400 gallon project

[scherzo]

I've seen this tank in person and the pictures do not do it justice.

Brad's fish are GIGANTIC! Very healthy and active... loved seeing it up close.

[untamed]

Originally Posted by lastlight

What's the orange covering across that one big round boulder? Is it some sort of encrusting coral or what?

There are two orange encrusting corals on that front rock. The top is some sort of monti(?) that flouresces beautifully. The sides are a fire coral that is native to Florida where the LD came from.

The fire coral is spreading rapidly around the entire tank...even up the back wall. Fortunately, it has no defense against any acro that wants space, so the rest of the coral holds it at bay.

Unfortunately, the gorgonians do not have any defense against the fire coral and one of my gorgs became completely overgrown by it. This seems like the natural behaviour of the fire coral as both the gorg and the fire coral come from the same ecosystem.

The orange encrusting monti is actually doing a service by surrounding that patch of gorgs, preventing the fire coral from reaching them. If not for that good fortune, I would have lost all those gorgonians to the fire coral long ago. The monti is also trying to grow up the gorgonians, but is doing so at a MUCH slower rate. The fire coral can fully encrust a 6" gorgonian in less than one week. It looks like it will take the monti years to accomplish that.



If you aren't a diver, I will add that fire coral is so named because you don't want to touch it! It has zapped me a few times, but it is only mildly painful.

[Snappy]

Things are looking great. Nice to see things turned around for you.

[MitchM]

Beautiful!


Mitch

[untamed]

While I was looking at the tank today, I thought..."there still seems to be some microbubbles floating around...." Not nearly as many as a few days ago, but still some.

So I decided to take apart my return pump, even though it had been completely cleaned out only 2 months ago.

Here is what I found. I believe I have located the final source of microbubbles in the tank. The intake strainer in my sump had become detached and I didn't think it would matter. I guess it does.

[zum14]

WOW! Hahah! Im surprised it didnt sound like there was a handful of rocks in the pump. Crazy.

[hillegom]

What kind of snail is that in the pump?
Tank looking great!

[Travis]

Love the tank!
but i was wondering how u like the g-6 protien skimmer?

[untamed]

Originally Posted by hillegom

What kind of snail is that in the pump?
Tank looking great!

I don't know. I can say that this kind of snail is ALWAYS the kind of shell that I find in my pumps, although they are usually 1/4 the size of this particular one. I believe they are a carnivorous type because they are always first on the scene of another snail's death.

Originally Posted by Travis

Love the tank!
but i was wondering how u like the g-6 protien skimmer?

G6 has long been replaced. My current skimmer is double the volume of the G6 and nearly 2 feet taller. You can read about that install. It started on pg 84!
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...=28436&page=84

[christyf5]

Tank is looking great Brad!! I can't believe how much stuff your pumps are collecting without any damage to them