Thanks Brett. The colours are better in person. I can't figure out stupid cameras - or maybe it's just me that's stupid. If I play with the exposure, the corals look washed. But then the full tank shots look so dim, it is so much brighter in person. Oh well, good thing I don't take pictures for a living.

I don't think I'll ever get into the frag selling business, I'd rather take it to my local store for credit for salt etc. Marine Aquaria is really good to me here for stuff like that. But for you Brett, when you're ready, you come on by and grab some frags that are available :biggrin:

When do you take possession of your new place? I pray that all is well with your wife and family!

I hear you on the camera woes. So hard to capture colour and overall tank intensity. That's the beauty of macros...concentrate on the corals only.

Wife's doing great thanks for asking =) Been home a few weeks now and we go back on the 5th to find out what's next. We move into the new place and out of the current one jan 29. Basement/tank renos already dancing through my head of course.

Hey Dez

Im just wondering if i use the sponge powder, coral amino acid, and the Coral Vitalizer do i have to use Zeostart 2, Zeobak, Zeofood7 or will i be fine without? Where did u get yours zeo from?

Thanks Daniel

Any of the zeo products mentioned above can be dosed without a zeovit reactor. I would suggest signing up for the zeovit forum at zeovit.com and ask around there. I am still really new to the whole zeovit thing and have only been doing it for about 2 months. If you dose aimlessly it could be detrimental to your tank. I have heard that all the recommended amounts on the bottles are on the "high" side of dosing. I purchased my zeo products from Marine Aquaria here in Edmonton. I am sure they'll ship, I see them packaging up products all the time to ship.

Just a few picture updates of some weird angle shots of my tank:

http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1262579915
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1262579941
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1262579966
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1262579985
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1262580010

Thanks for looking.

hey des, are you using spur2 ? if so how much and how frequent.

those pics look great.

John, no spur2. Just zeobak, zeofood7 (Wednesdays/Sundays). Zeostart2 daily.

Amino Acids Coral (every other day), sponge power and coral vitalizer every day. (All these at less then half of recommended dosage.

I just started using K balance on less then half recommended dosage as well. Only for a few days. (Not the strong stuff, just regular)

great colors without the use of spur.

i too started k+ again, after a slump of about a month.

Do you notice a difference with the K-balance?

Honestly Tony, NO. The only reason I started using it was because I thought I saw some colour on the stupid KZ potassium test kit. That test kit is a joke. And since I don't dose potassium, I figured I'd try it a little bit just to keep the potassium up. I'll keep you updated though as it's only been a few days.

ya, that test kit definitely could use some help. Keep dosing though (a little bit like you're already doing) its amazing the colors you'll see eventually.

Thanks Christy, sometimes I wonder if the stuff I dose into my tank even does anything, so your comments are very encouraging. It feels like often times I'm just throwing money away into drops that I put into my tank without knowing if there are any positive results. Then I think, at least my tank is growing and not dead, so I feel better.

LOL, yes, not dead is good. I found that dosing potassium was a crapshoot as well, my kit said my potassium was "fine" but I did dose it anyways (even though I do weekly waterchanges) and I found slowly but surely things just looked better. I still dose it sporadically (JasonMcK had issues with it years ago so I'm a bit touchy with it now just in case) without running any zeo regimen (except for the occasional shot of coral snow and coral vitalizer) and I still think I get better PE and color while using it.

Dez, your growth and colour are terrific! Whatever you're doing, you're doing it right my man.

Thanks Lance,

I still feel very inexperienced compared to many. Just trying to learn more and enjoy it daily :). Thanks for the nice comments.

