The Scleractinia Shallows

[joshky]

Hey Dom what DJ strips are those? They look really nice, might pick some up myself. Sump is looking really really good and I wish you'd stop teasing us with invisible fish.

[Wrangy]

Originally Posted by FloformAustria

looking good dom!!!
hope everything works as you planned it!
Cheers

Thanks Flo I think it should be a pretty smooth operation to get it running

Originally Posted by joshky

Hey Dom what DJ strips are those? They look really nice, might pick some up myself. Sump is looking really really good and I wish you'd stop teasing us with invisible fish.

One of the stores here gets them custom made. They're a PDU that's got no brand on them, very similar to server rack PDU's though
Thanks Josh, I'll hopefully fill it with zoa's today :P
The invisible fish will stay invisible till he's in and settled as I don't want to jinx it haha only a few people actually know what I'm getting lol. Andrew has had no trouble telling me I've lost the plot though

[reefmutt]

Originally Posted by Wrangy

Well I suppose I've left it long enough now we're nearly there now!! I spent today adding salt and temp to the sump and it's all mixing and circulating now The Vectra will be in on Wednesday and by then all the plumbing will be set and cured so we'll be completely running! I'm looking forward to the smoothness that will come with the sump running and everything going again, I'm going to change up to component 1, 2 & 3 for the dosing as it's easy to get hold and just a cost effective as Randy's

I suppose some pics of the sump might be nice this is the left side with the shelf, doser and frag tank, I'm so glad the Kore has holes to be screw mounted!


Then there's the right side which houses the overflow, skimmer and heater in the first chamber, the RO section underneath which I LOVE! lol. Along with all of that is the power management centre of two powerbars for 16 plugs lol not that I currently use them all! I still need to finish the wiring but that needs to wait for the equipment to be in the sump lol


Then when have the shelf where I've got the ballast living and it will also hold the dosing containers and other misc sh!t lol


As you can see I've mounted some led's down the guts of the cabinet and they work a treat


As some of you may know I've got a once in a lifetime fish currently being held in the acro tank at Deer Park and I am beyond excited to get this gem of a cirrhilabrus! Of course once I put down my liver to ensure my name went on him, I got a message from Dave a few hours later with a screenshot from one of his suppliers....


The bugger had finally sourced a l. susumi for me after three years of chasing one! It doesn't help that I have to pay half a kidney to get this guy too, he's gorgeous though, waiting patiently in store till they remove my kidney looks like I can manage without some vital organs and food for the next month hahaha

This is damn fine tech porn!
And what I like most about tech porn is that it is a teaser for the coral porn to follow.

[Wrangy]

Originally Posted by reefmutt

This is damn fine tech porn!
And what I like most about tech porn is that it is a teaser for the coral porn to follow.

Thanks Matt I'm pretty happy with the cabinet and everything underneath I should have some decent coral porn in the next couple of days though

The tank has come together really nicely and I love being able to see the sump and everything too


I must admit I was terrified taking some frags home from the frag meet the other night but I'm glad I did in the end, they seem to be really happy

(excuse the dirty glass lol)

[joshky]

Originally Posted by Wrangy

One of the stores here gets them custom made. They're a PDU that's got no brand on them, very similar to server rack PDU's though
Thanks Josh, I'll hopefully fill it with zoa's today :P
The invisible fish will stay invisible till he's in and settled as I don't want to jinx it haha only a few people actually know what I'm getting lol. Andrew has had no trouble telling me I've lost the plot though

Of course they're custom made! LOL -- really nice though, but not worth the trouble getting them shipped I'm sure. I'll find something else when I'm officially in the market.

I'm really excited for you, hopefully these new fish are in top shape and do well for you in your new tank. I also can't wait to see your tinkeri when you get it. Are you going to let your tank mature a bit before grabbing that one? Or is it another fish you'll have to jump on when you see it? I have plans on getting some sort of potential SPS nipper but I don't wanna do it while I have small frags.

[FloformAustria]

nice frags mate!

can´t wait to see what the look like under lights on!!

Cheers

[biggles]

Originally Posted by Wrangy

Thanks Matt I'm pretty happy with the cabinet and everything underneath I should have some decent coral porn in the next couple of days though

The tank has come together really nicely and I love being able to see the sump and everything too


I must admit I was terrified taking some frags home from the frag meet the other night but I'm glad I did in the end, they seem to be really happy

(excuse the dirty glass lol)

Did you get two of everything like i told you to or are you not wanting anything from the frag night i wasn't invited to............

[martinphillip03]

Andrew, let me get this straight, Dom is now part of the Thursday night crew, and he goes to a secret frag swap night, and doesn't even let you know? Oh my.

Marty

Originally Posted by biggles

Did you get two of everything like i told you to or are you not wanting anything from the frag night i wasn't invited to............

