on. I just keep adding more each time they finish it.

I will try some PE mysis tomorrow. I already use the Tropic Marin vitamins, so he should be used to them.

spoot

03-31-2009, 08:19 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 08:53 AM

Have you tried laver? It's a seaweed that does not get chopped up, and is just dried in leaf like ribbons. Only takes a couple of minutes to rehydrate, then it looks like living seaweed blowing in the tank.

No I have never heard of it. I just buy Nori from the Asian market near my place. My tangs love the kind I buy. The Sailfin did eat it too but I think he is just getting used to the new tank.

Where can I get the stuff your talking about? I should try that.

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 04:37 PM

I love photographing our little cat...he is such a playful, crazy little guy and always into something...

(Sorry guys, no new fish pictures)

Really liked this one :D He loves to kind of 'perch' himself up on this side table.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/021.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/026.jpg

Fell asleep in a strange position...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/212.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/221.jpg

He found the groceries ;)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/229.jpg

And just so I don't leave him out, the big cat...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/244.jpg

wisesam

03-31-2009, 06:25 PM

Your cat is not 'LITTLE'.
He's bigger than my dog.:lol:

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 06:35 PM

Your cat is not 'LITTLE'.
He's bigger than my dog.:lol:

Yes...but he is little...and your dog is tiny!

JDigital

03-31-2009, 10:23 PM

That couch in the first pic looks comfy! :mrgreen: oh ya.... Nice cats too

GreenSpottedPuffer

03-31-2009, 10:30 PM

That couch in the first pic looks comfy! :mrgreen: oh ya.... Nice cats too

Ah yes, the George Nelson Marshmallow Sofa...circa 1956. But this one is a replica. I looked at the real thing but $4K-5K was out of my price range.

We actually have multicolored cushions for that thing--basically each circle can be replaced with a different color. In our last place, we had the whole thing black, white and red...kind of randomly 'patterned'.

It is actually a very comfy sofa, my fiance lays on it all the time infront of the fire. Although she is quite small and most people can't really lay on it properly.

wisesam

03-31-2009, 10:58 PM

That couch in the first pic looks comfy! :mrgreen: oh ya.... Nice cats too

The couch looks like a drum set.

Rbacchiega

04-01-2009, 04:00 PM

Fell asleep in a strange position...

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/212.jpg

I'm pretty sure I've passed out like that once or twice...I'd be checking the booze in the bar....

On a side note, I'm still in the air about zeo (I wish I could make up my mind) Eventually the 90 will be mainly SPS, but I do have some LPS in there (Acans, Frogspawn, Chalice etc) Zeo shouldn't effect them negatively would it???? What about the zoas???

MAYBE I need to get my rear end in gear and get the 50 gallon started....

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-01-2009, 06:26 PM

I'm pretty sure I've passed out like that once or twice...I'd be checking the booze in the bar....

On a side note, I'm still in the air about zeo (I wish I could make up my mind) Eventually the 90 will be mainly SPS, but I do have some LPS in there (Acans, Frogspawn, Chalice etc) Zeo shouldn't effect them negatively would it???? What about the zoas???

MAYBE I need to get my rear end in gear and get the 50 gallon started....

I know I have passed out like that a few times...just wish I could say it were at home :(

Anyways...

ZEO...Hasn't had anything but a positive effect. Every single type of coral I keep (sps, LPS, softies) are looking better than before ZEO.

I was worried about the softies just dying off but so far, they look more colorful and happy than before.

I say go for it to anyone who is on the fence. The results in most peoples tanks are quite clear.

Rbacchiega

04-01-2009, 06:30 PM

.....thanks for helping me spend 350+.... LOL

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-01-2009, 06:43 PM

.....thanks for helping me spend 350+.... LOL

LOL...don't complain :razz:

Why not spend the money if its going to make your tank looks so much better? You have already spent so much (we all have), so may as well make sure your corals stand out.

I don't see ZEO as expensive at all.

Think of it this way, people don't hesitate to spend $350 plus on a skimmer. Or generally a lot more. But then they get all funny about $350 for ZEO (not that you are). I can tell you that for my system, they are both just as important as each other. Take one away, and my tank would suck.

