Jawfish are sweet shizz though. I prefer the Pearly over the Randalli though. Prettier. Mine have not had any jumping issues (knock on wood). My jawfish are quite entertaining as a trio. You may have issues keeping the 2 Anthias...may be better off to keep 1 or 6+. I'm also thinking the PBT will end up being too big of a fish for a mere 12.5" depth to the tank. That sure is shallow. Based on your stocking outline, I would trade the PBT for another 4 Anthias so you have 1 male and 5 females. Would be a sharp look. I think I would avoid big fish in that tank as they would look bulky since it is so shallow.

Oh ya, the order I would do; Jawfish, Anthias, then the rest doesn't really matter imo. They will all be fairly boisterous.

Like Christy said jawfish are awesome! There are many other types to look at including 'dusky', yellowhead/pearly, bluespot (these are NICE)... I just happen to hear of/see a lot of Randalli jumpers... higher frequency than other types.

if my pearly jawfish wasn't in an rsm he would have hit the floor more than once.

I think it helps that my Kole tang dive bombs the Jawfish. I think the Kole gets entertainment out of trying to catch the Jawfish, but they are waaaay too fast! Even at feeding time they don't risk going any further than like 6" from their burrows.

It may be a "bristletooth/goby type fish thang"...we have a chevron in the display at the shop that hates the orange spot diamond goby with a passion...

Well, back from Christmas holidays, and unfortunately I lost a frag and 1 of my clowns. The frag stn'd on me, and my tank sitters aren't sure how or why, but my clown got sucked into my pump (my fault as I didn't have the cover on the intake).. They figured a piece of mysis was getting sucked in and the clown followed it in to grab it... :( Other than that, everything else is looking ok after the transfer, SPS is going through some color swings, but still getting PE and no brown outs.

So pretty successful tank transfer.

Angel and Wrasse are finally out of hiding, and the cleaner shrimp is doing awesome after the transfer. Hope to get my sump baffles installed in the coming days and get this thing filled up and running 100%. :mrgreen::high5:

Oh man, that sucks about the losses, sorry to hear man. I hate going away for as much as two days for fear of the surprises waiting for my return.

Glad to hear everything else is working out though. :) Welcome back and stuff. :)

Thanks Tony, trust you had a nice christmas?


I felt 80% comfortable leaving for 10 days considering I had infamous fishytime (who did a WC on CHRISTMAS DAY for me!!) and my roommate looking after the tank. So it was in pretty good hands. :mrgreen:

Does suck about the clown as I'm pretty sure they had finally figured out who was gonna be the male and female.. Plus they were, well one still is, perfect Ocellaris specimens.

Scored me some new fish. I don't have a tank journal for my 115 so I don't know where to post pictures of them. :lol: Maybe I'll start a new thread in the pictures forum (doesn't make sense to start a journal now on a 5 year old tank whose days are theoretically numbered anyhow, but who knows).

A tanksitter who does waterchanges. :lol: You dogs!! I need me some tanksitters to do that down southways. :)

Picture sub-forum?!?! :der:

there's a pictures subforum? Who knew!!!

I just meant I wasn't sure if it was worth a thread on its own. Sheesh. You're mean. :p

Post pictures of your new fish to Josh's build thread :lol:

I actually don't mind doing water changes. Call me up the next time you're on holidays :P~

Anyway.. So are you running sumpless and skimmerless right now ???

Josh you have some serious bad luck with clowns!.:wink:..Happy holidays to you and glad the tank did okay otherwise while you were away.

:lol:

pretty much.. i've filled the tank up more. Its now above the return bulkhead, and about a 3/4" from the lip of the overflow. (Check valve working properly BTW.. haha!!)

Couple random snaps... nothing fancy. Pretty Ghetto actually..:lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...w/IMG_0146.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...w/IMG_0141.jpg

Yea no kidding.. I thought these would be the two I'd have forever!

wow nice looking tank man

Thanks Mike..:)


Trying to make a bit more progress tonight. Picked up 30lbs of Aragamax Select Sand. Adding the bag in thirds, and rinsing with 10G of RO water for each third (or until satisfied). Got another 10-12 lbs to go I think.

Anyways, typical photo. To the citizens of "Shallow Paradise" overnight weather forecast: Cloudy/Overcast Water.. :lol:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...w/IMG_0149.jpg

this tank is going to be sick. I am totally stoked to see it stocked.

what are you thinking of for lightings?

led build!

