Coral Kingdom Of Thras ~ Waterbox 130.4 💦 ~ SPS Filling In

[Thrassian Atoll]

Now I need to figure out what other red wrasse I want.  Thinking maybe a magma or hooded fairy.  I would entertain another flasher like a mcoskers or carpenter.  I definitely want something that’s mostly red though.  If anybody has another other idea options let me know!

[Thrassian Atoll]

Pretty sure I am going to go with the magma fairy wrasse though.  Pretty stunning red with a bit of orange.   It’s only been around the market for a couple years.

[Elizabeth94]

Oh that stinks. Through the feeding door too? What are the chances! I like the magma fairy wrasse. Should add some bright color and movement to the tank. 

[Thrassian Atoll]

45 minutes ago, Elizabeth94 said:

Oh that stinks. Through the feeding door too? What are the chances! I like the magma fairy wrasse. Should add some bright color and movement to the tank. 

Well, the door is pretty big.  It’s like 8”x3”.  I wanted to be able to stick my arm in without having to pull the whole lid off.  That bit me in the butt.  He must of jumped through that and flopped his way to the back of the tank.  Found him on the floor back there.  Unfortunate.  He always swam at the very top of the tank though, like the top 2”.  
 

The magma is stunning.  I am talking to Dr. Reef now on getting the magma, lineatus and a gem tang.  He’s having issues though getting fish and his new setup going due to the coronavirus restrictions on stuff.

[Thrassian Atoll]

I picked up this flipper magnifying glass.  It’s pretty sweet.  Definitely makes it easier to look at the corals and fish up close.

 

[Thrassian Atoll]

Messing around with phone filters

 

[Thrassian Atoll]

Got a 5”-6” Derasa clam from Algaebarn this week.  This is my first clam and it’s pretty big.  It’s looking great.  I wish it had some more color too it, but it’s nice.  Figured I would get a large derasa as my first clam since it should be the easiest to care for.  
 

My orchid dottyback is being a menace though.  He won’t let me put any corals near his cave.  I tried moving my acans over and tried to bury them. He must of been up all night trying to bury my clam with sand.  I had to move the acans.  The clam itself is way too big for him to bother though.  Damn fish.  Haha.

 

 

 

[Thrassian Atoll]

Few quick photos of the tank today.  Everything is going well.  No complaints.  I am hoping I am able to get the new fish I want soon.  I haven’t heard anything from Dr. Reef in a while.

 

 

[Thrassian Atoll]

Decided to buy a couple of 200 watt titanium heaters and the controller from BRS to replace my 2 glass 300 watt Eheims.  I am pretty sure the glass heaters were shocking me a little bit once and while and I didn’t want my apex to cycle on and off so much. 
 

So far I am not a big fan of the controller.  I have been trying to set the controller temps in line with the apex temp probe and I can’t get them dialed in.  Even after adjusting the temp controller calibration to correspond to my apex, it just does not read that well.  For some reason the apex is a lot more sensitive to the temps.  Let’s say both will say 78.0 degrees.  Well the apex temp will eventually drop to 77.5 and the controller will say 78.0 still.  It will go to the opposite end too where my apex temp will read 78.6 and the controller 78.1.  
 

I guess I am just spoiled with the apex being a lot more precise, as it’s in line with the 2 digital thermometers I use to calibrate my temps with.  I used to have my temps dialed in to .3 degree swings.  Now I am lucky if I can keep it within 1 degree.  Not a big deal but I was hoping for a little more precision.  I may eventually say screw it and ditch the controller and just run the heaters off the apex.  

[A.m.P]

Their rebranded inkbird controller suffers from the same issues as the original, slower update interval.

In my experience it can take a minute or so for the temp probe to catch up, seems as if the controller doesn't query the probe for updates but a few times a minute - it also seems to have a cap on how many degrees or tenths of a degree it can update at a time.

 

Accuracy wise, I wouldn't worry about 0.5 degrees, but you can supposedly get much more accurate readings and temp profiles by setting things to degrees C instead. (At least with the inkbirds)

[mitten_reef]

On 4/4/2020 at 1:45 PM, Thrassian Atoll said:

Got a 5”-6” Derasa clam from Algaebarn this week.  This is my first clam and it’s pretty big.  It’s looking great.  I wish it had some more color too it, but it’s nice.  Figured I would get a large derasa as my first clam since it should be the easiest to care for.  
 

My orchid dottyback is being a menace though.  He won’t let me put any corals near his cave.  I tried moving my acans over and tried to bury them. He must of been up all night trying to bury my clam with sand.  I had to move the acans.  The clam itself is way too big for him to bother though.  Damn fish.  Haha.

