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[STOCK] melbourne


melbourne

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Eeek! A 17hr power cut, that's the stuff of reefkeeping nightmares. Does that happen a lot? I guess that a generator is absolutely essential for you (and your tanks!)

 

I think that the algae is Lobophora, I've had it before and it's never been a big deal for me but I have read that it has been quite troublesome for others.

 

I really do like this mix of polyps, did you put those together yourself?

 

polyp_arrangement_jan20.jpg

 

Best regards

 

Ann

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Coralcrazy, Thanks - I'm going to do another tank with foam + agrocrete when I have some free time.

 

Ann, lucky I had the generator otherwise I'm sure I would have had major issues in my tanks. The collection of polyps I did myself, manually arranged. Earlier in the week I put in a small mexican turbo to work on the some of the macro, in the morning when I checked the tank, a few monti frags had been knocked off the wall and the polyps were all over the place :( I haven't had time to redo them but I plan to. The power outtages seem to be getting worse - we've seen progressively worse winters but I've only lived in this area for around 4 years - still hoping to move back west to SoCal and the nice weather :) Thanks for the macro ID - the brown stuff on the rock although not very attractive is not nearly as invasive as some macro I've seen.

 

Did a water change this week and changed out the Marineland carbon I had been using with SeaGel - wanted to give it a try since it was on sale.

Sorry for the bad tank pics, not everything is out since I did the water change, but I have a small window to take pics on Friday before the

lights go out.

 

Nothing new added except for the temporary weed wacker turbo.

 

FTS Feb 03

Feb03_FTS.jpg

 

Corner Feb 03

corner_feb03.jpg

 

Orange Monti which I mounted slightly under mat - mat has recovered and growing again

orange_feb03.jpg

 

Tiny Anthelia frag growth pic, starting to fill out more

anthelia_growth.jpg

 

Pink Pom Pom Xenia growth pic (slow grower even under halides)

pink_xenia_feb03.jpg

 

Pic of mat growth Tinyreef noticed before, sorry for the blurry picture but the mat has spanned a small gap and colonized another piece of rock - hard to see in pic but look between cap and kenya

mat_feb03_growth.jpg

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your tank has the best growth of all the contestants so far IMO! tank looks really good! anyway

is it possible i see a better pic of your FW planted 30g. ?????

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks - I haven't had time to do much to my tanks this month. No water changes - my FW planted has really suffered due to lack of attention. The 2.5g has been doing ok considering. Updated pics of growth.

 

FTS - taken tonight

FTS_02_26.jpg

 

FTS - corner

corner_2_26.jpg

 

GSP mat growth is finally going up instead of down :) Polyps are not out but it makes it easier to see the growth up.

 

left_mat_growth_2_26.jpg

 

Few new dusters have appeared - they seem to like the fact I haven't done any water changes this month.

new_dusters.jpg

 

Orange M.Digi showing some growth

digi6_2_26.jpg

 

Orange Cap has colored up nicely / more of a pink than orange in this tank

cap_growth2_26.jpg

 

One of the wall digi growth - colors have maintained in this tank which is nice

digi5_2_26.jpg

 

More digi growth shots

digi2_2_26.jpg

 

digi_02_26.jpg

 

Wall of digi's - all exhibiting growth and retaining color well.

monti_wall_2_26.jpg

 

More pics

 

Green mushroom on ground has spread out a bit

green_mush_growth.jpg

 

Critter from my other tanks fuge I threw in since Cerith is not enough of an algae crew

new_critter2_26.jpg

 

Tiny Candy Cane frag has done well despite its location in the tank notice the split heads and tiny head growing in compared to when it was added.

candy_growth_2_26.jpg

 

Pics from when it was added

 

tinycandy.jpg

 

Polyp growth

polyp_growth_2_26.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks, I've been able to defeat the algae problem I was having. I replaced my RO/DI membranes / filters and replaced the resin - back at 0 TDS again on the meter. I added in 3 small blue leg hermits, and a temporary astrae which made short work of algae. The astrae knocked loose a few of my monti's. Also having corralline growth appearing on the glass now, so at least it started - a few months later than most folks but at least it started :) Was able to snap a few shots before the lights turned off - here they are.

 

Gorgonian is also showing growth although at a slower pace - if you look back at the older shots you will see it is now growing a new branch on the lower left side :)

 

FTS 3-15-06

FTS03-15-06.jpg

 

Corner 3-15-06

corner_03_15_06.jpg

 

Side

side_03_15_06.jpg

 

Spotted mushroom is reproducing again- you can see baby behind parent in this pic

dotted_mushroom_03_15_06.jpg

 

Mushroom under HOB output pipe is doing well and grown

frilly_03_15_06.jpg

 

Green ric starting to split

split_ric_03_15_06.jpg

 

Side shot of monti mountain with various softies mixed in

side_monti_03_15_06.jpg

 

Lem has shown some decent growth from a tiny tiny frag I added

lem_growth_03_15_06.jpg

 

Toadstool has done well in this tank - here is a side shot of it

toad_03_15_06.jpg

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More pics

 

Close up of monti mountain

monti_mountain_03_15_06.jpg

 

Close up of polyp extension on violet / white monti

monti_polyp_03_15_06.jpg

 

Candy Cane is doing well

candy_03_15_06.jpg

 

Good old cabbage as a tank center piece - who would have thought :)

cabbage_03_15_06.jpg

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i love the spotted shroom and cabbage. very nice!

