d2mini's Epic Fantabulous New Reef Build

[2XAl]

Great job! Fish shots are so difficult! I think you audition all your fish before you take them home ;)

No kidding right? For me to get those 3 pics I would need to first buy my fish dinner, then whisper sweet nothings, then take 2132492349283 pictures over 2.6 years. Insert 43 expletives and you have yourself a photo shoot.

 

[d2mini]

It's all about the electroshock therapy. :twisted: :lol:

 

[d2mini]

Sorry about the crappy iphone video, but here's my stars coming out at feeding time. :)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_508_ciNHU]Starfish Frenzy - YouTube[/ame]

 

[lilmatty5dimes]

Welcome to our world and the iPhone pics and video. The problem is that we already know how outstanding your tank is so we picture it looking better.

 

[chichimom79]

Very cool! I want a red serpent star but can't find one. Did you get any of those as hitch hikers?

 

[d2mini]

lol @ lilmatty. :lol:

I would LOVE a red serpent. Have always wanted one. These are brown, brown striped and a dull purple. They all came with my TBS package. :)
There was a brown brittle in there too which pretty much never comes out. Not really sure if he's still alive or not. Haven't seen any hairy appendages in a while. lol

 

[lmurtha1]

ok, i guess this is what everyone has been waiting for... pics of rock! :D

Full tank shot.
I just layed all the pieces out so I could get a good look at them and figure out how I want to aquascape.

Here's the big rock.
The 90lb shipping weight was with water in the box.
I'd guess this single rock is around 50-60 lbs.

Close-ups...
And FWIW, all shots are color corrected. All those colors are really there!

 

[ErinCahir]

BAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha. That's awesome.

 

[Kizmar]

Sweet toys, awesome livestock. Killer man. Always love the pics!

 

[d2mini]

BWAHAHAHA!!!! Thanks for the morning laugh. :lol:



btw, here's a little better video of some stars and mithrax crab. :)

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oqcP6h90gI]Starfish and Red Mithrax Crab - YouTube[/ame]

 

[monkiboy]

what kind of sand/substrate are you using?

 

[d2mini]

Whatever Tampa Bay Saltwater skims off the top of the Gulf of Mexico floor. ;)

 

[monkiboy]

is there a finer substate component (more sand like) to it or is all that sort of crushed coral that is seen in your videos? looks like a very tightly compacted medium below the larger fragments rolling around.

 

[d2mini]

It's all sand with a mix of particle size from pretty fine to large. Some shells mixed in too. Just like when you go to the beach anywhere on the east coast. I did try putting it in my 6 nano and felt the scale was a bit too big.

Here's an old top down shot where you can see the variance in particle size. Tiny grains up to small pebbles. Use the blue leg hermit for a sense of scale. That clam was real small at the time.

 

[monkiboy]

just trying to figure out if i want to work with TBS or not and was curious after seeing yoru video. thanks for the photo!

 

[Kizmar]

btw, here's a little better video of some stars and mithrax crab. :)

That red crab is badass. I'm digging the brittles. Makes me wonder if I can get away with a couple in my tank with a Harlequin. :)

 

[Kizmar]

How difficult is it [in reality] to keep these clams happy / alive? I keep hearing stories about how hard they are to keep alive.

 

[d2mini]

Derasa clams (this one) are easy. As long as you keep up with your calcium levels they grow like crazy. This one made it through two tank moves including a cycle, a power outtage that killed almost every fish and is now easily the size of a softball. He loves it up high on my rock but partially in the shade. Maximas I've had a harder time with.

 

[lilmatty5dimes]

that clam is awesome. regret selling mine now. here's an iphone pic that was pretty sweet. blue spotted watchman and a red star. thanks for the aquatic log on your sig. thats a pretty sweet maintenance log.

 

[d2mini]

Yeah, i think i actually commented on that star on AquaticLog. I WANT IT! :D

And yes, aquaticlog is freakin fantastic. You're welcome. :mrgreen: