Reid's 120g Oceanic Tech Build

[Goodwin9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15271143#post15271143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reidcrandall
I do like a lot that are borderline. but I am willing to take a chance. I don't get into the Acans or other LPS, really, so that helps. I have a clam, but I am going to keep it in the frag tank.

I hadn't heard that purples are more aggressive than powder blues... or yellows for that matter. Where have you heard that? Anyone else?

I guess I just like a good challenge

My PBT seems to be the most aggressive in my 600. Doesn't like new additions. I've got two purples in different tanks and I have not had a problem with either of them.

 

[reidcrandall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15271417#post15271417 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crvz
I think you could do the purple and PBT at the same time, but I'd be worried more about bioload if you plan a lot of other fish. I have a sargassum trigger and it's awesome. I'd recommned one.

I don't think bioload will be a problem. I have about 240 total gallons in the system. That's right. I have 100% + of the tank volume outside of the tank. I am all about overkill. Plus, I wanted to be able to add another tank to the system if I wanted to down the road.

Plus, my skimmer is usually used, from what I have seen, on 200-300 capacity tanks. I am thinking I will be ok, but will let the params guide me as I go.

 

[reidcrandall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15271558#post15271558 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Goodwin9
My PBT seems to be the most aggressive in my 600. Doesn't like new additions. I've got two purples in different tanks and I have not had a problem with either of them.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Goodwin.

I am sure each fish has its own temperament, but it seems to me, like I said, that I hear a lot more about PBT aggression. If I do get one, I was planning to have him be the last addition... him or one of the pygmy angels. We will see how it goes.

 

[Padrino]

Reid,
Great progress and that a nice stock list you have put together. I also really like a lot of those fish. If you do want a powder blue tang, be sure that it is the last fish you add. Those tangs are very aggressive and will beat up new additions after it. Those tangs really should be kept in a 6-8ft tank at a minumum.

 

[reidcrandall]

Well, we've had our first casualty...

I put a RBTA in the main tank yesterday. I put him on the rock in the middle of the rockwork, with the idea that it wouldn't travel across the sand and end up in a place that it would sting anything else.

I'm not sure what happened... all I can thinkis that he just let go of the rock during the night for some reason. Anyway, he did battle with one of my Tunzes and lost

 

[melev]

Darn.

 

[reidcrandall]

Darn indeed. He was my biggest one.

Anyone ever have one let go before?

The next one I put in there mustn't meet the same fate.

 

[ludnix]

I've seen them do it in extreme discomfort or stress. In my first tank I had a BTA lift off the rocks and refuse to sucker down again. In my 120g, while "motivating" my LTA to move back to it's original position using the bag of ice trick it just lifted off entirely instead.

 

[Ratpack]

I have had two of them do that and try to defeat a powerhead. I really want one for my clowns, but I hate to have another one lose the battle.

 

[reidcrandall]

Well, he was probably pretty stressed. I just pulled him out of the old tank at my parents house, where he had only really been for a few months between houses, and transported him to the new one at my house. I acclimated him to the new water, but maybe not slowly enough. I have 5 more in my frag tank. I will leave them there until they are fully adjusted to the tank chemistry, and try to move one to the main tank again.

 

[reidcrandall]

Alright, I think that there is something crazy going on...

I was away for work last night, and my wife called to tell me that one of the RBTAs was eating another RBTA. I didn't thinkthat this was possible, so I assumes that they were just close, or that one was splitting because of the stress in the move.

I come home today, and where there were 5 RBTAs in the frag tank, there are now 4.

She told me that one of the RBTAs had the other inside its mouth, it looked like, with the foot straight up in the air.

Has anyone ever seen anything like that?

 

[Shane Hoffman]

:shock:


Thats nuts...I have always had Nems....and never seen that...

 

[melev]

And all this time I thought they propagated via tearing. Maybe she was observing them 'doing it.' :lol:







Regardless, something went really really wrong.

 

[ludnix]

I think you're in uncharted waters now.

 

[reidcrandall]

You've got that right. Cannibalistic anemones? Madness.

I just wish I had been here to see it myself. I just don't know what to think... but there is definately one completely gone. I checked the powerheadin there,and saw no signs, plus there were no shredded anemone chunks in there.

My wife isn't crazy enough to take one out just to play a trick on me, she knows it's good money once I grow them out and sell them.

What the heck?

 

[melev]

I guess she could have called you and told you she was pulling them apart with some wooden salad utensils.

If the one poops out the other, you definitely have a story to share for the rest of your life.

 

[Taqpol]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15284435#post15284435 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reidcrandall
My wife isn't crazy enough to take one out just to play a trick on me, she knows it's good money once I grow them out and sell them.

This made me laugh a bit, even though its horrible.

 

[reidcrandall]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15284623#post15284623 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I guess she could have called you and told you she was pulling them apart with some wooden salad utensils.

If the one poops out the other, you definitely have a story to share for the rest of your life.

:lol:

That just made my day.

 

[reidcrandall]

More unfortunate news today. I found two bastard crabs that have outsmarted me peeking out of my rockwork today.

Should I try to catch them or skewer them? I would prefer to catch them, but they have eluded me for so long...

 

[crvz]

skewer!