Project 150!!

[maxxII]

03-14-08

Here are the pics I promised. Sadly, they are even worse than my usual pictures since my camera needs to be sent to Canon for cleaning, so I used my wife's digital camera which is just a point and shoot.

I had to bump up the ISO on the camera to catch the fish, so the images are a bit grainy. Anyway, nuff excuses. Here are the pics:

Nick

 

[maxxII]

More....these show size comparisons between the three fish...

Today, I need to farg my pocillipora coral. Its got some sort of disease that sounds like white band disease, (cahracterized by, you guessed it, a white band!) and is dying. The band is a few millimeters wide, and the flesh is sloughing off in the white band area. Every day, the band advances.

No idea what caused it, but I'm going to frag heavily to save as much as possible. No signs of this on any of the other corals.

I also need to get new bulbs for the MH's over the tank. Its been about a year, and there seems to be more yellow in the color now.

I will also test the water after a several day break. My wife had sinus surgery and needed/needs to be taken care of.

Nick

 

[jnarowe]

I would get that entire Poci out of the tank ASAP. From what I have read, entire reefs can succumb to white band.

 

[maxxII]

3-21-08

The pocillipora was fragged heavily, with the pieces mounted on two separate rocks. They are doing fine w/ no further signs of WBD.

The new Tunze 6000's were installed and placed on the multi controller. They move more water than the Maxi jet mods, and have the advantage of being controllable. But, they are much bigger width wise than the Maxi-mods, and they cannot be angled for deflection vertically. The Maxi-mods are definitely a good investment IMO, I just wish they could be controlled.

I moved the Tomini over to the 120. Again, very little fan fare from everyone else in the tank. Its doing just fine.

The newer H.magnifica has been doing much better in the last week or two. Its been eating small pieces of uncooked shrimp. The tentacles are still white tipped and faded, meaning no nematocysts in them, (They were bright yellow just before it got shredded by the pump), and the feeding response is still sluggish. But its regaining Zooxanthellae, and isnt deflating after eating anymore. Hopefully soon, It will be back to good health.

Nick

 

[Cprowler]

Good to hear the Nem's doing better, that's from the incident a few months back?

I've been out of town quite a bit the last few months and I am not up to date on all the threads I have been following.

 

[maxxII]

Yeah...thats the newest H.mag I got. The day after Thanksgiving it wandered into a pump and got shredded, releasing its nematocysts, and killing my Red Sea Regal Angel, Tomini Tang, and Blackcap Basslet....

Hows your setup doing?

Nick

 

[Cprowler]

It's doing quite well and so is the H.mag. I did have a bit of a issue 6 or 8 weeks ago but all is well. I guess I need to update my thread, it's been 2 months.

 

[maxxII]

6-5-08

...thought I'd take some pics and dust off this thread....

I cant get the color right on either of these two corals to save my life....they are much prettier in person......

Nick

 

[maxxII]

Nick

 

[spooda420]

looks good, nick. I dig the fishies...

 

[michealprater]

Where did you get that healthy Regal? Super nice.

 

[maxxII]

6-7-08
Pics of the 20 gallon. Its not the sexiest add on....but its got stuff in it that wouldnt do as well in the 120 display.

SPS frags....from left to right:

Allegedly DFS Purple Haze acro...have my doubts, think someone might have goofed and grabbed the wrong frag by mistake
Unknown metallic green acro
Oregon Tort
The rear is more pocillipora from the 120 that got fragged due to some sort of bleaching event

Just kinda liked this one....

Zoas from Vivid Aquarium: Incredible Hulk, Spider Man, and Sunrise paly's with Eagle eyes in the back ground.

Camera doesnt do em justice, the Spiderman Zoas are small, but an intense blue with an orange skirt. Started out with 3, now have 7 a month later....Grow faster!!!!!!

Nick

 

[maxxII]

Hmmm....I didnt get email notifications either of you guys replied. Did I get unsubscribed from my own thread????

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12691090#post12691090 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spooda420
looks good, nick. I dig the fishies...

