Bubba's SPS Journey

TheHarold · Oct 28, 2018

bubbaque said:
I think when people say frags do better than bigger colonies is if the colony is pretty big. I don't think big colonies like to be moved but I've never bought a colony big enough to actually put that to the test.

Speaking strictly in terms of growth, the bigger the frag the faster you are going to see it turn into a colony, in my experience.

I’ve been moving around this ugly 1” frag, that progressed into an ugly mini colony, that progressed into an ugly larger-than-open-hand colony. It’s my largest “wide” colony and has ridiculous growth despite that I move it all over the tank to where it is least visible LOL. Whenever it gets a new location it just grows in a new direction, it doesn’t seem to mind.

I believe that any given branch does not grow faster than a typical frag’s branch, but because you have 120x the growth locations it appears to grow much more quickly.

Reefanatik · Oct 28, 2018

bubbaque said:
I am just learning also, so I don't know too much. I am using an old Nikon D3000 (which are really cheap now) with the standard 18-55 lens it comes with and I bought a 55-200 lens I use when the pics look close. I shoot in raw and then post process in Lightroom, so the settings don't mean much besides aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Which those always are changing depending on what I'm trying to take a pic of and how much light there is.

I spent some time reading the photography forum to try and learn the basics. Then I've been trying to mess around to improve. Once you start taking pics it becomes pretty addictive.

I just started my own thread and am learning to take pics. I use a Canon that has the stock lense. I'm looking into getting a 55-200 for some closer/better pics. Your pics look great. Very nice acros.

WWIII · Oct 28, 2018

TheHarold said:
I’ve been moving around this ugly 1” frag, that progressed into an ugly mini colony, that progressed into an ugly larger-than-open-hand colony. It’s my largest “wide” colony and has ridiculous growth despite that I move it all over the tank to where it is least visible LOL. Whenever it gets a new location it just grows in a new direction, it doesn’t seem to mind.

I believe that any given branch does not grow faster than a typical frag’s branch, but because you have 120x the growth locations it appears to grow much more quickly.

The "ugly" ones always grow fast and never die! Lol

I think that's definitely the ticket for growth. It's exponential the larger the colony gets. It's just hard for people to wait that long to frag/sell. I don't blame them either! I do wonder though once a colony gets really large, if fragging that up into say 20 mini colonies, if the growth is even faster? Seems like that's the belief and process a lot of maricultured guys use?

bckey · Oct 28, 2018

bubbaque said:
The aquaticLife fixture is nice and I'll probably use it on all my builds now. If you're planning to get one, I'd wait until the one cord, dimmable model comes out they are releasing.

And some legs also. The reason I don't own one yet is because you have to hang it.

AngryOwl · Oct 28, 2018

TheHarold said:
I’ve been moving around this ugly 1” frag, that progressed into an ugly mini colony, that progressed into an ugly larger-than-open-hand colony. It’s my largest “wide” colony and has ridiculous growth despite that I move it all over the tank to where it is least visible LOL. Whenever it gets a new location it just grows in a new direction, it doesn’t seem to mind.

I believe that any given branch does not grow faster than a typical frag’s branch, but because you have 120x the growth locations it appears to grow much more quickly.

Loan it to Bubba and he will color it up for you! haha

thaveteran · Oct 28, 2018

bubbaque said:
...Now for a little rant.
Maybe I’m just really picky when it comes to frag size. I do think lately frag size in general has been getting smaller and smaller and prices haven’t reflected that. If you sell a small frag than make it a small price. I said it a couple times before but one of the reasons I buy from pirates reef is his prices comes with an appropriate sized frag. I shouldn’t have to pay double the price to get something that won’t take a year to turn into something.

I am part of the problem or should say was, as I will not buy small frags anymore unless the price reflects it.

I think your problem is you reside in the city of the tiny frags. I used to travel down there to buy frags all the time and I had to stop as the prices went up and up and the frags got smaller and smaller. You can still find frags of appropriate size and cost as you have eluded to but it seems like some of these vendors, especially in your area have lost their minds.

**Note: we continue to pay these prices so I can't fault them.**

thaveteran · Oct 28, 2018

AngryOwl said:
In your experience do small frags do better than bigger colonies? I'm talking in terms of success when adding the frag/colony. It was mentioned it me that small frags do better. But to me this doesn't make sense. Getting a half inch frag that was fresh cut, in theory, should be worse off. I think getting these small frags is even worse when you receive it and see it was fresh cut...

