Twin Desktop Pico's

[debbeach13]

Glad the transfer went well.

[Ratvan]

2 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

Glad the transfer went well.

Thanks me too, still trying to figure out the name of these Zoas (if they have one), still thinking they're Fire and Ice. 

 

Fire and Ice - Google Image

 

My Zoas - Fire and Ice?

 

Cant get the brightness of the Red in my photo

[debbeach13]

If they look like fire and ice in your tank I think that is great. What are you going to use to get rid of the Aptasia. In the past I usually killed the coral they are near. Next time I think I am going to try the super glue thing. 

[Ratvan]

Just now, debbeach13 said:

If they look like fire and ice in your tank I think that is great. What are you going to use to get rid of the Aptasia. In the past I usually killed the coral they are near. Next time I think I am going to try the super glue thing. 

I have some Joes Juice around, thankfully I have enough Polyps on this rock not to worry too much about losing a couple. I never had much luck with super gluing Aiptasia in the past, I think that these rocks are too porous and the Aiptasia just pops out somewhere else. I will get the two largest then will have to wait for the others to get to the size i need, or can look into some Nudis

[debbeach13]

Sounds like a plan. Knock on wood right now I do not see any in my tank. I probably just jinxed it.

[Ratvan]

Yeah so i am bored and have been taking zoomed in photographs of things on the rocks.

 

Zoa skirts colouring up more, pretty close to real life colour

 

The Big Aiptasia that Puaka has taken to, also note the feather duster worm on the rock as well as what look like a lot more, albeit smaller Aiptasia in the hole in the rock below. Looks like Joes Juicing the large and looking for some Nudi's is the way to go

 

Colonial Hydroid cluster (light green?), another Aiptasia (Joes Juice size) 

 

More baby Aiptasia, seems like every rock i buy is infested with it, and also Bubble Algae which i know i shouldnt like but i do

 

Stocking plans remain the same, Zoas and Palys. Although i do want to attempt a "limited colour pallet" in the tank so thinking Red, White and Blue. For the very best of british 😄

[Tempestas]

Nice start dude. I really like the scape and the fact that you're back in with a tank.

 

I agree that a simple colour theme would really pull the tank together nicely.

[Ratvan]

Morning photos, the clowns are hosting the Zoas which is keeping them closed, Puaka still hosts the large Aiptasia, need to sort that out today really, plus water and floss change

 

Spotted a few Asterina Stars or at least two halves of one, not overly worried about these ones, fairly light and Zoas are healthy as far as I can tell. 

 

The pair chilling out waiting on breakfast. Haven't actually seen any pairing behaviour from either, no chasing, no little submissive spasms. Still a way to go with size perhaps? 

 

 

[Ratvan]

So water change and floss change completed, all in all took me 45 minutes which isn't bad at all. Starting to get some dusty glass now so will start looking for a CuC. 

 

So while Joe's Juicing the larger Aiptasia (sorry Puaka) I noticed some bivalves on the base of the rock, not wanting to get juice on them I gentle removed them from the rock and reintroduced them to the tank

 

 

 

 

[Ratvan]

Well one of the bivalves is alive, been watching it move along the back wall. Interesting little critter

 

[Ratvan]

[Snow_Phoenix]

7 minutes ago, Ratvan said:

It's almost as if it stuck its tongue out at you. 😅

[afcajax73]

awesome updates 🙂

[debbeach13]

So glad things are looking good in there. Nice hitchhikers also.

[Ratvan]

Thanks @debbeach13, its fun to see what everything is and where it eventually decides to settle. For some reason I have some loose Zoas floating around, I have done my best to stuff these into holes in the rockwork, we will see what happens

 

Additionally Hantu now has a chill out sleepy cave

 

Entering into the Uglies, diatoms everywhere and small amounts of GHA popping up, need to look for a couple of Ceriths

 

[Ratvan]

Ugly stage confirmed

 

 

[debbeach13]

Part of the process. Ugly but good also.

[Ratvan]

Figured I'd post everything this time, it's also been fun watching the little bivalves move around the tank 

[Ratvan]

So watching the tank see both clowns darting at the backwall like they're attacking something

 

Apologies the gel lenses are in a box somewhere, so standard photos 

 

I upped the whites to take a better photo but it buggered off into the main rock

 

 

[Ratvan]

Definitely in the Ugly stages now, I'm not going to be basting this off the rocks until my weekend water change, incidentally this is when I intend to address the other Aiptasia on the Zoa rock.

 

Also had to top off with 250ml of treated tap water today, which is the first time I have actually noticed that the level in the rear compartment has receded, so that is 72 hours of evaporation. I am thinking about potentially adding an ATO to this if i can find one small enough

 

Zoas are colouring back up after being exposed to Joes Juice, they'll be annoyed again this weekend once I start treating for Aiptasia again, also have notice a couple of areas of the rock/polyp mat where i could potentially cut to create separate frags to move on 

Lights just come on so not fully coloured up yet

 

[debbeach13]

2 hours ago, Ratvan said:

also have notice a couple of areas of the rock/polyp mat where i could potentially cut to create separate frags to move on 

I like the look of the larger colony. I think it gives the tank a mature look. Of course it is your tank and cutting so you can get at the aiptasia might make sense.

[Ratvan]

28 minutes ago, debbeach13 said:

I like the look of the larger colony. I think it gives the tank a mature look. Of course it is your tank and cutting so you can get at the aiptasia might make sense.

So do I, I'm noticing small polups appearing in the mat so the good news is they grow fast and seem to cover the rock well. I don't want only this one type in the tank however. 

 

I will see if I can get some photos to illustrate what I mean

[Ratvan]

Ok so here we go, witness the impeccable skills of doodles 

 

So this is the least covered side of the colony, I like the way that it carpets thickly with colour and do want to keep that shape. As you can see inside the area circled red Polyps are forming from the base mat.  I would like this rock to be completely covered before i do any serious thinning. The small area of rock outside the circle does not have the same thickness of Zoa mat and as a result less heads, this is the area of rock that i was thinking about cutting frags from, however i do not want a frag rack or frag tank so most likely only cut off when ready to trade or sell or bin?

 

The colony does bounce back relatively fast from the Joe's Juice treatment, but I do not want to be using too much salt and water so will keep treatments to water change days only. 

 

In other news, i have all the equipment that i need to transfer this tank to its new home once i locate one. 😄

[SaltyGallon]

Nice start mate. Was that a start with live rock? Who doesn't love the new tank uglies ehh. With those zoas you'd be best off pruning clumps off the edge of the colony as and when and sticking to rubble. No ugly frag racks needed haha!

[Ratvan]

2 hours ago, SaltyGallon said:

Nice start mate. Was that a start with live rock? Who doesn't love the new tank uglies ehh. With those zoas you'd be best off pruning clumps off the edge of the colony as and when and sticking to rubble. No ugly frag racks needed haha!

I think "live" would be a stretch, it's been cycled and in Heated moving water since April of this year