My 65 Gallon Mixed Reef

[martinphillip03]

Bello, I do believe the green, yes I said green, fluoro hydnophora is salivating.


Marty

So more rafts, or some sps gymnastics on the main structure?

 

[biggles]

Well, I guess I need to move to Australia so that I have access to Biggles' sump. Lol

Yep and come the day after i go acro shopping like Bryce did lol........ :beer:

You and me both

Hmm, biggles, are you gonna have dining in your in-tank restaurant?? Then what the hell you doing with so many tables?

I knew you'd be up to no good this weekend ...so 3 acros?? or hiding something else too?.... I like the 2 smaller pieces, especially the thick branched blue/purple tipped one....never seen anything like it.... sigh, didn't know you were a SPS p0rn distributor....shame on you

So more rafts, or some sps gymnastics on the main structure?

I chopped everything including that table up into smaller bits as i don't have space for colonies including tables Only bought the 3 acros and the stylo mate, ran out of money lol. That bluey purple tipped thing kinda screamed at me to buy it so what choice did i have really.......
No more rafts, no more second tank, no more not having a 7 foot serious SPS display........... the only gymnastics coming up is moving this tank sideways for a while - triple the water means i can fit 5 times as many acros in, i got that result using the SPS volume calculator......:reading:
190 gallons, 3x400W radiums and 8 T5's - obviously i'll be filling it to the brim with a ridiculous number of SPS pieces.

Bello, I do believe the green, yes I said green, fluoro hydnophora is salivating.


Marty

I'm watching that green nasty pasty real bloody close Marty, he gets really polypy at night now - like he's just busting to give something the kiss of death....... he looks very settled now which is probably not such a good thing tbh lol.


Remember the blue tipped acro encrusting over the flouro one, i had to chisel him back since the painfully slow growing and touchy fluoro is bloody useless at self defense :rolleye1:

I had to replace 10 gallons of water that Bryce pinched ........ so the tank had a 15% water change which can't hurt things. Excuse the mess i haven't sorted things out since i bought the new pieces so the bottom is a mess yet again. On a good note, the stylo is turning a deep purple and the larger blue tipped piece loves it on the raft.

 

[markalot]

Looking fantastic, as always!

 

[Bello]

No more rafts, no more second tank, no more not having a 7 foot serious SPS display........... the only gymnastics coming up is moving this tank sideways for a while - triple the water means i can fit 5 times as many acros in, i got that result using the SPS volume calculator......:reading:
190 gallons, 3x400W radiums and 8 T5's - obviously i'll be filling it to the brim with a ridiculous number of SPS pieces.

Eh? What do you mean, biggles? What sort of devilry is this?

Seriously though, the tank's jam packed with coral! I'm sure you must have been relieved to get rid of the frags , for the extra space.

The green fluoro acro does seem to have grown. I remember you mentioning it was in very poor shape, after your 'incident'. Looks to be doing well now :thumbsup:

I said this before, and I obviously will keep irritating you with it , but I really wanna see a YELLOW carolianiana/suharsonoi in your tank...it'll look awesome... Think I saw one or similar in Reeflections FB updates... Honestly, I'd rather see one of those in MY tank, but seeing one in yours will do just as well

 

[biggles]

Looking fantastic, as always!

Thanks very much mate

Eh? What do you mean, biggles? What sort of devilry is this?

Seriously though, the tank's jam packed with coral! I'm sure you must have been relieved to get rid of the frags , for the extra space.

The green fluoro acro does seem to have grown. I remember you mentioning it was in very poor shape, after your 'incident'. Looks to be doing well now :thumbsup:

I said this before, and I obviously will keep irritating you with it , but I really wanna see a YELLOW carolianiana/suharsonoi in your tank...it'll look awesome... Think I saw one or similar in Reeflections FB updates... Honestly, I'd rather see one of those in MY tank, but seeing one in yours will do just as well

I figure it's a bit silly to add a second tank rather than replace this one with one large tank simply because i can't be stuffed moving the 65 gal out of the way until transfer time. I saw a nice 4" Sohal tang and a 3" purple at the LFS the other day and that was the tipping point - biggles has the tang bug.........
So i've started building the stand for a 84x32x16" display so i have lots of room to build a real SPS reef lol. :thumbsup: Down the track i can always use the 65 gal for a frag tank if i want.