Besides, ZEO replaces all kind of equipment...my sump has a skimmer, ZEO reactor and return pump in it, thats it...oh and a bag of carbon :D

Rbacchiega

04-01-2009, 09:05 PM

Not complaining...but if I'm ever out that way the least you could do is share a beer with me LOL

I'll be ordering the 1.5L professional kit from J&L (unless I can find one local for comparable)...

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-01-2009, 09:18 PM

Not complaining...but if I'm ever out that way the least you could do is share a beer with me LOL

I'll be ordering the 1.5L professional kit from J&L (unless I can find one local for comparable)...

Oh no I know your not. I was just generalizing :D

And of course, if your ever out this way, give me a shout and we'll have some beers for sure! Its a great city to visit in the summer ;)

I bet you have been here right?

Rbacchiega

04-01-2009, 10:48 PM

indeed. I love Vancouver. Played in a few ball tournaments back in the day when I still had a shoulder left. And we've been looking at expanding the company (billiard tables) out there....

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-02-2009, 07:09 AM

*sigh*

Little set back...

Tank didn't look great I noticed on Sunday but didn't really think much of it. Monday and Tuesday was so busy and wasn't paying much attention to the tank besides the Sailfin ;)

Then I got home tonight and it didn't look good. Not terrible but coloration and polyp extension was poor.

Tested and found ALK was 4!

Wow it dropped fast. I have noticed that a few of my corals have been growing so fast lately that I can literally see the different every day or two. Especially my big red cap....its really 'branching out'.

I guess I need to test ALK a few times a week instead of just once a week or two.

One acro is receding a little from the bottom :(

Hopefully I can get the ALK back up to 7 over the next few days and things will get better.

EDIT: Added some Two part and raised it to 4.5 for tonight. In the morning, I will go for 5 and then 5.5 at night. Keep going until 7-8....

Rbacchiega

04-02-2009, 03:53 PM

booo that mess. I hope you get it up in time to save everything.

fishytime

04-02-2009, 04:01 PM

booo that mess. I hope you get it up in time to save everything.

Ok....that didnt sound good:lol:

Rbacchiega

04-02-2009, 04:08 PM

*edit because Doug is a dirty dirty old man...well...man, not really old...sort of up there compared to me, but whatever....*

I hope you get the ALKALINITY up in time to save everything.

stupid doug

JDigital

04-02-2009, 04:30 PM

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-02-2009, 06:01 PM

Join the club man!! :lol: I am having a tough time getting my whole triangle up... Ca is low (<400) Alk is low (6.4-7.4) Mag (<1260)...

Good Luck!

Well I had everything going smoothly and was keeping up with it all but then got busy with other stuff kind of at the same time the tank apparently decided to have a big growth spurt. My big red cap is growing ridiculously fast all of a sudden.

So I guess ALK dropped real fast. Like from 8 to 4 in a week.

Not sure if its just from growth or not though...

Regardless, nothing looks like it will die or anything. Just a tiny bit if recession on the encrusted part of one acro. Hopefully it will stop now that the ALK is on the way back up.

Its now at 5.5

fishytime

04-02-2009, 08:03 PM

Seems to be a whole rash of alk sucking coral incidents lately. Same issue for me (dkh 6), although not as low as yours. 4?...:faint2: Seems to low to be just "coral usage".....no? Whats your ca & mg at?

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-02-2009, 08:41 PM

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-03-2009, 07:48 AM

Big water change tonight and ALK is up to 6.5

I am kind of worried its going back up too fast though.

JDigital

04-03-2009, 06:10 PM

Big water change tonight and ALK is up to 6.5

I am kind of worried its going back up too fast though.

I would let it sit at 6.5 for a day or 2 before bumping up again... Nothing good comes from doing stuff quick.. :wink: Or just cut your doses in half... Or do both.. :lol:

Speaking of which, I need to go test after my dosing last night..

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-03-2009, 06:15 PM

I would let it sit at 6.5 for a day or 2 before bumping up again... Nothing good comes from doing stuff quick.. :wink: Or just cut your doses in half... Or do both.. :lol:

Speaking of which, I need to go test after my dosing last night..

Yeah I agree. I think I will do another water change tomorrow which will help raise it a bit and in the mean time cut my two part ALK dose in half. Or keep it where its at since apparently its too low of a dose anyways.

