Dave's 150G Starphire Zeo Reef~

[Dave's Reef]

Dave, your experience and pictures makes me want to try one. Do you recommend getting a small one or a bigger one? I understand that they can be difficult especially if they are exposed to air.

Hi Dan,

If you do try a Linkia, look for good color and overall health/appearance first. Second, medium to small for size not much bigger so I've been told.

As far as the air exposure, that was something I'd never heard until recently but upon following the advice to keep it submersed, then releasing into the DT, I'd never had such a good experience with one. I followed the guys advice and added in a very SLOW and LONG drip acclimation to boot and have had the best success ever!

I'd say if you follow those steps and if you, like me, have a lot of sponge matter on your rock work, you should have similar results presumably. I sure can't and wouldn't make any promises to that but I'd give it a try if you like them the way I do!

 

[Dave's Reef]

small update

small update

The Cyano Saga

Well, I've been having a bit of a time with some cyano algae for the past few months. Done just about everything to combat it with some change but not enough to satisfy me.

So, as fate would have it I thought to myself the other day that my T5's looked a bit dimmer than they did before. I run 4x 54w bulbs overdriven with an IceCapp 660 and had heard varied advice on when to change them. Anywhere from as few as 6 to as many as 12 month intervals. I've had my tank up and running for 8 months now and just changed mine out.

So, while waiting for my bulbs to arrive I thought to myself, I wonder if the change in spectrum (from the T5's being dimmer) had anything to do with my cyano problem. I know this is a known source for various nuisance algae...

So... long story short, new bulbs are in and guess what??? The cyano is clearing and isn't coming back, WOO HOO!!! :dance: As a new rule of thumb for myself I will be changing out my T5's every 6 months so as to avoid future algae problems!

Now the next thing up is some new fish due to arrive here this coming Monday if all goes well!

Stay tuned for updates and pics next week!!!

 

[soccerbag]

Dave,

Good to hear. I can attest to that as well. I'm always shocked when folks say their T5's last for 12 months. I change mine out every 6-8 months to avoid what just happened to you. It's amazing that a small change in spectrum can cause the cyano bloom. Glad that was the issue though....that's an easy fix (in the overall scheme of things).

Looking forward to seeing your new arrivals. Post some pics next week for us.

 

[Rickyrooz1]

Dave, this looks like a maricultured Ultimate Stag.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Dave, this looks like a maricultured Ultimate Stag.

Wow... I'd never even heard of it before, who knew! I guess I just have a good eye for greatness, lol!!!

Well, that explains my LFS guy's comments when I picked it out from among the many frags he had. There were probably 200 or so frags to chose from and I was drawn to it, it called to me! He'd just gotten it in and this was fragged from a much larger piece that he's keeping. He said "you have good taste", lol....

They've always got really good stuff!

 

[Rickyrooz1]

Nice, here is more info on it.

143gadgets

http://www.atlantisaquarium.net/new-atl-ultimate-stag-frg056.html

We got to our first spot and the fishermen brought up this little cool freshly mounted acro. This appears to be an Acropora insignis, but grows up like a stag. Insignis species usually grow up corymbose shaped or plate like. Strange coral and looks like the coral known as the "Ultimate stag" in the US. It is light purple blue with green corallites, very nice.
http://eddie-coral-adventures.blogspot.com/2009/07/aquaculture-in-bali-part-2.html

I have all of this info because I've been looking for one.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Ricky,

Thank you for the 411, I appreciate it very much. I really had no idea that the "ultimate stag" even existed and I'm pretty stoked that I picked it out unknowingly.

I've always tried to pick corals according to the overall look, including color growth form, etc... Some have names and many do not. I just like to get what looks best to me and my eye!

I have to admit that there are many corals that because of their looks usually have a name and cost a bit more because someone else already found a wild or maricultured piece and named it. This in turn drives the price up and makes it something that "everyone" or most anyway want themselves as a result.

Oh well, I hope it does well and will turn into a nice colony for me! I really like the color a lot.

I'm very interested in the new ORA Blue Iris after reading up on it last night. I'm going to try and see if my LFS has one in stock today.

I have another really nice Granulosa that was a mariculture piece as well from the same store I got this ultimate stag clone. It is almost a solid sky blue color that I have on the bottom of the tank coloring up nicely.

I'll try to get some pictures of it up next week when my new fish arrive!

 

[Dave's Reef]

143gadgets

I wish I could take pictures like this! You take some really nice pictures too Ricky!


This is very representative of the piece I have only with more growth. Once mine has some time to grow out I believe this is exactly what it will look like.

 

[DanW]

Dave, How's the tank doing? Reactor dialed in?

 

[Dave's Reef]

Dave, How's the tank doing? Reactor dialed in?

Hey Dan,

Thanks for asking, the tank is doing pretty good. Reactor is 100% dialed in and wasn't as difficult a process as I thought it might have been.

Trouble in Paradise
On the other hand I had a few upsets over the last week or so....

1.) My Linkia is dead and I don't know why or what happened??? All my parameters are rock solid and with the exception of the new lights, no changes have been made to the tank.

2.) My Blonde Naso isn't doing so well. In fact I think after tonight he's pretty much a gonner. He looked a little "depressed", wasn't eating and then out of no where... my Vlamingi AND the Ringtail started to just WAIL on him! They really beat the $hit out of him, much to my surprise and dismay??? :eek2:

Needless to say, I'm a bit bummed for the losses.

Good News

Just added a piece of the ORA Blue Iris and a new piece of the ORA Oregon Tort! They look great and should do nicely... I hope. I lost the last piece of Oregon Tort I tried, it STN'd out of the blue on me?