I'm pleased the frags went to a good reef home although Bryce does run giggle lights like you Bello....... will be interesting to see how they look in his tank under LED's after a few months.
You're right about that fluoro piece, it was the one i showed you the burnt tips on but it's a happy camper once again now.
I'd like to see yellow carolianiana/suharsonoi in my tank too mate lol, never seen either species for sale unfortunately nor any of the other so called 'deepwater' acros common in US tanks.

Have nitrates back to zero and phos isn't far away so the gang are starting to brighten up again.

 

[Bello]

ooohhhhh, the SSC seems to be growing some :thumbsup:, mine still looks like poo

Love the shot through the stags, that's the look I want in the acro tank.

Hmmm, so big tank eh? You know something, I just spent the last week, fighting thoughts of how cool it would be to remove the cubes and put a 72x36x18 in its stead....:furious:... Fighting ....... fighting against temptation....

I feel pretty bad about seeing my Regal/hippo tang in the cube....just seems too big to be there....and was left wondering about the above....So when did you start liking "stupid" fish?

I was actually thinking of stocking the deeperwater tank with Red Sea fish.... purple tang, sohal tang, orchid dottyback etc....love the idea of biotopes

I've never tried a sohal, they look good, but I've heard they become a$$holes when they get bigger....anyways I'm sure you'll be standing there with a stick, teaching him some discipline

All said and done, you NEED a bigger tank ...since we all know you're never gonna stay away from your LFS

 

[martinphillip03]

Hey Big, Is there a reason why the tank is 16" H why not 20" or 24"

Marty
Oh yeah, Congrats on going with a larger tank. I think its a great idea.




So i've started building the stand for a 84x32x16" display so i have lots of room to build a real SPS reef lol. :thumbsup:

 

[troubadour11]

Woah! Tough to keep up. There's been lots happening! The picture updates looking stunning as always biggles. I second the vote of awesomeness for the shot through the stag field too :thumbsup:

I got jealous and spent some time wandering my LFS the other day. They had 1 Skunk Cleaner in there for $35.99. I didn't pick it up though. I'm not quite ready to add one in yet. Very soon though we'll be able to start adding some more life!

When I was at the store, they had this nice healthy and lonely little angel for $25 bucks... And since you have the "tang bug," you can see what a Sohol goes for there. This place is slightly more expensive then some. It's just the closest shop to my house. Conveniently located right next to our grocery store :thumbsup:

- It's not multi-bar angel, but it was a nice little fishy. And you know me and wanting some pygmy angel... Not until the very end if we do it though :headwallblue:

And it's probably a good call (IMO) to just go up to the 1 bigger tank. I would have preferred a 150-200 gallon display, but we only had 4-5 feet of space in our living room. So we went as large as we could with the 90 gallon. I still have right around 200 gallons in the system though with the sump and 75 gallon refugium. But I really wanted the bigger tank so I could have a few bigger fish in the reef. So I like the idea to upgrade the size and have 1 big reef :rollface:

How are your new Banggai's doing? Are you still liking them as an addition? Still hating each other and chilling at opposite ends of the reef?

 

[Dillan]

Nice tread and tank! Im wondering how close to each other you can place different sps without them hurting another?

 

[biggles]

ooohhhhh, the SSC seems to be growing some :thumbsup:, mine still looks like poo

Hey buddy, yes those bloody SSC frags are finally doing something other than encrusting :celeb1:
I haven't ever had a large tank to really go SPS nuts with and since i'm shocking at SPS self control when at the LFS i think it's best for all concerned that i go big. No idea what's up with the fish urge lol, i'm probably getting senile on my old age mate...... I had a purple tang once and i want another so a 7 foot tank will remove the limitations preventing me from keeping multiple tangs within reason.
I think you best be working out the lighting for that 6'x3'x18" Bello - it took me about 6 weeks from the first thought to total commitment on the big tank so i expect to hear more rumblings from you over the coming weeks........

Hey Big, Is there a reason why the tank is 16" H why not 20" or 24"

Marty
Oh yeah, Congrats on going with a larger tank. I think its a great idea.

Hey Marty, i want the tank to be euro braced and 10mm glass so i can't go too high and i really like the 18" depth of the current tank. My previous tanks were 2 feet deep and it's so much easier for me to mess about with the corals in the shallower depth. The shallow height will also accentuate the front to back depth perspective which is the most important of all viewing perspectives imho.
Thanks for the thumbs up on the big tank, the LFS i go to will also think it's a great idea i suspect lol.

Woah! Tough to keep up. There's been lots happening! The picture updates looking stunning as always biggles. I second the vote of awesomeness for the shot through the stag field too :thumbsup:

I got jealous and spent some time wandering my LFS the other day. They had 1 Skunk Cleaner in there for $35.99. I didn't pick it up though. I'm not quite ready to add one in yet. Very soon though we'll be able to start adding some more life!

