Backbay’s 450gal SPS & Angels

[bakbay]

Just visited @bakbay’s setup. I was completely blown away!

Thanks for stopping by and talked reef. Thanks again for the torch and wrasse - hope he’ll keep the planaria in check.

 

[bakbay]

Nah, I'm making mine out of gold, I hear it doesn't rust!

Bling! That would be a baller setup at $5k+ an ounce. Titanium is dirt cheap now!

 

[bakbay]

Fish question: my Achilles Tang, Blonde Naso, and Blue Tang (ok, the Foxface, too) are getting too big for my 150gal cube. I’m planning to drop them into the 450gal. Isolation box one at a time for just put them all in and hope for the best? The Achilles will be the most aggressive, after the angels of course.

450gal: I already have 2 large Naso’s and 3 Blue Tangs (only one of which is big). I suspect that the Naso will get beat up but the Achilles will defend itself (and likely bully others).

Thoughts?

 

[thresher]

Sounds like your running a ufc gym for fish.

 

[bakbay]

Sounds like your running a ufc gym for fish.

lol - survival of the fittest! These tangs can fight but unlike the Blue/Passer Angels. They hunt and kill new additions. However, the giant French Angel is a very peaceful fish!

 

[Jimbo327]

At 450 gal, I think it's safe to put them all in at once, there is plenty of room to hide and run.

And this also spread the aggression around. They don't know who to bully first.

I would still tape mirrors on either end of the tank to confuse the fishes even more.

But others might disagree. I have my own UFC gym in my tank, LOL. So maybe don't listen to me.

Another strategy is to sump the biggest ahole bully in the tank right now, and then introduce him back when the other fishes are settled.

 

[bakbay]

At 450 gal, I think it's safe to put them all in at once, there is plenty of room to hide and run.

And this also spread the aggression around. They don't know who to bully first.

I would still tape mirrors on either end of the tank to confuse the fishes even more.

But others might disagree. I have my own UFC gym in my tank, LOL. So maybe don't listen to me.

Another strategy is to sump the biggest ahole bully in the tank right now, and then introduce him back when the other fishes are settled.

Most of the caves are taken, despite such a big tank. So it will be interesting to see how they’ll settle. I suspect that they will be stressed out and develop ich, which happened before. I need to get my 160W UV back online first before the rehoming though.

The big Blue Angel is the bully and been hanging in the sump for more than a month. I don’t plan to add him back — I want a Queen instead. I bought the Blue my mistake actually since they look very similar.

 

[k.tran]

I'd add all at the same time during the night/lights off

 

[bakbay]

Trident Mini is up and running - it’s sleek and super easy to top-off/replace reagents now!

Let’s do the NP in a different color scheme.

Edit: take that back ‘cause I’m OCD — same red/white combo but we’ll stitch/label as NP.

 

[k.tran]

Looks clean, I'd do this except I don't have an apex or a trident...

 

[bakbay]

Nutrient update - assume that my NP is close to being accurate, PO4 is holding steady at 0.07ppm so bacteria is doing its part knocking down NO3. We are steadily declining so that’s good news. If NO3 is in the teens, I’ll cut back on carbon dosing and let things coast.

 

[bakbay]

Poly-Filter update: it turned dark brown so not sure how much harmful metallic elements (if any) were removed. It’s likely just organics? I’ve just replaced a new pad to see how quickly it will turn color.

 

[Jimbo327]

Brown is......fish poop. Haha.

 

[bakbay]

Brown is......fish poop. Haha.

Yah — I’m going to send in ICP this week so we shall see.

 

[drexel]

I've never seen polyfilter turn any color but brown. I think the whole color change thing is BS. But, I still use it from time to time to remove stuff.

 

[bakbay]

I've never seen polyfilter turn any color but brown. I think the whole color change thing is BS. But, I still use it from time to time to remove stuff.

I guess the color change would be in high concentration of metals per water volume but not noticeable on a 450gal system? Anyway, I'm planning to send out ICP this weekend to see the latest. I guess the color change would be in high concentration of metals per water volume but not noticeable on a 450gal system? Anyway, I'm planning to send out ICP this weekend to see the latest. At the very least, my salinity & alk have been stabilized while waiting for Ca to come down naturally. It's just recovery time atm.

 

[bakbay]

Weekend project - I need to hook up the new Aqua UV 160W. I bought it during Xmas break but been too lazy to install it since I had 2 x 57W units. Hope to keep ich under control while don’t have to clean the glass that often.

 

[bakbay]

I’m waiting for some 90deg 1” barbs for a cleaner look. Going to do (black) flexible tubings for UV.

 

[Dooly]

I'm looking for Backbay and his amazing 450G Angels and corals that angels naturally eat thread.. am I at the right place?

 

[bakbay]

I'm looking for Backbay and his amazing 450G Angels and corals that angels naturally eat thread.. am I at the right place?

You've come to the right place, my child. Contrary to popular beliefs, my angels do not eat corals. In fact, they have been meticulously trained to perform quality control of pests, aggressively taste-test SPS colonies daily prior to committing, and perform the most important job: encourage coral growth through constant mini-fragging. It's been scientifically proven - trust me!