64g Tokyo tank

[Mike612]

Clowns are followers. If they see a fish picking at nori, they'll go for it too . My clowns nibble at nori all the time with my Purple Tang. My Helfrichi Firefish does the same.

Do you have any tricks on getting an angel to pick at nori? I find that most of the angels I've kept need to be taught to pick at it, more often than not by watching a tang pick at it first. My Golden Angel eats everything I give him except nori. It doesn't matter if the nori's on a clip or if there are small pieces floating around. He won't touch it.

 

[Anonymous]

Tom, what species anenome is that and are the clowns nesting in it?
Clownfish will host in virtually any type of anenome, but some they arent fully imune to the nemocysts(different regions) - they'll get sting marks like that until they've developed a full imunity to it, but it doesnt actually affect the clownfish.

Least ways that has been what I was told years back when I was keeping clowns...

 

[Anonymous]

Clowns are followers. If they see a fish picking at nori, they'll go for it too . My clowns nibble at nori all the time with my Purple Tang. My Helfrichi Firefish does the same.

Do you have any tricks on getting an angel to pick at nori? I find that most of the angels I've kept need to be taught to pick at it, more often than not by watching a tang pick at it first. My Golden Angel eats everything I give him except nori. It doesn't matter if the nori's on a clip or if there are small pieces floating around. He won't touch it.

Sorry Mike, no experience in trying this yet, I just kind of assumed the angel would, given that it picks at the algae in the tank. That was maybe naive of me. I'd hope the Blenny would be interested and that might encourage the others. They've all pretty much learned to follow each other when it comes to food (kind of cute actually), so maybe that'll work. I'll report back and let you know how I get on.

Tom, what species anenome is that and are the clowns nesting in it?
Clownfish will host in virtually any type of anenome, but some they arent fully imune to the nemocysts(different regions) - they'll get sting marks like that until they've developed a full imunity to it, but it doesnt actually affect the clownfish.

Least ways that has been what I was told years back when I was keeping clowns...

That's a good question JP. I got both from the same guy, a friend of mine who had several in his tank, all clones from the same anemone that split several times in his tank. He said that they never got much over the size they are in my tank, even with feeding, so I don't think they're the standard Entacmaea quadricolor that's usually found in a tank. I can't remember where he got them originally. So, given that E.quadricolor is not the natural host for Oscellaris, it's possible.

However, despite the fact that clowns used the anemones as hosts in his tank (which was smaller and had a couple of damsels in it), they've not once poked their noses into the anemones in mine (though got close a few times originally), so, unless they've trying it out when I'm not looking (and I think I would have caught a glimpse at some point if that had been the case), I don't think the black marks are stings.

 

[Anonymous]

What do you think, Tom? Is this the same (aside from color) as the softie you've got?

 

[Anonymous]

Hard to tell CJ, but very possibly. What are they selling it as?

 

[Anonymous]

Litophyton, apparently being maricultured in significant numbers at the moment.

 

[Anonymous]

That would figure. The stuff that's available locally is largely maricultured. Tempted to pull the trigger on that one?

 

[Anonymous]

Nah, no room. I'm still struggling to figure out where I'm going to put that extra cespitularia I've got sitting on my sandbed, let alone how I could manage another tree type coral.

I do love the one in your tank, though, so finding a likely source of them in the US doesn't hurt

 

[Anonymous]

If it's anything like mine, care should be a breeze as well.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Tom.... way way back on page 1 you wrote...

Still need to get a plastic/pvc bin to place next to the sump as a top-off reservoir (will be using the Tunze Osmolator/kalk dispenser system).

Wondering how that's worked out for you? Specifically the tunze kalkwasser dispenser. After my Elos ATO crapped out I ordered the tunze osmolator and kalk dispenser, both of which were delivered this weekend but still need to be set up. Not many people seem to use the kalk dispenser so I'd be interested to hear how it's performed for you. Any problems? How often do you have to clean it of residue?

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Tom.... way way back on page 1 you wrote...

Still need to get a plastic/pvc bin to place next to the sump as a top-off reservoir (will be using the Tunze Osmolator/kalk dispenser system).

Wondering how that's worked out for you? Specifically the tunze kalkwasser dispenser. After my Elos ATO crapped out I ordered the tunze osmolator and kalk dispenser, both of which were delivered this weekend but still need to be set up. Not many people seem to use the kalk dispenser so I'd be interested to hear how it's performed for you. Any problems? How often do you have to clean it of residue?

Working out very well actually, as it's mostly set and forget (but don't forget to keep the reservoir topped up as the pump will fail if it runs dry). To be honest, I haven't given it a clean of residue yet, but that's a useful reminder that maybe I should. I just shake the flask every week when I do a water change and add a bit more kalk. I've always wondered whether maybe I should empty the stuff out of the bottom from time to time...

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Tom. Main reason I wondered is because as tight as my sump is, having to remove the flask for cleaning is going to be something of a chore. Good to know a once yearly cleaning sounds sufficient

 

[Anonymous]

Completely removing the flask is an infrequent requirement (as in disconnecting etc), but you'll have to lift it out enough to be able to give it a quick shake from time to time.

 

[Anonymous]

Hey Tom, your thread got tweeted:

http://twitter.com/#!/reefs_org

 

[Anonymous]

Wow. Now I have to take some more photos. Maybe once I've dealt with my hydroid plague...

 

[Anonymous]

First purchase in an age.

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/P1011038.jpg[/rimg]

 

[Ben1]

Very nice one Tom!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ben. Fun to watch as well, as it slowly passes pellets it catches in the water to its mouth.

 

[Anonymous]

Not much to show in terms of progress, but for completeness sake, here's a recent FTS.

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0473.jpg[/rimg]

 

[Anonymous]

A little update. Mainly prompted by three new corals, but also took some photos of other bits and pieces while I was about it. no dramatic growth or change unfortunately. You'll see I'm still battling the hydroid plague. :x

Tank shot

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0501.jpg[/rimg]

Close up of the pink softie for CJ

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0498.jpg[/rimg]

New chalice - Mycedium?

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0495.jpg[/rimg]

Close up

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0493.jpg[/rimg]

Blasto

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0494.jpg[/rimg]

Zoa frag recently received from a good friend - one of my favorites.

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0488.jpg[/rimg]

Three others he passed me!

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0486.jpg[/rimg]

If I were going to make up a silly name for this, it'd be Copper Verdigris.

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0485.jpg[/rimg]

These are growing well.

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0483.jpg[/rimg]

Acanthastrea echinata

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0482.jpg[/rimg]

New plating Monti. Cut price because it was recovering from some recession.

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0479.jpg[/rimg]

It's not actually attached to a rock - will have to decide where to place it.

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0481.jpg[/rimg]

Lastly, with apologies for the very blurred shot (I put it at the back to begin with and therefore can't get a front on shot, meaning there's lots of distortion shooting diagonally through the glass), a Euphyllia ancora.

[rimg]http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab238/TheEscapedApe/Long%20awaited/IMG_0477.jpg[/rimg]