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That frogspawn is SHWEEET. I hope to get my grubby little paws on one of those. I also kinda like the sps too.... I guess I'm more of a "motion in my otion" type of guy, but full grown sps can be pretty cool too.

Good luck on getting that little orange guy to color back up, I've seen some come back from worse at my store so I'm sure it has better chances with you.

Nice pics ferretfish, keep 'em comin'

EDIT: those pink zoos are really neat...All I have is orange and green, and I thought those were cool*rolls eyes at self*.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 07-Dec-2005 11:41

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Oh Liana! I am so excited to finally see some pics! The tank looks great!
Definitely an inspiration lol

So do you actually have any fish in the tank yet? Have you found out anything about that elusive princess anthias?

Keep up the good work!

I will let you know as soon as I get going on my tank again. I promise!

Christina

Yes, the BN is doing much better.

The zoas aren't in their permanent spot, they're just on a weird type of rock and I wanted to give them some nice light. Also, easier to squirt food into 'em when they're up high. I'll prolly move them down next time I'm playing in the tank.

I knew they were sponges. Cant ya give me a little more info than that! Please! You've always said I was the one who kept you involved with this hobby, because I make you research till foreverrrr. I'm counting on you!

The orange dude is just bleached. He was like that upon arrival, and the transition into my tank didn't help at all. I really really hope he does well, please keep your fingers crossed.

I'll try to get a better picture of that other SPS. I *think* I know what it is but I'm not sure.

Any tips for me Nate?

Thanks for all the compliments guys.

Matty, those pink zoas are my pride and joy. I've waited months to be able to have 'em. If they spread nicely, maybe I'll be able to send you a frag one day.


-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]


EDIT: Nate, please stop making fun of my 10k's, or send me new bulbs.

Last edited by ferretfish at 07-Dec-2005 20:15

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Matty, those pink zoas are my pride and joy. I've waited months to be able to have 'em. If they spread nicely, maybe I'll be able to send you a frag one day.

That would be very nice. Hopefully I'll have something you are interested in to trade - I am looking to have a couple nice pieces of sps in the future, that maybe you'll like.

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 07-Dec-2005 21:01

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

There's always room for more SPS.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Tank looks really good. I love frogspawn, to find a colony that size is lucky! Around here we can usually only acquire frags of it.

Have you acquired any birdsnest SPS yet?

It was a lucky find, and what makes it even luckier, was that I got it for free. And that colony is worth a lot I'll bet.

Yes, I have one birdsnest atm. I'm looking for a nice pink specimen to be introduced to my tank next. Err...a LOCAL pink specimen. The one I have my eye on is a wee bit far from me.

EDIT:

Oh yeah, got a new shishie acclimating atm. It's some sort of dragonet...I'm not exactly sure of the type though. I have some things I need to look up I think. I'll throw a pic up when he's settled in.

It's one of these three fish I think:

Synchiropus ocellatus
Neosynchiropus ocellatus
Dactylopus dactylopus



-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]



Last edited by ferretfish at 09-Dec-2005 20:38

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

That's really cool. I love all dragonnet species, really like them scooter blennies they are so full of animation, but the blue mandarin for his colors.


If you are able to frag some of that frogspawn sometime, LMK i'd love to buy a frag from ya.

Marty

You know, I never even thought of ever fragging the frog. I think I'd be too scared to break it up.

After seeing the dragonet under halides for the first time, I really got to see some nice coloring in him. He's got bright yellow on the edges of his fins, and blue by his cheeks. He's cute.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Splurging this week...

Went to a new fish store.

New additions include---

6line wrasse
2 blue/green reef chromis (nice sized ones, to join my loner)
6 really weird snails...kind of remind me of sundials
12 hermits
2 emerald crabs





-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Nice...and I hope those arent sundials

I have to grab some pics of the new guys.

Emeralds have been hiding. :-@ PITA...

The sixline has really come out of her shell, she has beatiful colors and loves showing them off. Too bad she doesn't swim still for more than .0324802384 of a second. It might take me awhile to get a nice pic of her.

The dragonet is either a total ham, or totally camera shy, so we'll see. You should see him extend his fins.

Maybe I'll take some coral shots too. My zoas are growing.


-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Let me warn you guys, I'm really really frustrated and fed up with taking pictures. ] I need a new digi...one with macro. :-@

Here's one of my new dragonet...



And the best one I got of my sixline, and my un ID'd coral, although it was completely accidental. :-@ Go figure.




-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0][/font][/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

/:'

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

starting to get a hair algea prob there?

Nice sixline...I love those fish.

You can get a decent camera pretty inexpensively - my nikon coolpix was about $100 when I bought it a couple years ago. It takes some wonderful pics, but sometimes you have to work for them a little.

starting to get a hair algea prob there?