[glaukos]

I bet you look as happy as the frags do,dom
Nice picks mate!
Tank looks better every day.Can't wait for the days to come

[Wrangy]

Originally Posted by joshky

Of course they're custom made! LOL -- really nice though, but not worth the trouble getting them shipped I'm sure. I'll find something else when I'm officially in the market.

I'm really excited for you, hopefully these new fish are in top shape and do well for you in your new tank. I also can't wait to see your tinkeri when you get it. Are you going to let your tank mature a bit before grabbing that one? Or is it another fish you'll have to jump on when you see it? I have plans on getting some sort of potential SPS nipper but I don't wanna do it while I have small frags.

Yep lol the good things usually are I'm sure you could find something very similar!

They're definitely in top shape! I get to see them every time I visit lol. I won't be getting a Tinkeri though There's 1200 reasons for that haha. I'm going to get the poor mans version, a c. burgessi but that'll come whenever it does. Most of my fishlist is a order it when it comes up and pay it off as I go, simply due to the uncommon nature of most of them lol. I wish I could order things in a specific order but I can't afford that luxury with the fish I want lol. I think it'll be a while off though, I want to add the butterfly last once the tank is well established!

Originally Posted by FloformAustria

nice frags mate!
can´t wait to see what the look like under lights on!!
Cheers

Thanks Flo Just for you!

Originally Posted by biggles

Did you get two of everything like i told you to or are you not wanting anything from the frag night i wasn't invited to............

haha I would have but they're all one's you got anyway lol

Originally Posted by martinphillip03

Andrew, let me get this straight, Dom is now part of the Thursday night crew, and he goes to a secret frag swap night, and doesn't even let you know? Oh my.
Marty

haha I'm not a Thursday night person either, I only go when I know a few of my mates from around town will be there so I can catch up with them! lol Like Andrew, I opted for the Friday morning leftovers haha

Originally Posted by glaukos

I bet you look as happy as the frags do,dom
Nice picks mate!
Tank looks better every day.Can't wait for the days to come

Cheers Mike
Getting even better now the sump is running Got a new update or two about to be posted! lol

[Wrangy]

Alrighty so there's not much from a fish food point of view that usually gets me overly excited as most foods are very much on a similar level but differ a little bit here and there. Buuuuutttt Dave got in some really groovy foods and supplements that I've been wanting to give a go since he told me about them
It's a range of fish/coral foods that are also suitable for breeding as well (well that's what they say on the packaging lol) from a company called Aqua-Tech Co. (http://www.aquatechco.com/SELCO.php) and they all sound really cool.


Now out of the range the two I've been wanting to try are Marine Frenzy, an imitation fish egg that's from the sounds of it a pearl of some pretty sweet ingredients, and the S.E.L.C.O Boost which is a food soak/additive. Now as some of you know I feed my babies fairly liberally lol with 3-7 pinches of my pellet mix a day and a cube of mysis every second day with some pellets as well lol. This has achieved me some fairly nice results in having nice fat fish with some good colours but as the tank is going to have and already has some very colourful wrasse and fish with subtle colours I want to get another level from my food. Sooo aside from changing up my pellet mix soon I got a small bottle of the S.E.L.C.O Boost to try out. The reason being is they have all the good things going on:

• OMEGA 3 & 5 Fatty Acids
• EPA & DHA
• Garlic for immune systems and appetite
• Vitamins C & E for immune systems and slime coat
• Important carotenoids for color

This wonderful little mix should result in some nice reactions from the fish and they seem to be enjoying the pellets soaked in it so far The only down side is the stuff STINKS! lol but that's what you'd expect being a fish soak with tasty goodies! Looks pretty potent too, need to work out the right ratio as this is waaayyy too much for my liking for a small pinch of pellets lol


Aside from the fact that it looks fantastic on paper and looks gross enough to be doing something lol I've only had it in two feeds so far so I'll keep things updated over the coming months with how I find it's going in the tank and with the fish! I'll also try and get some decent shots of the fish for comparisons sake too.

[reefmutt]

I think I want to try eating that stuff. By the sounds of it, I'll grow long red hair like you, bulging muscles like Andrew and I'll live forever!!
Looooove those two little frags..

[slin1977]

Those frags give me a clit tingle.

[Wrangy]

Originally Posted by reefmutt

I think I want to try eating that stuff. By the sounds of it, I'll grow long red hair like you, bulging muscles like Andrew and I'll live forever!!
Looooove those two little frags..

Be careful what you wish for it stinks so that's the only thing holding me back on the taste test

Originally Posted by slin1977

Those frags give me a clit tingle.

Wait till you see the pe I'm getting in the sump!

