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Most fangblennies don't attack other fish, it's the mimic fangblennies you have to watch out for. Which I suppose is the topic here lol, super cool, impersonates cleaner wrasses and attacks fish.

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Yep, that's their strategy. They graze on small bugs like other blennies, but will also use their cleaner wrasse disguise to approach big fish and take bites out of them. Bites of other fish are highly nutritious. The reason they have an opioid venom is so the fish doesn't feel the bites, because otherwise fish might start avoiding cleaner wrasse stations. 

 

Cleaner wrasses will also bite their customers, too! It's more nutritious than their usual fare of dead skin and parasites. But they can't bite too often, or customers will stop coming to that station. Cleaner wrasse pairs have actually been seen to monitor each other, and if one party starts biting too often, the other attacks it and may even chase it away. It's in their best interests not to bite frequently, but there is a balance where the gain outweighs the risk. 

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A bit chicken or egg there; but I think the current consensus is that fangblennies developed the venom to escape predators by biting the inside of their mouths (the venom causes hypotension, bradycardia, local numbness and muscle weakness), and then the mimics just took advantage of their look-alike status.

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Yeah, a perfect example of evolution not really "giving"(a population moving towards, there is no entity, reason, or thought given) animals "what they need", a better solution would probably involve not being surrounded by teeth in the first place XD
Textbook definition of "working with variations already in the population".

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Snow_Phoenix

Two updates coming through. 🤗

 

Regrowth of the blasto coral still continues:

 

IMG_20201001_105530_760.thumb.jpg.333e46f6caaab9445ffaa4fdd56b0d29.jpg

 

IMG_20201001_105530_758.thumb.jpg.89265229ba87fa2740973f2608860540.jpg

 

New paly polyp spotted (on the right, behind the larger polyp at the front)

 

IMG_20201001_105530_761.thumb.jpg.7514316ecfb4e99724dc25eb584fc5f6.jpg

 

New tiny sunflower polyp spotted (at the bottom most area of the frag up front) : 😊

 

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The stubby polyps of the leptastrea now have a mild greenish tint to them: 

 

IMG_20201001_105530_759.thumb.jpg.9a1ff84e690f3ff2da137b48a21dba46.jpg

 

The pavona is encrusting further on the LR:

 

IMG_20201001_110111_436.thumb.jpg.201f30fae3cba4d33951c11ef3357551.jpg

 

Setosa has full PE & is growing too, albeit at a slower rate compared to the montihat: 🤔

 

IMG_20201001_110111_435.thumb.jpg.4ec6c4efc04c3101258ec08d84116391.jpg

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Snow_Phoenix

The Montihat has flared out even further - it needs more room to grow and cap out, actually: 🤔

 

IMG_20201001_105908_642.thumb.jpg.4be798e7db73d28f2107c263d3f332a5.jpg

 

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Bullseye rhodactis: 

 

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The UC is still here - yay! 😊 :

 

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Harvey hanging out under the blasto colony rock: 🤗

 

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Also, these two pieces are in my 60G atm, but are not doing well:

 

IMG_20201001_110349_637.thumb.jpg.e5068f11cbbdddf05649cdabe0b27287.jpg

 

IMG_20201001_110349_636.thumb.jpg.166439bdea6e340ff6400fed033d1dc1.jpg

 

The yuma has completely detached from its rock and is free-floating. I don't want it to melt away in the 60G because I'm rather fond of it - it has a unique teal blue shade in the outer rim, with a bright orange center - I haven't come across another yuma with similar colors at my LFSes here, so I'll try to save this one. 

 

As for the acans, they were previously rainbow acans, but the color is way off and its shrunken. They were actually doing well in the 60G until recently, but I'll let it heal up in the pico first. 

