Alberta-newb's 120 build

[Alberta-newb]

Wow, has it been 5 months already! Been so busy with the tank I forgot to update this thread.

Since my last post I have:

Added water (IO) and approx 110 lbs of live rock. The rock was of great quality and cycled very quickly (about 3 weeks). It came with quite a few interesting hitchikers (all of which are still ok) including a pistol shrimp, several Kenya trees, a small patch of zoanthus and plenty of algaes (the good the bad and the ugly).

Hardware:
5 gal gravity fed ATO
35 Gal RV tank for SW storage
Aquasafe RO/DI unit
Tek 6 x 48" T5 fixture with aqua sun, fuji purple and pure actinics (IIRC)
Quiet One 6000 return
Vortech MP40 with batterry backup
V2 1000 Skimmer
Aquaclear powerhead to reduce deadspot behind rock

Softies/LPS/SPS:

numerous mushrooms and zoanthids
torch coral
hammer coral
frogspawn
cream bubble coral
green bubble coral
green open brain
orange monti cap frag
pink birdsnest frag
metallic red donut coral
orange donut coral

Inverts:

peppermint shrimp
pistol shrimp (hitchhiker)
stomatella snails - black and tan variants (hitchikers)
turbo snails
nassarius snails
cerith snails
2 hitchiking crabs (now in the fuge)
2 Indonesian featherdusters

Fish:

Scopas tang
Yellow watchman goby
Red lipped blenny

Now a few pics:

[Alberta-newb]

Here's the 5 gallon ATO, it gravity feeds to a humidifier float valve in the sump




A few full tank shots over the last few months:

June 08:




August 08: Lots of GHA and aptasia




September 08: Starting to clear, been buying corals



Today (Sept.27/08): Improving?

[Alberta-newb]

Indonesian featherdusters:

These were an impulse buy which I'm still not sure about. They're beautiful but so tasty to so many things..really have to watch my stocking list.



Some zoanthus I picked up this week (actinics only):



Here's something you don't want! This small (3 mm) nudibranch loves chewing up zoos. Hard part is they take on the color of the skirts they're eating and blend right in. This one was just starting to turn green from the zoas above.





General shot:

[Alberta-newb]

A few more:


Just got this "Metallic Red Wellso Brain" and aclimating under actinics only:



Still haven't confirmed ID, was told it was a Trachyphyllidae radiata but I'm thinking it may be a Cynarina lacrymalis Any LPS experts


My yellow watchman goby:

Bought him to team up with the pistol shrimp. They paired off immediately but about a week later they had a "divorce" and the watchman moved to the opposite side of the tank. Still hoping for a reconciliation, as the Goby was over for a "visit" for an hour or two today.



Another shot of the brain. Starting to color up and expand as it gets used to the tank.




That's it for now

Francis

[JDigital]

Looking good.. No fish yet? Or just not pictured? Any stocking plans.

[Alberta-newb]

Right now I have a yellow watchman goby, a scopas tang, and a red lipped blenny. They are usually quite camera shy

Not a 100% sure on a final stocking list, but I should hopefully have 2 new arrivals flying in next week. I ordered a Magnificent Foxface and a Scribbled Rabbitfish (siganus doliatus) from OA about 3 weeks ago. Just waiting for them both to be eating well before flying WestJet. I've read that rabbitfish are similar to tangs in disposition so I chose two different body shapes and after I quarantine them they will be introduced together. Fingers crossed I won't have too much fighting.

Probably won't be adding to much more after that, and if so not sure what.