I think corals have used up a lot of ALK but I also think my ALK dose of two part is too low. So this drop may have been slower than I think. Still was relatively fast but checking my testing, it was probably over two and a half weeks and not one week like I thought.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-04-2009, 04:40 AM

So...ran out of regent for the Elos ALK kit and used my Salifert kit tonight instead.

It came up with 7. Don't know how accurate this is but most of the corals looked great again tonight.

Anyone know how trust worthy the Salifert ALK kit is? I have been told not to use it in the past as its very inaccurate... :neutral:

Skimmerking

04-04-2009, 04:45 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-04-2009, 05:03 AM

well since I have been using the marin fauna, CLaude from germany is saying that Salifirt is off by 2 PPm , i dont believe that. so its actually saying that your ALK is 5 instead of 7, i think that is a crock IMO
I have been using them for years and have had great sucess with them

Ok, well this morning when I tested with the Elos, it was 6.5

I don't think it would have dropped to 5 today especially since I dosed two part.

I am on the fence about getting the Elos kit again. Not because I don't like it but man its a joke how few tests it does for that price.

I think once my ALK is stable and the tank looks good, I will keep using the salifert test to keep levels where they are, based on the salifert reading.

JDigital

04-04-2009, 05:45 AM

I've been using Salifert for Alk and Mag... Elos for CA, NH4, NO2, NO3, PH.. I prefer working with the Sali's, but think they are both as accurate as I need...

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-04-2009, 05:57 AM

I've been using Salifert for Alk and Mag... Elos for CA, NH4, NO2, NO3, PH.. I prefer working with the Sali's, but think they are both as accurate as I need...

Ya I agree. I think for now I will keep using the Salifert since its almost full still and I don't want to buy the Elos kit again.

i have crabs

04-04-2009, 03:36 PM

I am on the fence about getting the Elos kit again. Not because I don't like it but man its a joke how few tests it does for that price.
.

i bought a new kit about a month ago and the new kit has a 30ml bottle instead of a 20ml so thats a nice change for once,

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-04-2009, 04:43 PM

i bought a new kit about a month ago and the new kit has a 30ml bottle instead of a 20ml so thats a nice change for once,

Ok, thats great then.

Love your profile picture by the way ;)

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-06-2009, 05:32 AM

Always something...

My tusk decided to try to eat a very large Bristle worm I think. Looks like he bit a cactus :lol:

I moved a rock today and out floats a huge bristle worm. About 10 minutes later, 'Hades' comes begging for food with dozens of tiny little 'prickles' stuck in his head, all around his mouth :neutral:

I was kind of worried but he doesn't seem to care. Hes in rough shape though between the bristles stuck in his head and his shredded tail from the Hippo Tang's continued abuse.

Lance

04-06-2009, 05:37 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-06-2009, 05:44 AM

Poor guy! The Hippo still won't leave him alone eh? I was hoping your big Sailfin would maybe put the Hippo in his place.

Well after the Sailfin went in the tank, the Hippo seemed to calm down and behave for almost a week. Now all of a sudden though he is back to being a bit of a bully :(

The Hippo has also taken a few shots at the much larger Sailfin too who just runs and hides as well. Kind of annoys me because now I think the Hippo has seen all the other fish in the tank defer to him and he is back to king of the tank. No fish seems to want to put him in his place.

As things are now, I will let it go a bit longer. If it gets worse though, the Hippo will have to go. I just hope it gets better...I would hate to loose the hippo.

The strangest thing about all this is that *knock on wood* I haven't seen ich on any of the fish since the Sailfin went into the tank. Its actually weird to see the hippo without spots :D

lastlight

04-09-2009, 07:12 AM

Cats are neat and stuff.

I thought your thread was in short supply of a bit of off-topic babble.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-09-2009, 07:27 AM

Cats are neat and stuff.

I thought your thread was in short supply of a bit of off-topic babble.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/orly-35971.jpg

lastlight

04-09-2009, 07:32 AM

Yeah.

Mostly because you have a reef lol.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-09-2009, 07:38 AM

Yeah.

Mostly because you have a reef lol.

Yeah but my reef fell yesterday again.

