Christy's 180 build [Archive] - Page 2?login=1 - Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board

christyf5

05-01-2010, 01:25 AM

So I installed a Tunze6100 in the tank today. Decided to use my sure-grip magnet holder cuz its smaller. Its been in a drawer since I started the new tank. As I picked it up I noticed it had separated:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/April%2030%202010/IMG_8621.jpg

and upon further inspection:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/April%2030%202010/IMG_8620.jpg

Awesomeness! Its a wonder anything grew in the old tank, except more rust. Sheesh! :rolleyes:

My photography skills have deteriorated to the point where I only have two decent photos for you. Sometimes that little screen on my digicam is so deceiving. I think I've gotten the shot and then on my computer its fuzz city or the colors are off. Grr!

Anyway, some neat-o sponges (yes the green slime battle rages on):

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/April%2030%202010/IMG_8635.jpg

The majority of this coral got nuked by the UV bulb incident. It had a couple of branches that survived and I really liked this corals growth pattern and "yellowy-ness" so I figured what the heck. There was also a pink pocillipora and purple rimmed cap attached to the same rock. The pocillipora just tucked in its polyps and weathered the UV storm while the purple rimmed cap said "see ya, buh-bye". Anyway, I'm glad I kept everyone intact as you can see the yellow acro is coming in nicely, the pink pocilipora is well, ridiculously pink and I think there is even some purple rimmed cap under there somewhere :mrgreen:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/April%2030%202010/IMG_8633.jpg

Delphinus

05-01-2010, 03:06 AM

I had a couple Suregrip magnets do the same thing. Love the pinks in the picture, one of the colours I miss the most from days past.

christyf5

05-17-2010, 01:58 AM

I haven't paid much attention to the tank other than feeding and making sure the ATO has enough water in it (been woken up 2x now by the "low" alarm, why does it always go off at like 3am?!). My neglect of the tank is actually helping...well that and the phosban I am running again. The cyano is now only in a couple of patches and I'm pretty sure if I siphon it well it might disappear quicker. The green slimy crap is still hanging on, its a tenacious bugger and gives the tank a yellowy cast.

The regal tang is still going to town on the clams, he's even testing out my prized blue maxima and I am less than impressed. I can't believe how much food it takes to satisfy that fish. Its crazy. I've incorporated nori back into his diet (that was me being lazy and not feeding it) as well as 2x daily feedings of mysis (gee I wonder why I had cyano?).

Poontang made me a plexiglass viewing box so I could take some overhead shots. Sadly I didn't really factor my lighting into photo taking. Even at its highest raised point it still fries the back of my head and well, leaning over the tank taking pics with an SLR trying to look in the viewer, um not the easiest, esp with 400 degrees cooking the back of your head. Here are some photos of the ones that turned out. Unfortunately the "best" corals are the highest up on the rock and didn't get photographed as I need a better lens with a shorter focal range.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8699.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8701.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8703.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8713.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8714.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8716.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8719.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8725.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8720.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8730.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8737.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8723.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8734.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8721.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2016%202010/IMG_8735.jpg

saltwaterseahorses

05-17-2010, 02:01 AM

Looks great! Happy it went along good!

PoonTang

05-17-2010, 02:07 AM

Frickin' awesome pictures. If my corals ever start to look good again you'll have to come over and take some pictures for me.

Albertan22

05-17-2010, 02:08 AM

Photos look great! What lens are you using?

christyf5

05-17-2010, 02:13 AM

Photos look great! What lens are you using?

its just the 18-55mm kit lens (canon rebel XT)

lastlight

05-17-2010, 02:29 AM

Great photos Christy. Glad your tank is healthy and thriving since your UV issues.

Tom R

05-17-2010, 02:37 AM

Your Corals are looking great Christy

Tom R

Lance

05-17-2010, 04:02 AM

Nothing wrong with those pics Christy. Wish I could take photos like that.

kien

05-17-2010, 07:40 AM

wow those corals look awesome!

fishytime

05-18-2010, 06:38 PM

PoonTang

05-18-2010, 08:57 PM

Lmao

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

christyf5

05-18-2010, 09:39 PM

corals and pics look great Christy!......whats a little third degree burn on the back of the noodle????.cmon *said in a Don Cherry type voice* "suck it up princess!"....."take one for the team" ......more top down shots!.........of the coral I mean:wink:

LOL, you crack me up. I actually burned the back of my hand on a bulb once. It was ugly and luckily I don't have a scar. I'm glad I put glass on the reflectors or likely my hair would have caught on fire, now that would have been interesting..

I think I'll try some pics with my extension tubes. Not sure if they'll work on the 18-55mm but its worth a try :biggrin:

christyf5

05-19-2010, 03:25 PM

Extension tubes worked! :mrgreen:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8825.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8814.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8811.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8809.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8807.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8806.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8803.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8789.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8781.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8777.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8772.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8753.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8750.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%2018%202010/IMG_8801.jpg

muck

05-19-2010, 03:29 PM

Wow Christy!!
You have some awesome looking fuzzy sticks!!

christyf5

05-19-2010, 03:33 PM

Not to toot my own horn but....I KNOW! Isn't it awesome!!! They look much better and more colorful from overhead where the green hues from that disgusting green slime don't overshadow the corals colors.

Good news, the green slime has diminished somewhat so I think I'm finally winning the war!! :2gunfire:

muck

05-19-2010, 03:34 PM

Toot away C... toot away.
I think you deserve some rewards for all the hard work you put into your reef!!

fishytime

05-19-2010, 03:38 PM

Love that red digi!

Lance

05-19-2010, 04:44 PM

Wow Christy! Corals look great. Way to go. :biggrin:

fishoholic

05-19-2010, 05:03 PM

I love your fuzzy sicks, looking good :biggrin:

Chowder

05-19-2010, 05:10 PM

Tank is looking really good Christy . You have some amazing pieces as well.

Chris

Doug

05-20-2010, 12:05 AM

:clap2:

Very nice pics Christy.

Gee

05-24-2010, 06:15 AM

I had the good fortune to see the tank in person friday night ... :biggrin: ... the pictures don't do it justice!

Great thing is, I borrowed some test kits so I have an excuse to go back :dance:.

Dez

05-24-2010, 01:14 PM

You have some great looking pieces there Christy :). Those soon to be colonies are just gonna be da bomb!

Rus

05-24-2010, 02:38 PM

looking real good Christy, there are couple in there that will be showstoppers once they are grown out.iI really like the red digi, so often you see them in a rusty brown color not the deep red you have . Might need a piece of that one one day once it grows out a little.:)

JDigital

05-24-2010, 10:31 PM

Love that red digi!

This man speaks the TRUTH!!!

That is an awesome digi!

christyf5

05-24-2010, 11:27 PM

Wow that seems to be a popular one! It fell over on my pink lemonade and burned it the other day so I turfed it to the back forty. Guess I should re-mount it and make a killing off frags from you guys :wink:

There don't seem to be too many vibrant orange or red corals in the SPS world, not that I've seen anyways.

fishytime

05-25-2010, 04:33 AM

christyf5

05-25-2010, 03:32 PM

I for one would love to have a piece of your.....um .....digi:, Christy:wink:

Pretty hard up these days eh Doug? Have you tried eharmony.com?:razz:

fishytime

05-25-2010, 03:46 PM

Pretty hard up these days eh Doug? Have you tried eharmony.com?:razz:

it shows that much huh?:neutral:
but, Canreef is my eharmony....what better place place to find someone with the same interests?:wink:

but seriously, if logistics ever allow....I would love to get a frag of it from ya.

christyf5

06-12-2010, 01:26 AM

Been awhile since I updated this thread. Green slime is mostly gone, cyano still hanging in there in a couple of spots. I just siphon it out when it gets really annoying.

Got some new photos today :biggrin:

Todays FTS

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/june112010.jpg

New addition: Powder Blue Tang. I had one previously in the tank but he was a little bastard to new additions. Solution, send him off to a new tank and add a new one last. Well last tang anyways (and don't hold me to that). He's super mellow and guess what? He has ick! No way you say? Yes way, I know, shocking. Course everyone else has it too so when you see it in the photos, don't be too surprised.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8919.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8921.jpg

I have yet to see him eat what I offer. He fills up on algae though, no lumpy gut or anything.

Course everyone else wanted to get in on the photo action:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8938.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8923.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8932.jpg

Clams are growing nicely
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8927.jpg

The others look like hell as they're still being snacked on. I've ordered an autofeeder to feed the Fat Bastard (aka regal tang) during the day so hopefully he'll lose his taste for clam mantle.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8925.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8899.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8888.jpg

My version of the Purple Monster. Its not authentic so I call it the Purple Monstrosity
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8883.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8863.jpg

Early to bed, late to rise makes a fish....lazy. My wrasse sleeping in his sandbed :)
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8864.jpg

kien

06-12-2010, 01:32 AM

christyf5

06-12-2010, 01:48 AM

Is that your Melanarus sleeping in the sandbed?? Mine is the first to bed as well. He calls it a day about 8:10 on the dot! 10 minutes after day lights out and doesn't even partake in the evening feeding frenzy of frozen food goodness which happens at 8:15. Plus there's still a good 2 hours of light left :neutral:.

Yep thats him. He heads to bed around 9:30 or so. He gets up early on sunny days as there is enough light coming through the nearby window for him to wake up to but on days it rains/cloudy he waits until the first MH comes on :biggrin:

Delphinus

06-12-2010, 02:40 AM

My canary wrasse goes to bed around 7:30- 8:00 too. No idea what he's cueing on for time because there are no light changes around then. Internal chronometer alone I guess.

Dez

06-12-2010, 02:48 AM

christyf5

06-12-2010, 02:53 AM

I came home today at 5pm and I asked my wife whether she saw the Hawaiian flame wrasse and she said "I don't know" then I proceeded to look all around the floor and in my stand to see if she jumped. I ended up finding my Solarensis wrasse that "disappeared" quite a few months ago all dried up. I was quite frantic at this point and fed some "frozen goodness". Out she comes from under the sand and has supper and swims around for about an hour and then heads "back to bed". Is this normal for wrasses to be lazy?

