Pete's 280 log

[crvz]

Great shots, Pete. Tank is looking good.

 

[psteeleb]

Beware the evil stylo

Beware the evil stylo

thanks

I noticed my smaller chips colony wasn't looking happy so I pulled him, did a dip, but no parasires, but on inspection noticed the yellow/green stylo was stinging it. So I did some rearranging to give it some more room. Thinking the stylo and chips would be happy, this morning this is what I find:

looks like it's time to trip the stylo

 

[crvz]

nasty booger, time to get the shears out.

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14066675#post14066675 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crvz
nasty booger, time to get the shears out.

yep - you got that right

I ment to say trim (not trip - opps )

 

[psteeleb]

the stylophora was still trying to reach and touch someone this morning

I guess frags will be up for sale on our local board

 

[psteeleb]

Even with lights out and the colors not being as vibrant, I love the looks of the blob in the morning

must be the bright teal polyps

 

[psteeleb]

A quick video trip around the front of the tank

 

[BigJay]

Nice video Pete, I've always envied the depth in your tank and the rockwork. It looked almost like the powder blue was dancing to the music.

You place the CUC order? Lemme know what I owe you and I'll bring it by.

 

[psteeleb]

thanks Jay - it was taken with my camera (not video camera) so the focus isn't the best but thought it may give some people a better idea of my vertical lay out

the CuC order was placed - expect delivery Tues or Wed (I hope)

 

[michika]

I really like the aquascaping you have. It looks like it allows you a lot of surface area of coral placement.

The music reminds me of Depeche Mode!

 

[psteeleb]

thanks Catherine

here's a 5 month update on Marcs frags

first night - taking a bath

I didn't even know the names :lol:

the plana and undata did not make it; so here are the others

mille
day one:

now, plus 5 months (behind the microcladus)

the Psammacora:
then

now

the Crayola (A. plana)
then

now

 

[psteeleb]

Marc's hammer:
then

now (well a couple days ago - it's opened up nicely)

and my favorite - Marc's unk
then

now

 

[psteeleb]

the tank is looking great, it's sucking up Alk and Ca, so I'm back to daily dosing of two part on top of 2 gal's a day saturated kalcwasser

new additions today:

150 blue leg hermits
80 ceriths
18 astreas
7 green chromis
5 emerald crabs
1 Kole Tang

and I feel like ending with; "two french hens and a partridge in a pear tree" :lol:

 

[michika]

I think the Blob is my favorite piece in your tank, I must be partial to it's somewhat quirky name.

Do you find that dosing two-part is an expensive, or cheap way to maintain your parameters?

 

[psteeleb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14104640#post14104640 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michika
I think the Blob is my favorite piece in your tank, I must be partial to it's somewhat quirky name.

Do you find that dosing two-part is an expensive, or cheap way to maintain your parameters?

well it truly started as a dime sized blob of an encrustation on a piece of live rock. I may have to see if I can dig up an early picture of it.

I find two part to be a very inexpensive way to supplement CA and Alk. Not only in initial setup but also in daily cost, as long as you buy bulk quantities that is. I still have a 50# bag of Dowflake I've been using for over a year and a half.

I am concerned with long term effects without major water changes, as I believe the impurities of 2 part will build up over time. My corals seem to respond much more favorably to kalc over two part.

I want to set up a Ca reactor some time this year and get away from using 2 part. I'll still use the Kalc at night and the Ca reactor during the day (or 24/7). I like the idea of dosing kalc at night; not only to help minimize Ph swing, but the corals seem to suck it up with extensive PE. I can't prove there is something more then Ca and Alk in the Kalc, but they do seem to try and eat the stuff during the lights out dosing. I suspect that it must be a preferred balance, preferred ionic chemical composition, or, possibly contains some other trace element that may not be present in 2 part.

 

[ReefEnabler]

those frags have really taken off!!

I really love the orange and green birdnest for some reason


You mentioned that the corals seem to prefer kalk to 2-part. I wonder if this has to do with the fact that the kalk is always added drip-wise, while most people dose 2-part additives in small quantities that are much more significant than drops added slowly.


even adding 50ml of each 2part at once would be a quicker change in chemistry than dosing the same amount of ca/alk in kalk over the day.

 

[BigJay]

I think the corals prefer the kalk at night because it raises PH and reacts with CO2 in the water to form carbonates. The elevated PH allows the corals to precipitate calcium carbonate more easily.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm

How's the kole tang doing Pete? I added mine last night, he wasn't looking so good. I seriously hope he makes it.

 

[crvz]

great growth over time, thanks for sharing the updates.

 

[psteeleb]

I found a picture of the blob when it was about 4 months old

Jan 27, 2007

It's been through red bugs twice and AEWF that almost did it in
couple updates from tonight

I find it interesting how the polyps on the encrusting part can be a deep green and the polyps on the tips turn almost white to a pale green

 

[BigJay]

The kole tang is apparently still okay Pete, I saw her swimming around last night and hiding behind the reef.

I figure it will be at least 2-3 more days before she loses a little more shyness, comes out to eat, figures out that she's the biggest fish in the tank, and takes up her responsibility of bullying other fish.