New Reefers 55 gallon Reef Experiment

[new reefer 03]

Hello, Again.
This is my second attempt at a Reef Chronicle. My first one got way too off topic, the first one got too confusing with so many different topics, and so many pages all on different things. On this "Second Attempt" at a Reef Chronicle i do not plan on getting off topic, if i do i will be right back on topic, so please dont take me off topic. lol. Anyway, If you want to check out my first Chronicle heres the link. New Reefers 55 gallons of Greatness

The Tank itself is a standard 48" fifty five gallon tank. i plan on upgrading soon, but that takes money. Being only 14 money is hard to come by, once i turn 16 my tank will bloom, hopefully. the Equpment is as listed... Super Skimmer 125, Emperor 400, 300W Heater, (2) Koralia 3 Power Heads, Coralife Power Compact Light fixture Grand total of 260 watts.

Live Stock includes, 1 Yellow Tang, 2 Occelaris ClownFish, 1 LawnMower Blenny, 2 Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, 3 Peppermint Shrimp, 25ish Blue Legged Hermits, 20ish Astrea Snails, 10ish Margarita Snails. Corals include, Xenias, Palythoas, Zoanthids, GSP, Torch, HammerHead, Mushrooms, and CandyCanes.
The tank has been setup since October 6, 2008. I bought the setup used, so far all i have added is Live Sand, Live Rock, Super Skimmer 125, one of the Koralia 3 PowerHeads, and of course Fish, and Corals.
Since i have been a member here i have learned two major things, ill list one now, and one later. The first, and most important thing i have learned is to listen, and take the advice you get. I have been stupid in the past and not listened to the advice i have gotten, well that made some good things, but mostly dead animals, and waisted money.

If there is one thing i have learned since i have been a member on Reef Sanctuary, it's that we all love pictures. Well get ready for about 100 pictures or more, im going to start with the first pictures i took of my tank, and move up the timeline to now.

Just Cleaning out the previous owners water.






Then i added 40 pounds of live sand.


when i got my 4 peices of rock from the previous owner he overlooked a little polyp, which is my first coral, and i couldnt love it more.


My Dads clowns werent getting along well, so i got the beat-up one. he died a couple of weeks later due to his beating. the others tore off one fin (nemo) and bit up his gills, i beleive his gills got the best of him.


My first coral i bought. i then learned about fragging, and now have 3 peices that size from the one colony.

I then bought a Royal Urchin.



Then my first Xenia, which turned out to thrive in my tank. then got stung and is still recovering from that.



Then i bought a wanna-be candy cane. it now fell into my most porous rock, and is too deep in it to retreive, but still opens and is alive.




Bring back my GSP! the urchin is still wearing those.


Bought 2 more Xenias after my success.



then mistake #1, i bought a sebae anemone. somehow that trooper is still alive, so im letting it stay.


only so many images per post, i will make another 2 or 3 full of pics. please dont post until i say im done with pics at the end. Thanks!

[new reefer 03]

Wait, i can glue things where i want them?? Woah!


New Scape, do you like it?


Picked up a few corals from a local reefer. ( Eagle eye zoanthids, HammerHead, CandyCane )




WOAH! neat rock.

New Placement


Maybe if i stack some rubble rock i will get more pods?


Meet Mistake #2. A Yellow Tang, with it i introduced internal parasites to my tank. YAY!



Look at that neat fish!


Remember that small polyp i showed you earlier? it had a baby.


My first homemade Frag!


Do you like this pic? i think it still stand as my best pic




I later learned a little more about pods, and refugiums. i decided to add some chaeto, then stack the rubble on it.


Cool, right?



Damn i was proud of those little dots. now i wish they never met my tank.


I decided my bulbs were a little too old, they were about 14 months old. so i changed them. Before / After

After


This is after the lights ( its also one of those wanna be Xenias that i got a while back )



a Few Randoms





Awesome Right?


Stay Tuned
not done yet.

[new reefer 03]

These next pics will all be from a sale. half off all livestock, and rock $3 per pound, then i learned you have to cure it after asking around.
Curing the Rock



Like the new shrimp? (2)



Meet Mistake #3. i was told it was a tube worm, thinking hey that a cool feathersuster. then thanks to RS i leanred it was a tube aneone ( it met my powerhead a couple of weeks later )







Look at that growth


Bye-bye Internal Parasites

two juvenile ocelaris clowns, bought 1 to pair with the old clown that died, then i had to buy another for the widow.



