deneed4spd
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I see u made the r2r email. Awesome!!
jlanger's 120gal Arts and Crafts Inspired Reef Build (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter jlanger
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Meeting Host 2020
Meeting Host 2021
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Another water change, another update with some more pics.
I decided to relocate my clam away from the encroaching montipora corals. I really didn't want to keep trimming them back as I know that they will continue to grow, and grow, and grow...
To make a suitable resting place for the clam, I had to rework a rock or two. This turned out to be about an hour of piddling around and trying not to topple the reef slope with all of those other corals. In the end, I had to move one coral and snapped off some of the digitata branches to make room for the clam.
So far, the clam is responding well to its new location.
Speaking of new locations... Peek-a-boo!!!
Two years ago, I purchased some small SPS colonies from another TCMAS member and they included a few blue mushrooms; no big deal. Over these past two years, I have pulled out over a dozen (Angie... You still want them?) and I occasionally find them loose and floating around for a new home. Here's one that found a great spot amongst the zoanthids.
And here's an updated pic of my male anthias.
The transformation has seemed to have slowed down a bit; as far as the color change is concerned. He hasn't quite become the dominant fish that the first male was, but I plan on adding another trio of females next week.
And the secretive Ruby Red Dragonet makes a photobomb.
Here's a current FTS with just some of the fish starting to venture out.
Since I created such a ruckus when relocating the clam, most of the fish are still unsure if it's okay to come back out.
I also snapped some frags off of my red montipora and Idaho Grape montipora colonies and placed them in more prominent locations along the lower front of the aquascape. Let's see where this goes!!
I decided to relocate my clam away from the encroaching montipora corals. I really didn't want to keep trimming them back as I know that they will continue to grow, and grow, and grow...
To make a suitable resting place for the clam, I had to rework a rock or two. This turned out to be about an hour of piddling around and trying not to topple the reef slope with all of those other corals. In the end, I had to move one coral and snapped off some of the digitata branches to make room for the clam.
So far, the clam is responding well to its new location.
Speaking of new locations... Peek-a-boo!!!
Two years ago, I purchased some small SPS colonies from another TCMAS member and they included a few blue mushrooms; no big deal. Over these past two years, I have pulled out over a dozen (Angie... You still want them?) and I occasionally find them loose and floating around for a new home. Here's one that found a great spot amongst the zoanthids.
And here's an updated pic of my male anthias.
The transformation has seemed to have slowed down a bit; as far as the color change is concerned. He hasn't quite become the dominant fish that the first male was, but I plan on adding another trio of females next week.
And the secretive Ruby Red Dragonet makes a photobomb.
Here's a current FTS with just some of the fish starting to venture out.
Since I created such a ruckus when relocating the clam, most of the fish are still unsure if it's okay to come back out.
I also snapped some frags off of my red montipora and Idaho Grape montipora colonies and placed them in more prominent locations along the lower front of the aquascape. Let's see where this goes!!
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
Lifetime Member
Event Committee
Meeting Host 2020
Meeting Host 2021
Meeting Host 2022
Another "Water Change = Photos" weekend.
Last weekend, I added three more female Lyretail Anthias to the tank, along with a new Gold Midas Blenny.
So I now have a anthias harem consisting of the new male and four females. All four of the females have a definite size differential so the pecking order was quickly established; the smallest one is only 1-¾" long but she is the most bold! The male is still changing colors, but ever so slightly. I cannot wait for the final shift to the red and yellow colors.
One of the reasons I am in this hobby is due to the relationships that are present among the different species of animals in the ocean. I have clownfish that host in corals (since there's no anemone), the shrimp goby and pistol shrimp pairing and the mimicry of the Midas Blenny with the anthias.
But I spent most of the time today taking photos from the top down.
I had a thought of a reef system built on a low stand so that the top of the tank was only about 42" high. It really presents a new perspective (rimshot) on what our tanks are trying to copy from the ocean.
The corals appear much differently from above as they are spread out to receive as much light as they can.
I moved the clam into a new location as it was frequently knocked off the higher rock. It seems to like the lower location and has not been bothered or knocked over this week.
