Coral Update

Growth in the main reef tank is carrying along even with a few interruptions in its care. Every once in a while, I have a visitor over, and I tend to neglect the tank. The chemistry goes off a bit and some corals might have tissue recession. I haven't been monitoring the basics (salinity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium) as well as I should. The RKE unit is very good at monitoring pH, temperature and ORP, but even the respective probes need some cleaning maintenance to ensure optimum performance.

So what I'm left with is a bunch of corals and invertebrates that refuse to die. Or, looking at it from a different perspective: I'm left with only hardy corals and invertebrates. The fish in my reef tank are doing fine since I'm not overstocked with them.

This green Acropora sp. almost qualifies with kryptonite as its type of color description when observed from a normal distance. This macro picture helps me monitor the appearance of "red bugs". I definitely have eradicated them from my system.

I've been trying to sell this coral trio of blue stag Acropora sp., tricolor Acropora valida and red Montipora sp. on the internet boards with no such luck, yet. By the time the recession is really, really over, the coral will double in growth and I'll have to double the offering price!

This German blue Montipora digitata is starting to take shape. These species of coral seem to do well in the reef box setting. So, I'll look out for more with different color variations.

This Tridacna derasa clam is doing well. You can see its siphon in the middle of the picture. The siphon probably sends a current to the Acropora to the left. The orange mushroom corals on the top right are on a rock that keeps falling down. I have to find a new place for it.