Not looking so great right now. Another rock slide...

I decided it might be best to A) Put the bigger rocks on the bottom and B) move the huge red cap down lower so it doesn't keep shading other corals and also falling on them :(

Really the tank looks quite different but not much actually moved. The left side stayed the exact same and the main structure on the right side didn't change much either but moving that big cap really changed how things look. I also took the time to give a few corals some more room now that I am seeing good growth out of them.

There...hows that for pointless babble?

Ooops...thats on topic though isn't it???

lastlight

04-09-2009, 07:43 AM

Pretty ballsy move there. Ballsy because you didn't snap a picture. I take pictures of the BACK of my tank for you guys so you can see the cool furBalls and lintPiles I'm cultivating. Sheesh.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-09-2009, 07:46 AM

Pretty ballsy move there. Ballsy because you didn't snap a picture. I take pictures of the BACK of my tank for you guys so you can see the cool furBalls and lintPiles I'm cultivating. Sheesh.

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

lastlight

04-09-2009, 08:06 AM

<sniff>

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-09-2009, 08:09 AM

<sniff>

Sorry. I didn't mean it.

I was wrong not to take pictures but trust me...I was not in the mood :neutral:

I actually was quite frustrated with the whole thing happening...again.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-09-2009, 08:16 AM

Since you brought up both cats and pictures...

I kind of like this shot of our little cat with four eyes :lol:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/Yeah179.jpg

lastlight

04-09-2009, 08:18 AM

Much better =)

Rockslides are nasty things. Are your rocks all stacked or are some fixed together in some way?

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-09-2009, 08:32 AM

Much better =)

Rockslides are nasty things. Are your rocks all stacked or are some fixed together in some way?

Stacked that's the problem.

I shouldn't really say rockslide though. Only one rock fell and the big red cap on the right side.

So basically all I did was make sure the right side was a little more secure and put the cap on the bottom kind of near the middle.

I will take pics tomorrow. The tank seems to look much different but really not much moved. I guess some corals did but the main structure stayed the same. Its just too bad because I have had no intention to move anything but the tank keeps forcing me too. Oh well...still looks good I think.

I do see some cyano coming back though :(

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-10-2009, 05:10 AM

Ugh...this is REALLY starting to test my patience.

I got home from the Canucks game in a great mood...few beers, Canucks won, picked up my playoff tickets...

...then I got home to see the tank had another rockslide. LOL. Actually I really did just laugh this time and walk away.

Went back over the tank a moment later to check out the damage. Pretty bad this time. Soooooo many corals were crushed into pieces :(

I think its time to rethink this right side of the tank :neutral: I think its the Hippo to be honest. He wedges himself into the smallest spaces he can find over on that side of the tank and I have seen him actually tip rocks over a few times.

Well...I guess I know what I am doing tomorrow.

lastlight

04-10-2009, 03:31 PM

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-10-2009, 06:14 PM

Sorry to hear that (canucks and rocks).

My wife's gonna be ****y if the flames get edged out in the conference so I'm a Flames fan of sorts.

Sounds like you need to glue the rocks together or use acrylic pins?

Well sorry to say but...get ready for your wife to get '****y' then :neutral: The way the Flames have played for the past 6 weeks they would be lucky to win more than a game in a row against anything more than a minor league team...

Anyways, Yeah I have to do something about the rocks.

I have to be less stubborn and this time NOT put them back the same way. Its obviously not working. So far I have rearranged the right side a bit and its much more secure and also kind of looks nicer I guess.

I will take some pictures tonight or tomorrow.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 01:31 AM

So things are really going to be changing with the tank.

My fiance and I have decided to change it to a FOWLR and set up a much smaller reef. For one, I am going through Puffer withdrawal. This is the first time in about 12 years I have not owned one and first time in about 6 years I have not had a saltwater puffer.

Secondly, the big reef is just way too much work for me after only a few months. Its consumed my life a bit and I just don't like spending so much time on my tanks. I also feed my fish as much as they want, all day long and thats not working out so well with the sps, even with ZEO.

And lastly, the cost is just adding up way too much. Just maintaining calcium and alk right now is insane. Weekly 30G water changes are getting old and costly.

