Tank is setup

[roguemonk]

I would worry that 220 Watts of PC will provide too little light for a BT anemone in the long term.

Here's a paragraph I found on WetWebMedia FAQ's written by Anthony Calfo (who certainly knows his business):

Anemone Lighting
I actually had another question too. I am soon to have a 72 gallon bow front aquarium, 48" in length. I eventually in it was wanting to have a bubble tip anemone (it being the only organism requiring specific lighting). What is your recommendations on lighting? I was thinking 1 of 3 different setups: 2- 10,000k tubs and 2- Actinic 03 tubes, or 4 - VHO tubes, or something involving a MH if needed. What do you think my man? Thanks John (Fin) Moyer
Reply: without keeping the anemone (or trying too...hehe) in the tope 10" of the tank, metal halides are strongly recommended. 2- 150 or 175 watt lamps mounted horizontally (not vertical pendants) in Iwasaki, Ushio or AB brand 6,500K or 10,000K would be ideal. Research their merits in the archives if you like. Best regards, Anthony

The page is here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/cnidaria/anthozoa/anemonelightngfaqs.htm

Good luck!

Brad

 

[djmod45]

emoutz :
I wouldn't say so because to start out with I had the anemone and it's feet on the top rock you see there. That same day he decided that he prefered living the the cave under and coming out during the day during feedings.

roguemonk :
I'm none too worried right now...I originally picked this one up from a tank where it didn't seem to be too happy. It was deflating on nearly a daily basis. Since the day I got it the anemone has only gotten bigger and happier...I'll keep an eye on it but I think it'll do fine...if it's any consolation I am succesfully growing one acro great with my set of lights (220W Actnic).

And as far as the xenia I won't be too hurt if it doesn't grow back...xenia is fun but it grows way to fast for it's on good.

Blenny is still missing , I guess I'll have to order another one when I make the saltwaterfish.com order next month.

Speaking of which, anyone that is interested in ordering from saltwaterfish.com is more than welcome to add on to my order which will be roughly $200. Let me know!

 

[aurorahokie]

Don't give up on the blennie yet...My goby disappears for a month at a time and then magically reappears until he decides to disappear again.

 

[djmod45]

Well, I finally broke down and spent my $200 gift certificate to http://www.saltwaterfish.com/ and I thought I would share what I ordered with you guys . Should be a lot of fun, and of course a lot of new pictures!

1X Coral Beauty Angel
1X Mandarin Dragonet - Green
1X Blue Hippo Tang
10X Turbo/Astrea Snail
1X Arrow Crab
10X Blueleg Hermits
10X Nassarius Snail
1X Queen Conch - Aquacultured
1X Cleaner Clam
1X Cleaner Shrimp
1X Anemone Crab
1X Lettuce Nudibranch
2X Emerald Crab
1X Mushroom Polyp - Green Ricordea
5X Peppermint Shrimp

 

[djmod45]

Livestock is due in this Friday (with 10 Cerith Snails that weren't listed). Pictures soon.

 

[djmod45]

Oh the woes of a bad camera. Well I figured it had been quite a while and I have gotten tons of stuff in the tank since I last posted pictures so I thought I would give you all a full tank shot. Unfortunately the image quality is questionable.

 

[ga_reefer_guy]

nicely done

 

[Haddonisreef]

The only thing that i would change is hide your heater. Ither behind some rock or put it in the sump/refigum. Just my .02

 

[djmod45]

Yeah Charlie...have thought about it many times but I seem to always have a good excuse to not get around to it . I also have a 55 gallon I am setting up and plumbing so I'm doing the best I can .

 

[djmod45]

Took some shots today and thought I would post a few of them. Everything has grown extensively now that my tank has only been up for since October. Suggestions are welcome!

Kenya tree is quite happy

Blurry pic of the zoa colony I'm starting.

Yellow leather with my blue hippo wanting to get in the shot.

Ricordea

GBTA...has not gotten quite so large because I have been feeding him less. Probably the best idea .

Candy Canes

Arrow crab I bought...he has gotten massive! His longest legs are 4 in each now.

 

[djmod45]

New Camera!

New Camera!

Well, yesterday I made the jump and bought a 6megapixel camera and am now ready to start taking macro shots. New pictures with much better quality on the way soon!

 

[djmod45]

Ahhhh...Finally some post worthy pictures. For your enjoyment, pictures with a camera that works .

 

[djmod45]

Well my wife took some astonishing shots of our green mandarin so I thought I would share...higher resolution images are on the way but my file hoster is down at the moment!

 

[Peterock]

How long was your tank running before you put the mandarin in. I thought it needed a well established tank for pods and stuff. i am really thinking about getting one.

 

[Martin's Reef]

Pete,

This is Tony's old tank that I went up to Milliken to look at for you. when we upgraded to yor 72 bow. Looks like he kept the black sand that was full of life.

Martin

 

[Trex420]

Nice tank and great pixs. Thanks for sharing. I had a question or two. What size return pump do you use and now that you have it setup what size return (GPH) would you think about buying? Do you use a sump/ refugium or just a refugium? I am in the process of setting up a 75 gal now. The last items I need are a return pump and replacement bulbs for the T-5 fixture I just bought.

 

[djmod45]

Thank you all for your comments!

Martin was right, I purchased the aquarium and the live sand from Tony (Reefin' Colorado) and he kept the water cycling so there was definitely not a lack of life in the system. Have tons of copos and mysis running around

My pump runs at about 450GPH and I could honestly use more power, but it was worked for me great! I am using a refugium/sump that has some DIY power compacts above it and I am also growing chaeto. Other than that I run my protein skimmer, as well as replace carbon media that I just bought a mesh bag for. Plus, I just use (4x) 96watt power compacts and I haven't seen any reason to upgrade (don't do a whole lot of SPS).

Honestly though, the way to keep your reef is happy is to play with it for at least half an hour a day!

 

[djmod45]

Well, in a strange but ironic twist of fate...today today my mandarin dragonet was found dead at 17 hundred hours. May his spirit rest in peace .:fish2:

Strange and ironic you ask? Well, in an earlier post someone asked me how I kept him alive. I guess it was pure luck .

 

[stugray]

Sorry to hear about the loss.

I was going to comment on the previous photo:

The stomach on the mandarin looks 'sucked-in'. I couldnt be sure because of the angle of the pic, and the fin in the way. This is a bad sign.


I added a mandarin to my 29 Gal. (without knowing what I ws doing) way before I should have.

I Immediately upgraded to a 75 Gal with a sump, separate fuge, and tons of garf 'grunge'. It worked, he ( Mushu ) is still going strong at 2 yrs old and was my very first fish.

I was gettin bold, so I added a female mandarin and saw eventual decline & 'sucked-in' stomach syndrome ( e.g. starving to death ), and we lost her after 3-4 months.

Apparently, my first mandarin adapted more quickly and ate more diverse foods ( live & frozen brine & mysis ). The female didnt learn quickly enough & didnt make it.

"I guess it was pure luck ."

The truth is, you werent lucky, it just took the fish that long to succumb to starvation ( been there done that ).

Otherwise the tank is looking fantastic. Far more along than I was...

Stu