Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 6

clex · #**126** 08/31/2006, 09:53 PM

I did it! I read the whole thread! It only took a week! I'm so proud of myself. I would light up a cigarette if i smoked...

melev · #**127** 08/31/2006, 09:56 PM

Congrats. You are now fully prepared to set up and keep a reef yourself.

melev · #**128** 09/01/2006, 01:44 AM

Two nights ago, the Lemon Meringue Wrasse jumped out of the tank and was on the fish room floor when I found it. It was still breathing and I quickly put it back in the tank. From observing it ever since, I don't think it will survive. I think the impact or maybe the time out of the water was too much, and has caused some type of brain damage. It isn't swimming properly, and isn't burying itself in the sand at night like it used to.

I always hate it when I lose a fish, but in this case I'm not going to be overly upset. Dole has splashed the MH lights so many times, tripping the breaker to the circuit often. I've had to replace expensive bulbs, and recently watched it eat an Astrea snail right before my eyes. I doubt it will survive the night.

jnarowe · #**129** 09/01/2006, 07:53 AM

Sorry to hear that. My marine biologist buddy Greg advises me to hold injured fish in front of a powerhead to push more water through its gills. I have seen him revive a fish that way.

kendog261 · #**130** 09/01/2006, 11:41 AM

Sorry for the maybe loss of another fish Mark.

I thought you were going to put egg crate over your tank after the last fish jumped out.

On another note: did you get the wood work done yet?

rdmpe · #**131** 09/01/2006, 12:29 PM

I haven't had any fish jump all the way out, but after adding an Elegant Coris Wrasse, I saw an immediate impact on my snail population. Most of the smaller snails suddenly came up empty shells... He has jumped I'm pretty sure but has been along the edge of the tank where the eurobracing deflected him back into the tank. Also, twice I've had to get him out of my overflow which he would have had to jump to get into since there is a screen 1/2" above the water surface...

NuclearReefs · #**132** 09/01/2006, 05:56 PM

Refugium fish !!!!

melev · #**133** 09/02/2006, 02:25 AM

I made a new header for the ID page on my site. I figured I'd show you how it was assembled, briefly. I used Photoshop, taking a bunch of images and made them smaller for the new look.

Because this image is rather large (300k), I'll provide the link. And that is resized! http://www.melevsreef.com/pics/06/09...ing_header.jpg

And this is the outcome when I was done. This took about 2 hours to make, but it looks so much nicer now.

And I made one for the Phytoplankton page too.

jnarowe · #**134** 09/02/2006, 02:51 AM

wow. that's a lot for one brain to absorb.

NuclearReefs · #**135** 09/02/2006, 03:02 AM

looks awsome marc. WOW !

melev · #**136** 09/02/2006, 03:05 AM

Thanks!

NexDog · #**137** 09/02/2006, 05:00 AM

Yea, I love it.

steve68 · #**138** 09/02/2006, 06:22 AM

Gotta love that Photoshop !
looks great.

rdmpe · #**139** 09/02/2006, 06:59 AM

Very nice graphic Marc. Have you tried some different variations of the text? It gets a little lost in there. Might want to try adding some white partial opaque in there or something to bring it out a little more? But either way it looks great!

BrianPlankis · #**140** 09/02/2006, 08:54 AM

Great job Marc! I just got photoshop myself, installed yesterday

Now I can start trying out all your tips!

Brian

Stile2 · #**141** 09/02/2006, 10:06 AM

Nice job on the header. Adds a lot of interest to the page.

Keith

melev · #**142** 09/02/2006, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rdmpe
Very nice graphic Marc. Have you tried some different variations of the text? It gets a little lost in there. Might want to try adding some white partial opaque in there or something to bring it out a little more? But either way it looks great!

Randy, you make a good point, and the other header images on my site are crisp and easy to read. In this case, I wanted something that was semi-transparent, where you get a hint of what I'm trying to say.

On a subliminal level, you may be seeking more information as you gaze at it, which is principally why you would go to the ID page for further details in the first place.

Hopefully the viewer will pick up on that. Or maybe they won't, but I still will as I'm the site's master-designer.

Lunchbucket · #**143** 09/02/2006, 05:26 PM

TOO COOL!! nice job on the header. looks very professional and very clean

Lunchbucket

Cuby2k · #**144** 09/02/2006, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jnarowe
Sorry to hear that. My marine biologist buddy Greg advises me to hold injured fish in front of a powerhead to push more water through its gills. I have seen him revive a fish that way.

OF COURSE! I am glad you brought this up as I worry about the jumping fish problem. We do something similar to that when fishing for trout, I don't know why this hadn't occurred to me sooner. When doing the catch and release, sometimes the little critters are worn out when it's time to release so we have to swish them back and forth in the stream to get some water moving through 'em.

Sort of like mouth to mouth only without the mouth.

BTW, great art work Marc.

antesco · #**145** 09/03/2006, 07:58 AM

amazing poster Marc.

do I have your permission to print it XL and hang it in my fish room ?

toonascott · #**146** 09/03/2006, 08:11 AM

Here is a question for ya Melev. Your pictures of your sun coral inspired me to give one a try. I bought an anemic looking specimen and two days later it opened up rather pathetically.
I fed it mysis just like you had described and each polyp ate very well. Until two weeks later it looked like this.

I continued to feed it mysis every three days or so for two months. Now it doesnt open up like it used to. It kinda looks sick, but I think maybe I just overfed it and its just too fat. What do ya think?

rjwilson37 · #**147** 09/03/2006, 11:27 AM

Hi Marc, how are you doing. I would really love to see a few nice full tank pictures of your tank. I still have my Snowflake Eel in my 24g Aquapod Species tank and he is doing great.

jnarowe · #**148** 09/03/2006, 11:40 AM

check 9/2 post for full tank pic!

melev · #**149** 09/03/2006, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by toonascott
Here is a question for ya Melev. Your pictures of your sun coral inspired me to give one a try. I bought an anemic looking specimen and two days later it opened up rather pathetically.
I fed it mysis just like you had described and each polyp ate very well. Until two weeks later it looked like this.

I continued to feed it mysis every three days or so for two months. Now it doesnt open up like it used to. It kinda looks sick, but I think maybe I just overfed it and its just too fat. What do ya think?

If it isn't staying open, it could be you have a fish picking at it. After all, it is so well fed there is a good chance some food is available for a ''snacker.'

I don't believe it is possible to make them too fat. If they get too dense, they'd make babies. Looks pretty in that picture.

toonascott · #**150** 09/03/2006, 01:20 PM

I will keep my eyes peeled for Pickers of the sun coral.

Thanks for the reply.

I also wanted to ask you if you sell any of those sweet sump/refugiums you create.

Thanks again for the help, this thread has helped me turn my 40 gallon into an amazing little reef.