Still Waiting

With the holidays and being so busy I've not had my other new fish shipped to me yet and it's probably just as well. I'm seriously considering removing the Vlamingi at this point. I know they're supposed to be non-aggressive but he was clearly the instigator in the rumble down under tonight between he, the Ringtail and my poor Blonde Naso. In hindsight, I knew my tank wouldn't be big enough over the long haul but I thought I would be able to enjoy him for at least a year before there was any trouble with him.

He has grown by leaps and bounds (to say the least) over the last 3 months of me getting him as a mere babe!

 

[DanW]

Congrats on getting the Ca Rx dialed in so quickly. I had a little trouble dialing mine in but now I think I've got it. Sorry to hear about the Naso, I'll bet that somehow he got a little sick and the other two sensed the chance to expand their territories. Love to see some picts of the Blue Iris when you get a chance, I've not seen one yet. Have a great holiday"¦hey do you guys decorate saguaros instead of evergreens over there?:lol2:

 

[Dave's Reef]

Congrats on getting the Ca Rx dialed in so quickly. I had a little trouble dialing mine in but now I think I’ve got it. Sorry to hear about the Naso, I’ll bet that somehow he got a little sick and the other two sensed the chance to expand their territories. Love to see some picts of the Blue Iris when you get a chance, I’ve not seen one yet. Have a great holiday…hey do you guys decorate saguaros instead of evergreens over there?:lol2:

Yeah, thanks Dan... I was pleasantly surprised on the Ca Rx! It's been up for a couple of weeks now and things have been rock solid. Starting out in good shape went a long way I'm sure...

Here's the latest param's as of last night. These numbers haven't really fluctuated at all since putting the Ca Rx back on line.

Ca= 430 (Elos)
Dkh= 7.0 (Elos) 7.7-8.0 (Salifert)
Mag= 1350 (Elos) 1215 (Salifert)

I'm using the Zeomag layered in the middle of the ARM (course grade) media to keep up on my Mag levels. So far so good!

As far as the Naso, I think once he got sick or whatever was going on the other two Tangs sensed it and just really beat him up.

R.I.P.

 

[plyle02]

sorry to hear about the loss Dave That is one beautiful naso... Tank does look great otherwise... Linkia's are super hard to keep, they are beautiful, but my experience with them is that they seem to decay over time, losing arms, etc.. I thought my small red linkia bit the dust, but litterally saw a nub cruising around the tank the other day, I renamed it nub, not one arm on the poor thing, just a little nub... Still alive though, I had not seen it in over a month... I had the same thing happen to me BTW with the ORA Oregon Tort, stn'd on me as well. I have no experience with the Iris, but have way too much blue in the tank anyway... Maybe a FTS after the holidays?
Merry Christmas

 

[Dave's Reef]

sorry to hear about the loss Dave That is one beautiful naso... Tank does look great otherwise... Linkia's are super hard to keep, they are beautiful, but my experience with them is that they seem to decay over time, losing arms, etc.. I thought my small red linkia bit the dust, but litterally saw a nub cruising around the tank the other day, I renamed it nub, not one arm on the poor thing, just a little nub... Still alive though, I had not seen it in over a month... I had the same thing happen to me BTW with the ORA Oregon Tort, stn'd on me as well. I have no experience with the Iris, but have way too much blue in the tank anyway... Maybe a FTS after the holidays?
Merry Christmas

Thanks for the good word Pyle... I'll miss the Naso & the Linkia for sure but, such is aquatic life.

Haven't snapped any pics lately but here's one of the Iris I borrowed from the Blue Iris thread so you get an idea. Mine looks real good and has nice PE. Hopefully it should do well.....

A few have compared this piece to the Ice Fire Echinata.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Have a Cup of Cheer!

Have a Cup of Cheer!

Hi Guys,

With X-mas and all I thought I'd offer everyone a cup of Holiday Cheer, lol!~

This is only 4 days worth by the way!

Ho, ho, ho... MERRY X-MAS everyone!~

 

[DanW]

...

...

Dude, is that a bear paw holding that skimmer top or are you wearing long fur gloves? At least now I know why you picked your avatar :lol: BTW I also put my skimmer cup on the washing machine which is next to the utility tub when I clean it...my wife hates when I do that. Nice nog.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Dude, is that a bear paw holding that skimmer top or are you wearing long fur gloves? At least now I know why you picked your avatar :lol: BTW I also put my skimmer cup on the washing machine which is next to the utility tub when I clean it...my wife hates when I do that. Nice nog.

:lol::lol::lol:, yup that's me! I'm a bit furry and yes, I've been called Wolverine before. That's exactly why I picked him for my Avatar, lol!

I catch all kinds of crap when I have to empty the skimmer cup. Most recently I've been told I need to take it to the bathroom and flush it where all the other poop goes, lol! It really stinks the place up whenever I have to do it. I usually try to do it at night when everyone's sleeping, lol!

 

[Dave's Reef]

Bye, bye Percy!

Bye, bye Percy!

Well,

Today I have to say goodbye to my Vlamingi affectionately name "Percy" by my wife for his blue lips. I knew he would ultimately be too big for the tank but thought we'd be able to enjoy him for a little while before saying good bye. However, since he decided to bludgeon my Blonde Naso to death here recently I've decided to give him the boot!~

Thankfully, I've got some new guys coming from a friend soon (hopefully). I'll be sure to update whenever they arrive!

Bye, bye Percy!

 

[blk94rs]

Nice tank Dave!!!

Would you mind sharing your Zeo dosing schedule?

Are happy with the results you have got with Zeo?

 

[urastame]

Dave keep the pics coming.......