 

I have two small spots in the pico to accomodate both pieces. Once they have recovered fully, I will return them to the 60G (probably some time next year). 👍

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Snow_Phoenix

Rainbow brain coral stretching the other way: 🌈

 

IMG_20201001_134515_463.thumb.jpg.08b2154ee0cc2080642d7e330398c9a4.jpg

 

LA Lakers & blue hornet zoas are doing okay, but the polyps are much smaller as compared to my orange bam bam zoas. Not sure why, or if they can become *bigger in time:

 

IMG_20201001_134626_012.thumb.jpg.e104d98a9474852154c4b355e2d82574.jpg

 

IMG_20201001_134626_014.thumb.jpg.9ecbe750eba04418fa9f90608994a2e9.jpg

 

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Harvey foraging for microalgae on the new acan frag that I transfered into the pico from the 60G:

 

Some of my corals swaying in the flow of the HOB: 😊

 

What I do to keep this little reef running on a daily basis: 🤗

 

IMG_20201001_155157_974.thumb.jpg.65f96a2240a5c3b2fb2a5446c9a71e34.jpg

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Snow_Phoenix

I noticed something peculiar with the montihat today morning. The pinkish-purplish edges have started to bounce (?) :

 

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IMG_20201002_095242_036.thumb.jpg.8534a20c22379f97ba84ab1254de2805.jpg

 

I find it both odd and unique. Never seen a bouncing monti before. 🤔

 

Utter Chaos polyp looks good on its own:

 

IMG_20201002_095704_496.thumb.jpg.33f582adfe6fba336f34262e35b0e4b7.jpg

 

Hungry rainbow brain coral: 😊

 

IMG_20201002_095627_754.thumb.jpg.0e1d7aa18b8dc13d48d0931e373015da.jpg

 

Cyphastrea encrusting further on Coralline Ledge: 😄

 

IMG_20201002_095527_275.thumb.jpg.0f164334aa2c82dd553e218b0922bac0.jpg

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That bounce is really interesting. Be curious to see if it sticks. But bouncing is typically a response to environmental stress, IIRC. I think it's bright light that gets it going, frequently? 

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Snow_Phoenix
2 hours ago, Tired said:

That bounce is really interesting. Be curious to see if it sticks. But bouncing is typically a response to environmental stress, IIRC. I think it's bright light that gets it going, frequently? 

Really? I honestly have no idea why corals 'bounce'. But as you've said, it could be lighting. My montihat is directly under the overlap of the Aquazonic & Chihiros LEDs, so my guess is it's getting a *lot of light. 🤔

 

I'll keep monitoring it. Besides the bouncing, the coral looks healthy otherwise - full PE, bright colors and even noticeable growth. None of my other frags have shown any adverse effects to my lights though. But I once accidently left the chihiros strip off and all the frags at the front of the tank were very unhappy - either closed up or stretching due to lack of light. 😕

 

It actually turned out to be quite difficult to find a strong light for this pico - the dimensions of the tank are such that most lights will have major spillovers at the front of the tank, and the actual reef will be shadowed/getting minimal light. 

 

Otherwise, I'd have tried getting another secondhand R60 over this reef a long time ago. 🤔

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Snow_Phoenix

Turban snail munching on film algae at the waterline:

 

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Nuclear death palys appear to be fast growers: 🤔

 

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Harvey: 🥰

 

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The new LA Lakers polyps are more developed today:

 

IMG_20201002_160442_862.thumb.jpg.e8f444cc7bd0282fb9b873c07a4555ea.jpg

 

Sideview shots of the pico:

 

IMG_20201002_160749_920.thumb.jpg.42f45c4ed4d68fe7d553e60d810bf59c.jpg

 

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The pico: 🥰

 

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I'm thinking of purchasing either a 4-tier or 5-tier metal + wood rack and setting up the pico in one of the higher tiers, and use the lower tiers to set up 1 or 2 18" × 8" × 8" frag tanks. Figured I could eventually sell off some frags from my reef(s) in the future since my store expressed interest in acquiring a piece of the montihat (and possibly other corals later). Still thinking about it. 🤔

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Snow_Phoenix

Multiple updates coming through - pic heavy! 😊

 

Update 1: Growth. 

