Dawn On The Reef

[BigC]

Hi Ben,
10 boxes of Biorb ceramic media
Loads of Silicone sealant
Eggcrate was bought fro Ebay...
http/tinyurl.com/5bb9oa
Regards
BigC

PS Oh yeah you'll need some cable ties and loads of time on your hands.

 

[ben1987]

thanks, I dont mind really how long it takes i think you tank looks brilliant. Did you buy the ceraminc media from ebay aswell? From my LFS 10 boxes comes in at just short of 100 quid
Anything else you could use instead?
cheers

PS hope you dont mind me using your idea

 

[BigC]

PS hope you dont mind me using your idea

Not at all Ben. pretty flattering that someone wants to take your idea and maybe improve upon it. Go for it.
The Ceramic media I purchased from
http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...c-aquariums.asp
Regards
BigC

 

[connorsbala]

£100! Your LFS charges like 10 quid per box...rip-off! We charge 5.95 per bow

 

[Orodreth]

Wow...I don't know what else to say. Tank looks amazing

 

[BigC]

Thanks Guys for you encouraging response's.
I have ordered another couple of frags, namely a Neon Fluorescent Maze Coral (Platygyra sp) and a small Montipora digitata (orange) frag. I am shuffling a few little pieces around presently (nothing major), you know what its like, trying to create a perfect picture. A couple of the Zoas are not opening out properly, so a different placement area is having to be sought. I am having to look at the pump today, I think it need cleaning because the flowrate has dropped somewhat and the Torch Coral is moving a little slower. Nothing wrong, just an observation on my part. So I cant get time to sit down and relax yet. I also noticed that my larger Clownfish has taken on quite a domineering role, maybe they'll start to breed eventually. I thought they might adopt the Torch Coral or even the Finger Leather as sanctuary but they have adopted a clump of large green polyps as a symbiotic substitute for an anemone.
Will get some more pics up when the new corals are in.
Again many thanks for the replies
Regards
BigC

 

[BigC]

Just took the pump apart and cleaned it, to no avail. I checked around the back of the tank and spotted the problem, the Eheim Flexipipe was severly gunged up. you wouldn't believe how much muck was accumulated in the return pipe. Rather than trying to clean the length of pipe, I just replaced the whole section. (must remember to keep some lengths in store for this happening again. Just goes to show how such a simple thing can be overlooked. With the pipe being semi clear (green really) then its open to algal blooms (via light entering) within the pipe I'll maybe duct tape the pipe to darken things down.
BigC

 

[Crazy fishes]

Big C, that is an awesome looking setup you have there. Congratulations on the success. Visually outstanding and looking forward to see how things progress...

Regards

 

[BigC]

Thanks CF,
Will post some more pics tomorrow (Saturday) of my new coral aquisitions.
I got some Australian Duncans (Duncanopsammia) x4 heads. Platygyra Maze Coral (Fluorescent Green Frag). Yellow Sand Polyps (Protapalythoa) and lastly I got an orange plating Montipora frag.

Regards
BigC

 

[Crazy fishes]

Thanks CF,
Will post some more pics tomorrow (Saturday) of my new coral aquisitions.
I got some Australian Duncans (Duncanopsammia) x4 heads. Platygyra Maze Coral (Fluorescent Green Frag). Yellow Sand Polyps (Protapalythoa) and lastly I got an orange plating Montipora frag.

Regards
BigC

What organ did you give up for the Duncans coral then?? I'll take it that kidneys are still going for quite a few grand on the street market these days..... Nothing quite like an elite fish keeper giving up valuable flesh to make sure his aquarium looks good.
I am awaiting tomorrow and looking forward to the new pictures.

Regards

 

[kj23502]

I am awaiting tomorrow and looking forward to the new pictures.

Regards

Me too! I'm excited for you

 

[BigC]

What organ did you give up for the Duncans coral then??

My whole body has been sold to medical research to fund this venture. Meanwhile my stress levels have gone through the roof. Tropical fishkeeping was soooo much easier. I hardly get a minute with General feeding, Spot feeding, Cleaning this that and tuther. Moving and positioning corals. Waterchanging and Testing, the list goes on & on.. Phew!
The Duncans were a snip at only around £7 per head (around $14 probably changed since the exchange rate update). From a lad called Gary at http/www.mailordercorals.com/ (They still haven't opened out fully as yet due to pesky cleaner shrimp scuttling over and around them).
First class service, Correspondance, Packaging and Delivery was excellent and I will certainly patronise him again as and when the need arrises.
Will get the pics up later on today.
Regards
BigC

 

[Crazy fishes]

The Duncans were a snip at only around £7 per head.....

You are kidding me £7 per polyp, so yours cost you £28 . My LFS (the cheapest of all in the area) charges £110+ for Duncans coral. Damn , it makes me so angry when I see things like that!!! Just goes to show how greedy some people are and how little they care about exploiting their customers. Quick Big C soothe my anger by some pretty pictrures I feel a rant coming on

Regards

 

[john.o]

I have just been in mikes house earlier on today the owners of my LFS to take a look at his tank and he has a coral in there that looks very similar to the ducans coral on the web site but his only has what looks like the 1 head its about 3 inch in diameter the coulers shape ect are exactly the same it will be interesting to see your pics bigC so I can compare them to the mental pic I have in my head of mikes coral. {I mite just fancy a one my self there really cool looking coral and I bet there even better looking on a night time under the actinic}
O yea and if they are the same then they are a great price as mikes cost him £104 and that was trade price shop price is £152 I did not think of asking what it was called once he told me the price that was it to rich for me

 

[BigC]

Ok you impatient lot, Heres some more pics for you to peruse.
Interesting to note about the Duncans and the price. I hope I've got what I paid for, they seem exactly like the pics in Bornemans book and internet photos
http/img261.imageshack.us/img261/1452/img2132rw2.jpg
so I've no reason to doubt the seller.
The coral has steely grey whiskers with a bluish/green flourscent centre and a cream coloured oral mouth.

First up is a nice colony of Yellow Sand Polyps (Protapalythoa sp)

Next we have the so called Australian Duncans (Duncanopsammia) pretty much closed up still due to the cleaner shrimp antics.

Red Brigade Zoanthid Frag

Bam Bam Orange Zoanthid Frag

Eagle Eye Zoanthid Frag

Fluorescent Green Platygyra Maze Coral.

And finally the FTS

As you can see I've moved things around a little since the last pics. I didn't get the Montipora digitata frag due to an accident in the sellers frag tank. I did get a Montipora Plating Coral (orange) as a replacment of which I forgot to photograph, and will give me another excuse to get the camera out again in the comming weeks. For those who wish to locate it on the FTS pic, it's directly above the top cleaner shrimp on the right hand side on the rockwall itself.
Hope you like the pics and as usual any comments and criticisms are all taken onboard.
Regards
BigC