My TBS 215 gallon- One Year

[Yogre]

Hello all,
I wanted to share some pictures of my 215 gallon TBS tank at the one-year point. First, the pictures are pretty bad... I'm not much of a photographer and I'm using a point-n-shoot camera. These shots don't do justice to Richard's stuff; I do get a LOT of "Oh Wows!" when people see it in person, though.

This represents Parts 1 and 2, of course, as well a CARE package I ordered from Richard a few months ago. Everything has been just amazing; the only animals I've had trouble with are the sponges, I think I'm about to conclude I can't keep them alive. So without further ado:

Full tank shot... I run XM 15000K MH bulbs, thus the blue tint.

Left side; candelabra gorgs and a few sponges. The orange ones have so far been immune to my hubandry or lack thereof. A huge pistol shrimp lives in the big hole on the left.

Right side; I love the three flower anemones in the foreground, they never move far and the biggest is about 5" across.

And finally my favorite candelabra gorgonian; this thing is growing very nicely, I'd like to have it out front but I'm afraid to move it. :eek2:

 

[d2mini]

Nice looking stuff! So does your pistol leave things alone?

 

[Yogre]

Nice looking stuff! So does your pistol leave things alone?

Thanks! I wish I could get some pictures up like yours... my shots truly don't do Richard's rock justice.

As far I know the pistol scavenges, I've never seen him attack anything. If anything, I've lost some snails to him... I've even given some thought to getting a watchman goby to pair him with so I'd see him more often, but I'm not sure how my lawnmower blenny would take to that... he thinks he owns the tank. :lol:

 

[d2mini]

Why a watchman? They tend to like each other?

 

[Yogre]

Watchman gobies form symbiotic relationships with pistol shrimp. The shrimp has terrible eyesight; if the goby darts for cover the shrimp does too. Not as sure about how the goby benefits, but I'd guess the shrimp helps it forage for food. The shrimp will feel more comfortable being more exposed with the goby present.

 

[g8gxp]

unfortunately, The pistol you have is probably the same one I have (striped, gulf native, also TBS rock). Namely it is one of the few pistols that do not pair with a goby. I was dissapointed when i found this out - i was also looking at pairing with a watchman. But who knows, you might get lucky and it will work out -never know with pistols.

 

[Yogre]

unfortunately, The pistol you have is probably the same one I have (striped, gulf native, also TBS rock). Namely it is one of the few pistols that do not pair with a goby. I was dissapointed when i found this out - i was also looking at pairing with a watchman. But who knows, you might get lucky and it will work out -never know with pistols.

Bummer. Thanks for the heads up. I'm sure it's the same species of shrimp. A goby probably would have been harassed by my lawnmower blenny anyway. :lol:

 

[NeonFish]

In my shipment, I had 2 different kinds of pistol shrimp. A single striped one as you described and the 2 maybe 3 are reddish and spreckeled. These I believe have been breeding. About every month I find new pistol shrimps that are any where from 1/4 -1/2 inch. Maybe they not breeding, and I just keep finding new life on the rocks. In any case, I'm enjoying the TBS LR.

 

[MOB1224]

Watchman gobies form symbiotic relationships with pistol shrimp. The shrimp has terrible eyesight; if the goby darts for cover the shrimp does too. Not as sure about how the goby benefits, but I'd guess the shrimp helps it forage for food. The shrimp will feel more comfortable being more exposed with the goby present.

The pistol shrimp helps the goby by scaring away predators with his loud snapping and he will also burrow in the sand to make a place for him and the goby to sleep. The tank looks awsome BTW. I am gonna be ordering the 29gal "package" very soon for my new tank I can't wait:dance:

 

[chuckstyl5]

Any recent pictures of the sump? More importantly the filter cylinders -- I have a lifereef setup and would like to see your cylinders in action. Thanks

 

[Yogre]

Any recent pictures of the sump? More importantly the filter cylinders -- I have a lifereef setup and would like to see your cylinders in action. Thanks

Sorry, I just saw this post.

Give me a couple of days, I will throw a couple of new pictures in my gallery.