Mhucasey's SPS obsession

[tank master]

I love leopards, my goal is to have at least 3 in each of my systems. Smaller ones are always fun to watch and seem to be easier to adapt. I'm currently nursing one back to health and fattening it up in my sump. I've also noticed that leopards aren't aggressive to different species of leopards, but are surprisingly aggressive to new leopards of the same species. I had 1 blue star then added 2 more in and the original one kept chasing the new ones and eventually killed them.

 

[mhucasey]

I love leopards, my goal is to have at least 3 in each of my systems. Smaller ones are always fun to watch and seem to be easier to adapt. I'm currently nursing one back to health and fattening it up in my sump. I've also noticed that leopards aren't aggressive to different species of leopards, but are surprisingly aggressive to new leopards of the same species. I had 1 blue star then added 2 more in and the original one kept chasing the new ones and eventually killed them.

Gorgeous fish and very helpful as well - they keep pests in check quite nicely Thats good info on the introduction of a second one. I was hoping to get another Potters (small one) next Tuesday but maybe I shouldn't. I know that once they get situated in the tank they are extremely hardy fish.

 

[tank master]

Gorgeous fish and very helpful as well - they keep pests in check quite nicely Thats good info on the introduction of a second one. I was hoping to get another Potters (small one) next Tuesday but maybe I shouldn't. I know that once they get situated in the tank they are extremely hardy fish.

Yes they are extremely hardy, it is best to add leopards at the same time to minimize aggression or if you want a pair. I was lucky to have 2 meleagris, since 1 was considerable bigger than the other and it turned to a male. I have a potters,ornate,blue star, and a pair of meleagris in my 125 and they will eat anything, krill, pellets, and compete with my tangs for algae sheets. But leopards are known to have some internal problems and die for no reason. They also are one of the best for pest control, but they aren't as hardy as a yellow wrasse or melanurus.

 

[triguy]

Haven't made it through your entire thread yet, but wanted to post that I would love to check out your system. Busy moving from Carlsbad to San Elijo right now, and can't wait to get a new tank up and running. Considering placing all equipment in garage like you have, at least on the first 5 pages of your thread.

 

[mhucasey]

Haven't made it through your entire thread yet, but wanted to post that I would love to check out your system. Busy moving from Carlsbad to San Elijo right now, and can't wait to get a new tank up and running. Considering placing all equipment in garage like you have, at least on the first 5 pages of your thread.

Welcome!!

A local reefer, woot! I'd love to show off the system, but you will have to deal with four very friendly and loud dogs

I'll let you get a bit further through the thread to see the evolution, as the system is significantly different from then til now. I would only recommend the equipment in the garage if you have the tank on the other side of the garage wall. The pipes on the outside of the house, even when well insulated, lost heat like crazy at night and made the heaters run all the time. It was really nice to have the room to access all the equipment though.

 

[mhucasey]

The two new wrasses looked mighty confused after the lights went out but then found the sand pool without issue. I was ready to guide them there but luckily it wasn't necessary.

 

[mhucasey]

Tank is improving every day, its really turned a corner. I all of a sudden found this coral coloring up from a sort of silvery color to this:

I really like this "Rainbow Dragon":

The AquaSD Ultimate shortcake is finally coloring up:

And the Orange bubble tip is really improved and the color is off the charts:

The Bali Tricolor has gone more blue:

Love the Solitaryensis:

 

[reefmutt]

That's what I'm talking about.. Looking good!!
The first shot looks like the acro has a reddish body..
In the last three pics, there is a green coral which is on the right and in the second to last photo, in the middle- what is it, neat structure.. Also, in the second to last shot, there is a coral, upper right- yellow with red tips- what's that?

 

[M007]

Can't deside which I like better but that ultimate shortcake looks like a winner. The soli looks pretty awesome too.

 

[mhucasey]

That's what I'm talking about.. Looking good!!
The first shot looks like the acro has a reddish body..
In the last three pics, there is a green coral which is on the right and in the second to last photo, in the middle- what is it, neat structure.. Also, in the second to last shot, there is a coral, upper right- yellow with red tips- what's that?

The first Acro photographs as reddish purple on the body from the side - you can see it above the orange bubble tip anemone in the background in the later pics. It doesn't look like that in person and its too far from the glass to get a good pic with an iPhone camera. It was sold as a "Cheapie" frag to me but I liked the rounded correlates and smooth skin. From the side it has always looked light reddish purple with the coralites having a shiny silvery white color. I looked at it last night and a blue glow has permeated it and the top down looks to have a bit of blue and yellow in it, so yay!

 

[mhucasey]

That's what I'm talking about.. Looking good!!
The first shot looks like the acro has a reddish body..
In the last three pics, there is a green coral which is on the right and in the second to last photo, in the middle- what is it, neat structure.. Also, in the second to last shot, there is a coral, upper right- yellow with red tips- what's that?

The green one is a carolinia- I got a maricultured colony about two years ago and it almost died off when I tried Zeovit. I managed to save the tip of one branch and it's been slowly growing ever since. In the last few weeks it's putting off several new branches

The yellow with pink tips is a frag of the big pink and yellow tabling coral on the other side of the reef. At one time it had blue tips above the pink but the pink is pretty vibrant so I'm not too bummed if the blue doesn't come back.

 

[mhucasey]

Can't deside which I like better but that ultimate shortcake looks like a winner. The soli looks pretty awesome too.

The color on the shortcake is hard to beat, I just want it to start growing!

 

[MichaelW]

Tank is looking great! You are getting incredible color from that shortcake! And that Soli.... Going to be a show stopper, it's awesome!

 

[sahin]

Corals are looking great! :beer: Loving how they are colouring up. :thumbsup: The ASD SCC is looking SWEET! Awesome work.

 

[mhucasey]

Tank is looking great! You are getting incredible color from that shortcake! And that Soli.... Going to be a show stopper, it's awesome!

Thanks very much, I totally agree!

 

[mhucasey]

Corals are looking great! :beer: Loving how they are colouring up. :thumbsup: The ASD SCC is looking SWEET! Awesome work.

I want the SSC to grow, it will look amazing with more of that pink showing!

 

[mhucasey]

So last night I took a little video of a corner of the SPS reef after dark-Amphiopods everywhere! Looks like ants at a picnic:

 

[reefmutt]

Love that vid. It's great knowing there is that other world of life going on in the tank..
Give your wrasses a bit of time, the picnic may be a little smaller in the future!

 

[joshky]

Is that soli a wild/maricultured piece?

I'm also loving the colors on the SSC. :inlove:

Give your wrasses a bit of time, the picnic may be a little smaller in the future!

But they brought cake and everything. :thumbdown

 

[mhucasey]

Is that soli a wild/maricultured piece?

I'm also loving the colors on the SSC. :inlove:



But they brought cake and everything. :thumbdown

The Soli is from Steve Garrette: http://www.garretts-acropolis.com
I got it about 2 years ago at reef-a-palooka as a small frag and it has grown in spurts. It seems to be growing pretty steadily now
I too am a big fan of the SSC...I wish I could get them like Biggles does - the colonies are about 150 and up around here and the frags don't always do very well.