70G STARPHIRE - Custom.

[Grimstalk]

I'm not a member of the tang police but you do realize that's a Vlamingi tang and it grows to 2 feet! In addition, it's a mid-water planktivore and requires MULTIPLE feedings per day just to maintain its body weight. I have a 500 gallon reef aquarium and consider it too small to support this fish. I wouldn't dream of putting one in a 70 gallon aquarium, unless you have a 1,000 gallon sump tucked away somewhere.

I agree. I've been thinking of what is the best way to deal with him. It's either give him back to the LFS or another reefer with a suitable tank. Ideally I'd like to keep him for another year or so until I upgrade..but will have to see. Right now his only 4"-5" in length and is doing quite well but it will be unacceptable shortly. I've seen near adult males in a 240G and believe it too be too small. A 500G or larger is probably the minimum for a healthy adult male.

He is a great fish with loads of personality which is why I bought him. I f I was so incline, I'd wager I could lift him out of the tank with my bare hands..very tame. But I not going to try

 

[mark2480]

nice tank

 

[HAMACHI]

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v699/Grimstalk/DSCF0136.jpg">

great pic!

 

[Grimstalk]

thanks, the new camera has made a big difference.

 

[Grimstalk]

Okay, I'm back to my crappy camera for a wee bit but I wanted to post my newest additions today

This colony has about 3 different colour morphs..it's still opening up.

The pink violet zoo's..

They've been in the tank for about 2 hours. Each colony had a fresh water dip just prior to adding to the tank. Don't need no nudis or sundials !!

Also, took a couple extra picks for the hell of it.

cheers,
Jaret

 

[Grimstalk]

trying out a new camera...

 

[Grimstalk]

 

[GSchiemer]

You have a serious bryopsis problem in that aquarium. It will ultimately take over the entire aquarium. There are a lot of proposed solutions for bryopsis control but none are 100% effective. The rabbitfish, Siganus uspi, might help, but the only sure cure is to throw away or chip away every piece of rock that shows signs of bryopsis. Good luck.

 

[EnglishRebel]

Excuse my ignorance GSchiemer but what is bryopsis and what am I looking for?

 

[dippin61]

quick question about your sump.. how come the baffle is slanted?

 

[Whiskyrivr]

Excuse my ignorance GSchiemer but what is bryopsis and what am I looking for?

Is this the same as hair algae?

 

[eng55]

Nice tank, hair algae is a you know what to get rid of. I would take some immediate action on getting rid of that before it gets out of hand. Like the view from the apartment. I would like to live in the city someday. Well good luck with everything. Hope the algae doesnt become a big problem for ya.

 

[lil_fishey]

you have some of the coolest zoa rocks ive ever seen

 

[Grimstalk]

Yea, the bryopsis is a pain but it's starting to receed as I've reduced nutrients and lights. Battle will probably last another 6 month though before it's gone.

Bryopsis is not the same as Hair Algea, it's much more evil. IT looks like little feathers.

The baffle is slanted is actually one of the walls of the refugium...water flows underneath the fuge, and out the top, over the slanted barrier. Kinda like a box inside the sump. The slanted glass allows an overflow of water thats quite, and slow.
thanks guys

 

[jman77]

Nice tank !!

How do you like the 150 HQI's over the tank ? Are you getting good growth from the SPS corals ?

 

[Grimstalk]

Jeez,..your using that ugly dog as an avatar

The 150W are great. I get very good growth with them. You can see some of the earlier post where I posted the slimer and birdsnest frags. They've grown quite a bit in 4months. The slimer was a small peg in July.

I keep the SPS about halfway in the tank and have had no problems, the zoo's grow like weeds, I'm always trimming them. LPS also grow well as the light is lower at the bottom. They inflate nicely.

I'm considering changing to 14K or 20K, although I reallize like the growth I'm getting with 10K..the colour is so.so...

Just ordered a Ozone unit to help remove some of the nutrients...hopefully the bryopsis battle will be over shortly. I'm a wee bit of an overfeeder. The V.Tang requires copious amounts of food.

 

[jman77]

Yea i have 250w HQI's on a 21 inch tall tank and think i went overboard when i ordered the lights. I might downgrade the light fixture to 150's when it's time to change the bulbs.

Great looking tank !

 

[jman77]

Grim

is your light fixture 48 inches long or 36 ?

 

[Grimstalk]

it's 48" x2 150W fixture, Coralife Aqualight Pro, comes with x2 96W PC lights.

 

[Chrismo]

How is that flame hawk? Does he pester your other fish or snails? I know they'll kill shimp, but I'm not a fan of shimp either.

Cheezmo