Barely made the club but time for my 180 upgrade (Warning: Progress may be slow)

[nightOwl]

I actually was able to make 2 brutes work fine

Here is a pic of my tank w/ the rock and cycling.

I guess I will start a tank thread soon.

http://imgur.com/a/4DOPC

Brando457,
Thanks for sharing seems like things are coming along nicely. I have found with the build threads it helps you look back and see your progress so join the fun...lol.

General Updates - Orange Back Wrasse

So far the wrasse is doing well. Tonight I started my normal 5 day treatment so in 4 more days I will be done with treatment. After that it will remain in QT till the 22nd or so. So far the transition to pellets is not going well. It will taste the pellet but spit it back out. I ordered some Entice and it arrived today so I will begin trying pellets after the 5 day treatment is over. Like my last two wrasses I will try to transition them to pellets before being being added to the main display.

​

General Updates - Computer Fan Cooling

Saturday I finally got around to working on my computer fans. I used the fan controller and some speaker wire to extend the length of the cords. I need to pick up some more speaker wire to wire the next two fans. I will probably order them from Amazon in the next day or so. I have attached the terminal stip to the lighting rig and wired two fans already. When the other two fans arrive I will post some updated pictures.

Fan Controller

Terminal Strip

​

General Updates - Aqua Medic Doser

A while back I mentioned that one of my doser tubes had failed and I removed it. Well Saturday one of my LFS had some on hand and the prices were pretty comparable to on-line prices so I picked up three and replaced them all. I am in the process of trying to stabilize my alkalinity then I will switching from BRS two part back to TLF two part.

Replacement Santoprene Hoses

​

General Updates - Frag Tank

The T5 lighting is already starting to have an effect on the corals in the frag tank. Since I can see some color starting to come back on some of the corals. I picked up some frag plugs from a LFS while out wrasse hunting. Next step will be updating my frag rack and getting rid of some of my existing frags that are in there.

New Frag Plugs

​

 

[SPotter]

Henry it looks like you have a genius for a fish....he's writing on the glass!!!!! What mathematical equation has he solved in this picture???? :lolspin:

 

[nightOwl]

Henry it looks like you have a genius for a fish....he's writing on the glass!!!!! What mathematical equation has he solved in this picture???? :lolspin:

Steve,
I will say he is very smart. I guess hunger drives all animals. The first day he did not respond well to lighting queues. By day two he caught on that cutting off all pumps and the light is associated with feeding time...as well as two drops garlic extreme . Next step will be getting him to like pellets soaked in Entice.

Wrasses remind me of dogs wagging their tails at feeding time the way they put on a show. He also keeps great eye contact before feeding.

The writing on the glass is him figuring out how much longer he has in isolation, number of days left in his "treatment program",and water changes. There is also a note stating he does like pellets and they should be removed from his dining options. But I ignore that one like my parents did with me and brussels sprouts .

 

[Ojos22]

Henry.. You have the best updates out of any thread I am following. Keep the pictures coming. Looks great!

 

[nightOwl]

Henry.. You have the best updates out of any thread I am following. Keep the pictures coming. Looks great!

Jon - Thanks man. I am still mad Webshots screwed people over so the majority of the pictures are gone, but hopefully everyone enjoys the latest.

General Updates - New Supplies

Ordered some Seachem Entice to get the Orange Back Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis) to eat pellets. So far he is taking them in multiple times but still spitting them out.

Seachem Entice

My Yellow Tang - Hawaii (Zebrasoma flavescens) dorsal fins have been erroding so I ordered some Selcon and Zoe to help replace any nutrients he may be missing. I had run out of both and have not been soaking the food as consistently as normal. I have been reading and found that some people are able to make the fin grow back.

Selcon

Zoe

Phosphate has been and on and off issue based on how heavy I feed so I decided to try something new just to see if it works. I know the true issue is over feeding but I just wanted to give it a try. Another side effect of overfeeding seems to be Aiptasia. I had a Peppermint Shrimp in the tank that was keeping them at bay but he has been missing for over 3 months now and there is a little colony starting to form. I ordered some Aiptasia-X and will dose tomorrow hopefully.

UltraLife - Phosphate Remover

Red Sea Aiptasia-X

My heater for my water changes had started to show signs of condensation which is never a good sign so I ordered a new one.

