Nikki's 40g Mixed Reef

[aquavista99]

Maybe it iis time to post some updated pictures?

[MechanicalEngineer]

Eh, not quite yet.  I'll probably wait until March since a couple of purple SPS's haven't finished coloring up yet.  In March, I plan to do a full tank-cleaning...meaning, whatever isn't a knock-out coral is getting sold/traded.  I'm going to pick the best few corals, and only buy what is really really awesome from now on.  I've bought too much stuff only to say a month later that it isn't a nice coral anymore. 

I think those caps in the last picture I posted have about an inch of growth around them.  I wish everything else grew that fast! 

I will post this pretty sweet picture though...can't resist.  My fish was playing "Peek-a-Boo"!

[MechanicalEngineer]

Here's some updated pictures.  Unfortunately, I need new MH lamps, so the colors aren't quite right on the corals.  Oh well.

[Secondgen]

Lookin good Nikki, very nice photos.

[MechanicalEngineer]

Thank you!  I try...I just have a little cheapy Kodak camera.  The pictures people take with their Nikons and Cannons makes me very jealous!   

[Riderc82]

looks good, I feel your pain a have an old cybershot camera. If the coral I am trying to take the picture of is two inches from the glass they look good otherwise I have to use my zoom and it's all down hill from there.

[MechanicalEngineer]

Update time!

Full tank shot:


Duncan Coral, about 15 heads


LE Tyree Cyphastrea Ocellina


AE Tyree "Armageddon II" Palythoas


AE Tyree "Lighthouse" Acropora


Yellow Millepora - acquired from Quicksilver


Moon Coral - my rescue


ORA "Roscoe's" Acropora


LE Tyree "Sunset" Montipora


Tri-color Valida


Goby Pair + Pistol Shrimp


Garrett's Acropora - Acquired from Steve Tyree

[jschrader1]

i forget what their called but i love those gobies of yours. I've tried them a couple of times and they've disappeared. i got a bigger gobie that was probably responsible. i will have a pair one day, it's on the top of my list. (yellow watchman my 2nd favorite)

[quicksilver]

I love the tank as always. 

[Dstyles]

Nikki this is awesome and the picture taking is very very good also.  You rock.

[jake]

ya looking good for sure

[MechanicalEngineer]

Aw, thanks everyone!  jschrader1 - They're just high-fin gobies (I've seen two species listed for the same fish, so I'm not sure which one is right.)  They usually pair with a Randall's pistol shrimp, but mine is paired with a Tiger Pistol Shrimp. 

I'm really excited about taking pictures when I get the 120g, because I won an acrylic photo box from Melev.    It's just too big to fit in the 40g.

[apelaston]

just getting to see your pictures.....very nice!!

[quicksilver]

How is that green furry acro I sold you at my house? I never c prictures of it wonder how its growing for you.

[MechanicalEngineer]

It's doing well...encrusting and stuff.  I know I've been slack on posting pix of everything, but my photography skills are lacking. 

[quicksilver]

you get and A in my book how can that aswome fish tank get anything other than that.

[Reefd Up]

Well, after almost 2.5 years, my 40g is no more.  We tore it down today and set it back up (well...we're still setting it back up) as a 55g with a 20g sump.  It'll be a holding tank until the 150g is up and running...then will act as a frag/grow-out tank.  It's in the utility room, along with my 10g/10g QT/sump.  It's very bare in the living room without the 40g (and makes me very sad.)  But, there's a spot now for the 150g!! 

[jungliztkruger]

can't wait to see the 150 in action

[Reefd Up]

Just thought I'd post some eye candy...

Zoanthids from Lazylivin


Zoanthids from Coral Ranch (no kidding, these things glitter!)


Tyree Pink Lemonade & Oregon Tort


Purple Death Palys


Palys from Lazylivin

[Reefd Up]

Teehehehe.  I just had to share these:

Valentine's Day Massacre's:

[Reefd Up]

Well, this tank is officially dead.  Never found out what happened (in fact, there are still fish in there and about 4 corals that never died.)  Best guess is that when I transferred tanks, the sponges covering the bottoms of my rocks probably died and released toxins or something (never measured a spike of any sort.) 

Regardless, it's gone.  Here's a photo of some of the skeletons I removed.  There are several more that were encrusted too well onto large rocks that I haven't taken out yet.

[aquavista99]

So sorry to see this, Nikki. Are you going to recycle the dead acro skeletons and use them as calcium reactor media to help build your new 150 gallon reef?

Well, this tank is officially dead.  Never found out what happened (in fact, there are still fish in there and about 4 corals that never died.)  Best guess is that when I transferred tanks, the sponges covering the bottoms of my rocks probably died and released toxins or something (never measured a spike of any sort.) 

Regardless, it's gone.  Here's a photo of some of the skeletons I removed.  There are several more that were encrusted too well onto large rocks that I haven't taken out yet.

[Reefd Up]

I'm not sure if I'll run a calcium reactor yet, at least not initially.  I've heard so many horror stories (although, I think I've heard a horror story for everything now.) 

I am concerned about recycling them though.  Seeing as how I don't know what killed them, I'm worried that whatever killed them might be on the skeleton.  I've heard about copper actually building into the coral skeletons themselves and killing stuff later (I have no reason to suspect copper poisoning...just an example.) 

For the 150g, I'm going to have a crazy quarantine process.  I'll do the usual dipping/breaking off the frag plug, etc.  Then, it'll go into the 10g QT tank.  After it sits in there for a month, it'll get moved to the 55g (I'm tearing it down and starting it back up with the 150g).  Once it grows out a bit, a large frag will be moved into the 150g with a small back-up frag kept in the 55g.  I'll dip between all tanks...and no bases will be transferred. 

At work, we have to do "practice presentations" a lot since we brief so much.  I usually brief on coral stuff, so I'm planning to bleach some of those skeletons to use as visual aids in my briefings.  I think there's more educational benefit than aquarium benefit from them.  My goal is to also put together a "newbie presentation" for the club...and use the skeletons as visuals there too.

[jungliztkruger]