Sharing my 125 softie tank

[finding nemo]

I only keep softies and have 4 tanks of them. Here is my largest tank with some closeups of just some of what I have in there.
Hope you enjoy seeing them.

I do not use sumps or fuges but go with natural filtration in all of my tanks.
I do however run a hang on filter on them with a piece of filter material and bag of carbon and also a skimmer.
Lights are VHO on the tanks.

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And some of my caulerpa that I keep in the tanks.
This is the right corner of the tank.

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More on the next post

[finding nemo]

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And here is my 75 gallon softie tank.
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[crrichey]

Thoughs are awsome pics! Really dig the macro-algae.

[finding nemo]

Thanks Chin. Glad you like them

[salt newbie01]

Your tanks are beautiful - I love the look of all the calerpa. Very natural looking -
You have great sucess and it is wonderful that you share it with everyone. Your site has so much usefull info on it. It has helped me a great deal.
Thank you for sharing

[Jeremy Blaze]

Tanks look great! Very Dutch Style. Keep up the good work.

[tinyreef]

very nice! although i see some LPS in there. :p

how do you like those mini-seios?

do the suction cups give you any grief?

is there a hang-on/hook accessory option?

are they on intervals or 'on' all the time?

[reefnewbie54321]

This is one of my favorite tanks, it inspired me to incorporate macro algae in my display and also swayed me to do a softie dominated tank.

[Jon Evans]

do you have a sump for that tank? I have a sump/fuge, and I'm tempted to put some of my calurpa in my main tank now.

[finding nemo]

Hi all, will reply to your questions,
sieos, love the suction cups, I have never used them with the hang on thingys.;)
They are not on intervals. I have 4-620's and one of the smaller ones in the tank. All run full bore all day and night.
They all point into the long ends of the tank but one, the middle one points right to the front from the back.
Don't think I need it really as there is plenty of movement but I had it so tossed it in, the xenia love the wave action so guess it will stay.
The smaller of them I use for surface aggitation, it creates the ripple effect but not much more as doesnt have much push so to speak.

No sump or fuge on any of my tanks.
Having the natural ballance of things in a tank keeps it running smoothly.
I do water changes once a month, 10% about on each tank.
Yea ok, there are a few hard corals in there, not much to look at tho,:)
Thanks Newbie, I hope that my tanks inspire others to go Ah Natural with there tanks.
Softies don't need all the fancy junk that a lot of people think they have to have, they like semi yuck water, that keeps them happy.
Thanks for the compliments everyone.
I love to just toss things in there, no lining up or seeing how it looks first. (maybe thats a bad thing?):)
The ocean gets slammed around pretty hard and tosses corals here and there and I want my tanks to look like I just had a storm.
Guess I got my wish ha?:)

[reefnewbie54321]

No skimming either?

I'm going skimmerless on my 120 but I am going to use a 20 gallon refugium with an ATScrubber 250 on top of it for surge action.

[finding nemo]

Yes I have skimmers on all of my tanks, that fishy poop has to go someplace besides the water:)

[Fat Surgeon]

Very nice Nemo. I also go natural on my 125, however, a refugium is going to go in in the next few weeks. Love it all! Thanks for sharing:cool:

[finding nemo]

Thanks so much Fat, but why not put the fuge in the tank?
It is where the pods and worms go to hide and breed and adds color to the tank also.
My mandrin loves to surf thru the caulerpa finding all sorts of things to eat .
Give it a try. It is easy to pull out if it gets to thick or overtakes something else.

[Jon Evans]

how do you put the calerpa in the tank? do you fasten it to rock or do you plant it in the sand? I have some calerpa in my fuge, and I want some in my display tank.

[finding nemo]

Just lay it behind the rock work , it will climb up the rock and attach itself, it also will grow along the sand if left undisturbed.

[Jon Evans]

I just pulled some out of my sump and stuck it behind my rocks. Thank you for the advice! I can see the pods and feather dusters attached to it from my sump.

[finding nemo]

Cool, they are great for the water, feather dusters are filter feeders and will help the water quality as well as spread around the tank looking purdy;)
Post a pic if you can of it in your tank.

[Fat Surgeon]

Hye Nemo,

The reason I cant put the fuge in the tank is cause the fuge wouldnt last long. Notice my name, Fat Surgeon? I'm not a Fat surgeon, thats one of the fish I have in my tank. A 12" Vlamingi tang, and he would decimate the caulerpa in a couple hours. So.... I am having the fuge tie into the system so the pods can cruise into the tank via gravity pull and not pump pull. My fuge is about 4 inches above the main tank line thus allowing me to have water returning to the tank with no pump:D
I also have plans for Semi-automation. If my camera was working, I would take some pictures(and draw out) of what everything looks and will look like. Whenever I snap photos(digital camera) my snapshots come out jagged. Weird I know. It's getting looked at sooner I'm buying a new one. Till then....