New Heater

Due to user error I managed to spill about a half-a-gallon of water on the floor two weeks ago trying to multi-task while doing a water change. My hose moved as the water got higher and then I heard water hitting the floor. To keep my hose in one place I ordered some hose clips so it will stay where I put it. This is not going to help the user error but will make me feel better .

Hose Clips

Finally the last thing is I ordered a new Ammonia Alert as this one has been in use for a while now and I think it has a 1 year lifespan on it.

Seachem Ammonia Alert

Thats all for today...tomorrow I will try to take some new top down pictures and post them later this weekend along with pictures of newly installed fans.
​

 

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis)

I finished my five day treatment on Friday and now I have moved to the hurry up and wait stage. My estimated date of release is the 22nd and I already have my eye on my next wrasse so hopefully people will not buy it before I am done with QT.

Another update with the wrasse is that he is eating two different types of pellets (Ocean Nutrition and New Life Spectrum) so I am pretty happy about that. He is still not eating flakes, but as long as he eats the pellets I am happy. I attribute Seachem Entice to getting him to eat pellets so quickly. As of yesterday I do not even have to soak the pellets. I can just throw them in the tank and he eats them.
​

General Updates - Black Friday VHO Bulb Order...Still Not Here

Well my bulbs were supposed to be here today and they did not arrive. I called and was unable to speak to Kelly at Aquarium Specialty today so I will follow up tomorrow. This now past crazy.
​

 

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Pictures

The saga with my picture hosting sites continues. Photobucket has a beta program that I had been ignoring. I finally switched over to see how it was and was kinda impressed. Then I checked the pricing and see they are changing their pricing model so when my current contract expires I would probably have a different price. I am trying out Flicker now even though I do not like the interface.


IMG_2249 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2252 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2256 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2266 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2269 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2271 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2273 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2279 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2303 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2306 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr
​

 

[nightOwl]

General Updates - Pictures Continued

IMG_2314 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2317 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2320 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2327 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2333 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


​

General Updates - Black Friday VHO Bulb Order - Partially Here

So yesterday I received an email from Aquarium Specialty with a tracking number and I was excited. I got home and saw the package on the doorstep and thought my ordeal was over. When I opened the box I had to do a double take. I am still missing two 72" VHO bulbs! I called and left a message yesterday and today.



IMG_2351 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr
​

 

[SPotter]

You seem to have a lot of problems with getting vho bulbs....maybe its time to switch to reefbrite stunner strips or something??????? I know how much you like LEDS :spin2:

 

[nightOwl]

You seem to have a lot of problems with getting vho bulbs....maybe its time to switch to reefbrite stunner strips or something??????? I know how much you like LEDS :spin2:

Steve,
Funny you mention LEDs I am actually thinking about doing a DIY for the frag tank but only in the spectrum of the VHO. I am still not sold on them as regular lighting but I have seen them make some corals pop. I don't want that overly blue look though just the same as my VHO's give off .

General Updates - Black Friday VHO Bulb Order - Saga Continues

I am still missing two bulbs....!

This whole ordeal is really testing my patience!

​

 

[nightOwl]

I normally do updates with pictures but I brought a new piece of software and now have to come up to speed on how to process photos efficiently so pictures will be a little delayed. I decided to make the switch over from Aperture to Lightroom.

General Updates - Wrasse out of QT

Yesterday I moved my Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis) out of QT. I put him in the container I used for my last wrasse and I am glad I did. Two wrasses are showing aggression to him. The Longfin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis) and the Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis). I had hardly seen my long fin extend his fins but yesterday I watched him put on a display for about 10 minutes along with a weird mouth opening thing he was doing. The mouth opening was also displayed by the Red Velvet. Needless to say I do not think they were very welcoming to the new guy. I will keep an eye on the behavior and report back in a few days.
​

General Updates - New Testing Reagents

I had run out of testing reagents for Calcium, Alkalinity, and was getting low on Phosphate so I ordered a new batch. Marine Depot shipped them out pretty fast and they arrived a couple of days ago.
​

 

[RJT]