The top down view of the reef slope really has a nice contrast in color and growth forms.
And I really like how the female anthias become such a rich orange color from above.
Last weekend, I added three more female Lyretail Anthias to the tank, along with a new Gold Midas Blenny.
So I now have a anthias harem consisting of the new male and four females. All four of the females have a definite size differential so the pecking order was quickly established; the smallest one is only 1-¾" long but she is the most bold! The male is still changing colors, but ever so slightly. I cannot wait for the final shift to the red and yellow colors.
One of the reasons I am in this hobby is due to the relationships that are present among the different species of animals in the ocean. I have clownfish that host in corals (since there's no anemone), the shrimp goby and pistol shrimp pairing and the mimicry of the Midas Blenny with the anthias.
But I spent most of the time today taking photos from the top down.
I had a thought of a reef system built on a low stand so that the top of the tank was only about 42" high. It really presents a new perspective (rimshot) on what our tanks are trying to copy from the ocean.
The corals appear much differently from above as they are spread out to receive as much light as they can.
I moved the clam into a new location as it was frequently knocked off the higher rock. It seems to like the lower location and has not been bothered or knocked over this week.
The top down view of the reef slope really has a nice contrast in color and growth forms.
And I really like how the female anthias become such a rich orange color from above.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
Lifetime Member
Event Committee
Meeting Host 2020
Meeting Host 2021
Meeting Host 2022
I also took a video today.
Hopefully I can get this figured out. Marty did.
[YOUTUBE]wqY9gP55zBc[/YOUTUBE]
There it is!
Enjoy!
Hopefully I can get this figured out. Marty did.
[YOUTUBE]wqY9gP55zBc[/YOUTUBE]
There it is!
Enjoy!
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Wow. This is my first time visiting your build thread. Absolutely stunning. Not just the tank, but the carpentry as well!
Looking good! It's really too bad fish are boring from the top down because everything else seems to look better from that perspective. Maybe for your next build you can take some inspiration from the automated canopy lifts but flip it upside down so you can raise and lower your whole tank.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Meeting Host 2021
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I suppose your stand idea would eliminate the need for me to figure out how to create tidal flow!
And no... fish are not boring from the top down; they just don't photograph as well.
That's a great shot of your Midas Blenny with the anthias. I like that your tank shows off some of the different behaviors among the animals. I always enjoy seeing your updates.
Just in the 5 minutes you can definately tell which fish is king of the castle.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Yep... That's why he's been listed as available for someone with a bigger home.
The Lamarck's Angelfish is a great angelfish for a reef system as it doesn't even look at corals as a food source.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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So, lately I have been complaining that my reef has not been looking great; poor polyp extension, STN, etc...
I've spent a lot of time testing levels, changing parameters, adjusting LED levels and changing the water flow.
Not much has changed towards the better, if anything things have slowly declined.
But I think things are going to change around!
I may have solved has been plaguing my tank. My salinity level!
This week, I thoroughly cleaned out my two 44gal and one 32gal Brute containers.
I started making a fresh batch of RODI water and when I went to add the salt mix on Friday, I noticed that I was adding way too much salt for what I needed. Almost ¾ of a bag to make 25 gallons of saltwater. That didn't seem right.
I always re-calibrate my two refractometers before every use. And both of them showed that my salinity was still low, even though I added more salt mix than was needed. So I went to the local "fish" store and bought a swing-arm hydrometer. When I placed it into the new water, it pegged to the top; way over the 1.028 limit.
So it turns out that my calibration fluid was no longer accurate.
I called Stephen at Acanlord in Hudson, and he hooked me up with some new calibration fluid from another local reefer. In our discussion about a possibly high salinity, the first thing he mentioned was if I noticed less polyp extension. ABSOLUTELY!!! It's what I've been bitching about the six months!
After using the new fluid, I found out that my refractometers were calibrating out to 1.030 to 1.031.
Using this bad calibration, I had been slowly raising the salinity level of both of my tanks. Both tanks had a salinity level of 1.031.
