BrianPlankis
Premium Member
Well your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries! 
Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread
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melev
Well-known member
Back on topic...
Somehow I become far too attached to each and every coral in my tank. I don't ever look at them as replaceable or disposable, but at the same time I'm not so far gone that I name them.
Here's the main character of this story (Jan '06).
I've documented this particular blue stick with you guys for the past year or more. It was a single twig standing straight upright and did nothing for a solid year. Then my Diadema Urchin decided one day that it looked delicious, and mowed through it diagonally, reducing it by 50% in mass. This action prompted the coral to make a decision to grow now, or soon be extinct.
Over the past few months, it has done beautifully, becoming a pretty little colony. Here it is, one month ago (June 13 '06) under actinics:
As you can see, there was quite a bit of tissue all around the base. Healthy and happy.
Two nights ago, right after the new woodwork went up
, I saw it bleaching/RTNing at the periphery. I figured it wasn't something to worry about yet. Still, it moved toward the colony over the next 24 hours.
Last night, it was all the way against the base of the colony, but the coral looked good at 2am.
Today, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to do something before I could even have my morning coffee. I fragged it, glued the frags to new rock and placed them in different locations. Here is what is left of the spot where the coral was for so long. :sad1:
These are the frags. They look like something you'd buy from a vendor. It's pretty sad when someone asks me "Where did you get <u>that</u> frag?" and my reply has to be "from <u>my</u> tank."
There are three separate rocks with frags on them. I hope they all do well, but at the very least I hope one survives.
<b>I blame the woodwork for this current situation!</b>
Somehow I become far too attached to each and every coral in my tank. I don't ever look at them as replaceable or disposable, but at the same time I'm not so far gone that I name them.
Here's the main character of this story (Jan '06).
I've documented this particular blue stick with you guys for the past year or more. It was a single twig standing straight upright and did nothing for a solid year. Then my Diadema Urchin decided one day that it looked delicious, and mowed through it diagonally, reducing it by 50% in mass. This action prompted the coral to make a decision to grow now, or soon be extinct.
Over the past few months, it has done beautifully, becoming a pretty little colony. Here it is, one month ago (June 13 '06) under actinics:
As you can see, there was quite a bit of tissue all around the base. Healthy and happy.
Two nights ago, right after the new woodwork went up
, I saw it bleaching/RTNing at the periphery. I figured it wasn't something to worry about yet. Still, it moved toward the colony over the next 24 hours. Last night, it was all the way against the base of the colony, but the coral looked good at 2am.
Today, there was no doubt in my mind that I had to do something before I could even have my morning coffee. I fragged it, glued the frags to new rock and placed them in different locations. Here is what is left of the spot where the coral was for so long. :sad1:
These are the frags. They look like something you'd buy from a vendor. It's pretty sad when someone asks me "Where did you get <u>that</u> frag?" and my reply has to be "from <u>my</u> tank."
There are three separate rocks with frags on them. I hope they all do well, but at the very least I hope one survives.
<b>I blame the woodwork for this current situation!</b>
kmacartney
New member
Thanks Marc!
BTW I am rooting for the Hydnophora
BTW I am rooting for the Hydnophora
melev
Well-known member
Evan decided to hang out for the evening, and it didn't take long for him to sneak off into the garage to dig into the acrylic scrap pile. After a number of hours, he created The Tucker Trapper Two. (T4 for short.)
Once he's caught, I'm not sure what to do with him. Think my eel would eat him?
Once he's caught, I'm not sure what to do with him. Think my eel would eat him?
quiksilver
New member
I like to call it the "Coral Crusher 5000" as the mount wasn't exactly stable at first and Marc was crying about it possibly crushing his already RTNing corals or something A little modding and now it's perfect. I'm sure he will post pics tomorrow in action when the lights come on. HAPPY TRAPPING
A little modding and now it's perfect. I'm sure he will post pics tomorrow in action when the lights come on. HAPPY TRAPPINGquiksilver
New member
PWND
ROFLCOPTER
ROFLCOPTER
melev
Well-known member
The "Coral Crusher" hasn't fallen down as expected, and the fish have been swimming around it for days. I think they'd like it out of there already. I'm awaiting a reply from a club member before I catch Tucker, because I don't have anywhere to hold him long.
The Hydnophora seems to be 100% fine, and the GSP on two sides seems to have withdrawn. There is still a patch to the left that seems unphased, but it should be interesting to see what happens in the coming week or so.
The Hydnophora seems to be 100% fine, and the GSP on two sides seems to have withdrawn. There is still a patch to the left that seems unphased, but it should be interesting to see what happens in the coming week or so.
melev
Well-known member
Pictures will be forthcoming.
Tonight, Evan came over and helped me out with a bunch of coral work. He cleaned up a bunch of pieces that came with nuisance algae. Then I decided to pull a few huge pieces out, and rip off red mushrooms. Evan took my Dremel and a sanding wheel and sanded off some neon green star polyps, so they won't return to that part of my rockwork.
Next corals were rearranged and the aquascaping looks better now. Hopefully. Tomorrow or the day after I'll post some new pictures of the tank's layout.
Tonight, Evan came over and helped me out with a bunch of coral work. He cleaned up a bunch of pieces that came with nuisance algae. Then I decided to pull a few huge pieces out, and rip off red mushrooms. Evan took my Dremel and a sanding wheel and sanded off some neon green star polyps, so they won't return to that part of my rockwork.
Next corals were rearranged and the aquascaping looks better now. Hopefully.
Tomorrow or the day after I'll post some new pictures of the tank's layout.
melev
Well-known member
Tucker has been evicted.
Because this is such a monumental event, I video-taped the trapping for you. It is recorded <b>in real time</b>, so you can <i><b>experience it</b></i> as I did. This is a 69 meg video, and totally worth your time. As always, the best option is to <b>Right Click</b> & <b>Save As</b> to your harddrive.
www.melevsreef.com/video/tuckertrapper2.wmv
I'll add more pictures of the trap itself later. Evan gets the credit for building the Coral Crusher, as well as the editing process of this video.
Now that Tucker is out of the tank, I'm sure my zoos are breathing a sigh of relief. I'm thinking maybe I should go buy five tiny hippo tangs to school around in the reef. :lol: Trapping them would be a breeze.
Because this is such a monumental event, I video-taped the trapping for you. It is recorded <b>in real time</b>, so you can <i><b>experience it</b></i> as I did. This is a 69 meg video, and totally worth your time. As always, the best option is to <b>Right Click</b> & <b>Save As</b> to your harddrive.
www.melevsreef.com/video/tuckertrapper2.wmv
I'll add more pictures of the trap itself later. Evan gets the credit for building the Coral Crusher, as well as the editing process of this video.
Now that Tucker is out of the tank, I'm sure my zoos are breathing a sigh of relief. I'm thinking maybe I should go buy five tiny hippo tangs to school around in the reef. :lol: Trapping them would be a breeze.
bubblethumper
Premium Member
highly entertaining! I hope you have some decent bandwidth to be hosting that vid!
melev
Well-known member
Bandwidth isn't a problem for my site any longer. About a year ago, I upgraded my plan to 250gigs per month, and my site averages about 3gigs a day. You guys have plenty of space to download this movie.
I'm glad you liked it, and I know Evan will be happy to see that his handywork impressed you.
I'm glad you liked it, and I know Evan will be happy to see that his handywork impressed you.
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