A Splash of Color

[biggles]

I want that. Period.
What type of pellets? Curious which preservative metals are listed in the ingredients list..

I don't know what the pellets are Matt, Dave said they weren't sold retail and gave them to me in a plastic takeaway container. Could be chook feed for all i know..........

That may be my favorite piece in your tank! Incredible.

I'm sure you could get a similar echi color variant over there somewhere mate, guys like Jason Fox etc would prob have it or something very similar.

You may of already moved it but, why not see what Dave got in before moving it.

Marty

It's getting moved so i can see it Marty, wouldn't matter if i was going to buy more acros because it's hidden where it is now mate. The best view of the polyps is front on - opposite to where it points now.

Hi, I spend 5 days reading this post. Very nice work. I am from Germany, and I am impressed.

I will PM you.

Thanks for this nice porn images .

Keep us updated.

Thanks mate

Another piece of that pink with yellow tips acro that is coloring back up slowly.

 

[biggles]

When Dave was over a couple of weeks back i told him i thought one of the echi's was going through a big color shift with a salmon pink hue on the skin and purpley red pigments here and there.

Dave had a close look and then looked at me like i was an idiot and said 'mmm', then he looked at something else so i shut up about it

This is what it looked like two weeks ago when acro snob Dave saw it......

I don't think it's in my head.............

 

[reefmutt]

It's in my head now and I will want it for a long time.
Could be pink, could be turd brown..
Maybe it's the deer droppings Dave gave you to feed the fish.

 

[glaukos]

Mate i simply love coming here and taking ''i wish this stick was in my tank'' ideas
You have an awesome collection and i hate dom for living close enough to perform a nice and silent heist:headwallblue:

 

[Pife]

I'm so envious of all your enchis! Any tips on how you aclimate them to your system. I'm thinking of picking up a colony of wild ice fire.

 

[biggles]

It's in my head now and I will want it for a long time.
Could be pink, could be turd brown..
Maybe it's the deer droppings Dave gave you to feed the fish.

It might be a magic blue bean acro Matt........ :reading:

Mate i simply love coming here and taking ''i wish this stick was in my tank'' ideas
You have an awesome collection and i hate dom for living close enough to perform a nice and silent heist:headwallblue:

Thanks Mike, i wish you did live close mate as we would have a lot of fun together acro shopping at Dave's

I actually chopped up my only acro that has spooky growth and made two new colonies of dark purple that guard the two gaps between the three islands after looking at your haunted reef Mike........ you are the sole inspiration for a very dramatic feature of my scape spooky Mike so thanks my friend. :beer:

I'm so envious of all your enchis! Any tips on how you aclimate them to your system. I'm thinking of picking up a colony of wild ice fire.

Hi mate, i have five echis in six spots and all of them have very different growth and color patterns. Look at the skin color not the blue tips when you are deciding on an echi. It's easy to go for the most contrasty blue/white looking piece in the shop but EVERY echi will have amazing blue highlights if your tank is going well.

Tan hues - likely classic blue white icefire look once settled in.

ANY hint of reddish or purple tones on any part of the skin tissue no matter where you see it means it will likely have the intense inky saturated blues as if dipped in paint. Highly likely to look blue with darker blue rather than displaying anything remotely resembling white tones. The most likely to 'light up' with new tones and pigment hues once in your tank for a couple of months............

In short, guess which echis are the only echis i ever consider buying......

Echis like med to high light but not the flow associated with those spots in most of our reefs. Echis are not at all a hard to keep species but they don't like sustained directional flow bursts, they like good swirly flow with the occasional surge imo. If the echi has good PE even only after lights out it doesn't mind the flow. If it has no PE day or night and everything else seems in order - move it.
'Deepwater' acros are collected in shallow sheltered lagoons more often than in 'deep' water. They have delicate growth because a bommie or reef shelf protects them but they are getting a lot more light than at 30 mtrs. A more accurate term for deepwater acros would be protected flow acros. Mari deepwater frags are grown in a couple of meters of water - calm waters......