So today, I adjusted the levels of my new saltwater to about 1.015 and I'll be doing water changes over the course of the next week over so to lower the salinity back down to a more reasonable level; 1.025 to 1.026.
So after months of tweaking water quality, lighting and water movement, I should've been looking at my testing equipment.
The calibration fluid that I was using, I've had for a couple of years. I never thought that it would have changed. But I do recall a time or two that I didn't put the cap back on for a day. :brick:
Hopefully, my future posts will have me in a better mood and feeling good about my corals again.
And if this does change everything for the better, I may not go "Full Monti" as I hope the acropora frags start to recover and grow out.
Lesson learned: Test your testing equipment!!
I've spent a lot of time testing levels, changing parameters, adjusting LED levels and changing the water flow.
Not much has changed towards the better, if anything things have slowly declined.
But I think things are going to change around!
I may have solved has been plaguing my tank. My salinity level!
This week, I thoroughly cleaned out my two 44gal and one 32gal Brute containers.
I started making a fresh batch of RODI water and when I went to add the salt mix on Friday, I noticed that I was adding way too much salt for what I needed. Almost ¾ of a bag to make 25 gallons of saltwater. That didn't seem right.
I always re-calibrate my two refractometers before every use. And both of them showed that my salinity was still low, even though I added more salt mix than was needed. So I went to the local "fish" store and bought a swing-arm hydrometer. When I placed it into the new water, it pegged to the top; way over the 1.028 limit.
So it turns out that my calibration fluid was no longer accurate.
I called Stephen at Acanlord in Hudson, and he hooked me up with some new calibration fluid from another local reefer. In our discussion about a possibly high salinity, the first thing he mentioned was if I noticed less polyp extension. ABSOLUTELY!!! It's what I've been bitching about the six months!
After using the new fluid, I found out that my refractometers were calibrating out to 1.030 to 1.031.
Using this bad calibration, I had been slowly raising the salinity level of both of my tanks. Both tanks had a salinity level of 1.031.
So today, I adjusted the levels of my new saltwater to about 1.015 and I'll be doing water changes over the course of the next week over so to lower the salinity back down to a more reasonable level; 1.025 to 1.026.
So after months of tweaking water quality, lighting and water movement, I should've been looking at my testing equipment.
The calibration fluid that I was using, I've had for a couple of years. I never thought that it would have changed. But I do recall a time or two that I didn't put the cap back on for a day. :brick:
Hopefully, my future posts will have me in a better mood and feeling good about my corals again.
And if this does change everything for the better, I may not go "Full Monti" as I hope the acropora frags start to recover and grow out.
Lesson learned: Test your testing equipment!!
Same thing happened to me in my 12 gallons early life. I was using a hydrometer but had the same thing. Salinity on the device would read 1.024-25 and I was really 1.031-32 and I was losing corals left and right. After someone tested my water with a refract to find those readings I made the investment in a refractometer and have been better ever since. I too may have to check that its calibrated and that the fluid is also not super old.
Hope things turn around for you Jason.
Still think you have an awesome reef but happy you found the issue and you can fix it.
On a side note..
What settings are you using on your camera for the FTS shots?
On a side note..
What settings are you using on your camera for the FTS shots?
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
Lifetime Member
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Meeting Host 2021
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Thanks.
To be honest, I'm not photography literate, so I change the settings throughout a photo session hoping for some good photos. I usually take about 10-15 useless photos for 1 good one; which is an improvement from the early days.
I tend to use the Auto+ and the Aperture Priority settings the most.
For FTS, it looks like the Auto+ setting gives me the best photos. (f/5.6) - (1/30s to 1/160) - (ISO 320 to 1000)
If you click on my photos and go to the Photobucket page, clicking on the INFO learn more link will show you what the camera selected for settings.
And with all of my photo sessions, I change the values on my Radians to a 13000K to 14000K setting, so the blues don't show up as much in the photos.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Meeting Host 2021
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After a few smaller water changes, my salinity is back down to 1.026 on both tanks.
I'll be watching my Forest Fire Digitata to see how well the system recovers. The bright red polyps had started to close up last week and recently this coral has had the best polyp extension in my tank.
