your acros are so beautiful

WOW!!! Awesome new pictures!!! The tank is looking absolutely perfect!!!
Nice name ... Red Bug Monti!

Are you local, SLO? If so, by all means, let's swap. Whatchu got?


Thank you, Sir. Saw your entry in the RC contest. How'd u do?


Thanks but I only have 1 worth taking pics of (at the moment)


Far from perfect, but I'll keep at it. "Red Bugs." We shall never forget. But it they ever come back, I don't know that I would risk medicating the entire tank again. Disastrous to the ecosystem. Maybe dip individual pieces instead.

Wow, Wow, Wow Randy. Tank is looking absolutely spectacular. Full to the brim with wonderful corals. Can't wait to have a little slice of your reef in mine...and vice versa. I see some perfect spots for the corals I'll be sending your way.

I'm assuming that some of these shots are from your frag tank? So it looks like the glass shield worked for protecting against UV.

Thank you, Sir and I do appreciate your pending contribution! The GARF and Pearlberry are spectacular pieces and deserve premium placement in this tank.

Actually, these frag racks are all in my display. I haven't taken the leap to put them in the bin below. Still observing how the tester frags react to full Phoenix light. Today, I lifted the last piece of screening, where only the light diffuser remains. 3 days from now, I'll remove the light diffuser and see how the corals react. If they start to color up with no issues, then (and only then) will I be moving the good stuff down below.

ya, im in Roseville. Check out my tank and let me know. Right now all I have fragged are mohawk palys. I have like a 4 polyp frag but if someone wanted to teach me i would be willing to frag an acan or two.

You've got comments! As far as fragging acans, I know as much as I've read online. Doesn't sound too dangerous with the right tools. Simply score the skeletal underside and cut through with a dremel until you reach the soft tissue. Use a straight edge blade to slice the tissue. Apparently, this would promote growth and healing versus scorching the flesh with the hot wheel. Also, I've also read some debate about certain techniques. But I doubt any method of cutting will kill it, so long as it's done precisely around the polyps. Before cutting, I would make sure polyps have receded completely - so the risk of losing the colony is minimal.

What do you think?

lol bring it over. i have a bandsaw. it'll cut it super clean between the polyps.

Sounds like Sam has the know how! I mean he does have pretty most of the nice acans and lots of other lps to drool over! arty at Sams? ha ha

Haha. Great idea, but it looks like I'll be fragging VERY OFTEN. My tester coral (in the frag bin) are all responding well to the UV light shields I rigged up. So I bought a Dremel today and tested it out on the "Red Bug" Monti. The diamond wheel bit spins so fast that it slices straight through ceramic frag discs with ease. I made four frags of it. Would've fragged more stuff, but I ran out of discs and glue! Just ordered new ones online of various sizes.

Hey Adam, if you can hold out 1 week longer, I'll cut you bigger pieces. Need to make sure the frags heal properly before I ship.

lol . are u guys going to the bar swap on the 15th?

Possibly. Depending on what I have to offer perhaps. Where is it?

From now on, I'll be logging my online purchases. To keep track of the mighty dollar.

• 20-Pack Fired Ceramic Frag Plugs
• 25-Pack Fired Ceramic Frag Disks
• Seachem Reef Salt - 50 gallon mix Bag (Case of 3)
• Boston Aqua Farms Reef Discs 15 count
• E.S.V. Granular Activated Carbon 1lb E.S.V. Granular Activated Carbon 1lb
• Boston Aqua Farms Thicker Reef Glue 2oz
• Overflow Strainer - 3/4 inch Slip
• Loc-Line 1/2 inch Ball Socket x MPT Connector
• Loc-Line 1/2 inch Ball Socket Round Nozzle
• Threaded Overflow Strainer - 1 inch MPT
• Two Little Fishies NanoMag Magnetic Glass Cleaning Device

$128.40 Shipped.

I wont be attending the swap. August is always the most busy month for me family and friends wise and have alot of camping trips to attend to. Hopefully ill make it to the next mars swap though.

oooo 2 lil fishies nano mag. just looked it up and looks like i'll be making a purchase soon was gonna get that nimble nano cleaner but this looks even sleeker.



ahh, well the mars swap is the month right after it. it should be a good time seein sum of the local reefers.



well, you gotta bring a minimum of 3 frags (different strains) and u get placed in a group to pick. they call groups to pick until all the coral is gone. its in hayward.

Sounds interesting. Does BAR have a discussion board? I like pre-trading, so I know what I'm getting beforehand. Might try this group pick too (if I go).

**
I noticed that the Miami Hurricane Chalice is now growing 3 new eyes at once! So I decided to stop dosing A.A. this week to increase feeding instead. All corals are now on a routine feeding regimen. Most "collectible" corals (acans, chalices, zoas) are direct fed:

• Oyster Eggs, 5ml - 7 days/week Mornings
• Brine/Mysis Combo, 1 cube - M,W,F,SUN Nights
• Cyclopeez & RotiFeast Combo, 15ml diluted - T,TH,SAT Nights

Many of the newer pieces are now on mini mag-racks, so I can raise them to the surface during feeding. MUCH EASIER to direct feed this way without having to put my hands in tank. The Hurricane has its own VIP mag-rack, bc its tentacles reach 2+ inches beyond its perimeter!