[reefnewbie54321]

Have you ever witnessed your tang eating Caulerpa??? Tangs tend to stay away from it unless they are hugry ... I'm assuming your tang is so fat becuase it is well feed. The tang would much rather feed on nori or tang heaven over Caulerpa.

[Fat Surgeon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7450863#post7450863 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefnewbie54321
Have you ever witnessed your tang eating Caulerpa??? Tangs tend to stay away from it unless they are hugry ... I'm assuming your tang is so fat becuase it is well feed. The tang would much rather feed on nori or tang heaven over Caulerpa.

I feed it to him nearly everyday,so yes, I guess you could say I have witnessed it.:)
Tangs will stay away from caulerpa unless they like it. The ones that tend not to eat it unless they are hungry are the ones that most likely will NOT eat it anyway. The fact is, there are very few Surgeon's who wont eat caulerpa.
As to what a Tang prefers to eat, it all depends upon your special Tang. I feed mine tons of different foods. All of my fish get fed 3 times daily. Gordo (my Fat Surgeon) will devour ALMOST anything. He prefers (not in any particular order) seaweed select, caulerpa, spirulina, dianichi (marine and veggie), cyclopeeze, krill, mysis, brine, squid, Marine cuisine(mix) and sometimes likes to nibble on my finger for the heck of it: Havent used tang heaven....i'm sure he would like it. rolleyes:
And yep, my Vlamingi is hand fed, as is my CopperBand Butterfly, Maroon Clown and Yellow Watchman Goby. Dont you just love Saltwater fish! :dance:

[finding nemo]

Fat . well darn, and I had a medical question for ya, JK.:)
I see on the caulerpa, I have it in all of my tanks, two of which have yellow tangs and they won't touch the caulerpa, guess they are well fed also, but I do feed them nori so that keeps them happy.
Get that new camera and lets see some pics.:)

[Fat Surgeon]

You can still ask me a medical question if you like. You just might not get the right answer ;)
As for the camera, I'm workin on that. I'm going to be out of town here pretty quick and may not get to it for a couple weeks. I'll try to post some older pictures though (not to old, maybe 6 months or so.)
I got a 12 galloon Nano today! Fully stocked and perfect condition for 75 bucks, what a bargain! Came with 2 toadstool, a LARGE clam (I'm talkin mongo huge!), a smaller clam,several hairy mushroom and 2 brown button colonies. Also came with some extra loc-line that I can use for one of my new projects. It looks absolutely fabulous! Will get some pics of that...well...er....soon:D

[finding nemo]

How cool is that? I love bargains.
I just picked up a beautiful BTA for 20.00 , got to be in the right place at the right time for sure.
I would love to see that nano.
So your taking a vacation? Or work related where you won't be having any fun?

[zarro]

very nice pics

[Fat Surgeon]

Work related....

and fun.... :beachbum:

U betcha, as soon as I get mine fixed or get a new one, I'll be a snappin away!

[finding nemo]

Some more pictures of it's inhabitants.
First my 2 mouth BTA. She was white when I saved her from the FS and now this is her in all of her glory. Picture taken yesterday.
You can see her transformation on my web site.
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v346/karenssaltwater/5-27-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

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More down below

[finding nemo]

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The end:)

[Jon Evans]

I had a bubble coral that died recently. I think my softies poisoned him because I don't run carbon. Do you think it would be wise to run it constantly to absorb some of the chemical warfare that is going on? If so, how often should I change it?

[finding nemo]

Hi Jon, I run carbon at all times in my tank, just a half cup in the 125. changed once a month.
I double it was warfare, where you feeding your bubble?
I feed mine mysis shrimp at sometimes if I have a small piece of silverside left over I give it that which it eats.

[king4345]

Those tanks are very impressive. I am truly jealous.

[finding nemo]

King, thanks so much, the 125 is only 5 months old.
All stock came from my other tanks but I have added to it since with zoos and shrooms and fish.
The sand is also new, it is Southdown sand.
But the rest is from other tanks I have.

[Jon Evans]

Do you have any emerald crabs in your tank? I have one that likes to eat the caleurpa that I just put into it. Also, my bubble coral is dead now. I lost a torch coral a month ago, and it may have caught the same disease. When it was alive I fed it plankton and brine shrimp.

[finding nemo]

Yes I have one small one but it has not bothered anything in the tank so far, it has been in it since I set it up.
But that may be the curprit in yours, sometimes they don't play nice.

[Jon Evans]

I witnessed mine eating my caleurpa again. I had to get rid of him. He was even eating some of my clove polyps and yellow polyps. As soon as my algae gets established, I'm going to try to go without a sump just like you do.

[Jon Evans]

do you have any regular small hermit crabs in your tank? I got rid of the emerald crab, but my algae is still disappearing. I have a yellow tang, but I've never seen him eating the caleurpa.

[bluerug]

Just have to say i love the pics of your tank.

