Black and White

[jnb]

no suggestions but I have to tell you - I saw one set up recently and it was so cool - sticking to the black and white theme exteme is the challenge

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

It has been difficult. There is one fish that I would like to get if I can find one with a deep color morph. Scooter Dragonets. Who wouldn't want one of those? But they are usually brown and white.

 

[Darold]

Just updating you on what I plan on using in my pico B/W tank. Most of your ideas will be too big for my tank, however, a few of my ideas might be too "small" for yours. Hopefully some of them may fit your needs as well:

Zebra Hermits
Cleaner Clam
Nass Snails
Black Longspine Urchin
Boxing Crab
sand sifting crabs
Newspaper Nudi

Under this plan, I will have two focal critters. The Boxing Crab and his anemones as well as the newspaper nudibranch. The Nass snails/zebra hermits will just add a little more life. I don't think the cleaner clam will fit, but I can always move it into my refugium on my larger tank. The white sand sifting crab shoul look cool sticking out of the black sand.


Boxer Crab
Cleaner Clam
Sand Sifting Crabs
Newspaper Nudibranch

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I REALLY like the Newspaper Nudibranch. Do you know if it a specialized eater? Are you worried about it getting stuck in powerheads and such? I'm not a big fan of the clam and crab, but that's my take on it for my tank, but for yours it would look great. The pom pom crab/ boxing crab would be a great addition to your pico tank. I like the blue form of the pompom crab a little more than the red, but they are both really awesome and would give it great flare. I'm looking into getting a 54g corner bowfront for my B/W tank.

 

[Darold]

I think the nudi is most likely going to be a picky eater. I hope to call the company tomorrow to get more info. My powerhead is incredibly tiny (about the size of a quarter). I agree, I would prefer to get the blue pompom/boxer instead, but would be happy with the brown when it becaomes available.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Im going to try to dig up some information and post what I find here for those that are curious and/or following this thread.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Bad news about the nudibranch for those interested in black and white themes. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5126138#post5126138 says it all.

 

[Darold]

Oh well... I guess I can cross it off the list for my B/W tank. This is fine, since I couldn't find anyone who had them in stock anyways. I doubt I would get as much enjoyment out of the nudi as I will many of the other creatures available.

 

[zemuron114]

i would go with a 54 corner, or a 72 bowfront (if i had to pick the corner or bowfront) personally i would do the 72. It opens up a whole lot of options with corals/fish and overall room ..

enough chit chat,.. lets start the black and white theme!!!

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I just missed out on a 44g corner, so we will have to wait a while before I can find a decently priced tank.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

BTW, here is a shameless bump and announcement. See http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=611290 for details

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I guess it's way over due for a little update. I've promised my wife to finish her tank first, so this has been on the back burner.

---Dry Goods
44g Pentagon (Repairing, drilling. Would trade for a 54g corner bowfront )
Black Sand (Have a good source)

---Fish
(2) Black and White Ocellaris [mated] (Have a good source)
(2) Bangaii Cardinalfish [mated] (Have a good source)

---Cleanup Crew
(1) Harlequin Serpent Star (Acquiring next week)
(1) Black and White Longspine Urchin (Looking)
Dwarf Zebra Hermits (Acquiring slowly)
Black Illyanassa obsoleta (Have)
Banded Trochus Snail (Have a good source)

---Corals
White Bubble Coral (Have)
Black Sun Coral (Have)
Pom Pom Xenia (Have)
White Pipe Organ/Clove Polyps (Looking)
Black Galaxea (Looking)
Whitish Torch Coral (Looking)

---Invertebrates
(1) Black and White Maxima (Ordered and on its way)
(1) Tiger Pistol Shrimp (Have a good source)

I might add a shrimp goby like the Blackray Shrimp Goby and/or a mated pair of Neon Goby that are the white color morph.

 

[ZachStep]

I guess this is still on the back burner? Oh well, it gives me time to get thru the the Step by Step guide.

Is there any form of rock that would remain black or white if your clean up crew was able to keep up?

 

[AVALover5498]

Man, how did you come up with this old thread.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Recently times have gotten hard financial and I had to sell the tank. So this project is not only on the back burner, but most likely indefinitely. If you were to get carious coralline algae eating animals, you could easily keep your rock relatively white. Urchins are really good at this.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Even though this project is pretty much scrapped, I did get rather far:

---Dry Goods
44g Pentagon (Repairing, drilling. Would trade for a 54g corner bowfront ) Sold it
Black Sand (Have a good source) Never got any

---Fish
(2) Black and White Ocellaris [mated] (Have a good source) Have
(2) Bangaii Cardinalfish [mated] (Have a good source) I will in the future

---Cleanup Crew
(1) Harlequin Serpent Star (Acquiring next week) Have
(1) Black and White Longspine Urchin (Looking) Found one
Dwarf Zebra Hermits (Acquiring slowly) Got more
Black Illyanassa obsoleta (Have) Have
Banded Trochus Snail (Have a good source) Don't Have

---Corals
White Bubble Coral (Have) Got one
Black Sun Coral (Have) Got one
Pom Pom Xenia (Have) Got one
White Pipe Organ/Clove Polyps (Looking) Don't Have
Black Galaxea (Looking) Don't Have
Whitish Torch Coral (Looking) Got one

---Invertebrates
(1) Black and White Maxima (Ordered and on its way) Order fell through
(1) Tiger Pistol Shrimp (Have a good source) I still have a good lead

 

[Gordonious]

Has anyone mentioned Pholidichthys leucotaenia (convict/engineer gobby/blenny)? They go through different colors as different stages in there life from a pure white to a very light yellow. Not perfect, but I have three of them and love them. Should be good with the other animals you were talking about, but if you plan to harvest eggs I would watch them.

Darold where did you get those clowns? I want. I want.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

I tossed them over in my mind a few times, but their burrowing habits are just something I didn't want to deal with.

 

[ZachStep]

Amazing how many people have started to reply about this subject in such a short amount of time.

 

[rockindacheeks]

i was watching a show on discovery HD (reef of riches) that showed black saddle clowns hosting a BLACK carpet anemone. It was pretty sweet. it was some volcanic region where everything was black. maybe if you know someone that knows someone they could get you one.