Anyone for coral pics?

[schigara]

Hey guys, this forum has been somewhat slow without Grins being around and I just got a new frag yesterday so I think now is a good time to test some bandwidth of the forum.

My new baby Acro.
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309432465_SKQWf-L.jpg

Cerialis, I think.
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309432308_xBadq-L.jpg

http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309432397_GWwe6-L.jpg

Baby Efflorescens
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309432528_JMHfX-L.jpg

Orange Monti
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309432599_AzuRb-L.jpg

Blue Tortuosa
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309432773_mWHo3-L.jpg

Not sure what this is but I like it.
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309432857_XhDGo-L.jpg

Again, not sure what kind of Acro
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309432940_6tUxN-L.jpg

Seriatapora Hystrix finally coming back to life after getting burned. Seriatapora in background is kinda hanging in there.
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309433006_nchtU-L.jpg

Pink Stylophora. 7 months and still no noticeable growth.
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309433086_AdSui-L.jpg

Unusual white/green acro has shown good growth.
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309433160_WYWHZ-L.jpg

Blue/green Prostrata
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309433324_jUEmy-L.jpg

Purple w/blue polyp Monti
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309433404_4wjst-L.jpg

Slimer and Bipartitus Leopard Wrasse
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309433500_Cdi5y-L.jpg

Orange Bam Bams and Scooter
http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309433605_wZicF-L.jpg

Growth has been fairly slow with the Reeflux 12k DE 250w's. I have just switched to Phoenix 14k's as they produce twice the PPFD of Reeflux's so hopefully I'll see faster growth over the next few months.

[Catpicklesdog]

They are looking absolutely fantastic!! Would love to see a full tank shot (just because I like piccies:grinyes:)

pretty please!

[schigara]

Thanks CPD.

I'll give it a try. My full tank shots always look crappy. Crappy digital Cam with non adjustable white balance.

You think we'll ever hear froms Grins again?

[Catpicklesdog]

Thanks CPD.

I'll give it a try. My full tank shots always look crappy. Crappy digital Cam with non adjustable white balance.

You think we'll ever hear froms Grins again?

I'm still waiting for the picture of her clam so I hope so:grinyes:

[schigara]

Ask and ye shall receive

http://schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309459061_7isqQ-L.jpg

[schigara]

I'm still waiting for the picture of her clam so I hope so:grinyes:

Yeah, me too. Did she ever say what kind of clam?

[Catpicklesdog]

Yeah, me too. Did she ever say what kind of clam?

No, we never got an answer to that question.

Back to your tank though - it looks fantastic. Great job:grinyes:

[schigara]

Thanks again. As you well know, it's a labor of love.


No, we never got an answer to that question.

Back to your tank though - it looks fantastic. Great job:grinyes:

[LiveOutLoud]

Wow those are some of the nicest looking corals I've seen. My lps stores carry mostly softies just wondering the blue turtosou is it very hardy?

[schigara]

I think it's pretty hardy although quite slow grower.

The birdsnest's(seriatapora) have been the most delicate SPS I have kept yet.


Wow those are some of the nicest looking corals I've seen. My lps stores carry mostly softies just wondering the blue turtosou is it very hardy?

[Amphiprion]

Delicate in terms of actual physical structure or in terms of care? I have always found them to be rock solid in terms of hardiness--almost as much as their Pocillopora cousins.

[Fishieness]

I love the first acro. A LOT of potential there? And are you sure that's a prostrata? If so, one of the strangest i've ever seen. But I like it... a lot... :D

[schigara]

Well, delicate as far as light sensitivity. I place them both at the bottom in the sand for the first week and then moved then up about 8in the second week and they bleached out. Since putting them over on the right side which is somewhat shaded, the Hystrix has got color back and started growing new tips.

The tank they were in has a good number of individual reflected T5's and my Reeflux's 12's were pretty weak at about 42 PPFD shielded.


Delicate in terms of actual physical structure or in terms of care? I have always found them to be rock solid in terms of hardiness--almost as much as their Pocillopora cousins.

[schigara]

Not sure at all actually. Thought it was a Mille when I first got it but most in the club who have seen guess at Prostrata. They aren't even sure. I'm not really too big on knowing exactly what something is.


I love the first acro. A LOT of potential there? And are you sure that's a prostrata? If so, one of the strangest i've ever seen. But I like it... a lot... :D

[Amphiprion]

Not sure at all actually. Thought it was a Mille when I first got it but most in the club who have seen guess at Prostrata. They aren't even sure. I'm not really too big on knowing exactly what something is.

