Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 19

jnarowe · 06/07/2006, 08:17 PM

Astreas are not good either...try some strombus maybe? or real Vietnam turbos? Or nerites? Nerites are cool. They have fabulous shells and lay eggs like the world is coming to an end.

Micki · 06/07/2006, 08:17 PM

Very Cool! I didn't even realize you have a devils hand! Where is it located?

d.can82 · 06/07/2006, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Micki
Very Cool! I didn't even realize you have a devils hand! Where is it located?

At the end of his arm? Sorry, I'm sorry, bad joke- couldn't resist.

Stile2 · 06/07/2006, 08:53 PM

Strange to hear that about the Mexican Turbos, I have had three since November 2004, so coming up on 2 years.

Micki · 06/07/2006, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by d.can82
At the end of his arm? Sorry, I'm sorry, bad joke- couldn't resist.

melev · 06/07/2006, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Micki
Very Cool! I didn't even realize you have a devils hand! Where is it located?

In this image, look the the right of the anemone, right on the substrate. It is almost as large as a catcher's mitt, and would be larger if it wasn't always self-fragging.

This afternoon, I got a one quart ziplock baggie full of zoanthid frags for this weekend's frag swap. I also get to keep what I like. There were so many polyps, I decided to make a small frag tray for the prop section, giving the polyps something to grow upon.

The tray is 16" long, 4" wide, and 2" high. I added maybe .5" of crushed coral (had to buy a bag at Petsmart for $17 because I gave away what I had on hand apparently), rinsed it and added the zoos.

Because they are so light and bouyant, I took a section of needlepoint plastic material to screen them into the tray, and placed it in the prop section. As expected, they tumbled about in the tray, but at least they stayed there.

I look forward to seeing how they open up tomorrow.

Micki · 06/08/2006, 05:01 AM

Marc, your devils hand looks thicker than mine. Are there different kinds? What do you mean self fragging? Mine is very large but I have never seen it frag itself. I have cut some fingers off but haven't had much success in getting the frags to stay on rocks.

Cool zoa try too!

melev · 06/08/2006, 05:51 AM

It just throws off pieces. You'll see a white spot where it tears itself, and soon a piece will drop off and land elsewhere. 6 months ago, I had at least 10 pieces, and there was easily that many again this time, as well as the occasional one I give away almost monthly.

I don't know if there are different kinds of Devil's Hand. A Finger Leather might be something else entirely, perhaps.

Lunchbucket · 06/08/2006, 06:55 AM

marc - you are ALWAYS making something easy and cool. hope they all attach themselves down in your little frag tray

Lunchbucket

melev · 06/08/2006, 06:56 AM

Thanks. It was scrap material that was about to be thrown out, so I figured it would do well for the zoanthids. Taller would have been better, but then the polyps would get no flow at all - I fear. So the grid will have to keep them contained.

Later today, I'll try to get a picture of them when they open up to enjoy some MH lighting.

quiksilver · 06/08/2006, 08:02 AM

That devils hand looks like it's melting sometimes because it's self fragging so much. It's so pretty.

rdmpe · 06/09/2006, 07:59 AM

Hi Marc,

How are your BTA's doing? I was just reading over your web pages but the main BTA page hasn't been updated since Sept. '05. I'm interested because I'm planning to buy an RBTA tomorrow...

melev · 06/09/2006, 08:15 AM

They are doing well. I need to add a new picture to that page, as I was just looking at it a few days ago myself. Here they are as of April 06.

They are approaching 4 years of age next month.

quiksilver · 06/09/2006, 10:51 AM

I have had three anemones in my 29g rdmpe (not at the same time of course). The only one that survived was the RBTA and it was by far the best looking. I miss it so much as I had to get rid of it when I moved

My clowns loved that thing and it grew about 2 times its original size in the year or so I had it.

jnarowe · 06/09/2006, 11:05 AM

So what of the clowns' behavior? Mine appear to be trying to split their time between the BTAs...

rdmpe · 06/09/2006, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by quiksilver
I have had three anemones in my 29g rdmpe (not at the same time of course). The only one that survived was the RBTA and it was by far the best looking. I miss it so much as I had to get rid of it when I moved My clowns loved that thing and it grew about 2 times its original size in the year or so I had it.