Thanks Chris! My wife likes the tank having more fish in it too...The Tomini is really tough to take pics of...sucker immediately hides from me when I have the camera out.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12695415#post12695415 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michealprater
Where did you get that healthy Regal? Super nice.

Michael,
I got this one from DiversDen. Its the second one I've had. The first was in even better shape. It was a Red Sea Regal and I got it from Phishy Business. I lost it and all other fish in the tank except the clowns the day after Thanksgiving. Go back a few pages and you can read the gory details. I'd had it for over a year, and it was gorgeous.....

I cant say enough good things about Phishy Business. I've been happy with everything I've purchased from them.

Nick

 

[pepino]

very nice aquascape nice tank
where did you got your spidermans from ???

 

[maxxII]

Thanks Pepino....I got them from Vivid Aquariums.

Nick

 

[Lunchbucket]

So things are turning around for you?

What kind of angel is that juvi?

Oh I want frags of those zoos man!!!

Lunchbucket

 

[maxxII]

Eric, you know how this hobby goes....ups and downs...

yeah, things are turning around.

The Juvi Angel was ID'd by both Copps and Boomer as a P.asfur. It was sold to me as a P.chrysurus juvi though...I got it at a very good price because it was ich infested and not expected to survive....so I cant complain 30 days in a hyposalinity QT and formalin dips, and its doing great.

Its kinda like a cat though...for no reason the fish will occasionally freak out and dash though the tank, scaring the crap out of all the other fish in the tank...

But its getting better and thats getting less and less frequent.

No problem on the Zoa frags...as soon as there are enough to frag, I'll give you a heads up and we'll set something up.

Nick

 

[maxxII]

Helllllooooooo.............



Anyone still here?????????????????????????????




Wow, its been almost 9 months since I updated this thread. sorry 'bout that. I took these pics today:

Full tank

Left side

Right side

Close up of Ritteri anemone and clowns, (her mate is hiding under the left lower side of the anemone)

My Regal angel (should have cleaned the glass better, sorry)

A week ago , (Tues or Weds) we had a lengthy power outtage ( about 8 hours) I have automatic battery powered air pumps that kick on in the event of a power outtage, to provide O2 to the tank, (2 for the display). No livestock issues due to the outtage.....however, my Co2 solenoid remained closed when the power returned, and I did not notice this.
On Thursday, (7-8 days after outtage), I realized my H.mag really looked unhappy. It was deflated and the tentacles were completely deflated as well, but the mouth was tight. The lights were going off shortly, and I know it will occassionally, (once in a blue moon kinda thing) deflate while expelling waste...but the tentacles have never done this.......so I didnt get too worried or check parameters. Corals looked fine as did clams so I wasnt too worried. Middle of the night, I realized I hadnt checked my calcium reactor after the outtage. I ran downstairs and found the solenoid closed, (no bubbles in bubble counter, but plenty of pressure showing on gauges). Got it working and went back to bed. Friday, after work, came back, it still looked unhappy, but better. The reactor had been running again for 12 hours by now. Water tests showed:

On 2-21-09 Dkh was at 6.5 down from 11
Ca was at 350 from 420

On 2-22-09 Dkh was 7.5
Ca was 385

Today, (2-23-09)
Dkh was 7.85
Ca was at 415

I did need to add Sea Chem's Reef Advantage Calcium to bring the Ca levels up, but the Dkh was/is solely due the reactor doing its job.

The anemone looks normal/great today.

I have refugium which is lit 24 hours to prevent pH swings. Nothing else deviated from normal during this period. One poccillipora lost a little tissue from the Dkh drop.

All I can assume from this is that H.magnifica anemones are in fact somewhat sensitive to Dkh drops......unless someone has a different theory?

Oh, and Eric, (Lunchbox) I now have 12 of the Spiderman zoas, up from 3 initially. Be patient man...I'll get you some, I swear.

Nick

 

[jnarowe]

wow...that is a BIG drop in such a short time. I wonder what your ORP did.

 

[maxxII]

I dont know.....I have no way to measure it. FWIW, my fuge is lit 24-7 and from past tests, my pH only drops from 8.2-8.1 when the tank lights go off.

Nick