Zibba's Reefs -- ADA 90P & Envision 100g

[Aquaph8]

So much nice stuff, you definitely got the bug man.

 

[zibba]

This is becoming my favorite tank...

Thanks Darwin! Now the waiting begins on these small chalice frags -- part of the fun though.

So much nice stuff, you definitely got the bug man.

It's bad, but we get so much enjoyment out of it. I walked in after work last night and literally just started smiling while staring at the tanks, really happy with how things are coming together. Offer still stands for you to swing up sometime.

Looking at adding some more fish now that we're anthias-less. Really close to pulling the trigger on the pair of coris venusta's that nicewrasse.com is selling. Would love to find them locally, but haven't heard back from any of the LFSs yet. Going to one tonight and if they can't get them soon, I'll get them from Brett (assuming they're still available).

Besides the Coris venusta, here's what's on the list:
Macropharyngodon lapillus (would go in a separate tank from the choati)
(3-4) Pseudanthias flavoguttatus or Pseudanthias lori
Anampses neoguinaicus
(5+) Apogon dovii
Chrysiptera starcki
Hoplolatilus chlupatyi
Cirripectes stigmaticus

I'd also like to find some smaller gobies or goby/shrimp pair, but undecided on that at the moment.

Also, I should update that I changed to a different carbon, Seachem Matrix, and started BRS GFO about two weeks ago. No ill effects so far -- from what I can tell.

 

[Aquaph8]

That'll be a really cool group of fish. There's some tough ones one there, love lapillus. I don't think my Kuiteri will ever let me have any more leopards, she's pretty feisty. I may try a halichoeres iridis soon though and see how that goes. Have you ever had tile fish before, one of those fish I've alway loved but never pulled the trigger on. I'd love to come up and see all you Phoenix peeps sometime, that'd be fun!

 

[zibba]

That'll be a really cool group of fish. There's some tough ones one there, love lapillus. I don't think my Kuiteri will ever let me have any more leopards, she's pretty feisty. I may try a halichoeres iridis soon though and see how that goes. Have you ever had tile fish before, one of those fish I've alway loved but never pulled the trigger on. I'd love to come up and see all you Phoenix peeps sometime, that'd be fun!

It's basically an initial "let's start searching" list to see what's obtainable in the next 3-6 months. We've been having good luck with the choati so, after talking with Hunter, our interest in the Jewel Wrasse was piqued. I like the kuiteri a lot too. Want to do a non-fairy/flasher wrasse but also want it to mix well with the H. melanarus and (if we ever move it from the ADA to the Envision) H. chrysus.

I saw the A. neoguinaicus over in London this summer -- they called it a "China Wrasse" over there. Cool fish and they were much cheaper than the A. femininus, which is out of my price range. I think the H. iridis are very beautiful fish, however, I've never kept one. Actually, I don't' think I've ever seen one in person.

I've never kept a tile fish but I was looking at the purple tile fish (Hoplolatilus purpureus) before heading to Reef-a-Palooza and saw a flashing (H. chlupatyi) there. I know they're tough fish to keep and they're jumpers, but if I can track one down I might give it a go.

Not going to try any more dwarf angels (at least until the SPS are bigger and could withstand light nipping), so that's why I was looking at the starcki damsel. Apogon's can be tough so it's unlikely that I'll go that route but I like smaller fish and these seem like they could provide nice color and movement to the tank.

 

[zibba]

Here are two shots of a new acanthophyllia and a clam:


DSC_6360.jpg by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr


DSC_6368.jpg by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

love the acanthophyllia never seen those colors. clam has a sick pattern.

 

[zibba]

Thanks Matty! I had been looking for an acantho with a color pattern like that for awhile. Once I saw it in person I couldn't walk away without it!

 

[zibba]

Kwoww added this plate to her growing collection last Friday:

 

[Chameleon]

Here are two shots of a new acanthophyllia and a clam:


DSC_6360.jpg by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr


DSC_6368.jpg by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr

i like the clam

 

[zibba]

i like the clam

Thanks, I hope I can keep it alive. We didn't have good luck with our last clam, which died after 3-months or so.

 

[joshporksandwich]

beautiful pics!

 

[zibba]

beautiful pics!

Thanks Josh! Quite the compliment coming from you -- your photos and tank are amazing!

 

[zibba]

I forgot to post up this little guy the other day:


WWC Hot Stuff by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr

 

[Lilmatty5dimes]

thats going to be a sexy piece when it grows out.

 

[buddythelion]

thats going to be a sexy piece when it grows out.

This thread keeps getting better and better.

 

[evolved]

It'll be less sexy once cut in half. But then there will be two sexy pieces, eventually.

Grow more eyes now!

 

[zibba]

thats going to be a sexy piece when it grows out.

I think it will, but I haven't seen a colony or even full frag-plug of this chalice yet so it will be exciting to see what it turns out to be.

This thread keeps getting better and better.

I aim to please!

It'll be less sexy once cut in half. But then there will be two sexy pieces, eventually.

Grow more eyes now!

I know, right! The chalices are pretty slow growers when they're this size.

Here are two growth shot examples -- two months of growth or so:

Reef Raft's Red Baron:
[August]

[October]

RR Red Baron by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr

Reef Raft's Christmas Chalice:
[August]

[October]

RR Christmas Chalice by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr

 

[zibba]

DSC_6464.jpg by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr


DSC_6467.jpg by ..:.. EZ ..:.., on Flickr

 

[reefgeek96]

your tank is perfect, just thought I should say.:boom:

 

[Raptor72]

Eric, what is the first of the last two pictures of?