Learning/rebuilding from my epic fail

[reefmutt]

Aaaaaaand.... Well.. I had the camera out...
Here's some nice contrast shots.. I guess I shot most of these already but hey, they're a few pages back..
OP and red coral:

OP and PL

And what may be my favorite shot in a long time..
OT and Pink Matrix:

A couple wider shots..

my Centre island is by far the most colorful..

 

[rockworm]

I really like that centre island. It has colour and texture. Nice arrangement.

 

[slavetonet]

I have to agree with you Matt. The centre piece are very nice looking bunch.

 

[markalot]

Always like to see new pics.

 

[Myka]

Nice photo dump Matt. The colors are looking nice and rich. Do you still have RR Pink Cadillac? I just picked up a frag yesterday. I wasn't too excited about this piece some months ago because I was thinking it would be one of those Macro Acros that look great as frags, but colonies aren't too exciting, but then I saw the Reef Builders article on it, and I was sold.

 

[glaukos]

Great pics matt,thanks for sharing bud:beer:
Awesome click indeed there with both OT and pink matrix:thumbsup:

 

[Geeray]

Nice photo dump Matt. The colors are looking nice and rich. Do you still have RR Pink Cadillac? I just picked up a frag yesterday. I wasn't too excited about this piece some months ago because I was thinking it would be one of those Macro Acros that look great as frags, but colonies aren't too exciting, but then I saw the Reef Builders article on it, and I was sold.

Where did you get yours from Myka? I was thinking of picking up a frag. Most places want a fortune for a frag.

 

[reefmutt]

I really like that centre island. It has colour and texture. Nice arrangement.

I have to agree with you Matt. The centre piece are very nice looking bunch.

Always like to see new pics.

thanks, guys. I'll shoot some more of the full centre island. It's got most of my nicest pieces..

Nice photo dump Matt. The colors are looking nice and rich. Do you still have RR Pink Cadillac? I just picked up a frag yesterday. I wasn't too excited about this piece some months ago because I was thinking it would be one of those Macro Acros that look great as frags, but colonies aren't too exciting, but then I saw the Reef Builders article on it, and I was sold.

Great pics matt,thanks for sharing bud:beer:
Awesome click indeed there with both OT and pink matrix:thumbsup:

Thanks, Mike! I love the complimentary colours and the fact that the branches are on such a similar plane of focus. Makes a good full focused shot..

Where did you get yours from Myka? I was thinking of picking up a frag. Most places want a fortune for a frag.

Well, Mindy, my pink Cadillac is doing just ok. It's fine but completely stalled in growth and encrusting endlessly.
I'm a little bummed because it is easily my most expensive frag.. Maybe by twice..
Here's a not great shot:


I know it's got the potential and will one day be nice but right now it's very lackluster.
It's up pretty high in the tank..

 

[plyle02]

Hey Matt,
I can see all is well across the reef man This shot to me just exemplifies why I am so fond of your tank. The amazing amount of acros, but the colors are popping on all of them, this picture gives great insight. You have an eye for special ones Matt, I can see in your collection of various colors, shapes, and sizes, you have almost everything out there, you acro snob you I always love catching up with your journal, especially when the camera has been out. Cheers!

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[reefmutt]

Hey Perry, thanks! I appreciate you stopping in.
You know, it's tough being an acro whore and snob at the same time!
I still think I'm more on the whore side, however!
And to that end, a no name Aussie frag:

I love is piece.. It has more blue in the tips but I can't capture it with the camera.. It is a slow grower but since reducing (back to manufacturer specs) my np pro (and subsequent nutrient rise) it's colours have intensified and the white 'light stress' spots have gone away.

Here's another lost but goodie. No name I got last year sometime.

Here's two no names and a RR Lady in Pink (pink less, unfortunately) on the right. Furiousa base in the left. I love the intense green on the lower piece. They will have to work it out for encrusting..

Here's a couple closer pics of that pic Perry quoted.. The no name red and OT

Here, a no name blue tennuis type and the RR pink matrix or pink lady- don't know which..

So I'm sort of equal parts snob/whore

 

[tripdad]

Down this way we call them gals "Escorts" Great pics again Matt, thanks for sharing.

 

[reefmutt]

Down this way we call them gals "Escorts" Great pics again Matt, thanks for sharing.

thanks, Scott.
Well here's one of my favorite escorts up close and personal.

 

[Usernam Invalid]

thanks, Scott.

Well here's one of my favorite escorts up close and personal.

I'm sure that lady of the night has a mile long line.

 

[reefmutt]

I'm sure that lady of the night has a mile long line.

Well, if it actually had the red polyps, it's supposed to have, the line would be much longer..

 

[Quiverfull]

Awesome Matt. So many species. I have got to start trimming/fragging mine back as there are taking away my real estate for new ones. I like how you have so many different ones mounted on different angles of the same rock space. I think your T5 lighting helps to keep them colored up on multiple sides as opposed to more directional lighting like MH or LED. Your thoughts?

Greg

 

[reefmutt]

Awesome Matt. So many species. I have got to start trimming/fragging mine back as there are taking away my real estate for new ones. I like how you have so many different ones mounted on different angles of the same rock space. I think your T5 lighting helps to keep them colored up on multiple sides as opposed to more directional lighting like MH or LED. Your thoughts?

Greg

Hey Greg, thanks! One has to become very creative with placement when one is as sick as I am about collecting frags!
Having said that, I'm happy to say I really haven't added anything in a couple months. Except that cheapy indo colony...
I am very rapidly running into shading and touching issues but I haven't made any major cuts or moves, yet. I am thinking seriously about moving my orange passion, though, because it is growing so quickly and it will crowd out my pink lemonade. I'd really like the pl to have space to grow out a bit.
As for lighting..
I have 3 t5s that are about 3 inches in from the back glass angled slightly inward. Then, I have my row of 3 150w mh sitting directly over centre of the tank and the another 3 t5s which are about 3 inches in from the front glass and angled inward as well. So, there is definitely light hitting the corals from from to back. Then I have four AI Primes sitting between the 3 my fixtures pointing out at the four corners of the tank.

Here's an 'artist's rendering' of my lighting
============ > t5x3
[mh] : [mh] : [mh] The two colons represent the four Primes.
============ > t5x3

Nothing beats t5 for light spread because of the fact that the light is emitted from such a huge surface area.
Good mh reflectors can also do a good job of spreading light around but not quite as good as t5.
This is why sps reefers are having better (real, absolute) success with more led light units which are placed higher up. It really allows the light to bounce around more and come from a greater amount of point sources.

 

[glaukos]

thanks, Scott.
Well here's one of my favorite escorts up close and personal.

Will never get tired entering this thread bud....always something new/beautiful/interesting to see...even if it's a click of the same coral:beer:

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks, Mike.
If some of my sleeper corals would wake up, I'd have some new subjects to shoot!
Patience.. I'm trying to be patient.
Maybe a major gfo invasion will work.
Or at least a subtle gfo invasion.

 

[glaukos]

I'd happy to have some of your sleepers matt
They will wake up eventually...they are in good hands!
Sometimes i just scratch/cut some of their tips just in case their "growing" mechanism wakes up.Some times it fails but some times it works
What brand of gfo did you use?

 

[joshky]

Love the pics Matt, seriously a beautiful tank.

I'm with you on the sleepers... It's funny how much this hobby has taught me about patience, but when it comes to brown or just generally under-performing acros I have NO PATIENCE. Maybe I do, I mean I haven't evicted mine yet... but I've thought of it so many times.:fun2: