JasonH

Mike, I might be interested in the sump. I have an ATO, so I wouldn't need that. I'm planning an upgrade to a 4x2x2 (120, I think) so I'm trying to decide if this is big enough. I like the design of it, but wish it was a tad bigger. Do you have a recent pic? Does it have a filter sock holder on each side of the in-flow. I'll go home and measure some of the gear I have to see how it would fit. Oh, and what's the flow on your return pump? I need one of those, too. I'll google it, but just in case you get this quickly. Thanks, and good luck with the sale.

Saddly, not I. I was interested along with another member, but we got out-bid DOH!. I'm still crying a little.

Just pick it up at any LFS and you'll know that you have the right stuff. That's what I do.

Oh, I still want one. But I do think that we have a responsibility to minimize the hobby's impact on the global reefs. So not getting a Powder Blue is a small price to pay.

Wow - I never knew that Powder Blues had such a poor survival rate. I'm planning an upgrade and was mentally debating whether I wanted a Powder Blue or a Purple tang. So, Matt, if nothing else, you'll be happy to hear that you've influenced me to get the Purple tang.

I think the net really freaks them out because it is new. When I've had to do something siilar before, I've put the net in the tank and left it there for hours/overnight so they get used to it a bit. That might give you a better - but still not great - chance of getting them. Might be worth a shot.

You know, I hadn't heard much about it, but recognized the name. I saw the banner above and clicked on it. I've been feeding some frozen from Petco and have been looking for something better. I'm totally headed to Waves this weekend to pick some of this up. So tell our sponsers that the banners work.

Added pic in first post. They're already sold, but I was asked by several people to post a pic of the colony, so here it is.

Well, that was fast. All three have been sold.

I'm not a big fan of selling frags - usually prefer to trade - but I'm trying to fund another coral purchase that's going to be a stupid amount of money. So, I have three frags of Sunset monti that I'm looking to sell. They have been fragged and healed/growing for a couple months. 2 larger ones are about 1" round. The other is about 1/2" by 3/4". I got the Sunset from Matt at Reefready.net (Al G Blenny on RC) who got them directly from reeffarmers. All are sold. Thanks.

I've notivced the same thing about my Sunset - seems to like being higher in the tank than my Superman. It gets a much richer orange.

The Blue Ring? Yeah, they are (apparently) legal to import. I had one in my first incarnation of salt water tanks years ago - like 15 years. I had kept octopi before - and they are very cool. I knew a distributor in L.A. and he hooked me up with a Blue Ring. First, Blue Rings are very poor shippers. I think he ordered 5 or 6 and only 1 survived. Second, they have very short life spans - I think around 6 months. They are actually quite small. Octopi in general can fit through very small holes and are famous for exploring their containers - finding a hole - climbing out - and then dying once out of the water. Though some will actually climb out - do something (like eat fish in a neighboring tank) and climb back into their own aquarium. They really are smart and fascinating creatures. But, combine being able to fit through almost any sized hole with the ability to bite you and kill you within a minute... well, not a good combination. They really are stunning, though. First, just the "cool" factor of having such a rare and dangerous creature is appealing. But add to that flashing, iridescent blue rings and the interest of watching such an intelligent creature. I definitely see the appeal. But octopi in general really are only for experts with specific set-ups. And owning a Blue Ring really is just an invitation for someone to die - guest, child! Oh, and mine didn't make it. I tried to keep it alive, but I think it just never recovered from the initial travel. It never started eating and just wasted away. Very sad.

Yeah, I was watching an Animal Planet thing on the 10 deadliest snakes - I think 4 or 5 of them were sea snakes. Most of the rest were in Australia (one is in California - Mojave Green rattlesnake). That being said, you can find Blue Ring Octopi in the trade - and I once had one (briefly (sad)). And Blue Ring are one of the most poisonous animals on the planet. If bitten, you probably won't make it to the front door, let alone the hospital. P.S. I don't think Blue Rings should be legal to own.

Not really, cleaner shrip will eat the parasites from fish in the wild - good for ich type things. But they don't help rid the tank of nitrates - they don't improve water quality. And they don't help diseases. If you see fish approach "cleaner" shrimp, they will often change color (generally lighten) to help the shrimp see parasites against their skin. In a home aquarium, they're really 90% decorational.

Powder Blues are very susceptible to disease - including lateral line and hole in the head. A 36g is too small for a yellow tang (as long as we're on the subject) - and way too small for a powder blue. The crampt quarters will increase the stress and make the fish more prone to disease. I know it seems like an unusual opportunity, but trust me, another one will come along closer to (and hopefully after) you upgrade. Fight the urge. Your tank will be healthier, too. Tangs are pretty dirty fish. With two in a 36g tank, you'd be fighting nitrates constantly.

Thanks Spectra and MrGreenThumb. I'll be tracking this one. Normally I would never buy a coral off of ebay, but since you've already purchased one and it turned out to be just what was advertised, I supose it's worth a shot.

There's more of that fruitloop acan - where? Must have... (sorry to continue to highjack)

Wow - that's purdy. Does it pulse?

Mine was living in a rock near the top of the tank. Maybe without a shrimp goby to rely on, it had to be a more preditory. Also, since it wasn't along the sand line, it wouldn't get much food in the current. Interesting - I'm not sure it's dead. It's in bad shape. I put it in a net in the water. It lost it's claw when it left the rock. It probably won't make it, but we'll see.

Yeah, I wish I had been able to save him. But what do they eat - would he be able to eat hermits/snails? Or would he be too small? I saw a pistol shrimp kill and eat a cleaner shrimp once on a discovery channel show (really neat actually). Here is a pic:

It appears that I was making a mountain out of a mole hill - more precisely, a mantis shrimp out of a pistol shrimp. RIP little pistol shrimp.

It's also smart to frag your corals in case of disaster. I had a colony of Superman Monti that I got from the original (Tubs/Bruddah) colony. Through a tank mishap (which may have been my fault (whistle) ) I lost the colony - fortunately, I had a (tiny) frag of it separately and it is now regrowing in my tank. That would have been a huge loss. So frags are a good insurance policy.

Thanks, CA2OR, it's actually doing fine now. I was worried that it would react poorly after being attacked. I think frags are more sensitive than full grown corals. It's happy now - and look like it will regrown the killed section soon. I saw a pic of your Season's Greatings - looks very cool. In a mature aquarium, I suppose it's inevitable that corals are going to grow into each other and fight it out a bit. I try to minmize the aggressive corals I keep - LPS are worse than SPS. I had a hydnophora completely kill/eat a beautiful Stylophora, which sucked (even more for the stylophora). But that's my only complete loss from coral warfare. I don't have that hydnophora any more (threaten)

I met up with Ben on Sunday to trade as well. First, he waited for me since I was running late. Then, he said he would clean the pump he was giving me... but I think he spit-shined the thing. It was spotless. Great trade.

Wow, Matt, I think that Fruitloop Acan is the prettiest Acan I've ever seen... good job picking that up.