FloformAustria
New member
amazing corals and great pictures Matt!!
Thanks for sharing!
Flo
Thanks for sharing!
Flo
Learning/rebuilding from my epic fail
- Thread starter reefmutt
- Start date
reefmutt
Active member
Thanks, Conor. A desjardini.. Hm.. I'm not sure I could add another tang. The purple, kole, yellow, and Achilles maaaaay not be so welcoming..
I was hoping my Fiji foxface might go for it but not really... They'll all graze on burst bubble skin but they don't eat the tiny ones. I'll see how the emerald crabs do..Thanks, Mike!
Thanks! I've been known to be a bit obsessive about getting the corals that catch my eye. I have collected way more coral than I can reasonably fit in the tank... The not so nice stuff ends up getting removed... Although, you never really know what a piece can really do until you leave it alone for sometimes up to a year... Makes it hard sometimes to remove stuff..
Thanks, Dom. The nauty spiral is, like most montis a fast and aggressive grower.. That's why I put it down on the bottomDamn Matt, things are looking killerThat spiral beast is cracking as!! What a stunner!
Love the blenny shot too!
Thanks, Daniel. How is it going in your tank these days? Have things stabalised?
reefmutt
Active member
Thanks, Perry! Cuba was fun. A good week of r and r. And it was also an interesting trip to see both urban Cuba and rural..Holy Smokes Matt!!!
First off, congrats on the vacation to Cuba, I am sure it was a lot of fun, a needed break from the cold temps I am sure. We from FL often over look the fact that our weather is like this for pretty much 9 months of the year. Now, 4 of them are sticky hot, but still not as extreme as the winters you face. Also, those coral pics are tasty, the colors are magnificent and the growth appears steady. The ingredients that us SPS gurus dream about. Thanks for the updates and glad you had some needed family time
In general, Canada just had its warmest winter on record so it was pretty much a breeze.. Good ol' El Niño really helped us out this year. Summer is supposed to be hot and dry however...
Growth is pretty good not exceptional but I don't think I'd like to have super high growth. Medium growth and great colour is way better imo.. I'm still not happy with the reds and blues in specific pieces that I know the potential of but in general I'm very happy with the colours.
Thanks Flo! Appreciate the kind words!
Sahin, thanks, man! I'm doing my best to keep Darth Acro at bay... But I'm not ruling out experimenting with his magic somewhere down the road..
Here's a Fiji piece that looked nice bit really pale when I got it about 9 ish months ago. It has recently really coloured up and started to grow quickly.. Maybe too quickly...
When I got it, the branches looked like this:
Somewhere in the middle, it looked like this:
Amazing what corals can do.. It's what makes them so addictive..
nemodan
New member
Nope
Corals are still dying one after the other. Today I found a milli that has been in the tank for 1 year, all RTN. Just overnight. It was good yesterday afternoon.
I am slowly losing all the birdnests.
Most of the acros are still hanging there.
Today I am working from home. Will post some pictures later.
There is nothing I can do and there is nothing I will do, just because there is nothing I can implement that will be compatible with my working life.
Daniel
Ps: lost too most of the new additions
reefmutt
Active member
Ouch!!! I'm very sorry to hear that Dan!
I absolutely know how it feels to watch your prized possessions die off like that. It is deeply frustrating and leaves you with such a sense of powerlessness that can effect your entire life...
Really sucks..
I assume you are still tracing this back to the nutrient and alk instability you had in January?
I know you will be the scientist/biologist that you are and look at it clinically but it still hurts to see the things that you put so much energy and love into die like that..
What's the sand bed in that tank? I don't remember..
nemodan
New member
It was the change of salt, that changed the stablished order/equilibrium generating a new young system that was struck by a 4 hour electric outage.
System was returned to Reef Crystal , Alk has been again stable for the last 2 weeks. I have returned to my usual way of tank maintenace. Yesterday Phosp were at 0.05 ppm. I need to measure today N03.
My biology background is telling me that I was the biggest stupid guy on the world for trying a new salt and changing the status quo of the tank.