 

i thought of your tank recently when i saw a thread on using the foam for a large tank (RC?). things seem to be settling in very well. :thumbsup:

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Wonderful piccies, everything looks so fit and healthy. I love the look of the cabbage coral, funny but I've never given that species a second glance before now in a shop. :D

 

Any sign of coralline growth on the foam yet?

 

Best regards

 

Ann

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Tinyreef, Ann - thanks. No signs of coralline growth on the foam. From what I've read it takes much longer for coralline to establish on the foam unless you have a thick coating of rubble or sand which I don't :( I certainly learned from this experiment how to make it better next time around.

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  • 3 weeks later...

FTS

04-05-06

FTS_04_05_06.jpg

 

Corner

04-05-06

corner_4_05_06.jpg

 

[Livestock]

Florida Tan Gorgonian

Pink Pom Pom Xenia (Red Sea)

Elongata Xenia (Silver Branch)

Pink Anthelia

Green Star Polyp (Long) (Briareum)

Pink Star Polyp (Long) (Briareum)

Brown Zoanthus (ultra rare )

Orange Zoanthus

Red Zoanthus

Tan Zoanthus

Green Zoanthus

Green Eye Zoanthus

Orange Center Zoanthus

Green Center Palythoa

Tan Cabbage Coral (Sinularia dura)

Green Ricordea Yuma

Yellow Polyp (Colony zoanthus)

Brown Kenya Tree (Capnella)

Cream Toadstool (Sarcophyton)

Cream Montipora Digitata

Purple Montipora Digitata

Brown Montipora Digitata

Green/Blue Candy Cane (Caulastrea furcata)

Blue Striped Mushroom

Purple Dot Mushroom

Green/Tan Mushroom (Rhodactis)

Misc featherdusters

1 Cerith Snail

2 Blue Leg Hermits

1 Unknown Snail / Limpet

 

[Equipment]

2.5 AGA glass tank

Tetratec PF150 Filter

Tetratec Heating Capsule

Current USA 18w 50/50 retrofit

Hogs Hood Canopy/Base

Corallife Digital Thermometer

DIY ATO (currently removed)

 

The mats on the left are were not open when I took the FTS today, I may take another later this week if I have time. Not that I have much of a chance. I'm hoping that people will see that small tanks are viable and quite enjoyable and can be low maintenance. For folks interesting in starting a small tank and keep costs low - I found the foam worked quite well, I would use a thicker layer of rubble/sand next time. For corals I would join a local reef club, almost all my corals are frags from my larger tanks and are common corals so they should be easy to get. I'm pretty happy with the way the Tetratec filter performed in this application, its just about right for a 2.5g and the surge provides sufficient flow to keep everyone happy. This has been a fun little project :)

 

FTS History from contest start to today

10-20-06

DSCN0738A.jpg

 

11-13-06

nov_13_05_tank.jpg

 

11-24-06

tank_new_frags2.jpg

 

11-27-05

FTS11-27-05.jpg

 

12-20-05

FTS11-27-05.jpg

 

01-01-06

fts_jan01.jpg

 

01-06-06

FTS_Surge_Jan06.jpg

 

01-10-06

FTS_JAN10.jpg

 

01-20-06

FTS_jan20.jpg

 

01-27-06

FTS_jan27.jpg

 

02-03-06

Feb03_FTS.jpg

 

02-26-06

FTS_02_26.jpg

 

03-15-06

FTS03-15-06.jpg

 

04-05-06

FTS_04_05_06.jpg

 

Corner Shots

11-27-05

corner_shot.jpg

 

12-20-05

cornershotdec.jpg

 

01-01-06

cornerjan01.jpg

 

01-10-06

corner_jan10.jpg

 

01-20-06

cornershot_jan20.jpg

 

01-27-06

FTS_Corner_Jan27.jpg

 

02-26-06

corner_2_26.jpg

 

03-15-06

corner_03_15_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

corner_4_05_06.jpg

 

 

Misc. Shots

01-20-06

misc_shot_jan20.jpg

 

01-27-06

Middle_Jan27.jpg

 

02-03-06

corner_feb03.jpg

 

02-26-06

monti_wall_2_26.jpg

 

03-15-06

monti_mountain_03_15_06.jpg

 

03-15-06

side_monti_03_15_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

green_mush_4_5_06.jpg

 

