[sean_koekemoer]

I decided to join as I have started a new (bigger) tank than the previous one and I need all the help I can get for future headaches and problems.

I would like to ask if anyone is interested about the tank history, to please read the whole thread here as I am gonna sit forever to copy and paste all the pages, unless the mods know of an easier way. Here is the link and I will try and upload some pics to start this threadI promise I will not attach a link after this again but it is really too much to copy over)

Sean's Concrete tank Photos - Marine Aquariums of South Africa

Ok, for some last days photos. I'll keep on updating from here:





Putting the glass in:

[heinze]

looks well smart, never seen a tank built like that before. Looks like it made the aqua scapeing alot easier

[sean_koekemoer]

Thank you Heinze. If you read the "link", you'll see what I did and the materials I used. It was not so easy but I suppose it'll make it easier in the long run...

[thagreek]

very nice

[sean_koekemoer]

Originally Posted by thagreek

very nice

Thank you

[zhenya]

Sean,



Looks like heck of a project to complete but results looking very promising. Keep updating us with the images as things progress and lots of luck with everything.

[sean_koekemoer]

Thank you Zhenya. It was a lot of stress in the household regarding mortar, dust etc. Will post some pics of the new inhabitants a bit later

[sean_koekemoer]

Some Pics and Closeups I took The last couple of days:

[sean_koekemoer]

[sean_koekemoer]

[sean_koekemoer]

[zhenya]

Beatiful!

[charlie]

Nice stuff, and great job!!!!

[SouthBayPhoto]

Niiiiiiceeeee!!!!! I like it...definitely want stuff that looks like that. Very cool!

[Samper]

Heck of a project to complete but it's looking really nice!

[Ninong]

That's an amazing sea star photo. What species is that?

[sean_koekemoer]

Originally Posted by Ninong

That's an amazing sea star photo. What species is that?

Sean,
You have Leiaster leachi AKA Leach's starfish.


There are minor variations in it's range of distribution.
These differences become more distinct further afiled.

I suspected Leister spp, but HAD to find DEFINITE ID for population forms CLOSER TO SOUTH AFRICA.

After all, these are found all the way to GBR, Australia!!

Red Sea marine biologists, and Mauritus/Reunion dive operators confirm my guess.

[sean_koekemoer]

According to Obi Wan:

Bacterial films, detritivorous.
Literally the slime off the glass if it's enriched with enough fish ..REALLY!!

Also, older tanks have more "food" .
Solid surfaces best for it, ie. liverock/rock, glass.

it moves/hovers/hides on substrate/s BUT it feeds off solid surfaces.

You can even feed it the "junk" from filter floss or sponges..when accumulated onto solid surface... junk sticks to slimes on surfaces...Leiaster will chow from there....

basics; peaceful, established reef with plenty food.
So, it may slowly starve if tank too clean, or too small !!!!

[Ninong]

Sean,

Thanks for the ID on the Leiaster leachi, and for the information on its feeding habits.

There are thousands of photos of sea stars on the Internet but virtually all of them are of the aboral surface. Only in a reef aquarium would we have the opportunity to take a photograph of the ventral surface with the tube feet in action. Those photos are amazing!

Thanks again!

[sean_koekemoer]

Originally Posted by Ninong

Sean,

Thanks for the ID on the Leiaster leachi, and for the information on its feeding habits.

There are thousands of photos of sea stars on the Internet but virtually all of them are of the aboral surface. Only in a reef aquarium would we have the opportunity to take a photograph of the ventral surface with the tube feet in action. Those photos are amazing!

Thanks again!

It is a pleasure.

I received some nice Coral over the weekend. Tried to upload a small video at YouTube, but it is not working, so decided to upload through Google.

Anyone interested, click on the link below, once the page opened, just give it a couple of seconds to buffer, it'll start showing after buffer completed:

sean concrete reef tank