 

My UC has a new baby polyp coming up! 😊 :

 

IMG_20201003_100702_047.thumb.jpg.c3d888c60ad451abe54493088666bfe4.jpg

 

Sunny Ds have 3 new polyps which are still small, but slowly gaining definition by the day: 

 

IMG_20201003_100702_046.thumb.jpg.76631ac89adbd3fb5c013b46f8b695d1.jpg

 

The Tubbs Blues have been growing out new polyps around the edges of the frag plug, as opposed to on top of it. I'm not sure why: 🤷‍♀️

 

IMG_20201003_100702_049.thumb.jpg.5dc15f614dcf2b27804f65a426193418.jpg

 

This was the zoa pox survivor - it grows rather slowly compared to the other zoa frags in my reef:

 

IMG_20201003_100702_050.thumb.jpg.c297132d265b4673f72ec9c0532e51c2.jpg

 

Still opening up after I just turned on the lights:

 

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Orange zoas have more new polyps incoming: 😊

 

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Right now, my rasta zoa is the only zoa which is still closed up in this tank. I think I'll have to re-glue it further up the Zoa Tower, where the flow & lighting is better. The polyp is incredibly small though, so I have to be careful not to squish it as I move it. 

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Snow_Phoenix

Update 2: Recovery & Randomness. 

 

Green leptastrea looks better today - it's bouncing back quickly:

 

IMG_20201003_100904_730.thumb.jpg.1e81e757d34be38ca5b4c12bc9d0df0d.jpg

 

Green trumpet still has a bit of missing flesh on the edge of one of the heads, but is otherwise quite puffy:

 

IMG_20201003_100904_729.thumb.jpg.5cda9e41b8dbeaeaa5d845ab42ad9abf.jpg

 

Prowler stole my yuma and tried to bury my red finger leather under a mound of sand: 🙄

 

IMG_20201003_101010_623.thumb.jpg.21a6ced92a754cae7d1843271207c3c8.jpg

 

Discosoma looking bright:

 

IMG_20201003_101010_619.thumb.jpg.d73797ad305157887db6fd349d3e6fc5.jpg

 

Unknown leptastrea & merlettis:

 

IMG_20201003_101010_622.thumb.jpg.96cbac5fdfc84a03e38eb64e85392ee9.jpg

 

Sideview of my rainbow brain coral: 

 

IMG_20201003_101010_618.thumb.jpg.241923b05af49cd67d47dfa76dc2c9d1.jpg

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Snow_Phoenix

Update 3: SPS. 

 

Chili pepper monti frag - pretty sure it's supposed to be placed horizontally since it's the capping variety, but it seems to be growing okay this way (for now) :

 

IMG_20201003_101225_582.thumb.jpg.66ab128d492a1618e365757d05c125e4.jpg

 

Setosa is encrusting quickly on the frag plug:

 

IMG_20201003_101225_583.thumb.jpg.50f60157a08cac15dcdab36eb22c60fb.jpg

 

Tenuis is the wrong color, but it's healthy & also encrusting on the frag plug, so I'm leaving it be. I like green corals anyway, so I guess it's fine by me: 🤷‍♀️

 

IMG_20201003_101225_584.thumb.jpg.d4206c9578ec7e351af98d6dfc0c9828.jpg

 

Seriatopora is growing new polyps over the area where one of the branches was snapped off. It's still retaining the bright green color for now, and if I'm not mistaken, it has grown a *bit since I got it: 🤔

 

IMG_20201003_101225_588.thumb.jpg.ac766b25d6577187601874aa95174fcc.jpg

 

Jack-O-Lantern lepto is flaring out around the edges - will eventually need to frag this when it outgrows the pico: 

 

20201003_101100.thumb.jpg.76f1d3d1636720df532cc3ce4e625111.jpg

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Everything looks great! Eager to see it all grow in.

 

A slight caution with the Sunny Ds; they're apparently a fast grower. Place them somewhere they can be contained or easily fragged. They're great, though, aren't they? I just got some.

