Klarion's Tongan Scape

[klarion]

I have been listening to ReefCast for awhile. Melev, the guy from RC that runs it, is freakin hilarious. I love that podcast! I will have to check out 'talking reef'.

 

Great photos as usual Klarion! Its hard to believe how your tank has grown in this short amount of time. Looking really good.

 

Hey,

 

Both podcasts are great. The RC guys are just zany and TR and TRL are a bit more on a serious note. I like listening to TR later at night as it's not so "up" and the TRL I downloaded to my portable to listen on the way to work. It's total Reef immersion for me now..;-)

 

The tank is looking better and better. More stable now and I'm not getting dinoflaggelate outbreaks as much.

 

Always glad to see your posts on my thread.

b

[klarion]

Wow, awesome setup! Great photos as well! Personally I'm not a fan of Tonga branches but I definitely love what you've done with 'em!

 

Thanks man,

 

Tonga branches were a good choice for the type of aquascaping I planned to do for a tall tank. Unfortunately, they are not nearly as porous as Fiji or many other types of similar rock. I can see the difference as I'm adding more frags on more common types of rock.

Also, I am more convinced that the uncured branches I got from Liveaquaria.com were not of a very high quality. I did get them shipped overnight and still there was not as much life as probably can be......... but that's all speculation on my part.

[klarion]

New Zoanthid sp.

 

I got this colony for $10 at an LFS. It was situated next to a huge aiptasia anemone and several polyps were probably being stung because they were closed and seem to have some tissue damage on them.

 

 

 

Here is Red Legged Hermit crab plowing the field...

 

 

A shot of those new polyps just as i got them. I think there is a tiny star on it. Can you spot it?

 

 

Finally, the new location for one of the blue mushroom polyps that detached.

[divecj5]

Nice find on the zoas....look like they are nice and colorful and healthy. It's always nice to find something for cheap that ends up turning out nicer than the LFS thinks

[klarion]

Well, since no one guessed or could see that hitcher, I think it's an Asterina star. It's in a hole right below the biggest polyp of the new zoas.

 

 

I always wanted some of those and I don't know why... I hope they're worth it.

[c est ma]

Oh, Boris, it's been such fun catching up on your progress! So sorry I've missed so much. Hope you won't mind if I try to recap some of what I missed...

 

Photo Updates:

 

Two of the snails had an intimate encounter recently and a little while after one of the cerith snails started laying what looks like eggs:

 

 

 

Here is a closeup of them:

 

I love those pics. The crisp textures and vibrant colors are fascinating. I'm very impressed that you got the eggs to show up so well on such sculpted "rock!"

 

 

And a while back he perched on the tallest spike of the reef:

 

I was watching some urchins at the lfs recently and was really impressed with these +/- "dorsal" tube feet. Seems obvious that they are reaching out and feeling around, maybe casting about for a nearby surface...Seem much more ubiquitous and extensive than starfish tube feet. My brittles do not seem to have any "exploratory" feet; my Asterina seem to have some on the tips of each leg, but nothing like the urchins...

 

 

Wow....didn't realize that was how they moved and felt their way around the tank. Sounds like it is an incredibly unique creature and a joy to view.

 

...Echinoderms 101...

 

 

Retro Edit: Some Photos of the Sixline going after snail eggs.

 

 

Sweet pics!

 

 

So I finally did it and added some corals. The most interesting was a blue mushroom rock that also came with hitch hikers: some sort of baby LPS and flower looking polyps (though very small and I can't tell what they are). Also found a relatively small piece of GSP and some Red Marble mushrooms and Yellow Polyps. All with plenty of hitchers. I'll be busy sorting out placement and when they open up I'll post some pics.

 

There are some hitch hikers on the GSP Frag.

It hasn't opened yet and I can't wait to post pictures when it does.

 

Hey, those ball-tipped jobs look like Pseudocorynactis to me...?

 

 

Pic Update.

 

Here is a group shot of some new additions:

 

 

Purty!