Don't feel bad. When it comes to aquarium-raised Acroporids, even the experts throw in the towel. People just plaster a name on something, when in most cases, they aren't even close. One reason I don't even attempt it. I have seen too many corals completely change morphology to say much of anything. I pretty much just generalize by genus, followed by the use of a morphological term, like "ramose" or "digitate," etc.

[schigara]

This pic was taken 12-01-2007

http://www.schigara.smugmug.com/photos/274901095_T96xE-L.jpg

Pic taken today 6-08-2008

http://www.schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309433324_jUEmy-L.jpg

[apelaston]

pics of my corals---thought i would chime in on this thread now that i have a few...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m294/apelaston/55gal/CIMG1863.jpg
was 2 mouths when i got it now has 4...
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m294/apelaston/55gal/CIMG1871.jpg
frogspawn from a local reef club member for free--7 heads only 4 full ones..others are growing.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m294/apelaston/55gal/CIMG1859.jpg
first coral
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m294/apelaston/55gal/CIMG1865.jpg
really deep green zoos...completely covers this rock now.
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m294/apelaston/55gal/CIMG1872.jpg
acan freebie on zoos frag
http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m294/apelaston/55gal/CIMG1844.jpg

[archer772]

Hey schigara how long have you had the Efflo and all of your corals look great

[emptywallet]

sweet tank

[schigara]

I have only had the Efflo about a month. I was at my LFS and a club member was buying a 4inch Efflo frag and he had the owner of the store break up the plug it was attached to. There were 3x 1/2in chips of encrustment that came off and I snagged em free of charge. What you see in the pic is those 3 tiny pieces that I glued together. Heh, love free coral frags!

Anyway, the pic below is the small colony my frag came from.

http://www.fishman.smugmug.com/photos/305389078_pYUVz-L.jpg



Hey schigara how long have you had the Efflo and all of your corals look great

[archer772]

I think the Efflo's might be my favorite tableing acro, I am trying to talk a guy out of his 8x8 colony but not sure my pockets are deep enough for the whole thing. I know his is in HIGH LIGHT and high flow and it is super purple with very bright white polyps.


I have only had the Efflo about a month. I was at my LFS and a club member was buying a 4inch Efflo frag and he had the owner of the store break up the plug it was attached to. There were 3x 1/2in chips of encrustment that came off and I snagged em free of charge. What you see in the pic is those 3 tiny pieces that I glued together. Heh, love free coral frags!

Anyway, the pic below is the small colony my frag came from.

http://www.fishman.smugmug.com/photos/305389078_pYUVz-L.jpg

[schigara]

My favorite as well. Maybe you could talk him into a free tiny frag or a reasonable trade on a frag. Personally I have come to really like getting tiny pieces and watching them encrust and grow. Larger pieces seem to take forever to encrust as their base is shaded by the overall mass which cause their growth to slow down. Of course, if you get the larger colony with the rock it's encrusted to, then it's not an issue.


I think the Efflo's might be my favorite tableing acro, I am trying to talk a guy out of his 8x8 colony but not sure my pockets are deep enough for the whole thing. I know his is in HIGH LIGHT and high flow and it is super purple with very bright white polyps.

[Fishieness]

I think the Efflo's might be my favorite tableing acro, I am trying to talk a guy out of his 8x8 colony but not sure my pockets are deep enough for the whole thing. I know his is in HIGH LIGHT and high flow and it is super purple with very bright white polyps.

They are up there with mine too. Most of the ones you see have a really brown center, which I don't like, but the growth pattern is pretty darn cool. :)

And Schigara: While I agree that you sometimes cant actually tell the species of a coral, the old picture of the acro there does look like a prostrata to me. But the new one is crazy looking! Are those really oddly shaped coralites or just SUPER fat polyps? haha It's awesome looking. I love the color patterns.

[schigara]

Heh! It seems like everyone that sees my tank just stares and comments on this one coral. Actually, I think the strangness might be due to heavy water flow. It has grown very thick compared to when I got it.

The polyps are Super Fat but the coralites are very strange as well. Since the polyps are green, the whole coral looks green due to the super fat and bushy polyps but when the polyps retract, the tissue is deep blue. 2 months ago, the coralites were indiscernible. With the polyps retracted, the branches were just totally smooth with holes where the polyps were. Now, it seems like the coralites are regaining some definition.


They are up there with mine too. Most of the ones you see have a really brown center, which I don't like, but the growth pattern is pretty darn cool. :)

And Schigara: While I agree that you sometimes cant actually tell the species of a coral, the old picture of the acro there does look like a prostrata to me. But the new one is crazy looking! Are those really oddly shaped coralites or just SUPER fat polyps? haha It's awesome looking. I love the color patterns.