Sorry Pifey i went on a ramble mate lol........ biggest tip is put it at the front so it's in your face. Most shove them at the back like a bloody hedge or something but you want it up close where you can drool over it......:thumbsup:

Last Saturday i went to Deer Park aquarium and came home with the following:

Four frags supplied to Dave by SPS reefers

Two frags supplied by Christian

One branch supplied by Christian

Here is one of the new sustainable reef frags

 

[biggles]

A. valida - ' Spooky Mike '

Considering i chopped the 3 bits off and super glued them down only 5 days ago or so i think you can still see that even a bit poopy ' Spooky Mike ' is not your run of the mill valida.......... it belongs in your creepy tank Mike

The pink and white frag is super glued to a small rock which is puttied to the rock. It's off one of my pieces you don't know about and is for Sam. When i was at the shop i spotted some frags that looked like they were from other reefers rather than any commercial suppliers. Dave had them off by themselves so i didn't notice them for the first hour - i always spend hourssssssssss at the shop because there's no one at home waiting for me to come back and mow the lawn..........

Anyway i asked Dave if they were for sale

' Nope, Sam brought them in since i gave him three of your frags just to say thanks and i held them to give you first pick - no charge of course, they've lost a bit of color but Sam has very nice stuff '

' I know Sam has bloody nice acros Dave, what's that weird red polyp looking thing, did Sam tell you what that was ? '

' Yep he said that one was a pikachu looking acro that you like '

' Can i have that Dave ? '

' Yep '

' What about that little thing there that looks like it was reddish colored '

' Oh Sam said that is bright red, like really bright red '

' Can i have the bright red bit too please mate ? '

' Of course '

' That'll do Dave, you sell the rest and make some money '


And that's sort of how a small group of us that aren't too bad at keeping nice acros trade frags in a respectful manner through our LFS whilst also giving back nice frags that Dave can sell with nothing expected in return. Dave already looks after many of us way too well...

The dirty unspoken part is this.......... i don't like the fact that Sam was given a frag of red ' Bulent's Bliss ' which easily outshines the firetruck btw and then gave back a REALLY BRIGHT RED acro as Dave described it. Like if that's not a crocodile dundee ' that's not a red acro... this is a red acro ' move i don't know what bloody is ! :mad2:

We'll see how you handle the next batch of frags i give Dave for you old Sammy boy......... and remember it was you who started this frag feud, ' Spooky Mike ' incomingggggg ! :strooper:

 

[reefwiser]

That is one crazy purple Acro

 

[biggles]

That is one crazy purple Acro

It's very 'intense' .........

This is the branch i bought last Saturday, it had been at the shop for three weeks i think. I bought it because i think it will be a nice purple and the bleached bright white polyps it has usually indicates fluoro or some other nice bright polyp highlight is to come. Avoid brown polyps at all costs on fresh collected wild stuff. If it's pale and washed out like this piece when it arrives after a long overseas trip to the US and you still see any sign of tan or brown on the polyps it most likely has dog brown polyps even when brightly colored up. ALWAYS look for colored polyps on any millis and other shaggy PE type acros as crappy brown or olive polyps will hide most of the beautiful pigments from your view - many of you will know what i mean. Many spath have brown polyps so try to avoid those if you can - just my opinion

 

[sparker1663]

Glad you enjoyed them Andrew, I've been the beneficiary of some out-of-this-world frags with no shortage of a splash of colour from your fine tank.

If the red you got was the red I am thinking, it will go like this once settled. Be patient though, sat brown in my frag tank for a solid 3-4 months before getting more and more red by the day. Taking to it with the band-saw stepped it back a few shades, but it'll bounce back I am sure.

Oh P.s. there was one of these there too - did you get that? If not, I have another for you.

 

[Wiskey]

Hello Andrew!!!

I've been following your thread for a while now, and I'm sorry to interrupt all this cell phone photography and light banter with a serious question, but if you answer fast the seriousness will be short lived.

What are your phosphate levels in this tank? And how do you manage phosphate? What Alk Level do you run?

Also, do you happen to know your par numbers?

Every time I use my old Nokia brick phone to take pictures of my tank they don't come out nearly as good, so clearly I need to do exactly what you are doing to get better looking coral.

