ZeeSparrow's 75G LPS tank build

Glad you found him in the tank, instead of the carpet!

So, Fire Shrimp huh? Definitely a cool addition, super color and fun to watch.

I had started to develop a bit of a love/hate relationship with mine, but I think I've figured out a way we can 'get along'.

When I feed the tank, there are a couple LPS corals that I spot feed once or twice a week. A Brain Coral, some Acans and some Dendrophylia (more like 3 times a week). Every time you give food to one of these corals, the Fire Shrimp runs over and starts ripping the food right out of the corals mouths or feeder tentacles. He's not exactly very nice about it either.

I was trying to fend him off with the turkey baster, but he's not easily intimidated and that wasn't really getting the job done.

Today, I stumbled on a new technique. I reached in the tank with a couple pellets to feed the Dendro's, and out comes the Shrimp. I dropped the food on the Dendro's, then moved my fingers down in front of the Shrimp. He stopped and thought about it a minute, then reached out and tested my fingers. After a bit, he just jumped right on and started working on my manicure! I let him have his fun until it looked like the coral had a handle on it's dinner, then took my hand out of the tank.

Fun stuff! :)
 
Not seeing a fish for a while (when it seems so atypical to not be out at certain times) sure can stress a person out, huh?

Glad it was a false alarm.
 
You sure he wasn't just camouflaged? Lol. Good thing he showed up!

That's possible. He's doing it again this morning. :uhoh2:

Glad you found him in the tank, instead of the carpet!

So, Fire Shrimp huh? Definitely a cool addition, super color and fun to watch.

I had started to develop a bit of a love/hate relationship with mine, but I think I've figured out a way we can 'get along'.

When I feed the tank, there are a couple LPS corals that I spot feed once or twice a week. A Brain Coral, some Acans and some Dendrophylia (more like 3 times a week). Every time you give food to one of these corals, the Fire Shrimp runs over and starts ripping the food right out of the corals mouths or feeder tentacles. He's not exactly very nice about it either.

I was trying to fend him off with the turkey baster, but he's not easily intimidated and that wasn't really getting the job done.

Today, I stumbled on a new technique. I reached in the tank with a couple pellets to feed the Dendro's, and out comes the Shrimp. I dropped the food on the Dendro's, then moved my fingers down in front of the Shrimp. He stopped and thought about it a minute, then reached out and tested my fingers. After a bit, he just jumped right on and started working on my manicure! I let him have his fun until it looked like the coral had a handle on it's dinner, then took my hand out of the tank.

Fun stuff! :)

Yeah I have one space near my return where the powerhead line exits the tank and he might be able to squeeze through next to that. I need to redo my mesh top a little shorter, with an egg crate/mesh section for the back that I can fit tighter. I'll probably do that this weekend.

I'll have to keep an eye out when I spot feed my LPS. Apparently fire shrimp have a reputation for thievery. Thanks for the tip! They are really fun to watch though.

Not seeing a fish for a while (when it seems so atypical to not be out at certain times) sure can stress a person out, huh?

Glad it was a false alarm.

Indeed. It seems the little guy has found a new spot to hide - and it's effective!
 
ZeeSparrow's 75G LPS tank build

A few more additions and not so great cell pictures to share.

Orange plate
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Three acans. An ultra red, mean green and one unknown surprise gift from the owner of Sea King Aquariums where these were ordered from.
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I also got an orange hammer but my picture didn't turn out... So here is the one from the website.
a235f0f47be3953c1f63d875e9068fbd.jpg
 
Nice!! I like the acans! You do need to work on those cell phone pics though ;-)


Yeah yeah. lol I just don't have enough time in the day now. 12 hour day today kills me. Home just long enough to check everything looks ok, feed the fish, dogs and cat. Oh and me. Ha

Lost the other clownfish but the other two are doing well. And I think my frogspawn is going to split. Both heads have a bubble at the mouth. Yay!
 
Yeah yeah. lol I just don't have enough time in the day now. 12 hour day today kills me. Home just long enough to check everything looks ok, feed the fish, dogs and cat. Oh and me. Ha

Lost the other clownfish but the other two are doing well. And I think my frogspawn is going to split. Both heads have a bubble at the mouth. Yay!


That's no good... Sad to hear your clown passed... I wonder what caused it. I have a friend who lost two clowns in about the same time span a couple months ago.. No visible signs of illness, no problems with water quality or anything...