[Wrangy]

First of let me start by saying, never under-appreciate your sumps!! I am over joyed having one back online! lol
I finally have it running, the weir set, big skimmer running, frag tank cranking, ato going and my media in the sump and the tank feels AT LEAST a 1/3 bigger lol. I just love the nearly completed look now!


It's also peace of mind knowing that what goes in is definitely coming back out now! lol just two days worth:


The tank looks like a mess but the sump, big skimmer and my two strombus and army of invisible snails are seeing to that with good speed lol




Looks pretty bare with no anything in there lol zoa garden is in the works and acro's will fill it nicely! Speaking of acro's my tester frags are loving life to the max! lol PE errywhere!



AAANNNNNDDDDDD the bit I've been waiting years for is the FRAG SECTION holy crap it makes life easier and it's going to be pumping very soon! lol


No messy frag racks in the DT anymore


And I can play and tinker till my heart is content!!

[reefmutt]

Originally Posted by Wrangy

Be careful what you wish for it stinks so that's the only thing holding me back on the taste test

Give it to Andrew, he'll taste anything!

The whole set up is looking great Dom!
Love it!

[martinphillip03]

Dom, The setup looks great. I am envious. Your in a great situation. Great fish store. Excellent reefers. Can't wait to watch this tank develop.

Marty

[joshky]

Originally Posted by Wrangy

No messy frag racks in the DT anymore


And I can play and tinker till my heart is content!!

Wow so jealous, looks reallllllly good Dom! Tank is coming along so nicely, can't wait for the SPS to take over.

[Rakie]

Definitely a nice build. I'm partial to the open stand too!

Can't describe why.. But I really dislike the stands / canopies that look like furniture. Just doesn't do it for me.

[glaukos]

Loooove the frag section bud
Hate that you always make me look at zoanthus and think that they are beautiful and i should add some too

[Wrangy]

Originally Posted by reefmutt

Give it to Andrew, he'll taste anything!

The whole set up is looking great Dom!
Love it!

At least if it knocks him out I can make away with what I'd like

Thanks Matt, now that I'm cooking with some real gas thinks are coming along nicely! Sandbed crap is slowly dying off and the stroms are loving life lol. The skimmer has pulled tonnes of lovely smelly gunk which I'm really pleased about another week or two and it should settle down a gear or two I think I'll be doing some testing today as I have no idea what anything is at lol

Originally Posted by martinphillip03

Dom, The setup looks great. I am envious. Your in a great situation. Great fish store. Excellent reefers. Can't wait to watch this tank develop.

Marty

Thanks Marty I'm really very lucky to have such good mates like Dave and Andrew and I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am without them I can't wait to start playing with some groovy corals again!

Originally Posted by joshky

Wow so jealous, looks reallllllly good Dom! Tank is coming along so nicely, can't wait for the SPS to take over.

Thanks Josh I think I've done really well with the hardware side of things and gotten an amazing sump and tank! I can't wait for them to take over either

Originally Posted by Rakie

Definitely a nice build. I'm partial to the open stand too!
Can't describe why.. But I really dislike the stands / canopies that look like furniture. Just doesn't do it for me.

I love it, it's nice being able to see everything and check it all in a glance. Besides I also love the equipment side of things and all of that so why hide it!

Originally Posted by glaukos

Loooove the frag section bud
Hate that you always make me look at zoanthus and think that they are beautiful and i should add some too

Me too Mike!! One of my favourite things about the tank now, well aside from the tank itself haha.
Well I suppose you're not going to like the pictures that are being uploaded as we speak then

[Wrangy]

Well aside from me loving the tank and sump, we also have another little admirer who just sits and stares into the frag tank


I'm going to be getting a couple of colourful little fish for Piggles to enjoy


I also finally got the full 10L of matrix washed and into the sump lol





Things are coming along nicely but the zoa's are loving it! Wait till I post those pics lol

[Wrangy]

I got the camera out last night to take some photo's of my zoa's again because as we all know I love them! lol I think the pics turned out pretty nicely if I do say so myself lol
The Sunny D's are going crazy lol they have no where left on the plug to grow any more! The need a bit of a haircut


I still think that one of the nicest and more simple zoa's are the Flaming Suns from EAA! Just a solid combination of colours and nothing overly fancy about them!




Some of the misc frags I have around the tank, each as lovely as the next








It's almost impossible to show and describe how bright these are and just how much they GLOW in the tank!! Easily th nicest pink I've ever come across!!
​​

[Wrangy]

Ran some tests and the tank is currently sitting fairly low but I haven't been dosing anything of late so I'm not overly worried. Dosing starts now though so things are nice and stable for the return of the acro's lol
Alk: 5.4dKH
Mg: 1050ppm
Ca: 260ppm

[FloformAustria]

Good morning Dom!

Looking good the new sump!
10l of Matrix? i really need to get more media in my tank

but again i have to say... this is the SPS forums^^

coming along nicley mate!!

Cheers