Simon's 450

ca1ore · Mar 15, 2019

saf1 said:
Yeah - the price isn't right at the moment. I do not recall reading the depth they are collected at which usually warrants a higher price on fish. These could be priced due to new, trending, etc. Pretty though.

My guess is the latter - but we shall see. Just picked up a quartet of the tuxedo damsels. The first time I tried them things did not go well at all. Hopefully better this time. They may fill my need for a black and white fish.

ca1ore · Mar 16, 2019

mattzang · Mar 16, 2019

ca1ore said:
My guess is the latter - but we shall see. Just picked up a quartet of the tuxedo damsels. The first time I tried them things did not go well at all. Hopefully better this time. They may fill my need for a black and white fish.

what happened the first time?

gfox · Mar 16, 2019

Just read thru the thread for the first time.This is a great looking tank.Where do you buy your fish from?

ca1ore · Mar 16, 2019

mattzang said:
what happened the first time?

Bought four .... lost four. Looked rough right out of the bag. Gram negative bacterial I think. This batch much better.

ca1ore · Mar 16, 2019

gfox said:
Just read thru the thread for the first time.This is a great looking tank.Where do you buy your fish from?

Combination - DD/LA, NYAquatic and LFS.

italquam · Mar 18, 2019

Great build

ca1ore · Mar 18, 2019

DiY skimmate container. clockwise from left: pressure switch, humid air recirculation for mazzei injectors, carbon filter to reduce smell, powerhead to empty bucket, skimmate drain, backup float switch.

Victoria M · Mar 20, 2019

What a gorgeous fish. I presume they have more mellow temperament compared to the domino or humbug or three stripe damsel? I had a black and white damsel that was beautiful but a booger. But I wonder if I had several if he would have been better.

ca1ore · Mar 20, 2019

A buddy of mine has kept them. They are mostly mellow.

User1 · Mar 20, 2019

I think people confuse these guys with the three spot or domino. I like the domino's personally but I think they get big and a bit meaner over time.

ca1ore · Mar 20, 2019

saf1 said:
I think people confuse these guys with the three spot or domino. I like the domino's personally but I think they get big and a bit meaner over time.

LOL, I agree. When I got them last week, three had the telltale yellow/orange tinge to the tail, but one did not. Looked just like a three stripe, which is an absolute ba$****.

mattzang · Mar 20, 2019

ca1ore said:
LOL, I agree. When I got them last week, three had the telltale yellow/orange tinge to the tail, but one did not. Looked just like a three stripe, which is an absolute ba$****.

what'd you do with that one?

i'd be scared to order these because of that lol

ca1ore · Mar 20, 2019

I don't think it actually is a three stripe - but I'll have a few weeks in QT to decide

. Would be kind of annoying because three stripes are $4 and tuxedos $20. If there's any doubt - it ain't going in to the display. Other than a Sohal, the meanest fish I ever had was a 2 1/2" three stripe. Ultimatley I had to hook it to get it out.

Victoria M · Mar 20, 2019

ca1ore said:
LOL, I agree. When I got them last week, three had the telltale yellow/orange tinge to the tail, but one did not. Looked just like a three stripe, which is an absolute ba$****.

I did notice the pretty orange tinge on the tail.

ca1ore · Apr 8, 2019

I have been rebuilding an older MTC skimmer. Now installed.

Victoria M · Apr 9, 2019

Whoa! Holy skimmer batman!

ca1ore · Apr 20, 2019

Had to put it on a riser. So much air draw that I couldn’t get the water level low enough to fully open up the injectors. Much better now.

User1 · Apr 20, 2019

What did you run before and wondering how it compares. I get the bubble contact time and tall neck riser but figured I'd ask.

ca1ore · Apr 20, 2019

I run a lot of MTC equipment, but all modified (either by them or me) to my specifications. Ran the MTC power pro recirculator before - 4’ reaction chamber at 6” diameter with dual 3/4” mazzei injectors on a panworld 150 pump. Nominally rated to 1,000 gallons, though I think that was probably an overestimation. Now the HSA3000, but so heavily modified as to be almost unrecognizable - converted to a recirculator with a 4’ high, 8” diameter reaction column with dual 1” mazzei injectors on a panworld 200 pump. A significantly beefier skimmer - rated to 3,000 gallons, more maybe. Cannot yet say how much better, that’ll requires some running time.