Also my biology background is telling me that I better stick with what I am able to achieve in my tank, under my conditions. And play the rule of evolution: The Survival of the Fittest.
I will NOT replace any dead coral. And will wait to see what survives. Then I will rethink if I continue with a reef tank or it is transformed to a fresh water tank.
20 years of Marine water and 10 of Reef tanks with ups and down is enought.
If the tank is not able to come back applying the basics of reef tank biology, then a full tank SPS is not for me at this time of my life.
Nevertheless, in the meantime I will apply my new way of thinking: THE PAST IS GONE, I learned from it, THE FUTURE can be planned, but, NOW I ENJOY WHAT I HAVE , that is a tank that still is over the average reef tank...... I ENJOY THE DAY TO DAY.
Best
Daniel
nemodan
New member
Thank you !!!!
You are a great reefer and forum friend.
Daniel
Ps : will post my pictures.
DiscusHeckel
Acropora Gardener
Hi Matt, thanks for sharing your jaw-dropping coral photos. Your corals do not seem to have been affected by flatworms at all. How do you deal with the worms?
In one photo, one of the frags seems to be growing over your clam, which will be affected by this in long term.
Cheers
Bulent
In one photo, one of the frags seems to be growing over your clam, which will be affected by this in long term.
Cheers
Bulent
reefmutt
Active member
Hey Bulent, thanks!
I honestly feel that the 25 or so peppeemint shrimp I have in my tank are about 95% effective at hunting down and eating aefw eggs- at least the eggs that get deposited at the base of Acro colonies.. If there is a dead spot somewhere in the body of the Acro, in the centre of the branches, and they lay their eggs there, I'm not so sure the shrimps will find them..
I even think they will eat a flatworm as well, if they find one near the base. The shrimp are constantly examining around the base of all the corals but don't really venture up onto the body of the acros very often..
When I got back from Cube, I removed 3 colonies and dipped them because I saw bit marks on them.. I found at least one worm in the bath after the corals were removed..
That shot of the clam and Acro is a bit misleading.. It looks like the branch is within an inch of the clam but in reality, the clam is about 5 inches below the Acro and still receives lots of light from all directions.... If the Acro really branches out, I may have a problem!!! Too early to tell..
I honestly feel that the 25 or so peppeemint shrimp I have in my tank are about 95% effective at hunting down and eating aefw eggs- at least the eggs that get deposited at the base of Acro colonies.. If there is a dead spot somewhere in the body of the Acro, in the centre of the branches, and they lay their eggs there, I'm not so sure the shrimps will find them..
I even think they will eat a flatworm as well, if they find one near the base. The shrimp are constantly examining around the base of all the corals but don't really venture up onto the body of the acros very often..
When I got back from Cube, I removed 3 colonies and dipped them because I saw bit marks on them.. I found at least one worm in the bath after the corals were removed..
That shot of the clam and Acro is a bit misleading.. It looks like the branch is within an inch of the clam but in reality, the clam is about 5 inches below the Acro and still receives lots of light from all directions.... If the Acro really branches out, I may have a problem!!! Too early to tell..
biggles
Premium Member
Colors are wonderful Matt, you have an amazing collection of acros mate that look super healthy.
How would you describe your pinks/reds/orange pigments, are they crazy bright or do they all look like they just need a push to go from good to holy moley that's what i'm talking about.........
I only ask because that was the whole point of my new dosing thing, all my colors were great but everything looked like it needed a veil lifted off it to pop and shine brightly especially the colors i mentioned.
Always love the high quality of the pics you take Matt :thumbsup:
How would you describe your pinks/reds/orange pigments, are they crazy bright or do they all look like they just need a push to go from good to holy moley that's what i'm talking about.........
I only ask because that was the whole point of my new dosing thing, all my colors were great but everything looked like it needed a veil lifted off it to pop and shine brightly especially the colors i mentioned.
