1st half of package is in.

[docklink]

After months of drooling over everyone else's photos and stories I've finally taken the plunge and recieved my first half (50 gal package) Thanks Richard and Mark.:rollface: I'm on cloud nine already. A couple of teaser photos:

Poor photo but I was blown away when this guy popped out about 15 minutes after being in the aquarium. (there were 2 smaller ones also)

You can click on my gallery to see photos of the aquarium assembly. I'll be loading more photos of the rock as time allows. So far, only a couple of dime size mithrax crabs, a cucumber (ugly bugger) and some tiny brittle stars. No clicks or pops.

 

[hdtran]

All right Jeff! Welcome to the club!

 

[docklink]

Ahh, the morning after glow The tank has cleared:

SG 1.026
Temp 78
pH 8.2
0 Amm, NO2, NO3

A better shot of one of the Serpulids (I've found 5 on this rock so far)

Heard my first click this morning.......:eek1:

PS Thanks Hy !

 

[Slatts]

Congratulations. No more living vicariously thru these pages. You have the real deal and the real clicks. Do you have seltzer, water bottles and all other mantis contraptions ready to go? Good Luck and welcome.

 

[docklink]

Day two and it looks like I won't get off without a little bit of a cycle, nothing bad. I have a couple of small red mithrax crabs that are hiding out in the rocks. Every now and then I can see claws picking at the rocks from under a shelf. I also have a a really small crab I saw near the glass no bigger than a B-B, cute little bugger. Will probably grow up to be a gorilla! I hear an occasional click-click-click, too many clicks to be a bi-valve opening or closing, but haven't seen any mantis or pistols. Fan worms and cup-corals have been extending all over the place. Seems to be settling in well.

SpGr 1.025
pH 8.3
Amm .3
NO2 .2
NO3 <10
Alk 3.0 meq/L

 

[jasonross]

any new pics I am still vicariously for a couple more months till my big system is finished

 

[docklink]

more picts

more picts

For you, Jason

Aquarium under lights:

Hitch-hiking cucumber:

corals and worms:

Another christmas tree worm:

And some sponge damage :

I've tried handling the rock as gently as possible with a minimal time out of water, but the damage still occurs. Still, I am one happy camper.

 

[jasonross]

thanks Doc I can see my tank allready LOL yours is looking great hows the cycle going

 

[Slatts]

Hey Doc, I believe the hitchhiking cucumber is the infamous donkey d?ng. Looking good.

 

[docklink]

Day four

Day four

Starting on day #4 and the situation has stayed fairly stable.
SpGr. 1.025
pH 8.2
Amm 0.2
NO2 0.2
NO3 <10 (~5?)

I have yet to do a water change. I am still having some slow die-off of sponge. A little disheartening, that, but not unexpected. It hasn't spiked the N-cycle though, which is good. The critters seem to be doing well. The crabs (3 now that I know of) are pigging out on crud in the rocks (haven't bothered any of the worms or corals that I can tell). A couple new critters showed up. A tiny black urchin, less than a dime in size:

Also one of the little banded anemones being "discussed" (or is that disgust?) in one of the other threads. I couldn't get a photo of it because of its position in the tank. All are welcome until they prove the aren't.
I caught the cucumber feeding (I think) last night:

The appendages extend at least 3x farther than the photo shows and look like branches off a cypress tree. It would occasionally fold one into it's mouth and then reextend it.

 

[liverock]

Hey Doc, I believe the hitchhiking cucumber is the infamous donkey d?ng. Looking good.

Good ID!

Richard TBS

 

[docklink]

Day #5

Day #5

Day 5

The ammonia appears to be dropping. All other factors are staying fairly stable. Hoping it will be a short cycle.
Amm 0.1
Nitrite 0.2
Nitrate trace (less than 10 , more than zero)
pH 8.0
Alk 2.0
I added 2tsp baking soda and 1/2t of washing soda to nudge the pH up and raise the Alk.
After, Alk 3.0, pH 8.2

The mantis decided to come out to play today. Appears to be about 3/4" long, Mostly black with dark green forearms and red fringes. Kind of cool looking. I tried to get a picture but __MAN, THEY'RE FAST__

The rocks appear to be loaded with spaghetti worms and possibly peanut worms. It's hard to say, but it looks like the sponges may be stabilizing. At least it doesn't look like anymore have turned to goo.

 

[docklink]

It's been a week (technically, not till this evening ) since the rock went in and evrything is just peachy.
Amm 0
NO2 0.1
NO3 <10
All other parms remain the same. Another day like this and I'll be ready to order the next half.

 

[Homey the Reefkeeper]

Nice looking rock docklink !! The coolest hitch hiker I got is a small tiger goby...I see him hopping around once in awhile. He must of been in the tank for a couple weeks before I spotted him

 

[babyblues71]

Anyone want to trade for a scallop?

Anyone want to trade for a scallop?

Anyone want to trade either a VERY small fragmented piece of common SPS or perhaps some fragment piece of soft coral variety that I don't have for an electric flame scallop? I purchased it without properly measuring the available space within my pico reef, and seeing as how I temporarily forgot how they like to move around a bit when I purchased it, I feel he must go. Otherwise, it's just plain cruel keeping him in a space so small. I doubt they'd take him back at the LFS, which is why I thought I'd turn to the Tampa reefers. I'm located in North Tampa.

Brent