 

Diane, this one is especially for you 'cause I caught a partial of the serpent star:

 

Sweet! I'll bet this is all you ever see, eh? Ever see more of him after lights out? But I think these serpentine-like observations are very cool in and of themselves! Sort of an ever-lurking presence...

 

Blue Mushrooms and the Hermit Traveler and a really cool Hitcher LPS. What is it?

 

Wow, how lucky can you get?! Hitcher euphyllid?!!

 

 

The "Red Marble" Mushroom.

 

Lovely shroom!

 

Hitch Parade

 

 

Thought I'd add some pictures focusing on the additional life present on the rocks aside from what I officially "paid for"

 

What I suspect is a torch baby polyp:

 

 

Some star looking polyps on the same rock:

 

 

A Zoa polyp: brown with green center.

 

Possibly another Zoa polyp? (right of the white spot)

 

 

Wow, you really hit the jackpot! That teeny star-like polyp is very similar to, but not quite the same as, one I got some time ago. It never really filled in, but persists here and there and is a delight to find...

 

I can't quite tell what item you mean in the last pic...

 

Well, I have more to reply to, but N-R says I'm copying too many pics, so I'll put the rest in another post.

 

What fun!

 

--Diane

[c est ma]

Ah, no biggie, this IS Nano-Reef after all.......

 

Boris, you crack me up! Between this and that inadvertant smirk you got when talking about nipples...

 

(BTW, I appreciate your efforts to be grammatically correct and readable! Guess I'm not the only one who keeps finding things to edit in one's own posts...)

 

My GSP fully opened on the third day. Here it is:

 

It looks like the polyps are not yet fully extended, but this one looks different than some of the other species I've seen in people's threads. The polyps don't have such long tentacles.

 

It's kind of scary how many different things are called gsp...

 

That looks like a really nice type!

 

FTS view from my desk.

 

 

Oh, that is just gorgeous! I can't imagine any other kind of LR looking so nice in that shape tank. The coralline spots on the back wall really add to the composition, IMO.

 

 

And some more eye candy:

 

New Yellow Polyps

 

Emerald Crab:

 

Nice yellows. Looks like they're getting some current, yes? Polyps with long tents like that look so nice swaying in the flow...

 

Love the emerald close-up. Mine always got their carapaces covered in algae, too. So cute.

 

 

I get a little help.....

 

I don't know why I didn't think of it earlier, but a couple of days ago I had my windows open late in the afternoon and here is what happened:

 

 

And This:

 

 

So, I'm actually getting about an hour of direct, late afternoon sunlight hitting the tank. It will go far to help out my fluorescent fixture. Maybe there is hope for that torch after all.....

 

It also gives your tank an entirely different "feel"--very nice.

 

Do torches need a lot of light? IME experience softies & lps do not esp. appreciate too bright illumination...

 

 

I have been listening to ReefCast for awhile. Melev, the guy from RC that runs it, is freakin hilarious. I love that podcast! I will have to check out 'talking reef'.

 

Great photos as usual Klarion! Its hard to believe how your tank has grown in this short amount of time. Looking really good.

 

Boris, thanks for posting links to both sites. I've added them to my "favorites."

 

 

Tonga branches were a good choice for the type of aquascaping I planned to do for a tall tank. Unfortunately, they are not nearly as porous as Fiji or many other types of similar rock. I can see the difference as I'm adding more frags on more common types of rock.

Also, I am more convinced that the uncured branches I got from Liveaquaria.com were not of a very high quality. I did get them shipped overnight and still there was not as much life as probably can be......... but that's all speculation on my part.

 

It seems to me that any rock that is sold as already "cured" has this problem...Some say it's best to learn when the lfs is getting new rock shipments and swoop in at the earliest time thereafter to get diversity you can actually see. But then, you have to cure the stuff. Not that we don't anyway, after any rock's been shipped to us...I wouldn't lose any sleep about what might have been because I really don't think most LR, of whatever type, really comes with as much as we'd like. (Especially in the small pieces and quantities we use for our small tanks.) As you're discovering in a big way, some of the best hitchers come in on the frags we add.

