Llj's 8G Oceanic Biocube

[lljdma06]

Hmmm, I wonder why some of the updates on threads I am subscribed to, only appear after several days?! Mantequilla is a nice name; you know the expression ' he is like butter in his/her/their hands'? I was going to suggest Mancha as in spot....

The other new fish is nice too!

Haha, Mancha! Me gusta!

Mantequilla has its reasons. I've got a Panda goby named Lemmiwinks because of Southpark. Well there was this silly episode called the "The Last of the Meheeekans" and it was... well... Southpark. Butters is stuck in Mexico and goes by the name Mantequilla.

I still have to upload the pictures to give this tank an update proper. You've only had little teasers and I apologize for that. *goes off to upload video now*

L

 

[lljdma06]

What the Biocube looks like now...

For a while I've been posting bits here and there, but nothing really full out on this Biocube, it's time I showed. I've been kind of quiet about the corals I have in this tank. On purpose.

Full tank shot, with Mantequilla...

Aussie Acan Lord

Wobbgong wow zoas, blue zoas, and true Montipora undata

Red and blue zoanthids

Palys...

Top down shot...

Firefish and Mantequilla

Firefish

Full tank shot with purple firefish

Mantequilla among the gsp...

Top view, right...

Top view, left...

Two videos...

Firefish and Blue spot jawfish.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC-QzZ9-rek&list=UUZ3O4QwvcGmhfE1yafPRLxw&index=2&feature=plcp

Full tank video, very bad, I apologize.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7vsLtwM6JI&list=UUZ3O4QwvcGmhfE1yafPRLxw&index=1&feature=plcp

Full livestock list...

Fish
-Purple firefish (Nemateleotris decora)
-Blue spot jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti)

Inverts
-blue-legged hermits
-Nassarius vibex
-dwarf ceriths
-hairy chiton
-yellow cucumber (still have this)
-cowrie (dunno if I have this still)

Corals

Zoanthids & Palythoas & soft corals
-Wobblegong wows
-Red and blue zoanthids
-Eagle eyes
-Cats eyes
-Pink flamingos
-Mowhawks
-Nuclear greens
-Green infusions
-frostbites
-God of War
-Red hornets
-others that haven't been identified
-green star polyps

LPS
-Duncan
-Aussi acan lord
-Acan
-Christmas Favia
-Aussie elegance
-Meteor shower cyphastrea
-Red cyphastrea
-Blue stunner chalice

SPS
-Purple stylo
-Pink stylo
-acropora (mystery frag, lolol)
-pink ORA birdnest
-green ORA birdsnest
-magenta ORA birdsnest
-ORA Ponape Birdsnest
-ORA Bird of Paradise Birdsnest

Most of these corals were purchased from other hobbyists or traded for macroalgae. The larger colonies are from my favorite LFS. Duncan went from 4 heads and now has 11. The wobblegongs went from 5 to 12 polyps, Red hornets went from 5 to almost 8. Things are growing rather fast in this tank which is awesome. I'm excited and encouraged.

Thanks for looking. I'll post more pictures later, but at least you can see some of the stuff.

L

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

Loves this update !!!! Best 1 for ages well done llj ushould be super chuffed with yourself

 

[Biulu]

Time that you shared this with us! Don't keep all this nice stuff to yourself....
I assume that the round and square 'pedestals' of some corals are the result of fragging them? What kind of stuff is being used to put them on? Are they glued onto it?

 

[ainsy]

Wow that is a tank full of absolute beauties! The Acan Lord is a particular favourite and quite hard to get hold of around here.

Any chance of a close up of the Favia?

 

[lljdma06]

Loves this update !!!! Best 1 for ages well done llj ushould be super chuffed with yourself

Thank you. I'm happy with this tank, but I'm not resting on any laurels yet. Try me again in 6 months.

Time that you shared this with us! Don't keep all this nice stuff to yourself....
I assume that the round and square 'pedestals' of some corals are the result of fragging them? What kind of stuff is being used to put them on? Are they glued onto it?

