BigAl's 10g . . .

[panmanmatt]

No I didn't read them. Lokks like we found the epoxy, now to get me some magnets and build a mold to hold them in.

[slysock]

how many water changes do you do? i have a 40 gallon with a 3 corals, im really hoping that they will take off and conquer the tank. i dont think its possible though, but it doesn't hurt to try. what would you suggest to make the corals grow more?

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by slysock

how many water changes do you do? i have a 40 gallon with a 3 corals, im really hoping that they will take off and conquer the tank. i dont think its possible though, but it doesn't hurt to try. what would you suggest to make the corals grow more?

slysock I apologize.. I got no notice of your reply here... sorry..

I do at LEAST 1 water change a week and sometimes 2 or 3. A water change for this tank is between 2 - 3 gallons. My corals have REALLY taken off over the past few months. I will attest MOST of that to the tank "maturing". This tank will be a year old next week and it's just gotten better and better.

The keys to coral growth are just like you and I. We have to provide all of it's basic needs....

Food (Light and some types physical food)
Water (make sure your water is as perfect as you can make it and KEEP it that way)
Air (for air I'll call it FLOW... make sure your tank has the proper flow for the corals you have. Some LOVE lots of flow and some are destroyed by lots of flow.)

Bottom line research the corals you have and provide the BEST possible environment for them. Once they are happy the will take OFF for you

Good luck and Happy Reefing

[BigAl07]

Last night after I dropped the "Food Puck" into the tank I noticed my Seabae Anemone really opened it's mouth up. I took it as a sign it wanted MORE food. Honestly I think the more I feed it the more it WANTS (sounds like ME). So I dropped a piece of soaked shrimp onto it's outer disk and it immediately "rolled" the shrimp to it's mouth and opened it's mouth WIDE! Well thinking I would "chance it" I thawed another. This time I had the camera in hand and dropped #2 onto it's disk. Below is a POOR quality, terrible light, free-handed, amateur video of the first fews seconds of my seabae having diner last night.


Seabae having a 2nd helping... (it's a PIG)


PS No comments on the Videography It's about the SUBJECT not the media

[Craig Manoukian]

Great looking Seabae!

[BigAl07]

thanks Craig. I think I may have created a monster. When I just fed it Mysis shrimp is was growing but NOTHING like it is now. It's really adding some "poundage" and now it's almost like it "Senses" when I am in the room and BEGS for food by opening it's mouth WIDE! I even noticed when it was "Begging" that Nemo will literally swim down INTO the mouth and root around. Next time I see him doing that I'll have to video it.

Has anyone else seen this "Mouth Action" before? It's weird I tell ya

[in_a_days]

Allen I've heard those Fire Scallops are pretty high maintenance and require daily target feeding. How have you enjoyed yours and how big a burden do you think they are?

[JoJo]

I had one in my 55g, it does take daily target until the tank is well develop and then it may go to once a week. I loved mine.

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by in_a_days

Allen I've heard those Fire Scallops are pretty high maintenance and require daily target feeding. How have you enjoyed yours and how big a burden do you think they are?

High maintenance? Uh oh.. someone should have to me that LAST year when I bought it!! Unfortunately it "expired" about a week ago. I had it 11 months and it was NO chore at all. I didn't feed it directly but for a long time I added "Filter Feeder Food" to my tank. Once the tank became fairly well established I quit with the liquid food and changed the OTHER types of food I used which incorporated a filter feeding mix as well. But it didn't get "Direct Feedings" at all.

Originally Posted by JoJo

I had one in my 55g, it does take daily target until the tank is well develop and then it may go to once a week. I loved mine.

How did you "Target" feed it? Like with a baster and liquid feeder food?

[JoJo]

Yea, baster & liquid filter feed food BUT remember i was a true beginner and it was the result of the LFS "oh yea that will look good in your tank, just add a lil' of this and it will be fine". BS my tank was only 2 months old, hadn't even cycled entirely, sorry flashback. Al, you did a great job on this tank no wonder your 90g came out so good.

[in_a_days]

Originally Posted by BigAl07

High maintenance? Uh oh.. someone should have to me that LAST year when I bought it!! Unfortunately it "expired" about a week ago. I had it 11 months and it was NO chore at all. I didn't feed it directly but for a long time I added "Filter Feeder Food" to my tank. Once the tank became fairly well established I quit with the liquid food and changed the OTHER types of food I used which incorporated a filter feeding mix as well. But it didn't get "Direct Feedings" at all.

How did you "Target" feed it? Like with a baster and liquid feeder food?

Sorry to hear about your loss. Have you determined cause of death?

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by in_a_days

Sorry to hear about your loss. Have you determined cause of death?

Thanks buddy. No I don't know the cause. It was firmly attached and looked as healthy as always one evening and the next evening the meat was haning OUT of the shell and the shrimp were FEASTING on it. Just didn't make sense. It was spawning about a month ago and then again about 2 weeks ago. Maybe it just "over did it" so to speak.

[BigAl07]

Originally Posted by JoJo

Yea, baster & liquid filter feed food BUT remember i was a true beginner and it was the result of the LFS "oh yea that will look good in your tank, just add a lil' of this and it will be fine". BS my tank was only 2 months old, hadn't even cycled entirely, sorry flashback. Al, you did a great job on this tank no wonder your 90g came out so good.

No need for sorry JoJo. Many of us went through the SAME thing! Luckily we learned from it and took a diffent route. Lucky for our tanks! It's funny was in the LFS where I started (he owes Me money which is a GREAT feeling) picking up some sand and he was asking my advice on some "Technical" questions about lighting and filtration. Maybe, JUST maybe he's going to "Update" his tanks and make them work and LOOK better It's all about research and applying what you learn. I am where I am today because in a LARGE part the upstanding members here at RS!! I LOCE this place

[DrHank]

Have to agree with you Al. I think that the best of the best are right here at RS. I've been doing this since dolomite was the substrate of choice and it seems that someone teaches me something new every day. I too loce it her.

[BigAl07]

Well last night my wife noticed that no water was flowing from the display tank into the HOB Fuge. I knew exactly what was going on and immeidately looked at the pump and I was right. Buggz was stuck to the MJ400 like a fly to poo. I pulled him off but he had been there a while. He had a HUGE "Suction Hickey" from the pump that protruded about 3/8" from his body. I placed him on the egg-crate rack and his head had SOME movement but not a lot. I was hoping he'd pull through but my wife just called to say he was shriveled and in the same spot as last night. I guess it's safe to assume he has "expired". I'm going home shortly (She's off of work today so you know I'm going home for some home cooked food) and will probably yank him from the tank to be safe. That sucks because he's one HECK of a fine algae eater! I'll get another one and have to "Buggz-Proof the intake just to be safe....