Stampos' Nano Diary

[Stampos]

wow

Thanks

I also picked up another coral on Tuesday (last one for a month at least, I promise!) which may prove controversial. I'd been thinking about having either a Torch or Hammerhead LPS for a while and couldn't decide which I'd prefer in my tank. Then I saw this at my LFS and fell in love! Researched it and decided that I was willing to house it and adapt my plans to suit.......................

Can you tell what it is?

Check out the sweeper tentacles on this bad mudda!

It's a Galaxia LPS (Galaxea fascicularis)

I've placed him within a cove area with medium flow to limit the sweeper extension, so far only seen a maximum of 4" of sweeper extension - feeding him is awesome!

There was a hitch hiker crab on the Galaxia, which I found during acclimating. Tried a cold RO squirt, no luck. In the end I had to manually remove him with an algae scraper/planter!

Took him to the LFS as I didn't know what he was, and the LFS said they'd lost him 2 weeks ago! Hope he wasn't worth too much! LOL

I'm noticing the GSP is starting to attach to the rockwork so hopefully I'll get some good growth soon. Toadstool seems to be sulking again however!

Finally a FTS:

Simon

 

[Gytas]

coming along nicely..... u just have to love the clown fish i think they look awesome

 

[sorgan]

the crab is a variety of mithrax, good CuC no great loss though.
the galxia is nice, just be carful what it can sting as that sucker can pack a punch

 

[seffieuk]

Really like that lovely plate overhang

Seffie x

 

[Stampos]

Really like that lovely plate overhang

Seffie x

Thanks Seffie, I like it too

Once the GSP has encrusted it, it should look even better.

I have well and truly got the marine bug now, been looking at loads of tank threads and decided I want to upgrade!

Been quoted for a 28x28x13.5 braceless tank in optiwhite with a full length weir in black. Owing to my job becoming busier (thank you Apple and Nintendo)I've got lots of overtime booked in the next month so I can get the ball rolling!

The river reef is a great little tank but I do miss having a sump, plus I love the look of shallow reef tanks.

Went to my LFS earlier to talk about lighting and came away with a brand new series 4 arcadia mini pendant (150w 14k) for £75 less than retail. Oops

Current tank wise the inhabitants are doing great, clowns eating well, zoas growing well and the GSP has taken off! The Galaxia is showing new heads as well.

Simon

 

[seffieuk]

Went to my LFS earlier to talk about lighting and came away with a brand new series 4 arcadia mini pendant (150w 14k) for £75 less than retail. Oops

Nice one

Seffie x

 

[Stampos]

Just fed the tank some rotifiers and mysis tonight and took some pictures..........

I love feeding the Galaxia I turn off all my pumps to feed and watch the polyps draw the food in. LPS are definitely my favourite type of corals and I think I will get some more when I upgrade. Speaking of the upgrade I plan to order on Thursday when I collect the MH, the pipework on the RR is doing my nut in becoming disconnected all the time!!

My toadstool seems to have grown as well, sulks about once a week for a day or so and comes back bigger and better!

Zoas are doing well too, lots of new heads forming

Remember the Chaeto I put in?

Here it is now

And finally a FTS

Simon

 

[Stampos]

Upgrade ordered

28x28x13.5 braceless optiwhite shallow cube!

Due for delivery in around 4-5 weeks time so lots of time to prepare for its arrival. I won't need to move the current tank so at least I can run both tanks side by side until the new system is stable ready for stock transfer.

Pick up my MH on Friday as well - reefing is addictive!

 

[Stampos]

Been busy working loads of overtime to help pay for my upgrade, so not had much time to visit any LFS

When I went to collect my MH however I was chatting to the owner who said he was having an open evening to celebrate their first birthday and were offering 20% off livestock - it just so happened to be on my day off

Ended up buying this little beauty:

Not in it's final place as I intend to secure it when I change tanks, just placed safe and high for now. Every week the evening before a water change I feed the tank (so as to limit any nitrate production) and I do this with a mixture of rotifiers and mysis just after lights out. The candy cane went mental!

Took this top down shot before the water change today as I love the perspective

And finally a FTS just after the W/C - I am having a mare keeping the lower return pipe attached so I've resorted to removing the nozzle and settling for random flow.

Just waiting for my upgrade now - I may initially set the tank up and transfer the stock over once stable without the sump attached so that I can sell the RR to raise some funds for tank goodies (vortechs ) my brother is currently building my stand, which he's doing as a freebie!

I got some aiptasia x in the week and administered it before the W/C today, seems to have done the trick but will keep an eye out. If I see any reappear I will blow torch them during the move!

Simon

 

[Stampos]

Ok, bit of an update

I cancelled the smaller build after having a chat with my family, who have also fallen in love with marines and they said they wish the system was in the front room and not just my bedroom. They also said go big now as we know you'll upgrade in no time otherwise!

With this in mind I've decided on a 4x2x2 Godiva executive which I will be ordering on Tuesday when I visit the shop to decide on cabinet colour and so on. I'm going to go for a left hand weir and a twin standpipe to keep it as quiet as possible.

Going for a big build will pretty much wipe out the funds I raised from working the last few bank holidays so I envisage a somewhat slow and steady build.

The current tank has a couple of new additions, a conch (who is awesome) and a yellow watchman goby (who is also awesome) I have some pics of them I'll add one night in the week.

Other than that just keeping the tank nice and stable and learning as much as I can - a bit gutted I bought the halide as it won't be useable on the big tank but if I sell it I can inject the cash into the main system

 

[seffieuk]

a new Godiva, you lucky, so and so..............really looking forward to watching the tank come alive

 

[Tony_essex]

hello just been reading your post and really enjoyed it im goin to start a RR94 soon and been lookin at as many posts as i can find with them

really like your setup really like the overhang on the rocks try and kepe post updated till u upgrade asill be reading till then

tony

 

[Stampos]

Thanks Seffie and Tony

Plenty of life left in this tank yet - another couple of months at the very least I should think!

As promised, here are some pictures of my recent additions, plus some general shots to show growth etc.

First off, here to Toby the Goby shortly after adding him to the tank:

He seemed a bit skittish for the first week and hid in the rockwork, slowly starting to peep out at the world around him now:

My orange lipped conch, such a strange yet wonderful creature!

One of my larger Clibanarius Tricolor hermits, I love hermits as they have a lot of character and so far mine have behaved very well

Some of my Zoas that are really growing well:

And my Galaxia

The clowns (now known as Sharps and Nemo thanks to a girl at work)

And a FTS

Simon

 

[Tony_essex]

like the goby and hermit lol not to sure what fish i will have only goin to habe 3 main fish and rest cuc and so on but really dunno what 3 fish to get

as for your rock setup i still really like it its how id like mine tbh glad your still goin to be usein this for few months yet as i wont have mine setup for least month yet before i even start to get everything

may have to message u a few questions about seetin up tank nearer time if thats ok

Cheers Tony

 

[Stampos]

No worries mate, I am on here most days having a nose so ask away