Soulpatch's build thread (ongoing)

[ReefWreak]

BRS actually posted a pic yesterday on FB where they had a file fish nipping at a clam so the clam shut on the fish killing it. Never thought that would happen but it was interesting to see...

I'm surprised it's the first time you've seen/heard about it. I guess I've just been on RC a very long time. I've seen and heard of many unfortunate instances where a curious tang, angel, etc picks on the clam, or even a clownfish hosting a clam, that got closed on, and they both died unfortunately.

Clams are a different experience than most aquarium critters, and like I said, they can be very finnicky, or they can be rock solid. I had a nice crocea that grew huge in a crevice in my rockwork in my 120. I didn't realize that's actually how they live (they're boring clams, so they dig into the rocks). I took some pics when diving of this, I thought it was super cool seeing crocea clams with only their mantle showing at the surface, and they had actually dug themselves into the rock or coral head so that they were entirely encapsulated.

They just have to be treated differently than other things, and they can bite back, but always to their detriment.

Clams and anemones (especially gigantea carpets) need to be handled very differently than most corals/critters. A nice big gigantea will eat all of your fishes except your clownfish given enough time.

 

[soulpatch]

Clown and Homer you will hate this following pic but it is of the acans my LFS has in and will be fragging this week. I need to decide which 2 or 3 I want to add as I am going to add another rock to my tank for another acan garden. LOL. I cant seem to get enough of acans.

I am thinking for sure the two on the top right of the pic but I need to decide if I want one or two of the others as well:

 

[homer1475]

I really like the pink and yellow one.

Out of curiosity and me not knowing anything, what does a typical frag of those go for? The ones I saw at a frag swap this weekend were going for around 180$ for a 2 head frag(assuming each circle is a head with a mouth?). Super expensive for what they are in my book. Could just be my location and not knowing what I'm really looking at when it comes to acans also.

 

[soulpatch]

All of my acans I get from him are $49. They consists of at least 3 heads for the larger ones and if smaller heads then there will be more.


I agree with you that the more I look at the pink and yellow/green one the more it grows on me. I think I might do the top right three and the one third down on the left. Might as well get all four while I am there....that is if they are there when I get there tonight.

 

[homer1475]

So so jealous!!! :furious:

One of these days I'll have to make a trip down there. My wife goes to Lancaster with her mom and sister all the time, and I know, That Fish Place is down near there somewhere. I've looked at ordering from them online a couple times.

Where are you in relation to there? I have friends that live in shipensburg, I think it is. Very close to Gettysburg.

 

[soulpatch]

Ship is about an hour or so from gettysburg. I am 40 minutes from That Pet Place as I am smack in the middle between lancaster and Philly.

That Pet Place is hit or miss and overpriced compared to my local LFS. I have had no luck there recently and they recently changed ownership so some warehouse issues and such were occuring.

 

[svynx]

That Pet Place is hit or miss and overpriced compared to my local LFS. I have had no luck there recently and they recently changed ownership so some warehouse issues and such were occuring.

I couldn't have said it better. I'm only about 40 minutes away from there as well, just in the other direction. Go back 10 years ago and TPP was a serious heavy hitter. Not so much now. I can justify going there to look at some of the livestock since it is close enough, but lately I just go to look and pick up hardware/dry goods. If you go on the right day/time, the crowd isn't there and you can talk to a few of the employes that actually know what they are doing. I'm hoping that things will turn around with the new ownership. I do know that the off site warehouse is going away and they will be keeping everything on site which is nice. Their frag tank was pretty full the last time I was there (and they are using Radion's above it...a good 20 of them).

Having said all of this, I'm still going to check out Aquarium Specialties this weekend. Seeing the pictures he posts on FB...I'll make the 1.5 hour trip. Hoping to find some good soft coral at a good price.

 

[soulpatch]

Did you see the pic I posted earlier in this thread from his FB with those acans??? Wow.

Also he has some awesome hammers and frogspawn there so be prepared to go home happy...

 

[svynx]

Did you see the pic I posted earlier in this thread from his FB with those acans??? Wow.

Also he has some awesome hammers and frogspawn there so be prepared to go home happy...

I did. And every so often I'll get some pics on my FB page too. Always looks good.

That's exactly what I'm going after. I wouldn't mind going away with one of each, along with a hairy mushroom. I need to stick with extremely easy to keep (aka no special feeding) as the tank is in my office at work. Not a lot of time to do things with it, plus any time I'm not in.

I messaged the owner on FB just now looking to get a general idea on pricing. Either way, I'll be out on Sunday.

 

[soulpatch]

pricing for the hammers/frogspawn/torches depends on number of heads and color of the piece. It can be anywhere from $40 - much more.

You really dont have to special feed most LPS, shrooms, or zoas. They like it of course and you can do so once or twice a week to appease them but it is not necessary. I hand feed most of my acans, brain, and my other LPS once a week or so. I also mix up some coral food and dump that in once a week so they can feed fromt hat as well but for the most aprt they pull what they need from the water.

 

[\Clownfish/]

On the other hand I would go with the Orange, green and the pink on in the middle

 

[soulpatch]

well I already have some of those held so I will take a look tonight potentially

Clown I have no idea where you live but perhaps we can set up something for you to have items shipped to you. He or I can probably hold till there are a few pieces to save on costs. But I would think given his low prices that even with shipping it would be cheaper or even to what you are paying and you would get some quality pieces.

I have been thinking about placing an order with http://thecoralshop.com/ but need to try to find some reviews. They have some insanely colored pieces though a lot of times that is due to editing the photos and lighting but still...

 

[ReefWreak]

I'm not quite there yet, but those are definitely some pretty and colorful acans. If/when I go to my LFS next, they have some small frags that are those colors. I might venture to pick one up. As long as I don't have to directly feed it too often.

I just have a few corals that eat down right under the feeding flap on the biocube, so when there is extra food that the fish let sink, it lands on the fungia/favia/ricordia/euphyllia corals

 

[soulpatch]

I have to be careful since I know I will most likely get a few things at reefapalooza and want to ensure I have the room for everything. LOL I might have to give up my living SPS just to have more room for new purchases. HA HA. Or perhaps even frag some of my zoas for room for more zoas...

 

[\Clownfish/]

That would be amazing! I'm located in Iowa

 

[soulpatch]

well add aquarium specialities on FB and let me know if you see anything. I will bring it up with him tonight/tomorrow when I am there and see what his interest is. Like I said I could probably ship as well and bundle a few pieces if needed. Just throw a frag rack in my tank for outgoing orders lol

 

[soulpatch]

On a personal side I am staying at my employer and moving departments. Going back into more of a Marketing role which is where I excel as opposed to the more analytical role I am in right now.

So that said I need to start to put my ducks in a row in my current home so I can move and have a proper tank and fish room. Plans are to pay down bills through this winter while stockpiling cash and to list our home in the Spring. So by this time next year I hope to be in a new home and planning a large cube build...

I think I will steal D2Mini's cube ideas and add some other things to it like his current sump/refugium/frag tank setup as well. So while still a ways away it is looking on the up and up...

 

[ReefWreak]

On a personal side I am staying at my employer and moving departments. Going back into more of a Marketing role which is where I excel as opposed to the more analytical role I am in right now.

Congrats, that's good news. I'm an analyst and <3 spreadsheets I'm glad you're moving into something you enjoy more.

So that said I need to start to put my ducks in a row in my current home so I can move and have a proper tank and fish room. Plans are to pay down bills through this winter while stockpiling cash and to list our home in the Spring. So by this time next year I hope to be in a new home and planning a large cube build...

I think I will steal D2Mini's cube ideas and add some other things to it like his current sump/refugium/frag tank setup as well. So while still a ways away it is looking on the up and up...

I challenge you to leave your tank alone until next year

I really like the big cubes. I've always liked tanks with depth, and I think the "cube phenomenon" that is happening right now is really cool. In one of the original aquarium books I bought (fossa and nilsen maybe? one of the bread-and-butter of the hobby books) the author commented on how nice of a display a 100cm x 100cm x 100cm cube would make with a rock pile/tower in the middle. I happen to agree, and think it would be really cool to do, especially with an acropora reef crest themed tank.

Good luck with budgeting and all that. Still looking forward to updates going forward

 

[homer1475]

Like he's going to be able to leave it alone.:rollface:

I love the cube look. At one of the frag swaps I went to, they were raffling off a 90G cube with stand. Sweet looking tank and a spire of rock in the middle with the return pumping up from it would be super cool!

 

[soulpatch]

Oh I won't leave my current tank alone at all. Still going to mess with it and might get slightly larger cube for now until I move and get the massive cube.

I will still be an analyst reef. This brew position allows me to do more on the analysis side as opposed to just pulling data for others