wild SPS corals, Marshall Islands

r-balljunkie · 05/08/2011, 05:09 AM

Yokwe and Aloha. i thought i would share some pictures from the Marshall Islands. ive been keeping a reef tank for some time, first saltwater tank in 1992. i recently moved to the Marshall Islands, and brought my reef setup with me. all the corals pictured are locally collected by myself. i have a tendency of swapping them out, so please forgive the lack of continuity in the shots. im going out next weekend, and if something catches my eye, the tank will change once again

anywho. enjoy the pics....keep in mind, zero export from the Marshall Islands, so these are very indigenous.

r-balljunkie · 05/08/2011, 05:11 AM

agcneves · 05/08/2011, 07:59 AM

Hi man,
WOW!!!
You live in a paradise of corals!
Beautiful picture of the native corals and of your Reef!
Keeping posting, please!

SDguy · 05/08/2011, 08:21 AM

How well behaved is the C. auriga? How long have you had him?

Pallobi · 05/08/2011, 08:36 AM

that is so awesome... collecting your own corals... nothing can beat that! nice job!

blue736 · 05/08/2011, 08:38 AM

very nice!

adam87 · 05/08/2011, 09:25 AM

Wow, thats so cool. Your tank looks really nice.

collie man · 05/08/2011, 10:12 AM

I am jealous. We all spend hundreds of dollars for something that comes out of the ocean for free. for you to just go pick and choose is simply bliss! every good thing comes in moderation.

newbie916 · 05/08/2011, 10:16 AM

Wow, that's awesome!!! So do you just get your water from the ocean as well? I noticed the Reef Crystal bucket, but I'd think getting natural sea water would be better. Do the acro's colors morph from the wild and after awhile in your tank?

FishinFool805 · 05/08/2011, 12:48 PM

That is amazing. Way jealous!

ReeferBill · 05/08/2011, 12:59 PM

You are very fortunate to live in such a pristine reef habitat. Love the pictures and keep us posted to any new additions ! Great Reef Set-up and thank you for sharing... Simply Heavenly!

r-balljunkie · 05/08/2011, 07:17 PM

r-balljunkie · 05/08/2011, 07:25 PM

a few more pics. the threadfin is fine, a bit of a pig and not a nipper at all. not all the butterfly's are reef safe around here, found out the hard way. i started the tank with NSW and it had minimal cycle. the trade off was though the water was very inconsistent. i just switched to tropic marin, and the corals are responding very well.

the color morphs i see occur in nature. the last pic, of the first set i posted is the most interesting, with the pink acro growing out of red...the same coral.

my current fishes are abysmal, compared to what you see. unfortunately catching fish is a skill that still eludes me. i met a marine biologist here locally whom happens to be an 'expert' catcher of fish, and i should be going out with him. he has been importing the Cirrhilabrus johnsoni wrasses, so hope to have a pair of those soon.

I'll try to post some updates later on, if anyone cares to see.

RaeRae · 05/08/2011, 07:42 PM

Man how great would that be. Great shots.

jc-reef · 05/08/2011, 08:39 PM

Very cool pics of your native reef!! Please keep on sharing.

mcoomer · 05/09/2011, 07:55 AM

So, let me get this straight. You live on an island in the middle of the Pacific where it's probably pretty nice while it raining and gray here in Seattle, the ocean is your personal frag tank and when you get tired of the ones that are in your tank at home you simply swap them out, and you get stuff for free that we can't get for any price. Is that about right?

Now I must hate you! I really gotta move...

Mike

newbie916 · 05/09/2011, 08:15 AM

Interesting that the NSW isn't stable compared to our mixed salts. You've definitely got a bunch of us jealous. If I ever win the lottery I'll be your next door neighbor..lol Keep the pics coming and thanks for sharing..

gofor100 · 05/09/2011, 09:57 AM

All I can say is... AWESOME.

-Chad

nandor · 05/09/2011, 10:18 AM

wunderful reef you have there - hope to get diving there once

coralreefhq · 05/09/2011, 12:41 PM

Wow, that's the way to live.
Dive for your corals and eat from the same area haha.
Totally jealous, more pics!

r-balljunkie · 05/09/2011, 06:29 PM

As with everything in life, there's tradeoffs to living on an island in the South Pacific. I can't run out and get a cup of starbucks or sit down to at a restaurant and eat a fine meal. the diving is out of this world , i would hazard to say with any other spot in the world....we do quite a bit of walk in dives, never get bored between the sea turtles (they often follow you the whole dive), manta rays, reef sharks, moray eels, fish, corals etc......... if anyone is interested in dropping out of society for awhile, you can Google 'kwaj jobs' to see what's out here.

