A Splash of Color

[biggles]

Sneaky Dave! I just happen to mention these might look good in a separate refugium tank. Bamn, Dave "suddenly" has them. Did Dave mention how much a separate refugium would help your tank? Marty thinks Dave has been reading your journey.

Marty

Dave said no once he found out about the mortar and pestle Marty.....

Andrew,
I'm in awe of what you guys get on a regular basis....

You would no doubt be horrified at what we are forced to sift through here in the Midwest...

Hey Max, in my early days in the hobby i used to see what you're describing most likely. Collectors didn't like acros due to the high mortality rate in shipping to the stores. Some of them used to wet wrap them in newspaper and bag the poor things with half a cup of water thrown in - no heat packs even in winter lol.
I remember helping unbox some once and the smell of part rtn'd, part wet newspaper all mixed with cold white slime filled water......... oh how i used to curse the #$@#$@ collectors back in the day lol.....:hammer:
Every second 'sps' piece was pocil crap or olive green acros.

That "leftovers" bin would be the finest lfs display ever assembled here. And that is not a knock on our area lfs'. It just that that kind of talent never makes it this far.

Hi Kev, i always wonder what the top 10 of the 80 he sold must have looked like........... he drives me insane with his Thursday night updates tbh. :spin1:

This hurts me... I am consumed with envy..
I am Matt's blue envy

I think it's best i get this over with Matt. When i bought that little red polyped delicate piece it was to add lightness to the front of the far left island. It has always looked dark because i concentrated so much on the right half of the display adding cool bright pieces that the display ended up looking like a dark to bright coral display when looking left to right - hope you know what i mean.
Anyhooooooo, whilst at Dave's i spotted a 4" high colony of the same electric orange pavona that i stumbled across a couple of years back. It looks ugly dark salmon colored when shipped and is ignored by those who don't realise what it looks like after a couple of weeks of intense blue irradiation.
I walked over and looked at the little piece i had decided to buy and thought ' i could stick that orange pav as the front tip of the left island and then stick that pretty little acro on it instead of boring old rock, i bet that would look pretty bright........'

Walked back and forth a couple of times to check the idea out in my head and decided it was a winner. Today i did the deed as the pav is turning orange at a great rate of knots......

The point is Matt - i am waiting until i get my hands on that blue tennuis before deciding if it will also be residing on the electric orange pav........ :beer:

The colors of the coral for sale are amazing. Are many of them thick branched. It's hard to tell in the photo?

Hey Mark, they're much prettier in person as you can imagine. The majority of stuff Christian collects is more delicate branched with stags and spath being more solid around 3/8" - 1/2" dia at the thickest.

The acros in this pic all have branch diameters the same as you see on your SSC colonies - about 1/4" without the radial corallites. That is 10mm egg crate - black so there's no chance of RTN......... my frag racks are made from guess what..........:reading:

The peach/orange and green spath is almost 3/8" in branch diameter and i would not buy it based purely on that - i don't like thick branched acros and the spath's i have in the display are more slender branched. Btw, if you see a piece like that orangey spath it will have what looks like yellowy gold corallites down lower. That's just part bleaching of a more green look but in high light that lower branch green pigment will actually look electric goldy green - it looks cool trust me. The axial tips will turn deep bright orange once it starts growing. I already have a similar color piece so i would have ignored it even if it was more delicately branched.

I have bought way too many acros over the years to be knowing this much stuff about what so many things will actually look like in my tanks.........

# Christian - did you bring up the dirty big pink seris at the back - disgraceful waste of acro ship space if you did imo. Ignore any orders Dave sends for seris, monti's and any other nonsense in future please buddy. :beer:

Missed a page...
I am also Matt's leftover envy....

Well i never saw them in person either Matt so we are pretty much on equal playing fields i reckon in regards to the ease at which we can both acquire yummy acros.......

 

[Myka]

This is what arrives at Deer Park aquarium on a regular basis from Chris straight out of the bags and they sure as hell aint brown from shipping...........

