Building My 375gal Glass Reef

[GlassReef]

Any Anthias experts out there? Is it possible my Lyretails are spawning? Ever since the alpha male went "Super" he's been chasing the females around in the evening, just before the lights go out. It always seemes to me like he is trying to keep them in a tight group.

Now, for the last couple of days, he seems to be going through some kind of ritual dance. He slowly swims to the surface (where he normally never goes) and then quickly darts toward the bottom. Just before he reaches the sand he turns around and heads up again. The whole movement resembles a half circle.

I think he's trying to lure a female because, after he's gone through the routine 10 or 15 times (I'm not really sure how many times it is as I have never really caught the action from the beginning), one of the females joins him in the game. I can't tell if it's the same female every time because they all get kind of antsy when this thing starts. As they both head toward the surface, I could swear that the female is releasing eggs. I haven't seen any sperm being released.

Any way, any experts out there? Anyone seen this kind of behavior? Should I be able to see sperm, if the are actually spawning?

 

[mflamb]

My 2 male Ignitus and 2 male Bartlett's chase all the females (Bartletts, Ignitus and Lyretails) every evening. I haven't seen the other behavior.

 

[jwilliams860]

Hey Tom, my tank is slightly smaller then yours, and my tangs all get along fine, I have 12 tangs in my tank, ts a 300 gallon, I have sohal and he ran the show, he would harrass any and every new addition, but I think eventually he was just so outnumbered, he couldnt fight them all, so hes pretty good now, and my yellows are more agressive then my purple.

 

[TRITON1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15344950#post15344950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
Morning Mark. I've got them down to 5-1/2 hours a day. Doesn't seem to make a difference.

I've been holding off buying any more corals because of the problem. Corals don't look sick. I have decent growth. Just that, any coral I put in the tank fades in color. Funny thing though, blues/purples seem to fair a little better than other colors. Anyone know if they are less UV sensitive that other colors?

I'm trying to decide whether I should try some UV filters or whether it's time to bite the bullet and get different bulbs.

Just caught up.....one comment dont know if itll help....
I would guess blues and purples do better if there is a UV problem because their wavelength is closer the the wave length of ultra violet light than all the other colors if you look at a picture of the electromagnetic spectrum.

 

[TRITON1]

I like the FTS alot. The only thing I would change to your aquascape is to remove/change the highest big rock on the right (it looks like it has a birdnest frag on it) The top and side of it seem too flat and straight and I think it makes it look a little out of place. Of course it could be the camera losing some dimension.

 

[GlassReef]

jwilliams860 -- thanks for the input. Much appreciated. Wow! Twelve tangs - looks like I've got a way to go.

 

[GlassReef]

TRITON1 -- thanks for the input. I tend to agree about the rock. Don't know if I'll ever change it, though. It would be a major endeavor.

 

[Lightsluvr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15382710#post15382710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GlassReef
TRITON1 -- thanks for the input. I tend to agree about the rock. Don't know if I'll ever change it, though. It would be a major endeavor.

Tom,

I think your aquascaping is very delightful. The openness is what makes it believeable... IMO

I'd like your critique on my aquascaping if you have a minute - I think my FTS is at the top of page 29.

Thanks...

LL

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15383236#post15383236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lightsluvr
I'd like your critique on my aquascaping if you have a minute -

Thank you very much, George. I think your aquascaping is top notch. You and I seem to have very much the same taste. The openness in your tank is going to lend itself to an unbelievable coral display, once the grow-out is complete. Great job.:thumbsup:

 

[SPDU4RIA]

nice looking set up!

 

[GlassReef]

SPDU4RIA - thanks for the compliment.

 

[GlassReef]

I got myself a new brain:

It's a Trachyphyllia radiata - about 6" across.

Anyone have any hints how how to best feed this guy?

 

[mpoletti]

Nice pick up Tom. I used to just hit the food timer on the tunzes right before the actinics shut off (feeders were usually out) and gave it a shot from the turkey baster with mysis and such.

 

[lastlight]

Wow I just LOVE your rockwork! What type of rocks are those branched ones that seem to expand upwards? I was leaning towards a bonsai style we're all familiar with by now. But this looks incredible too!

Not sure a 225 has enough room to pull this off though. Beauty!

Smart looking brain!

 

[reefrubble]

Tom , That Brain Looks Awesome . I love the color . Ted

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15391041#post15391041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
Nice pick up Tom. I used to just hit the food timer on the tunzes right before the actinics shut off (feeders were usually out) and gave it a shot from the turkey baster with mysis and such.

Thanks for the tip, Mark.

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15391043#post15391043 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lastlight
... What type of rocks are those branched ones that seem to expand upwards? I was leaning towards a bonsai style we're all familiar with by now. ... Not sure a 225 has enough room to pull this off though. Beauty!

All the rocks in the tank are from MarcoRocks.com - the stuff they call Fiji. The upward expanding rocks you see in the pic are actually two mushroom shaped rocks placed, one on top of the other. They're held together with a 3/8" thick fiberglass rod inserted into holes drilled into the rocks and then filled with epoxy. The rods are the road marker reflectors you can buy at HD and Lowes for about $4 a piece. Works real well.

 

[mpoletti]

Somehow I missed this :eek1: I wish my canvas looked half as good as that when I started.

How did you get that wide of a picture? What camera set up did you shoot this at? Thanks

 

[Dejavu]

Tom, just read though your build.... very nice!

I ran 12k reeflux for nearly 4 years and never ahd a problem with them or UV. Currently I run 20k radiums and they actually have better par # than the 12K's.

I would guess that the lighting of your corals might be due to either to much light or lack of nutrients. Most of the fish you have are smaller and from the pic it seems little your system runs pretty clean. Just a thought.

Have you try turn off one of the lights for awhile and see if that makes any difference? I would think that you could get way with running just three bulb for awhile.

 

[GlassReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15391298#post15391298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
... How did you get that wide of a picture? What camera set up did you shoot this at?

The pic is actually three photos stitched together into a panorama shot. I took one shot of the left side of the tank, one of the middle, and one of the right side. Then, using photo stitching software, I put them all together. After that was done, I cropped the whole thing around the edges to remove unwanted sections of the tank's frame, the stand, etc.