Yes, the round and square "plugs" are to hold the frags. Usually frags are glued into place using a coral glue. I'd totally share with you, but if plants have a hard enough time crossing the Canadian border, imagine corals!

Wow that is a tank full of absolute beauties! The Acan Lord is a particular favourite and quite hard to get hold of around here.

Any chance of a close up of the Favia?

When I saw the Acan lord at the LFS, I had to have it. It was expensive, about $100, but it's a very nice sized colony. I'm looking forward to seeing this tank mature. I'm interested in one showcase shrimp or crabs, but I'm not sure.

Here is a closer shot of the Christmas Favia. When the LEDs go blue for dusk and dawn, the color is intense.

 

[SaltNoob]

HEHE. You stuffed this one with some AWESOME stuff! I can't wait to see it grow. How are you liking the lighting on this?

-Tyler

 

[lljdma06]

HEHE. You stuffed this one with some AWESOME stuff! I can't wait to see it grow. How are you liking the lighting on this?

-Tyler

The LEDs make the color REALLY pop. I love it under the blues. The LEDs also make some of the corals grow like crazy. My duncan will have to be moved when I do the upgrade for the old 8g over the summer, as it started with 4 heads and now has 12. That's stupid fast growth. I'll have to start with a smaller duncan, as I really still want a Duncan in this tank. I'm still waiting for my second generation controller. That'll allow me to dim and control the third LED bank, so I can increase the blue.

On the other hand, my Halide is far superior for coraline growth and for general coral growth. I got little weeds in my Halide tanks too. Geez, thank goodness I did not do Xenia!

 

[lljdma06]

Accidents happen...

I left for school yesterday morning to both fish being fine, they even ate a little zooplankton I squirted into the tank for the cucumber and the corals.

It's a long day at work. I come home to a dead Mantequilla. And my ORA birdsnest had fallen onto my gsp. My jawfish hangs out in the gsp a lot. I first test my water, there's nothing wrong. I think quiz the whole family on what products were used that day. Nothing. All the other corals and the fire fish are fine. I take the body out of the tank and inspect it. I see lacerations up its body. I thought it was the hermits that were scavenging, but no, these were cuts. I think when the birdsnest fell, I don't know, the only thing I could see is that the fish was injured by it as it fell. Or was pinned and injured itself getting out. The ORA pink is very sharp and very branched. I've felt it before and I have much thicker skin than a marine fish.

I've had a second string of bad luck with fish. With coral, I have good luck. I think it's because I'm too tired. I do my tank maintenance and maintain my water quality, but I'm too tired on some days to really take a look at the tank. Or I forget little details, like leaving parts of a lid open, or not being as on top of my feedings. Work's been very stressful lately.

Not sure if I'll replace the fish right away. Mantequilla cost a lot of mantequilla. There was a cute little neon dotty back, but I don't know.

I have to invest in some basic supplies. I ran out of glue and I need to reattach that birdsnest.

Journals are warts and all people. I give you warts. Now, that being said, I think I see another polyp on my red hornet frag...

 

[Man of fish]

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!! Poor mantequila

 

[ainsy]

These accidents happen - there is nothing you could do about that and your luck has to change soon LLJ!

Keep doing what you are as you must really be doing something right to get that Dunc from 4 heads to 12 in that time!!!

 

[Biulu]

That is really a shame! Mantequilla was lovely, but well, these things happen. It certainly also happens in nature...

 

[lljdma06]

I'm still not happy that it happened on my watch.

On a more positive note...

Another hobbyist is breaking down his tank. This was the zoas R us guy. I got from him...

4 more God of Wars
Purple People Eaters
Green people eaters
Hornets
A colony of frostbites.

I pick them up today.

L

 

[Biulu]

Another hobbyist is breaking down his tank. This was the zoas R us guy. I got from him...

4 more God of Wars
Purple People Eaters
Green people eaters
Hornets
A colony of frostbites.

I pick them up today.

L

Purple people eaters? Green people eaters? You'd better be careful....

 

[ainsy]

Looking forward to seeing these!

Stop grading those papers - the students can wait - I can't!