omg professor. i almost fell out of my chair at that last line. thank you, needed that today.

Oddly enough my brother and I lived so far away from civilization (or maybe that's just what my parents told me) we also rode a short bus to school. It sucked.

Prof I totally agree, the dangers of interbreeding and producing genetically inferior offspring are certainly present if keeping a harem from the same clutch. A few months back I bought a pair of tank-bred true percs which look like they were either from pretty poor stock or had been bred so heavily that they came out runty and weak-looking overall. You're also right, I kept freshwater for years and their are some serious atrocities which occur. Hell if you've seen "glo-fish" they don't even breed those things naturally, their juiced full of starfish DNA and grown in a test tube to create gross colored fish (which I think are in the Danio family?)

I've contacted a reputable breeder, and I believe I am going to go ahead with my plan to try and create a small harem. If it fails I've got a QT (/growout tank) ready to go. If my fish breed I will take things from there. If it succeeds I will have a gorgeous display and something relatively unique in the hobby. I'll keep you posted!

P-daddy: Good luck with your clowns!

On another note I am getting ready to transfer my SPS to a smaller, LED lit tank, as my BTA's are starting to pose a danger. I will post some new pics once the move is complete.

My Pom Pom crab larvae did not survive unforunately . The good new is that she is carrying eggs again so I get to take another shot at it.

-Prof

Wow! I haven't checked in in a while. Very nicely done!

What are you using to raise the fry?

Thanks!



I was using a mix of BBS as well as some very small free-swimming crustaceans (probably baby pods) that live in my fuge that are about the size of the tip of a needle. To get those I have to turn of the fuge light and pump and shine a flashlight against the glass for about 10 minutes and they come to the light. Then I siphon them out. I am readinng a thread on MOFIB from a person who has had some success, but has never raised to adulthood yet. Honestly, I was not prepared for this first clutch and hope to be better prepared next time. I may try some phyto or rots this time too.

-Prof

Was snapping some pics of my new 5.5gal and grabbed a couple shots of my 40br. Not much happening with this tank right now other than watching things grow in. I did have to treat for a cyano problem so my zoa's are kinda of upset, but everything else is doing well.







-Prof

Nice

Thanks!!!!

Prof .... what type of light fixture do you have on your 40?

Thanks

I am using a 36" Current Sundial T-5HO. I have been happy with it so far.

-Prof

New Anthias!!! (not the best pics, the little buggers are fast!)







-Prof

Fish & Corals look beautiful.

Those fish look awesome!


And the montis....

Thanks Weetie! That Macro you see in the background is starting to take over the tank though. I officially have an infestation now! Starting later tonight I am instituting a major Macro war campaign of shock and awe. I have developed a type of agent orange for reef tanks that kills it in about three days. I will be mixing a batch tonight and anything that I cannot remove manually gets nuked!!!

-Prof



Thanks MJ. unfortunatly the green montis in the forground have curved upwards so much that all you pretty much see is the undersides . I guess it's time to frag!

-Prof

Need details on Shock & Awe pls.

Fragging is always a good thing. Unless you end up with unintended little bundles of joy.

Awesome tank and very natural looking!

I will post details shortly







Thanks!

Reef Agent Orange:

OK. First let me preface by saying use at your own risk! I have used this in my tank on a area about 6"x6" with no ill effect. I would do small areas over several days vice doing the whole tank at once. If it is possible to remove the rock to a bucket of tank water with a heater for application that would be preferable.

My test on this tank did not show any appreciable change in water chemistry with the exception of a small rise in nitrates. Mine is usually 0 and I got the hint of a reading 2 days after the dosing, presumably from dying algae matter. This was handled with a WC.

The principle is that you are creating a localized negative osmotic reaction that disrupts the cell structure of the algae. The recipe is very close to commercial solutions for killing aipstasia. This is just cheaper (by far), particularly for the quantities needed and the ingredients are things most of us have lying around.

Here is the recipe:
1 oz boiling distilled or RO water
2 tsp kalk powder
1 oz sea salt mix

Mix well until fully blended to a paste-like consistency. Reduce flow in the tank as much as possible. If feasible, shut it off for at least 1 hour. Remove as much macro manually as possible to reduce how much paste you have to use. Use a turkey baster to apply the paste on top of the macro (mine is a sp.of caulerpa). Be generous in the application. WARNING: this will kill corals as well!!!! Coralline may show bleaching! Microfauna in the treated area will vacate quickly. I am sure there is collateral fatalities to pods, bristles and micro stars etc!!! Again, use at your own risk when the potential benefit outweighs the potential adverse side affects.

In my test within three hours I noticed the algae turning pale. This continued even after full flow was established for the next 2 days. By day three the caulerpa in the applied area was totally gone, to include the rhizome.

I have not yet tested on hair algae, although I have a bit in my tank and plan to while eradicating the rest of this caulerpa. I do not know if it will work with bryopsis. I do not know if it will make some species of Caulerpa go sexual, although I think this may be a risk as a reaction to stress.

My test was performed on 2/3/10 and to date no macro has reinfested the applied area. That being said I have only performed one test so I do not know the long term effectiveness.

I will post pics on this thread over the next week as I treat my tank. LMK if you have any questions.

-Prof

No one tried the agent orange?

Just wanted to say beautiful tank man. I hope some day my 40 looks like this.

Looking real nice. How long has it been running? Can you think of anything you should have done differently?

Just found this thread.
The more I look, the more it seems I like the 40B.
Really beautiful tank!

Seems like forever since I have posted on this thread. The 40 went through a neglect phase but I am starting to put things back in order. I won't say it looks bad but it is certainly not as lush and balanced looking as it once was. I have pruned out a bunch of things and plan to restore this bad boy to where it once was. Sooooo..... To get started l am posting my "baseline" pic of the tank all cleaned and pruned up. LMK what you think.




I will be starting a new thread soon on my pico build that is replacing my 5.5gal that had an unfortunate run in with some stray voltage......Stay tuned!

-Prof

Looking good man. Glad that you're still alive and around.

Thanks D! Doesn't look as good as it once did, but I will get it there. Things have been crazy lately but are starting to get back on track where I can devote some more time to the tank. Good thing I designed it to be idiot proof or it would be a total wreak. I got new bulbs all the way around and gave it a crazy cleaning and pruning. My LFS is going to crap himself when I come in with all the Anthelia and Nepthea frags I got!

I need to get caught up on what's going on with your tanks. Knowing your threads it will probably take me a week though!

-Prof

haha...try 2.

Great to see an update here professor!!!!

Probably 3!




Thanks NRF. I appreciate it! Look for more to follow.

-Prof

wahoo!!! the professor's back.

Back and mad as a hatter! Look for the new pico thread coming later this evening. Also have some new stocking plans for the 40 breeder that I am tossing around......

ah come on you can't just tease us like that.

That's what my wife says!

I will give you a hint.....it has to do with fish......

Oh I get it. Your putting a tang in there & your scared that we'll send the cops after you. Its ok your secrets safe with us.

Pffft. Tangs are overrated.

Amen.

then spill.

They school.

cardinals?

Cardinals are on my short list. List has five species. Can you guess the other four?

mini darts

Nope. Go fish....

They're all schooling fish?

Yup.

Convict tangs and sea catfish

Your kidding me, right?


One of them is a suggestion I gave you for you tank.

Ah crap, i'll have to dig way back...

Chromis? Firefish?

Masked gobies?

Masked gobies is one but chalk bass are the ones I suggested you keep. You got three out of five now.