Jeremy's 300g Build... Finally - Page 5

jeremyjoslin · 01/27/2013, 04:53 PM

Thank you, Nate.

Nate brought over some very nice xenia for my xenia/GSP patch. These were of Pascal's lineage. I tightened the talks down nicely with some zip ties. Thought it was perfect... This morning, the xenia had chewed it's stalk off at the zip tie and set itself free. Almost as bad as the 4 mushrooms that are now gone somewhere into the deep. "Planting" xenia and mushrooms seems truly akin to herding cats.

Thanks, Nate!

jeremyjoslin · 01/27/2013, 05:05 PM

Last tang for awhile...

Today I added a quarantined Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma desjardini) to the mix.

The idea was to add 3 tangs together up front to keep them occupied with each other and not allow any single tang to be "new" and picked on. They all seem like they're still getting used to the new habitat, and this latest addition will round out my top 3 favorite tangs.

Going forward, I'm going to round out the "filler" fish... gobies, cardinals, chromis... still not sure.

After some further maturing and equilibrium of bioload, I'll add a pair of "reef-safe" triggers. I'm undecided on Xanthicthys ringens (Sargassum) vs Xanthichthys auromarginatus (Blue throat/jaw). Suggestions on which is better in mature coloration and personality welcomed.

Eventually, I may add a purple tang or another Acanthuridae species, but am undecided and would like to get the triggers in first to assure space and water quality first.

DrAsTiC · 01/27/2013, 05:07 PM

Beautiful tank, and house congrats on the upgrade.

jeremyjoslin · 01/27/2013, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrAsTiC

Beautiful tank, and house congrats on the upgrade.

Thank you. A full year of planning and hard work...

jeremyjoslin · 01/27/2013, 05:27 PM

First FTS

There are only 3 rock islands. There's a bit of an optical illusion in this pic making it look like there are several.

Rock 1: isolated GSP and xenia patch
Rock 2: rose BTA rock
Rock 3: corallimorph farm with a few ricordias and several places where blue mushrooms were attached a few days ago...

E_rock · 01/27/2013, 05:42 PM

kewl

reefcrazy1 · 01/29/2013, 07:30 PM

nice build.i would like to go bigger but no room

der_wille_zur_macht · 01/30/2013, 08:39 AM

Regarding the Xenia: Oops.

Good luck hunting it down.

I have (had?) a pair of bluethroats in my reef, bought at the last ABC frag trade. The male was skittish and generally not a good eater, I'm fairly certain he passed away over the weekend as I looked last night and this morning and can't find him.

If I had to start over again with a pair of triggers, I would do X. ringens as the colors are more likely to pop out. I like the coloration on the bluethroats but they tend to really blend in once they're in a tank with lots going on.

jeremyjoslin · 01/30/2013, 08:50 AM

Found the first colony of xenia.... popped it in a sump tank with MH and some rubble.
Today, found that the second colony has absconded as well. Will need to hunt that one down before it goes and settles somewhere.

So much for zip ties. Maybe zip ties and glue and putty?

jeremyjoslin · 01/30/2013, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by der_wille_zur_macht

I have (had?) a pair of bluethroats in my reef, bought at the last ABC frag trade. The male was skittish and generally not a good eater, I'm fairly certain he passed away over the weekend as I looked last night and this morning and can't find him.

If I had to start over again with a pair of triggers, I would do X. ringens as the colors are more likely to pop out. I like the coloration on the bluethroats but they tend to really blend in once they're in a tank with lots going on.

Thanks for the advice. I'm leaning that way as well. Problem is that it seems they're difficult to pair since sexing them is close to impossible. I'm hoping Dave at ABC2 can buy a mated pair together.

der_wille_zur_macht · 01/30/2013, 09:28 AM

I wouldn't bother with adhesives on the Xenia itself. If a ziptie would not hold it, I would probably try a band of plastic mesh (i.e. what BRS sells to make tank covers). Or put it in a low-flow spot in your sump or your frag tank on top of a pile of live rock rubble and let it settle in and attach on it's own, then glue that piece of rubble where you actually want it in the display tank.

Trigger pairs come up once in a while on diver's den too, if you find you can't get them locally.