I think that if they don't have a chick to show off for then yes, they're lazy. Get him a girlfriend. I'm thinking about it for my melanurus. I'm not sure if I would have to increase the sandbed size or just add another one :razz:

Chaloupa

06-12-2010, 02:54 AM

christyf5

06-12-2010, 02:58 AM

Your Orange Shoulder is GORGEOUS! Can't wait til mine looks like that...sorry, I much prefer the adult coloration. LOVE the Powder Blue too...would really really like to add one at some point...but....we'll see! Tank is looking absolutely spectacular Christy!!!!!!

Thanks Sarah. My Orange shoulder still has a bit of the yellowy tinge to it, can't wait till it gets the two tone grey. He looks jaundice-y at this point and it bugs me sometimes :razz:

PBT is a MUST for el giganto tank!!! :mrgreen:

Dez

06-12-2010, 02:58 AM

I think that if they don't have a chick to show off for then yes, they're lazy. Get him a girlfriend. I'm thinking about it for my melanurus. I'm not sure if I would have to increase the sandbed size or just add another one :razz:

Have you seen the price tag for a Hawaiian flame wrasse :shocked!: and I wouldn't have a clue how to sex them. I have only seen them at the store once in my life....they aren't a common fish.

Argh... BTW - love your melanurus' bed. It's like a little sand box that you buy for a little kid :biggrin:

christyf5

06-12-2010, 03:06 AM

Have you seen the price tag for a Hawaiian flame wrasse :shocked!: and I wouldn't have a clue how to sex them. I have only seen them at the store once in my life....they aren't a common fish.

Argh... BTW - love your melanurus' bed. It's like a little sand box that you buy for a little kid :biggrin:

Oh, I had no idea. Lucky melanurus wrasses are like birds. The guys are flamboyantly colored, the chicks have way more faded colors, like they've been left out in the sun too long.

Yeah that sandbox was the best I could do with not having a sandbed (and having no interest in installing one). I'm glad it worked, took him a few days to find it but the change in his personality was immediate. It was like watching a frenetic insomniac finally get some sleep and return to a normal state (that being crusing around the tank eating anything that dares to stick its appendage out of the rock and sleeping late/going to bed early:razz:).

Doug

06-12-2010, 12:55 PM

Looking good Christy. Beautiful PB tang. Mr. Regal had not problems with him?

Love the sandbox. Great idea. I used it once when moving tanks or something for my leopards.

christyf5

06-12-2010, 03:34 PM

Looking good Christy. Beautiful PB tang. Mr. Regal had not problems with him?

Love the sandbox. Great idea. I used it once when moving tanks or something for my leopards.

The only thing the regal really cares about is eating every bit of food at feeding time, he doesn't really pay much attention to who I add to the tank for the most part, gives them a once over upon introduction, then is off and running.

fishoholic

06-13-2010, 03:37 AM

The fish are looking good and I love the home made/make shift sand bed for the wrasse. I wonder if something like that would be good for my elegance coral. Right now it's on a BB, seems to be ok but I wonder if it would open up even more if it was on a sand bed.

no_bs

06-24-2010, 05:22 PM

Beautiful tank Christy. Comming along very nicely.

christyf5

07-02-2010, 11:41 PM

So this week I went on a bit of a killing spree. And I enjoyed it! :twised: Does that make me a bad person??

The tank has been pretty neglected lately, and by neglected I mean I do all the usual waterchanges, skimmer cup cleaning etc but not much looking other than to feed, count the fish, make sure they are all fat and then move on. Suffice it to say when I actually looked at it there are frigging majanos, aiptasia, flatworms, bubble algae and brown wafer algae all over the place.

Enough of that crap. I broke out the flatworm exit and used almost the whole bottle on the tank. Die you stinking flatworms! Who knew there were that many on the tank, I kind of laughed at the instructions "Do not underestimate the number of flatworms in your tank". Yeah thats for sure, they were dying in droves! I thought I had siphoned most of them out. Apparently not :rolleyes:

Next, aiptasia and majanos. I mixed up some superconcentrated Aiptasia Destroyer and went to town on them. Some are pretty difficult to get as they're growing on an angle so you can't really pile on the solution (I like to make little Matterhorn mountains on top of them for good measure). I think I blasted most of them. I even put some of the solution on patches of brown wafer algae just for fun. Works like a hot damn. Unfortunately I'd take out my tank if I attempted to get all the wafer algae.

As for the bubble algae and the rest of the brown wafer algae, I've decided to get back on the FM Ultralith system. Even though I thought it was a pain in the arse measuring all the solutions (why can't they make little pumps for them, one pump = 1ml or something?) it did do a great job of eliminating almost every algae present in the tank the last time I used it. Well, except for the dreaded caulerpa which seems to be impossible to get rid of :rolleyes:

Some new acquisitions from the frag swap :biggrin:

Lobophyllia from Terry
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8983.jpg

Gorgonian from Anthony
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8973.jpg

Sea whip from Anthony
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8969.jpg

Fancypants montipora from Chris
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8981.jpg

Marshall Island Acro and Hot to trot cyphastrea (I can't remember what it was called so I made that up) from Ron
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8977.jpg

And some new acquisitions not from the frag swap :razz:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8966.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8985.jpg

And just because I love it so and its growing like a weed. My pink lemonade MINI COLONY!!!! :cheer2:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8970.jpg

And when I got it last October (funny I thought it was longer than that)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/Img_7142.jpg

I can grow SPS! Who knew!!??!:wink:

Skimmerking

07-02-2010, 11:47 PM

Looks Great Christy some nice pieces you have there

don.ald

07-02-2010, 11:47 PM

looks great. you can grow SPS
"Hot to trot cyphastrea " i like that! where can i get a frag?
OH and WTH is wafer algae?
:question:

christyf5

07-02-2010, 11:56 PM

looks great. you can grow SPS
"Hot to trot cyphastrea " i like that! where can i get a frag?
OH and WTH is wafer algae?
:question:

LOL I just remembered its called a Toxic Cyphastrea. I like Hot to Trot better :razz:

Brown Wafer Algae = scurge of the deep

Also known as Lobophora sp.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y286/SSS555/P1010562.jpg

Photo stolen from google who stole it from someones photobucket :razz:

Youngster Dan

07-02-2010, 11:57 PM

Christy this tank is looking good. Some really nice stuff you have in there.

Lance

07-03-2010, 12:40 AM

:clap2: Lookin' good Christy!

Doug

07-03-2010, 12:54 AM

No problems from the exit Christy. Still my favourite treatment. To heck with the natural cures. :lol: Good ole Flatworm Exit always worked well for me, for various things.

I had a bad bubble algae problem awhile back, and when in Winnipeg, picked up a pair of red mythrix crabs, as he had none of the regular green ones.

Man they ate everything that looked like algae including all the bubble algae. But wholley cow did they grow. One molted and was twice the size. Never bothered anything that I could see. They both reside in different tanks now. Perhaps the big one is eating Mike,s fish. :lol:

Corals are looking good though.

Are you not into the beads scenario or tried and not helping?

christyf5

07-03-2010, 01:44 AM

No problems from the exit Christy. Still my favourite treatment. To heck with the natural cures. :lol: Good ole Flatworm Exit always worked well for me, for various things.

yeah I was thinking yesterday that if only they could make a majano or aiptasia exit that worked as efficiently I'd buy stocks in salifert! :wink:

Are you not into the beads scenario or tried and not helping?

yeah I'm running the beads, to be honest I don't think they're doing a bloody thing. I still have patches of cyano and the green slimy crap. I have a feeling that I don't have enough nitrate or phosphate to get them going. I ended up having to put phosban on the tank to lower the algae levels as the phosphate levels had started to rise and the beads weren't kicking in. When I finally got the cyano/green slime under control (its only in a few areas now) I thought the beads might have been working and fed the tank a bit more but I think that only created more problems with pests and algae growth.

Time to bring out the big guns I guess :razz:

Greenmaster

07-06-2010, 09:38 PM

Nice tank... any tank that wins reef of the month shows the person knows what they are doing :-)

JDigital

07-07-2010, 01:23 AM

Greenmaster

07-07-2010, 01:31 AM

And just because I love it so and its growing like a weed. My pink lemonade MINI COLONY!!!! :cheer2:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/July%202%202010/IMG_8970.jpg

I can grow SPS! Who knew!!??!:wink:

If you ever decide to prune that "weed" let me know I would love to come and help :D ... some time after I get my tank set up.

christyf5

07-25-2010, 10:12 PM

Just got back from 10 days vacation and everything looks good for the most part, no corals lost but my royal gramma and one of my pyjama cardinals is missing. I'm hoping the gramma is just ****ed off and hiding somewhere, I've had him for almost 4 years :neutral: I didn't have high hopes for the cardinals as I bought 3 of them and they were having difficulties with the current and hiding next to the wavebox in a low flow area. As a result they need target feeding and well, they're pretty stunned fish.

The tank will need some work, it hasn't had a waterchange in about 3.5 weeks and the coral coloration isn't as bright as it used to be. With the reactors all offline the algae growth has surged and I see bunches of caulerpa and some sort of other algae which I know the name of but I'll be damned if I can remember which book I saw it in.

No pictures, I just finished working on the tank for about 3 hours and my back is done.

Greenmaster

07-25-2010, 10:33 PM

Glad to hear that you didn't come back to a disaster.
How was the vacation?

Lance

07-25-2010, 10:57 PM

Welcome back Christy! The PJ's will come around. I've had one for going on 3 years and he was like yours at first. After awhile though he learned to come out and get his grub at feeding time. They lose a little timidity after awhile.

christyf5

07-26-2010, 12:37 AM

The vacation was great, we went to my husbands family cabin at a lake near Fernie, the weather was damned near perfect (which equals sunny with a breeze so I don't die of the heat) except for a couple stormy/rainy days which were kind of neat.

Its funny, the pyjama cardinals come out when the lights are out so it must not necessarily be a flow issue as nothing gets changed at night, I guess with all the big fish they figure they might end up as a snack so they only come out after everyone has gone to bed.

