And now for something a little different ...

[LBReefer]

So the sight if my recently returned prawn goby inspired me to pick up a new pistol shrimp. I think that I'll be very creative and name him Pete:

And a shot of him settled in:

And I did make an impulse buy of a pair of Gladiator Clowns. They went straight into quarantine. Now I have to decide if 180 gallons is big enough for two pairs of clowns.

 

[LBReefer]

So I added these guys to the tank after a month of QT. We'll see if a 180 gallon can handle two pairs of clowns. I rearranged the scape a bit to try and create some new nooks and crannies.

 

[LBReefer]

ne guys Well this video suggests that we aren't off to a great start.

I released the new guys on the opposite side of the six foot tank thinking that it would give them some time to adjust.

 

[LBReefer]

FTS and Video

 

[LBReefer]

 

[LBReefer]

I was tempted by all of the online auctions to pick up a few sticks, but I decided that I rather patronage my LFS.

A few photos of the haul in progress:

 

[LBReefer]

Day 3 and everyone is still alive. I further altered the rock scape to try and change up their behavior (and make room for some acros and other SPS). Nonetheless these guys still seem to find each other.

 

[LBReefer]

Updated FTS with the new scape. I'm looking forward to a few things growing in to give it a bit more depth and range of heights.

 

[LBReefer]

Some updated photos of the fish with my phone's camera. I'm debating renting a decent macro lens to check it out. My macro lens is too old for my camera and the auto focus won't sync up.

 

[LBReefer]

Today was a maintenance Sunday. I've been having some issues with my salinity probe. Hopefully brushing it off and dipping it in some citric acid will clear things up.


I have turned my three up and decided that it was time to give them another thorough cleaning:

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Great build thread! Not sure how I've missed it before, but following along now!

 

[LBReefer]

A few updated fish shots with the new lens:

My, oh my, what nice teeth you have.

I've been trying to get a decent shot of this guy for years. I love his attitude and activity.

I'd like to find a shot with his fins fully engaged, but I was pleased with the juxtaposition next to the GSP and Zoas in the background.

My hopes of this guying pairing up with the Pistol Shrimp haven't panned out yet, but he seems to be doing alright in the interim.

At the risk of jinxing it, these are my longest lasting fish. They have made it through two tank crashes. all of my attempts at expanding their numbers to form a school have failed miserably. I have decided to be happy with two.

 

[LBReefer]

And a few coral shots:

I have four of these mushrooms, three in a group in this tank and one on a plug ready to go to the office tank.

This frogspawn has hung in there, but isn't growing. I am hoping that my new rockscape will inspire some new growth.

I need to perfect my skills a bit more to properly capture the color and polyp extension on this guy.

I just picked this guy up from my LFS. The polyp extension today wasn't as good, I may need to find it a more permanent home soon.

 

[LBReefer]

I nearly forgot this guy. It's worth noting that this is the only fish that I actually know to be a "guy." I love watching him hunt and peck across the tank. I would like to add a second, but I fear adding competition for pods.

 

[LBReefer]

This is getting addicting. I got the camera out again tonight.

I still need to train in so I can get both in better focus, but I really enjoyed the color balance and textures in this shot.

Trying to get a good shot of this guy is challenging. He's the most shy of the four tangs and is easily startled. I know that they aren't the fancy of tangs, but I love the Kole Tang's coloration, pattern, and behavior.

I've also struggled to get a good shot of the clowns despite their best attempt to "clown around" in front of the camera. I really like the flow of the fins in this shot.

Another shot of the RBTA. This guy has split a few times and wanders a bit, but the colors still make it worthwhile.

Watching these guys chow down is a lot of fun.

 

[LBReefer]

Picked up two new frags and a wrasse this weekend at Pet Kingdom in San Diego:

Sorry for the crappy quality, camera phone had to suffice for tonight.

 

[LBReefer]

I decided to buy some bumblebee snails to address my vermetid problem, and made the mistake of taking a look at the fish section.

The Leopard Wrasse I had purchased a few weeks ago didn't make it through QT and my LFSs don't normally carry them, so I decided to buy one off of Liveaquaria. Well, I was experiencing some technical difficulties and accidentally placed nearly duplicate orders one with a standard Leopard Wrasse and one Vermiculate Leopard Wrasse.

I was impressed with the packaging Liveaquaria utilized.

The lights had already dimmed for the night in the QT tank, so this is the best shot I could get of the vermiculate.

I was terrified that I had already lost one of them, but it turns out this was a really poor attempt at hiding. They have since found the Tupperware container of sand.

I plan to get these guys eating well and then try out a TTM method. I am not looking forward to the labor, but I am afraid to use copper with how sensitive they are.

 

[LBReefer]

I managed to break one of the elbows on my RODI (again). I wanted to "save money" by avoiding the shipping charges. In the process I dropped $250 on a RODI booster pump, reagent supply (my phosphate and nitrate expired in 2018), and a fragging kit. I feel fairly dumb for buying the fragging kit, but it keeps me from stabbing myself while fragging Zoas and Palys I am sure that I will "save money" on future hospital bills.

 

[LBReefer]

I tried to attack my vermetid problem with the superglue approach. I'll call it mixed results. Its awfully ugly, but I'm hoping that it will eventually breakaway or get encased in coraline.

 

[LBReefer]

One of RBTAs split (again) this week. I've done well with these guys, but I can't keep a green BTA for the life of me. Sorry for the crappy image, I was working off my my mobile phone.