60g 36Lx24Wx18H brick build log (56K go home)

[Snook65]

Tank is looking great. Enjoyed reading your complete build thread today.

[ReeferMonkey]

Thanks Snook!

[somethinfishier]

How is your 20 doing?

[ReeferMonkey]

Originally posted by somethinfishier
How is your 20 doing?

Meh. It really needs a skimmer but I'm kind of loathe to spend money on the system right now. My frags are doing ok but the SPS are not seeing a lot of growth.

Truth be told the only WCs I have done for the last few months have been 5g changes to the 20g in lieu of skimming. I'd like to actually upgrade the whole system but I can't do anything cheap and the ROI would be so far away....

[ReeferMonkey]

Sadly I'm down to 2 Zebra Dart Gobies One decided to go carpet surfing during the night. If these guys don't make it I suppose it's Glass Cardinals for me.

[tigerarmy40]

dont mean to hijack the threqad at all but since your tank inspired mine I thought Id throw up a pic of the outcome!!! thanks again!

[ReeferMonkey]

Very nice! Looks pretty close to how i would have revised mine.

[Henry22]

How are the dart gobies?

[ReeferMonkey]

Originally posted by Henry22
How are the dart gobies?

The second one jumped. The third one, depressed and lonely, tried to follow suit. Fortunately, one of my cats has taken it upon herself to be guardian of the aquarium. As soon as the fish hit the floor she started crying like crazy. After 30 seconds or so I went to see what her problem was and saw the fish flopping around. He looked rough going back in the tank but the next day he was swimming around and eating.

As long as my aquarium remains open top, I don't anticipate that I will buy dart gobies in the future nor can I recommend them to someone with a similar condition. Super cool fish but, like their cousin the Firefish, notorious escape artists.

[melev]

Nathan, even clownfish jump. I've had wrasses, amphiron, and tangs all jump. What about a very adorable dwarf lionfish?

[ReeferMonkey]

Originally posted by melev
Nathan, even clownfish jump. I've had wrasses, amphiron, and tangs all jump. What about a very adorable dwarf lionfish?

I actually like dwarf lions but 1. my hands are frequently in the tank and 2. the possibility of eating my other fish rules them out. A pair of neon gobies and glass cardinals are my next choices.

[melev]

I didn't realize you had a few small fish in there, but I was staring at your avatar. Have you seen Stan's tiny lionfish? Man I'd love to have that little guy right here on my desk.

If you had cooler water, I'd suggest those adorable catalina gobies even though I don't know if they are known jumpers.

The green clown goby is a nice choice that doesn't seem to do the same damage to SPS that their yellow cousins cause.

[tigerarmy40]

I have both in my 15g and the yellow is def a nipper, the green is a saint and has never jumped!!!

[PhilliePhil]

just a newbie and fellow Dfwmas'er here, your tank does look awesome!

I am really wanting to upgrade to a 60-75g and I like the looks of yours a lot.

And I had never heard of glass cages before this thread (I never look at the local links) so I may give them a shot. 300-400 for a rimless, new, custom tank is hard to beat.

Great looking tank and an even better build thread.

[ReeferMonkey]

It's been a while, so enjoy a bunch of images! I'm suffering from a moderate outbreak of cyano right now - I actually started doing water changes (I know, I know ) and intend to add a Tunze nanostream (either a 6025 or a 6045) in the back under the overflow blowing stage left to try to mitigate the problem.

Since the last update, I moved a few pieces around and got a BEAUTIFUL showpiece Lobophyllia from a local hobbyist who was moving out of the country. It really adds some punch to the tank! I've got a small green open brain sitting at Extreme Corals waiting for me to swing by (it's been there for a while, I keep forgetting ).

Now for the good stuff! Please excuse the frags on the sand bed spoiling my pictures, I need to get them out of there.

[ReeferMonkey]

I also took some top down shots:

[ReeferMonkey]

[revenant]

great pics!! nice SPS you have there!

[ReeferMonkey]

Originally posted by revenant
great pics!! nice SPS you have there!

Thanks man!

[Chrisrush]

Looks good Nathan. You think about moving that clam out from behind that rock to near the front?

I need to stop over soon. Maybe next weekend if you are around and after I pick up my tank.

[ReeferMonkey]

Originally posted by Chrisrush
Looks good Nathan. You think about moving that clam out from behind that rock to near the front?

I need to stop over soon. Maybe next weekend if you are around and after I pick up my tank.

I've had that clam in about 5 different places and it always moved around, turned itself on its side or did something that hacked me off. Since I put it there it behaves itself. It's pretty large and ruins the composition/won't fit where I want it. It was actually a rescue from a crashed tank; it was completely browned out but is sloooooooooooowly regaining color.

I think next weekend will work for me, just give me a ring and we'll figure it out, it just depends on when, not if, I have to go into the office.

[gary faulkner]

What is the dark blue fish?
Possibly
cherub Angel?

[ReeferMonkey]

Originally posted by gary faulkner
What is the dark blue fish?
Possibly
cherub Angel?

You got it! Centropyge argi, one of my favorite fish for small tanks. Model citizen with SPS, LPS and clams in my experience. I feed the tank 3-4X weekly to deter nipping and he cruises around picking at the rocks all day.

[Chrisrush]

Sounds good Nathan. I have class on Sat., so I'll probably pick up my tank on Sun.

At least that clam is happy now.

Any luck on finding some glass cardinals?

[melev]

I always like seeing updates. I was just over in your neck of the woods a couple of hours ago, and wondered where you lived to see your tank finally. I was at Commerce & 75/45.