RoscoPColtrane · 01/30/2013, 10:47 AM

For Xenia, a tooth pick through the base and a rubber band works well.

jeremyjoslin · 01/30/2013, 03:50 PM

I'm doing the "wait-in-the-sump-in-a-bucket-of-rubble" and then glue rubble to rock approach.

jeremyjoslin · 02/02/2013, 02:37 PM

Few pics from today as I decide that I can't take good pics with my current lenses and really need a macro lens. My Sigma 10mm takes a decent wide-angle of the tank though for a FTS (need to wait for some decent room lighting though).

Group shot

Clown pair

Desjardini

Blonde Naso

Beloved YT

Gary Gnu · 02/02/2013, 03:06 PM

Looks great. Can't wait to visit

jeremyjoslin · 02/02/2013, 06:11 PM

Gorgeous addition today. I don't recommend handling rabbitfish because of their venomous spines, but as a venom enthusiast I couldn't resist. My fingers were a bit tentative when I snapped this, but the fish relaxed into my full hand for transport to his new home.

Many thanks to Ed for raising such a wonderful specimen.

jeremyjoslin · 02/13/2013, 08:33 PM

Revised my sump float switches next. I bought a plastic yard fence that looks like something you'd put around your flower garden, and then drilled holes in the right places to place a high level, correct level, and low level switch.

I don't/won't keep any livestock or snails in my sump, so I'm not worried about a snail sticking to a switch to activate it. I also have code safeguards built in so that things make sense. For example, if the "low" switch is activated, the code checks for the higher to sumps to agree with that "assessment".

Willistein · 02/13/2013, 09:37 PM

Looking great - beautiful fish!

So the ladder thing will stand in the sump somehow?

lilman024 · 02/14/2013, 08:30 AM

That naso looks great

kingraham · 02/15/2013, 01:50 PM

that Desjardini is sweet. hows he get along with the blonde naso?

jeremyjoslin · 02/15/2013, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willistein

Looking great - beautiful fish!

So the ladder thing will stand in the sump somehow?

Right. Actually, I built an overhang out of 2x4's since my sump is a rubbermaid stock tank and has no great place to attach anything. So this ladder is screwed into the overhang and hangs into the water and pushed into the bottom so it looks like it's standing. Nice and solid.

jeremyjoslin · 02/15/2013, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilman024

That naso looks great

Thanks. That pic is pretty true to life.

jeremyjoslin · 02/15/2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingraham

that Desjardini is sweet. hows he get along with the blonde naso?

I introduced them with compatibility in mind. So far they're all best friends. Have not witnessed a single sign of aggression.

Henry Colf · 02/15/2013, 06:14 PM

Looking good!!!!!!

lilman024 · 02/16/2013, 07:46 PM

I also like how you did that rock wall it looks sweet. You have to post more pictures every thing looks great.

01/27/2013, 05:42 PM	#106
E_rock Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: West Seneca, NY Posts: 300	kewl __________________ -Eric Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef

01/30/2013, 08:39 AM	#108
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Regarding the Xenia: Oops. Good luck hunting it down. I have (had?) a pair of bluethroats in my reef, bought at the last ABC frag trade. The male was skittish and generally not a good eater, I'm fairly certain he passed away over the weekend as I looked last night and this morning and can't find him. If I had to start over again with a pair of triggers, I would do X. ringens as the colors are more likely to pop out. I like the coloration on the bluethroats but they tend to really blend in once they're in a tank with lots going on. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

01/30/2013, 09:28 AM	#111
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	I wouldn't bother with adhesives on the Xenia itself. If a ziptie would not hold it, I would probably try a band of plastic mesh (i.e. what BRS sells to make tank covers). Or put it in a low-flow spot in your sump or your frag tank on top of a pile of live rock rubble and let it settle in and attach on it's own, then glue that piece of rubble where you actually want it in the display tank. Trigger pairs come up once in a while on diver's den too, if you find you can't get them locally. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

01/27/2013, 04:53 PM	#101
jeremyjoslin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manlius (Syracuse) Posts: 898	Thank you, Nate. Nate brought over some very nice xenia for my xenia/GSP patch. These were of Pascal's lineage. I tightened the talks down nicely with some zip ties. Thought it was perfect... This morning, the xenia had chewed it's stalk off at the zip tie and set itself free. Almost as bad as the 4 mushrooms that are now gone somewhere into the deep. "Planting" xenia and mushrooms seems truly akin to herding cats. Thanks, Nate!