And I haven't see the Ruby Red Dragonet lately. :frown:
I'll be watching my Forest Fire Digitata to see how well the system recovers. The bright red polyps had started to close up last week and recently this coral has had the best polyp extension in my tank.
And I haven't see the Ruby Red Dragonet lately. :frown:
There are few things worse than having a problem whose cause you can't identify and not being able to work toward a solution. Glad you found the reason and that it was an easy fix.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Meeting Host 2021
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If was just that easy...
I'm hoping that the high salinity was the only real issue with the tank.
I'm still debating going with the "Full Monti" approach as I have struggled with acropora corals for so long. If the polyp extension returns, there may be reason to stick with a few of the nicer acroporas.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Meeting Host 2020
Meeting Host 2021
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So that Electric Blue Mushroom that decided to relocate and hide amongst my zoanthids a couple of months ago has decided to it needed to move again.
It moved overnight into the thicket of Emerald Dragon Eyes zoanthids. You can see the in the background the skinny zoanthids that the mushroom was covering.
I've never really paid any attention to mushrooms since the '90s, but I was surprised at how fast (and often) they will move. How long will the mushroom stay here?
And a nice pic of my male clownfish peeking out from inside the hammer coral.
This upcoming weekend should yield plenty of new photos; better photos.
I scheduled a personal "How to [Show an Idiot to] Take Better Pictures" session with a renowned local photographer. (I actually bribed him with food and cookies!)
Hopefully, he has the patience to show me how to best utilize a camera that isn't just a point-and-shoot. When it comes to photography, I tend to hear static when terms like f-stop and aperture are being explained to me.
It should be interesting. But I'm planning on good things to come from this lesson!
It moved overnight into the thicket of Emerald Dragon Eyes zoanthids. You can see the in the background the skinny zoanthids that the mushroom was covering.
I've never really paid any attention to mushrooms since the '90s, but I was surprised at how fast (and often) they will move. How long will the mushroom stay here?
And a nice pic of my male clownfish peeking out from inside the hammer coral.
This upcoming weekend should yield plenty of new photos; better photos.
I scheduled a personal "How to [Show an Idiot to] Take Better Pictures" session with a renowned local photographer. (I actually bribed him with food and cookies!)
Hopefully, he has the patience to show me how to best utilize a camera that isn't just a point-and-shoot. When it comes to photography, I tend to hear static when terms like f-stop and aperture are being explained to me.
It should be interesting. But I'm planning on good things to come from this lesson!
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
Lifetime Member
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Meeting Host 2020
Meeting Host 2021
Meeting Host 2022
Tonight, I learned a lot. About photography.
And apparently, some of that comes down to which toys you have to play with; and knowing how to use them.
A little while back, I bribed Chris (Kriens) with a meal and cookies to come over and show me how to use my new Canon camera.
I started off with showing him how I usually take pictures; basically pick a mode and point and shoot. He suggested a few things for me to look at while taking the pictures so I can get the shots I want.
Then, the fun started. He let me use a macro lens and showed me the best way to get more detailed photos. I spent most of this time trying to chase down fish that didn't want to sit still for a photo, so I switched to getting macros shots of my corals. With the standard lens, there is no way I could get these detailed shots. Chris also brought his filter so we could see how some of my corals exhibited their fluorescent colors under blue lights. Pretty amazing what some of them look like; and how some do nothing at all.
I learned quite a bit in just the short time we took pictures.
I do have a lot of learning to do, such as trying to capture a good photo of my fish; they did not cooperate!
Enough talking.
Here's a sample of some of the pics taken tonight.
One of my Chip's Acro frags.
Birds of Paradise.
Midas Blenny.
The male Percula Clownfish in his Hammer Coral; compare to my last post's pic.
The Red ORA Goniopora fluorescence under blue lights with the light filter.
Since Chris let me borrow his macro lens, you can bet I'll be taking a sh'load of pics over the next few days, weeks, ...
I've already searched Amazon and Craigslist for this lens; I need one! I even told my daughter it would make a great Christmas gift!
"Thanks!" Chris for all the information, suggestions and leaving me your lens to play with; and an Acast Marine Porthole! (More top-down shots coming!)