Found my royal gramma, he came out to eat a few minutes ago!!!!!!!!!:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

Lance

07-26-2010, 12:58 AM

Its funny, the pyjama cardinals come out when the lights are out so it must not necessarily be a flow issue as nothing gets changed at night, I guess with all the big fish they figure they might end up as a snack so they only come out after everyone has gone to bed.

Found my royal gramma, he came out to eat a few minutes ago!!!!!!!!!:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

PJ's are naturally a nocturnal fish. They will change this in captivity though. Hurray! Glad you found the R.G. :biggrin:

Greenmaster

07-26-2010, 01:07 AM

Yay! It's always nice when you find a lost fish.

christyf5

07-31-2010, 03:57 AM

Another update as I've decided to start ultralith and today is the day. Looking at the tank, the nutrient load is just far too high, rampant algae, majanos, vermetid snails etc have got to go or at least get toned down some. My previous use of ultralith eliminated brown wafer algae and well, most algaes except for coralline and caulerpa. It also seemed to eliminate vermetid snails. I can't remember if I had aiptasia or majanos at the time but hopefully it slows their growth too.

Looking at some of the corals, they've really lost a lot of color due to the excess nutrient load. Its nothing that can't be fixed via waterchanges and due diligence with feeding but its the algae that bugs me the most, that and the majanos which I think I counted about 50 more pop up while I was gone. So much for the killing spree.

This is a crap photo but you can sort of see the corals have diminished in color some from last month:

July 30
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/july%2030%202010/july302010.jpg

June 11
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/june112010.jpg

Ugh those are terrible photos and you can't really see much of anything. My "indicator coral" which tells me how happy the tank is and how happy I am with the tank is the big pink Pocillipora damicornis on the left hand side. Here is a closer shot:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/july%2030%202010/IMG_9039.jpg

Its spent most of its life being the funny shade of browny pink it is today and I've spent most of its life trying to make it the lovely pink it was on June 11th. I'm determined to get it back there.

Some comparison photos of coral coloration:

June 11th
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8888.jpg

July 30
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/july%2030%202010/IMG_9061.jpg

June 11
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/june%2011%202010/IMG_8901.jpg

July 30
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/july%2030%202010/IMG_9040.jpg

And just some shots of various pests I want gone from the tank for later comparison:

Wafer algae:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/july%2030%202010/IMG_9045.jpg

Halimeda:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/july%2030%202010/IMG_9042.jpg

Majanos:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/july%2030%202010/IMG_9064.jpg

Lance

07-31-2010, 04:19 AM

In the FTS comparison pics the Regal tang is in almost exactly the same position. :biggrin:
Good luck with the ultralith. I hope it works for you.

jorjef

07-31-2010, 04:25 AM

christyf5

07-31-2010, 04:42 AM

In the FTS comparison pics the Regal tang is in almost exactly the same position. :biggrin:

yeah he really hates the black cloth I put on the back of the tank for FTS. He wigs out in that corner practically the whole time I have it on, which is why sometimes the pics look like arse, cuz i'm trying to get the shot too quickly.

christyf5

07-31-2010, 04:46 AM

I need to hi-jack for a second. In the last photo there is some round pink'ish/purpleish growth on the rocks with round holes in the middle...What is this stuff?? I have some of the same but also grows in long stringy lengths...Seems to be some type of sponge

yep its a lower light sponge, the whitish type seems to get those long strings on them and after a few years if you try to separate your rocks you'll find they're glued together by the sponge. Kind of neat that it secures your rockwork for you but also annoying that there can be so much of it in there. I also have a couple of other sponges in the tank that come in pink and red, no strings but they look sort of the same as well as yellow ball sponges which are really neat :biggrin:

lastlight

07-31-2010, 05:58 AM

Perhaps the color is a bit diminished but your tank really great mature look to it. I've never had that wafer algae...call me nuts but it kinda looks cool?

christyf5

08-01-2010, 03:47 PM

Perhaps the color is a bit diminished but your tank really great mature look to it. I've never had that wafer algae...call me nuts but it kinda looks cool?

it does kinda look cool but eventually covers every rock and gets to plague proportions. It also gives the tank a dull brown overcast which is less than attractive. I don't mind it in small patches but that never lasts long.

fishytime

08-02-2010, 02:05 AM

it does kinda look cool but eventually covers every rock and gets to plague proportions. It also gives the tank a dull brown overcast which is less than attractive. I don't mind it in small patches but that never lasts long.

do we see a small naso in your near future?:wink:......or are you just gonna manually pluck it out?

christyf5

08-02-2010, 02:16 AM

do we see a small naso in your near future?:wink:......or are you just gonna manually pluck it out?

naw I don't think I can do a naso unless they've made a dwarf version. Once the wafer algae starts to "plate" its easy to siphon out but I'm hoping the ultralith does the trick :biggrin:

fishytime

08-02-2010, 02:24 AM

naw I don't think I can do a naso unless they've made a dwarf version. Once the wafer algae starts to "plate" its easy to siphon out but I'm hoping the ultralith does the trick :biggrin:

Naso's stay small for a couple...............months:mrgreen:......I battled waffer algae too and the way I got rid of it, was a blonde......its a tough one to git rid of......hopefully your UNLS will knock it back....

christyf5

08-02-2010, 02:39 AM

Naso's stay small for a couple...............months:mrgreen:......I battled waffer algae too and the way I got rid of it, was a blonde......its a tough one to git rid of......hopefully your UNLS will knock it back....

LOL, yeah if I could remove one fairly easily I would definitely go for it but the thought of tearing the tank half apart to get it out after the job was done, frankly it makes me tired :razz:

Oh the other hand I'm currently looking for ideas for "natural" majano and aiptasia control, anyone had any experience with utiliensis butterflies?

Delphinus

08-03-2010, 04:47 AM

anyone had any experience with utiliensis butterflies?

uh ... hi?

christyf5

08-03-2010, 03:09 PM

uh ... hi?

I know your experience :razz: I was just wondering if anyone had any bad ones

Parker

08-03-2010, 05:48 PM

Oh the other hand I'm currently looking for ideas for "natural" majano and aiptasia control, anyone had any experience with utiliensis butterflies?

Tagging along. I'm tool lazy to stick my head in the tank to get to the one's down low.

Delphinus

08-04-2010, 06:29 AM

Typed in a response at work but then all day never got a chance to finish it and press submit. Argh! Hate days like that.

Anyhow, the short version to what I want to say is that I have two C. ulietensis, aka Pacific double-saddle back, or false falcula butterflies. Both C. ulietensis and the similar C. falcula (aka "true falcula" - the black patches are smaller on falcula) have a reasonable reputation for being majano munchers, reasonable adaptability, and a somewhat reef safe reputation. The problem is that the flipside to "somewhat reef safe" means "somewhat not reef safe" and you'll not really know what else could be at risk in your tank until you've tried them and find out. They could be model citizens but they might end up not being able to resist certain temptations and you can't really compensate for a learned behaviour with extra feeding.

I was warned beforehand that "they eat everything" and I thought. .. well, surely not EVERYTHING. But 8 month in with them I can say it's actually darn close to everything. Softeys, stoneys (LPS and SPS), gorgonians, clams, anemones .. no category is immune. For the most part they leave most things alone but once they've decided one individual is food, that's it, it's food, and they won't leave it alone until it's gone (perished or removed). The latest thing is I've had a couple clams let go of their rock (like clams do) and the butterflies discovered that the byssal gland is pretty tasty. :( So the upright clams are fine but a couple in the past month did topple over and I found them too late to save.

So it's a VERY carefully measured choice. They can be pretty destructive. Which is too bad, because they are VERY nifty fish.

christyf5

08-04-2010, 03:03 PM

LOL, I didn't realize yours had gotten quite so bad Tony, its been awhile since I've gotten an update from you. Guess I'm mixing up more kalk paste.:razz:

christyf5

08-16-2010, 01:10 AM

I'm hiding out from the heat today and have a bit of cabin fever so this might be a long one :razz:

So the Ultralith has been running a couple weeks now, not really anything to report. Sometimes I see clearer water, sometimes I think its all in my head (today is a "clear" day). Its a pretty slow acting system so I really don't expect to see any changes until at least 6 weeks in. The system is relatively simple but whoever wrote their instruction manual needs a good talking to, it constantly contradicts itself and is poorly organized. I never really know if I'm doing it properly, for all I know it could be a truly fabulous system but I'm not doing it right (I wasn't last time and didn't figure it out until 4 weeks in, but there was no instruction manual back then).

Some things are coloring up after the vacation brownout, others are really resistant including my purple cross and tropical paradise. Both remain unsightly shades of brown and shadows of their former selves. Some of the yellows are still a bit on the dark side but are returning to vibrancy. Its funny how some corals are so affected while others are just as lovely as they were before I left. Oh well, gives me something to do I guess. It would be boring if it were all perfection all the time like it usually is........... bwahahahahahahhaha :pound:

I got another nori feeder from Poontang and my powder blue finally has the chance to get in with the big boys and eat nori. Even the bellus angel is in there getting his share. After all, Lardbutt can't guard both of them :razz: PBT has also started eating mysis (YAY!!) so I may finally have the opportunity to clear the ick that has plagued him since about a week after introducing him to the tank. His ick isnt' really all that bad, but he and the lavender keep passing it back and forth between them. Both of them were kind of skittish (the lavender overly which is odd as he is the one to go ape over new fish). Hopefully they'll all calm down a bit and get things in order.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9230.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9215.jpg

The pyjama cardinals are settling in, they're much more out in the open and eating all the time now. Sometimes they hang out at opposite ends of each other, sometimes they "find" each other and hang out for awhile. I hope they don't end up being two males or something (do male pyjamas kill each other like the bangaiis do??).

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9181.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/Img_9174.jpg

Lardbutt seems to be concentrating all of his clam-mantle-eating efforts on just one crocea so this one is taking the brunt of it:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/Img_9206.jpg

The other ones are doing fabulously well, fully extended with no nips that I can see. Hopefully he gives up on them soon (although they seem no worse for wear other than looking ragged). The teardrop maxima didn't want to be in the photo, he's been crabby lately and giving me the cold shoulder (faces the side glass to the left, irritable bastard).

