The Official Asylum Reef Tank Thread

Originally Posted by shilala

Yesterday I took my daughter to the doctor, and on the way home discovered a new fish store down in Reynoldsville.
The discovery cost me 100 bucks.
I picked up a harlequin sweetlips, 3 banghai cardinals and a big purple feather.
My daughter picked out the cardinal. After I got one she said "Dad, you gotta get at least two more so they stick together like that. (pointing at the shoaling cardinals)"
So we got two more.
She's really good at this fish thing.

She's pretty good at the Daddy thing, too.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman

She's pretty good at the Daddy thing, too.

She's Pro Series 3.0.
I screwed the first run of kids up pretty good. This one turned out real well despite her Dad. She's Daddy's girl to the max.
Definately my pride and joy.

[fissure]

If you get a male/female cardinal and they breed, let me know. I used to raise them and they are super easy to breed/raise.

[shilala]

Monday morning my tank sprung a leak. It was squirting a tiny stream out of a front seam. The floor was soaked and now all my stuff is still in a big rubbermaid tub on the floor.
The tank is resealed, cured, and I'm ready to put the stuff back in.
What a pain in the butt this was.
On a good note, I found my blue coral that's been lost three times.
Hopefully this time I'll be able to keep track of it.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by shilala

Monday morning my tank sprung a leak. It was squirting a tiny stream out of a front seam. The floor was soaked and now all my stuff is still in a big rubbermaid tub on the floor.
The tank is resealed, cured, and I'm ready to put the stuff back in.
What a pain in the butt this was.
On a good note, I found my blue coral that's been lost three times.
Hopefully this time I'll be able to keep track of it.

Exactly the reason why my tanks is acrylic.
That will last longer than the Pyramids.

[shilala]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Exactly the reason why my tanks is acrylic.
That will last longer than the Pyramids.

I got a good 15 years out of this thing. 3 moves and a freeze-up.
I can't even believe it's still in one piece.

[Bear]

OK, so here's my 90 Gal. It's been up and running for about 8 or 9 years.




I have had these little guys in there for years and they don't bother me, but what the heck are they? There's probably well over 100 of them in there...

[shilala]

Originally Posted by Bear

I have had these little guys in there for years and they don't bother me, but what the heck are they? There's probably well over 100 of them in there...

Gorgeous, Marc.
I'm not from Canada, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those are Quarters. Maybe nickels.

[fissure]

Astrina starfish Bear! Great addition for clean up. Had hundreds of them in my 120. Lots in my 50.

Originally Posted by shilala

Gorgeous, Marc.
I'm not from Canada, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those are Quarters. Maybe nickels.

That's a quarter all right.

OK. This reef tank idea has m y curiousity piqued.

I am potentially interested in this idea, but I would like mine to feature species (fish, invertebrates and plants) that are local/native to my home. These would generally be cooler/cold water species (the ocean near me never really warms up that much), so would colder water species be able to live ok in warmer water, or would I have to keep the tank colder?

Is it generally possible (advisable, viable) to use wild specimen in a home tank? Or would it be best to buy the same species (if they are available) from a reputable hobby store?

Is there somewhere I can learn more about the pros/cons about using wild species in a reef tank?

Thanks.

kayaker

Cold water species need cold water. There is not as nice of a selection, especially fish.
Most specimens were caught in the wild unless otherwise noted. I have seen some nice cold water tanks. You generally don't have coral in them but there can be lots of invertebrates.

[CigarDood]

This whole thread is awesome. I really want a reef tank now.

[Bear]

Originally Posted by fissure

Astrina starfish Bear! Great addition for clean up. Had hundreds of them in my 120. Lots in my 50.

That's it. Thanks!

Fish! woot! 3 Green Chromis swimmin about. Movement whoo. Added some Zoas too and they have almost doubled in size in the week they have been there. wow.

Also, is Kalk dosing nessesary? my alk holds stable and Calcium does as well...

How is it done?

I have found that a stable, high calcium level is critical for snails, stars, skelatinous corals, coraline algae and many other tank life. Your levels are staying high and stable because it's not being used up much yet.
Calcium reactors are best, but expensive.
I used the two part solution from B-Ionic before and it works great and is easy.
Kalkwasser has to be mixed and then left to settle out and then slowly added so as not to ph shock the tank.

[Wolfgang]

got a couple new additions to my 90.

A flame angel and a green brain.




Ive had the Angel for a few weeks and she is a perfect citizen. no nipping at all.

[shilala]

The brain looks a lot like my brain.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Wolfgang

got a couple new additions to my 90.

A flame angel and a green brain.




Ive had the Angel for a few weeks and she is a perfect citizen. no nipping at all.

Flames are perfectly fine for reefs.
All of the dwarf Angels are fine.
It is the big boys that you need to worry about.

That Brain looks awesome.

[Wolfgang]

there was a small amount of necrosis on the rbain but I have been watching it for a few months and it has not gotten worse and it is already eating and inflating. pics in a bit.