The grouper you've all been waiting for (and more)

[T-T-Trigger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13489292#post13489292 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinpsmith
T-T-Trigger I just realized that I just said 250 watts MH when you asked about lighting but not what bulb. I have had great success with the $18 ebay 14k bulbs Nice to be able to order 3 or 4 for the price you would pay for one brand name one. I switch them out every 4-5 months just because they are so cheap. I do find they change color temperature a little quicker than brand name bulbs but not too badly. I used one of them for about a year without changing it and never had algae problems or anything.

well, our setups seem kinda similar, and i haven't decided how to light the big tank yet. I actually thought about angling a halide fixture lol!!! I have a 150w pendant and 175w retro, neither of which i am using - just cant figure it out, i really don't like the tall mh hoods. FYI, i put the 135 in place (100 wasnt cutting it) - NOW tell me they dont look kinda similar

(not quite done yet, obv.)

 

[T-T-Trigger]

actually i am quite jealous... without this titan I could keep many more colorful fishes like you have!! dang you.

 

[JustinReef]

They do look very similar! I like how yours is plumbed together and not just one tank though. I get sand from my fuge all over and stuck in my skimmer pump sometimes

I am lucky to be able to keep all the fish I do. We'll see how aggression goes over time but for now, there is none.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13491175#post13491175 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by T-T-Trigger
actually i am quite jealous... without this titan I could keep many more colorful fishes like you have!! dang you.

Yeah but your titan is amazing!

 

[JustinReef]

Way off topic but here are a few of my other pets

These two are the strangest pair but seem to have some sort of bond. They are constantly trying to communicate! You would be very surprised at how loud the gecko can be. The gecko's tank used to be on a stand but the kitten had a hard time getting to it and would cry so much we decided to try the tank on the floor. Both the gecko and the cat seem to love it.

 

[Grouperhead]

Is that a crested?

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13492511#post13492511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
Is that a crested?

Same family but this is a Rhacodactylus auriculatus, Gargoyle Gecko, found only on the southern end of the island of New Caledonia. I think at one time they were thought to be extinct. They will most likely be put on the endangered species list very soon I hear Their homes are being taken away by logging very fast and since they only come from one tiny area, it wouldn't take much to wipe them out.

Similar to Crested Geckos but I find they are a bit bigger, fatter and don't hide as much during the day. When he was a baby he also liked to bite a lot They make very loud "barking" noises which are only suppose to be during mating season but mine makes them at the cat...I guess he finds the cat attractive.

Pretty easy care Geckos because they not only eat crickets and other insects but also fruits like apricots and banana. He eats baby food a few times a week as well

He doesn't mind being held either which is really cool. He actually quite friendly.

 

[JustinReef]

The one encouraging thing about Gargoyles is that like Cresties, they are all captive bred. So although they are probably endangered by now, the hobby is ALL based on breeding programs. The sad thing is that soon there will most likely be more Gargoyle Geckos in peoples homes than in New Caledonia.

 

[JustinReef]

This is what a baby looks like.

 

[Grouperhead]

Very cool. I've kept several phelsuma (day geckos) - mainly P. madagascarensis. Geckos are by far the coolest lizards out there. Cool stuff Justin.

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13493751#post13493751 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
Very cool. I've kept several phelsuma (day geckos) - mainly P. madagascarensis. Geckos are by far the coolest lizards out there. Cool stuff Justin.

I agree! I love them. My Gargoyle though is by far the strangest Gecko I have ever owned. I have no idea why he likes the cat so much. You would think he would shy away from him but as you see in the pics, when the cat lays down in front of the tank, the gecko comes running over to see him. Then sometimes they have the most annoying conversations in the middle of the night

 

[Recty]

Have you ever had the gecko outside to see what the cat does?

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13494477#post13494477 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Recty
Have you ever had the gecko outside to see what the cat does?

Yes. I take the gecko out all the time and hold him but I usually make sure the cat is sleeping. Once though they did meet and not much really happened. The cat couldn't have cared less The gecko doesn't seem to acknowledge him either when hes outside the tank.

The whole thing is just so weird.

 

[danorth]

Very nice fish and tank!!! Which skimmer is that? Also, how long has that tank system been running?

 

[JustinReef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13494733#post13494733 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danorth
Very nice fish and tank!!! Which skimmer is that? Also, how long has that tank system been running?

Bubblemaster 200. Great skimmer.

This tank has been running about 6 months now I think but has changed a lot because of QTing fish and changing the idea of the tank from a heavily planted tank to a soft coral reef.

I have had the LR and most of the corals for years though. Some of the LR was dried out though and then cycled over again.

 

[JustinReef]

Here are the close ups of the groupers fins. My guess is some kind of bacterial disease like "fin rot". Its not getting worse really but I am concerned because its also not getting better. He was always so dark and unhappy in QT so its not something I noticed or I would have treated him for it then I don't know what I should do now. Maybe just wait it out a bit longer and see what happens. Thats the plan for now anyways.

I forgot to mention too that a few days ago he cut himself really deep just above his eye. Its already healed but has a white kind of growth where the cut used to be. I am amazed at how fast the cut healed. It was DEEP. I never got a chance to take pictures. I have no idea how he cut himself either??? It was a perfectly straight cut, like from a scalpel. Not a bite for sure. Oh well, its healed already!

Pics of the fins...

 

[JustinReef]

Few more random shots...

Still sleeping

 

[JustinReef]

This is the is the fish that I see the most color change in since switching to the Tropic Marin Vitamins. My Coral Beauty. She literally glows.

 

[JustinReef]

More

 

[Recty]

Thank you for circling the ends of the fins... without those red circles I had no idea where the end of the fin was

Just kidding

All in all, the fin "rot" looks very minimal, and I do mean very. Probably just stress from QT and being moved. With good treatment and water quality, I dont think you'll be having any problems with that, the fins will probably be 100% in a month at the most.