SaltH2O
TCMAS Member
Future TOTM.
Chris' Elos 160 (1 Viewer)
Future TOTM.
I thought I had made this post before but it apparently didn't show for some reason. You have a really nice tank! It has a real clean look and everything looks happy inside.
In regards to your slimer making a move towards your clam, yes, you can trim it back before it starts to bend. The only question I wonder about though, what is the flow like in that area? From my experience, most SPS will "go with the flow" and grow with current and not against it. You can trim it back but once that spot begins to heal and grow again, it will either grow straight from the angle of your cut or it can split and grow multiple new arms.
I've been experimenting with this for a while now with a rose milli I have in my tank. It has always grown more branches from a single cut for me. It has also grown out flat, like a would be shelf because of the alternating currents I have it placed in. It is worth trying, absolutely but the results can vary. I have been doing this to cause the SPS in my tank to have a thicker base and branch system. So long as the parameters are good in your tank, they will continue to grow and attempt to grow. If you trim an end, it will just continue to grow and consider where it was cut, a place it can't. So it should grow in a different direction and or branch out from that spot.
In regards to your slimer making a move towards your clam, yes, you can trim it back before it starts to bend. The only question I wonder about though, what is the flow like in that area? From my experience, most SPS will "go with the flow" and grow with current and not against it. You can trim it back but once that spot begins to heal and grow again, it will either grow straight from the angle of your cut or it can split and grow multiple new arms.
I've been experimenting with this for a while now with a rose milli I have in my tank. It has always grown more branches from a single cut for me. It has also grown out flat, like a would be shelf because of the alternating currents I have it placed in. It is worth trying, absolutely but the results can vary. I have been doing this to cause the SPS in my tank to have a thicker base and branch system. So long as the parameters are good in your tank, they will continue to grow and attempt to grow. If you trim an end, it will just continue to grow and consider where it was cut, a place it can't. So it should grow in a different direction and or branch out from that spot.
love this tank!
cubetankguy
its hip to be square
its even nicer in person... as is the tank
OP
OP
Thanks for the advice- I trimmed it a week or so ago and it's just healing up so we'll see what happens
When the clam would close at night, the slimer would put on a little bit of growth and then when it opened up in the morning it would tip itself over little by little. Interesting to watch.
OP
OP
A couple of updates: I added an Apex Lite last week and have been learning how to use it. Never had a controller before so I'm taking it slow. Really digging the feed modes. I also took part in Reef Raft's Live Sale this past weekend and have a major incoming coral problem (I've had worse problems). I might end up adding a live rock offshoot somewhere since I don't think I'll have enough surface area for what's coming. Not sure I want to mess with the openness of the aquascape though.
I didn't win the Ecotech Marine photo contest, but there might be a silver lining…
And since all threads are worthless without pics, I have to include a photo. I call this one 'Half and Half':
I didn't win the Ecotech Marine photo contest, but there might be a silver lining…
And since all threads are worthless without pics, I have to include a photo. I call this one 'Half and Half':
jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
Lifetime Member
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Another nice pic.
I have found that I am liking most of my photos being taken from the short end of the tank. Creates great depth.
Your corals continue to show great colors.
Any special additives or vitamins being added to your system? Or just good lighting and water quality?
I have found that I am liking most of my photos being taken from the short end of the tank. Creates great depth.
Your corals continue to show great colors.
Any special additives or vitamins being added to your system? Or just good lighting and water quality?
OP
OP
I actually had a lot of early problems with pale coral tissue. Even pieces in low light would lose a lot of color in the first few weeks after adding them. I had gone through nutrient challenges with my past system and was forced to learn all of the techniques for keeping them down (rinsing frozen foods, restrained feeding, aggressive water changes) and was carrying those habits over into this system. The problem was that the bio pellets were doing their job of driving the bacterial population and keeping nutrient levels low. Combined with my "good" habits, the system was consistently at zero phosphates/nitrates and I discovered that the coral were starving. Once I dropped some my old habits and started feeding aggressively I started to notice a change. I add a lot of coral foods now- Nutramar Ova, Cyclop-eeze, Reef Chili, and Zeo Coral Vitalizer daily. My measured nitrate and phosphate levels are still where I want them to be, but the coral have responded well to having the short bursts of nutrients that come with regular feeding. I still feel a little uneasy when I think about all the crap I'm throwing into the tank; old habits die hard.
I'm still not convinced that I'm adding everything I need to and I'm about 3 weeks into trying a few other products: Pohl's Xtra, Zeo Amino Acid Concentrate, and LPS Amino Acids. Early results are good, but I'm not sure that they'll all be permanent.
