Ok, ive missed you guys and im back. I thought i would throw out a couple of updates over the next week as my schedule allows. Ill start with my Solana first then the infamous fish room along with my 75g, and then possibly a build thread for my 265g. Ill also throw up some updated pics of the reptile room if anyone is interested.
Ill give a quick livestock/equipment overview for those that missed it the first time around.
Equipment
34g Current Solana Tank
250w Sun Supply Metal Halide Pendent with an Icecap ballast and 14K Pheonix bulb
Tunze Nano Doc Skimmer
Vor Tech MP20 powehead
DIY ATO
DIY Refugium with a DIY hangon coralife 50/50 PC fixture
DIY canopy/trim kit
Livestock
16# Figi LR
20# Southdown
2 X Yasha Gobies
2 X ORA Black Occs. Misbar
Yellow Assessor
Staghorn Hermit
RBTA(thanks Andy)
Blue Coral Banded Shrimp
Red Serpent Star
Misc Hermits/Snails
Purple Yumas(Thanks Glen via Bellamy)
Open brain
ORA Hyper green Digitata
Rose milipora
Blue/green austere
Pink monti cap(Thanks Glen)
orange blue rim cap
ORA greens birdnest(thanks Ellen)
Purple with blue polyps encrusing monti(thanks Ellen)
Green cap(thanks jon aka houndsbayman)
Bali Green Slimer(thanks jon)
Purple stylo(thanks jon)
All the corals, with the exception of the brain and ora digitata are from fellow reefers. All but there brain are aquacultured(impulse buy shame on me). The growth im getting in this tank is insane. The monti and birdsnest i got from ellen 2 months ago have doubled in size. Ok, on to the pics!
Full tank shot with trim kit(the colors are identical in person, the flash throws it off a little)
I was going to pick one up from DPA, but it was only on their list for a week or so. Live Aquaria then got a bunch in but i was going to hold off and wait for DPA. However, LA happen to put the Yasha Gobies on sale for 1/2 price AND had assessors in stock so i pulled the trigger. I couldnt pass up $30 Yashas! I try not to purchase fish online, but when i have you can not beat LA. They are hands down the best online fish store. I try to give Charlie and Andy a fair shot to get in what i want, but sometimes they just dont see some of the more uncommon stuff on their distrubutor lists, not to mention that it seems like the yellow assessors are only available certain times of the year.
If you're RBTA splits, I want it...
Andy has first dibs if he still wants one since he lost the original, but i wont forget that your next. I dont even feed it and its doubled in size already so it probably wont be long until i have clones. The color is AMAZING in person, ive never seen an RBTA 1/2 as bright.
Yeah, they’re good fish. Mine are beggars are practically jump out of the tank everytime i walk by. The larger clown hosts the RBTA periodically during the day and sleeps in it at night but the smaller one stays clear. Im hoping they become a mated pair eventually but only time will tell.
Thanks Ellen! My coral selection will continue to be good if i keep getting frags from you ;D The monti has quickly become one of my favorites and the growth rate of it and the birdsnest are amazing!
Great list of stuff for the tank. It sounds like way too much, but as small frags, its still empty. But as they grow into nice colonies, its going to fill out and look super. lots of variety in color and form of corals and fish to swim through them.
“Goby and The Brain”? Sounds like one of those Saturday morning cartoon shows!
"Goby and The Brain"? Sounds like one of those Saturday morning cartoon shows!
LOL, thats so funny ken because thats exactly what i was thinking when i typed it! Pinky and the brain is the name of the cartoon!!
I dont think for a second that i will keep all of those coral in the 34g. Im sort of using it as an incubator for corals that i will move into my 75 as they grow out a little.
That cube is looking really nice Shawn. I love the dimensions on it… someday I want to set up a nano similar to that. I cant wait to see it in about 6months
The tank is pretty solid, i cant complain. The stock skimmer isnt worth the plastic its built from but other than its top notch quality. Im pretty sure they have a HC glass version now as well.
Bellamy - just make sure you keep in touch so you can see what the tank looks like in 6 months! Its been fun getting to know you and Kaleigh and you both will be missed. Just because your in FL doesnt mean you cant be on the boards!
Billrob- the Yasha’s are without a doubt one of my favorite fish. Ive wanted them forever but felt that they would get lost in my 75g. I had the stock list picked out long before i got the tank. The yellow assessor has always been another favorite that i felt would just not do well in a larger tank. Although the yashas arent a common fish in the fish stores, you can often get them fairly cheap online. I got mine for $35 each. I actually had quite the scare with them. Ive had them now for a couple of months but about 3 or 4 weeks after i got them the both disappeared right after i had done some maintenance on the tank. I figured the were spooked and gave it no thought. After 2 or 3 weeks i wrote them off as goners. I figured that they bolted into the RBTA or maybe my serpernt star and became lunch. About two weeks ago i saw movement in the back section and low and behold both gobies were in the return/fuge section for almost 3 weeks. It says a lot about their hardiness, and ironically enough, since the great escape they have been out in the open constantly. The one perches my brain all day much like a blenny would.
One of my favorites as well had one at one time and he sprouted wings for about 10 seconds as he jumped out of the tank. Will have another one of theses days >LOL<
Good to hear the story Shawn. Seems like a lot of people have stories about disappearing fish later being found in overflow boxes. I’d be paranoid have such small jumpy fish. Most of my current fish are either pretty large or mostly benthic animals.
Yeah, i was well aware of their tendancy to be jumpers. Thats the only reason i built the trim kit is to hide the eggcrate cover. I guess i wasnt paying attention when i had the trimkit off doing maintenance because i know they disappeared the same day i was gluing frags down.
My only other dreamfish that i would consider adding would be a wrasse, but im worried about the bioload so im going to hold off for now. Ive always wanted a lineatus or a golden rhombosis(no clue about the spelling!) but ive seen quite a few pink margin wrasses lately that look very similar but for a lot less money. Ill give the tank another 6 months or so to see how the parameters hold and might buy one for myself as a xmas gift!
Never thought about putting egg brate on top verdict_in may be hafe to invest in that. Have lost many a fish that way. Lastest was my little mandrin I picked up at DRC couple of months ago. Shame too was eating well just decided to take aa leap >:::
