johnmauser Posted April 9, 2006 Author Share Posted April 9, 2006 Great theme! I think you're off on the idea of it not being colorful. Some of the nicest stuff I have came from the carribean - there are lots of blue zoas from there! I guess I was mainly talking about the Acropora and other sps when I made that comment. I've got the live rock in the tank now and I'll post a pic tonight. I've also put in an order for a pair of small gorgonians, some zoas, and a few rics that should be showing up Tuesday morning. John Link to comment
aquaman7 Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 ...Chalk bass hiding behind rock Chalk bass sneaking out for food ^Interesting choice... I like those guys... can you tell us a bit about it's personality (bold, shy, ect.) not many people keep those. Looking good. Keep it up. Link to comment
BJK2 Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 john, love the idea. I have been to that aquarium before. My family has been vacationing at Emerald Isle every year for 17 years now. Where did you catch the peppermints? I have only found fish off the beach, but never looked in the sound. There is some great fishing out of Morehead City, ever been? Link to comment
skylsdale Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 Since it's illegal to collect any species of Acropora from the Caribbean (most notably A. cervicornis and A. palmata), were you planning on just using a Pacific species that is similar? I think any branching and brown/tan colored SPS would be a good substitute for cervicronis, but other than that, you'll have to stick with the softies and gorgs (which dominate most of the area, anyway). Don't forget all those great sponges and macroalgaes as well! MIght be worthwhile to throw a replica of a tube sponge in there as well: http://www.aquatouch.com/Living_Color/2003/lcpg0010.jpg Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 9, 2006 Author Share Posted April 9, 2006 skylsdale... you've got it dead on, I'm using pacific species of acro that have similar coloration and looks to the caribbean sp. everything else will be from the caribbean BJK2... I'll pm you aquaman7... about the chalk bass, I actually lucked up on him by accident. At our new aquarium, we will have two exhibits featuring tropicals that visit North Carolina. He acidentally came in one of our shipments from florida and since he's not found in NC, we couldn't display him. He's quite shy but he seems to be working his way out of it and becoming more curious. He hides out in the live rock but comes out at feeding tome. Besides being a really colorful fish, I really like the fact that he's supposed to be totally reef safe. Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 10, 2006 Author Share Posted April 10, 2006 Okay, here's a few pics with the 20#'s of hatian live rock in it. This is the same rock as I have in my 50 gallon, which colored up unbelievably in 2 months. I can't wait to see how this rock looks in a few months under metal halides. metal halide...I had to underexpose this photo so you could see the detail in the rock, the MH is a lot brighter blue and white led's blue led's Link to comment
pico1 Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 john, I just bought 2 of those lights for my 55 gallon reef that I'm setting up. How high is your light from the water surface and do you have any heat problems? Also do you use a glass cover? Thanks. Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 10, 2006 Author Share Posted April 10, 2006 The light sits about 4" above the water with the standard legs. It will also come with ceiling hangers. I had the heater turned all the way down to 75 and the water temp was staying at 81-83 with the glass top on. I finally took it off yesterday and the tank is staying at the same temp as the heater now. I was afraid of my fish and shrimp jumping out but it was really baking with the glass on, so it had to go. john, I just bought 2 of those lights for my 55 gallon reef that I'm setting up. How high is your light from the water surface and do you have any heat problems? Also do you use a glass cover? Thanks. Link to comment
pico1 Posted April 10, 2006 Share Posted April 10, 2006 interesting. thanks for the quick help john. Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 12, 2006 Author Share Posted April 12, 2006 Well I got my first batch of softies in today. Orange sea rod gorgonian Purple gorgonian Neon Green Zoanthid cluster Chocolate brown zoanthid cluster Blue ricordea florida orange ricordea florida a few neon blue zoanthid polyps small harlequin starfish (okay, so he's not a coral) I'm also holding a purple gorg, an orange gorg, and a purple/green ric for my mom in the tank. These guys have acclimated really well since I put them in at noon today. Tomorrow, when they're fully open, I'll take some pics and post. John Link to comment
szesteve Posted April 12, 2006 Share Posted April 12, 2006 Wow, the blue LEDS are bright! Please do post pics when your corals are acclimated. Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 13, 2006 Author Share Posted April 13, 2006 okay, here are some pics Tank without flash A little closer Neon Green Zoanthid-it's much brighter, I need to get one with the flash, it also glows with the blue leds Chocolate Zoanthid-no flash Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 13, 2006 Author Share Posted April 13, 2006 Purple gorgonian- with flash Same gorgonian without flash close up of polyps orange sea rod gorgonian Link to comment
Rene Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 This is so good looking! With those gorgonians in there, I can really start to see what direction this is going in. Where did you get them, if I may ask? Link to comment
ZenMastr1968 Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 It's looking good - keep up the posts... Link to comment
ecotoxlady Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 Looks beautiful! I can't wait to see what you're going to add next! Link to comment
skylsdale Posted April 15, 2006 Share Posted April 15, 2006 For fish, I would highly recommend a small group of Coryphopterus personatus (Masked gobies). Link to comment
DarkXerox Posted April 17, 2006 Share Posted April 17, 2006 how are you feeding the gorgonians? they look awesome! Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 17, 2006 Author Share Posted April 17, 2006 At work I care for jellyfish, so I just bring home some leftover jelly food occasionally. Newly hatched, enriched brine shrimp and cyclopeez. John how are you feeding the gorgonians? they look awesome! Link to comment
aquaman7 Posted April 19, 2006 Share Posted April 19, 2006 ...aquaman7... about the chalk bass, I actually lucked up on him by accident. At our new aquarium, we will have two exhibits featuring tropicals that visit North Carolina. He acidentally came in one of our shipments from florida and since he's not found in NC, we couldn't display him. He's quite shy but he seems to be working his way out of it and becoming more curious. He hides out in the live rock but comes out at feeding tome. Besides being a really colorful fish, I really like the fact that he's supposed to be totally reef safe. Very cool. I take it they stay relatively small as well. Your tank's coming along nicely... keep it up. Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 19, 2006 Author Share Posted April 19, 2006 Yeah, the chalk bass aren't supposed to get over 2". Thanks for the compliments on the tank, I added another peppermint shrimp (big and full of eggs) that I caught tonight. The tank is going to get a lot better so stay tuned! John Very cool. I take it they stay relatively small as well. Your tank's coming along nicely... keep it up. Link to comment
aquaman7 Posted April 20, 2006 Share Posted April 20, 2006 The tank is going to get a lot better so stay tuned!John You bet. Link to comment
johnmauser Posted April 24, 2006 Author Share Posted April 24, 2006 My friend caught a porcelain crab last night and so generously donated it to my cause. He's acclimating right now so here's a pic of him in a container. He's huge for a porcelain, a good two inches from elbow to elbow. I've got a shipment of cool stuff showing up tomorrow, I'll post once I get it in the tank. John Link to comment
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