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The Zeo additives are a good thing to use, even if they're pricey. With using them, you need to check your water parameters on a regular basis and dial-in how much your tank needs in comparison to what the instructions say. If you're not colorblind, you'll be ok. :biglaugh2:
You have the right idea, rinsing frozen food once it's thawed will get rid of what you don't want in your tank. Then combining different coral foods into a slurry and then spot dosing corals is a good idea as well. These things may take time when you do them but the results are worth it in my opinion. You'll get good growth, good color and your water quality will stay where you want it to.
You have the right idea, rinsing frozen food once it's thawed will get rid of what you don't want in your tank. Then combining different coral foods into a slurry and then spot dosing corals is a good idea as well. These things may take time when you do them but the results are worth it in my opinion. You'll get good growth, good color and your water quality will stay where you want it to.
I've always figured the stuff you strain out of frozen food is great for coral, why would you want to take away that slurry of nutrients while adding them back via expensive ZEO products? I did like to add BRS Reef Chili into my feeding bottle like you are doing Chris. But I say ditch the Zeo crap The tank is looking great!
The tank is looking great!
OP
OP
Received a few frags today, my new favorite acro is Reef Raft's "The Vinh". I have a fair amount of purple in the tank, but nothing comes close to the color of these polyps. Here is a photo of the mother colony. I also won the grand prize for the live sale- all I know so far is that it's $2k worth of SPS. I really don't have room for that so it's either a frag tank or maybe a local sale?
Vinh frag:
And a top-down photo of the tank:
Vinh frag:
And a top-down photo of the tank:
Supgirlspike
Senior Member
WOW!!! Congratulations, That's awesome (winning a nice live package)! As for your tank, it is Beautiful. The colors are just breathtaking and I love your aquascaping. (As well as your contemporary living room).
Can't wait to see your future tank shots! You are definitely doing something right!
Can't wait to see your future tank shots! You are definitely doing something right!
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Congrats man! The coral looks great, make sure to post some pictures of the grand prize haul
OP
OP
Got my prize pack from Reef Raft, everything is healthy but somewhat browned out. I got some frags that I would otherwise never purchase because of the high costs; one is called The Minion and is listed on their site as $350 for 1/2" to 1"! Yikes.
Coral has responded well to the Zeo additives- in particular the Coral Vitalizer. I'm still not convinced the Amino Acids are doing much, but we'll see what happens when I run out. One of my pieces responded poorly - the toxic green tort - and has lost all of its green color except a little on the tips. The tissue is sort of an off-white color.
While the Reef Raft frags color up, here is some eye candy of the pieces I've had for awhile longer:
Ruby Red Granulosa
Planet Earth Hoeksemai
Oregon Tort
Splendid Gremlin Turoki
Hyperberry
Electric Blue Millepora
Pink Pocillopora
ORA Indo Purple Tip Staghorn
Ponape Birdsnest
Coral has responded well to the Zeo additives- in particular the Coral Vitalizer. I'm still not convinced the Amino Acids are doing much, but we'll see what happens when I run out. One of my pieces responded poorly - the toxic green tort - and has lost all of its green color except a little on the tips. The tissue is sort of an off-white color.
While the Reef Raft frags color up, here is some eye candy of the pieces I've had for awhile longer:
Ruby Red Granulosa
Planet Earth Hoeksemai
Oregon Tort
Splendid Gremlin Turoki
Hyperberry
Electric Blue Millepora
Pink Pocillopora
ORA Indo Purple Tip Staghorn
Ponape Birdsnest
Supgirlspike
Senior Member
WOW! Such beautiful pieces. Congratulations!!! Boy, would I love to get a Minion for my Daughter, she collects anything Minions, but I'm surprised it's not ALL Bright Yellow, maybe it turns completely yellow after it's healed.
Looks great Chris! Stunning tank and great overall display.
OP
OP
Thanks Robyn!
Thanks! I know that look of concentration in your profile photo. I wonder if we've ever bumped into each other at the same field. Ever fly with the 3DRC club?
LOL. Many times. I'm actually on the Board of 3DRC. Hopefully we'll have everything squared away in the spring regarding the field.
OP
OP
That's funny. I used to live in Blaine near King Kong Hobbies. I used to put birds into the dirt before breakfast, get parts and be flying again by lunch. I didn't fly as much this summer; the parks are too busy down here by Minneapolis- even for 450s.