melev

Today marks the date the livestock moved into the 400g and the 60g. Sometimes people confuse that with the date the tank was started up, thinking that the necessary cycle was rushed or the livestock was simply thrust into the tank in some type of mad rush. No, two months ago all the livestock was transferred out of the 215g and my frag tank into the 400g and the 60g. The 400g had been running with sand, live rock and water for nearly four weeks before livestock was added. The sump with all the filtration has been running non-stop since February 2011... so there was an established core process that has continued to keep the fish and corals happy for years no matter what happens to the glass walls that hold them.

Everything is doing very well, and to think that the only loss during the transition was one birdsnest colony is pretty darn great. No fears though, I have more that is doing very well from that same colony, plus there are tiny twigs in several nooks of the rockwork growing simultaneously.

The biggest acropora in the tank is the Blue tipped Staghorn. I'm still trying to take good pictures of this coral, which is tricky due to the intense light shining down from above.

A number of you seem to like this particular spot in the center of the reef. It has Montiporas, Chalice, Scroll coral and Acans. I'll have to move these guys apart at some point, or trim the corals back.

Currently there are six different Acans in the reef. These are growing nicely, but I think I need to secure them to the rockwork and get them off the sand. Against rock, the polyps seem to grow more quickly and look very appealing.

This is a large Chalice I've not been sharing. It's in the corner of the tank, and about the size of a coffee cup saucer. It was lighter blue previously, but the color is morphing for the better.

This Cowrie was purchased in Oklahoma seven years ago, and continues to make appearances from time to time.

I found the second Cowrie up against the teeth of the overflow, mantle completely retracted exposing a very white shell. It must have spotted some algae I didn't remove already on that wall.

This Lobo was in my tank sitter's tank for well over a year. Like most corals, I'm expecting this to darken with richer colors in a few more months.

The Sunset montipora has really covered a lot of the rockwork in this area. I'll have to take more pictures to show how much.

Four quick pictures from the 60g. The Mandarin is out often, but I still think I'm going to have to move it to the 400g for a greater pod supply.

I love this Fungia plate, and grew it from a tiny piece smaller than a penny.

Maxima clams are my favorite, but this teardrop is rather drab in the 60g. I don't know if the mantle's coloration would be nicer in the big reef under metal halides.

These two pink polyped digitatas need a haircut. I've seen the red leg hermits pick them clean, but it grows back. I'll have to excise those areas once and for all.

Four Fighting Conchs were added to the two tanks yesterday to help maintain a healthy sandbed.