As a general rule colonies don't like to be moved as much. Think about this and it should make more sense, what do we do when a colony starts to recede? Frag it right? The whole colony will likely go up in smoke but that frag tends to go into survival mode. That being said I think a lot of the theory has to do with bringing in wild colonies. Those I feel tend to do better when fragged up, tho either way they are hard to keep.

bubbaque · Oct 29, 2018

I posted it over in Adams new thread showcasing it but I wanted to post it here. He said it gets yellow tips eventually also, so I can't wait for that.

BC Adam bomb

drawman · Oct 29, 2018

bubbaque said:
I posted it over in Adams new thread showcasing it but I wanted to post it here. He said it gets yellow tips eventually also, so I can't wait for that.

BC Adam bomb

Looks gorgeous but it will be sick with yellow tips!

29bonsaireef · Oct 29, 2018

bubbaque said:
I posted it over in Adams new thread showcasing it but I wanted to post it here. He said it gets yellow tips eventually also, so I can't wait for that.

BC Adam bomb

I have been trying to figure out the name of this piece for a while now. Got it in a pack and forgot the name, could never find anything similar looking on his site. I do recall it having "Adam" in the name though. Thanks for the ID.

bubbaque · Oct 29, 2018

29bonsaireef said:
I have been trying to figure out the name of this piece for a while now. Got it in a pack and forgot the name, could never find anything similar looking on his site. I do recall it having "Adam" in the name though. Thanks for the ID.

He created a thread on it today with a colony pic. You should check it out!

SneakyTortuga · Oct 29, 2018

bubbaque said:
I posted it over in Adams new thread showcasing it but I wanted to post it here. He said it gets yellow tips eventually also, so I can't wait for that.

BC Adam bomb

do you have to hide the packages from your spouse?!? i feel like you have to have weekly shipments coming in with the amount of sps you have.

bubbaque · Oct 29, 2018

SneakyTortuga said:
do you have to hide the packages from your spouse?!? i feel like you have to have weekly shipments coming in with the amount of sps you have.

Ha ha ha! Don’t we all just say “Honey, that’s an old coral, you must of not of noticed that one before”.

Seriously though she doesn’t mind. What she does care about is the mess from the shipment boxes. Somehow there is always a packing peanut that I miss when cleaning up. Lol.

bubbaque · Oct 29, 2018

KJoFan said:
So, am I right to assume you don't do large enough water changes to swing your alk by much since you maintain it lower than it mixes?

I dragged you over here so I didn’t spam his thread. I do 10% water changes which doesn’t do that much to alk.

KJoFan · Oct 30, 2018

bubbaque said:
I dragged you over here so I didn’t spam his thread. I do 10% water changes which doesn’t do that much to alk.

I asked because I'm getting to the end of my supply of AF Reef Salt, so need to buy salt soon. I was using Fritz, but it had some inconsistencies (as others noted), and prior to getting more into sps I used IO just because it's cheap and works. But, I was concerned about the alk levels now that I keep alk lower than what it mixes to. I know you can lower alk in fresh saltwater mix but I'm too lazy to futz with that.

But, when I figure it out I'm probably only doing a 10-12% water change when I do one so IO, in theory, should be fine. I might switch back to that and see how it goes.

lolgranny · Oct 30, 2018

KJoFan said:
I asked because I'm getting to the end of my supply of AF Reef Salt, so need to buy salt soon. I was using Fritz, but it had some inconsistencies (as others noted), and prior to getting more into sps I used IO just because it's cheap and works. But, I was concerned about the alk levels now that I keep alk lower than what it mixes to. I know you can lower alk in fresh saltwater mix but I'm too lazy to futz with that. But, when I figure it out I'm probably only doing a 10-12% water change when I do one so IO, in theory, should be fine. I might switch back to that and see how it goes.

Do a 50/50 split with IO and RC. All in all tho, 10% shouldn’t change much levels since it’s so small. Especially in a larger system.

bubbaque · Oct 30, 2018

It's happening, it's finally happening!! My vivid rainbow delight is starting to show colors other than brown, not much but it's a start, lol.

This coral was actually the one we used in the last Battlecorals growout contest.

Here it is the day I got it.

Today

TheHarold · Oct 30, 2018

Where do you have all these frag plates? I didn’t see them in last FTS

Fishfinder · Oct 30, 2018

bubbaque said:
It's happening, it's finally happening!! My vivid rainbow delight is starting to show colors other than brown, not much but it's a start, lol.

This coral was actually the one we used in the last Battlecorals growout contest.

Here it is the day I got it.

Today