So that's what coral snow looks like =)

Can't wait to see this badboy with some corals and mad flow. Going to be addicting to sit in front of.

I'm still up in the air...

ATI Sunpower 2x 6x39W
Tek Elite 2x 6x39W
2(or3)x250 MH Galaxy Ballast with Lumenmax Elite Reflectors (14K Pheonix)

Not on any of my tanks!! haha

It's already addicting to sit next too... especially since the water cleared up today..

Boy did I have a light for you =) Too bad the timing was poor.

I got a sneak peek of the tank cleared up tonight. I'd definitely be parked on a couch next to that every night. Looks awesome already!

I would have loved that light man... :mrgreen:

Couple pics of the aquascape:

Left Half:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...w/IMG_0181.jpg

Right Half:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...w/IMG_0180.jpg


If anyone has about 5lbs of un-used Caribsea Aragamax Select sand they don't need, let me know.. :mrgreen:

that island looks sweet man, keep it up!

Looks really neat Josh!:biggrin:

Looks nice! Like the long exposure shots and the effect on the surface it gives. Interesting that the sand isn't moving around enough to blur on the 2.5s shots.

Would love to see a shot down the long side if you get a chance .. :) (please and thank you)

Thanks Jon!

Thanks Carmen.. Rock worked out pretty good... might add a piece or two from the shop still.

Sand doesn't move at all except for one 4" length along the front glass. :biggrin:

Long side pics don't come out all that great as either the lit end is completely overexposed to properly expose the unlit end or the unlit side of the tank is underexposed to properly expose the lit side of the tank. :lol: Will have to wait till I get my lighting sorted out. :wink:

I like it!

Very Nice, I really like the shallow look.

yup i really like the shallow look well done man

Nice tank love that rimless look.
I have some sand but you are a bit too far away.:wink:

Thanks Lance!

Thanks Brian,

Yea, thanks Mike... I'm pretty stoked on the visual outcome.. Basically what I had in mind from the beginning.

Don't let Myka see you talkin about "rimless".. :wink: I figure I'll end up buying a bag of sand before I find half a one.. :lol:

Bit of an update: A local reefer here offered up temporary use of his skimmer until I get mine ordered... Which is awesome.. Thanks again Kryptic4L!


Added 2 fish to the tank tonight... I replaced my Occelaris Clown that I lost while away for a christmas and brought home a tank raised True Perc. I thought they would be a BIT closer in size than they are though, not that it's a problem. The remaining occelaris and this new guy seem to be buddy-buddy already..

2nd addition was a McCoskers Flasher Wrasse... this one has me a bit nervous with regards to jumping... tempting fate with this purchase.. :eek:

I'll try and get pics of both as soon as I can, the McCoskers' been in hiding since adding him...

Im looking forward to some top down photos on this thing when everything starts growing. Lobsterboy may have some competition...

no doubt, this tank is going to be awesome.

Looks great Josh! I love the look of less rock, more water. Seeing your rockscape, I think the PBrT would probably look quite nice (albeit a shoal of Anthias is AWESOME). Do you still have the same stocking plans now?

Ya, that trimless look is real nice, eh? :lol: Seriously though, it does provide a nice, clean look. I am a fan of it, and my own tank would have been trimless, but my Jawfish harem plans needed a lid! :D

Thanks Mindy...

PBrT is still a for sure.. Convict I REALLY REALLY want.. but I'll have to see what I add before the tangs go in.. I am on the look out for a Pair of Zebra Angelfish, they are quite sharp. Also a Pacific Redstripe Hogfish (currently on hold at RC). Sunburst Anthias perhaps instead of my previous choice. So not doing the BEST job at sticking to my plans, but that's usually how it happens! :lol:

Love the tank... the shallow is a must from now on.. haha.. wish it was 30" wide instead of 24" though......... :cry: But that's for another time.. :lol:

what is the thickness of the glass for that tank. might think of doing a long shallow one at the new house/ like 12 ft long :biggrin:

Top Down won't look all that hot till I get all my lighting, or even just a 2nd MH up and going. So I will be waiting before taking any... I'll do is as a before and after.. :mrgreen:

I got alot of catching up to do I think... :lol:


This tank was done with 1/2" glass... If it was much taller I would have gone 5/8s to 3/4"..