Rural Montana Reef

[trellemania]

Just got back from nearly 6 weeks away from the tank and i am happy to say there were no losses! The montis, favias, anacroporas, and one of my staghorns had noticeable growth however the rest look about the same. Alkalinity has dropped from 8.5 to 7.1 which is likely why growth has stalled. Going to start dosing kalkwasser so i should start seeing growth again. Will try to post some pictures soon.

Here are some pictures of fish from my last 6 weeks of work.

Man I am jealousss those are some nice looking trout! Where is this? Havent gone fishing since I moved to AZ from FL and the itch is bad haha

 

[Flameback Pair]

@Gjedde how are you man!! I tried to find your new place in Troy. You say you were gone for 6 weeks? If you could text me you new address that way I could confirm with what I have. Dying to see your GC tank. Also what's a good time/day? What's up with my tank? Waited a month for my lids will probably wait another month or two.

 

[Gjedde]

Man I am jealousss those are some nice looking trout! Where is this? Havent gone fishing since I moved to AZ from FL and the itch is bad haha

Those are all from central montana on the Missouri river. I primarily guide the kootenai in northwestern montana. Peaceful up here.

 

[Gjedde]

@Gjedde how are you man!! I tried to find your new place in Troy. You say you were gone for 6 weeks? If you could text me you new address that way I could confirm with what I have. Dying to see your GC tank. Also what's a good time/day? What's up with my tank? Waited a month for my lids will probably wait another month or two.

Will do. Im working every day right now but everything is doing super well. I might be interested to see your lids when they get in. Dont have a very good lid right now. Just some plexiglass.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Will do. Im working every day right now but everything is doing super well. I might be interested to see your lids when they get in. Dont have a very good lid right now. Just some plexiglass.

@Gjedde I will wait until you have time off work to see your tank. No coincidence we both have Glass Cages tanks and we both live in Lincoln County. Good things come in pairs.

 

[Gjedde]

Almost have some time off to enjoy the tank! Just another 33 days of work straight then im off for 6 months or so.
Everything is growing well other than my Humilis. The tri color valida was the one that took the longest to get going. Ill try to do a more in depth post once i finish work, but for now here are some quick pics!

 

[Gjedde]

Pretty much done with work now, so first off, a fish update. My blue jaw trigger jumped as did my yellowhead jawfish. Was off as i had had both fish for some time. I had added a starry blenny that was a terror it turns out. I am guessing it forced both fish to jump. Came to this conclusion when i added a yelliw flanked fairy wrasse that it immediately terrorized. Starry blenny gone, hopefully ridding myself of the a hole of the tank.

Current fish are the following:
Clown pair
1 yellowtail damsel
Longnose hawkfish
Bicolor blenny
Chocolate tang
Green dragonette
Dusky wrasse
Blue star leopard wrasse
Pintail fairy wrasse
Yellow flanked fairy wrasse

Have a convict tang on order from dr reef, hope that goes well! I figure after that i will just bee adding 2 more wrasses, a pencil wrasse and a labouts wrasse whenever i find a healthy one.

 

[Gjedde]

Coral growth has been great since ive been dosing afr. I will soon be making the switch to dosing magnesium, soda ash, balling, and calcium chloride.

Corals are as follows at this time although i am sure i will be missing quite a few:
Pink acro, name unknown,
Purple grimace acropora
Tri color valida
Oregon tort
Purple staghorn
Supa dupa green acro(name unknown)
Green acro, name unknown
Green anacropora
Red anacropora
Teal humilis
Orange milli
Wwc dragon slayer
Green acro, name unknown
Bali shortcake
Green birdsnest
Pink birdsnest
Purple stylophora
Teal monti digi
Rainbow monti
Dragonfruit monti
Green monti cap
Red monti cap
Pink monti cap
Montipora spongodes(im trying to kill it)
Mystery monti
Tubbs Stellata montipora
Big hydnophora colony
Space invader pectina
Hollywood stunner challice
La lakers turbinaria
Teal cyphastria
Pink cyphastria
Red lobo
Electric lemonade lobo
Pink rainbow lobo
Poto rainbow Camo lobo
Blackhole blasto
Poto joker favia
Peach favia
JF Yellow submarine favia
Strawberry favia
Teal and green favia
Christmas favia
Blue hole favia
Candycane
Couple of duncan colonies
Rainbow plate
Green plate
Orange plate
Many, many many zoas. My wifes favorite. For me? Meh
Gsp
Pink octospawn
Teal hammer
Pink hammer
Splatter hammer
Orange frogspawn

Annnndddd not a coral but one hitchhiking bta.

 

[Gjedde]

And a healthy photo update, the good stuff!

 

[JumboShrimp]

That written list is like every conceivable coral in the whole store! Lol.

 

[Gjedde]

That written list is like every conceivable coral in the whole store! Lol.

Yea, i think maybe a torch and a couple more blastos and the it h might be scratched.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Lucas, I would feed the fish heavy if you already aren't. What the fish won't eat the corals will. And then add a bunch of CUC for the corals waste. I'm sure you know these things but in case you didn't this is a heads up.

 

[Gjedde]

Lucas, I would feed the fish heavy if you already aren't. What the fish won't eat the corals will. And then add a bunch of CUC for the corals waste. I'm sure you know these things but in case you didn't this is a heads up.

Oh yea, way ahead of you there.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Recycle food on several levels. Called a food web. Then what's left of the biomass that that hasn't been eaten can be removed by the skimmer, water changes, and some new methodologies.

 

[Gjedde]

last fish for the tank should be here Wednesday! A convict tang from dr reef. Its sort of bittersweet getting this last fish as its always been something to look forward to. Additionally i dont think i will be adding any corals other than a couple acros.
So begins the grow out period, and i figure thst instead of putting money towards livestock i may save for some supplemental light bars or maybe another jecod wavemaker.

 

[Flameback Pair]

@Gjedde I'm getting my last fish for the season. Late fall is borderline for shipping in my opinion. Should have our first snow of fall any day now. Should be getting 3 fish and a clam next week. Dr Reefs. Same as you Lucas. Getting Royal Gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby, Sixline Wrasse, and Maxima clam.

 

[Gjedde]

@Gjedde I'm getting my last fish for the season. Late fall is borderline for shipping in my opinion. Should have our first snow of fall any day now. Should be getting 3 fish and a clam next week. Dr Reefs. Same as you Lucas. Getting Royal Gramma, Yellow Watchman Goby, Sixline Wrasse, and Maxima clam.

Dang, wish we could have combined shipping to save a couple bucks!

 

[trellemania]

And a healthy photo update, the good stuff!

Great to see it man! Happy for your bitter/sweet moment of grow out!

 

[Gjedde]

Beyond excited for this fish from dr reef. Arrived in excellent condition and is already eating. Beautiful fish!

 

[Gjedde]

Leaving for a week of mule deer hunting tomorrow. Shot my bull last week.

Once big game season is over i should be able to really get the dosing figured out.

The tank is looking great other than my teal humilis that is browning out at the moment. Hopefully its still alive by the time i get back!