Bubbletip2's 200 Gallon system

[bubbletip2]

Here are a couple shots of my two tank raised percula clownfish. They are approximately 14 years old and are the first two marine fish I have kept. They were about a year when I got them and still hold the same bright orange color as when I got them. They are on their sixth batch of eggs spawning for the first time in years:

You can see the large green bubbletip anemone. I have had this bubbletip for 2.5 years. It has split a dozen times over the years and is now the size of a basketball. This mother used to have nice bubbles but resembles a long tip anemone now. I think there is just too much damn flow in this tank.

 

[bubbletip2]

Some other recent coral shots all given to me by Mike(acropora nut):

Nice Euphyllia: has been growing well. I really like this species with the pink tips.

This was the bottom of a colony on a plug. It was just the smooth plug that has grown quite a bit. I was not sure how it would do because it had not appendages when I got it. It was going to be a throw away when we reaquascaped Mike's tank but Menard grabbed it and told me to take it. Thanks Menard!

This is a nice red mille from Mike's tank that has been growing like a bowl similar to how it looks in Mike's tank. Funny thing is under my old 400w bulbs it started turning blue. After putting up the 250's some of that blue has one.

 

[bubbletip2]

This is the remnants of the first coral I ever bought 14 years ago. It is a Euphyllia glabrescens(I think that's how to spell it). Its tips are turning pink as well. I can't even count how many frags I have given of this over the years. I kept two little 1" button heads of it a year ago and gave the rest away.

Here is a shot of my male squami anthias. I bought him with four females that obviously did not make it. They did not last more than a month. Would love to get some females in here but they are hard to find on their own at least in LFS's. I see single males all the time.

 

[bubbletip2]

Here is a shot of my Black Tang from 2003 right before I gave him to Glenn over at Advanced Aquatics. At the time I could have easily sold him top dollar. He was about 3" at the time. I knew that Glenn was going to keep him in his front display tank so I knew I can at least see the fish when I came into the store. Glenn took care of him for 4 years. Every time I came in he would come right up to the glass to check me out. Funny thing is Glenn said that he was scared of anyone that would come in front of the tank and he would keep his distance. It was nice to hear that basically showing me that he really knew me. After buying the 156g tank a year ago I decided to talk to Glenn to see if he might be willing to give him back. I was expecting to pay a high price for him as Glenn gave me $125 for him at the time. Again people will probably wonder how I could give up a prize fish for $125. It is because I knew I would still be able to see him. I paid $250 about ten years ago for him and he was literally silver dollar size. Tiny little guy. Glenn had told me he was offered $300, $400, $500 for him. Glenn did not bite and I thank him til this day for that. I was not expecting him to give him back and would not have been offended if he wanted to keep him as I did give him the fish. So I went in to talk to him and to my surprise he was happy to give him back to me and for $75:eek1: Wow! He gave him back for less than what he paid me for him five years ago. One of the coolest things I have ever experienced in this hobby. Thanks Glenn! I intend on keeping this fish a long time. He is about 5 inches now so he has not grown very much in the last five years.

Here is an updated shot. I swear he is one of the hardest fish to photograph considering his black color. Probably would be easier against a blue background. I will have to get some better shots up soon.

 

[mcliffy2]

Beautiful fish and corals. I need to make it out there sometime.

 

[bubbletip2]

Anytime. Just let me know...

 

[chrissreef]

love the tank! i think that wrasse is something like a richardson or rhombus wrasse? maybe not but I think it starts with an R

 

[bubbletip2]

Thanks Chris! The wrasse is actually "Halichoeres purpurescens" also known as the grey headed wrasse or the silty wrasse. The females are not as bright in color.

 

[bubbletip2]

Some new pics of my mandarin. He does look a bit skinny, but looks no skinnier then when I got him. Seems to be eating something in the tank. He is always scavenging:

 

[bubbletip2]

Some new coral pics:

Tips on this one are turning out really nice. Was a brown coral with light blue tips. The coral has really turned cream/tan and the tips are blue and purple:

 

[bubbletip2]

The tips of this coral are also going purple with green rings around it and the corallites are going green from brown:

The purple is almost a half inch down the branches:

 

[bubbletip2]

A new Valida:

Older valida:

This coral was on its way out and has turned out to be really nice. It was given to me looking brown and not looking like it used to. The previous owner gave me 5 huge chunks of this to see what it would do. This and another smaller piece were the only ones that made it:

 

[bubbletip2]

Nice chunk of blue mille: This is one of a few frags I recently made:

Another new coral : can't id this coral:

some purple monti: I have a bunch of pieces of this in the tank:

 

[bubbletip2]

New tenuis I recently put in the tank:

Scripps mille: really slow grower:

True blue tortuosa:

 

[bubbletip2]

Another large chunk of blue mile: It was growing into the green prostrata on the right side and needed to be cut. I really like how this piece is growing:

A nasuta that was recently given to me:

and a new bubbltip shot. Recently the bubbles started to form again. It was looking really stringy for a while like a long tentacle anenome:

 

[bubbletip2]

I also have been keeping a log on this website:

http://www.reefland.com/myaqlog/

It is a really nice database style reef log. You can archive water tests, maintenance tasks & reminders, livestock lists and photos, etc. I particularly like the water test logging as you can see how your tank as been over time. I encourage anyone reading this to check it out and see what you think. I am currently updating my live stock list...

 

[melev]

Lots of pretty pictures. Thanks for the nice update full of eye candy.

I don't see anything on that link other than a welcome 'splash' screen for now. Be sure to post a link to the actual blog.

 

[bubbletip2]

Sorry:

http://www.reefland.com/myaqlog/public.php?userid=11770

 

[mcliffy2]

Looking really nice, and the pics are awesome. What camera setup are you using?

 

[bubbletip2]

This round I used a Canon 40D in Live View Mode on a tripod with a Sigma 150 macro lens. Live View is pretty sweet especially for this type of photography. Being able to have a 3" viewfinder is pretty functional. You can even zoom in 5x or 10x to get really accurate focus. 10x is way to close and you really can only see a tip of a coral for focus. 5x gives you about a 1/2 inch of a coral. I wish they made a 2 or 3x zoom to get more of the coral in view. Still it makes it easier. These shots were with the pumps on. It is easier to achieve focus in my experience with the pumps off. I get lazy sometimes. I have to turn off like 4 pumps to get the water still.

Anyway, glad you liked the photos.