Oh and I have a friend who needs a good home for both his Porc and Golden Puffers. :mrgreen:

So I am building (or maybe buying) a cube tank this weekend. Somewhere under 30G. Keep my favorite corals and sell the rest. The cube will be skimmerless/sumpless and NO fish. Just a few shrimp. I will be able to load the FOWLR up with fish.

Cube will just have a dosing pump for two part and an auto top off. Thats it.

Anyways, big changes this weekend and I will try to take pictures along the way.

No more ZEO at all of course. If anything, I will go to vodka dosing on the FOWLR to keep nitrates down.

pterfloth

04-17-2009, 01:46 AM

Let me know what sps you are selling. I really like some of the pieces you have!

karazy

04-17-2009, 01:55 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 02:01 AM

the cube sounds like a good idea.

you should make a 24x24x18 for a cube. its an awesome size, and good for controlling flow. (i know its a little bigger than what your looking for)

no fish? aww come on man! how bout a pipefish?

Yeah that would be nice but the only problem is I don't have room where i want to put it.

Pipefish could be cool too. I would have to see about flow though since this will be an sps tank and might be a little too much for a pipe. Your tempting me though cause I have always wanted one!

I am not to concerned with fish for the cube since I can get my fish fix with the 200!

We'll see. I am pretty sure plans will keep evolving and changing over the next few days. All I know is that the big tank will be FOWLR and I will keep a smaller tank for coral.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 02:03 AM

Let me know what sps you are selling. I really like some of the pieces you have!

Sure I will. But to be honest, I will be keeping most of the nicest ones ;)

Although I may just keep frags of a lot of them and sell the colonies. I prefer to watch stuff grow.

The hope is that between selling my wavebox and some coral, it will pay for the new tank :)

JDigital

04-17-2009, 02:13 AM

Ohhhh sad news... :sad: I really liked your reef man... its a great looking tank.. FOWLR's just seem to lack something IMO... (corals! haha)

Anyways, good luck with the switch..

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 02:18 AM

Ohhhh sad news... :sad: I really liked your reef man... its a great looking tank.. FOWLR's just seem to lack something IMO... (corals! haha)

Anyways, good luck with the switch..

Well I am way more of a fish guy and a small coral tank will easily keep me happy. Puffers in the big tank will also keep me very happy.

A much lower electric bill will keep my fiancee happy. Not to mention the savings in salt, additives and ZEO. To be honest though, using cost as an excuse isn't really fair. It's not like I can't afford the tank.
Plus she has never actually complained about the cost...hahahaha.

Its all around just better for us. Not to mention its looking like I will be moving to California next year in summer (fiance and I both have job offers down there....hers is to work on a very high budget film and we can't turn it down) and I don't want a huge reef to take dismantle.

Really in the end though, I think having my friend say he wants me take the Golden Puffer is what did it. I really want him!!!

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 06:00 AM

Might have been a false alarm. :redface:

My fiance came home today and was like 'What??? I thought we had decided the big tank WAS STAYING as the reef!'

Im not sure where we got mixed up but she is pretty much against it being an 'ugly FOWLR' (her words). Apparently she thought we were putting the Golden Puffer in the reef...riiiiiiight.

Anyways, she says absolutely no to a second tank until we buy a house one day.

Oh well...looks like those of you who were kind of disappointed will be relieved :)

I will have to take some new pictures soon of the new aqua/coralscape since the last rock slide. Especially since apparently the tank is staying as is.

Why am I slightly disappointed???? :neutral:

karazy

04-17-2009, 06:02 AM

Why am I slightly disappointed???? :neutral:

2 words. no pipefish.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 06:13 AM

2 words. no pipefish.

LOL...yeah that must be it...

i have a feeling its more like three though:

NO GOLDEN PUFFER

:sad:

I'm still working on it though.

lastlight

04-17-2009, 06:49 AM

what the reef happened to all that talk about a mantis dude? That was you wasn't it?

spoot

04-17-2009, 07:07 AM

Golden puffer?? *Drool* I have got to get my own place!!

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 07:30 AM

what the reef happened to all that talk about a mantis dude? That was you wasn't it?

Yeah well that tank is her project and she is going ahead with it still and thats why I can't have yet another tank. 3 tanks in our place would be WAY too much.