That's nothing compared to what I had for a while. It eventually just went away with some manual removal, some snail helpers, and clean water.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Actually, I dont really have a hair algae problem, it's just on that one freaking rock. Sorta weird.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

lol tooth brush it

Update!!!

12/22/05

Got a REALLY quick shot or two of my dragonet with his fins extended. Check this out...






Bad pictures I know, but gimme a break. I saw him flaring and grabbed the camera as fast as I could. That gave me like a 10 second time frame.

Isn't he pretty? Mom calls him Hoover. :%)


-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0][/font][/font]


EDIT:

Ooops.

Posted same shot twice.

Last edited by Ferretfish at 22-Dec-2005 19:42

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

hey i think they're good pictures!

nick

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

Nice pics Liana! I think someone is seeing their reflection and thinking that there is either another male in the tank, or that there is a female in the tank

Hes nice looking

Isn't he?

Now...

What is he?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

He's amazing. How big is he?

______________
Cake or death?

Looks like a blue variety of Sychiropus stellatus to me

Cool deal.

I think I'm going to the pet store on Tuesday in search of some more fish.

2 of my reef chromis have dissapeared. I should have listened to you Nate. I just give up on these guys. :-@

I'm thinking chalk bass might be fun to try. Would a trio be okay? I gotta see if I can get them ordered in...

I dont really know exactly what I'm looking for. Anybody have ideas? Anything I want is either way too expensive or impossible to find. Figures.


-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

why nore be diferant and go for a small shoal of indo fire fish

You mean red and purple firefish from the dartfish family?

I like Helfrichi's.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Arrent they Uber expensive though? ive never seen them for less than $130.

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

A trio of chalk bass would work well and I think you would enjoy watching them

I'm going to call around tomorrow and see who can order me in some chalk bass. I think I know one or two places that might be able to get them for me.

Now...today I was bad.

I impulsed buyed...

And I'm not sure exactly what I got?

I know I got two cleaner shrimps. That's a given.

But I got this weird sea star, it looks like something from the Linkia family. He's green though. And I thought that they only came in blues, reds, oranges, etc. This guy brownish/yellowish/greenish and spotted. He's also sorta big too. I actually probably shouldn't have bought him, but I couldn't resist. I gave him a nice long drip acclimation, but he's sorta sliming a bit like corals do when they're stressed. Idk...

Nate? Or anyone else? Any ideas? Thoughts?


-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

New Star...

[/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Pics...

w/ T5's



w/ T5's + MH's



Cleaner Shrimp



Last but not least...

My camera hoggers. :-@ :%)






Did massive tank work today.

I did prolly a 30 gallon water change, skimmer maintenance, and I finally cleared all the sandy sediment gunk out of the bottom of my sump. Shop vacs work wonders. Moved the zoas onto the sand bed, and did some overall organized. Tank looks good. Maybe I'll do a full tank shot when it clears up a little more.


-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]


EDIT:

I'm a dope.

I didn't change any of the IMG tags.

Last edited by Ferretfish at 28-Dec-2005 16:04[/font][/font][/font][/font][/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Still waiting for someone to come talk about iodine...

I put in a word at my favorite LFS about chalk bass.

Waiting for the owner to call me back so we can have a nice chat about anthias.

Oh, BTW Nate, I forgot to tell you I have those nitrAtes back down to practically undetectable.

I'm getting a 25watt Aqua UV from a buddy taking down his tank. Whaddya think? Good Bad Ugly?


-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

new pics???????

Ehh, nothing new at the moment, until I can learn how to use my camera to take nice shots of corals.

My pink digi is coloring up sooo nicely.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

take a pics or of it then at least can we get a full tank shot?

how about a general update? anything new happen, odd activity?

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

Fine.

Well, mom is very into the tank lately. She thinks the microstars are related to the big starfish. She called me to tell me my starfish had babies.

Everyone is really beginning to show their personality. The sixline almost never hides, and both cleaner shrimp and emerald crabs are often seen out and about. Everybody eats pellets, but they get mysis brine and rotifers weekly.

I dont understand how come I can get coralline to grow on my rocks, and on the back of my algae magnet, but not on the back of the tank...

I'm having some problems with my knee right now, (well I have been...) and it looks like I'll be in surgery within a couple weeks, so I dont really want to change anything that could throw the tank off balance.

I told the guys in my reef club they need to bring me frags so I feel better.

I'll get a full tank shot in a little while.

-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Full Tank Shot:

January 7, 2006 at 7:07 PM

T5's and MH's on.

Ignore my fugly fan.




