Cubed & Squared

[biggles]

I hope you realise the effect your dirty sneaky acro hiding has had on everyone Bello. Even Troub is doing it now so that's a lovely bloody thing to teach a new reefer mate. I was going to set him right but since he uses disco lights i decided he was already a lost cause........ :rolleye1:

Love the holiday snaps, thanks for sharing those. Looks like a beautiful place to holiday. Is that facility where the maris go through after being collected from the sea or something different. Looks like a big concern judging by the number of tanks.

Really pleased to hear everything went ok while you were away mate, sounds like the acros are already recovering from the dipping which is great news :thumbsup: What alk and calcium numbers are you running now days mate btw. I checked salinity today after 3 weeks since the last check - 1.0280 - i might fix that lol.

 

[Bello]

I hope you realise the effect your dirty sneaky acro hiding has had on everyone Bello. Even Troub is doing it now so that's a lovely bloody thing to teach a new reefer mate. I was going to set him right but since he uses disco lights i decided he was already a lost cause........ :rolleye1:

I swear on the grave of my third cousin's pet dog from my father's side, one day you'll be disco dancing under the led's . Pretty sure that Troub's gonna make us jealous soon, the sneaky bugger has access to some awesome frags, methinks.

Love the holiday snaps, thanks for sharing those. Looks like a beautiful place to holiday. Is that facility where the maris go through after being collected from the sea or something different. Looks like a big concern judging by the number of tanks.

I didn't really look at the map before I travelled. Saw tons of aussies thereabouts BTW. Then I realized I'm not sooo far out from bloody Melbourne. Fair warning biggles, next time............

Yep, they receive mari's from all over Indonesia, and they're held there for a short while before shipping out. Saw quite a few nice colonies, that I'd love to have had, including some deepwaters and hoeksemai. But, they're a wholesaler, so more of a look and then forget about it system .

Really pleased to hear everything went ok while you were away mate, sounds like the acros are already recovering from the dipping which is great news :thumbsup: What alk and calcium numbers are you running now days mate btw. I checked salinity today after 3 weeks since the last check - 1.0280 - i might fix that lol.

Some have recovered quite well. Feedings have been increased, and coral colours have darkened up quite nicely. On the whole, I'm happy and relieved. Just hope I don't do something stupid soon. And I finally got an Apogee PAR meter . I asked my friend (whom I met on the hoilday) to bring it in from the US . Will try and take readings sometime this week.

I've been keeping alk between 7-8 dkh all this while. I use the new ELOS test kit, which tallys quite well with the Salifert Alk and Hanna Alk kits. Haven't tested Cal or Mg in over a year now.

 

[sahin]

Hey mate, glad Kevin looked after you tank whilst you were on holiday. Just be sure to COUNT every single acro again (I know you have too many...), but I bet that Kevin swiped one or two. :lol:

Nice purchase with the Apogee meter. I bought one a few years ago and its been very helpful. Especially with Disco lighting, you just dont have a clue with them, so the meter will surely help.

If you want to spring a surprise visit on Biggles, let me know. :lol:

 

[troubadour11]

Those were some killer holiday pics! :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing

So if you're such a good example of your tank looking better when you go away. I'd love to see a FTS of how it's looking :eek2: It sounds like things are really starting to thrive again after the long-haul dipping process and such.

Were those all LED pendant lights over the holding tanks at the whole-saler?

 

[glaukos]

So,so,so glad to hear everything was ok bello!:dance:
You cleaned up the house or the tank?:love2:

Indeed those vacation pics were awesome!
That facility is heaven on earth
+1 on troub for the fts!:rollface:

 

[Bello]

Hey mate, glad Kevin looked after you tank whilst you were on holiday. Just be sure to COUNT every single acro again (I know you have too many...), but I bet that Kevin swiped one or two.

Nice purchase with the Apogee meter. I bought one a few years ago and its been very helpful. Especially with Disco lighting, you just dont have a clue with them, so the meter will surely help.

If you want to spring a surprise visit on Biggles, let me know.

I counted the acros, and 2 frags were missing!!!....Well can't blame Kevin, they RTN'd. Not too bad, have plenty of backups of those.

