Postcard to FW from SW

[steelhealr]

Thanks everyone. I'm waiting for my wish list items to come in. Some of them are:

1) fromia millepora
2) short tentacle plate coral
3) worm brain or open brain

SH

 

[steelhealr]

Went for the first two. Sadly, the fromia died after two days. The orange plate is doing well. SH

Orange Plate Coral

Fromia indica (sniffle, deceased)

SH

 

[bunjiweb]

beautiful, some really nice corals. Although I would say your "Orange Cup Coral" looks like its getting too much light, should be more filled out than it is in that picture.

Try moving it to a darker space if it doesnt open up. You may also find that it needs feeding quite specifically..

Ben

 

[Barracuda518]

Your tank is awesome. I was in a saltwater tank store not too long ago and stayed in there for about 2 hours looking around. I want to start one bad, but Im not quite ready yet...

Keep up the good work

 

[steelhealr]

To Bunji....the sun corals are underneath the outspread of some mushrooms. They are probably 'suffering' because all my critters are stealing the food from them and I've cut back on the feedings because my nitrates jumped. I am now pulling the frag out of the tank to feed them to help nurture them back.

To barracuda, when you are ready.....let us know. SH

 

[steelhealr]

Even the most 'ugly' or tiny creatures in marine can have elements of fluorescent colors. Case in point, check out this black longspine urchin:

Come down to TFF Marine. SH

 

[George Farmer]

I've love to go SW but there are three limitations - spare time, money and wife. The obsession with my planted 33 is enough.

Beautiful photography BTW, a great advert for the SW hobby.

 

[Bloo]

Fabulous pics (as always) ! You definitely get the prize for best and most active "lure'er"

 

[littleimp]

Time wise a smallish sw tank doesn't take anymore than a planted tank would.

Price wise their are some differences.

You can utlise a lot of your freswater stuff but you will need a skimmer £200 for a good hang-on one. And some sort of pump for good flow. You can use your existing external filter for carbon/rowaphos & filter floss.

Good to start with some live sand, T5 lighting (or halides for higher light corals) + some live rock.

It's the live rock that will do most of your filtration so don't skimp on this.

Other than that it's not that much different.

p.s. You need to be using RO water too!!

 

[Navarre]

What can i say SH, such a small tank and yet one of hte most beautifully setup marine tak i have seen! Very clean, nice aquascaping and very colourful corals and fish. Nice intelligent stocking list you have there, no issues with fish and territories etc, the corals are very healthly looking and again great looking colurful specimens.


The tank is a credit to you my friend and an inspiration to other members who might want to cross over to the "darkside" as you put it

 

[steelhealr]

Thanks..but....credit goes to Navarre, Inchworm, CFC, ...all the mods who started me off here and corrected my 'drift' while at sea. I will say one thing to the freshies here....having started out like most do in FW, if you have the time, it gives you a great insight into both animal worlds.

If you are enjoying and having good success with your FW tank, there is no reason why you can't edge into SW. There are obviously differences that require going back to the books.....understanding the medium of sea water, maintaining specific gravity by adding FW; understanding calcium and having to be a bit more involved with kH/alkalinity; confronting some more aggressive types of algal blooms/attacks; more issues with territoriaility; more in depth decisions re: lighting if you are going to keep a coral reef; sounds like a lot? Nah....remember taking on the FW tank? cloudy tank syndrome? ich? same stuff. SH

 

[Mr Miagi]

I think it deffinately was a Fromia Sp. But it has "burnt" feet. There was deffinately something wrong there.

Heres some of my pics.....Hope you dont mind me posting here. I have "crashed" your Saltwater party!

EDIT: Ok, those pics were shameful. Here are some better ones...

 

[Synirr]

Oh I am in love with that urchin!! Got any info about it, steelhealr? What tank size it requires, etc?

 

[steelhealr]

The longspine eats algae and some macros....it will eat the coralline off the rock. It can knock over corals but, hasn't happened to me so far. The do have a sting if you put your hand on it...level of a bee. They can get large. I put it in my nano to see if it would eat the macroalgae but...doesn't seem to be doing that. Very interesting to look at. Try looking up a Tuxedo Urchin....they are a beautiful blue color. SH

 

[Synirr]

Oooo, the tuxedos are indeed pretty, but I like the freaky "eye" on the other one