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/Img_9164.jpg

This is supposed to be a "bird of paradise". I'm not seeing the "paradise" part but its "birding" quite well.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9163.jpg

I never thought much of lobowhatevers before but I'm really liking this one, its actually prettier when its less poufed but I love it when my LPS are happy and trying to off my zoos at the same time :razz:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/Img_9162.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/Img_9157.jpg

I'm kind of stupid proud of this one, my pink lemonade, it was a tiny tiny frag when I got it and look at it now! :mrgreen: Yes I know you're probably sick of hearing about it. Now it just needs to color up some cuz right now its more regular lemonadey than pink lemonadey (mmm, lemonade....http://www.reef-geeks.com/forums/images/smilies/drool5.gif)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9192.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/Img_9160.jpg

my hawkins echinata, so pretty :love:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9188.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9236.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9222.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9161.jpg

Chaloupa

08-16-2010, 01:14 AM

HOLY Christy...your tank looks fantastic! OMG, polyps out, color....fish look good. WOW! I'd be feelin pretty good about that!

christyf5

08-16-2010, 01:17 AM

Thanks!! :redface:

Yeah even though the tank has an overall browny yellow cast to it, I'm pretty impressed with growth and how healthy everyone is. I know the brown isn't forever and I'll be back to perfection in no time :wink:

Greenmaster

08-16-2010, 01:25 AM

wow I love your tank... I hope I can grow corals to look as good as yours some day. (they look great even though you went on vacation.)

Sunee

08-16-2010, 02:37 PM

Wonderful tank. I love the variety of shapes and forms you have going.

Lance

08-16-2010, 04:37 PM

Christy, the two PJ's should not be a problem. According to the experts they will establish a hierarchy without aggression. The only situation that they may become aggressive is a breeding pair chasing off other PJ's.

PS: The tank looks great! :biggrin:

Chowder

08-16-2010, 04:53 PM

Tank looks great Christy. On the PJ's what Lance said. I have 6 in my tank right now. They all seem to school or all be spread throughout the tank . I have had them for 3 years now . Two sets of 3 in two different tanks. I have had all of together in one tank since febuary. I have not seen much aggression between them. Every so often there will be a little jockying in positoin in the pack . I have never been able to tell the females from males. I did find out two weeks ago that I have atleast one male. I noticed one had a mouth full of eggs and was hanging out alone on the opposite side of the tank. Two days later I wa sworking on the tank and he released them. Was really cool to see.

Chris

christyf5

08-16-2010, 04:59 PM

Oh, good to know! Thanks Lance and Chris :biggrin:

Zoaelite

08-16-2010, 05:07 PM

Even browned out the tank is looking amazingly healthy Christy! What sort of coral is right above your lemonade? What ever it is that's some fantastic growth and color on it!

I have always wanted a PB but I have been to scared to try and my tank is a little full, grats on getting him to eat I hope he grows nice and big in your tank.

christyf5

08-16-2010, 05:56 PM

Thats a pink pocilipora above the pink lemonade. I almost lost that one in 2008 but managed to resurrect it from a few tiny bits that survived. It grows like crazy and is in need of fragging as its crowding out a few other corals.

christyf5

09-06-2010, 07:34 PM

So today I thought I'd check out my RODI TDS to see if everything was ok, its been awhile and I'm always amazed that its still only like 2 even though I think I haven't replaced the RO filter since about 2006/2007. Sure enough its still 2. Thought for fun I'd check my waterchange bucket that is currently filling with fresh water. Interesting, TDS is 35. Hmm, check my auto-topoff reservoir, TDS is 40. Nice. I wonder if thats why my tank looks like ass lately? Guess I'll have to clean both out thoroughly.

PoonTang

09-06-2010, 08:42 PM

Christy, you should be getting about 2 after your membrane and 0 after your DI. Do you have a online dual tester? Let me know and I can bring mine up next time and we'll check it out.

christyf5

09-06-2010, 10:48 PM

Christy, you should be getting about 2 after your membrane and 0 after your DI. Do you have a online dual tester? Let me know and I can bring mine up next time and we'll check it out.

Its never been zero but that doesn't matter to me. 2 is close enough. I've never tested it after my membrane, just where it comes out after the DI.

PoonTang

09-06-2010, 11:55 PM

christyf5

09-07-2010, 12:01 AM

Also watch your temperature as it makes a huge difference to the TDS if you get it over about 76 deg. I know you use a fawcett to supply the filter like I do and i have seen it if you have it too high. I guess the heat must expand the pores in the membrane.

Interesting. I'll try to keep it a bit cooler. I did notice it was quite warm today but I think that was because I was running the washing machine at the same time (hogging all the cold water).

Hawkaholic

09-22-2010, 06:20 AM

[QUOTE=christyf5;541764]iPBT has also started eating mysis (YAY!!) so I may finally have the opportunity to clear the ick that has plagued him since about a week after introducing him to the tank. His ick isnt' really all that bad,

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/aug%2015%202010/IMG_9230.jpg

Just wondering how the Powder Blue is doing. Ive had mine for about 6-8 months now and hes had ick pretty much since day one. Hes healthy...eats anything...just has those darn white spots...lol. Enjoyed reading your thread btw as I am now addicted to build threads...lol. You have a great lookin tank!!

christyf5

09-22-2010, 03:11 PM

Thanks hawkaholic! The powder blue is doing fantastic. He's really coming into his own and is right in there at feeding time with all the other piglets. He's pretty much had ick since after the first week but now theres just a few spots that I can keep to a minimum by feeding garlic. If the darned lavender tang would just grow a pair and stop being so timid I'd be rid of ick all together but he and the powder blue just keep passing it back and forth between them.

Greenmaster

09-22-2010, 04:25 PM

...If the darned lavender tang would just grow a pair and stop being so timid...

Careful what you wish for... I can see it now...(future quote) "My darned lavender tang needs to be neutered hes stressing out all my fish almost killed one I had to put him in the QT, someone help, what am I to do?" :twised:

Lance

09-22-2010, 04:46 PM

Careful what you wish for... I can see it now...(future quote) "My darned lavender tang needs to be neutered hes stressing out all my fish almost killed one I had to put him in the QT, someone help, what am I to do?" :twised:

Lol Those damn Tangs. They do seem to be either babies or bullies don't they.

Lance

09-22-2010, 04:50 PM

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I had the pleasure of seeing Christy's new tank in person recently. Definitely top notch! Beautiful corals and nice fat, healthy fishies. Keep up the good work Christy.

christyf5

10-12-2010, 01:07 AM

Jeez I totally missed that Lance but thanks for the compliments! :biggrin:

So whats new? Well, I chemi-cleaned the tank. Took a few days to get the skimmer back online but all is good now and the tank looks pretty damned good actually. All the cyano is gone and some of the fugly brown crap that was hanging out on the rocks is gone as well. Of course now I can see the wafer algae more clearly and well, there is considerably more than I had previously thought. I shouldn't be surprised though, really.

My ultralith regime has totally fallen by the wayside. I'm not even sure when the last time I changed the rocks out (end of August I think), guess I should do that and get back on the wagon. Some corals are coloring up but a lot of them still have a ways to go to get to their former glory.

Requisite photos to hold your attentions:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9318.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9302.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9300.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9299.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9294.jpg

I did some reading on RC about majano eradication. Someone posted about using a 4N solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Man, it certainly does the job. I did a test on a couple baddies with the powerheads off and it works like a charm. However it does create a lot of precipitate which is kind of scary/nerve wracking. The precipitate is supposed to be harmless but it takes a couple of seconds to form and in that time if you are injecting too quickly the solution can land on various other corals and do them in. So far casualties have been 3 majanos (yay!), 1 orange mushroom (sort of yay!) and half a ricordea (oops!). It also burns the crap out of brown wafer algae as you can see in this photo, its the greenish spot to the upper left of the ricordea (which is slightly melty)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9321.jpg

And here is what it did to the mushroom:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9320.jpg

I'm not overly sad about the potential loss of this mushroom. I've never been able to grow mushrooms so I was totally unfazed when I put these ones in the tank, "whatever, I'll have like two pretty mushrooms on a rock forever". Yeah, right, somewhere in the last few months I've lost the ability to not grow mushrooms and I have about 20 in various spots in the tank, and they're effing huge, like tennis ball size. Yes I will be keeping their populations in check from now on if this one croaks :biggrin:

Oh right, I have a before and after photo of "potential" majano eradication:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9313.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9323.jpg

Yes it also eradicates coralline as you can see. I just did a couple on that rock as the precipitate was starting to scare me. After seeing the amount of precipitate and how much my fish seemed to be interested in it (or what I was doing, either way, they were stirring it up and freaking me out) I took a good hard look at just how many majanos are in the tank. The majority of them seem to be clustered on rocks that were removable or were originally a "plug" which is basically a large rock (it the ones those colonies from the LFS come on) so I just took the coral out, removed it from the plug and epoxied it down back in the tank and turfed the plug. Some of the other smaller rocks will be easily removed from the tank where I can go to town on them with the NaOH but I'd say there are still about 20-30 majanos in the tank that will have to be carefully injected. I have my work cut out for me.