definitely don't consider it unless you like being outdoors, diving, boating, deep sea fishing, exploring, the beach, other cultures...the weather/temp varies only a couple degrees all year. it's pretty much 85 degrees every single day. no one wears pants, just shorts.

not trying to make anyone jealous, must wanting to share some pics.....I'm a hobbyist just like you

Cgreene · 05/09/2011, 09:29 PM

Those pics are amazing!

chilwil84 · 05/09/2011, 09:30 PM

anywho. enjoy the pics....keep in mind, zero export from the Marshall Islands, so these are very indigenous(quote)

ORA has a aquaculture setup there so we do get a few here in the states from the marshall islands

that said when you going to post a pick of one of those sea turtle in your tank so everyone on the board will be jealous. more pics please

r-balljunkie · 05/09/2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilwil84

anywho. enjoy the pics....keep in mind, zero export from the Marshall Islands, so these are very indigenous(quote)

ORA has a aquaculture setup there so we do get a few here in the states from the marshall islands

that said when you going to post a pick of one of those sea turtle in your tank so everyone on the board will be jealous. more pics please

yes you are correct.
i believe ORA's facility is for mostly for clams, the next atoll over near the capital, majuro.

http://www.orafarm.com/about/about_marshall.html

we get notices for turtle hatchings here a couple of times a year, to keep an eye out around dusk...its crossed my mind to grab one of the little buggers and put him in my display tank to take pictures, but im sure someone 'politically correct' would flame me, plus they're still listed as an endangered species. if i ever did it, it would be my little secret

r-balljunkie · 05/10/2011, 12:07 AM

collecting clams at low tide. for every 5 you see, only 1 is remotely even possible to remove without damaging it. you have to pass on a lot of oooh and aaaah.

still looking for the elusive black clam for my tank.

05/08/2011, 05:09 AM	#1
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	wild SPS corals, Marshall Islands Yokwe and Aloha. i thought i would share some pictures from the Marshall Islands. ive been keeping a reef tank for some time, first saltwater tank in 1992. i recently moved to the Marshall Islands, and brought my reef setup with me. all the corals pictured are locally collected by myself. i have a tendency of swapping them out, so please forgive the lack of continuity in the shots. im going out next weekend, and if something catches my eye, the tank will change once again anywho. enjoy the pics....keep in mind, zero export from the Marshall Islands, so these are very indigenous.

05/08/2011, 07:59 AM	#3
agcneves Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 249	Hi man, WOW!!! You live in a paradise of corals! Beautiful picture of the native corals and of your Reef! Keeping posting, please! __________________ ZEOVIT Dream Tank of the Quarter of 2011. DTQM Current Tank Info: 1700 liters (445 G), Tunze and Reef Octupus Skimmers, 6 MP40 Vortech, Zeovit Reactor, light 8 T5 and 4 MH, Balling powered

05/08/2011, 08:21 AM	#4
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	How well behaved is the C. auriga? How long have you had him? __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

05/08/2011, 08:36 AM	#5
Pallobi CTARS, BRS & OSRAS Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 7,001	that is so awesome... collecting your own corals... nothing can beat that! nice job! __________________ Zoas & Palys

05/08/2011, 12:59 PM	#11
ReeferBill Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,906	Marshall Islands!!!!! You are very fortunate to live in such a pristine reef habitat. Love the pictures and keep us posted to any new additions ! Great Reef Set-up and thank you for sharing... Simply Heavenly! __________________ I never realized I had to be a Chemist and a Marine Biologist to maintain a Reef Aquarium!

05/08/2011, 05:11 AM	#2
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059

05/08/2011, 08:38 AM	#6
blue736 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 106	very nice!

05/08/2011, 09:25 AM	#7
adam87 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: IL Posts: 812	Wow, thats so cool. Your tank looks really nice.

05/08/2011, 10:12 AM	#8
collie man Stoney Reefer Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 548	I am jealous. We all spend hundreds of dollars for something that comes out of the ocean for free. for you to just go pick and choose is simply bliss! every good thing comes in moderation.

05/08/2011, 10:16 AM	#9
newbie916 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 768	Wow, that's awesome!!! So do you just get your water from the ocean as well? I noticed the Reef Crystal bucket, but I'd think getting natural sea water would be better. Do the acro's colors morph from the wild and after awhile in your tank?

05/08/2011, 12:48 PM	#10
FishinFool805 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Thousand Oaks Posts: 69	That is amazing. Way jealous!

