evanski Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 Went back to Your Reef and scored four $10 frags for $30! This includes my first SPS for the tank. I did have to move the Pink Glimmer palys lower onto the sand in a slightly shaded area. They are REALLY nice, but have not opened all the way yet except for the shaded are underneath which is wide open. But first a FTS for my buddy Gena! RPEs are really almost this bright in person. I chose this two polyp frag instead of some larger ones...these heads were the biggest and by far the brightest. The are wide open on the sandbed....hope I can get them about halfway up the rock and get them growing like GSP! Red, not orange, Monti Cap. I know someone mentioned they might shade things too much below given the relatively deep tank for its footprint...but I am going to try to mount in the back corner on the glass. Chili Pepper encrusting Monti. LOVE the colors on this, good contract from the purple coraline algae. Slightly out of focus Lunar Eclipse Paly. LOVE to bright orange skirt against the deep purple face. These have grown well for me in the past, and get very large polyps.Starting him out in the shade until he opens up all the way. As always, your thoughts and comments are appreciated! Link to comment
Pinner Reef Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Now I miss my chili pepper... Thanks Evan Link to comment
gena Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 My thought is.....AWESOME!!!!! I can't wait to see this tank in a year. You should get a green slimer for the top. And some birdsnest corals. I'm a bit partial to those . Link to comment
evanski Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 My thought is.....AWESOME!!!!! I can't wait to see this tank in a year. You should get a green slimer for the top. And some birdsnest corals. I'm a bit partial to those . Gena...you are too kind! Still kinda looks like the coral is moving in! I would like Birdsnest, especially BOP. Not sure about Green Slimer...it seems to be VERY thick with sparse branching, which I think might look out of balance with the small footprint. I would like to do a true acro at the pinnacle of the rockwork, but perhaps something more delicate with more branching...and hardy! Link to comment
gena Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Gena...you are too kind! Still kinda looks like the coral is moving in! I would like Birdsnest, especially BOP. Not sure about Green Slimer...it seems to be VERY thick with sparse branching, which I think might look out of balance with the small footprint. I would like to do a true acro at the pinnacle of the rockwork, but perhaps something more delicate with more branching...and hardy! Well, if you don't get a frag of BOP before mine is ready, I'll send you one for free . The slimer probably would get too big. I just love how they grow. Their shape and crazy branching. Wish mine would speed it up already LOL. Link to comment
evanski Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Well, if you don't get a frag of BOP before mine is ready, I'll send you one for free . The slimer probably would get too big. I just love how they grow. Their shape and crazy branching. Wish mine would speed it up already LOL. You are super nice...thanks! Maybe you can bring it up when you vacation in Tahoe this summer! Laura and I will cook you and the family dinner! I LOVE the Green Slimer...just not for the current form factor. Link to comment
evanski Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Good news...FINALLY found Aptasia-Rx after six different LFS were out of stock. Nuked the little bastard...BDA to follow tomorrow. Bad news...might have had a collateral damage of a Pink and Gold Paly polyp! Edit update: Think I got the aptasia...is has been obliterated and the Pink and Gold Palys have already extended over them. Bad news is that I might lose a 1-2 polyps from collateral damage, and the small Tubbs Blue frag across the tank seems pissed but probably OK. Link to comment
tibbsy07 Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Tank looks fantastic - I can't wait to see some more coral in this thing. I agree with Gena - green slimer ftw! Also - random note, I am going to watch my first NCAA basketball game on TV tonight. Duke vs GT. Duke better not botch it Link to comment
evanski Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Tank looks fantastic - I can't wait to see some more coral in this thing. I agree with Gena - green slimer ftw! Also - random note, I am going to watch my first NCAA basketball game on TV tonight. Duke vs GT. Duke better not botch it Thanks! Hard to believe I have 6 zoa/paly and 2 montipora frags in there already!!! I think we can handle the Rambling Wreck this year...will be watching as well. Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 If you get the BIRDSNEST it will hopefully grow fast enough that you can frag and fund the hobby Link to comment
evanski Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 If you get the BIRDSNEST it will hopefully grow fast enough that you can frag and fund the hobby I hear you! I want pink, green, and BOP as a minimum. Link to comment
