Reefer madness!

[jbird]

I wasnt sure where else to post this. Its kind of in line with Robs question about what else do you do besides flyfish.

I have always been enthused with aquariums. I have had a saltwater tank for about 8 years. I recently dove in all the way and started a living reef. It is a really addicting hobby because there is more to know a bout coral, fish and inverts than you could learn in a lifetime. At night, when my family puts in a movie or something, I just sit and stare into the tank.

Here are some photos.

This is my Tomato clown kicking back in his "bed"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02222-1.jpg

This is a branching hammer coral with my hawkfish perched and hunting the reef.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02344.jpg

Hawk fish
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02351.jpg

Some of the corals really flouresce under the LED moonlights
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02398.jpg

Mushroom coral and a small colony of button polyps (Zoanthid)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02441.jpg

A mixed colony of zoanthid and star ployps
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02479.jpg

The strange thing on the bottom left is a sea apple. A type of cucumber.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02496.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02511.jpg

This is a general view of nearly the whole tank. It is only 50 gallons and its in the lving room.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/DSC02517.jpg

It has been intersting learning what I can and cant house together. So far I have done enough research before purchasing that I havent had any "problems". The amazing thing is the reef itself is very effective in keeping the water quality in check. I have overkill filtration methods too.
I'm allways amazed when I shine a flashlight in at night and see all the stuff that "hitchhiked in on the live rock and coral. Thaere are tiny little shrimps swimming everywhere, Weird tentacles that stick out of the holes in the rocks and even baby starfish climb around on the glass at night.

Hope this hasnt bored you to tears :D

Jay

[Scott V]

One of my best friends has 3 salt water tanks, and I love it when he goes out of town because I get to take care of them. The colors you see are so incredible, it reminds me of when I use to scuba dive, Catalina being one of my favorite places to dive.

[SteelieD]

Jay, that is awesome! Great photos too! Thanks for sharing.

[Adam Grace]

That's not boring at all, very cool Jay!

Your tank looks great!

I love salt tanks, my best friend loves aquariums and he's alway talked about starting a salt tank but has never had the available time and money at once to start a project like that. When we lived together he had a giant tank in our family room. He had piranha in there for a while then after they slowly died off we added bass to it, most of you guys have seen pictures and video but I will attach some for you newer members.

The size of the tank:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/underwater/IMGP0097.jpg

Piranha:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/underwater/IMGP1733.jpg

Bass and their fake vegetation:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/underwater/IMG_2067.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/underwater/IMG_2069.jpg

Bass with mouthfuls:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/underwater/bluegillchokeresize.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/underwater/IMG_2242.jpg

Here's a fun video of us feeding the bass feeder goldfish:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/underwater/th_BassFeedingVideo.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v238/flyguyag/underwater/?action=view&current=BassFeedingVideo.flv)

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I saw a magazine article were they put small Stripers and LMB in a tank together that were all the same size.

The Stripers won............

PS: I love snorkeling and going to public aquariums too.