Diary of my LiL 40 Gallon Breeder(Intense)

[InsaneClownFish]

As time goes on my stocking plan has naturally changed. The direction I'm going with this tank is still the same with a few minor variations.
As I progress, I learn what does well in my very natural setup- and what struggles.

Originally, I wanted to stay away from LPS completely. As my tastes changes, and my admiration of certain LPS grows, I've done research to determine how some of the most peaceful varieties might fair in my tank. With a slightly nutrient rich environment and excellent, yet not overwhelming T5 lighting, I'm thinking that LPS would strive.

I've just ordered some cherry red Blasto Wellsi, and I'll be picking up a few different varieties of Acan. Lordhes. this Sunday.

These along with a small Cycloseris, and possibly some more Blasto Wellsi, will probably be the only LPS I add to the tank.

In my small environment, I'm trying to avoid anything with sweepers.

I originally wanted the right side of my tank to be filled with colorful Ricordia and Yumas. Unfortunately, it's been very difficult finding colorful, yet reasonably priced pieces. Coupled with the now needed room for the LPS, and my experience of having Ricordia just melt away at higher temps, leads me to a strategy of having fewer pieces.

I was also seeking some more colorful Tongan Rhodactis, but this is another coral I have lost interest in.

The rest of the tank will be taken up by SPS, clams, blue Xenia, and some White/Pink Pom Pom Xenia.

An updated stocking plan will follow shortly. Cheers!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful advice regarding my new cam!

Marc, thank you especially for your fantastic article and continuing insights.

I adjusted the white balance using the mag float in my tank- amazing difference, and I slowed the shutter speed to capture my Silver Tip Xenia Actuosa (recently identified with the gracious help of Mr. Calfo) in full "pulse:"
Before the adjustments using flash:

After the adjustments with no flash:

The second pic is the TRUE color this coral appears to the naked eye in my system.

 

[ssbreef]

very nice!

 

[melev]

I'm glad it helped. I didn't post it sooner as I thought you'd need a little time to get used to your camera first.

Btw, on my Hidden Treasures page, there is a link to Gregory's Tutorials, and they are way better than my one page article. Continue applying what you've learned for now, and as time permits start reading gho's lessons to get better and better. He put a ton of time into that section of his site, and every reader will benefit.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Picked up a ginormous Pink and green Milli at my reef club's meeting on Sunday:

A good 9X8X6.5

 

[melev]

That is big! What did it cost you?

 

[InsaneClownFish]

$80. wild

$100. + 20% reefer's discount...

Really nice long polyps....fills up the whole left side of my tank...

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Here's a picture from the front of my tank...already pinking up..

 

[InsaneClownFish]

A little bit closer shot:

 

[InsaneClownFish]

The mad scientist of acclimation Sunday night:

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Here's a quick pic of the red Blasto Wellsi I picked up from PhishyBusiness. It has 20 polyps. It took to my tank immediately, and it just jumps out from the back of the tank.

..not the best pic...it really is cherry red under actinics...

..some of the mouths have a green tint as well...

I also had a burgandy/biegy gold/purple Bali cultured Maxi that did not survive the trip/acclimation.

More on the clam a bit later....

 

[Cosper]

Looks good so far.. I must have missed this thread thus Ive read the first and last few pages.. How is the non sumped/skimmed theory going? Have you posted any new full tank shots?

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Cosper, the tank is amazing. Completely biological.

I had one hairy crab hitchiker kill another in a territorial pursuit.
The dead crab was "consumed" by the tank within hours..

I'll be posting a bunch of updates soon.

The tank's 6 month anniversery is coming up soon, so I'll post a slew of full tank shots....

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Couldn't sleep last night so I spent some time with the camera and the instruction manual...
The result is some Macros and some cropping..
Red Blasto

Pink mouth Rhodactis:

Blue Milli:

Pink and Green Shaggy Millie:

Yellow Clown "I Will Allude You With My Stealth Ninja Skills Up In This Coral" Goby:

Gorgeous ORA Maxima #1:

MMMM Mantle:

 

[tsquad]

SWEET! Now you're taking GREAT shots :thumbsup:

 

[InsaneClownFish]

A Tale of Three Mystery Crabs, by InsaneClownFish :

So I had this mysterious hitchhiker crab that appeared in my reef about 2 months ago. There were two definite spots it would appear, so I did a little research on wetwebmedia and discovered it might be ok. This crab was black/brown with some white markings.
I soon discovered an identical crab dead in my reef- presumably killed in a territorial dispute.
So crab # 2 continued to grow...going from nickel to quarter to almost silver dollar sized. I became more suspicious. Finally, I did some more reading on wetwebmedia....hmmmm I'm now finding some not so good info about this "type" of crab. Then I looked at the crab one night....ut oh...you're developing "hairy" legs.
Of course, all this crab seemed to do was pick stuff off the rocks...seemingly algae. It didn't bother anything, so what the hey I said. Then one night I find said crab #2 picking out the polyps from my Montipora Mollis(which has bleached some in that area)...lovely..
Then I add my gorgeous Green and Pink Millie, and guess who decides to park themself in the center and begin devouring polyps? Yup...happy and fat crab #2.
A little more research on wetwebmedia led me to a makeshift yet effective crab trap. So I cleaned out the remnants of a Palmero All Fruit jar, threw in a piece of delectable imitation crab meat, and positioned the jar leaning against a rock underneath the big Millie.
Within ten minutes, and with no lights on the tank, this lil bugger was hangin over the jar from a Millie branch...reachin towards the jar. It tried twice to get a grip, but it became a tad tentative. The next morning...Bingo!

I was going to donate the evil...errr I mean lil bugger to the LFS, but he never made it through the next night. I wasn't heart broken...
So my girlfriend and I come home last night. She immediately starts yellin, "Honey, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK!" Crab #3 :rolleye1: , a tad smaller version of Crabs 1 and 2, and now with seemingly no competition, decides to park right in the middle of my Millie colony...*sigh*
This is startin to get ridiculous, because my Millie is lookin ANNOYED, and my lil Yellow Clown Goby, that resides in my Millie, is visibly stressed by the crab's presence...crab #2 had previously taken a couple swipes at the little guy.
So braving the really RANK crab water that had been sittin on my counter...I quickly rinsed it out, and being that I was out of crab delights, I kept some of the stank rotting crab meet in the jar.
My tank loves me....
I'm bringing home some fresh crab meet tonight, just in case I don't have a prisoner.
My girlfriend commented how it was ironic that I was using something called "Imitation Crab Meat" aka "Crab Delights" to catch crabs...kinda carnivorous ehh? At least it wakes up my Nassarius.

This has been the Tale of Three Mystery Crabs- Enjoy!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

More updates:

I've noticed my pod population seems to eb and wain. I'm wondering if this has something to do with my angel's foraging habits? Also, adding the sixline has added to the pods being "picked" off,

I'm wondering if it's a good idea to periodically add pods from some online sources? If I'm not mistaken, pods are detrivores, and the continued food source for my fish can't hurt.

How quickly do pods recoup their numbers?

 

[melev]

You can purchase more pods and put them in your refugium. Feeding them phytoplankton will encourage their increased population.

Good job on the crab trappin'. Looks like you've almost got this resolved.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Crab #3 has been captured.

 

[tsquad]

Victory :strooper:

PS - The meeting is on Saturday not Sunday so you can go