I took a few quick readings with the Apogee. At the highest lighting levels, had just about 400-500 par ABOVE the water surface, dropping rapidly. I suspect my recent adjustments to a bluer spectrum have confused the hell outta the par meter. Doubt it picks up the 410nm wavelength well, and I have a bunch of those. I'll probably be tweaking in the lights in the coming weeks.

Thankfully I know have a useful tool to work with........and drive me bananas

Those were some killer holiday pics! Thanks for sharing

So if you're such a good example of your tank looking better when you go away. I'd love to see a FTS of how it's looking. It sounds like things are really starting to thrive again after the long-haul dipping process and such.

Were those all LED pendant lights over the holding tanks at the whole-saler?

Yep, all lighting at the wholesalers were LED's. Either those Cannon type pendants or chinese ones. It makes sense, since the weather there is incredibly hot and humid, and MH's would just screw the electric bills.

So,so,so glad to hear everything was ok bello!
You cleaned up the house or the tank?

Indeed those vacation pics were awesome!
That facility is heaven on earth
+1 on troub for the fts!

I can back to a house full of dust, since I left my windows open . I always leave 'em open for ventilation. So I ended up cleaning the house at freaking 3am :furious:. I was so tempted to break laws at that facility, lol, don't even start....hahahahahahah

Glad you guys enjoyed the pics . So now for the FTS's.....Unfortunately not very impressive. Still have frag racks around, and quite a few corals still need to color up from the dips, but what the hell....





Looks like such a mess!!!

 

[sahin]

I love the scaping on the 2nd tank! :thumbsup: I think the two island scape is much better aesthetically.

Frags rack in display....:headwalls:

Your coral colours will return. As long as the water and filtration is good, the corals should colour up fairly soon. Now hopefully the AEFW bastards are nothing but scattered atoms; so, with good water, food and dancing and singing for the corals late at night (thats what Biggles does (Kevin told me...

)) all should be colouring up within a month or two.

 

[glaukos]

+1!
Love the tanks bello!Each one has something unique!

@sahin
Did kevin revealed which specific song and dance,biggles demonstrates?
I really need these hot info:lol:
And if we had live footage....that would make kevin a really popular(if not already) koala

 

[sahin]

+1!
Love the tanks bello!Each one has something unique!

@sahin
Did kevin revealed which specific song and dance,biggles demonstrates?
I really need these hot info:lol:
And if we had live footage....that would make kevin a really popular(if not already) koala

Kevin mumbled something about not wanting to embarrass Biggles too much...:lmao: However, if I press for info Kevin might just divulge such details...Kevin and Biggles arent in the best of terms at the moment...:strooper:

 

[Scotty freddy]

Sweet tanks Bello! Love the minimal scapes

 

[Bello]

I love the scaping on the 2nd tank! :thumbsup: I think the two island scape is much better aesthetically.

Frags rack in display....:headwalls:

Your coral colours will return. As long as the water and filtration is good, the corals should colour up fairly soon. Now hopefully the AEFW bastards are nothing but scattered atoms; so, with good water, food and dancing and singing for the corals late at night (thats what Biggles does (Kevin told me... all should be colouring up within a month or two.

Thanks Sahin, I really hope those bloody AEFW's are gone for good :furious:. Would be really sucky to deal with them again. I'm seeing a recovery in growth and color on some of the acros. Tried biggles's method, but I'm a terrible dancer though, maybe that's the problem?

I HATE frag racks in tanks!!! You've no idea how much seeing those in MINE is p!ssing me off! Just need to find some place for the frags or trade or sell...something!!!

+1!
Love the tanks bello!Each one has something unique!

That was the plan, Mike . Glad you like it. One to try and replicate a deeper area of the reef and the other a bommie type, with higher PAR lighting. Have just reconfigured my LED's for better PAR on the shallow tank, so fingers crossed

Sweet tanks Bello! Love the minimal scapes

To be honest, the scape for one of the tanks was inspired by YOURS!! :thumbsup:. I love the way you've scaped yours and wanted something similar. Unfortunately, a 4x4 is always better than a 3x3

 

[glaukos]

Kevin mumbled something about not wanting to embarrass Biggles too much...:lmao: However, if I press for info Kevin might just divulge such details...Kevin and Biggles arent in the best of terms at the moment...:strooper:

:lolspin::lolspin::lolspin:

I really hope you won't deal with aefw again bello!
Wish every single @%^^$ of them is gone!