Sounds great! I am also picking up an rbta. I have an Oscellarus right now that I hope will host it. The silly fish is currently hosting a kenya tree. I'd like to get a second clown but I was told that I should wait for it to get larger at which time I can assume it has turned female, then I can add a male to hopefully pair with it.

quiksilver · 06/09/2006, 11:54 AM

I'm definetly not an expert, but in my experience the dominant one will become the female and larger than the other no matter what you want :| But also in every situation I have experience the first one is usually dominant and your wish will probably come true :P GL

Micki · 06/09/2006, 12:03 PM

FWIW, I have added clowns to different tanks with one already being in ther existing tank. I have added with the existing different sizes. To me, the key was to always get a new clown that was smaller than the existing. In one case the new one became the female, but i have never had any problems either way. Just my .02 worth.

melev · 06/09/2006, 12:46 PM

Try to get one that is 1/2 the size of the current clownfish you have now, or get a second one now and let them sort out the sexing stuff.

Ocellaris are quick to take to a BTA, once they figure it out.

Jonathan, don't worry about them going back and forth. That's fine.

BrianPlankis · 06/09/2006, 01:07 PM

With clowns, the thing you need to make sure you DON'T do is to buy 2 clownfish from separate tanks that are in those tanks by themselves for a while. Even if they are small they could be females and there is no going back!

Brian

rdmpe · 06/09/2006, 07:41 PM

Well, I went and picked up the BTA tonight. I have a nice rock crevase that I'm hoping it will be happy with, fairly high up on the rocks so should get pretty strong light. One concern I have is that if it decides to go for a float around the tank it might end up getting caught in the closed loop intake screen. I think I may turn off the CL over night. What do you guys think???

melev · 06/09/2006, 08:32 PM

Randy, if your closed loop intake is well diffused (millions of holes over a large area), the BTA should have no problem moving off of it as it travels.

Have you read the BTA article yet? If not, you should! http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/in...ipanemones.htm

melev · 06/09/2006, 08:36 PM

Today, I moved the Maroon clownfish out of my son's 29g, as well as the anemone. They are now in my fishroom in the quarantine tank where I can enjoy them more.

The eel is still in the 29g. I found out how many teeth he has today, when I reached into his cave to retrieve the glass thermometer. 5 on one side in an X pattern, and two on the other - of my finger.

After I was done bleeding and bandaged, I cleaned the tank so I can look in there again, and fed it some krill. I guess he was just a tad too hungry.

I got some new furniture this week that I'm trying to swallow the pricetag of.

jnarowe · 06/09/2006, 08:44 PM

Nice clowns...look just like mine!

Do yours have that neon blue eyebrow too? I could use a couple chairs like that in front of our tank!

melev · 06/09/2006, 08:49 PM

I'll have to look at them later, as the lights are off. I don't know that they have blue eyebrows.

In other news...

My A. nobilis is RTNing, up two long branches. 4" of each branch were gone last night, and one branch finished itself off a couple of hours ago. Another branch did the same, losing 50% of its polyps (life). ARGH. The rest of the branches seem fine. I'm attributing this loss to the damage caused by the cracked 400w bulb at this time, as nothing else has been altered on the tank. Of course, the rest of the reef looks great, but I'm frustrated when I lose anything, even a branch of a coral.

06/07/2006, 08:17 PM	#451
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Astreas are not good either...try some strombus maybe? or real Vietnam turbos? Or nerites? Nerites are cool. They have fabulous shells and lay eggs like the world is coming to an end. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

06/07/2006, 08:17 PM	#452
Micki Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,163	Very Cool! I didn't even realize you have a devils hand! Where is it located? __________________ Micki... Western Ohio Reef Club Click the red house for my 125 progress! Current Tank Info: 125 gal. reef, 90 gal. sump, 10 gal. fuge, 40 gallon. 150 gallon fish only.