You guys are goofy if you ever swallow that ' it must have browned in shipping' line....... if it arrives looking crap it most likely left looking the same way

These guys are confused Andrew - the Aussie shipments arrive bleached. Some pieces hold their color just fine, but lots of them show up very, very pale. Also, most of the shipments coming to Canada go through a trans-shipper too, so they get bagged up and shipped at least twice, not to mention whatever might have happened before they were even exported.

Here are some examples of what I usually see (which actually look a whole lot similar to the banks of Acros you posted, so maybe they're just pale naturally??? I've not been to the Aussie reefs. I think the biggest difference is the pricing lol...these are all $200 pieces):

 

[biggles]

Andrews down in melbs, so he's probably into a terrible sport that's a mix of soccer and basketball, short shorts and all, Aussie rules/AFL. Disgusting!

I don't follow aussie rules, it's a joke. I have seen the all blacks play in Sydney btw, that whole haka spitting thing you guys do shouldn't be allowed before every match. When i saw your guys screaming and spitting that haka hooey stuff at our guys i remember thinking ' that's bloody unfair, if i was facing that i'd run away ' - and then we'd be a player down !
Pretty sure i've made a strong case there for a haka ban, we might even win a game then.

Andrew
Im sending this little gem to Dave next week to put in your tank it wont be as big as the photo but it will be a frag of it i will post up 3 photo on of the mother coral and the other two will be sun light and photo taken under leds I want to see what it changes to in your tank as its grown out doors under the in at the farm

Hooley dooley Christian, i have a pretty good idea what that little loripes stunner is going to look like after some radium loving. Dave sent me a text earlier saying ' Chris might be sending a bag with a B on it next week ' and now i know what he was on about lol.
Thanks heaps for a frag of that beauty - i shall treasure it and it will never, ever be seen on any roof tops......... i'll take pics as it settles in and the colors fix over time.

Since you obviously know how nice a guy Dave is you'll appreciate this quick story i reckon.

Yesterday i sent Dave a text telling him how great the new anthias looked and i was going to make them the big anthias school - about 10. He sends back a pic of the eight more coopers he just got in - and then says i can't have any because it would be too much after the 10 fish i just added........
Feeling a tad peeved i sent back that i was going to renovate, paint and replace the cistern and seat in the shop toilet as a nice surprise for Deb. Said it was happening whether he liked it or not. It's pretty bloody toxic in there......... :blown:
Now Dave absolutely hates anyone doing anything for him even though he tries to help all his mates out constantly so i knew he'd take the toilet reno thing as a shot back for teasing me with the anthias pic.

Later last night i was sitting here thinking how funny it was going to be watching Dave squirm when i did something nice for HIM for a change when old Davey boy decided to up the ante.

' Box of blue tennuis pieces from Chris arriving at the airport tonight at 9.30pm, you be up around 10pm if i swing by so you can check them out ? '

Needless to say Dave ended up going home and picking them up this morning instead since he has the all night frag session tonight after working all day - out of state blow ins stealing our acros.......... i've already told Dave that this is the first and last time he pulls this sort of stunt

I cut 3 fireworks and half a dozen all cherry red acro frags today to give to Dave once i grow them out a bit - try not making money selling those Davey boy......... game on :strooper:

Andrew, just catching up... Wow, sweet acquisitions as per usual. I not only have acro envy but now sump envy. Looks all glass, that must have been a real craftsman that made it. Mine is a 100 g rubber made cattle watering tub from the good ole Tractor Supply store. My BSC is 120 display/70 water in the sump 1.7142857.[emoji851]

Thanks mate, as my father used to say ' she's a real beaut ' All 10mm with 6mm inner glass work. I'll jump in there if we have an earthquake.
That's a healthy BSC, like a real BSC unlike someone we know who still hasn't fessed up......

Anthias porn..........