In other news, my pink "irridescent" pocillipora (left side of the tank in the back forty, not the damicornis, the one above/behind it) spawned a number of months ago (I think August as Marie pointed out some little patches of it on my wavebox) and I'm not sure if it has spawned since or if it just took that long for the single polyps to turn into something my eyes could see but I have pink pocilliporas everywhere! You can see the one to the right of my lokani in this photo:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9291.jpg

Thats about how big they are, I've counted over 25 of them so far. It going to be a serious pain in the arse if they all turn into small colonies, but luckily you can nuke them with NaOH too. Yes, I went on a bit of a killing spree today nuking this and that :razz:

And now, if you've made it through this entire post, you are rewarded with a few more crappy slightly-out-of-focus photos :wink:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9330.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/IMG_9331.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/Img_9333.jpg

FTS Oct 11
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/October%2010%202010/Oct112010.jpg

Forgot to add that the bulb on the left decided it only wanted to work for about 10 minutes this morning and then promptly died. I replaced it with an old bulb that is well over a year old so it looks a little less white on that side. Its not really overly noticeable but I know its there and its frigging annoying. I totally need to win the lottery and get some new bulbs (or alternatively save some money). Good thing I never throw anything out or it would be pretty dim on that side :wink:

Skimmerking

10-12-2010, 01:24 AM

WOW looking some nice Christy

Lance

10-12-2010, 01:40 AM

Sounds a little scary: injecting Draino into the tank; but if it works, What the Hey!
Nice to see the cyano gone. :biggrin:

christyf5

10-12-2010, 01:53 AM

Sounds a little scary: injecting Draino into the tank; but if it works, What the Hey!
Nice to see the cyano gone. :biggrin:

LOL yeah I guess thats what it is essentially. Works like a hot damn tho. I just siphoned up the precipitate after and did my regular waterchange. The tank looks just fine. I wonder what the chemical reaction is though to produce the precipitate?

lastlight

10-12-2010, 01:56 AM

Chaloupa

10-12-2010, 02:06 AM

Delphinus

10-12-2010, 02:30 AM

^whattheysaid (ie. looks great)

christyf5

10-12-2010, 02:44 AM

Wonder if it creates intense heat like Draino seems to. Tank looks really sweet to me but if some aren't as colorful as they once were at least you have polyp extension galore and they look otherwise healthy.

mixing up the sodium hydroxide it got pretty hot and I would imagine that the chemical reaction with saltwater creates some heat as well. It pretty much melts stuff on contact.

Everything in the tank does look healthy, and I'm happy with the colors of most things except for a couple corals that I know have looked better in the past so I just have to be patient I guess :razz:

christyf5

10-12-2010, 02:46 AM

WOW Christy...your tank looks amazing!!!! Good to see that SOMETHING is working..however scary THAT is!!! Um...sorta miss the Purple Regal....I liked him in purple better :lol: But you have some seriously gorgeous corals

LOL, yeah I need to get my old nikon out again. Once I switched to a canon camera he turned out blue. There are no actinics on this tank either so that doesn't lend to the purple end of the spectrum.

Thanks for the compliments guys :biggrin:

PoonTang

10-12-2010, 04:36 AM

Now that is a sweet looking tank! Nice work Christy.

Borderjumper

10-12-2010, 04:42 AM

Wow Christy.. It's looking nice!

christyf5

10-14-2010, 03:05 AM

Thanks guys, over the last few days stuff looks pretty happy in there. I would imagine everyone is feeling better not being choked out by cyano :biggrin:

Zoaelite

10-14-2010, 04:01 AM

mixing up the sodium hydroxide it got pretty hot and I would imagine that the chemical reaction with saltwater creates some heat as well. It pretty much melts stuff on contact.

Everything in the tank does look healthy, and I'm happy with the colors of most things except for a couple corals that I know have looked better in the past so I just have to be patient I guess :razz:

Mixing up my first batch for the doser melted my holding container in half :neutral:, Calcium is low on the reactivity table though other group 1 and 2 metals are much more reactive in water.

This guy has the sweetest hair ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyFLvSg6ZDw&feature=related

Tanks looking amazing as usual, that's some pretty unreal growth you have on the SPS Christy!

MitchM

10-14-2010, 09:42 AM

Definitely looking good....:thumb:

Mitch

Lance

10-31-2010, 12:38 AM

Christy, have you been conducting more pest eradication with the sodium hydroxide?

christyf5

10-31-2010, 02:49 AM

No actually I've been incredibly lazy lately and haven't even done a waterchange in the past couple of weeks (or since I did the last NaOH testing). I do need to get my act together though. Some of the rocks were removable so I just yarded them out and removed them manually, a couple of other rocks were just coral bases so I popped the corals off of them, chucked the bases and re-epoxied them down. Others on non-removable rock have been plotting against me and reproducing at will. The plan is to go after the rest or a goodly portion of the rest of the majanos on Monday if I'm feeling up to it.

I did check the rocks that I treated a few weeks ago. One rock is completely clean and the other had one majano out of 4 come back (I think because I didn't get it quick enough before it sucked itself into the hole, either that or a new one grew in its place (it had several growing next to the ones I nailed but I was worried about the number of majanos I was nuking and the first time using the NaOH.)

Lance

10-31-2010, 03:02 AM

Let me know how the second nuking goes. I'm getting annoyed at those little bastards myself, and may give it a try. Where do you get it from?

christyf5

10-31-2010, 03:17 AM

I, um, "appropriated" it from work :biggrin:

Lance

10-31-2010, 03:26 AM

I, um, "appropriated" it from work :biggrin:

:tape:

christyf5

11-04-2010, 03:24 AM

Ok so second nuking was Monday. I hit all the majanos I could see (at the time, I see more today that I didn't hit). I think I had about a 60-75% success rate. Those majanos that are facing upwards are much easier to nail than the sideways ones. I did miss a large patch in the back forty (at least I think I did) and one rock I actually took out of the tank and nuked as almost all of the majanos on it were sticking out the side of the rock (and frankly the rock was small and easier to take out). I nuked a couple of aiptasia which I have a 100% success rate for so far. I thought I tested a mushroom but sadly I can't remember where the damned thing was, it was a single mushroom and I can't find any singles anywhere nor any leftover bits so we can maybe call that one a tentative success. I also hit a few odd shaped polyps that are like a cross between a short tentacled majano and a rust colored zoanthid. Easy peasy, they're gonzo and so is the algae they were mixed in with on one of my powerhead brackets :biggrin:

I'm not sure I'd be so worried about doing a water change right afterwards, although I'm sure its a good idea. I turkey basted up the precipitate after each "treatment". The waterchange (20%) did perk up the tank though, everything is looking fabulous a few days later.

I'm also happy to report that nothing croaked that wasn't supposed to during the treatment. There were a couple of close calls as you can see the sodium hydroxide in the water column sort of like you can see a hypersaline solution in regular water or lower salinity (kind of looks like a heat wave under water) and you really need to give that a quick stir so it precipitates before it hits anything. At one point I thought it landed on one of my acans but it precipitated at the last second and all was ok. Its definitely soemthing you need to be careful with or you could end up with dead spots on any corals that are underneath treatment areas.

Lance

11-04-2010, 03:38 AM

Wow! Sounds like you're having fun you little "nuker". And it also looks to me like I need this stuff. Anybody know where to get sodium hydroxide?

christyf5

11-04-2010, 03:44 AM

Seriously, this stuff is the shiznit, I'm also using it on the eleventy billion tiny pocillipora colonies that have popped up all over the place :razz:

boots

11-06-2010, 09:18 PM

That pic of the receptical scares me. Aluminum wire that stuff is scary. FYI becarefull mixing disssimaliare metals ie. The copper and alum. There are special marets and dielectric grease to do it properly. And don't nick the aluminum wire a little nick and the curent will start to arc and the nick will get bigger and create heat. I had aluminum wire in my last house.

christyf5

01-02-2011, 07:44 PM

New year, new photos! :biggrin:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/January12011-1.jpg

So the sodium hydroxide does an excellent job of killing majanos and aiptasia but they're still popping up all over the place. I killed another 20 or so yesterday and still see more. Some are very tiny and easy to miss, others are in completely unaccessible areas. For some reason aiptasia seem to really like growing on my clams, which makes them fairly easy to remove.

Other than that not much new, stuff is growing. I replaced the MH bulbs the other day with Ushio 10K (same as before). Its amazing the color temperature difference. These ones are so nice and white, I didn't realize how yellowy the old ones were and they were only at 10 months.

The fish are all doing well, surprising as I've neglected the tank fairly badly and sometimes they only get fed every other day. They're all pretty fat though so its not like they can't skip a feeding but I feel guilty and my new years resolution is to not forget about them so often.

More pics :biggrin:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9533.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9528.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9518.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9501.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9492.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9495.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9472.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9468.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9436.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9428.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9429.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9430.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9452.jpg

PoonTang

01-02-2011, 08:42 PM

Wow what a difference a few months can make, the tank looks fabulous.

fishoholic

01-02-2011, 08:49 PM

looks great :biggrin:

Youngster Dan

01-02-2011, 09:00 PM

The tank is lookin' great. Good photos too!

Delphinus

01-02-2011, 09:16 PM

You sure do have a lot of corals!! :p Tank looks mighty fine..

Lance

01-02-2011, 09:41 PM

Looking good Christy. Didn't take you long to fill that tank up eh? Nice growth.

lastlight

01-02-2011, 10:54 PM

Colours are looking great. You have some really sizeable 'frags' on that frag rack of yours!

christyf5

01-03-2011, 12:19 AM

Looking good Christy. Didn't take you long to fill that tank up eh?

lol, ya i know. sad eh? :wink:

Colours are looking great. You have some really sizeable 'frags' on that frag rack of yours!

those large ones are actually doubles of corals. sometimes i buy small stuff, then when it grows out i discover i already have it. since real estate is at a premium, it lives on the frag rack before going to someone elses house (these ones have been patiently waiting for brad). theres lots of other small stuff on there that i'm growing out some so it doesnt get lost in the tank :biggrin:

thanks for the compliments guys, other than the persistent cyano, majanos and aiptasia, i'm pretty happy with the tank these days :mrgreen:

Aquattro

01-03-2011, 12:23 AM

(these ones have been patiently waiting for brad).

I'm coming, I'm coming!! -lol

christyf5

01-03-2011, 12:28 AM

I'm coming, I'm coming!! -lol

you got alerts set for your name? that was quick :razz:

fishytime

01-03-2011, 02:17 AM

Wow!.....tank looks awesome Christy!:biggrin: and the pics are saweet too!.....I really like that sps in the first pic.....do you have an ID for it?

Aquattro

01-03-2011, 02:32 AM

you got alerts set for your name? that was quick :razz:

No, I just watch all the really cool tank threads!!

christyf5

01-03-2011, 03:47 AM

Wow!.....tank looks awesome Christy!:biggrin: and the pics are saweet too!.....I really like that sps in the first pic.....do you have an ID for it?

No I don't, I thought it was a A. nana or A. valida but I'm not really sure. Its taking on a life of its own. Its "mom" was lost in the great UV disaster and this piece was on a rock that the original colony was leaning against, I guess it was just underhanging enough to be sheltered from the UV rays. It literally started from a tiny encrusting bit smaller than a dime. This version seems to have really long thin branches. I'll see if I can dig up a photo of the original one.