01/27/2013, 05:05 PM	#102
jeremyjoslin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manlius (Syracuse) Posts: 898	Last tang for awhile... Today I added a quarantined Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma desjardini) to the mix. The idea was to add 3 tangs together up front to keep them occupied with each other and not allow any single tang to be "new" and picked on. They all seem like they're still getting used to the new habitat, and this latest addition will round out my top 3 favorite tangs. Going forward, I'm going to round out the "filler" fish... gobies, cardinals, chromis... still not sure. After some further maturing and equilibrium of bioload, I'll add a pair of "reef-safe" triggers. I'm undecided on Xanthicthys ringens (Sargassum) vs Xanthichthys auromarginatus (Blue throat/jaw). Suggestions on which is better in mature coloration and personality welcomed. Eventually, I may add a purple tang or another Acanthuridae species, but am undecided and would like to get the triggers in first to assure space and water quality first.

01/27/2013, 05:07 PM	#103
DrAsTiC Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Rockland county, NY Posts: 53	Beautiful tank, and house congrats on the upgrade.

01/27/2013, 05:27 PM	#105
jeremyjoslin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manlius (Syracuse) Posts: 898	First FTS There are only 3 rock islands. There's a bit of an optical illusion in this pic making it look like there are several. Rock 1: isolated GSP and xenia patch Rock 2: rose BTA rock Rock 3: corallimorph farm with a few ricordias and several places where blue mushrooms were attached a few days ago...

01/29/2013, 07:30 PM	#107
reefcrazy1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 5	nice build.i would like to go bigger but no room

01/30/2013, 08:50 AM	#109
jeremyjoslin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manlius (Syracuse) Posts: 898	Found the first colony of xenia.... popped it in a sump tank with MH and some rubble. Today, found that the second colony has absconded as well. Will need to hunt that one down before it goes and settles somewhere. So much for zip ties. Maybe zip ties and glue and putty?

01/30/2013, 10:47 AM	#112
RoscoPColtrane Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 586	For Xenia, a tooth pick through the base and a rubber band works well.

01/30/2013, 03:50 PM	#113
jeremyjoslin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manlius (Syracuse) Posts: 898	I'm doing the "wait-in-the-sump-in-a-bucket-of-rubble" and then glue rubble to rock approach.

02/02/2013, 02:37 PM	#114
jeremyjoslin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manlius (Syracuse) Posts: 898	Few pics from today as I decide that I can't take good pics with my current lenses and really need a macro lens. My Sigma 10mm takes a decent wide-angle of the tank though for a FTS (need to wait for some decent room lighting though). Group shot Clown pair Desjardini Blonde Naso Beloved YT

02/02/2013, 03:06 PM	#115
Gary Gnu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 26	Looks great. Can't wait to visit

02/02/2013, 06:11 PM	#116
jeremyjoslin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manlius (Syracuse) Posts: 898	Gorgeous addition today. I don't recommend handling rabbitfish because of their venomous spines, but as a venom enthusiast I couldn't resist. My fingers were a bit tentative when I snapped this, but the fish relaxed into my full hand for transport to his new home. Many thanks to Ed for raising such a wonderful specimen.

02/13/2013, 08:33 PM	#117
jeremyjoslin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Manlius (Syracuse) Posts: 898	Revised my sump float switches next. I bought a plastic yard fence that looks like something you'd put around your flower garden, and then drilled holes in the right places to place a high level, correct level, and low level switch. I don't/won't keep any livestock or snails in my sump, so I'm not worried about a snail sticking to a switch to activate it. I also have code safeguards built in so that things make sense. For example, if the "low" switch is activated, the code checks for the higher to sumps to agree with that "assessment".

02/13/2013, 09:37 PM	#118
Willistein Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Wheatland, NY Posts: 2,585	Looking great - beautiful fish! So the ladder thing will stand in the sump somehow?

02/14/2013, 08:30 AM	#119
lilman024 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 131	That naso looks great

02/15/2013, 01:50 PM	#120
kingraham Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: canandaigua, N.Y. Posts: 64	that Desjardini is sweet. hows he get along with the blonde naso?

02/15/2013, 06:14 PM	#124
Henry Colf Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Rochester Posts: 2,926	Looking good!!!!!!

02/16/2013, 07:46 PM	#125
lilman024 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Buffalo, New York Posts: 131	I also like how you did that rock wall it looks sweet. You have to post more pictures every thing looks great.