It was me but i was only asking for her. She is now looking for the tank she wants to use. That tank is going in her closet though.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 07:33 AM

Golden puffer?? *Drool* I have got to get my own place!!

I know of one that needs a good home ;)

He is in a 120 now and needs way more room. He must be about 8x4" now and growing fast. Not someone from the board here but a very good friend of my brothers.

christyf5

04-17-2009, 02:50 PM

LOL, glad to see you're keeping the tank. It would be a shame to have to take it down after all the work you've put into it. Even though you seemed pretty excited about that puffer :wink:

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-17-2009, 03:58 PM

LOL, glad to see you're keeping the tank. It would be a shame to have to take it down after all the work you've put into it. Even though you seemed pretty excited about that puffer :wink:

Oh I woke up so disappointed this morning.

Maybe not disappointed because I do like how the tank is going (other than more cyano) but you know...I got excited at the chance to get the Golden. He is sooooooooo beautiful.

michika

04-17-2009, 06:33 PM

Cats are neat and stuff.

I thought your thread was in short supply of a bit of off-topic babble.

Win!

JDigital

04-18-2009, 12:49 AM

YAY! The reef stays! :lol:

Nah, I like to see you aren't tearing it down, but it is your tank and how YOU feel about is what matters, my opinion on the subject is moot! haha.

Are you using Coral Snow? I'd be surprised you have cyano if your using it.. It helped eliminate mine within days of starting it

spoot

04-18-2009, 01:17 AM

I know of one that needs a good home ;)

He is in a 120 now and needs way more room. He must be about 8x4" now and growing fast. Not someone from the board here but a very good friend of my brothers.

One day, I will be able to adopt all these puffers!

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-25-2009, 10:09 PM

Still no updated pictures of the aquascape. Not quite done one side of the tank as I have been kind of lazy lately but I have finally gotten around to drilling rocks and making pillars with acrylic rods this time, so no more rock slides I hope!

I have added some corals and removed some. Lots of sps were given away to a friend and I have added lots of new softies and a few LPS. Finally starting to look like a mixed reef.

I also picked up a sweet carpet anemone. Its a bright green Stichodactyla Gigantea. I acclimated it yesterday evening and it it looks OK today. Not great but ok. We'll see how it does. They seem very hit or miss.

Here are the pictures. Its about half the size it was in J&L, so obviously still getting use to the new tank.

This is mostly what happens when I try to take pics of the tank :lol: But this picture actually gives you more of an idea of the nems true color. The next picture is a little dark. I can't figure out my camera!

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/IMG_6331.jpg

And one where the fish were finally out of the way. It should be about 6-8" I think. It must have been at least 6" in the shop. Probably only about 4" in these pictures and you can see how closed up it is.

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/IMG_6360.jpg

Delphinus

04-25-2009, 10:31 PM

I have the same problem with my tank. Camera comes out, .. sailfin tang is all HELLO!!!

Carpet looks sweet. Good luck!

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-25-2009, 10:49 PM

I have the same problem with my tank. Camera comes out, .. sailfin tang is all HELLO!!!

Carpet looks sweet. Good luck!

He LOVES the camera. My fish are all friendly but between him, the Yellow tang and rabbitfish, its hard to take pics of anything in the tank. They see the camera and go nuts.

Yeah its looking ok so far. I like your idea Tony of looking to hit milestones...a day, a week, a month, year. Seems from what I have been reading that if you get to three months, your probably going to be ok. If you get to a year, then they are pretty bulletproof. I am happy that its looking ok after a day now. Hopefully it will expand like it was in the store soon.

spoot

04-26-2009, 12:02 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-26-2009, 12:12 AM

The sailfin looks so healthy. I sure wish my fish were more camera friendly, they all seem to hide with the black box of death comes out.

The colour on that carpet anemone looks really good, is it a species that clowns host in? Red/orange clowns would look spectacular in that green anemone.

Can't wait to see the new scape.

Yes clowns will host in it. I believe Maroon clowns are the most natural for the Gigantea anemone but I don't know for sure.

These anemones get very large and its not uncommon for many pairs of clowns to host in the same anemone. I haven't seen my clowns go near it but they rarely leave their bubbletip anemone and this new on is on the other side of the tank. I doubt they will ever find it.