Des

Here are some random shots that a took a few weeks ago. Haven't taken much for pictures lately, but I did get a few new fish. I have a majestic angel in my tank now, he's a model citizen (for now....I hope this not to be true though). I also added a couple of royal grammas and a leopard wrasse. The leopard wrasse tends to like to kick up sand once in a while which is kind of annoying. Anyway, here are the pictures:

A Squamosa that I've had for a while now. I thought he was a goner in November, then I found a bunch of pyramid snails under him, picked them all off and then "toothbrushed" it. I left it for 12 days looking horrible while I was on vacation, and when I came back, he looked 100%. I've since checked every other clam to make sure that there are no pyramid snails.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263707307

Snappy's rainbow stylo. It has noticeable growth since I've gotton it. The dark green has really lightened up under it in my tank.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263707437

A fast growing blue tipped milli with a gold maxima and a squamosa clam:
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263707516

Random top down. The 2 frags are from lobster boy (pink pocci and a yellow acro). I picked up the green stag with blue tips from a friend a while ago. I really like that piece.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263707565

Green A. Humulis I believe. Don't really know how to spell it.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263707647

Snappy's blue polyped birdsnest. Interesting because the polyps turned pink in my tank. They had blue polyps in Snappy's tank for 5 years and now half of his colony has green polyps. Maybe we should name this the "mystery coloured polyp birdsnest.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263707705

Thanks for looking.

lookin good dez i like the birdsnest in the last pic. how are all the new fish doin?

Looks great. And thanks for posting. :)

I decided to try some fish pictures tonight. It's definitely a lot harder to take pictures of fish than corals.

McKosker's Flasher Wrasse
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263789691

Majestic Angel (Picked this guy up from Gold's while I was in Calgary for Snappy's Frag meet). Price of this guy is 1/3 of what it'd be in Edmonton. Crazy. She's eating like a pig and not touching any clams or corals. Kids named it Sunset.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263789728

Leopard Wrasse (Keeping my fingers crossed on this one. No one is bothering him, but he's not eating. I special ordered him through Marine Aquaria so I couldn't really not take him so I took my chances. Hopefully he eats soon. He has taken mysis and then spit it out. I might have to try live brine if doesn't eat this week). Kids named him Spotty
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263789838

Fathead Anthias (This guy isn't eating either but from my research it says they are slow to start eating). I've only had him for 3 days - same as the leopard wrasse). Nobody is bothering him either. Kids named him peachy.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263789955

Falco Hawkfish. One of my first fish added. Real character. Just likes to perch and eats like a pig. Kids named him Spiky.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263790073

Spotted Green Mandarin Goby. Just got him 3 days ago. My tank has been up for 5 months now so I figure it's safe to add one now. I'll always see pods in my frag tank, so my fingers are crossed. He has a heart shaped pattern on his back, unique so that's why I couldn't resist.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263790132
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263790243

Yellow tang. One of my first fish added from a fellow canreef member. I actually have 2 yellow tangs. From 2 different canreef members. This one is the smaller of the 2. They both spend most of the day grazing the rocks. It's a poorly lit picture, sorry.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263790263

Last picture for now. Yellow canary wrasse. This guy is tiny, but eats like a pig. I like him, such a different yellow compared to my yellow tangs.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263790367

Thanks for looking.

GREAT fish pics Dez. Love the Flasher wrasse!!! WOW!

ok so there IS a wrasse I really like...gorgeous! Quite the overall collection you have there now Dez. You have lucky kids =)

Yeah, that flasher wrasse is amazing isn't it? He just goes back and forth swimming around and flashing his gorgeous colours. Much better in person! Thanks for the nice comments Carmen and Brett! I never really paid too much attention to the fish for a while until now - since I have some more interesting fish. Before I would always just stare at the corals, but now I can stare at both :biggrin: What an enjoyable hobby.

What kind of footprint do these wrasses need in your opinion? I'm build either a 30x30x18 or 30x30x24 and would love to have one. It seems as though my Kole dreams will die...

Hey Brett,

Here's what I found online, they aren't a big fish so I think your tank should suffice. But you might not want to listen to me, I lean more toward the "more fish in a tank" kind of guy. But then again I do weekly waterchanges no matter what to keep the water quality up and I feed like 4 times a day if I can. So it's not the traditional school of thought.

