My what-was-supposed-to-be-an-august update turned to an-early-september update.
Check-List:
Ok, first update is all the specimens in the tank before I left for vacation are alive and well. Still have my:
? 3 Amphiprion Ocellaris (Athos, Porthos, & Aramis)
? My Lawnmower Blenny named Mr. O who is credited with letting me come home to an almost algae free tank.
? Cleaner shrimp named Louis.
? Scarlet Hermit Crab named Dr. Neville. He's been with me for almost 2 years.
? 2 Nassarius named Tom & Jerry since they're always together.
? 2 Turbos named Mario & Luigi.
? GSP
? Hairy Gorgonian
? Assorted Mushrooms
? Kenya Tree
? LPS, a type of Acan I believe (?)
Lost-Hope Corals:
? The xenia's have receded to the back of the tank, probably dead. They were dying before I left already since I was trying to rid the tank of most of the algae.
? Purple Gorgonian I had was lost before I took the vacation. I don't quite exactly know why but perhaps, like the Monti, it didn't take well to the transfer.
? The Red Cap Montipora is mostly dead and covered with algae (that was a given too), and they didn't take to transfer too well. There are still a few polyps on the center and a polyp or two when it was encroaching the rocks.
Blabber:
My human top-off system did a great job maintaining the tank for me. Even came and checked during the 3-day heat wave while I was away.
As for Fish, I am resisting on buying another specimen. The 4 fish doesn't do much on filling the tank with action and activity but I know that if I add one more fish, I'll start flushing them one by one in the Porcelain Express.
As for inverts, I may purchase either a clam, scallop, or anemone. This will be a while since I really must try to control myself and weigh pros and cons. My idea is I'll pick one, and then wait a month or two and see if it's still the one I want to get; I hope this one works.
As for corals, my list consists of a hairy mushroom (the hairiest I can), an orange or purple gorgonian, one more type of sps and a frogspawn or hammer.
Here are some pictures I took today.
-SaltyFlip
p.s. I'm glad summer's about to be over.
p.p.s. I also recently acquired a generous size of Green Birdsnest courtesy of a fellow MR.