Ruuining a perfectly good tank
- Thread starter Ruu
- Start date
I just picked up a really healthy H. Magnifica for the centerpiece of the right-hand tank, which is going to be my aggressive/unusual tank, filled with things that I could never have placed into my original 180 for fear of incompatability. The bottom of the tank is currently ruled by fluffy (a female Chiragra that likes to love things with her tiny fists), and the top of the tank looks like it will be dominated by the magnifica, and likely a pair of clowns as and when I choose an appropriate pair.
The anemone seems to have acclimated really well, and appears to be well situated and staying put (time will tell though). I shall have some more pictures as soon as I dig up my "real" camera, and ditch this wretched point and shoot thing.
I swear, I can take better pictures than it would appear based upon the evidence so far - I just haven't really gotten used to having glass in the way. A few of my better "real life" shots can be found here.
I think that my best photographical attempts so far have been of this poor (now flash-blind) anemone shrimp in Bonaire...
I'm pretty sure that this is what our anemones are supposed to look like.
Dave
The anemone seems to have acclimated really well, and appears to be well situated and staying put (time will tell though). I shall have some more pictures as soon as I dig up my "real" camera, and ditch this wretched point and shoot thing.
I swear, I can take better pictures than it would appear based upon the evidence so far - I just haven't really gotten used to having glass in the way. A few of my better "real life" shots can be found here.
I think that my best photographical attempts so far have been of this poor (now flash-blind) anemone shrimp in Bonaire...
I'm pretty sure that this is what our anemones are supposed to look like.
Dave
Blackwood, The Hidden reef, The fish factory, Something Fishy and that Fish Place are all stores I frequent from time to time.
Dave
Well, I'm bored, I've had a beer, I've had another beer and I don't have anything better to do so I guess its update time.
Tank parameters are looking flawless, which is pretty typical. Tank itself looks like *** though unfortunately. I thought that with mature rock and livestock I could bypass the diatom / slime algae bloom phases but of course that was never going to happen so that's where things sit right now. Not going to take any pictures just yet, but things are starting to stabilize now, so maybe another month and I will be ready to start some sps frags. Not even going to think about that until the cyano is under control though, but we are down to a little on the sand bed, so that shouldn't be far off.
The magnifica anemone is proving to be a bit of a challenge. It started out magnificent (I know - that's not even a pun and I'm not even trying), then went through several weeks of boom and bust (inflate and deflate cycles) that would put the housing market to shame. Now it is stabilizing and eating regularly, so perhaps it will make it after all.
My seahorse pair also decided that today was the day for their very first spawning. I'm not sure I approve of what was probably some extremely underaged seahorse nookie, but it was certainly nice to see some baby seahorses. Not quite sure how long my wife is going to believe the "the babies are all hiding in the macro algae" line, but the magnifica surely is perking up today...
Dave
Tank parameters are looking flawless, which is pretty typical. Tank itself looks like *** though unfortunately. I thought that with mature rock and livestock I could bypass the diatom / slime algae bloom phases but of course that was never going to happen so that's where things sit right now. Not going to take any pictures just yet, but things are starting to stabilize now, so maybe another month and I will be ready to start some sps frags. Not even going to think about that until the cyano is under control though, but we are down to a little on the sand bed, so that shouldn't be far off.
The magnifica anemone is proving to be a bit of a challenge. It started out magnificent (I know - that's not even a pun and I'm not even trying), then went through several weeks of boom and bust (inflate and deflate cycles) that would put the housing market to shame. Now it is stabilizing and eating regularly, so perhaps it will make it after all.
My seahorse pair also decided that today was the day for their very first spawning. I'm not sure I approve of what was probably some extremely underaged seahorse nookie, but it was certainly nice to see some baby seahorses. Not quite sure how long my wife is going to believe the "the babies are all hiding in the macro algae" line, but the magnifica surely is perking up today...
Dave
+1. I like your canopy, very basic but beautiful. I gonna build canopy for my tank but i only have 6" height. I will borrow your idea. Thanks
Knock yourself out - my father the skilled carpenter is probably turning in his grave (which is especially bad since he isn't dead yet) at hacking stuff together like this, but it did end up looking surprisingly good.