Whiskey

 

[glaukos]

Thanks Mike, i wish you did live close mate as we would have a lot of fun together acro shopping at Dave's

I actually chopped up my only acro that has spooky growth and made two new colonies of dark purple that guard the two gaps between the three islands after looking at your haunted reef Mike........ you are the sole inspiration for a very dramatic feature of my scape spooky Mike so thanks my friend. :beer:

Buuuud....i just pictured it and acro shopping at dave's, just made me cry,laugh and drool at the same time...too much excitement there for me

Me?Inspiring for you?lol no way mate,that's something you do over and over again:thumbsup:
You do things totally your way and i can't wait to see that spooky scape become scary as @#$% :beer: :beer:

 

[glaukos]

A. valida - ' Spooky Mike '

Considering i chopped the 3 bits off and super glued them down only 5 days ago or so i think you can still see that even a bit poopy ' Spooky Mike ' is not your run of the mill valida.......... it belongs in your creepy tank Mike ;-)

The pink and white frag is super glued to a small rock which is puttied to the rock. It's off one of my pieces you don't know about and is for Sam. When i was at the shop i spotted some frags that looked like they were from other reefers rather than any commercial suppliers. Dave had them off by themselves so i didn't notice them for the first hour - i always spend hourssssssssss at the shop because there's no one at home waiting for me to come back and mow the lawn.......... ;-)

Anyway i asked Dave if they were for sale

' Nope, Sam brought them in since i gave him three of your frags just to say thanks and i held them to give you first pick - no charge of course, they've lost a bit of color but Sam has very nice stuff '

' I know Sam has bloody nice acros Dave, what's that weird red polyp looking thing, did Sam tell you what that was ? '

' Yep he said that one was a pikachu looking acro that you like '

' Can i have that Dave ? '

' Yep '

' What about that little thing there that looks like it was reddish colored '

' Oh Sam said that is bright red, like really bright red '

' Can i have the bright red bit too please mate ? '

' Of course '

' That'll do Dave, you sell the rest and make some money '


And that's sort of how a small group of us that aren't too bad at keeping nice acros trade frags in a respectful manner through our LFS whilst also giving back nice frags that Dave can sell with nothing expected in return. Dave already looks after many of us way too well...;-)

The dirty unspoken part is this.......... i don't like the fact that Sam was given a frag of red ' Bulent's Bliss ' which easily outshines the firetruck btw and then gave back a REALLY BRIGHT RED acro as Dave described it. Like if that's not a crocodile dundee ' that's not a red acro... this is a red acro ' move i don't know what bloody is ! :mad2:

We'll see how you handle the next batch of frags i give Dave for you old Sammy boy......... and remember it was you who started this frag feud, ' Spooky Mike ' incomingggggg ! :strooper:

:lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao::lmao:
Guilty as charged andrew....i do accept the punishment of receiving that valida and placing it in my tank
Would love some pikachu punishment as well:inlove:

 

[slavetonet]

Yay.. Andrew is back.

 

[biggles]

Glad you enjoyed them Andrew, I've been the beneficiary of some out-of-this-world frags with no shortage of a splash of colour from your fine tank.

If the red you got was the red I am thinking, it will go like this once settled. Be patient though, sat brown in my frag tank for a solid 3-4 months before getting more and more red by the day. Taking to it with the band-saw stepped it back a few shades, but it'll bounce back I am sure.

Oh P.s. there was one of these there too - did you get that? If not, I have another for you.

Hey Sam, that was the first time i've had a chance to get some of your cool acros - i appreciate them very much mate

It was that acro, your colony looks stunning. It's already coloring up with light green encrusting and reddy pink everywhere else - if something sat brown anywhere in my system for one month it would be in the back garden or on the neighbors roof........ one of these days he's going to end up with blocked gutters because he never gets up there and cleans them and i reckon i've thrown at least 5 acro species up there in the last 3 or 4 years...... they might be mutated and growing up there for all i know.......... gutter acros...... :wildone:

That last acro was the third one i was going to buy but Dave ruined it as usual when i asked for it later on......

