MLazar

Great idea. I think I'll send John a note right now! Thanks. M

Steve, I've been researching some more on this topic and found a forum on ReefSanctuary.com that says that: 1) A shrimp can be added to a goby separately. It is recommended that the shrimp be dropped directly over the goby's hole. If they don't find each other, drop the shrimp again every week until they do, or after 6 months give it up. 2) a tiger shrimp can co-exist with a cleaner shrimp. Did not read anything regarding a harlequin. I'm still hoping to find a coupled pair for sale. Maureen

Thanks much Jan, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Will look for a pre-mated pair instead of individuals. Now I just have to wait for the right "couple". Maureen

Working on narrowing down my fish wish list Steve and wondering if you're considering putting a pistol shrimp in with your yellow watchman goby, or do you have to buy them together as a pair for them to pair up? Maureen

Some easy corals going in today! Great project for a rainy afternoon. Shopping in the 120g and placing aquisitions from Tony, Bob and BRK!

Found your link, tank looks awesome! M

Thank you! Would love to hear/read about your 250, is it in the Dedicated Tank forum? What did you devise for your ATO? Our RSM is a floor above the 120 and its support systems - RODI, refugium, water containers, etc. Tracking water loss am and pm, it is significant enough that we're paying close attention. Hope to have something in place this weekend, just want to make sure the design is "fail-safe", the wood floors are only a couple of years old! Maureen

No plans for an additional powerhead at this time, we want to see how the two that are built in perform over time. Right now tracking evaporation (working on a top off solution), temperature, ammonia. Jon also added an earlier Aquacontroller model to the tank last night. Thanks all for the nice comments about the scape! M

Did some research Roni and it is indeed a beautiful fish. Recommended for a 40 gallon tank or larger, and won't get along with a wrasse, (other fish are aggressive towards it as well, but the wrasse was the only fish on my list). It might be worth the trade off if there's enough real estate for one. Thanks for the tip! M http://fishindex.blogspot.com/2009/07/bluestripe-pipefish-doryrhamphus.html

Jack, It is an epoxy that will initially show gray (you can see it on the left rock formation near the bottom left "foot"). That is actually only 2 rocks adhered together with a small rock sitting on the sand in the lower right. The rocks on the left are 2 larger rocks sitting on top of one another and they have expoxy between them. The top arch is not adhered yet, may tweak placement slightly. I'll ask Jon to post the exact name of the epoxy product if you're interested. Thanks! Maureen

Roni, Do you think a 34 is too small? Thought about putting one in the 120, but the flow is pretty high. M

Chad, that was us! Sorry to have missed an opportunity to meet you in person! M

Roni - how often, what, and how much are you feeding your banded pipe fish? Since I'm going to be feeding the anthias frequently anyhow, I'm hopeful a pipe fish might thrive. Maureen

Our 120 has a lot of SPS, and our LPS hasn't done as well as in previous tank set ups. My initial thought is to focus on zoas, palys, acans, rhodactis mushrooms,a brain, and a small clam, but I tend to fall for anything really pretty and reserve the right to change my mind. I don't want the tank to look like a smaller version of the 120. Following Sam's (L82RISE) lead, I want to keep it "Small World" scale and will be stocking fish that usually get lost in a larger tank. I have 3 beautiful Bartlett Anthias from BRK hanging out in the frag tank right now that are doing really well. I would also like a pair of clown fish, a wrasse, a pair of neon gobies, a shrimp and goby pair for sure. Considering getting a banded pipe fish as I'm fascinated by Roni's, but need to do more research. We're trying to set up the tank AND get our daughter ready to move on campus this coming week, so our attention is split, but hoping to get aqua-scaping done (one of my favorite parts, although time consuming, of setting up a new tank) and get the water cycling. Maureen

Picked up stand from BRK this morning and Jon is assembling it as I type. Was in Florida visiting the folks with our daughter before she goes back to college next week, so I'm a little late getting it started. We are taking pictures and will start a build thread TODAY! Thanks for all the support!

Ben, Tried to find a recent FTS of yours, but nothing recent ............. any chance you'll post an update? ML

Ben, Do you have a favorite store/site where you buy your blastos? The rainbow colored one is just amazing. Maureen

Steve, I think the tank is looking great, I really like your rock work. Maureen

So glad you asked this question as we are going to be setting up our new Red Sea Max 34g next week and have been giving this question a lot of thought. I have 3 bartlett anthias hanging out in Jon's frag tank waiting for the tank to be ready, and think I want a pair of clowns, a wrasse, a goby and shrimp buddy pair, and a neon goby pair. I'm also fantasizing about a pipe fish after seeing one in Roni's tank, but not sure, and not sure how much of this list will actually end up in the tank or if while out window-fish-shopping something will catch my eye and make me rethink the plan. Do you have a picture of your 34? Would love to see how you are setting it up. Maureen

Excited to see your fish room in person when it is done! M

PS - Someday I'm going to offer a training seminar to couples on how to enjoy our spouses enjoying their hobbie! How not to be resentful (even if they don't want to be involved) and much worse it could be than having a salt water coral reef hobbiest as your mate.

I think the LED discussion is specific to keeping cooler temps if we go with a sea horse tank in the future. I like knowing that other DIYers here and RC have shared their modifications and experiences with the rest of us, this really is a learning/educational site. I may have to borrow (read steal) some of my favorite acros from Jon's big tank, so lighting may play in sooner, but I want to set it up and get her running before we make any decsions once we see color/growth. Thank again. You guys are awesome.

Thanks much for the heads up and the link. We did a lot of research on the Red Sea Max and found feedback on several areas that folks have modified on the tank, but overall I think its a pretty good first tank for me. Jon is already asking if I will want the lights upgraded to LED's. (It's a blessing to be married to a WAMAS DIYer!!!!) Thanks again! Maureen

Thanks Roni! As you know, long term I'd like to try a sea horse tank, but I have lots of reading and research to do before attempting one. In the mean while I want to set up a tank that focuses on some of my favorite corals -- zoanthids, acans, mushrooms, softies, etc., that don't seem to do as well in the 120, which is SPS focused. I also want smaller fish that seem to disappear into the rock work of our larger tank. And the RSM will be on the main floor where we all tend to hang out, which will be awesome. I'm inspired by Sam's (L82RISE)nano idea of keeping everything small scaled. The tank should arrive at BRK tomorrow! I'm excited. I bought my first livestock purchase at BRK this weekend when we ordered the tank - 3 beautiful Bartlett Anthias. They're pink and yellow, eating well (and often) and happy in Jon's 55 frag tank for now. Still working on my livestock wish list.

^^^^DITTO^^^^^ Well Done Team!