This Sunset Monti never ceases to amaze me. Its polyps are only becoming thicker, now hiding much of the orange base. Looks like the ongoing border dispute with the Idaho Grape is going well too.


See the Mini Carpet Nem on the move... Pretty cool. Courtesy of LBeezy. I've had it for almost a month now, but it never had an opportunity to bolt until I moved its base rock next to another rock. This may be the only pic I can snap of it if it keeps on movin. Who knows where it'll end up in this tank. The Setosa frags above the carpet were courtesy of ScottyReef, but they're not as pale as they appear.


Here's a better pic of the "setosa glow." Hopefully it turns a deeper red/orange as time goes on. Notice the nem is now in a different spot.


Adam, I can frag these too! Let me know if you want em.

dude you need a bigger reef!

loving the chalice collection. i've been looking for someone else that's willing to sell their house for some tiny little delicate animals. let's play

www.bareefers.org is the discussion board. you'll find something interesting in the groups. i always do.

i'm gettin some chalices in about 1.5 weeks. the tyree pink & red watermelons, mummy eye and another one. i got a crap load of frags on the sand bed i gotta clear out for em.

do you have other chalices around it? do they sting other chalices?

Oh la la ... I am loving those pictures!!! I need to find another Setosa ... mine seemed to have disappeared ... fish probably moved it somewhere

Thanks Blue. Where? From who r u getting the chalices!@#! I need some watermelons. Let me know if you want to go in halves.

The MH stings everything in its reach. All of the chalices have long tentacles but I have yet to put any close enough to touch. Let me know what happens with yours. LOL



I'm down. Perhaps we should stop buying the same corals though Haha.

You're right. I think I want a long Elos tank. Might need to wait a few years till I move to SD. Or perhaps I buy one now and not move. hehe.


Ha. Blame it on the fish. I'd cut you a piece of mine, but you won't be able to see a fingernail frag in your big tank. lol

BTW, Dan. Last week I had the Hurricane and your Faux Jedi Mind Trick Monti on the same mag-rack, and it stung the monti right in the center. It's starting to heal up, but I WAS PISSED!

Same thing with the "Red Bug Monti" I have too. It stung that in 3 places!

Problem with feeding a Hurricane so much is that it only gets bigger and hungrier. Its tentacles seem to reach out further and further at night. I suppose I could frag it, but I don't want to. I wouldn't have this problem with a big tank. Sigh. Get me a scalpel.

crazy feeders huh? let me know if it doesn't make it and i'll get you another piece

we really do need to start buying diff corals. you buy the nice ones, i'll buy the cheap ones, and then we can trade! j/k

what i am really looking for is a flamethrower and oregon mummy eye. oh a BGM too (i see you have that). the JC raspberry is nice too. as is the area 51. as is the mengs RGB. as is the mengs mummy eye. as is... damn i need a raise

lol, getting it from a trade. the frags are small, don't think it will be fraggable for a while. i should have some other chalices coming through soon also. another buddy is hooking it up w/ a pink & lava flow chalice. i might be getting a miami hurricane also. i'm clearing out space in my tank for the new frags.

i'll snap some pix when i get em. lol i need to upgrade but can't for a while.

one of the nicest tanks ive seen
monthly tank profile material xD

Those are ALL very nice pieces. The BGM is a slow a** grower, so don't wait for me on that one. Or maybe that's the case for all corals that start out pinky nail size!

Honestly, I don't think it would qualify for that category. Mostly frags in here. I do appreciate the nice comments though


I'll be lookin out for those chalices. I think I may be going to BAR after all. Think acans have enough time to heal if they're cut tomorrow?

ya, they'll have enough time to heal. lps are great for cut and hold for a day or two for heal w/ the exception of chalices LOL

the way they run the swap is different from the one you went to in vallejo. all the corals get placed on the table and groups (a-z) get called and each person picks a frag until all of them are gone.

Awesome. So you can bring a an aiptasia frag and come home with a Tyree Watermelon. j/k

I think I'll frag some multi-colored acans and maybe slice the MH for the occasion.

Looking great! Do you have any plans for a larger tank?

-Dave

Thanks Dave. I most certainly do, but my plans to relocate are putting things on hold. With a larger installation, I'd want to stay put for at least 3 years. This 25G ADA tank will not need to be moved for another year (possibly 2). In the meantime, I plan on stretching the limits of what it can accommodate. Note: It's got roughly 38 gallons of water volume with the sump and frag bin, so I don't have to be too concerned with a bio overload.

More likely would be a 30G or less shallow tank that can easily be moved - in addition to maintaining this one. I figure shallow tanks are much easier to feed corals placed at the bottom. More ideal for chalices

w00t, i'll be looking 4 that aiptasia frag.

Wow!!! So much to catch up on Randy. Your tank is looking absolutely fantastic...seriously. Everything looks so nice and happy in there.

