The lights were on, and I was in the mood...

[melev]

I've been wanting to post some new pictures of my tank, but haven't had time until this evening to get out the photo box and get some shots. Enjoy.

My blue tort is still alive!

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This is a frag I got from Aaron, and it still is doing well.

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The blue tipped acro is growing nicely.

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And here's the A. granulosa (aka my Snowflake coral). To its right is the encrusting ORA Sunset Montipora.

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My suicidal Lawnmower Blenny

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Aqua blue Maxima

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She's over 10 years old, and her home is over 5 years old. True Percula in a BTA.

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The Echinophyllia is a real showpiece, either during the regular lighting as well as under actinics only.

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The orange M. capricornis (also known as the Orange Blob) plated out a bit, but reabsorbed itself yet again.

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Back in 2005, I got this beautiful Platygyra pini (maze/brain) coral. I lost some of it, but part of it remains happy to this day.

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[melev]

I got this piece from Ryan last year. I've got no idea what it is.

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While this coral was stunning months ago, I lost about 60% of it. This section seems to be doing quite well though, and given time it should add some nice color.

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This coral came from Next Wave 2006, and someone told me it is the '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" coral. I think it is A. lokani

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Back in 2005, I got a small frag of A. plana from Keith. It's grown into a beautiful piece, but really only looks good from above.

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Here's a bunch of SPS corals doing their thing. The one in the background under my site's logo is one that Ryan gave me that did nothing for months. I moved it up there, and now it has color and seems to be growing. The birdsnest came from Brian of MAAST, the A. valida is the one that had AEFW a few months ago, and a couple of those frags came from CRASE.

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Zome Zoas.

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I've had this Psammacora for at least 5 years. It used to be in my 29g.

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This stunning piece came from Robert as a single 1" twig. Again, it really only looks good from above, which was the whole reason I wanted to take some pictures tonight.

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Hope you liked the eye candy.

 

[landon_brim]

As always, nice pictures Marc.

:lol:

 

[taliesin]

Looks great. With time, I hope mine looks as good as yours..

 

[nano_thomas]

very nice! thanks for sharing.

I especially like the Zoas.

 

[psteeleb]

awesome pics Marc - tks for sharing. Many of my corals only show their true colors from above. you're pictures are inspiring me to make a photo box and see if I can get some decent top down pictures of them. thanks

 

[fejus]

great pics!

your clam overgrown with Zoas is my fav!

 

[melev]

Thanks y'all. I wish my rock looked cleaner in the pictures, encrusted with coralline like so many of you enjoy all the time. The coralline grows in my sump. :lol:

 

[chrissreef]

Marc - have you thought about 50-100 scarlet cleaners for your rock? I noticed some aptaisia... not sure if they bother you but you can always try a CPB if they do.

very nice pictures and healthy corals overall - GJ!

oh - I esp liked the acros on the glass =) (hope you never have to move them!)

 

[melev]

Chris - LOL. You don't know my history with aiptasia and CBBs. I'm waiting for a new one to come in.

Scarlet hermit crabs?

 

[psteeleb]

@Marc wrote:

wohoo

Marc, what do you do with lighting doing these top downs? I assume you use your aquarium lights but do you raise them up some to get underneath with your photo box?

 

[melev]

Mine are on a rolling light rack, remember? I just roll them back like I would when I have to access the tank.

Btw, did you see your coral? It is to the right of the psammacora.
http://melevsreef.com/pics/08/01/psammacora_0120.jpg

 

[psteeleb]

@Marc wrote:

I thought that was the case but wasn't sure how much you could roll them back considering you would need some coverage to take those pictures. I don't have the luxury to roll back anything. I van however rig up something that would give me more vertical space. But I’m afraid it would still be difficult to get a good top down. From what I recall of your photo box, you mount it to the side for stability, have you taken any shots down at an angle?

I like the staghorn colors, but, they are different then mine. Yours is getting three distinct colors; green, purple and blue, where mine is just purple and blue. Maybe it’s a new growth thing, lighting, water conditions, or some combination. Anyway, it’s looking great.