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Snow_Phoenix
3 minutes ago, Tired said:

Everything looks great! Eager to see it all grow in.

 

A slight caution with the Sunny Ds; they're apparently a fast grower. Place them somewhere they can be contained or easily fragged. They're great, though, aren't they? I just got some.

Thanks for the head's up! I was initially thinking of putting the on the Zoa Tower, but I have a sense they will literally take over the Tower. I'll frag them as they grow out - just like I did with the purple deaths. 😊

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I don't think I've ever seen any pics of them that are anything between a small frag and a big colony. They like to run wild. At least they're pretty! Got some good demand for the results of them trying to run amok. 

 

Are you planning to stop adding things at some point soon, or do you plan to keep wiggling new frags in until there's more coral than water? Either way could be potentially very interesting.

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Snow_Phoenix
58 minutes ago, Tired said:

I don't think I've ever seen any pics of them that are anything between a small frag and a big colony. They like to run wild. At least they're pretty! Got some good demand for the results of them trying to run amok. 

 

Are you planning to stop adding things at some point soon, or do you plan to keep wiggling new frags in until there's more coral than water? Either way could be potentially very interesting.

I actually do plan on adding more zoas and palys - and perhaps another small softie frag at the back. Tbh, I love my little pico. The size of it makes it both challenging and rewarding at the same time, and maintenance is super easy. But at the same time, I would love to watch these frags grow out, and it does appear very crowded in the tank. Corals are eventually going to run into each other at some point. 

 

I was looking to either upgrade this to a long/shallow tank, but I haven't worked out the proper dimensions yet. I kept tossing back and forth between the idea of setting up another frag tank on a multi-tier rack, or simply putting everything in a larger tank, which is still pico/smaller nano-sized, and can be WCed fully every week. 

 

A lot of minor details to work out though - like getting a new cabinet/rack (my current one is old and has rollers - it can't hold more weight than the current pico), getting wavemaker(s), getting extra lights and new sand - cost-wise, it'll be expensive. The rocks I can get from the sump/refugium of my 60G though - those rocks are established, some are as old as 4, going on 5 years, and the biofilter is rather mature. It's everything else that needs to be planned very carefully. Not to mention a lot of startup $$$ required. 

 

I might eventually settle on just keeping things the way they are though. The pico just seems too cute to get rid of. 😛

 

Can you see how undecided I am? :lol:

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Snow_Phoenix

Three different types of montis in the tank:

 

IMG_20201004_102649_862.thumb.jpg.8aeba256a23dc9e31b294cad3f99bea0.jpg

 

Since the John Deere leptastrea is growing rather quickly, I might need to move the tiny mystery monti piece to the other side of Coralline Ledge. I'm still unsure if it is the encrusting or capping variety, so I glued it vertically against the LR for now. 

 

The tricolor blasto is recovering slowly & steadily:

 

IMG_20201004_102746_375.thumb.jpg.9101cbf01cdd8f93bba70dc2d495ae95.jpg

 

Metallic GSP is trying to conquer my sandbed: 😮

 

IMG_20201004_102824_800.thumb.jpg.1a34b94c0f31d740ebdcb42e2634c986.jpg

 

New UC polyp has developed a bit more - I can see patterns on its surface: 😊

 

IMG_20201004_102917_147.thumb.jpg.6114580d52da7b1dadd0a3b45ca5da9f.jpg

 

IMG_20201004_102917_146.thumb.jpg.ae91943237d3c8fd00b1c2d542fe45e2.jpg

 

Leopard discosomas still need to regain their original colors. It'll take some time:

 

IMG_20201004_103025_562.thumb.jpg.25befcc8db8d6ba56e2a485c65556518.jpg

 

The hitchiker black sponge has grown a bit more:

 

IMG_20201004_103112_767.thumb.jpg.368bb475e6103d725809e65e767b88aa.jpg

 

The algae film on the water surface is back. Will mop it up shortly & also replace the filter floss. 😊👍

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