-Ferret [img src='/images/forums/halo.gif' border=0][/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Grrr, im having trouble having any coralline to grow on anything in my tank. Theres a little hear and there, but its mostly green and brown algae? i envy you.

Nick

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

i cant keep coraling algea away!

Oh you poor thing Darryle.

What salt and calcium supplements are you using?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

reef crystals( you knw wht i mean ) andim using a aqua-medic 400 calcium reactor

ohhh, AM calc reactor huh? Sounds nifty. *jealous*

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

How are those reef crystals? I was thinking of switching over to that salt from the regular IO.

Tank's lookin good(but empty) Ferret. It would look bigger if you don't reduce the image size as much and crop out as much of the black area as possible. That starfish is probably half as big as my tank.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

reef crystals are brill IMO better thn IO

brill?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I know. It is so empty.

It really really needs to be filled up.

When I get settled into my new job and have good money coming in, I'm going to do a big order from Serdar and get some nice stuff. Or at least, that's my plan as of now.

Switch to Tropic Marin. It's the best you'll have available.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

reef crystals are alot better than TM

brill = brillaint

Tropic Marin isn't available. reef crystals are though, so I think after my bucket of IO is gone I'll start up with the reef crystals.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

nope...

TM ranks better over reef crystals. The only thing at the same level as Tropic Marin is AquaMedic, which is practically available only in the Western US.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

nah iv used TM ( normal),TM pro , kent and Reef crystals and i think tht RC is better

Tropic Marin is def. better than Reef crystals....The numbers as far as trace elements dont lie

Are we all in agreement that reef crystals are better than regular IO?

*didn't mean to start a salt war*

*throws IO @ ferret*

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 12-Jan-2006 20:55

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

if everybody thought the same the world would be a dull place


yes RC are better thn IO

*giggles* !!!


Reef Crystals can be better than Instant Ocean...

...but Tropic Marin does top all. Like Nate said, most trace elements from any other salt.

Darryle, what makes you not like it?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

when i used it a got a algea bloom tested the PO4 in my RO they were nill then tested P04 in the salt mix and it had a PO4 reading

That's weird...

Something somewhere along the line had to be contaminated because I've never had a phosphate problem with TM, nor do I know anybody else who has.

Oceanic was famous for algae blooms...

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

lol im all alone ;(

indeed

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

got any new corals yet?

Nope.

Reef club meeting on Saturday though. We'll see!!!

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

No they aren't, they just remind me of 'em.

I was getting worried about you mister...

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

got new pics then ?

No need to worry about me Im around....just not visible

Any tips for me Nate?

Nope, I think you are handling things just fine

EDIT: Nate, please stop making fun of my 10k's, or send me new bulbs

How many do you need? We are getting ready to order some on a "demo" to try them out so we can decide if we want to sell them or not

Last edited by DarkRealm Overlord at 15-Dec-2005 18:53

I need two new bulbs. You know that though.

I'll gladly try some new 20K's for you!

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Any chance you could post some pictures Liana?

Last edited by swiftshark88 at 18-Dec-2005 14:13

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

Why cant I see page 7?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

same i cant see page 7.

im so confused? every day is january 4th?


Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

Any updates Liana? i know you said you were going to a Reef club meeting, and i thought that some of your posts were deleted as well. Anything new?

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

Ah!

Okay, it's working now.

I have some new shots to upload.

Thanks for the reminder.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

waiting

Time for pictures yet

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I know I know I'm sorry guys.

Believe it or not I do have a life outside of FP.

I'll upload pictures today, I promise.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Alright Alright! Dial up users beware!

No more complaining. New shots.

Notice the growth in these zoas.




New Clam: T. squamosa



Having trouble w/ a nice shot of this: A. horrida









This guy doesn't sit still for a second...he's getting thin though I'm worried.



idk what this is...



Asst. Frags & Fish













Birdsnest, showing little color but great growth





I dont remember what this is either...



Full tank w/ halides (before we put the new fans in)



Full tank w/ T5s (with the new silent fans in the back )




I guess that's enough for now. Sorry some of the shots are crummy...I'm learning.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

last acro pic looks like a A. vallia ( im sure thts the name)


you running a ca reactor?

Not yet Darryle. Dripping kalk like crazy though.

Prolly upgrading the system to the 120 within the next two months, and i'll consider setting one up then.

Which reminds me...nate you owe me stuff on kalk vs calc reactors.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

That last acro is a nice color....still like those pink zoos though. Pics are getting better, you just need to take more. I bet curved glass doesn't help a whole lot either.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

ca reactors runn high calcium but can drop kh while kalk is dangerous and can wipe out a tank but will keep your KH high ( this is why most people tht run calcium reactors drip kalk at night )

How can a kalk reactor wipe out a tank?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I am curious to that as well Matt.

