Ryan S January 16, 2015 Share January 16, 2015 I am imagining that rock covered in beautiful, colored SPS, ducati-style of course. And I think it's going to look fantastic! Any specific plans regarding fish? Perhaps large groups of colorful schooling fish? (Anthias, Chromis, etc?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati January 16, 2015 Author Share January 16, 2015 Appreciate the comments. I will continue playing the wrasse game; at this point I have 3 of 11 wrasse on my fish list. Very disappointed with Bartletts, they were very aggressive and killed each other. All the females decided to change sex, it was a disaster. The activity reminded me of a large school of Chromis I kept several years ago. Other than the wrasse, I need to seriously think about completing the fish stocking list. Lubbock C. lubbocki - purchased Solon C. solorensis - purchased Bluehead C. cyanopleura - Exquisite C. exquisitus - Hooded Fairy C. bathyphilus - Carpenter C. carpenteri - Lineatus Fairy C. lineatus - Flame Fairy C. jordani - McCosker Flasher P. mccoskeri - purchased Linespot Flasher P. lineopunctatus Blue Flasser P. cyaneus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffyGeos January 16, 2015 Share January 16, 2015 Tony love the irregular design and the Tonga branch! Also the valley The only piece that upsets my eye at all is the top left piece, that is cut perfectly level on top and bottom. IMO I have a cut piece like that and I am trying to figure out how to make it work. I love that it has a flat top to attach pieces. I think I am going to try and add a smaller piece to the top of mine with Marco mortar off center which will allow for different heights of coral, and hopefully breaks up the horizontal line. Of course after the corals have grown out on it for 2 years it probably won't be a big deal. Great progress! I am still sidelined with a pulled back muscle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati January 16, 2015 Author Share January 16, 2015 The top left rock needed some assistance just as you pointed out. I made a small change after I took the photos. I added a small rock to give the rock a peak. Now that rock blends in. The top left platform has a 10" diameter and I expect it to hold 3-4 corals. The Tonga branch did not work as intended but I still like it. My original idea did not look natural. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffyGeos January 17, 2015 Share January 17, 2015 Tony, One option would be to take the Tonga branch and figure out how to have it come out of the sand right next to the mound on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraffitiSpotCorals January 18, 2015 Share January 18, 2015 Hey man like the scape! Warren said he had visited and heard your angels grunting. I thought that was cool, then realized the powerhead I thought was turning on and off at random times was actually our emperator grunting. Ha! I was about to take all my equipment apart to find the problem making the noise when Amanda told me it was the angel How are the corals and fish doing? Are you planning on keeping the 65k bulbs when you add corals back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati January 18, 2015 Author Share January 18, 2015 A couple days ago I lost my Powder Blue and McCosker, not sure why. They were eating and swimming normally. Corals are fine, doing weekly water changes to maintain levels. Most likely will run 10k during the first few months as the system matures. Running Iwasaki too soon could get the system out of whack during the algae cycle. I need to find a few pounds of good raw live rock with sponges and tunicates for seeding. Ammonia (.05 ppm) is beginning to show on the main display. Looking forward to the ugly phase to begin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueTricia January 23, 2015 Share January 23, 2015 I love the scape! I think once you get corals in there, it's going to look beautiful! Sorry to hear about your fish. That's never fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati January 27, 2015 Author Share January 27, 2015 (edited) Update: Day 11 Ammonia: 0 Nitrites: not tested Nitrates: 2 ppm Diatoms are beginning to cover the sand, light Tan dusting on glass, and a few blotches of green patches. The algae cycle is beginning. Getting a small CUC this weekend. Edited January 27, 2015 by ridetheducati Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCReefer1964 January 28, 2015 Share January 28, 2015 Are you cycling with lights off Tony? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati January 28, 2015 Author Share January 28, 2015 Are you cycling with lights off Tony? Lights on eight hours per day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCReefer1964 January 28, 2015 Share January 28, 2015 Lights on eight hours per day. No lights = faster cycle ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati January 28, 2015 Author Share January 28, 2015 No lights = faster cycle ? Lighting schedule does not impact the speed of the cycle. Water temperature and movement does impact the speed. I run my lights so I can see how the cycle is progressing as opposed to testing. When I begin to see diatoms, I know to begin testing nitrates. Also, the ammonia alert is a constant indicator of the ammonia state. Others do not like to run lights because they try to minimize the ugly stage, I welcome it because I have a highly trained and motivated nitrate and phosphate removal squad. My squad plays with all equipment inflated. The addition of corals and fish is at least 3 weeks out. All of my QTs are online and ready for business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati January 31, 2015 Author Share January 31, 2015 Update: Day 15 Cycle complete. Cyano and hair algae beginning to grow. Going to add a small CUC and a few pounds of seed rock today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati February 7, 2015 Author Share February 7, 2015 Update: Week 3 System progressing as expected. The cyano phase is complete and a few small turfs of green hair algae that 40 hermits will handle. Picking up a few Cirrhilabrus for the quarantine tank and CUC for main display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJT February 7, 2015 Share February 7, 2015 Good. What wrasses are you getting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati February 7, 2015 Author Share February 7, 2015 Fish list Naoko C. Naoko - Lubbock C. lubbocki - purchased Solon C. solorensis - purchased Bluehead C. cyanopleura - Exquisite C. exquisitus - Hooded Fairy C. bathyphilus - Carpenter C. carpenteri - Lineatus Fairy C. lineatus - Flame Fairy C. jordani - McCosker Flasher P. mccoskeri - purchased Linespot Flasher P. lineopunctatus Blue Flasser P. cyaneus Leopard M. bipartitus - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wangspeed February 7, 2015 Share February 7, 2015 Nice fish list. Being a wrasse lover, I approve. My bipartus didn't make it I'm afraid. A halichoeres of some sort would be useful too. -- Warren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJT February 8, 2015 Share February 8, 2015 You definitely have the wrasse bug. Which exquisite-African or Fiji? IME with those flashers I would get the linespot last or same time as the others, they can become jerks with new flashers. I'm really looking forward to seeing your tank when its stocked Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wangspeed February 8, 2015 Share February 8, 2015 (edited) Btw if you get a female for any of the fairy wrasses, the male will flare and change colors. My rubrisquamis does it a few times a day and it is phenomenal. Also, in terms of compatibility, that jordani might get mean. Probably similarly tempered as my rubrisquamis. Mine is a big bully and only bows to my lineatus, who is larger. -- Warren Edited February 8, 2015 by wangspeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati February 8, 2015 Author Share February 8, 2015 Majority of the wrasse will be quarantined in several tanks and all introduced into the main display at the same time. Common tactic I use for all temperamental fish such as Angels, Tangs, and Wrasse. For single additions, I have an isolation box in the main display to help with acclimation. The Wrasse game can be tricky but with a good game plan and patience, it works. I also have a cheat sheet that helps me remember what species to avoid, Pseudocheilinus, and potential for conflict/aggression. For example, the C. scottorum is not on my list due to its aggression. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ridetheducati February 8, 2015 Author Share February 8, 2015 Which exquisite-African or Fiji? African Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJT February 8, 2015 Share February 8, 2015 Great plan. I want to see that cheat sheet one day. I'm sure its full of stuff that I can learn from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJT February 8, 2015 Share February 8, 2015 Nice exquisite choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuffyGeos February 14, 2015 Share February 14, 2015 Tony- any pics of the new setup with water in it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now