 

[biggles]

These guys are confused Andrew - the Aussie shipments arrive bleached. Some pieces hold their color just fine, but lots of them show up very, very pale. Also, most of the shipments coming to Canada go through a trans-shipper too, so they get bagged up and shipped at least twice, not to mention whatever might have happened before they were even exported.

Here are some examples of what I usually see (which actually look a whole lot similar to the banks of Acros you posted, so maybe they're just pale naturally??? I've not been to the Aussie reefs. I think the biggest difference is the pricing lol...these are all $200 pieces):

Hey Mindy, your pics are pretty much what the stuff arriving at Dave's shop look like. They are healthy but just blown off a majority of their zoa which is why they look all zeo pastel.

I wouldn't buy the first, it would turn pale green skin with darker green highlights.
I would buy the second piece because it would turn completely blue in my display. If the blue corallite lip highlights don't run all the way down most light exposed branches i wouldn't consider it. Now days we are lucky enough to see enough nice blue pieces that we can be picky wouldn't you agree.
I would be all over the last piece, like i would walk into Dave's and see it and shout loudly whilst pointing at it - ' That's mine Dave, i want that one for sure please mate ' ..........

 

[Enrysps]

These guys are confused Andrew - the Aussie shipments arrive bleached. Some pieces hold their color just fine, but lots of them show up very, very pale. Also, most of the shipments coming to Canada go through a trans-shipper too, so they get bagged up and shipped at least twice, not to mention whatever might have happened before they were even exported.

Here are some examples of what I usually see (which actually look a whole lot similar to the banks of Acros you posted, so maybe they're just pale naturally??? I've not been to the Aussie reefs. I think the biggest difference is the pricing lol...these are all $200 pieces):

Sorry to post this on here Andrew but i had to reply to this ... we ship all over the world from the UK to the US some 50hours plus in transit and they dont trun up pale what you see in photos is what you get it depends on the holding system and how they are handled and most of all packing

Different times of the year Sps can look lighter eg. Summer when the temperature is higher winter time is the best for collecting because the temperature of the reefs is 23.5 c..
Cheers Chris

Once again Andrew sorry for posting

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[Enrysps]

I don't follow aussie rules, it's a joke. I have seen the all blacks play in Sydney btw, that whole haka spitting thing you guys do shouldn't be allowed before every match. When i saw your guys screaming and spitting that haka hooey stuff at our guys i remember thinking ' that's bloody unfair, if i was facing that i'd run away ' - and then we'd be a player down !
Pretty sure i've made a strong case there for a haka ban, we might even win a game then.



Hooley dooley Christian, i have a pretty good idea what that little loripes stunner is going to look like after some radium loving. Dave sent me a text earlier saying ' Chris might be sending a bag with a B on it next week ' and now i know what he was on about lol.
Thanks heaps for a frag of that beauty - i shall treasure it and it will never, ever be seen on any roof tops......... i'll take pics as it settles in and the colors fix over time.

Since you obviously know how nice a guy Dave is you'll appreciate this quick story i reckon.

Yesterday i sent Dave a text telling him how great the new anthias looked and i was going to make them the big anthias school - about 10. He sends back a pic of the eight more coopers he just got in - and then says i can't have any because it would be too much after the 10 fish i just added........
Feeling a tad peeved i sent back that i was going to renovate, paint and replace the cistern and seat in the shop toilet as a nice surprise for Deb. Said it was happening whether he liked it or not. It's pretty bloody toxic in there......... :blown:
Now Dave absolutely hates anyone doing anything for him even though he tries to help all his mates out constantly so i knew he'd take the toilet reno thing as a shot back for teasing me with the anthias pic.

Later last night i was sitting here thinking how funny it was going to be watching Dave squirm when i did something nice for HIM for a change when old Davey boy decided to up the ante.