 

[chrissreef]

@Marc wrote:

no I don't =(

I've heard there's a nudibranch that works VERY well on aptasia. if you need me to look him up let me know. There's a distributor in florida for them I think. I think aptasia is the "only" thing they even eat =)

Scarlet hermits - like blue leg hermits but they have red legs and they're less predatory on snails and they focus in on algae a bit more (blue legs also eat detritus). They're $2-3 instead of <1 like blue legs. I deploy hermits at 1 per 2-3 gallons of main display volume.

 

[melev]

@psteeleb wrote:

I thought that was the case but wasn't sure how much you could roll them back considering you would need some coverage to take those pictures. I don't have the luxury to roll back anything. I van however rig up something that would give me more vertical space. But I’m afraid it would still be difficult to get a good top down. From what I recall of your photo box, you mount it to the side for stability, have you taken any shots down at an angle?

I like the staghorn colors, but, they are different then mine. Yours is getting three distinct colors; green, purple and blue, where mine is just purple and blue. Maybe it’s a new growth thing, lighting, water conditions, or some combination. Anyway, it’s looking great."]

Yes, I can shoot and have shot at an angle. You have to be very aware of the camera's position to the water in that situation. There have been times when I saw water pouring into the box because I was shooting too steeply, and I quickly poured out the water and then removed the camera for inspection.

The way the box is made, the camera stays dry. If anything gets wet, it is the extension tube or more likely the rubber boot at the end of that tube.

The water will not be a surprise. As you are looking through the lens, you'll see water all of a sudden. :shock: :shock: :lol:

I'm planning to redo my lighting and when I do, they will be higher and out of the way, with VHOs being the only thing on the tank. Those will roll back and forth on roller blade wheels. I just have to commit to the purchase of the reflectors and relocate the ballasts & shelf.

 

[melev]

@chrissreef wrote:

no I don't =(

I've heard there's a nudibranch that works VERY well on aptasia. if you need me to look him up let me know. There's a distributor in florida for them I think. I think aptasia is the "only" thing they even eat =)

Scarlet hermits - like blue leg hermits but they have red legs and they're less predatory on snails and they focus in on algae a bit more (blue legs also eat detritus). They're $2-3 instead of <1 like blue legs. I deploy hermits at 1 per 2-3 gallons of main display volume."]

I have a massive thread on RC that is my tank dairy. It is getting close to 500 pages covering the past 3.5 years with this tank.

I've never been all that inclined to get scarlets, but at the same time they are very pretty. Maybe I'll pick up a few.

You do recall that you are invited to visit the tank, right?

 

[allhobbs]

I ordered 4 Berghia Nudibranch online about 8 months with shipping it was over $100.00. When they arrived I picked them up at the Fed Ex Terminal. I was so excited to get them! I hurried home and opened the package. I looked hard at what looked like an empty bag of water. I finally found them. They were about the size of a pencil lead. I acclimated them for 2 hours, then carefully sucked them up with the tiny turkey baster tool that they provided. I turned them loose on a live rock near some aptasia and that was the last I saw of them. I think that they were a big rip off. We tried to talk to the company that we got them from and they were pretty rude about it. They said that they would not ship any Berghia that were less than 1/2". These were about 1/8" I think Peppermint shrimp are a better choice They eat the aptasia, they are big enough to see, and you can get a lot of them for $100.00. Just my $.02

 

[chrissreef]

Marc;
hehe, I see that thread every day and have only clicked it a few times - waay too much history to read for me! (though I've been reeeally busy the last week)

hermits - you won't notice a difference if you get a few. If you want, I'll prob order 150 in 2 months after my tank cycles... you're welcome to purchase with me incase there's a savings if you'd like =) Like I said, I'd say 100 would be perfect for your tank. Blue is cheaper if you don't have any snails.

"4 Berghia Nudibranch online about "
eww, bad experience. pple on RC seemed to recommend thems o I thought thy were the ticket. no personal experience though.

yup - I want to check out your tank! been busy preparing for my new job, working at a lfs on the weekends and planning a wedding lately. Maybe you're available thur evening this week?

 

[melev]

Thursday evening? Perhaps. Lots going on right before Next Wave.

Keep me in mind when you order your hermits, I might be interested.

 

[chrissreef]

true, i'll message you next week and we can meet then instead...

I can't make nextwave (long story =(