 

 

New Zoanthid sp.

 

I got this colony for $10 at an LFS. It was situated next to a huge aiptasia anemone and several polyps were probably being stung because they were closed and seem to have some tissue damage on them.

 

 

Nice score!

 

Here is Red Legged Hermit crab plowing the field...

 

 

A shot of those new polyps just as i got them. I think there is a tiny star on it. Can you spot it?

 

 

Finally, the new location for one of the blue mushroom polyps that detached.

 

 

Well, since no one guessed or could see that hitcher, I think it's an Asterina star. It's in a hole right below the biggest polyp of the new zoas.

 

 

I always wanted some of those and I don't know why... I hope they're worth it.

 

Nice pics! I didn't spot the Asterina till you pointed it out, but now I can see it and I agree with you. I just got my first one this year, and, like you, I was thrilled to get it! A nano-sized asteroid star for our nano tanks! What could be cooler?

 

Wow, things are going great for you! It is a testament to your patience and artistic talents. Super job!

 

--Diane

[klarion]

Hello Diane,

 

It's nice to have you back posting on nano-reef. I don't mind the recap, it's like when they do it on TV: "Last time on........", really helps people ketch up on what's going on, assuming this thread is being read by more than just "select few"

 

I've been spending more time on Reefpedia.com, a wiki for all things marine. I think that site could use someone like you posting things. It's really easy to use: just click edit and write whatever you know on any subject. I've added some things, but with your knowledge....the sky is the limit, or should I say "bandwidth"....... I don't know....

 

Things are smooth on the klarion-reef. I've been thinking of adding a Yellow Clown Goby G. okinawae. Now I have a 2 inch O. clarkii clown and a 2 inch Six Line wrasse P. hexataenia. They are nice and peaceful and often swim together. I'm not sure exactly how adding the goby will change things because they are generally a little bit smaller at LFS. I think my 15g+ may be able to handle another small fish.

 

What do you think?

[c est ma]

Gee, thanks, Boris, it's nice to be missed!

 

When I went to add Reefpedia to my favorites, I found it was already there...Now I do remember looking at it, some time ago, and thinking that it would be a lot of fun to contribute to. Thanks for the reminder. Maybe if I ever get caught up on here!

 

Tell me, have you gotten into any interesting editing discussions there?

 

But I'm not all that knowledgeable! Esp. about fish (segue in progress--). I would certainly think you'd have room for a little goby but it seems to me that both your current fish have a bit of a rep for agression, esp. when they're already resident. (Altho I understand that different clown species have different "personalities," and I don't know enough about that to comment on your particular one. I just think it's gorgeous!) It might be that your fish are peaceful because they are of similar size and temperament, but that a smaller, slower fish might not be as well tolerated.

 

OTOH, your tank dimensions & rockscape appear to offer all sorts of sight barriers and niches that might serve to offset any problems...

 

Have you tried posting this question on the fish forum? Or, you could just be the pioneer and give us the benefit of your experiences.

 

BTW, ever since I learned that all Gobiodon are probably hermaphroditic*, I like to pass that info along in hopes of convincing someone to get a pair! But I guess you may not have room for that...

 

--Diane

 

*Gobiodon article:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-10/hcs3/index.php

excerpt:

Another interesting and uncommon trait has been uncovered and described. Nakashima et al., (1996), have described a two-way sex change, known as bi-directional sex change, within two Gobiodon species, G. micropus and G. oculolineatus. This led to the discovery that other Gobiodon also have this ability, and it is now believed that all Gobiodon species can change sex. In doing so, Gobiodon deviates from the size-advantage model (Ghiselin 1969) that states if an individual could significantly increase its chance of reproduction success after a certain size was reached, it would change to that sex. Instead, bi-directional protogynous hermaphrodites are the ultimate in sex-changing species, as it guarantees a heterosexual pair at any given time. In most cases, the smaller fish of the heterosexual pair is the female. The only time this is not true is when a small male is placed in the same coral head as a large female. It was found that in pairs which started as two females, the larger of the two became male. In pairs that started as two males, the smaller of the two changed to female (Munday et al. 1998).

