Aquascaping the new 110G FOWLR

[SoupySteve]

Well, the 110 finally is full of 80 degree, 1.022 SG water and is being pumped like crazy through 2 SEIO M1100s and my RIO 2500. As soon as I could, I got my skimmer working and put a BUNCH of carbon in its media basket. The tank looks like an AWESOME start - I'm starting to eye one of two Tangs for a start as soon as water conditions permit - I also need a BIG cleanup crew. If anyone else needs to make a livestock group buy to restock a Ice-Storm-Wiped tank, we should pull our buying power together and avoid craptastically high shipping charges!

Also, I wanted to reply to something in the Frag Swap thread but didn't wanna ruin the thread...

Shaar: "yea the hippo wouldn't be bad, but i was thinking something more phallic...."

Dude! Why didn't you mention it before? I've got the perfect rock formation in my tank!

I apologize if my reefscaping is offensive to anyone :artist:

:smokin:

 

[fewells]

Steve that is Fn hilarious. Can I use it as my wallpaper.

 

[SoupySteve]

I would be honored to have my "art" as your wallpaper! :bum:

 

[John Kelly]

:lolspin: :lolspin: That image has the potential to be famous. If Salvador Dali was still alive I'm sure he would sign it.

 

[SoupySteve]

I'll sign any copies anyone prints out. Perhaps I've started the next big thing that could take the hobby another direction... erotic reefscapes!!!

I'll get a biig chuckle once I have the clean up crew in there - and it's covered with crabs.

Aside from the johnson, does the aquascaping look kosher? :smokin:

I aquascaped with the thought of a large fish's swimming needs and left two good-sized areas as well as the entire foreground left open for swimming. I made the two larger formations so that the LR was stacked to make as big of a footprint as possible - for frag placement. I also wanted some area on the floor for fungia, brains, or clams.
I'm thinking of either the disjardini tang or the hippo tang to replace the beloved "Pootie". The disjardini apparently gets 16" long! I wonder if that measurement is from tail to nose OR top of dorsal to bottom of anal fin (height) - as I've read that when the extend their fins they can easily double their perceived size... I loved the personality of my yellow tang - and the disjardini is in the same family (? zebrasoma), so maybe they will behave similarly. My wife likes the hippo tang - but i say if we get a tang that isn't a zebrasoma, we get a clown tang - what a beautiful fish!

Anyway, if the Kellys do their DIY LR show for the frag swap, let's not let me embarrass myself and sculpt any more erotic masterpieces!

 

[Red Sea Purple Tang]

You could stick some food on the above mentioned masterpiece and watch the fish go crazy picking at it......(sigh)......I'll shut up.

 

[SoupySteve]

If/when I get a clam, I'll be sure to keep it on the other side of the tank - if it was in close to (what I've recently dubbed) "Randy" (AKA Randy Johnson, AKA "The Big Unit"), I'd be too much of a lame-o for even my own standards.

Should I submit the photo for the February picture of the month? :artist:

So, does anyone have a suggestion for a good individual tang or any other stocking suggestions for my tank? I've mentioned my preferences... Anthony, how big did your Purple Tang get? Was he nice to his tankmates as long as you kept him fed? I think I'm going to avoid getting clowns unless they're a less-often seen variety.

I only jokingly call the tank a FOWLR - because:
1 - My lighting would be overdoing it a smidge if that were the case - and I like my sessile invertebrate friends as much if not more than my vertebrate ones!
2 - Although there's no fish in there (yet), the tank will look like a FOWLR for a few months!

 

[Red Sea Purple Tang]

He was around 4.5" beak to tail. The yellow and him would have a little "you shut up" incident from time to time, but nothing major.

 

[Shaar]

Steve! that looks great! so far so good

I'll probably be going in with you guys sometime on a clean up crew, i have a little upgrade up my sleeves soon Steve you probably know what i'm talking about--

btw, i tried to call you today but i forgot about you working again haha

PS. nice penis rock :bum:

 

[John Kelly]

We could get another order from Reeftopia going? I could use some more snails and crabs. Free shipping on orders over $125.00. I got a couple of nerite snails on the last order and really like them. They are about half the size of a turbo snail, or smaller, and don't fall off the glass like Astraes do.

 

[Red Sea Purple Tang]

Soupies LPS (Large Polyp Scrotum) Coral.....

