socalmonty
New member
Nope. Not bartlett's. Not Purple Queens. Here's a pic with them grouped up with my Waitei Anthias. All females, at least for now.
Okay, Shirley. For those of us who don't know our anthias, what are they???
Jadette's 140g Rimless Build Thread
- Thread starter jadette
- Start date
Okay, Shirley. For those of us who don't know our anthias, what are they???
jadette
Member
Thanks Andrew! How is your build coming along? Are you SPS corals making a comeback? I do have a vision, but I ultimately get sidetracked when I see a good deal come along on a coral or fish that I do not necessarily want. I really need to stop that. I've been wanting to add staghorns in my tank (a la formosa forest) but am having difficulty finding them. I really want to add height to the corals. I just have way too many plating corals.
Doug - They're Randall's anthias. They don't look too striking as females, but this is what they look like as males:
Two really good things about them - They're really peaceful and they're really small. You can easily keep a group of 10-12 of them in a 140g tank. It was this article that convinced me that I just HAD to have a shoal in my tank:
http://www.reefsmagazine.com/forum/reefs-magazine/93785-randalls-anthias-part-2-shoaling-fishes.html
I picked up only 5 just to see if they were easy to keep. So far so good. They're out and about and eating everything that I throw at them. Definitely hardier than the waitei anthias I have, and more colorful. Great community fish!
Doug - They're Randall's anthias. They don't look too striking as females, but this is what they look like as males:
Two really good things about them - They're really peaceful and they're really small. You can easily keep a group of 10-12 of them in a 140g tank. It was this article that convinced me that I just HAD to have a shoal in my tank:
http://www.reefsmagazine.com/forum/reefs-magazine/93785-randalls-anthias-part-2-shoaling-fishes.html
I picked up only 5 just to see if they were easy to keep. So far so good. They're out and about and eating everything that I throw at them. Definitely hardier than the waitei anthias I have, and more colorful. Great community fish!
socalmonty
New member
Wow, Shirley! Very nice indeed. Now you are making me rethink our choice of Bartletts. I'm just in the process of catching our Lyretail harem (two down, three to go). I sold them this week. My wife and I both really like the look of a harem of Bartletts but I will have to show her this info on the Randalls. Have you ever had Bartletts before? If so, what are your thoughts.
First, it's the salt mix, now you've moved on to my fish...
BTW, I bought a bucket of SeaChem Aquavitro Salinity salt mix to try as soon as I finish up my Tropic Marin.
First, it's the salt mix, now you've moved on to my fish...
BTW, I bought a bucket of SeaChem Aquavitro Salinity salt mix to try as soon as I finish up my Tropic Marin.
Enjoy
That's what she said....
It is coming along slowly. The "test" SPS frags that are currently in the tank seem to be doing good. Great PE, and are encrusting nicely. I just want to take it slow, and make sure not to make toooo many mistakes
I do have a bit of a bubble algae issue right now, but I plan to remove the pillars - pluck all algae I can find - add back to tank.
I've noticed (especially recently) that staghorns are not easy to come by. The best pieces I have found were typically when making a trade with another local reefer. Lime in the sky, ultimate blue, and ORA Turquoise stag were some of my favs... but are no longer with me
jadette
Member
Wow, Shirley! Very nice indeed. Now you are making me rethink our choice of Bartletts. I'm just in the process of catching our Lyretail harem (two down, three to go). I sold them this week. My wife and I both really like the look of a harem of Bartletts but I will have to show her this info on the Randalls. Have you ever had Bartletts before? If so, what are your thoughts.
First, it's the salt mix, now you've moved on to my fish...
Never tried Bartletts. Always loved how they look, but I have always dreamed of a tank just chalk full of anthias, and the bartletts get too big for that. I've also read that in a large group, they have a tendency to turn all males and then get aggressive on each other. They are beautiful and very hardy. If I were to go with just a small group of anthias, they would be my choice. But since I want to mix anthias, I need to stick with the more peaceful species. I already have waitei and randalls. I'm going to pick up a few more randalls, a group of ignitus, and perhaps a trio of tiger queen anthias (not the purple queens). Though the purple queens are my first reef crush, I want to only stick with ~3 feedings a day.