[divecj5]

Hey Boris. I'm sure there are more than just a select few that are following your thread. Just usually happens that people will read through a thread, me included, and just not really have anything to add other than just the occasional compliment on how things are looking and doing.

 

I think your tank is coming along great. Fish choices are always a tough one...at least for me. It almost seems like for me it's tougher to pick out the right fish than it is for a coral. I just have had a couple of bad experiences with fish in the past getting aggressive or making a mess (diamond sifter) and they are not always fun to remove from the tank.

 

Looking forward to seeing what you decide to get next.

[Weetabix7]

Wow.

I haven't visited this thread in a few days, and it looks like I need to check in here more often!!

What an awesome thread, and tank, you have going here!!!

This is a very enjoyable and informative thread to read, I'm gonna have to become a "regular" here.

You have such a unique tank, and while I wouldn't usually choose Tonga Branch rock it works just perfectly with your tank shape.

I did see that asterina in the pic. Many asterinas are innocent hitchhikers, but a few like to munch on zoas, so just keep an eye out. From what I've heard, the ones that do eat zoas seem to prefer the "flavor" of just certain colors. Tashayar has plenty of them in her tank and they don't bother her zoas at all though, and I know there are other people on here as well with the same experience.

Is that particular zoa frag doing any better? If not, I'd try an iodine dip.

I think your tank could handle a clown goby just fine as far as bioload goes. Whether he'd get along in the group dynamic is another matter, but as Diane pointed out you have lots of niches and crevices in your rockwork for him to dart into. I know lots of people love the personality of clown gobies.

Keep up the good work, I give this thread 5 stars!!!

[klarion]

I was watching some urchins at the lfs recently and was really impressed with these +/- "dorsal" tube feet. Seems obvious that they are reaching out and feeling around, maybe casting about for a nearby surface...Seem much more ubiquitous and extensive than starfish tube feet. My brittles do not seem to have any "exploratory" feet; my Asterina seem to have some on the tips of each leg, but nothing like the urchins...

 

This urchin is a lot of fun. If he's disturbed, he casts out all his tube-feet and moves away really quickly, it's surprising. He's also a good nutrient export "expert" . Well, we actually work as a team: he eats the algae and poops and I use the HOT Magnum filter to export the expert's poop.

 

Recently, he picked up an attached piece of GSP colony with the Zoa polyp and now carries it with him everywhere. I haven't removed it from him because It's kind of like a natural way to propagate the species.

 

 

Sweet! I'll bet this is all you ever see, eh? Ever see more of him after lights out? But I think these serpentine-like observations are very cool in and of themselves! Sort of an ever-lurking presence...

 

I actually see the serpent star quite often because he took to hanging right inside the main cavern under the overhang. It's not a great spot for pictures, but with my own vision I can see just fine.

 

Wow, you really hit the jackpot! That teeny star-like polyp is very similar to, but not quite the same as, one I got some time ago. It never really filled in, but persists here and there and is a delight to find...

 

Actually, there are many tiny stars like the ones I mentioned.. dozens and an encrusting grey sponge that's creeping up on their location. We'll see what happens.

[klarion]

Hey Boris. I'm sure there are more than just a select few that are following your thread. Just usually happens that people will read through a thread, me included, and just not really have anything to add other than just the occasional compliment on how things are looking and doing.

 

I think your tank is coming along great. Fish choices are always a tough one...at least for me. It almost seems like for me it's tougher to pick out the right fish than it is for a coral. I just have had a couple of bad experiences with fish in the past getting aggressive or making a mess (diamond sifter) and they are not always fun to remove from the tank.

 

Looking forward to seeing what you decide to get next.

 

Hey, thanks for the reassurance. I was semi-joking about my contributors and readers because I realize that this forum is one of the nicest I've seen anywhere!!!!!!!!! In both regards.

 

I always like seeing new faces (or Avatars)... so, people, post away

[klarion]

Wow.