Hopefully the aggression will diminish greatly soon. I hear longfin's can be aggressive, but I am surprised the red velvet is acting that way. I had one, biggest fish in tank in fact, I would add wrasses of all different sizes and species and he never bothered anyone. Even added another male red velvet and they never fought. Maybe it's peer pressure from the longfin ha..ha

 

[nightOwl]

Hopefully the aggression will diminish greatly soon. I hear longfin's can be aggressive, but I am surprised the red velvet is acting that way. I had one, biggest fish in tank in fact, I would add wrasses of all different sizes and species and he never bothered anyone. Even added another male red velvet and they never fought. Maybe it's peer pressure from the longfin ha..ha

RJT - I am hoping it ends soon. I normally keep them in the container until I see the other fish do not pay them any attention. It is actually funny to watch the flashing displays are pretty. I was surprised with the Red Velvet as well he isnormally pretty docile. One good thing is the Orange Back is starting to ignore him .

 

[nightOwl]

I finally figured out how to add borders in Lightroom 4 so I can start updating my thread again. I also have switched most of my pictures over to Flickr so now I can put Webshots and Photbucket behind me.

General Updates - 6 New Frags

About 2-1/2 weeks or so I texted one of my buddies and asked what he had available in the way of frags. It just so happened he had just finished fragging up some small frags that day. So he gave me the run down of what he had fragged and I said I will take one of each. The pictures below are my new frags. Now that I have them I need to make room in my tank so I have decided I need to get rid of two to three of my larger colonies so I will soon getting rid of my Neon Birdsnest, Green Pocillopora, and my Miami Orchard colonies. This will make room for new rock and more corals. The Neon Birdsnest and Pocillopora are both 10" plus in diameter now. They have grown a great deal. The Miami Orchard has grown as well. it is now out of the water when I turn the pumps off to feed.


IMG_2593 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2568 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2576 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2594 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2596 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr




IMG_2621 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


IMG_2638 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr
​

General Updates - Fish Released

Well tonight I released the Orange Back Wrasse into general population after seeing the last few days aggression has died down and everything seemed peaceful. Well about 5 mins after his release the aggression really started back up from the Red Velvet and then the Long Fin. Shortly there after the Blue Spotted Tang started going crazy and chasing the Threadfin Cardinals. I tried to catch the fish and put it back into the isolation but was unable to. I then turned out the lights for the night. I am surprised and the way it is looking I may not be able to keep them all in the same tank. I think I may be buying a fish trap this weekend.

Orange Back

Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus aurantidorsalis) by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr


​

Random Shots
Bristletooth mouth markings on glass

IMG_2578 by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

Long Fin

Longfin Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubriventralis) by LifeThrough_TheLense, on Flickr

 

[SPotter]

Henry you take some amazing pictures with that new camera!!!!

 

[nightOwl]

Henry you take some amazing pictures with that new camera!!!!

Steve - Thanks man. I really like the new camera as well. I ordered a new lense recently and will soon see if it takes good tank pictures. I brought it to take some videos and will see how it does in the next week or so.

 

[Brando457]

I just added:

Yellow Patch Wrasse
Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse
Carpenter's wrasse

to a tank that had a melnarus wrasse in it already and surprisingly they all get along well!

I think I am wrassed out though .

Love the sps shots, great photos!

 

[nightOwl]

I just added:

Yellow Patch Wrasse
Orange-Back Fairy Wrasse
Carpenter's wrasse

to a tank that had a melnarus wrasse in it already and surprisingly they all get along well!

I think I am wrassed out though .

Love the sps shots, great photos!

Brando - Thanks for the compliments on the pictures.

I am hoping my wrasses will get along...that Orange Back is so pretty. I am not sure if I am all wrassed out just yet, but after the latest issue I may take a break on them for a while.

What is the scientific name from the Yellow Patch Wrasse?

 

[Brando457]

I have a 180g too . I have no idea, I got it from the store and it was listed as a yellow patch wrasse. It is a gorgeous fish, I'll try to snap a video tomorrow for you, maybe you can help id it.

I think mid/end of march I'm going to add my anthias. I kind of added a bunch of fish all at once so I want to make sure I take it a bit slower. I'm saving a naso and powder blue tang for last.

btw I'm running an ATB 840 and that thing pulls out some gunk!

 

[Brando457]

Actually found a pic of the fish frm the place I bought it from.

Any idea its name?