Basenji's 4 foot display [TOTM 06/2010] - Journey's end 2015

[Alf D]

What tool did you cut it with Colin?

[Basenji]

What tool did you cut it with Colin?

Bone cutting shears. Pretty hard work. (Also worth noting that the point I was cutting isn't necessarily where it came away, hence the pruning job was a little harsher than I had perhaps intended )
It was however, much more successful than my attempts at fragging at the last MASS meeting

[Alf D]

Bone cutting shears.

Did you nibble away with the point?
I know how hard it is to cut in one go with thinner branches.

[Paul_D]

Grats on the TOTM mate, geez I haven't checked this forum in a while have I??

[Assist]

i hope my frags grow that much in a year and abit!!!wow. is that green stag a dallas?

[Basenji]

Yes, that is Dallas's green weed.

[Assist]

just asking cause i have a frag the same!! looks good

[Basenji]

Starting to get some interesting interactions between corals. These two Acropora colonies are obviously fairly evenly matched and are growing into each other. Will be interesting to see who wins. (My money is on the Dallas - growing in from the right)



And a new FTS

[StripestheEel]

Is that an anemone or elegance in the corner Colin?

It gets bigger and bigger every update!

[Basenji]

'tis an Elegance, Matt. I reckon that may another place where all the calcium ends up.

[n0rk]

I still maintain you keep one of the nicest true mixed reefs on this forum, Colin. Tank is looking beautiful mate

[Basenji]

I've just retired my Chinese 8x54W T5 light fitting (which was only running on 6 tubes) and fired up a nice shiny new 6x54W ATI Sunpower fitting. Quite an improvement in brightness. Very happy indeed with this new fitting. Have cut the photoperiod back by a couple of hours, at least for a few weeks.

Since I know everyone is interested in tube mixes these days, I am running

1. ATI Aqua Blue Special
2. ATI Blue Plus
3. ATI Aqua Blue Special
4. ATI Purple Plus
5. Aquamedic Reef Blue
6. ATI Aqua Blue Special

On to the photos:

[StripestheEel]

The corals are going to love it Colin. You won't look back!

Is the AM Reef Blue an actinic or something else?

[marks]

I love the look and layout of this tank. Has a very natural looking scape.

[Basenji]

Just a blue tube. Not dissimilar to the Blue Plus. I just moved the tubes across from my old fitting, and that was one I had picked up from my LFS a while back.

[Lukey]

Looks fantastic mate, very nice.

I agree with discus, it just looks very natural and nice.

[Deester]

Very nice tank Colin really is growing out beautifully. A great example of a mixed reef

You will love the ATI good thinking on reducing the photo period till everything adjusts

Cheers,

Dee.

[reefbuilder]

Awesome

[peekandboo]

Your tank always looks very nice Colin

[sydneydrewid]

wow colin.. the tank is looking fantastic.. will be watching this as i am interested in the same fitting

[Basenji]

Did some heavy pruning of stony corals today. Removed a total of just over 700g of coral from 3 colonies.

I have frags available to MASS members who are able to pick up, or will be attending either the MASS Open Committee Meeting tomorrow night, or the MASS meeting on 23/1/11 at Kingswood.

Frags available:
- Acropora "Dallas Warren"
(you know what that looks like)

- Purple Acropora


- Pocillopora damicornis - potentially pink in the right conditions


Sorry, no postage.

[CheezotheClown]

Can you hold a piece of the Dallas for me please Colin?

If you can spare it I wouldn't mind frags of the others to try too. Thanks for making these available and see you tomorrow.

[n0rk]

That purple Acro is a good argument for "grown up" corals, Colin

[stoli]

Nice pics Colin. You seem to get a massive amount of growth (didn't you prune just before Christmas?) - what do you maintain Ca at?

[Basenji]

Last major prune was in August, when I removed about 500g worth of coral.

Calcium is maintained at around 420-450ppm via calcium chloride addition (in combination with baked bicarb) via an automated doser.
I believe this has a significant impact on the level of growth that I get, as I have the same corals in other tanks that only receive intermittent dosing and I don't get the same growth as my main display tank.

[Basenji]

Bit overdue for an update, so here's a few new pics.

Nothing much has changed.
Highlights are:
- Some good growth of stony corals, especially Caevan's green Monti.
- My pair of Amphiprion ocellaris have been spawning on a regular fortnightly cycle for the last 3 months or so.
- Have had brooded planulae from my Pocillopora settle in quite a few places around the tank creating multiple new colonies.









This is the same chalice that I fragged with Thomas (details earlier in this journal thread)




This clutch of eggs is just about due to hatch. If you look closely you can see the orange yolk sacks an eyes of the larvae.

[CheezotheClown]

Love the monti growing around the cable.

[JimmyA]

[img]Green%20monti%20growing%20around%20the%20cable[/img]

That's awesome Col! It'll be a shame if the pump packs in and you need to remove it...

[Mr Miagi]

Looks great Colin!

[bradw6860]

looking great mate