Russ' Reef

[RussM]

Ok, I've finally taken some time to shoot some pics (ah... the truth comes out as to why Russ recently bought his wife a digital SLR:D.)


30g cube
http://michelfamily.net/%21tank1.JPG
http://michelfamily.net/tank1.JPG (http://michelfamily.net/tank1.JPG)
homemade sump
http://michelfamily.net/%21sump.JPG

My favorite piece
http://michelfamily.net/%21fungia.JPG

DIY rock coloring up nicely
http://michelfamily.net/%21diyrock.JPG

Another favorite...
http://michelfamily.net/%21coco.JPG

a 10 buck ric that was pale gray when I got it, showing some nice blue now
http://michelfamily.net/%21blueric.JPG

a frag of idunnowhat that I thought was a goner, and now is looking rather promising
http://michelfamily.net/%21spsfrag.JPG

and a 15-second exposure w/ just the moonlights
http://michelfamily.net/%21nighttank.JPG

[j_electric]

very nice what kind of camra if you don't mind me asking I'm in the market

[GoTakuF1]

Very clean set up and sweet gorgonians! Care to share more photos of those guys?

[RussM]

A beautiful piece from Harold
http://michelfamily.net/%21red-yellfan.JPG

my granddaughter's favorite...
http://michelfamily.net/%21purpgorg.JPG

A very happy gorg... another FragCity superbuy!
http://michelfamily.net/%21red-yellgorg.JPG

[GoTakuF1]

You read my mind, absolutely brilliant gorgs! Bravo!

[RussM]

Very clean set up and sweet gorgonians! Care to share more photos of those guys?Thanks... I was just adding closeups of the gorgs when you posted!

[DaChrisDude]

wow, thanks gorgeous! You have some very very very nice gorgonians there - and all looking extremely happy. beautiful tank!

Looks like you need to clean the filter sock.... ;)

[RussM]

very nice what kind of camra if you don't mind me asking I'm in the marketa Nikon D40X 10.2MP SLR was used for most of these pics, and a Panasonic DMC-FX07A 7.2MP pocket model for others.

[RussM]

wow, thanks gorgeous! You have some very very very nice gorgonians there - and all looking extremely happy. beautiful tank!
Looks like you need to clean the filter sock.... ;)
Thank you! Geesh, pics posted less than 10 minutes and someone already slaps me upside the head 'bout the sock:o It's not dirty... it's stained:rolleyes::D. Yeah, I know - it's on my to-do list for tomorrow.

[RussM]

You have some very very very nice gorgonians there - and all looking extremely happy. I gotta get a good closeup shot of the rusty gorg when it's in "full bloom"... not all that pretty, but it's super healthy and growing rather well.

[GoTakuF1]

Are all of your rocks DIY? They've certainly turned out great. What's the age of the overall system and those gorgs in particular? Could you give us some more info on your gorg care?

[RussM]

Are all of your rocks DIY? They've certainly turned out great. What's the age of the overall system and those gorgs in particular? Could you give us some more info on your gorg care?
About half of my rock is aquacultured, from Tampa Bay Saltwater. I've added some of Pacific origin here and there, from LFS and SDReefs folks. I've made 4 small batches of DIY rock... the first two went in the trash... way too dense. The DIY rock in the pic is from the last batch... super light, extremely porous. Most of what I made and am actually using is in my FOWLr. Got a few more pieces sitting in the sump, and a bunch sitting in the garage ready for when I upgrade. Also made about 30 small pieces for mouting frags.

The reef tank started as a FOWLR in October last year - just the tank, a Skilter 400 (I hang my head low), and a small powerhead. The week between Christmas and New Year's day was a massive blur of activity - did a 3-way tank swap. I transfered my 55g freshwater contents to another 30g cube, then transfered the 30G FOWLR contents to the 55g, newly equipped w/ a Remora Pro. I built the sump, drilled and plumbed the tank you see in the pics, leak and function tested, reworked the plumbing (watch out for those **** siphons upon power loss!), then added an Urchin Pro in the sump. Once the it was safe to bring back inside, I took 1/3 of the substrate, about 20g of "old" saltwater, a bunch of LR, and a couple of small fish out of the 55g, had the reef up and off to a great start with no ammonia cycle. Added a few soft corals a week later, and have been gradually adding ever since. The frshwater is not retired fully... in fact, my last FW tank is now in the kitchen of "Mad Mike" (Yolo), being subject to his nefarious plans ;).