I haven't visited this thread in a few days, and it looks like I need to check in here more often!!

What an awesome thread, and tank, you have going here!!!

This is a very enjoyable and informative thread to read, I'm gonna have to become a "regular" here.

You have such a unique tank, and while I wouldn't usually choose Tonga Branch rock it works just perfectly with your tank shape.

I did see that asterina in the pic. Many asterinas are innocent hitchhikers, but a few like to munch on zoas, so just keep an eye out. From what I've heard, the ones that do eat zoas seem to prefer the "flavor" of just certain colors. Tashayar has plenty of them in her tank and they don't bother her zoas at all though, and I know there are other people on here as well with the same experience.

Is that particular zoa frag doing any better? If not, I'd try an iodine dip.

I think your tank could handle a clown goby just fine as far as bioload goes. Whether he'd get along in the group dynamic is another matter, but as Diane pointed out you have lots of niches and crevices in your rockwork for him to dart into. I know lots of people love the personality of clown gobies.

Keep up the good work, I give this thread 5 stars!!!

 

Nice...... Good......Thank YOU.

The zoas are doing better and even starting to look like a "sea mat".

I noticed that generally, corals start doing a bit better when they get into home tanks (hopefully) because many LFS have a lot on their hands to make sure that every tank is immaculate. We can do that best at home.

 

I see the Asterina star here and there and I suspect that there's actually two of them because one had 3 "legs" and another had 5. Or was it that someone bit a couple off I don't know.

 

Do you know if they reproduce in the tank? How fast would that happen. I have this unexplained desire to have these stars populate my tank.........don't know why..........

 

Some more picture updates:

The GSP Colony is coloring up gradually and expending more.

 

 

Red Macro is really taking off:

 

Caught these two in the act

[klarion]

A few More

 

One of the Boxing Crabs had molted. I think it was the female. She doesn't have eggs anymore but both crabs have 2 anemones each and they're looking quite full. So, at least now we know that the smaller "male" crab fragged one of his remaining anemones and it grew out from one tentacle to full size!

 

 

 

And Finally:

Where are you going, Soldier! Return to your Post!

[klarion]

Denizen Profile:

 

Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab (Paguristes cadenati)

General Information

 

Name: Still up for suggestions

 

Picture on file:

 

Acquisition Date: December '07

Characteristics: Mild, Lazy, Apathetic. Does not socialize in any way with other tank inhabitants. Molts regularly and still inhabits original shell.

 

Behavior: Has not shown aggression toward snails or corals and is suspected of eating Aiptasia anemones. Spends most of his time sifting through detritus (like he should) and eating off live rocks.

 

Usefulness: Useful

Edited April 1, 2008 by klarion

[divecj5]

Characteristics: Mild, Lazy, Apathetic. Does not socialize in any way with other tank inhabitants.

 

Haha...that's an awesome description. Sounds like a lot of snails in my tank

 

Great work on the description. You might have just sparked an idea for my thread.....

Edited April 1, 2008 by divecj5

[klarion]

Haha...that's an awesome description. Sounds like a lot of snails in my tank

 

Great work on the description. You might have just sparked an idea for my thread.....

 

LOL, I'm glad I declassified my top secret files . I will write up all of my inhabitants eventually with their own files since they are individually different from other members of their species.

 

On a different note, I don't think I will ever have to frag my GSP because the Urchin picked up a big piece of it and as he moves around, the GSP is dropping frags all over the tank. I'm thinking in a year or so, I'll have wild fields of GSP overgrowing my tank.

[klarion]

Man, the Cerith snails in my tank are really getting busy. I've got eggs all over the back wall. It's the third time in as many weeks.

[divecj5]

Sounds like you are giving them the right "environment"

[klarion]

Sounds like you are giving them the right "environment"

 

Cool, isn't it?! My tank is a lean, mean, snail breeding machine

 

Also, is it me or the member aquarium forums are now overflowing with poll threads. It's a trend!!!