Good to hear your corals are growing well! Quick the long hours so you can post comments lol! Work is overrated anyway! [emoji3]
 
Wow this is a great thread to read tank is looking awesome

Thank you. I really need to get after some of the hair algae before it takes over my candycanes. lol

That's no good... Sad to hear your clown passed... I wonder what caused it. I have a friend who lost two clowns in about the same time span a couple months ago.. No visible signs of illness, no problems with water quality or anything...

Good to hear your corals are growing well! Quick the long hours so you can post comments lol! Work is overrated anyway! [emoji3]

Thanks. This one started opening and closing his mouth just like the first, and ate just as well too. His body did not have anything wrong though, whereas the first had fading coloration/milky white appearance the very last day. This guy still had good coloration and everything when he passed. :confused:

Yesterday was a fluke. I hope. I should have some time this weekend, after cleaning the tank, water changes for everyone... maybe I'll get some halfway decent pictures, even!
 
Looking good zee. Love the new corals.
Sorry to hear about the clown passing. It's hard when you lose a pet.
The tanks looking really good though. Keep it up.
 
Thanks RingingEars.

How are you doing? Recovery going well?

Yeah. I'm on week 3 with 3 more to go in the sling. 12 weeks of physical therapy left.
Getting tired of sleeping in a chair, but it will be worth it when it's all done. At least I got some good drugs out of the deal :jester:
Getting antsy to get the tank going though. At least I have you guys to post update pics to keep me going.:bounce3:
 
Glad to hear it's going well. I've been wondering. It will be worthwhile when all healed for sure.

I am hoping to post updates pictures this weekend. And maybe swope will have some too.... With water! Heheheh
 
Tank is really coming along Zee. Looks good. I've been dealing with Family issues recently, but did manage to buy another Candycanes, Acan, Clove, GSP, Favia. My two clowns come out of QT on Saturday.
 
Thank you, Grizz. Sorry to hear about the Family issues... but congrats on the new additions (and end of QT)! I am looking forward to seeing updated pictures of your tank.
 
Thanks Zee. Appreciate the kind thought.
Looking forward to the update Grizz.
I tell ya, the down time has given me plenty of time to pencil out my aquascape and coral placement plans. I want to go with a clean, bonzai look. I think I'm going to go with 3 pillars in my tank with some room for a small zoa/mushroom island in the front center.
My 1st additions will be a couple of clowns followed by a bta. Once the bta settles in I'll start adding corals.
Eventually one of the two gaps between the pillars will host a clam.
Proper fish to be added, but still undecided.
 
Good to hear, Grizz. Can't wait. :)

RingingEars - glad you're finding ways to keep yourself entertained and make a bit of progress on your build. What size tank are you setting up again - 75? I like the ideas.

As for my tank, I spent a couple hours cleaning house and changing water this afternoon. The sump had a good bunch of cotton candy algae embedded in the eggcrate "divider" as well as here and there in the chaeto. I pulled out the divider and cleaned it well, and tossed most of the chaeto. There's still a couple small bunches left. In the tank there are quite a few sprouts of hair algae (hopefully not bryopsis but w/e), some of which I pulled out and others scrubbed on the rock. I didn't get it all (not even close) but I'm okay with some... might be food for someone like this guy:

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I took a couple corals out that were getting overrun with algae and cleaned them off, and dipped as well. One of them also had what I suspect was aiptasia peeking out of one side. I'll have to keep an eye out for more of those, but so far all I've seen is the one. These two coral were relocated - both lower than previous. The favia is now shaded on the sandbed and the candycane is a few inches lower on the rock. I also moved up the new acans and hammer (which opened up better than ever this afternoon).

Water parameters are great, and stable. I've got a few pineapple sponges on the back wall of the tank, joining the decreasing number of pods that show up there.

Test results pre-WC:
1.025 sg
0.2 nitrates
400 ca
8.3 dkh
1290 mg
0 ph
79F

A few pictures:

Orange hammer in its new location, not quite fully open:
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One picture I really like of the ultra red:
43D05EF5-3ABD-4147-8925-CE0694FEF87A_zps7ybxf0nb.jpg


And a new FTS:
81a38d33-192d-4031-9ccc-8ab7e54d9b83_zpsbvbqh7qb.jpg
 
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