Part II has landed - full tank shots

[Madratter]

I made a couple of changes to my tanks this weekend. I added Koralia Nanos to both tanks. I also added Hydor Flo deflectors to the stock outputs in both tanks. The net result is considerably more flow and some variability in the flow. A number of the animals really seem to like the increased flow. The gorgonians, clams, star coral, and sponges all seem to really like it. It seems like a very worthwhile improvement for a little over $30 a tank.

I also purchased a refractometer. The old hydrometer was a pain in the neck.

Finally, I purchased a $1.62 human mouse trap. It is the kind with a door that swings in but cannot swing out. It is my current attempt at trapping my mantis shrimp. That is a lot cheaper than the $29.99 for a similar item (Pest trap) that Foster and Smith sells. So far, all it has trapped is a snail.

 

[Madratter]

Been a while so I though I would give an update on the tank. I got an emerald crab for the tank in the family room. There had been some hair algae on one of the rocks that was neither getting better or worse. I wanted to get rid of it before adding any corals and the emerald crab did a great job. He also took a liking to some of the macro algae. I wish he would have left most of that alone but still it is a good trade off.

My astrea snails have been showing obvious signs of growth which is a good thing.

My gorgonian that had some bare skeleton when I got it has almost completely grown back over the skeleton. It is in the family room tank.

The tank in my Den has been very stable and I have gotten most of the bad boys out so I have been adding some corals slowly. So far I have added some zoas, and some pulsing Xenia. When those did well I got a little maze brain frag and a green monty frag. Those seem to be doing well for now too. Here are some pictures of the tanks before I got the maze brain and green monty.

This is the tank in the family room:

And here is the tank in the den:

Notice the nice polyp extension on the gorgonians and just the little bit of skeleton showing on the one in the den. Actually in just the week since that shot was taken, even that little bit is almost gone.

The sharp eyed might notice I went back to not using the Hydor Flo in the one tank. I get better polyp extension with the red sea fan on the left without it.

 

[Raggamuffin]

Simplly amazing

 

[Madratter]

Thanks Raggamuffin.

I think today must be national mantis shrimp day. Gene0514 posted some pictures and an awesome little movie of a mantis kicking a field goal with a crayfish.

Today I finally managed to catch the remaining mantis in my tank in the family room. That means I can finally get another peppermint shrimp, some hermits to replace my losses, and start stocking some corals.

The mantis went in the 20 Long that is my bad boy tank. Also incarcerated are various gorilla crabs including one whose body is well over the size of a quarter.

I caught the mantis by luring him out with a piece of krill on a skewer. I then netted him. :uzi: Gotcha.

 

[Madratter]

I have mentioned that some of my snails have been showing considerable new growth. Nothing like a picture to show what I am talking about. Actually both snails in the picture have grown considerably but the one turned before I could get my camera out so that its new growth is out of sight. :fish1:

Notice all the white new shell on the snail on the middle right.