[Mercuryne]

Klarion..

looking great...Im especially Fond of the Red Macro... you mind me asking where you got that? exactly what its called? My have to find some.

 

The Urchin is my favorite. IS he carrying all those shells WITH HIM?

 

Mercuryne

[hecsrt-4]

I voted for your pom pom crabs, but it was a closed second with the snail that wanted to commit suicide after the mean sixline killed all of his babies.

[c est ma]

This urchin is a lot of fun. If he's disturbed, he casts out all his tube-feet and moves away really quickly, it's surprising. He's also a good nutrient export "expert" . Well, we actually work as a team: he eats the algae and poops and I use the HOT Magnum filter to export the expert's poop.

 

I loved that. You are quite the writer!

 

Recently, he picked up an attached piece of GSP colony with the Zoa polyp and now carries it with him everywhere. I haven't removed it from him because It's kind of like a natural way to propagate the species.

 

 

I wonder if that isn't actually a natural dispersal method--i.e., in the real world? Urchin-phoresy...

 

I actually see the serpent star quite often because he took to hanging right inside the main cave

under the overhang. It's not a great spot for pictures, but with my own vision I can see just fine.

 

Very cool. I think the lurkers are almost more interesting than the critters that are always in view (ho hum).

 

I see the Asterina star here and there and I suspect that there's actually two of them because one had 3 "legs" and another had 5. Or was it that someone bit a couple off I don't know.

 

Do you know if they reproduce in the tank? How fast would that happen. I have this unexplained desire to have these stars populate my tank.........don't know why..........

 

They asexually reproduce, which is why you see them with odd numbers of legs. I doubt if they sexually reproduce successfully, altho, as you know, my brittles do spawn now and then. Most of these guys have planktonic larvae that don't survive in tanks...

 

My brittle star expert tells me it's mostly the 6-legged, not the 5-legged brittle species that reproduce by fissioning, as they need at least 3 legs for good locomotion. I suspect this is why we often see Asterina with 6 & even 7 legs--they're getting ready to split. Of course, that's also why we MORE often see the 3-legged, etc., ones...Given the way everything else in your tank is thriving and multiplying, I would strongly suspect that your Asterina is/are as well!

 

Some more picture updates:

Red Macro is really taking off:

 

Man, that's beautiful.

 

Denizen Profile:

 

...

 

Name: Still up for suggestions

 

...

 

Perhaps you should have a contest.

 

Behavior: Has not shown aggression toward snails or corals and is suspected of eating Aiptasia anemones....

 

Now THAT is most interesting! Document that and you could single-handedly change the entire perception of hermit crabs...

 

I, too, like this Profile business...looking forward to more.

 

LOL, I'm glad I declassified my top secret files . I will write up all of my inhabitants eventually with their own files since they are individually different from other members of their species.

 

Which is one of the coolest things about being able to observe so frequently and closely in this hobby.

 

 

Also, is it me or the member aquarium forums are now overflowing with poll threads. It's a trend!!!

 

Yes--and I agree with the last comment--I wanted to vote for the urchin! Or possibly your hitchhikers. You trendsetter, you.

 

--Diane

[klarion]

Klarion..

looking great...Im especially Fond of the Red Macro... you mind me asking where you got that? exactly what its called? My have to find some.

 

The Urchin is my favorite. IS he carrying all those shells WITH HIM?

 

Mercuryne

 

Hi. The Red Macro is probably some sort of Gracilaria Sp. (though now I'm thinking it could be Fauchea Sp.) and it came with my tongan branch rock, or rather grew out of it over time. The Urchin took a big bite out if it a couple of days ago . He is carrying a bunch of shells on him all the time and also a frag of GSP with one Zoa polyp on it and a pice of Red Kelp algae sp.

 

I think I'll confiscate the algae and replant to get more growth out of it.

 

I voted for your pom pom crabs, but it was a closed second with the snail that wanted to commit suicide after the mean sixline killed all of his babies.

 

LOL .

 

I didn't think of it quite like that, but it does make sense!

Edited April 3, 2008 by klarion