evanski Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 New pics, after I mounted all but the RPEs...I want to wait until I can decide how high I can mount these. They GLOW in my tank, and want them to be a real focus. Just started directed feeding with Reef-Roids, and two drops of Kent Coral Accel per week. Did first water change of 1 qt (12.5%) which I plan on doing each week. Will consider other dosing (2-part, etc.) as the tank starts to fill in and I expand testing. Also trying to minimize traces of mounting...no frag plugs and removing as much glue, etc. to get a natural look. I NEED A NEW CAMERA! Autofocus, color, saturation hard to control on my iPhone5S FTS...can't see everything here. Top down...first such pic for me! I like the look. The Lunar Eclipse Paly here is AWESOME! Eagle eyes...out of focus and washed out. They are fat, happy, and growing. Apparently they ALSO have a aptasia HH that I will nuke ASAP. Gold and Pink Palys dominate the right side of the tank. VERY full and pretty, but you can see where they have a few pissed off/damaged polyps from Aptasia-Rx splashes. Deep red montipora capricornis...mounted in the upper left corner of the tank just below the surface skimmer. This seemed like a great way to optimize space for this coral without compromising the light on the rockwork. Chili Pepper encrusting montipora mounted in the center of the top of the rockwork. GORGEOUS coral, looks happy at the highest point. RPEs...time to move them up. Will lose the frag plug when I decide where to mount. Awful pic of the Tubbs Blues...cannot get a good pic of these. You can see the baby on the bottom, and there is another on the back. More are budding! Can't wait to see these spread and expand...they are tiny! Pink Glitter Palys only opened up at the bottom of the tank and under the ledge to provide a little shade. I had these mounted a little higher up, but pried them off so they could find a more comfortable place. http://s1093.photobucket.com/user/evanski1/media/Fluval/IMG_1053.jpg.html'> Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Love the monti on glass I want to do this Link to comment
evanski Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Love the monti on glass I want to do this Thx! Need to take every advantage I can to make the most of the small space. Link to comment
gena Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 Looks awesome! I want RPE's!!!!! I almost bought some a few days ago. Might still do it . I like the placement on the chili pepper monti, but you may have trouble with that red cap way at the top competing with SPS space below it on the rocks. I always like to plan ahead when placing my corals. I can't help but do it when looking at other people's tanks too LOL. Link to comment
evanski Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 Looks awesome! I want RPE's!!!!! I almost bought some a few days ago. Might still do it . I like the placement on the chili pepper monti, but you may have trouble with that red cap way at the top competing with SPS space below it on the rocks. I always like to plan ahead when placing my corals. I can't help but do it when looking at other people's tanks too LOL. Thanks for the look and the note! I thought long and hard about the placement of the montipora capricornis. The placement that high in the corner should not shade the main rockwork, where I imagine the majority of the SPS will be. There is a little off-shoot of flat rock, almost flush with the sand. I had envisioned placing a nice, multicolor favia or rainbow acan...which would spread out to cover this rock. A little loss of light should not be a problem, and the angle of the light should provide enough photons for these LPS. Having said all of this, I do understand that I will have to trim occasionally, and it will be difficult because of the brittle nature of the plates. This is the accommodation I have to make because of the tank size...and the fact that it is essentially a "tall" configuration. Will do the same on the opposite back corner with a purple monti cap after I see how the red does...say in 3 months. E Link to comment
gena Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I'm nearly at the point where I'll be having to trim my monticaps and I'm not looking forward to it at all. I don't want to ruin the shape. Oh well, it will have to be done eventually. I'll just look at it as money in my pocket. They do grow really fast . Link to comment
evanski Posted January 11, 2014 Author Share Posted January 11, 2014 I'm nearly at the point where I'll be having to trim my monticaps and I'm not looking forward to it at all. I don't want to ruin the shape. Oh well, it will have to be done eventually. I'll just look at it as money in my pocket. They do grow really fast . Yup...looking forward to being able to sell and trade. Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I'm nearly at the point where I'll be having to trim my monticaps and I'm not looking forward to it at all. I don't want to ruin the shape. Oh well, it will have to be done eventually. I'll just look at it as money in my pocket. They do grow really fast . Yes indeed an investment lol, frag it get money buy more coral repeat Link to comment
evanski Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 2 month update: 1 qt (12.5%) weekly water change Changed floss pH 8.2 Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate 0 Killed the last aptasia to show up. All the zoas/paly were PISSED, then opened right back up. Fed with reef roids and Kent Coral Accel...was surprised to see the chili pepper monti polyps go for it and retract with their food! Looking forward to regular feedings, water changes, and stable parameters. E Link to comment
JoshuA c Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 How did you kill the aptasia? Link to comment
evanski Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Aptasia-Rx. It is essentially thinned kalk paste, and applied directly towards the mouth disc with a syringe. I fed first and turned off the pumps...but the excess material flies around my small tank and REALLY pisses off the zoas! I am happy they opened right back up. Link to comment
Cameron6796 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 That's good to know Link to comment
Lawnman Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Tank looks great you old fart . How are those pink and golds doing? Mine grow about 6 polyps a month! I am following now . Link to comment
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