And everyone I now that runs a calcium reactor drip kalk 24/7. Or they have theirs set up with the computer to drip when needed, whether it be day or night.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

because you can over dose it

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=52250&hl=kalk

Well Nano, I add my kalk all at once. Causes a big white cloud in the tank, and does not clear for about a day. Never lost anything in the tank from doing it this way. I does weekly this way. IMO, that person was wrong to say it was a kalk overdose. But maybe he was pushing the line on the ammount he added. Who knows. But the point is, you can cause a crash with an overdose of calcium as well. And really with an overdose of just about anything you can have devistating results.

But that is the first ever I have read about a kalk overdose killing the corals, yet not harming the fish in any way. After all, kalk is basically pickling lime and is caustic. So if it was damaging the corals, I think it should have shown some damaging effects on the fish as well. In his thread he did not even mention any of the parameters and such, so as to know how much of an overdose he had. I would be more interested in the numbers than just taking someones word for it.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

and one of my other friends lost his tank to a kalk over dose as well

not wanting to start a debate on it i was just telling MO

No, that's fine Nano. I have just not heard of it. I know what the water parameters will do if you add too much, as well as what they will do if you add too much Calcium. I was just curiuous as to how they came up with the idea that it was a kalk overdose. As they just stated it, and did not give any parameters or such to determine how they came up with it. And as I already stated, I still do it the old fashion way of dumping it right in. Although most of the old fashion ways are done with smaller doses on a daily basis. But I have never had any problems adding mine on a weekly basis.

No worries though.

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

you may have your thread back now ferret

kl no worries acidrain

haha thanks boys

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

haha, I sent a message to my friend Del, who explains how Kalk and a calcium reactor benefit from each other.

Hope you can follow

Alright my young chemist friend. Here is your lesson for the day.

When you mix calcium hydroxide in water the reaction is:

Ca(OH)2 disassociates to Ca++ and 2 OH-
That's the easy one.

When you bubble CO2 through calcium carbonate several things happen.

The CO2 forms carbonic acid (lowering the pH) which disassociates to release
free H+ ions in the water.

The low pH breaks down the carbonate to calcium and bicarbonate ions as in:

CaCO3 + H- to Ca++ and HCO3-

Here's how the 2 help each other.

The free OH- ion from the kalk reacts with excess CO2 from the reactor to
form more HCO3-

Bottom line...

Kalk uses C02 from the water (supplied by the calcium reactor)to form bicarbonate ions (that corals use more freely to build skeleton)

HTH

Nate

I know that CO2 really lowers the pH in a freshwater planted aquarium. In my tank the tap water has about a pH of 8, and with CO2 injection, it has a pH of 6.5.

Assuming, that we are actually injecting CO2 here, does the calcium reactor just use a lot less co2, or is there something in the chemistry of saltwater stated above that buffers the pH?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Okay, so I follow that...but bottom line, how does one have a bigger advantage than the other?

Is it worth getting both?

Which is more productive I guess.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

It is def. worth getting both...by using the kalk in combination with the calcium reactor you are getting more usable product for your corals, thus creating faster growth.

Alright...I had a feeling you'd say both.

I'm assuming calcium reactor first though?

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

You are already dripping Kalk, so yes I would do the calcium reactor first.....a Kalk reactor is just an automated way of adding the kalk. You will get the same benefits from dripping kalk and using a calcium reactor.

'ello?

Edit: the thread worked for me!

Works fine for me too! ~DRO

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Matt, you said your ocellated dragonette is getting thin, how is it now? What do you feed everybody? How long have you had the live rock in there? Have you ever added copepods to the tank? Have you ever added newly hatched brine shrip?

I'm only asking because they are one of my favorite s/w fish and the one I have was the first in my tank after it was cycled. I love the little buggers and want to see yours do well!

Matt, you said your ocellated dragonette

This is Liana's (Ferretfish's) thread, she has a dragonette. I haven't heard much from her lately though, hope everythings going well.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Hey Guys

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I've been really busy. Went on a ski trip then on a retreat with my youth group, and I'm trying to keep up with the horrors of junior year while maintaining my social life as well. It's a lot harder than it sounds. Lol.

I actually haven't seen the starry dragonet in a few days now. He was looking thin, I'm not sure why.

No new additions to the tank but NERAC II is this weekend. And I'm a volunteer. Sweet. Ya'll should fly over for it!!!

Sorry I have no cool news other than good coral growth.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

mehh...

no terribly interesting corals at the conference

good raffles though, can't wait for tomorrow

and nate be jealous we're hogging anthony and julian for the weekend

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Hog all you want...cause I can call Anthony if I wanted