The rusty, the red/yellow fan, and the purple frilly are easy... no special feeding. The yellow finger gorg gets fed cyclopeez or SF Bay Reef Plankton regularly... I turn off the return pump and the powerheads, let the residual flow die down for a minute or two while the food defrosts, then puff the food all over it w/ a baster.

[GoTakuF1]

The yellow finger gorg gets fed cyclopeez or SF Bay Reef Plankton regularly...

Great info, thanks! How regularly do you feed?

[RussM]

Great info, thanks! How regularly do you feed? I do the deliberate heavy target feeding I described 2x a week, but have to skip sometimes due to business travel. My daily feeding regimen uses a homemade mash that has stuff in it for filter feeders as well, so it still gets something every day. My flowerpot gets the same treatment as the finger gorg; the sun coral gets similar w/ prawn eggs and mysis.

[Jessy]

I have a new appreciation for Gorgs. I bought one from Harold also. It didn't like my tank. I let Jojo care for it, I did keep a little piece just to try and make it happy...IT WORKED! I look at that little thing everyday and feel so accomplished :D. Your are really pretty, and quite large!

[RussM]

Your are really pretty, and quite large! Thanks! I'm going to have to prune the purple frilly again soon.. it's tips keep getting sucked into the Koralia.

[seahorse_man]

Nice tank:)Lets see pics of your other ones:cool:

[kinktao]

I've seen Russ's tanks in person and must say he's done some great work. The tanks look better in person!

[iwantone]

I hope your fungia stays put. They have a tendency to wander...

[RussM]

I've seen Russ's tanks in person and must say he's done some great work. The tanks look better in person! Thanks, John. The 'fuge you saw I was making just got plumbed in today, and is direly in need of some chaeto.

[RussM]

My new 'fuge.. my skills in working w/ acrylic are getting better (but still have a lot to learn!) Still not sure exactly what I'll put in it.
http://www.michelfamily.net/%21mtfuge.JPG


A macro shot of some of my DIY rock
http://www.michelfamily.net/%21diyrockmacro.JPG

[RussM]

Nice tank:)Lets see pics of your other ones:cool:FTS. The backround painting is my wife's handiwork. Definately makes it unique...
http://www.michelfamily.net/%21fowlr.JPG

If you hit me with that friggin' flash one more %$#@ time...
http://www.michelfamily.net/%21madfirefish.JPG

Clownfish companions... the larger one had green tips when I got it last year; they changed to pink/lavendar shortly after I upgraded the lighting (96w->192w) in May. The baby RBTA was just obtained from Austin here on SDReefs 2 weeks ago.
http://www.michelfamily.net/%21nems.JPG

A hitchhiker crab I cannot identify. Body is slightly larger than a quarter, and it continues to grow. He seems harmless though... doesn't bother any of the other inhabitants. Eats almost anything I give it. Note the claws... they are scooped or cupped at the tips. He's not very fast with those big claws... he basically just sits and picks at rock all day long.
http://www.michelfamily.net/%21crab.JPG

[Noob]

what are the dimensions of the tank?

[RussM]

what are the dimensions of the tank?
30g cube: about 20" all around
55g: 36x15x26

[obarrera]

that looks like an emerald crab, never seen any that color though.

[RussM]

that looks like an emerald crab, never seen any that color though. I finally found a good ID: red-ridged clinging crab, mithrax forceps. Indigenous to Atlantic and Carribean. Closely related to the emerald mitrax. Eats hair algae like the emerald as well as, eats meat too.