My tank is starting to look better, I think

[almostdiva]

Gene,

Sorry to hear about all your tank drama... now fall is here and things should be groovy (although it doesn't feel much like fall today, and it's supposed to be like 80 tomorrow...). Your elegance is great -- I'm enjoying the pics of your pink skunk playing in it.

I think your butterfly needs a buddy!

Rebecca

[zhenya]

Gene,

Sorry to hear about all your tank drama... now fall is here and things should be groovy (although it doesn't feel much like fall today, and it's supposed to be like 80 tomorrow...). Your elegance is great -- I'm enjoying the pics of your pink skunk playing in it.

I think your butterfly needs a buddy!

Rebecca

Hi Rebecca,

Yes, it was a bit of a trying times for this tank but things seem to be better right now.
You are right about the weather, it doesn't feel much like autumn yet. I was at the wedding in the Pocono mountains over this weekend and that is where you know the fall is here. Foliage is spectacular and it is nice and cool in the evenings. We had to start the fire in the fireplace as it was at the most in the mid forties at night.

Well, here's full tank shot I took today (got to keep up with the monthly updates )



And here's another shot of the center of the tank, hopefully you can see that elegance coral on the bottom. I'm very happy that I was able to finally find a healthy one. I actually think it does much better with the clownfish in there. She doesn't really buffet in the coral much at all, and don't let any of the shrimp steal food from it.

[charlie]

Hey Gene, your tank IS looking really good, hope it continues that way. It sure is a testament to the livestock itself, isn't it???

That and alot of TLC by an owner that cares, good job on the rehab!!!

[zhenya]

Thanks, Charlie!

Things improved a lot since the temperature and salinity issues. Hopefully it continues, as you said. ;)

[charlie]

Gene, I know I have siad this before, but I will say it again. If it wouldn't have been for your immediate attention to the problems, things could have been alot worse. You have done a helluva job there my friend!!!!!

[almostdiva]

I don't think anyone looking at that most recent shot would think anything had been wrong unless they absolutely KNEW. I'm used to seeing your full tank shots and I can't really tell -- just a tiny bit more room here and there, but not "tell-tale" signs that you had a major disaster.

And we will happily look at as many shots of your elegance/clown as you care to post.

Rebecca

[zhenya]

I don't think anyone looking at that most recent shot would think anything had been wrong unless they absolutely KNEW. I'm used to seeing your full tank shots and I can't really tell -- just a tiny bit more room here and there, but not "tell-tale" signs that you had a major disaster.

And we will happily look at as many shots of your elegance/clown as you care to post.

Rebecca

Well, it is true for the most part, except that I do know what have been lost.

[zhenya]

OK, I spent some time taking these new pics of some of the corals. Some came out OK and some are so-so, so please excuse the ones that are lousy. ;)

Well, here's a colony of what people call superman;s montipora. It had browned out severely during the problems that I had with the tank, lately, though it seems to be coming around and regaining the color.


Also got a new coral, looks like a tabling growth form although I do not know the exact species.


And a closer look at the coralites.


And now some random images...
Here's one showing some competition for food during feeding time. Hopefully you can make out the amphipod in the top corner (left side) and a few miniature brittle stars. The bristle worms are there as well.

[zhenya]

Some more...
I almost threw this Astreopora coral in the garbage during the clean up I had about a year ago. All it had left was three or four polyps but I decided to keep it...I'm glad I did because it is rebounding and grew considerably.



And a very pretty Favia sp. coral.



I don't see this coral offered too often but I'm glad I got the frag of it. Although, there appears to be some type of polyps growing on the side of it. Oh, well...There is always kalk paste...



And last but not least, my A.nana is finally back to normal and showing it;s true colors. Purple tips were almost gone from it when I had salinity issues...



Hope you enjoyed the show...

[charlie]

Hey Gene, I don't care what you think, you have done a great job again!!!!



Just a question here, what type of monti is that really, I don't think Veron lists it as a superman, do you?;)

[zhenya]

Hey Gene, I don't care what you think, you have done a great job again!!!!



Just a question here, what type of monti is that really, I don't think Veron lists it as a superman, do you?;)

Thanks, Charlie!

As far as Veron goes, I wouldn't even go there...
People lately had gone berserk with the names and I can see all sorts of new acropora species...like watermelon table from ORA, and some other nifty names. I think that monti is M.danae but that is about as tentative as it gets. To be honest, I don't really care to know exact species and pretty happy to know that it is an encrusting Montipora coral.

[charlie]

That was my best estimation too. I actually have 2 different encrusting monti's now, and 2-3 more awaiting my return. I have to run over to Washington to get them when I get back.
I am in agreement with you on the nicknames, I don't particularly like it either.

[zhenya]

One more shot of the clownfish and Elegance coral for Rebecca.


And if you remember I had to severely frag my formosa, what's left of it appears to be doing really well.

[almostdiva]

Thank-you!

That's my favorite of the three (I think three..) that you posted recently. I also really like the Astreopora as well. You're right.. you don't see them too often and it's too bad, because they are cool looking. Are they difficult to care for?

Rebecca

[zhenya]

Thank-you!

That's my favorite of the three (I think three..) that you posted recently. I also really like the Astreopora as well. You're right.. you don't see them too often and it's too bad, because they are cool looking. Are they difficult to care for?

Rebecca

Hi Rebecca,

If you are talking about coral in this image
http://www.reefland.com/gallery/file...y_original.jpg then it is Diploastrea. I don't believe they are hard to care for, it;s just that I haven't seen them around too often. Maybe like never.

Astreopora, on the other hand, was readily available last year at a few online vendors. Reefermaddness being one of them and I believe reefscience had them for a while as well. Astreopora needs pretty intence light, from what I observed. It was almost gone located on the sand bed in my tank as I haven't had a spot for it on the rocks. They could be fed as well with the small invert food like cyclop-eeze but I haven't done so untill recently. My bad!

Anyway, I'm glad you liked that shot of the clownfish.

PS. Found image of the Astreopora sp. on the first page of this thread. It is on the sand bed and just a sliver of tissue remains...

[zhenya]

Well guys,

I like to introduce my new fairy wrasse I got few days ago. Couldn't take any pix of him for the first couple of days, but he finally came out from under the zoa's colony he was hiding under. It appears that he made a home there. So far the only fish that pays any attention to him is my large black cap basslet. All it does is open his mouth wide (it is a huge yap) and that's all.

Anyway, here he is.

[weez1959]

Really nice fish Gene!

By the way, it's a girl.........she's pink!

[charlie]

Beautiful, your wait was worth it!!!!

[zhenya]

OK, I'm going to post a full tank shot for this month because I am about to do some major demolition inside it. I want to take almost all of the rock out in hopes of getting rid of those pesky majano anemones. As it stands, I can;t defeat them and so I decided to simply remove the rock, corals, and then kill what ever I find on the equipment and then put only a couple of pieces of "new" live rock. Most of the colonies will travel to the LFS and await the time when I get my new tank going. The new tank I plan on having is Marineland deep dimension tank. Something in the 200 or 200+ size. They run 36" front to back and 27" high, and I think they are available starting from 36" wide and up to 6' wide. It is also will be a starphire front panel. I only need front panel because it is only viewable side. Side glass will be blocked by the cabinet sides. I also really like to switch to the T5 lighting because the electric bill is killing me. I have to pay over $300 even in the colder month...

Anyway, here's the picture.


And couple more just because I took them...

I like this shot because you can really see that "superman's monti" color in the background.


And this is my new coral, I believe it to be A.plana.
It browned out on me a tad but I hope it will regain it;s coloration soon.

[Poseidon]

Great pictures as always Gene!

The deep dimension tanks are AWESOME! I have a friend with the 36x36x27 150, and his is lit by T5's, and another friend that has a 300, 72x36x27 that is not yet setup, but he is also planning on T5 lighting. If I had the space, I would do one in an minute! I have thought about getting a 24" wide tank a few times, now.... Maybe one day.