Always love the high quality of the pics you take Matt :thumbsup:
reefmutt
Active member
Hey Jordan, thanks for the visit and positive words. I'm pretty happy with things in general. I'm looking forward to seeing your tank hit its stride as well..
Thanks, Kevin. That's probably what I've spent on it!awesome shots Matt!
corals looking like a million bucks
I'm still waiting for the crazy mind blowing photobomb that I'm sure you are preparing. Looking forward to it.
Andrew, thanks! I'm trying to keep up with you!
As for red, pink, orange.... It depends..
Yes and no..
Example.... I'm not sure what more I could ask from this coral..
Or this one..
However, the first coral was a small wild frag, the second a wild Fiji. That first one, I have no idea what the mother colony looked like and the second one has far surpassed what it looked like when I got it.. However I know what an Orange passion CAN look like and mine is lacking in the orange for sure..
Very little orange..
And this one I have seen the potential red it can get but mine isn't going there.
This can be a way nice coral... I've seen it..
So to answer your question...... Maybe!
I still want to play with KC and Micro E (since Salifert trace hard is unavailable in Canada, atm)
I just want to get my n and p in line and keep it there for several months.. This is why I'm starting some NP pro/kno3 dosing..
reefmutt
Active member
there's an expression here 'keeping up with the Joneses'It's basically an urban sprawl expression describing neighbors who try to outdo each other with better cars in the driveway or nicer Christmas decorations..
Well. I'm just trying to keep up with the wrangy biggleses!!
DiscusHeckel
Acropora Gardener
It's basically an urban sprawl expression describing neighbors who try to outdo each other with better cars in the driveway or nicer Christmas decorations..
Well. I'm just trying to keep up with the wrangy biggleses!!
This reminds me of a British Sitcom produced four the BBC called Keeping Up Apperances, which was hilarious to watch. :wildone:
reefmutt
Active member
Well, the Aussie/Canadian version would be 'Keeping up with the Wrangy Biggleses'
I'm sitting in a hockey arena while my daughter has a practice... Actually, I'm sitting in my car listening to music and RCing... Can't complain
More shots..
This was a dark wine/purple hunk before it started to grow out... I'm still undecided on this one. Yes it's nice but I'm not sure it's doing all it could. Maybe a little bigglesjuice would do thi one some good..
One of my pink lemonades.
Even though this is essentially a green coral, I like the blue/purple tones in the new growth.. I'm going to give this more time.. Was a basic cultured piece..
No clue what this is but it has started to grow out..
This was called Badabing by Raja. It is that new ssc type Aussie coral that has just started to make it over here. I'm sure Andrew has a football sized colony of this that he got for 1/4 the price I paid for my pinky sized piece. If it colours up the way it should, it'll be money well spent..
This is a little wild Fiji colony- just a bit bigger than a golf ball and about as round. It was a pale fleshy yellow for months and has recently begun to show some blue growth. Still very slow..
Another Fiji frag that was basically a Raja give away because it was dark green.. It's performing nicely for me..
.. Ok that's all I got for now..
I'm sitting in a hockey arena while my daughter has a practice... Actually, I'm sitting in my car listening to music and RCing... Can't complain
More shots..
This was a dark wine/purple hunk before it started to grow out... I'm still undecided on this one. Yes it's nice but I'm not sure it's doing all it could. Maybe a little bigglesjuice would do thi one some good..
One of my pink lemonades.
Even though this is essentially a green coral, I like the blue/purple tones in the new growth.. I'm going to give this more time.. Was a basic cultured piece..
No clue what this is but it has started to grow out..
This was called Badabing by Raja. It is that new ssc type Aussie coral that has just started to make it over here. I'm sure Andrew has a football sized colony of this that he got for 1/4 the price I paid for my pinky sized piece. If it colours up the way it should, it'll be money well spent..
This is a little wild Fiji colony- just a bit bigger than a golf ball and about as round. It was a pale fleshy yellow for months and has recently begun to show some blue growth. Still very slow..
Another Fiji frag that was basically a Raja give away because it was dark green.. It's performing nicely for me..
.. Ok that's all I got for now..