[apelaston]

FTS shig!!

[schigara]

Full tank shot is near the bottom on first page of this thread. Not very exciting as there are no large colonies yet. Tank is only 9 months old.


FTS shig!!

[archer772]

Well he has gaurenteed me a nice frag but he is thinking about selling the entire piece so I told him I would wait untill he decides if he is going to sell it, he is my uncle so I know I will get some one way or another. Here is a pic of it.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/archer772/Soli-DSC_3355.jpg

[schigara]

Wow! That baby is absolutely amazing!! You can see a bit of tan color in the low lying areas but does have excellent color throughout. What kind of lighting does he have over that girl? I can really see why you want the whole colony. Brilliant.....just brilliant!!

PS. Looks like a $300-500 colony but don't tell him that.


Well he has gaurenteed me a nice frag but he is thinking about selling the entire piece so I told him I would wait untill he decides if he is going to sell it, he is my uncle so I know I will get some one way or another. Here is a pic of it.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d195/archer772/Soli-DSC_3355.jpg

[archer772]

He has it under 250 watt 14K Phoenix lighting and that coral is still going for $125 for a small frag on reefarmers with the next one available Jan. 2010
http://www.reeffarmers.com/limited500dollarefflo.htm
thats why I am not sure if my pockets are deep enough because I am guessing $500-$600

[schigara]

Hell yeah, makes me fell even better for switching over to Phoenix 14k's!


He has it under 250 watt 14K Phoenix lighting and that coral is still going for $125 for a small frag on reefarmers with the next one available Jan. 2010
http://www.reeffarmers.com/limited500dollarefflo.htm
thats why I am not sure if my pockets are deep enough because I am guessing $500-$600

[archer772]

When he got it it was not colored up very good but within about 6-8 weeks it had started coloring up nicely, I think is what he said.

[schigara]

Pics of the new 29g Xenia Scrubber

http://www.schigara.smugmug.com/photos/272854299_hKUrq-L.jpg

This stuff does really spread like a weed. I love the looks of Xenia and would never put it in a primary display tank.

http://www.schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309450444_bXgQw-L.jpg

For a few days, it just sticks straight up and pulses away and then the next day, it's laying over and attaching to a nearby rock.

[Kodiak]

I love my Xenia, i just keep fraging it off and moving it around. It was one of my first corals. I was like Yes!! it spreads fast. Now im running out of room and its crowding other corals.

[schigara]

That is exactly why I will only keep it in a refugium. It's pretty but it spreads way too fast to keep it in a main display tank unless you want a display with just Xenia!


I love my Xenia, i just keep fraging it off and moving it around. It was one of my first corals. I was like Yes!! it spreads fast. Now im running out of room and its crowding other corals.

[apelaston]

mine has not spread on anything except the small piece of tonga that you see it on...it has gotten a lot fuller with more stalks but has never tried to move away....*knock on wood*
except i tried to get it to move a few times and no luck figure it would be a good fast grower for trades or credit for other things... my frogspawn frags that i got are growing twice as fast as the xenia....bizarre...

as for my green star polyps i can't get them to spread either....i am weird..

[Catpicklesdog]

Pics of the new 29g Xenia Scrubber

http://www.schigara.smugmug.com/photos/272854299_hKUrq-L.jpg

This stuff does really spread like a weed. I love the looks of Xenia and would never put it in a primary display tank.

http://www.schigara.smugmug.com/photos/309450444_bXgQw-L.jpg

For a few days, it just sticks straight up and pulses away and then the next day, it's laying over and attaching to a nearby rock.


I'll be interested to see how you get on with the Xenia scubber. Mine didn't grow quickly enough for my likely and my phosphates and nitrates soon went up.

[salty420]

wow your corals and tank look beautiful schigara, and i love the idea of a xenia scrubber tank. however i also love my xenia growing wildly on the side wall of my tank. it's a great place to keep xenia in your DT, IMO... that way it doesn't get out of control and you can still enjoy it's beauty!

[schigara]

Thanks Salty,

The 2 species of Xenia has grown pretty quick from 1 stalk each to5-6 stalks each in around 6 weeks. My nitrates are still at 5ppm and I am feeding heavier than I was before.

Probably won't see any big benefits until the 29g is jam packed with Xenia. I am going to put a 175w halide over it to push growth faster.


wow your corals and tank look beautiful schigara, and i love the idea of a xenia scrubber tank. however i also love my xenia growing wildly on the side wall of my tank. it's a great place to keep xenia in your DT, IMO... that way it doesn't get out of control and you can still enjoy it's beauty!