I'm 100% with you about the frag racks!
Every time i go to some friends house i throw frags in the tank and the rack to the garbage:wildone:
If only i lived closer buddy....then i could relieve you from that burden

Question....and please be honest.....what would you give for a footage,showing biggles dancing around his tank?:lolspin:
And in that scenario what kevin would be doing?

 

[reefmutt]

Bello, I'm very happy to see you back on track!!
I love both of your scapes, they are like opposites of each other and they are both really nicely done.
I hope your aefw issues are behind you.
Let the growth begin!!

 

[Scotty freddy]

To be honest, the scape for one of the tanks was inspired by YOURS!! :thumbsup:. I love the way you've scaped yours and wanted something similar. Unfortunately, a 4x4 is always better than a 3x3 [/QUOTE]

Thank you I'm Glad to hear I've inspired you Bello you've done an excellent job :thumbsup: I think any cube is a good cube no matter the size, you get a lot more option's scape wise and I'm glad to see more and more popping up around the place! Keep up the good work

 

[markalot]

Looking good Bello. The photos look good at home, but too dark here on my work computer. I have the same issues with the ones I take so I've been brightening them as much as I can without distortion and then checking them on my tablet to make sure they look ok. These damn computers!

I switched my 40 to LED's yesterday, Maxspect Razor, and so far no sign of AEFW on my 3 tiny acro frags or my green slimer, which continues to grow at an incredible rate.

I'm constantly reading here but not saying much, so just wanted to basically say Hi and wish you continued good luck with those darn pests.

 

[Bello]

I really hope you won't deal with aefw again bello!
Wish every single @%^^$ of them is gone!

I'm 100% with you about the frag racks!
Every time i go to some friends house i throw frags in the tank and the rack to the garbage.
If only i lived closer buddy....then i could relieve you from that burden

Question....and please be honest.....what would you give for a footage,showing biggles dancing around his tank?
And in that scenario what kevin would be doing?

Was just thinking that if I weren't dealing with the damn AEFW's, I'd have half decent growth by now, grrr!! Anyhow, haven't seen them again, so that's good.

When I was setting up for the dips and moving every single acro, I managed to break about 20 tips, so 20 frags and more work!!! I don't have the heart to just toss 'em out. If you lived close by, trust me, you wouldn't need to buy any coral, given the amount I've already spent on, and given away. If you look at the first few pages, you'll notice quite a few corals, especially montis missing now. I've barely had any losses, and all those missing have been given away.

Hmmmm, so biggles doing his dance......... between him and Kevin, I think I'd be too scared to watch, did you see this, http://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/someone-is-finally-making-a-movie-about-drop-bears

Hahahahahaha

Bello, I'm very happy to see you back on track!!
I love both of your scapes, they are like opposites of each other and they are both really nicely done.
I hope your aefw issues are behind you.
Let the growth begin!!

Thanks, I still think they need some cleaning up (finding it a bit messy), but I'm happy with the way things are coming along. I really wanted the 2 cubes to have their own identity. I considered fish stocking along those lines as well, but as it turns out, I really like my fish

I think I just dodged a bullet today, since I noticed my Calcium Reactor was partially clogged, while the ph reading in the reactor was off as well. Recalibrated and fixed! Hopefully no more AEFW and hello coral growth!!!!

Thank you I'm Glad to hear I've inspired you Bello you've done an excellent job :thumbsup: I think any cube is a good cube no matter the size, you get a lot more option's scape wise and I'm glad to see more and more popping up around the place! Keep up the good work

I've always loved cubes. My first reef tank was a 2x2, and one way or another, I ended up gravitating towards cubes. My dream tank would, undoubtedly be a 5x5 cube, just so that I can throw in some large tangs there as well.

I've gone through too many scapes on these cubes, I fear. The left island on the deep tank is beginning to bother me now. I'm considering making it taller and narrower..... bit too much like yours again eh?

Looking good Bello. The photos look good at home, but too dark here on my work computer. I have the same issues with the ones I take so I've been brightening them as much as I can without distortion and then checking them on my tablet to make sure they look ok. These damn computers!

I switched my 40 to LED's yesterday, Maxspect Razor, and so far no sign of AEFW on my 3 tiny acro frags or my green slimer, which continues to grow at an incredible rate.