' Box of blue tennuis pieces from Chris arriving at the airport tonight at 9.30pm, you be up around 10pm if i swing by so you can check them out ? '

Needless to say Dave ended up going home and picking them up this morning instead since he has the all night frag session tonight after working all day - out of state blow ins stealing our acros.......... i've already told Dave that this is the first and last time he pulls this sort of stunt

I cut 3 fireworks and half a dozen all cherry red acro frags today to give to Dave once i grow them out a bit - try not making money selling those Davey boy......... game on :strooper:



Thanks mate, as my father used to say ' she's a real beaut ' All 10mm with 6mm inner glass work. I'll jump in there if we have an earthquake.
That's a healthy BSC, like a real BSC unlike someone we know who still hasn't fessed up......

Anthias porn..........

Dave is up there with my best customer base we dont supply many in Oz he is so easy to deal with top bloke and its true he hates getting help

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[Quiverfull]

Andrew:

Very nice anthias. Quick question, what is the oldest colony that you have in your system, how old is it and can you show an image of it overtime? I'm curious to see how your colors have changed over time if at all. Thanks.

Greg




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[joshky]

Andrew how long have you had those Yellowstriped Cardinalfish together? They look great in your tank.

 

[Rakie]

Andrew how long have you had those Yellowstriped Cardinalfish together? They look great in your tank.

Yeah, i like those little guys!

I've read they can get a bit nippy in smaller aquariums though.

 

[biggles]

Sorry to post this on here Andrew but i had to reply to this ... we ship all over the world from the UK to the US some 50hours plus in transit and they dont trun up pale what you see in photos is what you get it depends on the holding system and how they are handled and most of all packing

Different times of the year Sps can look lighter eg. Summer when the temperature is higher winter time is the best for collecting because the temperature of the reefs is 23.5 c..
Cheers Chris

Once again Andrew sorry for posting

Nothing to apologize for mate, we all find any info on what the acros actually look like when collected interesting.

I'm pretty sure i've seen your acros unbagged once and they had carbon granules in with each bag as Dave was swishing each one clean in a bucket of water prior to placing it in the shop tank. Most had good PE within 5-10 mins out of the bag so there's obviously not a lot of stress being placed on them.

You've seen the shop pics of your stuff, is that what it actually looks like when you place it in the boat's holding tank after collecting it as far as how saturated the pigments are on the tissue etc. Like can you tell us what if anything changes between the ocean and what i see in Dave's shop display tank. You can only stick your head under the lights for 30 secs before you feel your head burning now that he has the 400W radiums running off the same HPS ballasts i use......... :smokin:

Andrew:

Very nice anthias. Quick question, what is the oldest colony that you have in your system, how old is it and can you show an image of it overtime? I'm curious to see how your colors have changed over time if at all. Thanks.

Greg

Hey Greg, the oldest piece i have is probably a small frag i have kept of a tricolor i got rid of. It's about 3 years old. I have a hand sized blue tennuis colony that is about 2.5 years old that i will try to find some old pics of. It came over from the 65 gal as did the tricolor piece.
The colors of my acros normally sets in the first 6-8 weeks and that's it forever. They change in lightness and brightness according to the nitrate/phos levels.

Andrew how long have you had those Yellowstriped Cardinalfish together? They look great in your tank.

I've added 12 in Feb and lost three overnight from memory, just dead and stuck to the pumps in the morning - lovely sight to start your day. Then i had one jump out a few months back and one went over the overflow, down the pipe and blocked the down pipe - so i had 7 before adding a further 4 a few days back. I found one of those dead the next morning stuck to the 6095 pump. :hammer:

So i have 10 now and i think they're awesome, they don't fight with each other or bother anything else and they like to hang under the low acro tables, one per acro which they all have staked out and stick to. The electric blue streaks through their faces really pops. They are much more eye catching than you might imagine.
About 5 days ago i noticed one of them had a fat mouthful of babies so i reckon they're happy in my reef Josh

Yeah, i like those little guys!

I've read they can get a bit nippy in smaller aquariums though.