Btw, the Randalls are doing great, so I highly recommend them if you decide to go that route. It's been a week in my tank and all 5 that I got are thriving. I usually expect some attrition when I buy groups of anthias, but these guys are here for the long haul. Oh crap. I think I just jinxed myself. I did, didn't I?
Here they are hanging out in the center of my tank during a feeding of nutramar ova, capelin roe, and hikari mysis:
Let me know how the new salt works out for you. I'm transitioning to an IO and Oceanic mix when I finish up my Bio Actif.
It is coming along slowly. The "test" SPS frags that are currently in the tank seem to be doing good. Great PE, and are encrusting nicely. I just want to take it slow, and make sure not to make toooo many mistakes
I do have a bit of a bubble algae issue right now, but I plan to remove the pillars - pluck all algae I can find - add back to tank.
I've noticed (especially recently) that staghorns are not easy to come by. The best pieces I have found were typically when making a trade with another local reefer. Lime in the sky, ultimate blue, and ORA Turquoise stag were some of my favs... but are no longer with me
Good for you on the bounce back! I used to have a bubble algae problem too, until I bought a marching army of emerald crabs. 1 or 2 in a tank didn't really do much, but I threw down ~15 of them and the bubble algae went away within a month. It's like they need competition before they start working on them. Kinda like women and clothing. Stick one or two women in a store with a designer dress, and they probably won't buy. Stick 15 women in a store with the same dress, and they'll all be fighting for it. Oh gawd. That was a terrible analogy. I probably offended the 1.3 other female reefers on this forum.
I bought a bunch of test SPS frags as well from Mr. Coral to test out my frag prop system in my sump. I probably could have gotten better pieces from fellow reefers, but I was completely expecting these pieces to die on me, so I figured I'll hit up RC members for "real" frags once I tune in the lights and flow in my sump for SPS.
I have an MP10 in frag chamber of my sump, and it's lit with a 120W LED fixture. I took apart the fixture and replaced some of the whites with blues, reds, and greens:
On one of the racks, I have my "they're dying or look horrible in my main display, but don't have the heart to throw away" frags:
On a second rack, I have my mrcoral frags. If you use a microscope, you can actually see that these are actually SPS frags and not boogers glued onto disks. I apologize for the horrible photo. Not enough clearance in my stand to stick my head in so this photo was taken with me sticking nothing but my arm and camera in my stand with my fingers crossed hoping for a shot that was somewhat in focus.
Criminy! That was a horrible pic. Must redeem myself by displaying the peanut butter cupcakes I baked last weekend. I'm no Chefzilla, but I do like to bake from time to time.
rhkingsfan
New member
Shirley you are so funny!!! I love this thread!
If you want to donate some of those "sump" sps frags let me know!
If you want to donate some of those "sump" sps frags let me know!
All Delight
New member
Really nice tank! Those anthias are very nice. I really like Randalls. How many do you plan to have in all?
Theprettycolors
New member
I have mixed many types
I have mixed many types
I have had almost every type of Anthias at one time.. I usually have large schools 50+ and they seem to do better in larger schools 10+, less aggression with larger schools.
Good luck
I have mixed many types
I have had almost every type of Anthias at one time.. I usually have large schools 50+ and they seem to do better in larger schools 10+, less aggression with larger schools.
Good luck
jadette
Member
Thanks! Yep, still using the two Marine Magic Dosers. I guess it's working out okay since I haven't really needed to fiddle with them. Every now and then, I would check my Alk and Ca readings and adjust the dose amount accordingly. I did recently have one of the motors out of the five die on me after almost a year of use. Working with the seller to get it replaced since it was still under warranty. He's been great to deal with so far.
Thanks! I was thinking at least 10 and no more than 18. Really depends on how many I can find at a good price. I would love to pick up a trio of flavoguttatus, but as you personally know, they're hard to come by.
50+??? Eek! I would love to try that, but not in a 140g. How big was your system that housed that many? I don't think I want to try more than 25 in mine, which I know is already pushing it.
Build a tank divider like I did Lawrence and get that punk out!
*******************************
Happy Day! Happy Day!
I came home today and noticed one of my cardinals choking on a big white ball of something or other. I thought he was going to choke to death, but he finally got the whole thing in his mouth. I took a closer look and discovered that it was a big ball of eggs! I tried to take a pic, but he swam away behind a rock with his lover not far behind.
Silly mouth brooders.
My clowns also just started a new clutch a couple of days ago.