At the end of the day, I'm a firm believer in the "if it cost less than $100 to put together, then try it and see what happens" approach to fine furniture construction.
Dave
aandfsoccr04
Active member
haha glad to see things are coming along. Magnificas are a little tough to get situated, if they aren't on the highest rock in the tank that isn't touching any tank walls then they surely will climb higher in my experience.
I really like the rockwork on the left tank and can't wait to see more pictures of it to get a better idea of how it really looks. I'm loving your build so far and can't wait to see more pictures when the algae passes.
I really like the rockwork on the left tank and can't wait to see more pictures of it to get a better idea of how it really looks. I'm loving your build so far and can't wait to see more pictures when the algae passes.
Yeah. To be honest things aren't going great on the lighting front. My friend hasn't welded me anything yet, and no matter how I try to arrange things it still looks like a bunch of crap nailed to the ceiling. I spent some time tonight trying to make it look pretty, but to put things charitably it still isn't great.
It is at least functional but that's about it for now.
Dave
Feels like time for a quick update...
1) The magnifica is doing well - pretty sure its going to make it.
2) The slime algae is gone. A few diatoms remain, but that's about it. I've had an explosion of cap snails too, which seems to be helping a lot.
3) The baby seahorses didn't make it. Nor did the second round of baby seahorses. Also, see (1). I will be making a concerted effort to raise baby seahorses in the coming months. Until then, see (1).
I also really feel that the people stealing my canopy idea need to start posting some more pictures.
I will do the same soon - I actually spent a few hours this weekend constructing an insulated lid for the top of the tank so that I can avoid going broke spending dozens of kwh a day heating my tanks this winter - I've been hoisted by my own energy efficient petard after spending a fortune on efficient everything. I cannot post pictures until it has been doused in red oak stain and has felt the wrath of the trim hammer though.
Dave
1) The magnifica is doing well - pretty sure its going to make it.
2) The slime algae is gone. A few diatoms remain, but that's about it. I've had an explosion of cap snails too, which seems to be helping a lot.
3) The baby seahorses didn't make it. Nor did the second round of baby seahorses. Also, see (1). I will be making a concerted effort to raise baby seahorses in the coming months. Until then, see (1).
I also really feel that the people stealing my canopy idea need to start posting some more pictures.
I will do the same soon - I actually spent a few hours this weekend constructing an insulated lid for the top of the tank so that I can avoid going broke spending dozens of kwh a day heating my tanks this winter - I've been hoisted by my own energy efficient petard after spending a fortune on efficient everything. I cannot post pictures until it has been doused in red oak stain and has felt the wrath of the trim hammer though.
Dave
Dangerwill
New member
this is a super cool build idea, well done and fun read!
MrineLfRlz
Active member
Great idea!
But weres the equipment room, i see the hoses going there but no room.
But weres the equipment room, i see the hoses going there but no room.
Great idea!
But weres the equipment room, i see the hoses going there but no room.
Imagine the plumbing room for a professional aquarium, owned by an OCD neat freak. Everything perfectly spaced, everything labelled, with it's own valve for isolation, and clever plumbing to allow for easy water changes, feeding, monitoring etc.
Now imagine the exact opposite of that, randomly put together from a combination of PVC and vinyl, screw-in hose barbs glued with PVC cement, multiple 45' elbows because someone ran out of 90's etc. And plumbers putty.
I have one of the above. I'm not sure the world needs to see pictures.
Dave
cheezischrist
New member
Ha i guarantee the squirrels nest of hoses, cords, powerstrips, timers,pipes...god knows what else jammed in my stand trumps anything for messiest, most unorganized, to down right dangerous lol. I always mean to straighten it out, but everytime i start to the corals hypnotize me....stupid pulsing xenia...its up to something, i know it.
aandfsoccr04
Active member
Just stopping by to check in on your progress. Not much in the way of updates from you which highly disappoints me. Post some pics already!