I'll have to comb through the last couple of pages on your thread and let you know which Acans I'm interested in for the upcoming trade. You have so many new pieces it's hard to tell what can be fragged and what needs to wait a bit

What are you doing to invoke the feeding response from your Chalice? I've had my frag for a week tomorrow and still haven't seen any tentacles begging to be fed. Maybe I need to hold a piece of mysis right above the bad boy and see if he's hungry then

You'll have to check out my thread when you get a chance...finally got some pics of the Pink Lemonade and Icefire.

Talk to you soon man.

-Adam

I only have 1 aiptasia I can frag at this time and it's small. thank goodness!

Chalice updates!

Pic taken on the night of 07/15/2009 while feeding mysis. Good comparison photo.


Taken just now


Circled highlights are eyes (or mouths) in the making. The ones on the lower right are already eating. Incredible growth in only 3 weeks. At this rate, it should completely cover its base rock by the end of the month.


Taken 07/24/2009


Today. I swear it's gotten bigger. Might be the size of an index finger nail now. lol

I'm on top of it, man. Saw the IceFire almost as soon as you posted it! That might become the most beautiful piece in your tank, if it looks anything like some of the large colonies I've seen.

The pink chalice I've had for 3yrs now, went through a period with no feeder extension. So it could be that your chalice is merely acclimating itself to its new environment. What I did for the BGM was stop ALL current in the tank and delicately placed mysis directly above its eyes - like you would do with cucumbers on your eyes. lol. Within minutes, it should eat. But your lights should be off for at least 2 hours before you feed. Let me know how it goes!

I saw that you posted on my thread as soon as I posted that. Like I said before, as soon as it's big enough to frag...a piece will be coming your way for sure!!

That is some INCREDIBLE growth you've gotten there within such a short period of time. Then again, with the amount of "goodies" you're feeding them, they damn well better grow Keep up whatever you're doing because that is some pretty amazing growth. I like you're comment about the "size of my index finger" as well

I will give the "turn off lights, wait 2 hours, and place mysis right on eyes" a try tomorrow night. You know, I've been out of the LPS loop for a while so I forgot all about waiting until the lights went off. I'm sure the piece will come around and begin taking food...it's nice and happy looking where it is but would love to see what it looks like feeding.

-Adam

Any local NR members interested in trading without having to pay for shipping costs? I'm looking to PRE-trade coral at the upcoming BAR frag swap in Hayward, CA. Here's a link to the frags I'll be trading.

Those ADAs are some beautiful tanks. I hope the simple rimless style catches on and pushes the plastic jukeboxes into oblivion.

That chalice eating mysis is crazy! it could eat a small fish!

sup purp.

good growth shots on the MH. i heard its one of the quicker growing chalices. how far from the light do you have it?

Ha, thanks. Just wish ADAs weren't too risky to drill!


I know huh. I should try feeding it a silverside one of these days.


Hey Blue. I move it around on its own mini mag rack, but I try to keep it within the lower-to-mid level of the tank. I just fragged it today and it was painful to do. Not lookin as pretty as before, but I'd rather trade expensive chalices than buy them!

ya, definitely trading is the way to go. i've limited how much i spend now and keep a log. what are you using to frag?

I use a cordless 10.5v Dremel with their smallest diamond wheel attachment. Works great! You seriously cut acans with a band saw?

yes I had this guy before i dropped it and broke. It worked great

http://www.inlandlapidary.com/singleproduc...p;partnum=91030

i have a dremel w/ the big diamond wheels. they're great for cutting sizes, angles my bandsaw can't cut. the bandsaw has made fragging simple for me.

thats the one i have scotty

PurpleUP,
love the tank. Are there any posts with video's. I was curious about the flow in your tank and wanted to compare to mine.

Funny, I was going to start taking video *after* I put in an MP10! I think there's more than adequate flow in here now with a Koralia Nano, Koralia 1, and a 1000gph return pump. The only issue I have with my current flow is not having varied wavelike motion.

Niceeeeeee!!! You got a vortech! How do you like it? I love my Mp-40 ... I am thinking of getting another one.

That little chalice definitely looks like it has grown ... now I don't need my microscope to see it!

No Vortech yet! But I'm planning for it real soon. Might have to sell some coral to get one though. WAAAAY exceeded 2009 my reef budget lately. Yeah, that little BGM had better get big enough to frag soon. Daddy needs to buy some new gear!

Yo Scott, I pulled the trigger on a poly bag heat sealer today. $25 shipped on eBay for a 4 incher. I think it'll work just fine with the 3x12" bags you gave me. Just come by anytime you need to use it. Adam, I wanna use it to seal your coral shipment. Triple bagged perhaps, with each one sealed tight.


$250. Not bad at all. Get a new one Scott!

I really dont need to john at yourreef has three so if i got stuff that needs to be cut up that is big i take it to him anyway the blades are 75 bucks each and they have a tendecy to crack and break. i still have mine but the top wheels shaft broke i just need to get a new one.

good i will come over to your place if i need to seal some bags i forgot to get that after we talked oh well