evolved's Wrasse & Reef Tank (Old)

I certainly have now post on 25th was picture intensive
everything looks great
that starfish that appears to be in the standing position with arms stretched outwards was amusing for me

Steve

 

That fromia star did that a couple times in the last week, that day being one of them. I have no idea what it was doing, as I've never seen it do that in the.... 8 months(?) that I've had it. A couple days prior to that it was doing the same thing on the front pane of glass, and although it looks like it might be eating in the feature photo, with the front observation I assure you it was not. Some sort of mating ritual/offering is all I can come up with. And I can't seen to find if fromia stars are capable of sexual reproduction, in addition to asexual reproduction.

 

Alright, I'm so long overdue for some sort of update; I'm not quite sure where to begin...

Apologies up front; I don't have any new "real" pictures to share yet or new photos of the tank. Also, this is about to turn into my tank "blog" for the time being. Bare with me, pictures will return next week.

So, since my last update, I've really been working on acquiring some sought after fish. Success has been 50/50. The one fish I added and briefly spoke about, but wasn't willing to discuss details, was a Potter's Leopard Wrasse. He apparently didn't make it unfortunately. I knew it was a 50/50 shot with this one, as they are quite delicate, but I'm still a bit bothered by it. A LFS had a couple of them in, and I took the most colorful specimen. Acclimation was fine; I had him in an acclimation box in the DT for a couple days, eating some. All the tankmates didn't seem to pay him much mind. I let him out after 2 days; he swam around with everyone for a few hours, ate a bit of mysis, and then went to bed. Never saw him again. Patiently waited the first week, then the next, then after 3 I lost all hope. Sigh... Again, 50/50 shot (at best). Probably won't try one again.

Next up was a Line-Spot Flasher Wrasse, which I did post a picture of in the acclimation box. The flame didn't take to kindly to him in the box, especially under the actinics. So I left him in the box a little over 3 days to get the Flame to calm down as much as possible. Unfortunately, it didn't completely work. The flame wouldn't let him come out. It wasn't a death attack, but enough to chase him back into hiding. Eventually the flasher took refuge in a small area on the bottom left of the tank, and was coming out a bit at feeding time, just to snatch some food. This continued for almost a month, but almost a week ago I stopped seeing him at all. Pretty confident he has withered away and is no more. Round 3...

I bought a pair of Red Tail Flashers via DD shortly after the addition of the Line-Spot Flasher. The Flame was not at all hostile to this pair while they were in the acclimation box under the daylights, but did show some under the actinics. It wasn't terribly bad though, so I took a chance on day 3. For the next 2 days, the Flame would not let either of them come out. By the end of day 3, he seemed to caring less about the female. Come day 4 he paid no mind to her. Day 5, he starts to care less about the male Red Tail. Day 6, pays no mind to him either. Extremely odd; I never heard about such behavior from a wrasse. So the good news is the Red Tail Flasher pair is doing great. They're a lot of fun to watch too, and clearly are a true pair.

In other news, I'm upgrading more fun stuff. A pair of new MP40s are on the way. Can't wait for them; tired of the Evo's stopping from precipitate every 3 weeks. Not fun. Plus, I'm beginning to see some effects of lacking a bit of random flow in my tank. This will fix that.

Lastly, I got the coral itch again the last few days. Plus, knowing my Evos are about to go away frees up a little coral real-estate. :-X So here's what I ordered via DD this evening, pictures are attached: ORA Blue Voodoo, ORA Bellina, DFS Montipora Setosa, DFS Acro Suharsonoi.

I really hope I can be happy with everything now. There's not much left I could do, sans upgrading the tank... Oh god... No. I'm seriously not doing that; at least not until I move into a bigger house down the road. But that'll be a few years.

 

Congrats on the good news and the additions, evolved
sad news about the unsuccesful introductions, its always dissapointing when something you like, is not equally appreciated by the residents ( yep similar has occured for me once or twice)

those corals are looking very colorful be good to see how they eventually color out in your set up

I like the Blue Voodoo , very intense mix of blues and greens

 

The suharsonoi is gorgeous! I wish I could find a picture of mine right now... One of the more unique corals out there

 

I just looked at your B-----U-----T-----FULL REEF if you were to accidently break off any of those chalice I'll send you my address. James

 

Nice update evolved.

Wrasse peyton place, until I started reading your thread I had no idea the interactions between them could be so complex. You must really like the flame, as he sounds like the one that every other fish must be accepted by to make it in the tank.

Exciting the mp40, I think that will make a very favorable difference in the tank.

All great addition in the sps department, I have going to have to go with the Blue Voodoo,(love the color and contrast) and the Setosa as my favorites among the group.

 

Your tank looks great, thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for the words Steve. Blues and greens tend to get more intense in my system, so hopefully that trend continues.

Thanks Trent. I particularly love deepwater acros; the odder the better.

Thanks, my tank is butfull.
I don't know why, but it's really hard for me to cut on my chalices. It has to become a necessity before I can bring myself to do it.
Also, the ORA blue on the bottom right isn't in the best of shape right now; all 3 of it's neighbors decided they didn't like it anymore and have stung it. At least it's a fast grower...

Complex relationships indeed. Yeah, I'd really hate to rid myself of the flame. We've been through a lot. ;D I've had him over a year and he was actually the female of a pair upon purchase. He attempted to transition when I still had the male, but stayed at a sub-male state. After I lost the male, he completed the full transition in about 2 weeks. Ironically, he's much more colorful than the lost male ever was. He'd also be quite difficult to catch if I did decide he needed to go; he's not trusting of me like some of the others are. And I do love Flame wrasses, so in he stays.

Not one MP40, but two.

I'm hoping I can get the Setosa to branch/stalk more than encrust by placing it lower in the tank.

Thank you.

 

Sorry, to hear about your troubles. Those PLWs are very cool, but definitional hit or miss from what I've heard. The flame may be a bit of a bully, but definitely a cool wrasse, so what can you do...

On a plus, the MP40s kick but and you can definitely blame me for the new adds, those are pretty sweet