 

[John Kelly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9157134#post9157134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Red Sea Purple Tang
Soupies LPS (Large Polyp Scrotum) Coral.....

Large Polyped Scrotum coral "Tee-Hee" :jester:

 

[Shaar]

where can i order a large polyped scrotum of my own? :lol: do i hear group buy?

 

[SoupySteve]

As far as group buys go I'm considering another reeftopia order also, John. If Shaar gets in on the clean-up crew group buy bandwagon for his new tank, the three or more of us could save a LOT of cash. I'm in for 100 snails and 100 hermits (at least) whenever a group order opportunity arises.

 

[Shaar]

Count me in on the reeftopia bandwagon I'll need it when i go to the 135

 

[aquaconnect]

Have you guys thought about asking Matt for a special group buy on stuff and comparing his prices? I'm not sure if he would/could do one, but you could always ask him. I know that not to long ago someone else asked him about a group buy and no one was interested because he can't have comparable prices, but I know that when I went in on an order last time to reeftopia the hermits were terrible for what they cost.

 

[John Kelly]

I'll come in and talk to Matt.

Here is food for thought until then to see what he can do; we had about 7 people in on the last order and spent a little over $300. A few of us got some other items, but here is what everyone paid on the hermits and snails:

$28.00 for 50 astrea snails (sm) and 50 blue legged hermits (sm).
= .28¢ each

$54.50 for 100 astea snails (sm) and 100 blue legged hermits (sm).
= .27¢ each

$30.00 for 12 red legged hermits.
= $2.50 each


Even though the hermits were tiny, I was pleased with them. Some of mine aren't so small anymore. The astrea snails usually become crab food over the course of time, so I only have about 7 or 8 of them left. I got a few nerite snails last time and they are still alive, so that is what I personally would like to order; plus, maybe a few more red legged hermits.

For anyone who was not pleased with the hermits or snails last time and would like to order something different:
-Medium blue legged hermits are $12.00 for 12 ($1.00 ea). The price would probably go down if we bought a larger lot.
-Nerite snails are $12.00 for 6 (.50¢ ea.). They may have lower prices for larger lot purchases.

Also, there may be some other things that people would want to order, so Matt can be thinking about that too. It would be nice if he could have tiered pricing on lot quantities of certain things. For example:
20 blue legged for $10
40 blue legged for $18
60 blue legged for $24 etc....
That way, a few of us could determine how many we want to purchase as a group instead of purchase individually. Hence the term "Group Buy" .

 

[Shaar]

Yea I'd be up for a group buy or discounted price through Matt. I don't mind paying a little bit more to pick them up locally from him. I've always been happy with any inverts i've gotten from him; and the last time he had a 'discount' promotion, i got some rather healthy and medium sized snails that are still pumping strong I believe they were .45 a piece.

But its whatever we all decide on as a group on where to put our money. Its whatever really..

As far as what I'd be looking for in the next group buy:

Hermits: red or blue leg, preferably not the tiny ones (although mine have grown since the last buy, no problems here). Quantity wise, I'm looking for another 50-75ish

Snails: I'd like to pick up a few more nassarius snails, and maybe another 30-50 'other' snails.

I'll update this post if i think of anything else i think i might want.

 

[SoupySteve]

If fewell's can beat reeftopia's price, I have no problem keeping my money in Springfield. People who know me call me a cheap-a$$. I prefer the term frugal :smokin: John, I agree with your last post - I can appreciate your cheap-as - err frugal ways. ::

Although the hermits I get should've been called picohermits, they will only make my penis-rock look bigger while they are on it :bum:

I've learned to get "younger" specimens of any creature I add to my tanks when possible/practical - that way, if my reef-keeping skills are adequate, I will HAVE THEM to enjoy longer - as selfish as that may seem.

That said, of the 100s of hermits acquired in previous group orders, I'd say that the survival rate was exceptional (90-95% made it longer than their "break-in").

When you consider price, survivability, and longevity - the size of the hermits is insignificant.

Unless fewell's can significantly beat reeftopia's price, I will place an order for the 3 of us (and any others who may be interested) when I get the 'ol tax-return. If either of you (or anyone else) would rather do the actual transaction (... my scruffy appearance tends to make me seem "shady"), feel free to.

 

[aquaconnect]

I think fewell's may join you in the order. He cannot beat those prices, good luck w/the order. I personally don't care to spend a few more bucks, but hey, that's me.