I'm constantly reading here but not saying much, so just wanted to basically say Hi and wish you continued good luck with those darn pests.

Thanks for following along Mark . Yeah, the pics don't look as nice some times, damn settings!

The Razor is a good pick IMO. When DIY'ing my Leds, I looked at the configs of most of the popular fixtures, and tried out quite a few. My current config, is closer to the Razor compared to all others..... don't have no reds, greens etc. Just various blues, and mixed whites.

Do you still have the Forest Fire digitata? I lost the green tips on mine now. There's good growth but no green. It's in lowish light atm, I'll be trying out higher light in the next week. Let's see how it goes.

Hopefully, the blasted AEFW's stay away for you as well :thumbsup:

 

[markalot]

Do you still have the Forest Fire digitata? I lost the green tips on mine now. There's good growth but no green. It's in lowish light atm, I'll be trying out higher light in the next week. Let's see how it goes.

Hopefully, the blasted AEFW's stay away for you as well :thumbsup:

Well damn, now you've lost the green eh? I still have mine, and it's getting larger. My orange polyps have gone from deep, to light, to deep again, but still no green. I'm hoping a switch to LED, with areas of the FF digi getting shaded now, might being out some green. Time will tell.

 

[glaukos]

Was just thinking that if I weren't dealing with the damn AEFW's, I'd have half decent growth by now, grrr!! Anyhow, haven't seen them again, so that's good.

When I was setting up for the dips and moving every single acro, I managed to break about 20 tips, so 20 frags and more work!!! I don't have the heart to just toss 'em out. If you lived close by, trust me, you wouldn't need to buy any coral, given the amount I've already spent on, and given away. If you look at the first few pages, you'll notice quite a few corals, especially montis missing now. I've barely had any losses, and all those missing have been given away.

Hmmmm, so biggles doing his dance......... between him and Kevin, I think I'd be too scared to watch, did you see this, http://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/someone-is-finally-making-a-movie-about-drop-bears

Hahahahahaha

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
Will definitely watch it!I'm sure at least one scene will include acro stabbing!:lol:

For many reasons,i wish i could live close by buddy:beer:

You are my hero for having zero losses buddy!
The first time i saw aefw in the tank,i gave my best with dipping,cutting,blasting,"wrassing"(made a new word lol) etc...nothing happened...after a couple of months i lost everything.
The second time i discovered them....shed a tear and aafter one hour threw every acro i had....no strength and hope to fight it:uhoh3:

So i can feel you 100% and i'm sure that some weeks later your acros will gain back their colors:dance:

 

[Bello]

Well damn, now you've lost the green eh? I still have mine, and it's getting larger. My orange polyps have gone from deep, to light, to deep again, but still no green. I'm hoping a switch to LED, with areas of the FF digi getting shaded now, might being out some green. Time will tell.

Hmmm, interesting experiment . Lemme know if the LED's help with the colours. FWIW, my friend had them under LED's as well, at very high light levels. I did shift one frag up high, let's see. We need to figure this bugger out :furious:.

You are my hero for having zero losses buddy!
The first time i saw aefw in the tank,i gave my best with dipping,cutting,blasting,"wrassing"(made a new word lol) etc...nothing happened...after a couple of months i lost everything.
The second time i discovered them....shed a tear and aafter one hour threw every acro i had....no strength and hope to fight it:uhoh3:

So i can feel you 100% and i'm sure that some weeks later your acros will gain back their colors

Sorry to hear about your AEFW stories as well Mike. Hopefully they're behind us now . While I've had minimal losses in this new setup, my previous one was HORRIBLE!!! I lost almost every single SPS I put in there, and it took me 2 years to figure out the problem. This is why, even if I have to dip every single coral for AEFW all over again, it's still not half as bad

Speaking of which, I've begun "wrassing" as well, 2 x Halichoeres Leucoxanthus in the deep tank, and 1 x Halichoeres Cosmetus in the Shallow

 

[glaukos]

I've read some success stories with the cosmetus and aefw bello
Did try him but never ate even a single aefw,in my previous tank
But then again every fish is different with it's own behaviour/personality

To be honest....i hope he only eats food(flakes etc) in your case because i hope even more that you have already eradicated every single one of them(that is a much better scenario):beer: