Step-by-step account of my first reef (with lots of pics)
- Thread starter Dudester
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George Grogan
New member
I love that quote!! I have the sudden urge to stand up and SALUTE!!
Dudester
Premium Member
jnarowe and gkarshens - Thanks, guys, you are true gentlemen. I hope you don't mind if I share them with fishypets - we're in this together! As I said, it'll be another 4 weeks until I put any acros in my tank. In Gabriel's tank, those frags'll be full colonies by then 
.
techreef - Thanks for the suggestion, but yes, the tank is open on top, and I do fear the jumper. That being said, the midas blenny is a beautiful fish and an excellent suggestion, but I'd hate for it to jump to its peril, so I'll pass and definitely consider it for the office tank. I was also thinking of a yellow assessor, but they're known to jump as well, at least according to Scott Michael. Anyone out there have experience with this fish? Another option is a canary fang blenny. I just read about this fish in the December isue of Aquarium Fish Magazine. Hmm, maybe I should just go ahead and get that pair of Swissguards?
kfowler - What a poignant quote, very inspirational, and thanks also for your kind words. It helps me to feel that all of this documentation is worthwhile.
Reefinabox - Great username, and thanks for your comments. I really like the look of cubes, too, especially the 240! Feel free to chime in as you see fit.
melev - How unfortunate that "TTC" has officially become an accepted acronym. I don't think I could legitimately claim that I suffered a TTC, it was more like a TAC
.
larrydawg5 - At ease, soldier. I admire and respect the military 100%, but this thread is stationed in Austin, TX. We're just kickin' back here (although my east coast roots certainly do clash with most Austinites on occasion).
The tank's looking pretty good these days, even though I sorely miss having acros. I'm starting to realize that sometimes, less is better. I don't like the look of the first floor of my reef. The sand is nearly covered throughout the entire tank, largely with zoanthid rocks. I'm going to give them away, and I'm also looking forward to transferring my gigas into the office tank. These maneuvers will give my tank a more natural look, and I'll probably get some small LPS to scatter along the substrate.
.techreef - Thanks for the suggestion, but yes, the tank is open on top, and I do fear the jumper. That being said, the midas blenny is a beautiful fish and an excellent suggestion, but I'd hate for it to jump to its peril, so I'll pass and definitely consider it for the office tank. I was also thinking of a yellow assessor, but they're known to jump as well, at least according to Scott Michael. Anyone out there have experience with this fish? Another option is a canary fang blenny. I just read about this fish in the December isue of Aquarium Fish Magazine. Hmm, maybe I should just go ahead and get that pair of Swissguards?
kfowler - What a poignant quote, very inspirational, and thanks also for your kind words. It helps me to feel that all of this documentation is worthwhile.
Reefinabox - Great username, and thanks for your comments. I really like the look of cubes, too, especially the 240! Feel free to chime in as you see fit.
melev - How unfortunate that "TTC" has officially become an accepted acronym. I don't think I could legitimately claim that I suffered a TTC, it was more like a TAC
.larrydawg5 - At ease, soldier. I admire and respect the military 100%, but this thread is stationed in Austin, TX. We're just kickin' back here (although my east coast roots certainly do clash with most Austinites on occasion).
The tank's looking pretty good these days, even though I sorely miss having acros. I'm starting to realize that sometimes, less is better. I don't like the look of the first floor of my reef. The sand is nearly covered throughout the entire tank, largely with zoanthid rocks. I'm going to give them away, and I'm also looking forward to transferring my gigas into the office tank. These maneuvers will give my tank a more natural look, and I'll probably get some small LPS to scatter along the substrate.
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Rustylugnuts
Powdered Toast Man
Just read the first couple of pages so far and I love the setup. BTW thanks for the outdoor CL pics!! This broadened my understanding of what melev was saying on his site. The mag 5 & 7 is here and I only wait for the semester to end and for the weldon to arrive before I hijack a friends woodshop and attempt the diy wier CL and sump. Ill be taggin along for sure!
KingfishJohn
New member
Yeah Midas blennies and myself do not have a good track record. Of the 10 or so that I've seen come in to the old LFS I worked for, 9 of them died slowly. Either they wouldn't eat (even live food failed) or they had some kind of internal parasite that made them starve to death.
On the other hand, I have had great luck with yellow assesors. I had one in of my many reincarnations of my 30 cube and it was a great fish. Didn't jump, just hung out upside down all day long. Even better thing is that ORA is going to start offering them captive bred soon!
John
On the other hand, I have had great luck with yellow assesors. I had one in of my many reincarnations of my 30 cube and it was a great fish. Didn't jump, just hung out upside down all day long. Even better thing is that ORA is going to start offering them captive bred soon!
John
Dudester
Premium Member
Cool, dude, please sign me up for 1 Swissguard (or even a candycane) Basslett and 1 yellow assessor! I'm getting excited already!
Rustylugnuts - Welcome to the thread, and I'm glad the photos helped you. If you need any assistance along the way to building your reef, feel free to ask here.
techreef - I know what you mean about the fangs, but according to the article, they're supposed to be docile creatures despite their name.
Rustylugnuts - Welcome to the thread, and I'm glad the photos helped you. If you need any assistance along the way to building your reef, feel free to ask here.
techreef - I know what you mean about the fangs, but according to the article, they're supposed to be docile creatures despite their name.
Dudester
Premium Member
The "fang blennies" are given this name because they do have fangs, yet they are used to consume shrimp and other larger crustaceans. They do not attack other fish and, in fact, the article mentioned that they can be harrassed by other aggressive fish such as damsels and dottybacks. These fish are not venemous, they're quite hardy, and according to the article in AFM, they make excellent home reef inhabitants.
techreef
Premium Member
Okay, so I got off my butt and did a little research. I take your word for it Dudester that the fish you are getting is fine, since you seem to do quite a bit of beforehand research on your stuff. Not to be contrary, but check out this link for a Canary Blenny, aka Canary Fang Blenny, from Liveaquaria.com. Nothing to really worry about, just interesting.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=70
Other species listed as venemous on liveaquaria were forktail, striped, white, and harptail blennies. Again, it kind of seems liveaquaria is just being over-careful in labeling these guys "venemous."
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=70
Other species listed as venemous on liveaquaria were forktail, striped, white, and harptail blennies. Again, it kind of seems liveaquaria is just being over-careful in labeling these guys "venemous."
fishypets
New member
Well it has been a while since I've added some death pics so I figured I snap a few today and give ya'll an update. Here we go:
Dead or dying acros that were removed today.
Here is what the QT looked like a few days after it was set up
And here we are today
The good news is I found no AEFW on the corals that were removed today. Mike and I also had the pleasure to see an awesome 600 gallon reef today that inspired us both. Take a look
Dead or dying acros that were removed today.
Here is what the QT looked like a few days after it was set up
And here we are today
The good news is I found no AEFW on the corals that were removed today.
Mike and I also had the pleasure to see an awesome 600 gallon reef today that inspired us both. Take a look
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