I was tempted to move the bubbletip from them to see if they would go find the carpet but feel thats kind of mean. I am also tempted to try another pair of clowns (black) in the tank but that could go terribly wrong if my current clowns do see the new ones and get territorial. I may try a black pair eventually for the carpet if I have the guts to try it but for now I am going to just focus on keeping the nem happy.

Oh and yeah you get an idea there of how thick that Sailfin is!

I feed 4 of those 4"x8" sheets of nori a day plus a fresh seafood mix, so they all eat a lot. I will try to get a good picture of my rabbitfish...he is THICK.

Delphinus

04-26-2009, 01:54 AM

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-26-2009, 02:49 AM

4 sheets a day? :eek: Wow, he must be pretty happy!! :lol:

Interestingly, S. gigantea is one of two species that naturally hosts both percula and ocellaris clowns. The other is H. magnifica. The other species that host those clowns are a case of "only one or the other." The natural symbionts apparently are A. akindynos, A. bicinctus, A. clarkii, A. ocellaris, A. percula, A. perideraion, A. rubrocinctus.

Well 4 sheets a day for all the fish to share ;) But he must eat a good two of them to himself I would guess. Actually my feeding is like this--if I see an empty nori clip, it is refilled. They always have food at all times when I am home (and I work from home). Most of the time that works out to 4 sheets a day of the 4"x8" stuff or about 6-7 of the smaller Two Little Fishies stuff. Then they all get a blended mix of fresh seafoods each day. My tusk has been eating about a whole Tiger prawn to himself each day as well.

A lot of food goes into my tank!

Thanks for clearing up the hosting question. I wonder if my clowns will end up finding the Gigantea and choose it over the Bubbletip? I have a feeling they are attached to their bubbletip though.

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-26-2009, 08:02 PM

Day 2 and the anemone looks much happier today.

Somehow in the middle of the night or this morning I guess my clowns found it too! I got home last night around 2:30am and they were in their bubbletip and when I woke up this morning at 8am, they were in the carpet :razz:

I don't blame them! I would choose the carpet over the Bubbletip too!

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-27-2009, 04:24 AM

Well found out I am moving at the end of the year or early next year. Not a huge surprise but still kind of unexpected to find out today (it's Monday morning already where the job is).

Very much mixed emotions about this! I am thrilled to have gotten the job I really wanted but its a long way from home and I will have to give up the tank :(

Not sure what to do at this point. I could be moving anytime between September and January. More likely later than sooner but it really all depends on work permits and whatnot.

Oh the job is in Singapore. So I will be joining my father on that side of the world. I guess our planned Bali trip now becomes more of a permanent vacation :D The faincee is THRILLED. I am still not so sure how I feel about it though!

Anyways, have to get the tank sorted out eventually. I have some time but I think the sooner it finds a new home the better. I don't want to be dealing with this last minute.

The plan is to find someone with experience that wants to upgrade and take some of the fish along with the tank. Hopefully someone will take the tangs with the tank! I have all summer to figure it out but if anyone is intersted, feel free to PM me to talk about it.

If the tank does go sooner than later, I will set up a smaller tank to have around until I go. I can't possibly go tankless!:neutral:

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-27-2009, 05:50 AM

Had three PM's asking about what the job is, so figure I will post here. Its a visual development job for the new George Lucas studio in Singapore. So basically I will be drawing a heck of a lot! The only other visual development I have done was for a film called 'Ice Age 2', so this is pretty new to me. I usually animate on these projects, so this time I will be designing what the animators animate. Well actually I should be doing more environments than character design. Not 100% sure yet. They just called me tonight (their Monday morning) to confirm.

We have been going back and forth for about 4 months now though, so this is not sudden. Just unexpected. They really need some 'westerners' over there for the project though. It's a one year thing but they expect lots of work for many years to come, so it may end up being more permanent.

Should be great to set up a tank there I guess. I have seen the shops and they are crazy nice for corals. I guess the advantage is that nothing is really shipped more than a few hours. In fact the reefs around Singapore are decent, especially for stuff like Gigantea Carpet anemones like the one I just bought :lol:. They are all over the coastal shallow waters.