 

 

 

unique corals posted 3 decent sized WYSIWYG maximas the other day, I thought of you, but they were sold out before I even looked into them.  might be another place to keep an eye on. 

[Thrassian Atoll]

27 minutes ago, Amphrites said:

Their rebranded inkbird controller suffers from the same issues as the original, slower update interval.

In my experience it can take a minute or so for the temp probe to catch up, seems as if the controller doesn't query the probe for updates but a few times a minute - it also seems to have a cap on how many degrees or tenths of a degree it can update at a time.

 

Accuracy wise, I wouldn't worry about 0.5 degrees, but you can supposedly get much more accurate readings and temp profiles by setting things to degrees C instead. (At least with the inkbirds)

Interesting about the Celsius being more precise. You can definitely tell they are rebranded inkbirds with different colors.  I never had an inkbird though.  I really just wanted the titanium heaters but figured I would try the controller since it’s apparently bad for the apex outlets to cycle on and off constantly.  1 degree swings should be fine I guess.  I am not super worried about it.  Just a gripe.  Haha.  

[Thrassian Atoll]

27 minutes ago, mitten_reef said:

unique corals posted 3 decent sized WYSIWYG maximas the other day, I thought of you, but they were sold out before I even looked into them.  might be another place to keep an eye on. 

I got my derasa a few weeks ago from Algaebarn.  That’s what I really wanted.  Maximas have been in stock pretty readily right now, it’s the derasas that we’re not in stock anywhere for like a month.
 

Some day I will get a maxima.  I know the derasa is hardier though, that’s why I went with the 5” guy I got.  Thanks for looking out though!

[Thrassian Atoll]

 

[mitten_reef]

I really like the alternating colors of frags throughout. Can’t wait to see this one grow out!

[Spencer7]

21 minutes ago, mitten_reef said:

I really like the alternating colors of frags throughout. Can’t wait to see this one grow out!

Agreed.

 

Is that yellow frag (above tuxedo urchin) a PC rainbow?

[mitten_reef]

50 minutes ago, Spencer7 said:

Agreed.

 

Is that yellow frag (above tuxedo urchin) a PC rainbow?

That’s his WD. I already asked about the exact same one on the last page. 😂. It sure glows bright.  Pc rainbow is actually more yellow with less light and more red with high light (for me at least). 

[Thrassian Atoll]

54 minutes ago, Spencer7 said:

Agreed.

 

Is that yellow frag (above tuxedo urchin) a PC rainbow?

That’s my WD.  Some photos of it a couple pages back.  My pc rainbow is actually above the pink birdsnest in the front. Hard to see it.  Just a small frag right now that hasn’t colored in yet.  It’s more a greenish/dark yellow right now with reddish polyps.  It actually had blue polyps when I got it from my buddy.  Weird.

1 hour ago, mitten_reef said:

I really like the alternating colors of frags throughout. Can’t wait to see this one grow out!

Appreciate it!

[Thrassian Atoll]

Here’s some top down shots of the tank.  I definitely need to practice this.  Need a ladder too.  Haha.  It’s hard getting photos with the lights on.  Too dark with them off.  Not sure how others do it.  Here’s some with blues on and then only whites on.  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Thrassian Atoll]

 

[Thrassian Atoll]

A few closer shots from above of a couple acros. Going to bust out my DSLR this week and see what I can do with it.  Need to buy a macro lens one of these days. 
 

 

 

 

 

[Thrassian Atoll]

Got some new montis today.  Somebody posted up a pack on the sps Facebook page and I quickly snagged it up.  I have been looking for a nice monti pack and pulled the trigger.  
 

Top left - Jason Fox Altered Ego- we will see how he colors up.

 

Bottom Left - WWC Kung Pow

 

Top Right - TSA Minions

 

Bottom Right - TSA Midiori Sunrise

 

Theres definitely a couple more high end montis that I want, just not sure I will have the room for them.  Montis are tricky with placement.  
 

[Thrassian Atoll]

Finally got around to buying a generator.  Living in Missouri, a power outage from a storm or snow/ice has always worried me in relation to my tank.  Just a little piece of mind now if the power goes out.
 

[Thrassian Atoll]

Can you tell the difference?  One is suppose to be Forest Fire and the other Bubblegum Digitata.  I have no clue which one is what.  Maybe once they get bigger I will be able to tell the difference?

 

[Ratvan]

30 minutes ago, Thrassian Atoll said:

Can you tell the difference?  One is suppose to be Forest Fire and the other Bubblegum Digitata.  I have no clue which one is what.  Maybe once they get bigger I will be able to tell the difference?

 

Wow they are so close aren't they?