 

 

04-05-06

kenya_4_5_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

gorg_4_5_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

misc_zoas_4_05_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

baby_ric_4_5_06.jpg

 

Algae Clean Up Crew taken 04-05-06

 

Smaller Hermit sitting on Xenia

cleaner_crew_2_4_05_06.jpg

 

Larger Hermit on sandbed looking for food

cleaner_crew_04_05_06.jpg

 

Cerith Snail cleaning glass

cerith_04_05_06.jpg

 

 

 

Ric

11-27-05

newric.jpg

 

12-20-05

largeric25.jpg

 

1-10-06

ric_polyps_jan10.jpg

 

03-15-06

split_ric_03_15_06.jpg

 

 

Toadstool

12-20-05

toadstooldec.jpg

 

01-10-06

toadstool_zoas.jpg

 

03-15-06

toad_03_15_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

toadstool_04_05_06.jpg

 

Yellow Polyps

11-27-05

yellowpolypgrowth.jpg

 

01-10-06

yellow_duster.jpg

 

01-27-06

duster_algae_jan27.jpg

 

03-15-06

yellow_polyps_03_15_06.jpg

 

 

Cabbage

01-01-06

cabbagemacro.jpg

 

01-10-06

cabbage_jan10.jpg

 

01-20-06

cabbage_jan20.jpg

 

02-03-06

cabbage_feb03_growth.jpg

 

03-15-06

cabbage_03_15_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

cabbage_4_5_06.jpg

 

Cream Digi

01-01-06

montidigi01.jpg

 

01-10-06

cream_monti.jpg

 

??

monti_3.jpg

 

03-15-06

monti_polyp_03_15_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

cream_monti_4_5_06.jpg

 

 

Various M.Digi Green

01-01-06

montidig02.jpg

 

01-10-06 ??

monti_1.jpg

 

01-20-06

green_montijan20.jpg

 

01-27-06

monti_jan27_green.jpg

 

02-26-06

digi_02_26.jpg

 

04-05-06

green_monti_4_5_06.jpg

 

01-20-06

green_montijan20.jpg

 

01-27-06

monti_jan27_green.jpg

 

 

M.Digi Purple

01-01-06

montidig03.jpg

 

01-27-06

side_monti_jan27.jpg

 

02-26-06

digi2_2_26.jpg

 

04-05-06

misc_monti_4_5_06.jpg

 

Various Wall M.Digi

01-27-06

monti_zoa_jan27.jpg

 

04-05-06

wall_purple_4_5_06.jpg

 

Lemnalia

01-10-06

lemnalia.jpg

 

01-27-06

lem_jan27.jpg

 

03-15-06

lem_growth_03_15_06.jpg

 

04-05-06

lem_04_05_06.jpg

 

Purple Dot Mushroom look for baby mushroom in later pictures

01-10-06

purple_dot_mushroom.jpg

 

01-26-06

digi5_2_26.jpg

 

03-15-06

dotted_mushroom_03_15_06.jpg

 

04-15-06

spotted_4_5_06.jpg

 

Candy Cane

1-10-06

tinycandy.jpg

 

02-03-06

candy_growth_2_26.jpg

 

03-15-06

candy_03_15_06.jpg

 

Orange Cap

01-20-06

orange_cap.jpg

 

01-27-06

cap_kenya_jan27.jpg

 

02-03-06

mat_feb03_growth.jpg

 

02-26-06

cap_growth2_26.jpg

 

Orange Digi

01-20-06

orange_montijan20.jpg

 

02-03-06

orange_feb03.jpg

 

02-26-06

digi3_2_26.jpg

 

Remounted after snail knocked it loose - mounted in different position

04-05-06

orange_monti_4_5_06.jpg

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Wow, what a great set of pictures, some good growth there too. I hope that you'll be keeping this tank on so that we can still see how it progresses in the future. Best of luck when the voting starts. :)

 

Best regards

 

Ann

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man, unbelievable pictures!!! great documentary!!! this is one of my favorite tanks for sure. I really wish the coraline would have taken on theback wall... oh wells.... do you plan on keeping this setup for a while to see if it takes to coraline, or are you going to tear it down? awesome work!!!!

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Thanks - I plan on keeping the tank its almost no maintenance which is what I love about nano/pico tanks. I'm going to add my ATO back in now so I don't have to top off every day. It took a long time for the corralline to establish, curious to see how long it will take for the back wall to get covered. I'm almost positive if I had a thicker layer of sand/rubble I would have faster results for the wall. If there is another contest I may try another foam entry but improved :)

 

Oh and the wall is standard Great Stuff foam with a thin layer of southdown playsand. I sculpted the foam before it cured and then put the sand on.

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melbourne,

 

This is the first time I've check out your tank and I've got to say that is looks awesome! You did a great job on the back wall and the corals are beautiful.

Cheers,

 

- Chad

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