Change is inevitable

hmello@bermexin · 07/25/2007, 12:37 PM

Some change history on my tank started 07-Jan-07. 29 gallon Bio-Cube.

07-Jan-07

09-Feb-07

04-Mar-07

04-Apr-07

07-May-07

11-Jun-07

25-Jul-07

On June 17th I installed the 4.36 lighting upgrade. Now have 2 36 watt 10k daylight and 2 36 watt actinics.

Shooter7 · 07/25/2007, 04:32 PM

wow, those are a lot of changes - and that's coming from someone who has changed his 10g setup several times

. Any particular look you're going for? Funny watching the coralline take over the back wall.

hmello@bermexin · 07/25/2007, 04:44 PM

Each time I was looking for something, but I don't know what. This last one I was trying to get a reef valley, but the tank isn't deep enough I think.

HPD Turbo · 07/25/2007, 04:51 PM

Amazin changes!!!!, god job!!
Very nice rock work, keep it up!!!

kevin2000 · 07/25/2007, 06:14 PM

This should be a "sticky" ... hard to try and explain to anyone starting a tank just how much progress can be made if your just patient.

Nano Chris · 07/25/2007, 11:52 PM

Now thats progress! Great looking tank!

hmello@bermexin · 07/26/2007, 06:06 AM

Yeah I think I have gone pretty slow and stedy. Lost these along the way; 2 fish , the poritie that I didn't have any business putting in so soon, the birdsnest acro is now just one brach fragged didn't have any business putting that in either, and the gorgonian that the LFS told me was photosynthetic, should have done more research on it. I like the new lighting and hope that it will help my acro frag and the new yellow slimer to grow. These are the new experiment to see if 144 watts of PC lighting will be enough for them.
Thank you all for looking and your positive comments.
What a great hobby this is.

Victor1046 · 07/26/2007, 06:10 AM

Wow great progress! looks wonderful!

Savas · 07/26/2007, 08:27 AM

Tank looks great! I had a similar expereince buying from a local fish store - sold me stuff I was not ready for. I personally like the one wall look the best as it really shows off the corals. Great job.

drummereef · 07/26/2007, 09:13 AM

Nice progress pics. Funny how the tank looks nice in all of the photos.

Osmotic Shock · 07/26/2007, 09:17 AM

Very nice timeline. Great to see!

mildew · 07/26/2007, 06:09 PM

I don't think I'd call that "pretty slow and steady." You've done in 7 months what I haven't been able to do in 2 years; that is have a really nice looking tank. You've done well. Lost some things along the way, but haven't we all.

hmello@bermexin · 07/27/2007, 10:43 AM

Shot these pics in manual mode with the flash instead of auto.
FTS

Yuma

Trixie and Norton

Torch

Monti

Toadstool

Fox

Darth the Blue Assessor

Avi · 07/27/2007, 12:54 PM

hmello...it looks great. So, don't take it as any critique, but I notice that the yellow gorgonian didn't make it. I've been tempted to get one for my reef but have always been reluctant because of what I understand to be their heavy feeding needs. Did you feed? If you did, what did you try and how frequently?

hmello@bermexin · 07/27/2007, 01:12 PM

I must admit I was stupid. The LFS told me it was the photosynthetic kind and did not have to be fed. It was not. It needed to be fed. I read on wetwebmedia.com that they are extremely hard to keep alive (the ones that are not photosynthetic) and should only be tried by experiened reefers, of which my experience is about 7 months worth. I did want one that did not have these feeding needs and took the word of the LFS without doing enough of my own research. I will try a Gorg again but I will make sure I know what I am buying this time.

Avi · 07/27/2007, 07:22 PM

Thanks for the reply. I think that LFSs are frequently disingenuous on the side of getting some of your money out of your pocket and so, what you've experienced isn't all that uncommon. Figuring out which are non-planktonic is the trick or you have to be willing to commit tofeeding the tank to the point that excess nutrients becomes a threat, is the key when it comes to gorgonians. But, boy, are those yellows tempting!

hmello@bermexin · 07/27/2007, 07:48 PM

Yeah the yellows and the purples too. I am not ready to go to the excess nutrient point to keep them though so I am not going to try them again. Do you know which types are the photosytnthetic kind?