06/07/2006, 08:53 PM	#454
Stile2 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yucaipa, California (some little town you've never heard of) Posts: 1,624	Strange to hear that about the Mexican Turbos, I have had three since November 2004, so coming up on 2 years. __________________ If you have a college degree, you can be sure of one thing. You have a college degree! Superman owns Chuck Norris Pajamas!! Current Tank Info: 77 Gallon Custom peninsula 3 sides viewable, DIY Steel Stand, OM Squirt, 2 x 250 w MH, 2 x 95 w VHO, DIY Skimmer

06/08/2006, 05:01 AM	#457
Micki Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,163	Marc, your devils hand looks thicker than mine. Are there different kinds? What do you mean self fragging? Mine is very large but I have never seen it frag itself. I have cut some fingers off but haven't had much success in getting the frags to stay on rocks. Cool zoa try too! __________________ Micki... Western Ohio Reef Club Click the red house for my 125 progress! Current Tank Info: 125 gal. reef, 90 gal. sump, 10 gal. fuge, 40 gallon. 150 gallon fish only.

06/08/2006, 06:55 AM	#459
Lunchbucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 12,924	marc - you are ALWAYS making something easy and cool. hope they all attach themselves down in your little frag tray Lunchbucket __________________ Trying to lose weight by walking is like trying to bake a cake w/ a cigarette lighter - Lunchbucket - "Nancy-Boy Extraordinaire" - maxxII- Current Tank Info: 58gal Oceanic RR, 2x400w MH (20k XM and 10k XM), Deltec PF601 Ca Rx, Deltec AP701 skimmer, mag950 return, iwaki 55rlt w/ an Oceansmotions 4-way unit, Tunze 7300 and 6000 each w/ controller, fluidized po4 rx

06/08/2006, 05:51 AM	#458
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	It just throws off pieces. You'll see a white spot where it tears itself, and soon a piece will drop off and land elsewhere. 6 months ago, I had at least 10 pieces, and there was easily that many again this time, as well as the occasional one I give away almost monthly. I don't know if there are different kinds of Devil's Hand. A Finger Leather might be something else entirely, perhaps.

06/08/2006, 06:56 AM	#460
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Thanks. It was scrap material that was about to be thrown out, so I figured it would do well for the zoanthids. Taller would have been better, but then the polyps would get no flow at all - I fear. So the grid will have to keep them contained. Later today, I'll try to get a picture of them when they open up to enjoy some MH lighting.

06/08/2006, 08:02 AM	#461
quiksilver Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 809	That devils hand looks like it's melting sometimes because it's self fragging so much. It's so pretty. __________________ "You sir, lose at forum posting. Please insert quarter and try again." Current Tank Info: Ultimate 29g, 250w MH + 65w PC, Euroreef RS-80, 25 gallon custom sump/fuge, inifinity prop tank, mag7 return, Vortech x 2, Magnavore Reactor, UV Sterilizer

06/09/2006, 07:59 AM	#462
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	Hi Marc, How are your BTA's doing? I was just reading over your web pages but the main BTA page hasn't been updated since Sept. '05. I'm interested because I'm planning to buy an RBTA tomorrow...

06/09/2006, 08:15 AM	#463
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	They are doing well. I need to add a new picture to that page, as I was just looking at it a few days ago myself. Here they are as of April 06. They are approaching 4 years of age next month.