No, I just watch all the really cool tank threads!!

Aww, shucks. Thanks :redface:

fishytime

01-03-2011, 04:17 AM

No I don't, I thought it was a A. nana or A. valida but I'm not really sure. Its taking on a life of its own. Its "mom" was lost in the great UV disaster and this piece was on a rock that the original colony was leaning against, I guess it was just underhanging enough to be sheltered from the UV rays. It literally started from a tiny encrusting bit smaller than a dime. This version seems to have really long thin branches. I'll see if I can dig up a photo of the original one.

I had both valida and nana in V1......both were much thicker branched than yours...... I would be interested in seeing that pic......kinda amazing how things can evolve huh?

Delphinus

01-03-2011, 04:28 AM

In the old days I had a A. valida colony that looked exactly like that. Think I grew it out from a 1/4" crumb I got to keep as payment for helping move Mitch's 180g monster in 2000 or so. Was one of the nicest acros I had ever known, beauty of a colour, fast grower .. I gave away so many frags of what would now be considered "mini colonies" in size over the years .. and was one of the last to die out in my SPS "event" (since that's what we seem to call it nowadays).

Anyhow. I would have guess that acro to be A. valida.

fishytime

01-03-2011, 04:41 AM

gonna have to dig up a pic of mine now:lol:

christyf5

01-08-2011, 10:36 AM

ok, took forever but here is a photo from 2008

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN6906.jpg

Lance

01-08-2011, 04:09 PM

Posting pics at 3:36 am? I feel for ya Momma. :sad:

MitchM

01-08-2011, 04:44 PM

A coral's environment can dictate it's morphology, which makes identification even more challenging.

christyf5

01-08-2011, 05:34 PM

Posting pics at 3:36 am? I feel for ya Momma. :sad:

yes my mantra is "this won't last forever" but the 3 hours of sleep a night I get is taking its toll, and frankly it feels like forever :razz:

A coral's environment can dictate it's morphology, which makes identification even more challenging.

I totally agree, all I know about A. valida and A. nana is that it always seems to keep this same coloration. Really its just a WAG and I love that corals can be so different in different conditions. I really enjoy giving others frags and seeing what they do in their tanks, which is often something quite different from what they do in mine :biggrin:

Aquattro

01-10-2011, 02:06 AM

I have to say Christy's photo skills are a bit lacking. This tank looks even better in person, I could have stared at it for hours. Actually, I did :)

Absolutely stunning colors in this tank!!

christyf5

01-10-2011, 03:09 AM

aww thanks Brad :redface:

fishytime

01-10-2011, 05:08 AM

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Jan%201%202011/IMG_9533.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/DSCN6906.jpg

Wow! quite the difference between the two pics.....both versions are still thinner than my nana and valida......I would probably have to say yours is a nana tho.....whatever is is it looks much better now IMHO:biggrin:

Aquattro

01-10-2011, 05:34 AM

aww thanks Brad :redface:

no, thank you!! I'm still mounting frags :)

Aquattro

01-10-2011, 06:44 AM

Why NOT to go to Christy's house when your tank is already full...

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd101/reef_raf/cooler.jpg

Lance

01-10-2011, 06:00 PM

Nice score Brad. Christy always comes through!

Delphinus

01-10-2011, 06:25 PM

Nice..um... containers?

Geez, for all we know that was just your take out dinner last night. Post some pictures of the corals man!

christyf5

01-10-2011, 08:54 PM

Nice..um... containers?

Geez, for all we know that was just your take out dinner last night. Post some pictures of the corals man!

:rofl:

Aquattro

01-10-2011, 09:56 PM

Nice..um... containers?

Geez, for all we know that was just your take out dinner last night. Post some pictures of the corals man!

Corals?? Nah, it was last night's dinner leftovers she sent me home with!!

StirCrazy

01-11-2011, 09:36 AM

Nice..um... containers?

Geez, for all we know that was just your take out dinner last night. Post some pictures of the corals man!

come on you know how Brad is with pictures. he has been setting up and has his tank running now for what.. 2 months and we have seen 3 pictures and non of the set up only the display tank...

see what happens when I move away and am not there to take pictures for him..

Steve

christyf5

03-12-2011, 04:41 AM

Haven't had much time for the tank lately. I bought a matted filefish to take care of the majanos, he didn't do much and only ate mysis. I gave him a couple of weeks to get interested in them but decided I'd bought yet another "dud" fish and went ahead and bought an Aiptasia Zapper from Oceanic Corals. It worked pretty well, I figure about 50% of what I tried to kill stayed dead, I don't think I was zapping them long enough. I left the tank yet again with no time to deal with it and by the time I did have a few spare minutes to zap a few more I couldn't find a single majano in the tank. The filefish had finally discovered those tasty morsels. He won't have anything to do with the aiptasia though so I had to take matters into my own hands. All the accessible ones are dead but there are a few lurking in hard to reach spots.

Other than that, I'm still battling cyano, story of my life. Got a few pics of the tank snapped with my cell phone. First camera to actually accurately capture the colors. Not too shabby. Anyway heres the pics:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%207%202011/IMAG0088.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%207%202011/IMAG0087.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%207%202011/IMAG0086.jpg

My computer is crashing so I'm hitting the submit button. More later

freezetyle

03-12-2011, 05:20 AM

looking good Christy!

reefan

03-12-2011, 02:49 PM

Yeah nice tank you got there

Lance

03-12-2011, 04:12 PM

Wow! Pretty good growth since I saw it last; filling in nicely. Keep up the good work Christy.
On a side note: Two months between updates? A tank that nice must be shown more often. Sheesh, you'd think you're spending all your time changing diapers or something. :mrgreen:

christyf5

03-12-2011, 04:44 PM

Skimmerking

03-12-2011, 04:51 PM

the tank looks great wish I was closer :biggrin:

Lance

03-12-2011, 05:14 PM

Thanks guys!

Yeah Lance, it takes me a few weeks to get the photos off the camera card and onto the computer, then a few more to get them onto photobucket, then a few more to remember to post them here. Its an exhaustive process :wink:

Ha! Just giving you a hard time. I'm not too bad updating tank pics, my bad is getting to some of the maintenance chores. :redface:

In the second pic there is an orange coral that looks kinda like an encrusting Monti, growing right beside some Rics, just to the left of the Wrasse's tail. What is it? It can't be a Monti or the Rics would be killing it.

christyf5

03-12-2011, 05:41 PM

Ha! Just giving you a hard time. I'm not too bad updating tank pics, my bad is getting to some of the maintenance chores. :redface:

In the second pic there is an orange coral that looks kinda like an encrusting Monti, growing right beside some Rics, just to the left of the Wrasse's tail. What is it? It can't be a Monti or the Rics would be killing it.

Oh I know you're just yanking my chain but sometimes its amazing how long it takes to do the most simplest of things these days :rolleyes:

Those would be red mushrooms, they're the most red mushrooms I've ever seen although they look kind of orangey in that photo. Thank god they've confined them to that small area instead of spreading like my orange ones.

Lance

03-12-2011, 05:56 PM

Those would be red mushrooms, they're the most red mushrooms I've ever seen although they look kind of orangey in that photo. Thank god they've confined them to that small area instead of spreading like my orange ones.

Ahh. That's why I didn't recognize them as mushrooms. They looked like they could be but I've never seen any of that colour before. Yeah, shrooms can be a pain. I literally yank a 1/2 dozen out of the 90g every week.

PoonTang

03-12-2011, 06:02 PM

Tank looks great! and im glad to hear about the Mojano's. Mabey the Filefish will take an interest in the aptasia now that they are all gone. If not its a good excuse to get a CBB. ;)

kien

03-12-2011, 06:11 PM

Haven't had much time for the tank lately.

I can't tell that the tank has been receiving less attention, it still looks great! Those colonies are big and healthy, cyano and majanos be damned! :D

christyf5

03-15-2011, 12:48 AM

moar photos! sorry if some of these are repeats :razz:

FTS March 9

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/march92011.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9607.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9608.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9612.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9619.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9625.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9626.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9601.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9618.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9604.jpg

lastlight

03-15-2011, 01:05 AM

Wow that's looking great. Like how these pics are a bit darker and show the colors off even better. Do you have any wrasses in your tank?

I notice it's bare bottom. I have a leopard wrasse that sleeps under the sand and I wonder if sand is a must have for fish like this.

Aquattro

03-15-2011, 01:07 AM

I have a leopard wrasse that sleeps under the sand and I wonder if sand is a must have for fish like this.

I kept my LW in my BB 90 before the upgrade, just added a container of sand at the back of the tank. Worked great :)

Lance

03-15-2011, 01:58 AM

I kept my LW in my BB 90 before the upgrade, just added a container of sand at the back of the tank. Worked great :)

Christy does the same, a container of sand in the back.

christyf5

03-15-2011, 02:07 AM

Christy does the same, a container of sand in the back.

Actually I only used the sand for about 6 months or so. THe wrasse would dive in, the sand would make a mass exodus. Eventually I would take longer and longer to replace the sand. Finally there was no sand left to put back in the container and the container was removed. The wrasse is completely fine without the sand now.

Delphinus

03-15-2011, 08:00 AM

Great looking everything!

What's this one?
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2014%202011/IMG_9612.jpg

christyf5

03-15-2011, 10:08 AM

Thanks Tony! That one is a purple slimer

Delphinus

03-15-2011, 04:30 PM

Thanks Tony! That one is a purple slimer

Like.

Want.

:lol:

christyf5

03-15-2011, 04:40 PM

Like.

Want.

:lol:

LOL, does someone need a care package?:wink:

lastlight

03-15-2011, 04:42 PM

LOL, does someone need a care package?:wink:

Maybe after you slap his hand for not saying please. :lol:

Chaloupa

03-15-2011, 05:06 PM

Like.

Want.

:lol:

OOOOH me too, me too!!!!