Anyway, here's the info on the wrasse:

The McCosker's Flasher Wrasse is an attractive reef-safe wrasse sure to be the star of your aquarium. This hardy wrasse species adapts well to established home aquariums, making it a beautiful and active addition. The vibrantly colored male McCosker's Flasher Wrasse is predominantly red/orange with blue, horizontal stripes that complement its yellow stomach. The orange dorsal fin is accented with red, yellow, and blue and features a single elongated ray. A gorgeous, red band across the orange anal fin creates an impressive and bold color palette. The female coloration and overall appearance is more subdued. The females also do not feature the large dorsal and anal fins.
The McCosker's Flasher Wrasse requires a 55 gallon aquarium (or larger) with a tight-fitting lid since it is a jumper. Often found along reef slopes and rubble zones, the McCosker's Flasher Wrasse will often swim near the bottom and tends to form small groups where a male swims back and forth between groups of females. The colors of an adult male intensifies during courtship and he may flare or "flash" his fins to attract females. At this time, we are only able to obtain and offer male McCosker's Flasher Wrasse. We recommend only one male per aquarium display.

The McCosker's Flasher Wrasse diet should include vitamin enriched frozen mysis shrimp, vitamin enriched frozen brine shrimp, and other meaty foods along with a high quality marine flake and marine pellet food.<

Snapped another couple of pictures tonight. My wife is out so what better thing to do than to fiddle around with fish stuff. I hate sticking my hand in the tank cause I'm paranoid of my body's natural oils going into the tank. It also causes the skimmer's foam column to go down to nothing, so I try not to stick my hands in my tank unless necessary. So picture taking it was.

One of my fastest growing colonies - Bluish Pinkish Milli. Just for size reference, the larger clam is 4 - 5" and the Twinspot Hog fish swimming under it is about 4-5 inches.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263795206

Pink Pocci
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263795291

Green Slimer
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263795319

My 2 yellow tangs and mystery wrasse
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263795350

My clownfish. They sort of host in the Green Star Polyps and the flower pot right behind it. The flower pot isn't showing polyp extension because my halides had shut off already by the time I took this picture. Once the halides go off, the flower pot goes to sleep.
http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/t...g?t=1263795383

Thanks for looking.

Looks great Dez! :biggrin:

That Pocci is looking very healthy. They are one coral that i can never seem to keep happy :neutral:

Lobsterboy should reconize that one :biggrin:

Simon..

Simon,

I didn't realize that you originally got that pocci from lobsterboy. It's grown some, then it fell into my hammer while I was gone for 12 days. And now it's back on the growth path :biggrin: It turned a lot deeper pink in my tank hey?

Wow Dez!
Everything looks amazing! I am in awe, how many fish you have in there now?

Leah

Thanks for the comments Leah. I'm kind of afraid to tell you how many fish I have in there in fear that I'll get flamed. I believe I have 26 fish in there. I have about 320 gallon in water volume and I'm a stickler for water regular water changes to keep the water quality up. I feed about 4 times a day if I can to keep the health of the fish. Nobody squabbles in there except that the regal chases the majestic once in a while, but never picks on him or bites him.

3 x scissortail bar gobies
2 x Chromis
2 x Yellow Tang
Mystery Wrasse
McKosker's Flasher wrasse
Multicolored Wrasse
Solorensis Wrasse
Twin Spot Hog Fish
Canary Wrasse
Majestic angel
Flame Angel
Coral Beauty
3 x False Percula Clownfish
Falco Hawkfish
Fathead Anthias
Mandarin Goby
2 x Royal Gramma
Regal Tang
Leopard Wrasse

You have a Regal, now I am really, really jealous! I have a thing for Clarions and Regals.

:razz: What the heck DEZ you have to many fish you meanie shame on you im telling the tang police

See Leah, I told you I'd get flamed :sad:

if you only knew how many fish i have in my 150 gal lol and you will never know:mrgreen:

I seem to have a knack for that.....................Sorry Dez!

thanks dez for letting us come over tonight and wow this tank looks even better in person great colours super clean system :biggrin:

No problem Wes, andytime. It was a joy and pleasure. Talk to you soon.

I wouldnt flame Dez for too many fish:whistle:....sweet pics btw...

Hmm...maybe I *can* get a Kole in my cube. I think the police will have their hands full here haha!

Dez that pocci looks way way better in your tank. wicked job on that one.

Love that wrasse! I'm pretty sure I'm overstocked as well and probably most of Canreef is too for that matter. A lot of people are just in denial about it :lol: