bluebastion's Solana 67 XL

[SouthFlorida_Tron]

enjoy that bird of paradise, great colored acro, and a crazy grower, and looks sick when a colony!

[Arkayology]

Thanks for tuning in again. Did you change your name? I remember your sig.

Ya, I had my name changed. I never really left. I just have been really busy with teaching and writing lately.

[bluebastion]

DFS Jack Frost Acro

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps1bbc2faf.jpg.html'>

 

ORA Joe's Coral

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zpsfacc99bc.jpg.html'>

[d'Espresso]

Don't worry you're still one of the great inspiration I look forward to. Your tank will be back and better in no time.

[bluebastion]

Don't worry you're still one of the great inspiration I look forward to. Your tank will be back and better in no time.

 

 

Haha thanks. I've had the tank up for two years with nothing to show yet... Let's hope 3rd time's a charm.

 

I made the final re-arrangement of coral and epoxied everything down. I tried to be mindful of future growth and growth patterns.

 

Current FTS 8/15/13

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zpsb6d0df5d.jpg.html'>

[Asureef]

Hopefully your troubles are over, wish you best of luck bud. And, did you buy all those frags from DFS?

[bluebastion]

Hopefully your troubles are over, wish you best of luck bud. And, did you buy all those frags from DFS?

 

A lot are from DFS- Diver's Den only. They seemed to have gotten a lot better in quality with their frags, and I wanted to purchase mostly ORA corals from them since in the past they have been the most resilient IME. I do strongly recommend staying within their aquacultured section though as I've had a bad experience with their maricultured section.

 

Most frags are actually from a hobbyist on RC. A lot were fresh cuts that are starting to heal up and establish a base in my tank... that's gotta be a good sign.

 

A mini update:

 

I received my new bulbs for my T5 fixture (Going mostly ATI Blues and Coral Plus). I think I'm going to delete the KZ and replace with a Coral Plus.

 

Also received in the shipment a Julian's Thing. We'll see how that works out.

[bluebastion]

So in the interest of closing off some caves and possibly new mounting areas I have requested a special order from Premium Aquatics to fill the following spaces. We'll see if I'm too specific in my request and they just say no, or if they can work their magic like they've done in the past. Wish me luck!

 

 

I ordered a few lbs of Manado Live Rock and requested the dimensions below for a nice cave cut off and shelf space:

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/LiveRockBridge1_zpsd0273fb1.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/LiveRockBridge2_zps49cf8c2b.jpg.html'>

 

What do you guys think? Will it ruin my aquascape? Or will it make it better?

[bluebastion]

The clams are coming!!!!!

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/CherryCoralsClams_zpsb9490fd9.jpg.html'>

[Arkayology]

I want them all!

The clams are coming!!!!!

 

[bluebastion]

As always... Jeremy at Premium Aquatics hooked me up with a special request.... I asked for shelf pieces... and I only ordered 3lbs.... and I got these:

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps77b5fde6.jpg.html'>

 

It's at least 5 lbs of live rock. On top of that I didn't request a styrofoam box because I didn't think it would be necessary for the small pieces I requested. I got one anyways

 

Also, here are some cool pics I took tonight. After the lights went out, I turned on the lights at about 10% and snapped pics of corals with their polyps out:

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps160c00bd.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps9d7065d6.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zpsbc5641b1.jpg.html'>

 

The Red Dragon still hanging on:

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps63d8a199.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps34b69f33.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zpsb1418af1.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zpsd0a3dd52.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zpsff7bae7f.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps8daa87ba.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps6c68baf7.jpg.html'>

 

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/null_zps30f285d1.jpg.html'>

[bluebastion]

Small update:

 

My silence is success.... things are progressing along with growth... and new fish.

 

Pump on my skimmer went out and I had to buy a replacement:

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/photo_zpsfb58a96c.jpg.html'>

 

Since I bought the skimmer with a pump used, I didn't notice how inefficient the old pump was. This new version of the Aquatrance 1000 puts out a significant amount of skimmate compared to the old one in one day. I'm probably going to need to empty out the skimmate every 3 days now.... where as with the old one it would take a week (if I was lucky).

 

A side shot to show some growth:

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/photo_zpsdc9a3908.jpg.html'>

 

Can't wait to fill the aquarium with mature growth:

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/photo_zpsc15394e0.jpg.html'>

 

 

FTS 9/22/13

http://s2.photobucket.com/user/bluebastion/media/photo_zps06981b5c.jpg.html'>

[TheKleinReef]

very nice! i enjoy picture heavy threads hahaha

[Arkayology]

PE looks great in your tank! Is that rock from Premium Aquatics pretty good?

[Asureef]

Glad to hear the good news man!

 

Btw, what is that buildup on your pumps and rocks?