[finding nemo]

Hi Jon, yes I have both blue and red leg hermits in the tank, about 20 or so in the 125. My tangs have never eatin the caulerpa as she eats mysis and formula one just fine and is never hungry.
Thanks so much bluecarpe.
Here are some pictures I took a few days ago when I feed
Coral Vibrance.
I love it as do all of the corals so took some pictures of some of there reaction when it was put in the water.
And some other pretty pictures.
I love this picture, she was blowing around in the current .
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Feeding time. The leather loves it.
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And so does the star polps
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Even the baby BTA over expands for some of it.
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My two mouth anemone is also in this tank. You can see here recovery from bleaching on my web site.
This is her open and happy.
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And her with a question for me. I love this picture.
I never did find out what she was asking tho, ;)
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[bluerug]

I love it so much, it looks so natural and peaceful.

[finding nemo]

My new Additions today.
Chameleon palys and red and green zoos, and a new replacment for the true perk that jumped the tank.
Cool ha?
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[finding nemo]

And the new zoos, they have'nt opened yet but they are starting.
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[55semireef]

Nemo, that is an awsome looking tank.

On your 13th picture, what kind of coral is that? Its the coral on the bottom with green tips with white spots in the middle.

[55semireef]

Oh, they are star polyps. Nice. I have a small frag of those and always wondered what it was. Now I know.

[55semireef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7591650#post7591650 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 55semireef
Oh, they are star polyps. Nice. I have a small frag of those that I got as hitchikers and I always wondered what it was. Now I know.

[finding nemo]

Took some new pictures as seems the corals are growing fast since I started feeding the Coral Vibrance.
Hope you enjoy the pictures.
New blastos
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Zoos
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This picture taken 5-19
I wish I could get a clear picture of the full tank, they always turn out a bit blurry.
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Picture taken 6-28

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Xenia picture taken 6-28 just after feeding Coral Vibrance, they are closed up eating.
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[finding nemo]

Bought a wide angle lens for my camera and was trying it out.
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Fuzzy shrooms have multiplied and now have 4 new babys crowding in.
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[55semireef]

Still looks great. Finding Nemo, having three BTAs in a tank won't hurt them but say I get a Carpet anemone and I have a condy already, will the do chemicle warfare?

[finding nemo]

Yes they will and the Carpet will win as they have a potent sting.
There are some people on RC that do keep several kinds of nems in their tank but that have large tanks, 125 or over.
I would never add anything in the way of different anemones to my tanks with the roses as they will start to move to get out of its way as it finds it's place.
So far not one of my anemones has moved around the tanks and stay put.
So personally I would not do it in less then a 125 and then it is still risky.

[55semireef]

Actually I am pretty sure the Condy has a more powerful sting. The main factor of the battle would be the size of the anemones. Whos bigger and whos smaller.

But how do two different types of anemones know each other are there?

[finding nemo]

You may be right, I however do not know much about other anemones as I only keep roses and a flower/rock anemone. So take what I say about any others with a grain of salt ok:)
I don't know how they tell that there is another nearby.
I do know that they do and will wither away from the other when threatoned or stung.

[55semireef]

Alright cool. I took the advice.

But in the future, if there is chemicle warfare with any coral or anemone just run carbon and that should remove the threat right?

[finding nemo]

55. not necessarily, if they continue to stay side by side there will be stings and the animals will start to turn white or shrivel and not come back.
Yes carbon is a must and I run it in every tank that I have because I have so many different things together in one tank.
Just as an example
I have a very large RBTA that was gorgeous and about 10 inches across.
I placed a leather next to it but about 2 inches from the outer most edge of it.
Well, the fighting starting, you could almost hear the whining from them both, the leather mucused up and the anemone retreated and there they both sat.
I moved the leather another 6" from the anemone and all is fine again.
They both open fine now and not more hollaring between them.
All those swear words where the worst;)
So just be aware, two different species will fight via chemical warfare or stings if they don't like there neighbor, kind of like people:)

[55semireef]

Well my Condy Anemone is all by himself and all my other corals such as: Frogspawn, hammer, xenia, star polps, yellow polps, leather, bubble etc. are in the middle and on the other side of the tank. I just put really high quality carbon in my tank today and did about a 20-25% water change.

Oh btw, I also have a pink tube anemone thats on the bottom which is doing great. Will that too release chemicles?

[finding nemo]

55. Most corals have some kind of defense.
The new charcoal is a good idea and great on your water change, you are doing everything you can to help it and I hope that it pulls through for you.
Reduce your lighting by a few hours during the day to let it rest more.
They close up at night and will rest and that may help it a bit.

[55semireef]

I am not sue if I have chemicle warfare going on since all my corals appear to be good but i want to make sure. I know for a fact though my mushrooms are getting stung by my Hammer Coral. They seem to be shriveled during most of the day. They were fine before I got the hammer. Take a look and sorry for such a huge picture.


http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i263/cichlidfort/aracampandpianopicsandkidsyardwo-1.jpg

[55semireef]

The mushrooms on the right seem to be getting worse by the days.