Hi Troubster, yeah i like stags a lot - the new tank will have a disgusting excess of them lol.
$36 for a skunk and i pay $150 and you didn't buy it !!!!!! All i can say is - you bastard Troub......you bastard. :deadhorse1: Get a shrimp right bloody now Troub !
I like angels but most are SPS munchers unfortunately, have you looked at a Potter's angel in real life yet as that is one stunning little dwarf beasty that you might want to consider. Sohal's go for about the same here for a 3-4" one and that would be the king of the tank for me - long way off at this stage anyway but i would like to add one as my last fishy.
Those two banggais are a pair of wankers who both need dropping into the skimmer neck for 60 seconds to reset their attitudes towards each other....... i'll say no more. :rolleye1:

Nice tread and tank! Im wondering how close to each other you can place different sps without them hurting another?

Thanks Dillan, you really can't be assured that corals won't end up having a punch up over real estate as everything grows and encrusts at different rates etc. I'd suggest you keep about 3" separation between frags if you're sticking them down near each other but things such as the type of growth pattern expected can also influence the outcome.
Don't forget that you can easily influence things with pruning and chiseling to alter the manner in which a coral will grow and interact with it's neighbours. I think the biggest factor to think of when placing corals is shading, everything else is easy to manage if you don't mind taking an active role in your coral scape - i think i like influencing things so greatly for the same reason i kept bonsai for many years and this tank is very much like maintaining a plantation planting right down to individual branch placement.
The biggest thing is to not be afraid to experiment. If you stick a coral somewhere it it looks like crap 2 months later when others look great - move it, don't sit there waiting for some miracle to happen when a simple move can bring amazing results and don't be afraid to put multiple frags of the same corals in your display if you like it. I have 5 frags of SSC spread around simply because it's stunning to me and i think multiple colonies will look cool.


The stupid seri still hates me and is poopy - he's not long for the tank as i can see him from the lounge so his pale drab washed out pink is irritating me greatly........ last night the green monster stung the crap out of my blue stag which is coloring up great now - obviously it's chiseling time again..........
On the left you can see the big drab blue stag i moved down to the raft, the back side of the branches is now facing the light and he's shooting new growth sideways near the old tips to face the light lol - he's still wondering what happened i think lol.

 

[Bello]

No way biggles, I just thought about it again...and despite the temptation of a rimless giant with 3 feet of width, NO!!!.....Why you say? Too paranoid that my son might throw some crap at the tank and break it....anythings possible ... That was one of main reasons I took down my previous 7 footer.... so No!!!....plus my wife will probably have me castrated

About the seri, biggles, if you look at mine, I have 2 different types, ones always looked like yours, and the others always been bright pink, so perhaps your seri is just genetically ugly like the one I have

I remember you mentioning something about disliking thick branched acros. Is it because of structure or another reason? I find the one I have, to be difficult in coloring up well.

 

[biggles]

Judging by the wife comment i'd be forgetting any big tank upgrades too Bello.......
I hadn't considered that the seri might be a dud but i'm all for blaming the coral for its lack luster appearance lol........ i'll keep my eye out for one that isn't faded badly at the shop before i buy another one.
I just like the delicate structure of the finer branched acros over the bigger stuff such as the green monster. In the early days most acros for sale were thick and stout species simply because the few collectors prepared to supply them only harvested them from shallow easy to reach areas so everything was used to being nuked with light and flow - i like the lower light acros that i can get now having returned to the hobby

Soooooooo i'm sitting at home experimenting with that crap brown table and a magnet holder to attach it to the glass anywhere i want to move it and my partner in acro crime Bryce rings me to say he was just at Williamstown aquarium (my other favorite SPS LFS) and they had a nice SSC branch for $75- for sale and since he goes past my place on the way home would i like him to get it for me - ummmmm YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the 5" long piece after i chopped a nice chunk off for Bryce - you're a legend mate. :thumbsup: It's already been chopped to pieces and stuck in five places cause you all know i have SSC fever.......... the branches are pale yellow which will be washed out green i expect, i'll get a few better shots once it settles into its new home.
Did i mention you're a bloody legend Bryce....... can't beat stunning acros delivered to your door :dance: Bryce scored a nice skunk cleaner but he refused to give it to me........:lol2:

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Did i mention you're a bloody legend Bryce....... can't beat stunning acros delivered to your door :dance: Bryce scored a nice skunk cleaner but he refused to give it to me........:lol2:

STANDING OVATION FOR Bryce:thumbsup:

I have got a mate who acquired a tiny tiny SSC frag for £25. He promised me frag when his frag becomes a colony. These corals are evry expensive over here. I will wait patiently for my frag.

