Building My Dream Reef

[BriansBrain]

Unfortunately my copperband passed after just 4 months. Idk. QT it, ate well, picked at the rocks constantly and no signs of bullying that I’ve seen. Came down yesterday morning and was attached to a powerhead. Big time bummed about it and not trying those again.

On a brighter note, I got myself a little Hippo that my son is stoked about! I know everyone has/had one, but I’ve always really wanted one for the entire time I’ve been reefing on and off 10+ years. He’s in the QT and hope he does well. Just a bit nervous with the tiny sized hippo tangs.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I 'try' to promise myself 3-strikes-I'm-out with fish. I've already tried 3 separate times to keep a Bicolor Angel long-term. Some people say it is the way it is collected.

 

[BriansBrain]

I 'try' to promise myself 3-strikes-I'm-out with fish. I've already tried 3 separate times to keep a Bicolor Angel long-term. Some people say it is the way it is collected.

If I do try another one, I’ll try an Australian marginalis. Even then, pay 3-4x for the possible same end result? Just put my faith in those are strictly net caught per their regulations.

Possibly even Kleins butterfly?

That’s way down the road though.

 

[BriansBrain]

While visiting Orlando for vacation I had hit up the big three shops, LRO, TSA, and WWC. This was the second time at both WWC and TSA and I have to say, WWC is my favorite. Well worth the visit. I can spend all day there.

My main star purchase was this Cosmic Bounce Chalice. Also picked up a bright pink Monti digitata (I have never seen before) and two other acros

 

[JumboShrimp]

Those places are a Central Florida playground for some of us. Jealous? Lol! Beautiful tank-- nice coral purchase. Thanks for sharing.

 

[BriansBrain]

Those places are a Central Florida playground for some of us. Jealous? Lol! Beautiful tank-- nice coral purchase. Thanks for sharing.

Lol very jealous! I couldn’t imagine having those caliber of stores as my LFSs. I would be completely broke

 

[kevgib67]

Lol very jealous! I couldn’t imagine having those caliber of stores as my LFSs. I would be completely broke

While visiting Orlando for vacation I had hit up the big three shops, LRO, TSA, and WWC. This was the second time at both WWC and TSA and I have to say, WWC is my favorite. Well worth the visit. I can spend all day there.

My main star purchase was this Cosmic Bounce Chalice. Also picked up a bright pink Monti digitata (I have never seen before) and two other acros

Absolutely beautiful! Speaking of Jealous, I am! I do have Corals.Com and Tidal Gardens that I drive on to. Heading to Florida in April for a family vacation. I think they are to far but I’m going to double check.

 

[BriansBrain]

Absolutely beautiful! Speaking of Jealous, I am! I do have Corals.Com and Tidal Gardens that I drive on to. Heading to Florida in April for a family vacation. I think they are to far but I’m going to double check.

I have yet to visit corals.com. Can you walk in there? Tidal gardens is about 15-20 minutes from me and an over the top facility. WWC is my favorite though. Talked to Vic and Josh last time too for a while and did the tour. Good dudes

 

[kevgib67]

I have yet to visit corals.com. Can you walk in there? Tidal gardens is about 15-20 minutes from me and an over the top facility. WWC is my favorite though. Talked to Vic and Josh last time too for a while and did the tour. Good dudes

Unfortunately ( not for my checking account), it’s curbside pick at Corals.Com but Tidal Gardens is curbside but you can walk in. Last time I took a selfie with Than. If you visit Tidal Gardens take orange lens glasses and oran

ge filter for your phone it is very blue in there!

 

[JumboShrimp]

I see that Than has really started to 'pop' since you've kept him under those blue lights!

 

[BriansBrain]

May sound crazy with the excitement of setting up this new tank, but I was starting to feel some burnout. Went on vacation February to come home to another round of acros randomly dead. Literally ones I’ve had for years. The amount of dead acros over 8ish months has been a really low blow and I was really questioning why I even set up a new tank.

I put sooo much effort and $$$ into my previous sps tank and while it did look nice, it never reached a level a level of success I desired to achieve. I’m a competitive person and that bothered me.

I felt myself heading down the same road, so I’ve decided to really pivot my mindset on my reef aquarium journey with this tank.

• Uncomplicated system and minimal gear.
• The acros doing well will stay. The ones that are finicky and struggling were removed. No more high end.
• A mixed reef moving forward with even some softies.
• No more finicky fish. Only fish that can eat pellets.
• Enjoy the beauty and journey.
• Less is more, simple is best

I’ve been watching a lot of Jake Adams Reef Builders videos and listening to Reef Therapy again with Jake and Mark and it’s honestly been therapy for my current reef keeping ideology. Exactly what I needed to get back on track for a better reef!

 

[BriansBrain]

Made a bunch of updates.

I’ve been on a personal mission to eliminate as much gear as operationally possible. I want the minimum amount of electronics and equipment that I personally feel unnecessary.
I now only have 10 pieces of equipment that are physically plugged into outlets running my entire system, and I’m pretty darn proud of that!

Trying to just get back to basics!

Removed some artificial rock and added some of my old Fiji rock. Also added some TBS premium Gulf rock.
With all that, a bunch of coral and aquascape moved around for the better I believe.

Also, with my new extra room in the sump, I added a little frag tank for probably just high end shrooms. I’ve been really getting more into some really cool softies. I can’t help it!

And some super cool long polyp toadstools I found locally. The brown sarcophyton has crazy long polyps, like 3” but the clowns unfortunately found it and are trying to make a home