I also took a handful of pictures from my Fluval M60 tank; mostly zoanthids, as my blenny was extremely shy tonight.
So if you want to see those pictures, they'll be in that build thread.
And apparently, some of that comes down to which toys you have to play with; and knowing how to use them.
A little while back, I bribed Chris (Kriens) with a meal and cookies to come over and show me how to use my new Canon camera.
I started off with showing him how I usually take pictures; basically pick a mode and point and shoot. He suggested a few things for me to look at while taking the pictures so I can get the shots I want.
Then, the fun started. He let me use a macro lens and showed me the best way to get more detailed photos. I spent most of this time trying to chase down fish that didn't want to sit still for a photo, so I switched to getting macros shots of my corals. With the standard lens, there is no way I could get these detailed shots. Chris also brought his filter so we could see how some of my corals exhibited their fluorescent colors under blue lights. Pretty amazing what some of them look like; and how some do nothing at all.
I learned quite a bit in just the short time we took pictures.
I do have a lot of learning to do, such as trying to capture a good photo of my fish; they did not cooperate!
Enough talking.
Here's a sample of some of the pics taken tonight.
One of my Chip's Acro frags.
Birds of Paradise.
Midas Blenny.
The male Percula Clownfish in his Hammer Coral; compare to my last post's pic.
The Red ORA Goniopora fluorescence under blue lights with the light filter.
Since Chris let me borrow his macro lens, you can bet I'll be taking a sh'load of pics over the next few days, weeks, ...
I've already searched Amazon and Craigslist for this lens; I need one! I even told my daughter it would make a great Christmas gift!
"Thanks!" Chris for all the information, suggestions and leaving me your lens to play with; and an Acast Marine Porthole! (More top-down shots coming!)
I also took a handful of pictures from my Fluval M60 tank; mostly zoanthids, as my blenny was extremely shy tonight.
So if you want to see those pictures, they'll be in that build thread.
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acharpenter
Pitas' Pita
Lifetime Member
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Meeting Host 2020
Meeting Host 2021
Meeting Host 2022
Tonight, I learned a lot. About photography.
And apparently, some of that comes down to which toys you have to play with; and knowing how to use them.
A little while back, I bribed Chris (Kriens) with a meal and cookies to come over and show me how to use my new Canon camera.
I started off with showing him how I usually take pictures; basically pick a mode and point and shoot. He suggested a few things for me to look at while taking the pictures so I can get the shots I want.
Then, the fun started. He let me use a macro lens and showed me the best way to get more detailed photos. I spent most of this time trying to chase down fish that didn't want to sit still for a photo, so I switched to getting macros shots of my corals. With the standard lens, there is no way I could get these detailed shots. Chris also brought his filter so we could see how some of my corals exhibited their fluorescent colors under blue lights. Pretty amazing what some of them look like; and how some do nothing at all.
I learned quite a bit in just the short time we took pictures.
I do have a lot of learning to do, such as trying to capture a good photo of my fish; they did not cooperate!
Enough talking.
Here's a sample of some of the pics taken tonight.
One of my Chip's Acro frags.
Birds of Paradise.
Midas Blenny.
The male Percula Clownfish in his Hammer Coral; compare to my last post's pic.
The Red ORA Goniopora fluorescence under blue lights with the light filter.
Since Chris let me borrow his macro lens, you can bet I'll be taking a sh'load of pics over the next few days, weeks, ...
I've already searched Amazon and Craigslist for this lens; I need one! I even told my daughter it would make a great Christmas gift!
"Thanks!" Chris for all the information, suggestions and leaving me your lens to play with; and an Acast Marine Porthole! (More top-down shots coming!)
I also took a handful of pictures from my Fluval M60 tank; mostly zoanthids, as my blenny was extremely shy tonight.
So if you want to see those pictures, they'll be in that build thread.
Suggestions on where to get a cool camera like that?
Yup - I am jealous - if I ever had a decent cam to work with - Chris would be the first guy I would attempt to bribe with dinner to help me learn what to do with a camera that had options other than just point and shoot
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