Mine tend to either hang in pairs or alone, they school when i go near the tank though lol. If i wasn't intending to add another 6-8 cooper's anthias i would add another 4-5 cardinals since my low table scape looks awesome with a blue streaked set of eyes peering out from under many of the acros - i think you could add 3 or 4 to your bio cube as they are a busy little fish and it's funny to watch one come rocketing out from under the acro it tried to pinch when the real owner was off looking for food.

I'd give a few a go if you a thinking about it Tim. My glass fish look spooky when the radiums go off........

 

[Rakie]

Yeah schooling fish only really do their thing when there's a predator around. They must think you look hungry Andrew!

I've got a small Melanurus, Linespot flasher (Paracheilinus lineopunctatus), and a Firefish. I skim heavy with an Aquamaxx Hob so I think I have room for 2-3 more fish..

There's a local guy that has a heavily stocked and beautiful SPS nano. He has about 10-11 fish, doesn't skim, runs LED's and his corals love it.

 

[Quiverfull]

Rakie : quite a nice set up. If you don't have a thread you should start one. Another of Andrew's admirers with their own treasure!


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[Rakie]

@Quiverfull -- That beauty is not mine! That's the local cat near me that has a TON of fish, LED's and no Skimmer with fantastic results (Tofucube -- has 13 fish in one of those pics, all happily living together).

I have ordered the gel filters and cell phone lens so I'll finally be able to post some pictures, but they won't be quite that spectacular..

 

[joshky]

I've added 12 in Feb and lost three overnight from memory, just dead and stuck to the pumps in the morning - lovely sight to start your day. Then i had one jump out a few months back and one went over the overflow, down the pipe and blocked the down pipe - so i had 7 before adding a further 4 a few days back. I found one of those dead the next morning stuck to the 6095 pump. :hammer:

So i have 10 now and i think they're awesome, they don't fight with each other or bother anything else and they like to hang under the low acro tables, one per acro which they all have staked out and stick to. The electric blue streaks through their faces really pops. They are much more eye catching than you might imagine.
About 5 days ago i noticed one of them had a fat mouthful of babies so i reckon they're happy in my reef Josh

Great information! Thank you.

I'll probably try a group of them in the future if my LFS can get some in for me, trying to hold off on more fish purchases for now to let my tank further mature so I have a better grip on things.

 

[biggles]

Yeah schooling fish only really do their thing when there's a predator around. They must think you look hungry Andrew!

I've got a small Melanurus, Linespot flasher (Paracheilinus lineopunctatus), and a Firefish. I skim heavy with an Aquamaxx Hob so I think I have room for 2-3 more fish..

There's a local guy that has a heavily stocked and beautiful SPS nano. He has about 10-11 fish, doesn't skim, runs LED's and his corals love it.

Your mate's reef looks very cool Tim, my skimmer has been off for over a week now too.........

Rakie : quite a nice set up. If you don't have a thread you should start one. Another of Andrew's admirers with their own treasure!

Hey Greg, it's Monday morning and i have the day off and nothing to do except potter around and take the odd snap or two......

This morning before the radiums came on. The fish know they are going to get 2 cubes of mysis first thing to start every day off with full tummies so they swarm me until the net goes in lol.

This little guy owns all three acros on the back right corner island and sleeps in the middle of them at night.

This cardinal went for quality over quantity and chose wisely imo........

 

[Pife]

I'm going to look into those cardinals. They are very nice looking fish.

 

[Rakie]

I'm going to look into those cardinals. They are very nice looking fish.

They're an inexpensive fish too, it's always nice when a good looking fish isn't $40 -_-

 

[FloformAustria]

looking good Andrew!!

 

[gregkn73]

my skimmer has been off for over a week now too.........

In purpose Andrew or just a malfunction?

 

[joshky]

This little guy owns all three acros on the back right corner island and sleeps in the middle of them at night.

This cardinal went for quality over quantity and chose wisely imo........

LOL I hope you know you've sold me on these fish with this post.