A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system

[mgrmax]

That is an exceptional tank! Do you recall the name of this coral?

 

[dave.m]

Dendronephthya, I think. Some call it a carnation coral or a tree coral.

Dave.M

 

[mgrmax]

Thank you

 

[danfeig]

Dan,

I lived in Tucson from 02-05. Im sure it has changed immensely since then. I was in the Air Force at DM. Great city though! I miss the desert at times, but am a beach bum at heart. I just read through this entire thread and must thank you for such detailed posts. Im in the process of planning a 72x72x24" aquarium with the Achilles tang as my prize fish, plus other tangs. Seeing how yours do in your aquarium, along with the equipment and build you have has inspired me. Fantastic build sir.

Thank you Eliphion!

Tucson has grown a lot in the last 9 years. It's still a great place to live and raise a family.

The Achilies remains one of my favorite fish. Good luck with your build and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. If you make it back to Tucson, let me know!

Dan

 

[danfeig]

Wow man! Great JOB on this tank! I love the build and how you designed everything, loved how it turned out at the end! Also at Fishy Bizness in Tucson have a high supply of different corals, I think they have 2 frag tanks and a 500 gallon display, it's pretty cool! But your tank is way better, no offense fishy bizness, love it!
Also, I'm a 16 year old that lives in Nogales, Arizona who started this hobby around 4-5 months ago and I've been in the freshwater community for about 6 years (I always maintained my 30g goldfish tank) and now I'm moving away from all that. This hobby is truly amazing! Keep us updated!

Thanks Holyassasin! You will have to introduce yourself to me at one of the next Frag Swaps at Fishy Bizness.

I appreciate the compliments.

Being new in the hobby, don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions with your setup.

 

[Holyassasin]

Great! Well fishy bizness is about an hour and a half from me.. hard for me to get up there! But hopefully I could get my brother to take me to the next one with my mother's permission

 

[explorer22]

Wow

Wow

That is great tank!!!!!

 

[sebcity]

Hi Dan,

It took me 3 days to get through it but it was the most enlightening, informative and detailed thread I've ever read. I actually learned a lot!
I love how you answer every question and enquiry! You are a top bloke!

If I ever build a house, it will be built around something like this!

Keep up the good work!

Ronan

 

[danfeig]

Amazing tank!

That is great tank!!!!!

Thanks guys! I appreciate the compliments!!!

 

[danfeig]

That is an exceptional tank! Do you recall the name of this coral?

Thanks for the nice words.

That was one of my favorite corals. Dave was right. It was a Carnation Coral (Dendronephthya). It was one of my casualties last summer went I went away for a month, having just changed out my GFO and not adjusting my reactor. The GFO removed too many nutrients from my tank. I tried to save it by placing it in my seahorse tank with all of the pods, but to no avail.

I am going to have Mike at my LFS order a new one. Thanks for reposting that picture! I loved that coral!!!

 

[dave.m]

That was one of my favorite corals.

<shameless_plug>[shameless_plug]Don't keep ordering more corals from the wild that we can't successfully restock. Instead, why not help in a current crowdsource-funded effort to mariculture soft corals, specifically Dendronephthya and Scleronephthya? Here is a link to this project for your consideration.

I know I personally would like to see this project become a success. So far the response from the hobby has been rather underwhelming. I think our hobby is doomed if we can't learn, like the freshwater hobby, to grow our own on a commercially viable basis.</shameless_plug>[/shameless_plug]

Dave.M

 

[danfeig]

<shameless_plug>[shameless_plug]Don't keep ordering more corals from the wild that we can't successfully restock. Instead, why not help in a current crowdsource-funded effort to mariculture soft corals, specifically Dendronephthya and Scleronephthya? Here is a link to this project for your consideration.

I know I personally would like to see this project become a success. So far the response from the hobby has been rather underwhelming. I think our hobby is doomed if we can't learn, like the freshwater hobby, to grow our own on a commercially viable basis.</shameless_plug>[/shameless_plug]

Dave.M

Dave,

Thanks for the link. It is an interesting project. I have received solicitations from many such organizations. I support the purchase of maricultured and aquacultured corals. I am also a big proponent of Frag Swaps and growing out corals from fellow hobbyist.

I never had any issues keeping non-photosynthetic corals. Dendros, Sponges and Scleronephthya corals can all be fragged although I rarely seem to see them at local swaps. The Carnation that had been in my main display originated a couple years before in my 150 gallon from a 1" frag.

 

[scubadan206]

How do you frag sponges? I have been looking to set up a long term growout tank for sponges and SPS corals for the feeding of butterfly fish or angels. Either to offer an occasional treat or supplement, or to entice fish to eat.
Daniel. :wavehand:

 

[mpsti05]

Awaiting mega pic update

 

[danfeig]

It Looks Like I Am A Daddy Again...

It Looks Like I Am A Daddy Again...

My male Banggaii hasn't been eating the last couple of weeks and I assumed that he was carrying another mouthful of eggs/fry"¦

Last night I noticed a small baby, 1/8", swimming in the protection of a sea urchin. The male still has a mouthful"¦ If I can only get the two Whitetail Bristletooth Tangs out of the same QT"¦

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[hedgedrew]

Just dropped in for an update and look. All looks wonderful. Just saying hi. Hope all is well. Sure looks it!!

 

[o2manyfish]

Cool feeling isn't it !!!

Congrats. It's amazing how neat they look when they finally pop out.

The 2 Fry I raised that i moved to the display tank last month have grown like crazy.

I still have almost 20 in the outdoor sump.

Couple days you should have a bunch more to count.

Dave B

 

[MathiasM.]

You got them
Congratulations!Beautiful White Tails you got!
They look awesome and are some of the most interesting
fish out there. I am really happy for you, Dan

Best wishes
Mathias

 

[Benson0219]

My male Banggaii hasn't been eating the last couple of weeks and I assumed that he was carrying another mouthful of eggs/fry"¦

Last night I noticed a small baby, 1/8", swimming in the protection of a sea urchin. The male still has a mouthful"¦ If I can only get the two Whitetail Bristletooth Tangs out of the same QT"¦

[/URL][/IMG]

Wow... that is way cool...

 

[danfeig]

Hi Dan,

It took me 3 days to get through it but it was the most enlightening, informative and detailed thread I've ever read. I actually learned a lot!
I love how you answer every question and enquiry! You are a top bloke!

If I ever build a house, it will be built around something like this!

Keep up the good work!

Ronan

Thanks Ronan. I appreciate the nice words!