06/09/2006, 10:51 AM	#464
quiksilver Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 809	I have had three anemones in my 29g rdmpe (not at the same time of course). The only one that survived was the RBTA and it was by far the best looking. I miss it so much as I had to get rid of it when I moved My clowns loved that thing and it grew about 2 times its original size in the year or so I had it. __________________ "You sir, lose at forum posting. Please insert quarter and try again." Current Tank Info: Ultimate 29g, 250w MH + 65w PC, Euroreef RS-80, 25 gallon custom sump/fuge, inifinity prop tank, mag7 return, Vortech x 2, Magnavore Reactor, UV Sterilizer

06/09/2006, 11:05 AM	#465
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	So what of the clowns' behavior? Mine appear to be trying to split their time between the BTAs... __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

06/09/2006, 11:54 AM	#467
quiksilver Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 809	I'm definetly not an expert, but in my experience the dominant one will become the female and larger than the other no matter what you want :\| But also in every situation I have experience the first one is usually dominant and your wish will probably come true :P GL __________________ "You sir, lose at forum posting. Please insert quarter and try again." Current Tank Info: Ultimate 29g, 250w MH + 65w PC, Euroreef RS-80, 25 gallon custom sump/fuge, inifinity prop tank, mag7 return, Vortech x 2, Magnavore Reactor, UV Sterilizer

06/09/2006, 12:03 PM	#468
Micki Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 7,163	FWIW, I have added clowns to different tanks with one already being in ther existing tank. I have added with the existing different sizes. To me, the key was to always get a new clown that was smaller than the existing. In one case the new one became the female, but i have never had any problems either way. Just my .02 worth. __________________ Micki... Western Ohio Reef Club Click the red house for my 125 progress! Current Tank Info: 125 gal. reef, 90 gal. sump, 10 gal. fuge, 40 gallon. 150 gallon fish only.

06/09/2006, 12:46 PM	#469
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Try to get one that is 1/2 the size of the current clownfish you have now, or get a second one now and let them sort out the sexing stuff. Ocellaris are quick to take to a BTA, once they figure it out. Jonathan, don't worry about them going back and forth. That's fine.

06/09/2006, 01:07 PM	#470
BrianPlankis Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,956	With clowns, the thing you need to make sure you DON'T do is to buy 2 clownfish from separate tanks that are in those tanks by themselves for a while. Even if they are small they could be females and there is no going back! Brian __________________ Currently redesigning my 90 gallon tank system to support coral and invertebrate breeding. Click on my red house to see the thread with the progress. Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef with 29 gal sump and 8 gal Clownfish species tank Last edited by BrianPlankis; 06/09/2006 at 01:22 PM.

06/09/2006, 07:41 PM	#471
rdmpe Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central Florida Posts: 3,737	Well, I went and picked up the BTA tonight. I have a nice rock crevase that I'm hoping it will be happy with, fairly high up on the rocks so should get pretty strong light. One concern I have is that if it decides to go for a float around the tank it might end up getting caught in the closed loop intake screen. I think I may turn off the CL over night. What do you guys think???

06/09/2006, 08:32 PM	#472
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Randy, if your closed loop intake is well diffused (millions of holes over a large area), the BTA should have no problem moving off of it as it travels. Have you read the BTA article yet? If not, you should! http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/in...ipanemones.htm

06/09/2006, 08:36 PM	#473
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Today, I moved the Maroon clownfish out of my son's 29g, as well as the anemone. They are now in my fishroom in the quarantine tank where I can enjoy them more. The eel is still in the 29g. I found out how many teeth he has today, when I reached into his cave to retrieve the glass thermometer. 5 on one side in an X pattern, and two on the other - of my finger. After I was done bleeding and bandaged, I cleaned the tank so I can look in there again, and fed it some krill. I guess he was just a tad too hungry. I got some new furniture this week that I'm trying to swallow the pricetag of.

06/09/2006, 08:44 PM	#474
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	Nice clowns...look just like mine! Do yours have that neon blue eyebrow too? I could use a couple chairs like that in front of our tank! __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

06/09/2006, 08:49 PM	#475
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I'll have to look at them later, as the lights are off. I don't know that they have blue eyebrows. In other news... My A. nobilis is RTNing, up two long branches. 4" of each branch were gone last night, and one branch finished itself off a couple of hours ago. Another branch did the same, losing 50% of its polyps (life). ARGH. The rest of the branches seem fine. I'm attributing this loss to the damage caused by the cracked 400w bulb at this time, as nothing else has been altered on the tank. Of course, the rest of the reef looks great, but I'm frustrated when I lose anything, even a branch of a coral.