' You said not to sell you any more reds or pinks because you have too many '

' When did i say that ? '

' You kept saying that the whole time i was at your place and you said it right after you picked out the other nice red one from Sam about 2 hours ago....... you said it last time you were here too '

Heads up Sam - don't tell Dave not to sell you certain colored acros because he remembers what you tell him.......

I went to Deer Park yesterday Sam and it was still there as was another one of yours so......

' I'm buying both those frags from Sam and don't try to stop me this time '

' They're yours '

' Cool, now i really mean it this time Dave - don't sell me any more reddish colored acros after this '

Dave just rolled his eyes at me..............

Got a text from Dave Thursday night showing me what he unpacked from Sustainable Reefs............ i asked him to hold a certain one for you that i have already and he replied that it was one of the two you picked out as you were at the shop for the unpacking

Dave said they were 2nd gen frags raised with Christians new dosing additives in the water - i don't know what they are but one looked like pee........ Dave wouldn't let me taste it so who knows what's in it.

 

[biggles]

Hello Andrew!!!

I've been following your thread for a while now, and I'm sorry to interrupt all this cell phone photography and light banter with a serious question, but if you answer fast the seriousness will be short lived.

What are your phosphate levels in this tank? And how do you manage phosphate? What Alk Level do you run?

Also, do you happen to know your par numbers?

Every time I use my old Nokia brick phone to take pictures of my tank they don't come out nearly as good, so clearly I need to do exactly what you are doing to get better looking coral.

Whiskey

Hi mate, my phos is 0.05 atm and i use 300ml of AF phos minus in a mesh bag in the sump along with 15 liters of very clean matrix that completely blocks a section of the sump so all the water passing through the sump has to pass through it. I run a 100 micron felt sock before it so the media remains spotlessly clean of detritus etc at all times.

This is what the camera captures with all the lights on. All i did was crop and resize, nothing else.

After i try to fix the white balance, the sand is covered in gacky coralline and no longer looks white.

That stupid bleached branch hasn't colored up one bit so far.

Buuuud....i just pictured it and acro shopping at dave's, just made me cry,laugh and drool at the same time...too much excitement there for me

Me?Inspiring for you?lol no way mate,that's something you do over and over again:thumbsup:
You do things totally your way and i can't wait to see that spooky scape become scary as @#$% :beer:

The stupid cardinal ruined the whole spooky thing by happily taking up residence under it as soon as i made it Mike. Every time i add a new overhanging acro one of the cardinals will leave their old acro and grab the new spot......... i think they're very weird little fish so i'm getting more lol.

Yay.. Andrew is back.

Porn is back too Kevin........

 

[Pife]

What do frags like that cost?

 

[martinphillip03]

Andy, Thanks for the pictures. Magnificent as usual.

Marty

Hi mate, my phos is 0.05 atm and i use 300ml of AF phos minus in a mesh bag in the sump along with 15 liters of very clean matrix that completely blocks a section of the sump so all the water passing through the sump has to pass through it. I run a 100 micron felt sock before it so the media remains spotlessly clean of detritus etc at all times.

This is what the camera captures with all the lights on. All i did was crop and resize, nothing else.

After i try to fix the white balance, the sand is covered in gacky coralline and no longer looks white.

That stupid bleached branch hasn't colored up one bit so far.

The stupid cardinal ruined the whole spooky thing by happily taking up residence under it as soon as i made it Mike. Every time i add a new overhanging acro one of the cardinals will leave their old acro and grab the new spot......... i think they're very weird little fish so i'm getting more lol.



Porn is back too Kevin........

 

[biggles]

What do frags like that cost?

I think they sell for $45- each, not 100% sure but they aren't any more than that. Dave doesn't rip people off by charging more for stuff that looks super cool. When they all cost him the same to buy he sells them for the same retail price.

Andy, Thanks for the pictures. Magnificent as usual.

Marty

Thanks very much Marty

 

[markalot]

Beautiful stuff as usual Andrew. I had to catch up from February, not as much time to hang around as I'd like. I do get insanely jealous looking at some of the acros you all have access too, that might be part of the reason.