Aquattro

03-15-2011, 05:10 PM

OOOOH me too, me too!!!!

and me, me, me!!! :)

PoonTang

03-15-2011, 05:11 PM

Me 3.Who ever can get there first gets the biggest piece ;)

christyf5

03-15-2011, 05:13 PM

and me, me, me!!! :)

LOL Im pretty sure you got one when you were here last :razz:

Aquattro

03-15-2011, 05:20 PM

LOL Im pretty sure you got one when you were here last :razz:

I know, but the frenzy got me all excited :)

christyf5

03-15-2011, 05:24 PM

I know, but the frenzy got me all excited :)

:rofl:

Borderjumper

03-15-2011, 09:27 PM

I know, but the frenzy got me all excited :)
Lol!

Well I want on the list too!

Delphinus

03-15-2011, 09:31 PM

Maybe after you slap his hand for not saying please. :lol:

Please keep your perverted desires out of this. Despite what you may think this is still a family friendly oriented board. Seriously. You're sick. Get help! :p (Please.)

christyf5

03-15-2011, 10:56 PM

After seeing Lance's videos I thought I'd give it a try. No lame music though, just the sound of water trickling and random pumps. Oh and the cat screaming at me :razz:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2015%202011/th_VIDEO0003.jpg (http://s23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/March%2015%202011/?action=view&current=VIDEO0003.mp4)

Lance

03-15-2011, 11:17 PM

Great video Christy! I like it!

Is the Regal still the boss of the tank or have one of the newer Tangs taken over? I know Powder Blues can be pretty snarky.

christyf5

03-15-2011, 11:35 PM

Great video Christy! I like it!

Is the Regal still the boss of the tank or have one of the newer Tangs taken over? I know Powder Blues can be pretty snarky.

Thanks Lance

The Orange Shoulder tang is now ruling the roost, however the Regal is too stupid to notice or care for that matter. He just rolls with it and occasionally tries to assert himself, its kind of funny to watch :razz:

The Powder Blue is one of the most mellow tangs. I've had 2 others previously that were much more aggressive. One I lost to UV, he wasn't overly aggressive but didn't take crap from anyone but didn't dole it out either. The second one was pretty aggressive to newcomers and as a result I had to rehome him (Poontang has him now) because I hadn't finished adding fish/tangs This one just cruises along like nothing doing. The only other fish he harasses is the Lavender tang and I'm not sure if its really harassment or just having fun :biggrin:

Leah

03-16-2011, 12:14 AM

Wow!!! Christy your tank is beautiful. The fish are gorgeous, healthy and very large. :mrgreen:

christyf5

03-16-2011, 12:15 AM

Wow!!! Christy your tank is beautiful. And the fish are gorgeous and so healthy and large. :mrgreen:

Thanks Leah! I'm pretty proud of my fat fish :mrgreen:

Leah

03-16-2011, 12:18 AM

QUOTE christyf5 I'm pretty proud of my fat fish :mrgreen:

:lol:

christyf5

04-19-2011, 10:52 PM

So awhile ago I got a couple of little maxima clams from Red Coral. They're just gorgeous but a bit difficult to keep on one spot due to the huge flow in my tank and general largeness of everything compared to a 1" clam. So out came my little sandbed once again.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/april%2018%202011/IMG_9632.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/april%2018%202011/IMG_9633.jpg

Course with any sand in my tank comes a saga. Because of the flow in my tank, I had to turn off the vortech pump which is directly behind the container, otherwise the tank would have been a sandstorm. This lack of flow resulted in increased cyano growth in that area (cyano is rampant once again in my tank :rolleyes:).

Upon entry of the sandbed to water, my wrasse immediately recognised it as his old bed and it was like watching a dieter and a donut reunite. 12h later, there was considerably less sand in it. In the ensuing days, there was less sand in the container and more in the tank. The wrasse was also flipping the clams out of the container as he didn't want to share. The clams were protected up against the glass and the container so I just left them there.

One morning I go down to the tank to check on them, the littler one is missing. WTF? Its not anywhere in the tank. Oh no, its in the rockwork. Way up high in the rockwork. Great, now my fish are carting them around like toys. I remove the clam and place it back in the container which is now floating because it doesn't have any sand in it. I weigh it down with a rock. In the next few days I rescue the small clam once again and surprisingly the larger clam as well from various spots in the tank.

So I've had it. This is my solution. Clams....in a container... with the rock.. and a tomato bag cinched up over the whole shebang. Hopefully this covers all the bases. I siphoned all the sand out so there will be no more frolicking in the 3mm of sand that covered the bottom and no more carting the clams all over the place. I hope they grow fast! :wink:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/april%2018%202011/CIMG1016.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/april%2018%202011/CIMG1017.jpg

Borderjumper

04-19-2011, 11:09 PM

I'm sorry Christy, but Im laughing so hard I have tears! You have more problems :mrgreen:

Lance

04-19-2011, 11:12 PM

Hehe. The things we go through for our salty critters eh? I hope for your sake they grow fast. :lol:
What is that slithery-looking thing sitting on the Turbinaria in the first pic? Looks like an Engineer Goby or something similar?

lastlight

04-20-2011, 12:32 AM

Wow what a hassle. If ever there was an excuse for an inline clam tank that sounds like it haha.

christyf5

04-20-2011, 12:38 AM

Leah

04-20-2011, 12:51 AM

Christy,

What is the colorful little fish in the left side of the tank? Just below the blennie.

christyf5

04-20-2011, 01:04 AM

Christy,

What is the colorful little fish in the left side of the tank? Just below the blennie.

That would be a talbots damsel. Great little fish. I have 4 of them :biggrin:

christyf5

04-20-2011, 01:05 AM

Wow what a hassle. If ever there was an excuse for an inline clam tank that sounds like it haha.

LOL, I wish. I don't think my hubby would be too impressed. Although if I had a spare MH setup kicking around....:idea:

Leah

04-20-2011, 01:07 AM

Thanks Christy! Very pretty little fish.

fishoholic

04-20-2011, 02:11 AM

Awwww poor little wrasse just wants a sand bed to call home :sad:

christyf5

04-20-2011, 02:50 AM

well he wasnt sleeping in it. just looking for food :biggrin:

PoonTang

04-20-2011, 03:16 AM

Im thinking a frag/clam tank would be in order. Or I could babysit your clams for you ;)

Sunee

04-20-2011, 09:42 PM

Just loved the video. Your pictures are great but there is nothing like seeing your tank in a video! Beautiful tank.

Borderjumper

04-21-2011, 12:04 AM

well he wasnt sleeping in it. just looking for food :biggrin:

Lol

I'm surprised to see you got such tiny clams.. I thought you swore off the wee ones?

es355lucille

04-21-2011, 02:49 AM

Cool video Christy! Nice fish and corals you have there. Thats one beautiful OS Tang! WOW.

Brad

christyf5

04-21-2011, 03:58 AM

Lol

I'm surprised to see you got such tiny clams.. I thought you swore off the wee ones?

yeah I did, I thought these guys would be larger. I think the 2" one will make it but I dunno about the 1" one. I have the crappiest luck with the little guys but maybe this time will be a success. Guess we'll just have to see.

christyf5

04-21-2011, 03:59 AM

Just loved the video. Your pictures are great but there is nothing like seeing your tank in a video! Beautiful tank.

Cool video Christy! Nice fish and corals you have there. Thats one beautiful OS Tang! WOW.

Brad

Thanks guys, I appreciate the compliments :biggrin:

Delphinus

04-21-2011, 04:19 PM

christyf5

04-21-2011, 04:32 PM

I just got around to watching the video, for a while there I guess photobucket was having trouble so I'd get this blog "We're sorry! We're so sorry! OH GOD WE ARE SO SORRY, THIS IS LIKE A 1 in 1 BILLION KIND OF FAILURE NO WE'RE NOT HACKED but SORRY SORRY SORRY WE CAN'T SHOW YOU YOUR PICTURES AND/OR VIDEOS" instead of the actual video until late last night and I finally watched it.

Bwahahahah, that cracked me up! Quietly though, kid is sleeping.

And everything inside it looks fantastic too. Nice sized colonies. Everything I own is like 1" and I'm all excited that they're not 0.75" anymore after 3 months. So .. um, yeah that's it, I quit this stupid hobby. My wallet thanks you for helping me to this decision!!! :p
No seriously, your tank does look great. I'll see if I still quit the hobby by the time I get home from work this afternoon. (I really should though...)

Yeah where have I heard that before :razz:

One thing tho, the growth from that 3/4" frag to a mini colony is frigging brutal, it takes like 6 months to a year but after that its amazing the growth changes. Its like it takes it awhile to settle in and realize that it can grow and then boom, it goes from mini colony to something of a decent size. I should show you the 30K lokani I've had for over a year. Its gone from 3/4" to 1" with two nubbin branches. If all my frags were like that yeah, I would have quit too :razz:

lastlight

04-21-2011, 04:44 PM

nubbins phase is just brutal. I have a few pieces that have been comfy there for more than 6 months. I also have a bad habit of mounting coral too high too soon so in my tank I need to account for idiotRecovery phase which precedes nubbins phase.

christyf5

05-10-2011, 06:50 PM

Some topdowns :biggrin:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0183.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0185.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0210.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0209.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0202.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0201.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0194.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0193.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0190.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0187.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0186.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0182.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0213.jpg

Delphinus

05-10-2011, 07:05 PM

So purdy!

lastlight

05-10-2011, 07:40 PM

that's some friendly montipora you got there. stuff looks great =)

Zoaelite

05-10-2011, 07:44 PM

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0210.jpg
:shocked!:
Whoa.

Chowder

05-10-2011, 07:49 PM

Looking really good Christy.

Chris

lastlight

05-10-2011, 08:00 PM

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/May%208%202011/IMAG0210.jpg
:shocked!:
Whoa.

I was too lazy to go post the pics but yeah that one made me wake up too. Is that loripes or something?

PoonTang

05-10-2011, 08:20 PM

Sweet. I'll be by for the personal viewing soon :)

reefermadness

05-10-2011, 08:40 PM

I was too lazy to go post the pics but yeah that one made me wake up too. Is that loripes or something?

That one looks like ORA Hawkins Echinata....which is actually not an echinata but most likely a.turaki. One of my fav's.