05/08/2011, 07:17 PM	#12
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059

05/08/2011, 07:25 PM	#13
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	a few more pics. the threadfin is fine, a bit of a pig and not a nipper at all. not all the butterfly's are reef safe around here, found out the hard way. i started the tank with NSW and it had minimal cycle. the trade off was though the water was very inconsistent. i just switched to tropic marin, and the corals are responding very well. the color morphs i see occur in nature. the last pic, of the first set i posted is the most interesting, with the pink acro growing out of red...the same coral. my current fishes are abysmal, compared to what you see. unfortunately catching fish is a skill that still eludes me. i met a marine biologist here locally whom happens to be an 'expert' catcher of fish, and i should be going out with him. he has been importing the Cirrhilabrus johnsoni wrasses, so hope to have a pair of those soon. I'll try to post some updates later on, if anyone cares to see.

05/08/2011, 07:42 PM	#14
RaeRae Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mount Airy n.c. Posts: 126	Man how great would that be. Great shots.

05/08/2011, 08:39 PM	#15
jc-reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Treasure Coast, Florida Posts: 969	Very cool pics of your native reef!! Please keep on sharing. __________________ My Little Hobby FMAS - Member Current Tank Info: 300gal DD upgraded from 90 gal Mixed Reef Powered by T5 / LED

05/09/2011, 07:55 AM	#16
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	So, let me get this straight. You live on an island in the middle of the Pacific where it's probably pretty nice while it raining and gray here in Seattle, the ocean is your personal frag tank and when you get tired of the ones that are in your tank at home you simply swap them out, and you get stuff for free that we can't get for any price. Is that about right? Now I must hate you! I really gotta move... Mike __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors

05/09/2011, 08:15 AM	#17
newbie916 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 768	Interesting that the NSW isn't stable compared to our mixed salts. You've definitely got a bunch of us jealous. If I ever win the lottery I'll be your next door neighbor..lol Keep the pics coming and thanks for sharing..

05/09/2011, 09:57 AM	#18
gofor100 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,225	All I can say is... AWESOME. -Chad __________________ "FISH ARE FRIENDS, NOT FOOD" Current Tank Info: Tank Build in Progress

05/09/2011, 10:18 AM	#19
nandor Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 43	wunderful reef you have there - hope to get diving there once

05/09/2011, 12:41 PM	#20
coralreefhq Moved On Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 219	Wow, that's the way to live. Dive for your corals and eat from the same area haha. Totally jealous, more pics!

05/09/2011, 06:29 PM	#21
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	As with everything in life, there's tradeoffs to living on an island in the South Pacific. I can't run out and get a cup of starbucks or sit down to at a restaurant and eat a fine meal. the diving is out of this world , i would hazard to say with any other spot in the world....we do quite a bit of walk in dives, never get bored between the sea turtles (they often follow you the whole dive), manta rays, reef sharks, moray eels, fish, corals etc......... if anyone is interested in dropping out of society for awhile, you can Google 'kwaj jobs' to see what's out here. definitely don't consider it unless you like being outdoors, diving, boating, deep sea fishing, exploring, the beach, other cultures...the weather/temp varies only a couple degrees all year. it's pretty much 85 degrees every single day. no one wears pants, just shorts. not trying to make anyone jealous, must wanting to share some pics.....I'm a hobbyist just like you

05/09/2011, 09:29 PM	#22
Cgreene Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Jonesboro, AR Posts: 81	Those pics are amazing! __________________ Current Tank- 120 gal Starphire Glass Display, 90 gal Sump/frag tank, 140 lbs LR, 4 A350W Kessil LED's, Closed loop system with Reeflo Barracuda pump, Octopus Super Reef XP3000 Skimmer

05/09/2011, 09:30 PM	#23
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	anywho. enjoy the pics....keep in mind, zero export from the Marshall Islands, so these are very indigenous(quote) ORA has a aquaculture setup there so we do get a few here in the states from the marshall islands that said when you going to post a pick of one of those sea turtle in your tank so everyone on the board will be jealous. more pics please

05/10/2011, 12:07 AM	#25
r-balljunkie Registered Reefer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 2,059	collecting clams at low tide. for every 5 you see, only 1 is remotely even possible to remove without damaging it. you have to pass on a lot of oooh and aaaah. still looking for the elusive black clam for my tank.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
will my sps corals be ok without a skimmer for...	jenreef	SPS Keepers	18	10/05/2011 08:47 PM
just got a bunch of sps corals	jenreef	SPS Keepers	6	07/13/2010 05:36 AM
SPS corals for my tank?	andy.thompson12	New to the Hobby	16	06/28/2010 09:55 AM
SPS corals being nipped by blue tang???	djfrankn	SPS Keepers	3	05/08/2010 11:26 PM