My tank is seeing more action than most American households!
Woot!
ChefZilla
Active member
Criminy! That was a horrible pic. Must redeem myself by displaying the peanut butter cupcakes I baked last weekend. I'm no Chefzilla, but I do like to bake from time to time.
[/QUOTE]
Awww thanks shirley!! Those look AMAZING! Too bad i can really use a piping bag like i used too... You should make some for a meeting that you can attend. Would love to try them
Awww thanks shirley!! Those look AMAZING! Too bad i can really use a piping bag like i used too... You should make some for a meeting that you can attend. Would love to try them
ChefZilla
Active member
socalmonty
New member
I'm down to two Lyretails in my 135. Can I add 3-5 Bartletts or will that be WWIII?
jadette
Member
It's Over 9000!
It's Over 9000!
First Diver's Den purchase for me:
I've always wanted a granulosa. Not the best in color, and I really do have too much purple in my tank, but I just love the shape of the colony. Nice and round. Very easy to aquascape with. Shipment arrives tomorrow!
I personally will never put another lyretail in my tank, but that's me. I like anchovies on my pizza. 99.9% of people don't. I'm sure you'll get just as many people saying it'll work as people saying it won't. Though I will say that if you do get that group to work out in your tank, it would make for quite the eye candy!
I'm picking up the rest of my harem of Randall's tomorrow. One of the females I got is already turning male. Interestingly enough, he/she is the smallest one in the group (but most aggressive).
I can see the tiny lil' eyes on the clownfish eggs now. I believe today is the 8th day so they should be hatching tonight!
It's Over 9000!
First Diver's Den purchase for me:
I personally will never put another lyretail in my tank, but that's me. I like anchovies on my pizza. 99.9% of people don't.
I'm sure you'll get just as many people saying it'll work as people saying it won't. Though I will say that if you do get that group to work out in your tank, it would make for quite the eye candy!I'm picking up the rest of my harem of Randall's tomorrow. One of the females I got is already turning male. Interestingly enough, he/she is the smallest one in the group (but most aggressive).
I can see the tiny lil' eyes on the clownfish eggs now. I believe today is the 8th day so they should be hatching tonight!
socalmonty
New member
I agree on the Lyretails. We did it in a moment of weakness. About three years ago, we got tired of looking for the Bartletts we really wanted and Vivid had this nice harem of six Lyretails and they looked so pretty. And they are but they have gotten really large and they are just too active for our liking. They really have been pretty. Just too much, if you know what I mean. Our five Bartletts arrived from LiveAquaria today. I'm in New York so my wife acclimated them and introduced them to their new home (she is a trooper). She says so far, so good. With only two Lyretails left, they have really mellowed out. Fingers crossed...
jadette
Member
How are the Bartletts working out for you?
I went on an anthias buying spree last month and picked up more Randall's. So in my tank, I now have:
11 Randall's Anthias
2 Magenta Anthias
2 Smithvanizi Anthias
1 Tiger Queen Anthias
The latter 2 were acquired by mistake when I placed an order for flavoguttatus anthias.
They're all getting along swell and eating like pigs. I believe all of my Randall's are male *boggle* but they're getting along and coloring up really nicely. The smithvanizi are tiny, but have beautiful tails. They prefer cooler temps, so I'm not sure how long they'll last in my tank. So far, they're eating aggressively and always out in the open, so who knows. Maybe I'll luck out and the pair I have will be the exception instead of the rule.
Here's a pic of a few of the Randall's:
Definitely more colorful and larger than when I first acquired them two months ago. They've developed a significant amount of red on their fins and you can see a faint yellow band developing on their bodies. This band is more prominent during feeding periods.
Also looks like my clowns and threadfins are on the same breeding cycle. My clowns just started a new clutch a few days ago, and one of the male threadfins started carrying a new batch of eggs in his mouth today. Quite amazing to see it happening. Managed to catch a photo of him positioning the eggs in his mouth. Crazy to watch the whole thing develop. I saw one female with her belly very pregnant this evening. Then I saw one male doing jaw stretches by himself on the side of my tank. He did this for a good 15 minutes or so. Then he paired up with the female, they both ran off behind the rocks, and then the male emerged shortly after with a mouth full of eggs.
Here's a shot of the proud daddy:
Yay Nature!
Similar threads