 

[troubadour11]

Sounds like an awesome day over there :thumbsup:

I'm looking forward to seeing it spread all over the system. It looks great!

And 3 :beer::beer::beer: cheers for Bryce! :bounce1:

 

[Bello]

Ummm biggles, you're gonna get an abusive PM from me.....but then why take the trouble with the PM, biggles you #$#%$%!!!.....and you've got yourself a partner in crime too!!!

I like the washed out green with the bright pink look on the SSC, the most, and if as you said, it turns out that way....well, more anger to you!! I'd thought you be staking out the LFS as usual today, but you've now managed to snag poor Bryce into it .

Awesome piece, and tabling to boot....we all know that's exactly what you want

Thanks for the info on the stags, a little bit of history is always great :thumbsup:, and I'm pretty sure now, that your seri and mine have the same ugly gene in them

 

[biggles]

STANDING OVATION FOR Bryce:thumbsup:

I have got a mate who acquired a tiny tiny SSC frag for £25. He promised me frag when his frag becomes a colony. These corals are evry expensive over here. I will wait patiently for my frag.

I wish things were different for you in the UK mate but i can see how imported corals would end up costing a mint by the time all the express shipping etc is added to the costs. You won't be disappointed when you finally get your SSC frag, very hardy and easy to keep in all types of flow and light and always has PE within minutes of being placed regardless of what dremel torment i put it through lol. It's a very cool acro for a lot of reasons, not just because it looks stunning.

Sounds like an awesome day over there :thumbsup:

I'm looking forward to seeing it spread all over the system. It looks great!

And 3 cheers for Bryce! :bounce1:

Yep i have to say it was the best LFS score i never made lol - Bryce now has a skunk shrimp so that really only leaves you Troub as the shrimpless wonder........ just saying.........
I have SSC in 11 different spots in the dsplay now lol - it's going to be ridiculous :thumbsup:

Ummm biggles, you're gonna get an abusive PM from me.....but then why take the trouble with the PM, biggles you #$#%$%!!!.....and you've got yourself a partner in crime too!!!

I like the washed out green with the bright pink look on the SSC, the most, and if as you said, it turns out that way....well, more anger to you!! I'd thought you be staking out the LFS as usual today, but you've now managed to snag poor Bryce into it .

Awesome piece, and tabling to boot....we all know that's exactly what you want

Thanks for the info on the stags, a little bit of history is always great :thumbsup:, and I'm pretty sure now, that your seri and mine have the same ugly gene in them

Hey Bello, yep it's exactly what i wanted so i'm still grinning the day after lol. I have 5 frags also on discs to grow out as the big tank will need a whole lot of SSC to get the final look i'm after. Won't be an SPS dominant display, it's going to be an SSC dominant display.......
Since talking about our crap seri's i'm already looking at mine like one does a condemned man......... i don't like that coral anymore.

 

[biggles]

I took a few pics for you Troub when i was experimenting with making a magnetic acro table that i can slide on the glass wherever i want to place it to see how much light it needs. I don't have space on the rocks for it up high so this will do for now.

I dremeled one of the sealed magnets off the frag rack i bought a few weeks back, that didn't last long lol. Scored the back where the acro will be glued to give it something to grip.

Removed the little outcrop i made for it.

Pried the acro off the spot i glued it which took some doing. Dremeled the back flat and also scored it like the acrylic covered magnet.

A tube of super glue gel and it was stuck fast.

On the glass.

 

[bdsage]

where there's a will there's a way...very kewl lol

 

[troubadour11]

Yep i have to say it was the best LFS score i never made lol - Bryce now has a skunk shrimp so that really only leaves you Troub as the shrimpless wonder........ just saying.........

- HA-ha :uzi: I'll be jumping on that bandwagon very soon. I got some good work done yesterday and am looking forward to making some new updates soon!

And thanks for all of those pictures. That was an awesome walk-through to see. :beer: I might end up doing something similar to attach a few (eventual) pieces to my overflow box. :thumbsup:

 

[Bello]

That's some fine work there, biggles.....Insane, but fine

It actually looks pretty natural :thumbsup:, trust you to come up with something like that. And a nice step by step guide too :thumbsup:. Is that the same table that you picked up a couple weeks ago?