cmaxwell39's 150

Aquaph8 · Dec 31, 2014

Glad you got the problem figured out, looking forward to some pictures.

cmaxwell39 · Dec 31, 2014

Thanks Brett. Pictures will probably be a few days yet, and will probably be a little disappointing, but I promise to represent my reef as it sits today. Happy New Year everyone.

Sahin · Jan 1, 2015

Happy New Year to you as well man. I had STN issues as well...now sorted; but required a tank restart and new rocks. Thats just how reefkeeping sometimes. But keep on top of things and ll should look better in a few months. Look forward to the photos.

cmaxwell39 · Jan 1, 2015

Thanks Sahin.

I have really been hoping not to have to do a restart. I guess if I am still having issues I will have to, but at this point I a hoping I am past that.

What did you determine to be the problem which required the restart, and why new rocks? Just kind of curious. Thanks for any input you have.

cmaxwell39 · Jan 4, 2015

As promised some new tank pictures. This is the first time I have taken pics of the tank since the issues started, and since the tank sits very high (top of the tank is probably 5'-5 1/2' tall) I had forgotten how cool it is to view the tank top down. Taking some top down pics this weekend has started to get me excited about the tank again.

Without further ado....

Let's start with a FTS:

Right Side:

Middle:

Left Side:

A few coral shots. More to come later:

Thanks for looking.

Sahin · Jan 5, 2015

Despite the issues its looking great. :D I'd stick to carrying out increased water changes and maybe some GAC if not already used, to see if it sorts out the tank issues.

cmaxwell39 · Jan 5, 2015

Thanks Sahin.

I am really hoping that we are past whatever the issue was. The hardest thing for me is looking at s bunch of empty spaces that used to hold large mature colonies of acros that had been grown from small frags. Color isn't all the way back either, but it is getting there.

For the first time in quite a while I am getting excited about the tank again though, so it will get back to its former glory and maybe even better.

cmaxwell39 · Jan 10, 2015

How about some top downs?? Here are a few from my recent photo session with the tank.

Blue Tort/Stag:

Setosa:

Jedi Mind Trick and Bonsai:

Not sure what this one is, but the pink skin on the base was really neat to see:

And finally, Yellow tipped table:

Thanks for stopping by and looking.

SeahorseKeeper · Jan 10, 2015

Those corals look great!! :)

cmaxwell39 · Jan 10, 2015

SeahorseKeeper said:
Those corals look great!! :)

Thank you.

Aquaph8 · Jan 11, 2015

I'm really liking that pink base, very cool!

cmaxwell39 · Jan 11, 2015

Thanks Brett. That was one of the very pleasant surprises I got when I actually got everything out to take pictures and started shooting top down. From the side it just looks green, top down..... Nice.

Thanks for checking in. I will try to get some recent wrasse photos up soon.

Sahin · Jan 11, 2015

Those corals look very nice! :)

Aquaph8 · Jan 11, 2015

What fish do you have in there these days.

cmaxwell39 · Jan 11, 2015

Sahin said:
Those corals look very nice! :)

Thanks Sahin. Just read your thread over on RC. Good luck in your battle with AEFW. Thanks for checking in and the encouragement on the corals.

Aquaph8 said:
What fish do you have in there these days.

I will get some pics up soon of the fish, but for now, here is a current list.

4 Green Chromis (Chromis viridis) These are all from an original batch of 7 that went into this tank at the beginning. They have all been together for over 4 years now.

1 White Cheek Tang (Acanthurus nigricans) He has also been in the tank over 4 years. Added in Oct. 2010.

1 Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) Added at the same time as the White Cheek tang

Ocellaris clown Pair (Amphiprion ocellaris) Got these as tiny little juvi's in September of 2010. They have really cool patterns. Not your standard occies.

Personifier Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus personifier) Got this guy as a very small (1.25") Juvi. He is nearly as big as the White cheek now.

And now for my Fairy Wrasses. I will list them in order of addition to aquarium.

Exquisite fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus exquisitus) Maldives variant. Purchased in Jan 2011. Was originally part of a trio. The first of the trio jumped out of QT. The second changed to male before going to display and has since passed on. The final is still with me, and seems to be stuck between male and female coloration. Still a very cool underrated fish imo.

2--Lineatus Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus lineatus) They are both male now, but seem to tolerate each other. Amazingly enough, the smaller of the two males is the one that seems more aggressive and displays more vibrantly/more often.

Pair of Labouti Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus labouti) The male of this pair is one of the best colored I have ever seen. I cannot, for the life of me, capture his coloration in photos. Just an awesome fish

Hooded Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus) Had this one about a year. Still a very small female or initial phase male. My smallest wrasse in the tank by far.

Red Velvet Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis) Just got this one, although it is a 4.5-5" male. Got him from another local reefer that needed to rehome him. He is still in QT. Should hit the display in a couple more weeks.

That's it for now. I am on the hunt for either a pair of Rhomboids to replace the ones I lost last year, or a rhomboid and another fairy (probably an earls or a jhonsoni) to round out the collection.

cmaxwell39 · Jan 18, 2015

Fish pics as promised.... Better late than never right.

I am a huge fan of fairy wrasses....

And a couple with flash to try and get semi-clear pictures:

Thanks for checking in.

cmaxwell39 · Feb 8, 2015

A few more pictures from the last batch. These are all still small frags, but I can't wait to see them grow up into vibrant colorful colonies. Most of these were frags that were purchased this past summer or fall, so they are still encrusting/settling in. Some of them are getting close to taking off though and should be fun to watch grow out.

Shades of fall:

Poison Ivy:

CC Passion Fruit:

CC Aussie Passion Fruit:

Granulosa (still coloring up some):

And finally one that I have had in the tank for a while, but it has been hiding and never really done much. Finally starting to grow some.

Ultimate Stag:

That's it for now. Thanks for looking.

Sahin · Feb 9, 2015

Nice pieces, SOF looks great.

cmaxwell39 · Feb 9, 2015

Thanks Sahin. I have been happy with how most of the newer stuff has colored up recently, and most seems to be encrusting good as well. Hopefully I will start seeing some new branches shooting off these guys in the next month or two. Them the fun really starts, seeing them grow. I have found it is really helpful to post pictures of your frags every few months or so, otherwise it never feels like they are growing until they get big.