evolved's 190g DSA Reef: Wrasse Retreat

[evolved]

Well, as reef tanks go, I experienced some woes here for the last couple months.

However, I'm happy to report things are very much on the upswing now. Although, I still don't know what the source of my troubles was/were, but I'm very suspect of GFO and/or the filter socks. I've been running without both now for two weeks and some things which haven't grown for months are doing their thing again; photo evidence of that later.

Photos from 4/7/13.

FTS:

Right side:

Left side:

Some new additions as of late.

The new center piece; an acanthophyllia I stole in a Reef Pets eBay listing, paying about 1/4 or less of the typical retail price on something like this. Also some new chalices and the Hallucination Favia (AquaSD):

These have abundant lately, but grabbed this one locally and I really like it. Diploastrea (has crazy long sweepers at night FYI):

Malibu favia; yes, the yellow is really that bright:

Freebe blasto on my latest AquaSD order (Thank Will & Co.!); merletti's to the right were freebes on a different order:

Pink/blue acan in the background (new, local), sunset fungia in front (old):

New rainbow acan (AquaSD):

New rainbow chalice, AquaSD:

Just a couple new AquaSD fungias, and a freebe chalice. Reef Pets acans on the left:

New lobo, AquaSD:

A couple new acros, also AquaSD:

Chalice, won in the same Reef Pets auction mentioned earlier:

I've had this one a few months now, but I don't think I've shown a picture of it yet. Huge red fungia, Aqua SD:

A few up and comings I haven't shown many photos of-

Purplelicious cyphastrea:

Leptastrea, via Jason Fox:

The infamous Pink Lemonade; either via Jason Fox or Dan Rigle, not sure who's colony was the mother:

ORA Belina:

 

[evolved]

Old colonies -

ORA Scripps milli, and a pink milli it might overtake if I don't keep it trimmed back:

Right side nifty reflection shots:

The rainbow stylo is growing again:

Anyone recognize this macro? I'm clueless, and nothing has eaten it yet (hermits, urchins, or the abalone). Wondering if it might be some sort of plating sponge:

Here's one of the examples I mentioned earlier; this cyphatrea receded on the edge months ago (you can see the skeleton on the left and right) and has had poor polyp extension for a some time now. But look! Polyps and a new growth ring all around, just in 2 weeks time now:

And now some sad things, examples of the damage that was done by whatever was wrong-

The bird of paradise; note where the edge of the light cuts it down the middle. The inside is a bit pale (too much light), but it's the outside that was most affected by the "whatever". Thoughts?

Half the tips on this colony are not pleased:

Mediocre photo, but this acro looks the worst out of them all. I was going to just toss it, but it still has polyps in places and I couldn't bring myself to do it. I was planning to put one of the new acros on the rack in it's place, but that didn't happen. They went in other spots last night.

The giant purple stag will be alright, with a little time:

Here's what happened with many of the tips on it. Polyps are showing on all the branches again (they were retracted for 10-12 days):

This milli was also affected; the tips have obvious damage but then it started peeling in it's shade regions. Polyp extension is better on it from what it was, but still not great for a milli:

I should have listened to this coral more 2 months ago. It was one of the first ones to get upset, and I assumed it was just a lack of flow. Tyree Chili Pepper (monti). You can see it still has polyps (which still have most of their orange), but the tissue between them is mostly gone or very brown. It'll come back:

Rainbow monti also lots most of it's color, but is improving now:

Lastly, here's what several of my acans did to me, and this one is still doing it. Polyps retracted, slowly receding. :/ It's day-to-day with this guy now; it goes from looking better to looking worse. Not sure how it'll turn out yet.

Mr. Eightline was feeling good, and I almost got a good photo of him doing it:

One more, and one I'm thankful didn't care "something" was in the water. I've had this guy several years, and I still love it (echinata):

 

[evolved]

In other news, I did find my skimmer impeller quite swollen (but not cracked) after nearly 2 years of usage. It's been replaced now and I'm happy it restarts easily again.

I also picked up a nice, healthy blue linckia last week. Hopefully luck is on my side with it.

 

[Aquaph8]

Nice shots Hunter, that Eightline is a beast.

 

[zibba]

Great work Hunter! Wow, things are really looking good. Can't wait to come over to check it out in person. I'm not reef-smart enough to answer any of your questions...so I'll just drool at all of your awesome pictures and give you two big thumbs up!!

 

[evolved]

Nice shots Hunter, that Eightline is a beast.

Thanks Brett. He's become a big, bossy fish. Came my way as a sub-male, and he's turned into a flasher that's bigger than some of my fairys. :neutral:

Great work Hunter! Wow, things are really looking good. Can't wait to come over to check it out in person. I'm not reef-smart enough to answer any of your questions...so I'll just drool at all of your awesome pictures and give you two big thumbs up!!

Thanks Eric. 1smile1

 

[zibba]

Thanks again for having us over to grill after the FRAG meeting. Here are some of the pictures that turned out. Next time I won't wait until the lights turn down before I start shooting. I think I could have gotten some even better ones with more light. Next time!





Took a ton of pictures of these two doing the happy dance. They're show stoppers for sure:








So hard to capture how beautiful this fish is when it starts flashing, really an incredible site:










Boss-man:

 

[zibba]

Another boss:











Elusive and just not enough light, but an amazing fish:






Another

 

[zibba]

My personal favorite. I need to focus in on this guy next time:


Clown keeping a lookout after her clutch of eggs:


The lights were really dimming down here but Hunter has some really amazing LPS that you just have to see in person because the beauty is hard to capture on camera:

















Thanks again,
Z

 

[evolved]

The pleasure was ours.

Thank you!

 

[revhtree]

Simply Amazing!

 

[Dowtish]

Wow!!! just wow! Your friend takes fantastic photos. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Lacktaters]

Amazing collection of wrasses!

 

[evolved]

Simply Amazing!

:bigsmile:

Wow!!! just wow! Your friend takes fantastic photos. Thanks for sharing.

I know right?!?! I don't mean to under-sell anything; I'm still very much wowed by the johnsoni photos. They rival any wild photos I'm aware of the species.

Amazing collection of wrasses!

Thank you.

 

[mnat]

Ordered two females johnsoni wrasses after seeing those pictures. Well done.

 

[Chris155hp]

Following sick tank

 

[zibba]

Wow!!! just wow! Your friend takes fantastic photos. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks man.

:bigsmile:


I know right?!?! I don't mean to under-sell anything; I'm still very much wowed by the johnsoni photos. They rival any wild photos I'm aware of the species.


Thank you.

I'll say that I impressed myself with how well that solo picture of the male johnsoni came out. I was bound to get a few good ones after taking 100's of shots, lol!

Ordered two females johnsoni wrasses after seeing those pictures. Well done.

That's awesome. They're beautiful fish!

 

[kwoww]

Hi Hunter! Guess who's blogging now

 

[bct15]

This tank is really nice, awesome wrasse collection too!


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