Randoms from 12-21-2008









WOO HOO


Randoms from 1-3-09



GO AWAY!!!









I Added a $20 3 Headed Torch!!



Recovering


Anyone wanna try to count pics? not done yet!

[new reefer 03]

1-3-09 Still





1-10-2009



Both of my clowns like that Shroom.








i turned off my PH for feeding, and my lawnmower made a home in my powerhead. good thing i checked before i plugged it back in!



My Dreaded Hair Algae, my stomatellas, and lawnmower keep it under controll, thats the only place it grows too!


Randoms from 1-10-2009 still
i added 3 peppermints







Split this baby up into 2

[new reefer 03]

Still going!









Stomatella


Still Randoms from 1-10-2009






Pod in the middle



















****PHOTO REMOVED by Woodstock- INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT*****


Thanks for viewing, i know is long, but hey why not?
Comments on my success/failures?
Thanks for reading my 4 Part 1st Post!

new_reefer_03 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
link just incase you wanna take a peek.

[bratyboy2]

personaly i would tell you to get rid of the last pic of you know what before the mods see that and kick you off!!!. and i have to say i love the new thread! love the pics and the urchin caring the polyps around. its so hard to get the green ones around here. but i have to say you did a good job and congrats on a fresh start and take the advice everyone gives you im going to take every bit i can because i want a nice arse tank lol

[Mya]

I agree. You need to pull down the last pic... possibly last 2 since ... Well lets just say, they are off topic.

Nice to see you started a new thread. Hopefully you stay on track and keep regular updates on the progression of your tank.

Looking back over your pictures you can see that not only has the tank come a long way but your picture taking ability has grown too.

Lastly, another big suggestion... Instead of double posting all the time, use the edit button. It helps not make things confusing.

Best Wishes on your new start...

[lcstorc]

And you are off to a nice new start.
Are you done medicating the tang?
I lost track but you should be close. Does he look better?
I look forward to continued updates. I had forgotten all about the urchin. What is he decorated wit now? Those things are sooo funny.

[new reefer 03]

thanks for the comments
The tangs treatment will be over monday, im thinking of either adding a day or two, or going another round? he still pooped some string.

[Frankie]

Looks good Cole. I was reading it last night, (couldn't sleep) and it made me feel happy yet sad from the pictures. It's been a journey for you. I like the "pod in the middle" picture. You camera skills evolve as you scroll down. I am glad that last picture was removed. I would not want my 10 year old to have seen it?
Other then that, well done

[sambrinar]

I was thinking the same thing Frankie as the picts evolve. Cole good luck to you! Tank looks good.

[Dentoid]

Dang...I missed the inappropriate pictures! I'm always too late to the party!
Well they always say a picture is worth a thousand words so I guess a thousand pictures is worth no words! Looking good Cole Cuts!

[new reefer 03]

Thanks guys.

The tangs progress is questionable. i think im going to go longer on the anti parasite food. the tang still poops the "strings", and clearly still has internal parasites. i think he is gaining the holes in his head due to lack of nutrition, due to the parasites taking it. i feed these fish such a variety, theres no way the tang is not consuming enough nutrition. i also have reduced my feeding. i make a mini mush weekly, with all of the food i have, and i put it in the torifer cubes, then feed 3/4 to 1 cube of my "mush". i will be making my real mush soon, i just want some silversides, then more opinions on the salmon steak, and all the filets.
Thanks for all of the compliments on the pics, and what not! i dont use a tripod so they arents terrific yet.
Forgot to mention i added a peice of the Curing LR 2 days ago. parameters are still good, so i guess the rock is almost cured, or cured.

EDIT:
the Urchin still has those GSPs on him. i took a recent pic of him, i thought i pout it in there, if not i will add it shortly. the GSP have grown over his spines, its kindove funny

there is a current pic of the urchin its on the last post of pics, the 19th from the bottom.

[yungreefer2410]

what was the last picture? anyway looking nice

[new reefer 03]

id rather not say and get in trouble...