Avi · 07/27/2007, 08:31 PM

I really don't know and I'd like some info on that very thing. Maybe someone will post right here so that there's some definitive information that can benefit people that want to keep gorgonians.

GoingPostal · 07/27/2007, 08:36 PM

A good way to tell is the polyp color, usually they are brown if they live off light and white or bright colored if they need to be fed. Sealifeflorida and liveaquaria both have some nice easier to keep ones, fairly hardy, but still should be fed some form of plankton sometimes. I don't have any yet, but have done some research into them, sorry I'm bad at remembering scientific names.

hmello@bermexin · 08/06/2007, 12:07 PM

Changed the scape again. Did not really like the last one. What do you think?

Randall_James · 08/06/2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Avi
I really don't know and I'd like some info on that very thing. Maybe someone will post right here so that there's some definitive information that can benefit people that want to keep gorgonians.

I have one that I have had for about a year. I dose ever other day with either DT's or PhytoFeast. (cost is about $.50 a day for phyto) It has grown only a small amount but is healthy. Certainly not an animal for a "clean" tank. I was dosing only weekly at first and found that the thing could not repair itself of any damages. As soon as I upped the dosing, it covered up a few bare spots and then started to slowly creep out.

Truly a PITA to keep..... I must admit that all the phyto has done wonders for the pod populations and my filter feeding crabs molt every 3 or 4 months....

hmello@bermexin · 08/06/2007, 03:32 PM

Hey Randall have you got a picture you can show us?

Randall_James · 08/06/2007, 08:18 PM

You will notice how turbid the water is in this tank (and this is in its more clear of the day state, approx 70G cube)

I kept this piece out of my SPS tank I sold as I doubt it would have survived.

Click to enlarge

07/25/2007, 12:37 PM	#1
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Change is inevitable Some change history on my tank started 07-Jan-07. 29 gallon Bio-Cube. 07-Jan-07 09-Feb-07 04-Mar-07 04-Apr-07 07-May-07 11-Jun-07 25-Jul-07 On June 17th I installed the 4.36 lighting upgrade. Now have 2 36 watt 10k daylight and 2 36 watt actinics. __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

07/25/2007, 04:32 PM	#2
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	wow, those are a lot of changes - and that's coming from someone who has changed his 10g setup several times . Any particular look you're going for? Funny watching the coralline take over the back wall. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

07/25/2007, 04:44 PM	#3
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Each time I was looking for something, but I don't know what. This last one I was trying to get a reef valley, but the tank isn't deep enough I think. __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

07/25/2007, 04:51 PM	#4
HPD Turbo Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: I really dont know Posts: 569	Amazin changes!!!!, god job!! Very nice rock work, keep it up!!! __________________ Alex S. Reefteria!!!! If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes? Current Tank Info: 100gal, total system. Mixed reef. All DIY ex the tank.

07/25/2007, 11:52 PM	#6
Nano Chris Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,758	Now thats progress! Great looking tank! __________________ Chris ------- 34 Gallon Red Sea Max 130! Setup (Just got back into the hobby) Current Tank Info: 34 Gallon RedSeaMax!

07/25/2007, 06:14 PM	#5
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	This should be a "sticky" ... hard to try and explain to anyone starting a tank just how much progress can be made if your just patient.

