That Random Nano!

[Miami Reef]

I’ve just remembered the time I used to look at clams and go “They’re boring…” I also used to think the same about SPS but now I have this tank dedicated to both of them, I don’t think I could ever have a clamless tank. SPS are also a coral I now enjoy because their polyps just extend so nicely when they’re happy.

Acropora look like bonsai and like a stony tree! Who wouldn’t like ‘em?

Clams…You already know how I feel about them.

 

[i cant think]

Acropora look like bonsai and like a stony tree! Who wouldn’t like ‘em?

Clams…You already know how I feel about them.

We’re still waiting for the new photos by the way ;)
As for Acros, I totally agree! That “Unknown” acro (I found out the name of it yesterday - Pearlberry) really is starting to look like a tree.

 

[Miami Reef]

We’re still waiting for the new photos by the way ;)
As for Acros, I totally agree! That “Unknown” acro (I found out the name of it yesterday - Pearlberry) really is starting to look like a tree.

I put the newest clams on the middle of the rockwork and I can’t take a decent photo of them.

Is the pearlberry the slimer that grew so fast for you? With the interesting tip colors?

 

[i cant think]

Now it’s so blue that even a filter can’t deal with it, I wish that I could get an actual photo of this clam under blues, I’ve never seen something even close to this.

In the very back, that large frag just next to the hammer is the pearlberry. I’ll try get a decent photo/video of it either tonight or tomorrow :)

I unfortunately have given up on the slimer as it managed to fall without me knowing and it continues to do so. Will be looking for another frag of that next time I go to that LFS (I may wait a month before getting more frags to make sure the Maxima, Deresa and current frags remain healthy)

 

[Miami Reef]

In the very back, that large frag just next to the hammer is the pearlberry. I’ll try get a decent photo/video of it either tonight or tomorrow :)

I unfortunately have given up on the slimer as it managed to fall without me knowing and it continues to do so. Will be looking for another drag of that next time I spend money (I may wait a month before getting more frags to make sure the Maxima, Deresa and current frags remain healthy)

I was referring to this one. What do you mean “given up”? Is the frag on the bottom of the tank? :)

 

[i cant think]

I was referring to this one. What do you mean “given up”? Is the frag on the bottom of the tank? :)

I don’t actually know where the frag is and it just continues to fall to the point there’s only flesh left on one of the arms which is surprisingly bright green. I wish I could keep it from falling but no matter what I do it just falls and vanishes.

It’s a must have piece though so definitely keeping my eyes peeled for another frag of it.

 

[Miami Reef]

I don’t actually know where the frag is and it just continues to fall to the point there’s only flesh left on one of the arms which is surprisingly bright green.

Do you glue them?

 

[i cant think]

Do you glue them?

I have a mix of glue and putty but no matter what I do with this one frag, it always finds a way to fall

 

[Miami Reef]

I have a mix of glue and putty but no matter what I do with this one frag, it always finds a way to fall

You gotta remove the frag plug and glue the coral skeleton directly to the rock. I learned this from experience. Certain plugs just don’t stick well.

 

[i cant think]

You gotta remove the frag plug and glue the coral skeleton directly to the rock. I learned this from experience. Certain plugs just don’t stick well.

Definitely keeping this in mind for coral that isn’t encrusted onto the plug already!!

Here’s the pearlberry, it’s began to encrust on the rock already and so is my Tricolor Valida. You can kind of see the new growth towards the bottom of the photo.

 

[i cant think]

The clam is finally reopening in the new spot and it’s so much easier to get photos of that mantle patterning now! I also got a new TDS showing where he is now in relation to the Deresa.

 

[i cant think]

And of course… the long awaited Deresa update!
This clam seems to be loving the new lighting. Just look at that new growth and mantle extension. It’s 10x more than we saw in the nano. I was sure this clam was on the brink of death in that nano and it was just a “waiting game” for it to die off fully (It was painful to watch but there was no obvious signs of why it was dying - My parameters were stable and not high or low). Now he’s under this lighting I’m almost 100% sure it’s actually the lighting that was causing him to wither away. Here’s a before, when he was in the RS Max Nano and an after, in this tank (Top down & Side on).
RS Max Nano;

3’x16” Custom made Tank;

 

[i cant think]

I think comparisons of all the coral are a must after going through this thread, just seeing how much they’ve grown through just being in this tank.

 

[i cant think]

Here’s a couple before and afters of a couple coral pieces I could find photos from when they were in the Max Nano.
Let’s start with the pink Acropora millepora.
Max Nano;

3’ Custom Made Tank;

Now that still unknown bottle brush Acropora.
Max Nano;

3’ Custom Made Tank;

The Stylophora species is next. I think this one has had the most change.
Max Nano;

3’ Custom Made Tank;

And last but not least… the red Montipora digitata.
Max Nano;

3’ Custom Made Tank;

Just seeing how many of these corals have quite literally come back from the death makes this tank even more special.
The other thing that makes it species is when it was set up at the LFS this very tank held pieces of coral that we’re one of a kind pieces.

 

[Miami Reef]

Here’s a couple before and afters of a couple coral pieces I could find photos from when they were in the Max Nano.
Let’s start with the pink Acropora millepora.
Max Nano;

3’ Custom Made Tank;

Now that still unknown bottle brush Acropora.
Max Nano;

3’ Custom Made Tank;

The Stylophora species is next. I think this one has had the most change.
Max Nano;

3’ Custom Made Tank;

And last but not least… the red Montipora digitata.
Max Nano;

3’ Custom Made Tank;

Just seeing how many of these corals have quite literally come back from the death makes this tank even more special.
The other thing that makes it species is when it was set up at the LFS this very tank held pieces of coral that we’re one of a kind pieces.

Wowzers! Amazing growth!

 

[i cant think]

Well, 3 days down and I haven’t seen much more of an open mantle however I’m assuming this is normal as I’ve been told that Maxima clams tend to suffer stress longer than Deresa do. Fingers crossed he opens up more in the next few days, I will say he doesn’t appear overly stressed as he’s already shown some nice mantle extension as seen in the photo of him above.

 

[Miami Reef]

Well, 3 days down and I haven’t seen much more of an open mantle however I’m assuming this is normal as I’ve been told that Maxima clams tend to suffer stress longer than Deresa do. Fingers crossed he opens up more in the next few days, I will say he doesn’t appear overly stressed as he’s already shown some nice mantle extension as seen in the photo of him above.

Yep. Mine took more than 4 days to fully open. :)

 

[i cant think]

Clam spam!! The maxima is pushing more extension in the day (Lights are heavy blues currently)

 

[i cant think]

Just under the one week mark and… He’s opened!! I think he was opened more in the LFS but he was in an LPS tank so, chances are he’s under much higher lighting now. I believe the LFS keep their LPS system under 210-250 whilst they keep their SPS system under 300-350.

 

[i cant think]

I decided to pull the trigger on another invertebrate as I’m going into that ugly phase and bacteria and algae has began to form on the sandbed. Hopefully this guy isn’t as bad as my Pincushions in my 4’ tank are. The new invert if you can’t tell already is a Tuxedo Urchin.

Here’s a photo of one of the two pincushions in my 4’ tank as well.