Mrfish55

04-27-2009, 06:14 AM

Congrats on the new job , hope all works out well for you.

spoot

04-27-2009, 07:58 AM

Sounds like a great opportunity Justin! Too bad about the tank though, since you just spent so much effort setting it up. But think of what you can do in Singapore. Maybe you can even go and catch your own livestock!

Tom R

04-27-2009, 03:21 PM

Congrats on the new job , hope all works out well for you.

We will miss you and your ongoing participation on Canreef.

Tom R

christyf5

04-27-2009, 03:22 PM

Wow! Congrats on the job, it sounds fantastic!! :biggrin:

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-27-2009, 03:29 PM

Thanks everyone!

I will still be around Canreef for sure. I am addicted to this place :D

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-27-2009, 03:31 PM

If anyone is interested here is an article about the studio from 2004 when they announced it was being developed. I don't know how long the studio has been going now but it was just opened up last year some time:

http://www.dexigner.com/digital/news-g2318.html

Rbacchiega

04-27-2009, 03:33 PM

I LOVED Ice Age 2!!

Congrats on the job, cruddy deal with the tank though. But like it's already been said, singapore will be RAD to setup a tank in. When I visited there there were fish I had only dreamed of for sale...

JDigital

04-27-2009, 04:05 PM

Wow... That job sounds amazing Justin! Congrats on it, definitely going to be one hell of a life experience. :mrgreen:

Lance

04-27-2009, 04:58 PM

Congrats Justin on the new job. Sounds like a pretty cool experience. Keep in touch eh?

buddyreefer

04-27-2009, 09:53 PM

sounds like you got a really cool job mang!

GreenSpottedPuffer

04-27-2009, 10:01 PM

Wow... That job sounds amazing Justin! Congrats on it, definitely going to be one hell of a life experience. :mrgreen:

Yeah it should be...it's a big change! Year round heat. I think the 'coolest' my dad says its been in the past year was around 21 and it was one of the coldest days on record! I believe the coldest day ever recorded there was 20.6

Congrats Justin on the new job. Sounds like a pretty cool experience. Keep in touch eh?

Of course. I am still here until end of the year and then I will be setting up a new tank there and will start a build thread again.

sounds like you got a really cool job mang!

Yeah I am pretty happy with it. Not sure what to expect really. I am just stoked to get to live over there for a bit.

GreenSpottedPuffer

05-04-2009, 06:07 PM

I am still in Canada for about 5 months it looks like and I want to try to negotiate staying here until the New Year if possible. Sounds like it will be too! So I have set up my 34G Solana all in one cube.

Most everything I was not keeping went this weekend and the tank will be gone next Saturday. The sale went very quick and easy. Not even a single person tried to get a lower price than what I had posted, so I was very happy!

When I move, my younger brother will be renting or staying here. He will take care of the tank for me.

Basically I built the stand and set up the Solana in one day. Moved the livestock over the next and I am happy to say that many of the SPS that were not looking so great anymore in the 200 now look much better again. Others actually browned a little after the move but Im sure will be fine in a few weeks.

It's a 34G tank that came with a skimmer but I chose not to use it. For lighting I went with a Lumenmax 3 pendant, Galaxy 250 watt HQI ballast and Phoenix 14K bulb. Using my JBJ ATO and Aquacontroller from the 200. Pacific Coast 1/13 chiller. For now a modded K3 for flow but that will be switched for a Vortech MP10 soon as I can get my hands on one. For fish it's just my two clowns and a Fang Blenny. No more will go in there. Of course the Carpet anemone too. It's doing very well after the move.

Heres the tank/stand:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/IMG_6487.jpg

In relation to the 200:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/IMG_6489.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r179/Justinpsmith/IMG_6502.jpg

JDigital

05-04-2009, 06:56 PM

Looks awesome dude! Clowns look very happy.. :mrgreen:

Marlin65

05-04-2009, 06:59 PM

Looks great Justin.
Everything made it home OK the zoes are about half open and the cap has a few dead spots but the polyps are all out so it should recover nicely.
I had to do a water change just to acclimatise that beast.
thanks again for the great deals. I will try to post some pictures later.

GreenSpottedPuffer

05-04-2009, 07:58 PM