07/26/2007, 06:06 AM	#7
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Yeah I think I have gone pretty slow and stedy. Lost these along the way; 2 fish , the poritie that I didn't have any business putting in so soon, the birdsnest acro is now just one brach fragged didn't have any business putting that in either, and the gorgonian that the LFS told me was photosynthetic, should have done more research on it. I like the new lighting and hope that it will help my acro frag and the new yellow slimer to grow. These are the new experiment to see if 144 watts of PC lighting will be enough for them. Thank you all for looking and your positive comments. What a great hobby this is. __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

07/26/2007, 06:10 AM	#8
Victor1046 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Delray Beach FL Posts: 427	Wow great progress! looks wonderful! __________________ Victoria Current Tank Info: 110Gl, 2X250 MH 2X96W ACT , PS, 2 Tom Clowns, bi-color blennie,flame angel, brain, colt, BTA, Xenia, Red & Yellow Zoe, Green Boniopora, Red Cynarina, Trumpet, Hammer Coral, mushrooms, leather,

07/26/2007, 08:27 AM	#9
Savas Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maryland / St. Thomas once a month Posts: 764	Tank looks great! I had a similar expereince buying from a local fish store - sold me stuff I was not ready for. I personally like the one wall look the best as it really shows off the corals. Great job. __________________ If you can get your wife hooked into reef keeping, you can spend all the money you want! Current Tank Info: 24 gallon Aquapod Nanotuners 4.32 T-5 lighting upgrade; 24 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting; 12 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting.

07/26/2007, 09:13 AM	#10
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Nice progress pics. Funny how the tank looks nice in all of the photos. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

07/26/2007, 09:17 AM	#11
Osmotic Shock Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 239	Very nice timeline. Great to see!

07/26/2007, 06:09 PM	#12
mildew Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 255	I don't think I'd call that "pretty slow and steady." You've done in 7 months what I haven't been able to do in 2 years; that is have a really nice looking tank. You've done well. Lost some things along the way, but haven't we all.

07/27/2007, 10:43 AM	#13
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Shot these pics in manual mode with the flash instead of auto. FTS Yuma Trixie and Norton Torch Monti Toadstool Fox Darth the Blue Assessor __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

07/27/2007, 12:54 PM	#14
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	hmello...it looks great. So, don't take it as any critique, but I notice that the yellow gorgonian didn't make it. I've been tempted to get one for my reef but have always been reluctant because of what I understand to be their heavy feeding needs. Did you feed? If you did, what did you try and how frequently? __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

07/27/2007, 01:12 PM	#15
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	I must admit I was stupid. The LFS told me it was the photosynthetic kind and did not have to be fed. It was not. It needed to be fed. I read on wetwebmedia.com that they are extremely hard to keep alive (the ones that are not photosynthetic) and should only be tried by experiened reefers, of which my experience is about 7 months worth. I did want one that did not have these feeding needs and took the word of the LFS without doing enough of my own research. I will try a Gorg again but I will make sure I know what I am buying this time. __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

07/27/2007, 07:22 PM	#16
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	Thanks for the reply. I think that LFSs are frequently disingenuous on the side of getting some of your money out of your pocket and so, what you've experienced isn't all that uncommon. Figuring out which are non-planktonic is the trick or you have to be willing to commit tofeeding the tank to the point that excess nutrients becomes a threat, is the key when it comes to gorgonians. But, boy, are those yellows tempting! __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

07/27/2007, 07:48 PM	#17
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Yeah the yellows and the purples too. I am not ready to go to the excess nutrient point to keep them though so I am not going to try them again. Do you know which types are the photosytnthetic kind? __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

07/27/2007, 08:31 PM	#18
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	I really don't know and I'd like some info on that very thing. Maybe someone will post right here so that there's some definitive information that can benefit people that want to keep gorgonians. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

07/27/2007, 08:36 PM	#19
GoingPostal Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,517	A good way to tell is the polyp color, usually they are brown if they live off light and white or bright colored if they need to be fed. Sealifeflorida and liveaquaria both have some nice easier to keep ones, fairly hardy, but still should be fed some form of plankton sometimes. I don't have any yet, but have done some research into them, sorry I'm bad at remembering scientific names.

08/06/2007, 12:07 PM	#20
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Changed the scape again. Did not really like the last one. What do you think? __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

08/06/2007, 03:32 PM	#22
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	Hey Randall have you got a picture you can show us? __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

08/06/2007, 08:18 PM	#23
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	You will notice how turbid the water is in this tank (and this is in its more clear of the day state, approx 70G cube) I kept this piece out of my SPS tank I sold as I doubt it would have survived. Click to enlarge __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"