Project 58!! (Image intense)

[Maxx]

Interesting that you say to take pictures of the clams where you can see the color shift with the change in perspective...cause I tried to take some pics showing that...and my camera wasnt really showing that too well, until I was able to get a pic showing both perspectives simultaneously.

I acclimated the clams for about 6 hours. Yes, six hours. I didnt want anything to go wrong with these guys. They are acting like normal clams, but I feel better when a month has passed. Finding spots for them was a PITA. I didnt want to put them on the bottom of the tank, because they would attach to the cuttingboard, but I didnt have a lot of room to put them on the rockwork since I wanted to leave room for an anemone here in the near future. And since anemones have this annoying tendancy to wander around until they find a spot they like, (never mind how inconvienant it is to you, their caretaker...) I want to leave as much open migration room as possible.

So I compromised...blue one on the rock ledge, Teardrop on the bottom of the tank.



I had to move the Chaeto to a different spot. Its getting shredded very soon here.

Here is a close up of the Blue Crocea, (I've really gotten to like this clam...its every bit as pretty as the Teardrop)



Here is a top down of the blue one...you can kinda see the shift in color, but its not as visible here as it is in real life.



And here is the pic I was talking about earlier...Its the same blue crocea in this pic...just shown from two different angles thanks to the glass of the tank and waters ability to refract images.



And finally here is the fabled Teardrop Crocea...This thing is rockin!!



While these two were acclimating, I went to the LFS, (Clayton Pet Emporium) and had a look at their new shipment of livestock.
I came back with 2 blood shrimp....I thought they were a pair...the immediate fighting and subsequent torn off legs have me convinced otherwise now, but they will be replaced on the next molt, and I think the tank is large enough for both to hang out on different ends of the tank.
And I bought a Maze Brain coral that I've been eyeing for the last two weeks. Its gorgeous in person....I believe its a Platygyra species...but it looks a little different than my last platygyra daedela...so I'll have to do some research.





Finally, Live Aquaria emailed me and said my replacement Tomini tang will arrive tomorrow.

Clams today, Tang tomorrow...The fun never stops!
Nick

[mps9506]

Lookin good man.
I dunno why mine has such a drastic color change, I don't think most of them are like that. But all of them do have a very different look from top down or vs from the side.
I love that blue one personally.

[Craig Manoukian]

Great stuff Maxx. Love those clams!

[Gina]

Nice clams! I'm so excited for you to be getting another Tomini! Keeping fingers crossed!!!

[Woodstock]

Beautiful clams! Glad to hear you're getting your replacement tang!!

[Maxx]

02-11-05

Well the new Tomini arrived this morning at 9 am. I have it acclimating right now in my sump. Its at least 3 times bigger than the last one. This fish is easily 3 inches in length excluding the tail fin. It looks healthy and fat...so we will see how it does. There was some confusion at Live Aquaria regarding when I would get the fish etc.....I was told two conflicting stories about whether they had it or not, and then I got the email confirming shipment of the tang. They also called me on my home phone this morning and my cell phone in order to let me know the tang was in St Louis. I have to give Live Aquaria a big thumbs up on their customer service. Everyone I have spoken to has been very helpful and eager to ensure my satisfaction with my purchase. They even allowed me to pick dates that I wanted the fish to ship over a two week period. I know this sounds like a no brainer...but my schedule changes on a weekly basis. So The days I have off this week will not be the days I have off next week. And they were willing to let me to say I want the fish shipped on Thurs Feb 10, Fri Feb 11, Tues Feb 15, Weds Feb 16, or Sat Feb 19. That I'm very impressed with.
I'm sure the tang is somewhat stressed from its ordeal, but it really doesnt look all that fazed by its journey. I have high hopes for this one.

On an annoying note, the damn LawnMower blenny has begun nipping at my clams. I watched it do a little last night, and several times this morning.....guess who's getting a return trip to the LFS?????
I now have to remove one side of the tanks rock work in order to get this little pest. But I'd rather do this while the tang is acclimating, than when I have it the tank, causing it to stroke out.
Sigh.....I knew that fish was gonna be trouble.
Nick

[TDEVIL]

sorry for the trouble Nick

but you have some sweet clams and you finally got the tang, congrats

Jay

[Maxx]

Thanks Jay!

The tang is in the tank, and the blenny is out...sitting in the sump currently. Naturally my Fiance is trying to find a way where we can kepe the little monster. I aint going for it. I've told her we could get a new tank and put it in there...she wasnt going for that. So the blenny is getting a return trip to the LFS.

The tang is good sized and is already picking from the rocks. I have a Nori clip in the tank, inorder to get the Tang used to it...hopefully soon it will be picking at that..

This tang is larger than my Bellus angel, which is a good thing...she bosses the Chalk Bass around when they get in her way.

I will take pics when I can.

Nick

[Craig Manoukian]

Can't wait for the pics Maxx!

[Maxx]

Okay...here they are.

1st one is of theTomini itself.



Ther second one is a pic of the Bellus Angel and the Tomini together, for size comparison.



No aggression is being shown by anybody....things are looking good so far. The trick now is to get the Tomini eating prepared food.

Nick

[strat]

looks great maxx. nice score on the tomini. looks like you have used base rock for your aquascaping... did i miss why?? and what are your plans for getting lotsa corraline growing? i always like to hear your plans..........

kris

ps i finally got a tank and most of the gear i will need. should have it up and running in a couple of months, i want to wait because of possibly moving altho i might get the rock and just let it cure for that time.........

[Maxx]

Strat,
Thanks for the compliments! Actually its not base rock, just rock that I cured for 6 months in the basement. I was attempting to "cook" the rock, but since I didnt cover it in a light proof tarp...I just cured it.

As far as growing lotsa corralline... I've started adding Calcium Chloride to the tank and an Alkalinity buffer to raise my DKh a little.
Right now my calcium is about 400, and DKh was about 8.9- 9.0
I dont really want it any higher than that. I'm trying to keep this as close to Normal Sea Water (NSW) levels as possible. I REALLY dont want to have to clean out my plumbing any time soon. Increased clacium levels and higher DKh will increase corralline growth not just in the tank, but in my plumbing.

I took some more pics.....the tang was still not cooperating so I took something else. One of my Chalk Bass has set up a little home in the rock. This is on the big tower looking rock formation on the right side of my tank. There is an arm that juts forward towards the front of the tank on the on the far right, slightly above and to the right of my Teardrop Crocea. I thought it looked neat so I took a pic.



he just hangs out there until I shut off the closed loop, then its feedin' time!

Does anyone know what type of algae this is growing on my rocks??
Nick

[Brucey]

Hi Maxx dood.
Just dropped by to see how things are going. So you lost your first Tomini . . . . that sucks matey. Mine is starting to get quite boisterous now and is bullying a few of my dwarf angels (Bi colour and pearlscale). he hasn;t quite got bold enough to take on any of the big tangs or my fastly growing (and changing) Emporer . . . but I'm time will change all that. Love the pics matey and glad to see the project is coming along well. These things take time so just keep at it
Brucey

[Maxx]

Are you directly feeding your Tomini? Or is it just grazing off the rocks?

Nick

[Gina]

Nice to see the Tomini arrived in good shape! Hoping you won't have too much of a problem getting him to eat for you.

Do the chalk bass normally hide in little holes or in the rock work? Cute pic!