Very nice Christy.....!

fishytime

05-10-2011, 09:17 PM

Wow Christy nice pics and stuff....nothing like some top downs to get the boys all worked up huh?

Greenmaster

05-10-2011, 10:09 PM

WOW... got any frags you want to get rid of? :D I only have one coral in my tank and it's lonely.

Lance

05-10-2011, 10:23 PM

Looking mighty fine Christy!
And I don't see cyano anymore. Yay! You got it beat huh?

christyf5

05-11-2011, 01:57 AM

I was too lazy to go post the pics but yeah that one made me wake up too. Is that loripes or something?

Hawkins Echinata :biggrin:

christyf5

05-11-2011, 01:58 AM

Thanks guys! :mrgreen:

Looking mighty fine Christy!
And I don't see cyano anymore. Yay! You got it beat huh?

Just about got it licked, its still bad in some spots but I'm workin on it, damn stuff is pretty tenacious.

christyf5

09-01-2011, 03:18 AM

Thought I'd throw out an update.

Aug 30 2011 Front

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/aug302011a.jpg

Back:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/aug302011back.jpg

The little clams didn't make it. I never really expected them to but you never know sometimes. One croaked at the end of may and the other made it to the beginning of july. I also lost 2 other clams somewhere in between and am now down to a single 4" blue maxima. Not sure what is going on there but very frustrating. The blue maxima is not looking so great either, gaping a bit and a shrivelled mantle near the incurrent siphon. I looked tonight and it is looking marginally better with one side of the mantle looking fairly normal. I'm hoping it pulls itself out of whatever funk its been in for the past number of weeks.

At some point the dosing line for magnesium got clogged and the line popped off at the doser. The doser continued on its merry way and dosed the controller for my Tunze 6100. According to teh internets, it was stuck on feed mode as it would pulse for a second when first turned on, then nothing. Brad (Aquattro) kindly supplied me with a new controller (THANK YOU BRAD!!!:hail:) and everything is hunky dory once again. The 6100 was down for at least couple of weeks. Shows how much time I spend with the tank that 1. I didn't notice and 2. it took me 2 weeks to try cleaning it and then farting around with various parts to figure out what was going on :rolleyes: Not sure if that has anything to do with the maxima clam issues/self fix or if its just coincidence.

I have an acro that is currently less than 1" from the surface of the water. This is a personal triumph for me as I've never been able to grow them big. That being said the acro isn't exactly located at the bottom of the tank, its fairly high up but I can't wait to see that neat surface growth effect they get :biggrin:
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0053.jpg

Unfortunately this acro is also being smothered by my stupid orange digitata. The digitata is so gorgeous and I've never come across one so vibrant but the bloody thing just overtakes everything. Its more interested in growing horizontally than vertically and its starting to mow down several other corals. So I'm going to try to get in there one of these days and get it out of there. Hopefully I don't damage anything or mess up the rockwork because frankly I don't have time for that BS.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0091.jpg

Ok more photos! :biggrin:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0069.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0064.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0063.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0100.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0078.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0103.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0060.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0061.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0056.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0084.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0035.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0055.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0109.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0112.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0105.jpg

Anyways thats about all thats new. Frankly I'm surprised that the tank is doing as well as it has been with about zero interest/time spent on my part. I do waterchanges when I can, which is usually bi-weekly now, fill up the dosing stuff when I notice they're empty and feed the tank daily (ie. dump food in). I've often thought that at this point, I'm kind of losing interest in the tank, I've accomplished what I set out to do which was be successful at keeping SPS and I've done it. Finally. After almost 8 years of algaes, algaes, more algaes, evil bugs/nudibranches, lights breaking, pumps failing, heaters failing etc.

Then I think "get a grip, its summer. what will you fill your time with in the fall/winter?"

And with that said, I'm off to feed the tank :biggrin:

Aquattro

09-01-2011, 03:29 AM

Hawkins Echinata :biggrin:

nice :)

lastlight

09-01-2011, 03:37 AM

That's looking gorgeous Christy!

When you fraggin' that Hawkins for me? :biggrin:

christyf5

09-01-2011, 03:39 AM

That's looking gorgeous Christy!

When you fraggin' that Hawkins for me? :biggrin:

LOL. when you comin to get it? :razz:

Aquattro

09-01-2011, 03:40 AM

When you fraggin' that Hawkins for me? :biggrin:

Get in line buddy!!

fishytime

09-01-2011, 04:22 AM

again....sweet pics Christy..... I especially like this one of one of your acros puking its guts out.....
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Aug%2030%202011/IMG_0055.jpg

you should call it "Christy's Mornin Sikness" acro:mrgreen:......its kind a shame because I really love the shape and growth pattern of a digitata, but they really are like the xenia of the sps group.......once they settle in, they can grow fast and be quite invasive.....I had three different colors in V1.....I decided only one digi(superman) would make its way back into V2........perhaps just a good hard fraggin will keep it in line:wink:

reefermadness

09-01-2011, 04:25 AM

kien

09-01-2011, 04:40 AM

there's sure a whole lot of awesome going on in that there tank.

Lampshade

09-01-2011, 05:30 AM

Tank looks amazing, what do you use for coral food? if any? looks like you have great polyp extension and colors.

Skimmerking

09-01-2011, 11:31 AM

Christy that OST is amazing Lu-Lu hasnt even begun to change from Yellow to grey and she is fat like 1.5" thick and still she thinks she is a Yellow tang.

fishoholic

09-01-2011, 12:16 PM

Looks great! :biggrin:

Sunee

09-01-2011, 04:13 PM

Just gorgeous Christy! Hope when my tank grows up it looks half as good as yours.

christyf5

09-01-2011, 04:52 PM

Nice update Christy....it looks no worse for wear or lack of effort: ie. looks great.

Im surprised that the digi is taking out an acro. That has me scared actually because I have some of the same situation going on......but with my pearlberry and a confusa. No way am I sacrificing my small pearlberry to an overly aggressive monti. :(

I'd look at getting it out of there before it hits any of your acros. Right now the damn digi is so encrusted I'm probably going to have to get in there with a chisel. Or some sodium hydroxide to just kill it.

christyf5

09-01-2011, 04:53 PM

Tank looks amazing, what do you use for coral food? if any? looks like you have great polyp extension and colors.

fish poop and mysis shrapnel :biggrin:

Lance

09-01-2011, 11:19 PM

Tank looks terrific Christy! And that orange Digi has to be the brightest I've ever seen. Shame you have to mangle it a little. Stupid corals! They either don't grow or they grow where you don't want them to.

Snappy

09-02-2011, 03:09 AM

Lookin' good Christy!

christyf5

12-09-2011, 03:54 AM

Been awhile since I updated so I thought I'd post.

Pruned out the orange digitata and every other piece of digitata I could get out of there. I had a blue one that wasn't as bad as the orange but was coming in a close second. Even now, 2 months later I see bits of it popping up again :rolleyes: I also removed a few smallish pieces that either weren't doing it for me or were starting to encroach on corals that I liked more. I think I removed about 4 colonies or so. Maybe 5. I can't remember, it was enough to get me a clam and some mysis from the LFS :razz:

The tank has had its various issues from either me not spending enough time on it or spending too much time on it (rather trying to do too much too fast I suppose). Various corals located mid tank started receeding at the tips for whatever reason. At the time I was dosing potassium so I stopped. Then I thought it might be the way I was feeding (thaw frozen cube in water, dump in tank which then turned into thaw some of large block in water, dump in tank) which was causing temperature issues and tissue recession. Anyway, I stopped that too and am noticing now that things are starting to turn around for most corals but my turaki isn't having any of it. Its mad and the algae has taken hold.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0155.jpg

I managed to get a small frag off it before the algae really set in but I've noticed its having a bit of a rough time too. I can't decide whether to turf the colony or leave it in there and let it duke it out with the algae. I guess as long as it doesn't spread its probably ok to leave it in there.

Another coral, a tricolor, is starting to grow tissue over the affected parts, you can see its still fighting the algae which I'm guessing is some sort of cyano.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0153.jpg

In other news my skimmer wouldn't restart after tank maintenance day. The impeller magnet had burst and wasn't looking pretty. Could be the source of my algae woes??

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0173.jpg

I'd like to think thats the cause of my problems but I highly doubt it. I'm just really good at growing algae :wink: I did discover that the Sedra 9000 and EuroReef SP5 impellers are exactly the same only about a $50 price difference with shipping. Sedra is white, ER is black.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0176.jpg

Bought a new squamosa awhile ago. Couldn't say how much awhile, I thought it was a couple weeks, could be a couple months. Time is a mystery for me these days. I still don't understand how it goes so slowly while I'm at work and so fast when I'm home and on weekends :razz:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0152.jpg

Why I can never remove my frag racks:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0154.jpg

The other one is encrusted in superman digitata (no pic). Damned thing grows faster on that rack than it does anywhere else :rolleyes:

Other randoms:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0170.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0158.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0157.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0156.jpg

And a FTS:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/dec62011.jpg

lastlight

12-09-2011, 04:50 AM

Sorry to hear about the algae woes. The rest of the corals sure seem ok to me. This one... wow I love:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/December%2012%202011/IMG_0170.jpg

fishytime

12-09-2011, 04:56 AM

superman likes it up high......(Im assuming your frag rack is high up?).....Ive got mine up high and it grows really well for me...... I really like that first sps in the "randoms" sequence.....and the shaggy redish one......very nice!:biggrin:

Snappy

12-09-2011, 05:17 AM

Nice stuff Christy.

christyf5

02-19-2012, 03:49 AM

Snapped a few shots of the tank tonight. No sense in talking about the tank as it looks like crud and I have nothing nice to say about it, hence the macros and FTS from a distance :razz:

FTS (welcome back Purple Regal Tang!)

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/feb182012.jpg

Various corals and junk:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0417.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0414.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0413.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0408.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0407.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0402.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0400.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0396.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0394.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0386.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0384.jpg

And finally, my cool new toy. Its called "The Portal". Does a fantastic job of magnifying all of my corals so I can see what they're doing. I find it absolutely fascinating to watch everything up close :biggrin:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b365/christyf5/Feb%2018%202012/IMG_0459.jpg