New and Improved Jewelreef

April 19, 2009

We apologize for not posting last week but there was a disease take over that took place, and we got quite busy moving fish, doing a water change, moving rock walls and putting all of it back when all fish were cured. We also apologize for the length of this one sincerely, but you will like our new additions to jewelreef. Isn't jewelreef beautiful now??

Fungai Disc Coral

This one was the choice of Sweets, it is a lps (long polyp stoney). This girl is pretty cool to watch during feeding because its white mouth opens at the top/middle to take in food, but if it doesn't land in her mouth and instead on her tentacles, the tentacles will work the food up to her mouth. This little gal earned the nickname Peaches.

Fungai Plate Coral

This guy is also the choice of Sweets and although its feeding habits are the same as Peaches, it remains flat hence the name Plate. Due to his coloration, he earned the nickname Sprite.

Red Mushroom Polyp

This guy was the choice of Jewel. The local fish store called him a "Red" mushroom polyp, but due to his real color and texture, he instantly earned the nickname Oranges. Wish there was more to say, but being a mushroom...they don't do anything extraordinary soooo onto the next.


Maxima Clam

This is a different one we promise! He was the choice of Brother Bates. He has a different pattern that really caught everyones eye as you can see for yourself its a little sixties thing going on (tie-dye). Brother Bates decided to give him the nickname Purple Haze. Has anyone seen Jimmie??

Purple Elegant Firefish

This one was chosen by Maltese. She was a difficult decision because no one was sure of whether she would fight over territory with the Flame Firefish, but with some research, we found that the sized tank we have they should have enough space where there won't be a territory issue, and so far so good. She is another very colorful fish and we decided to name her Violet.

Feather Duster Worms

These were the pick of Jewel. Jewel absolutely adores these feather dusters because of the way that they sway so peacefully in the water current and the way that they bloom like a flower when they come out of their worm. Oh and lets not forget....they're pretty. The one on the left earned the nickname Fu Man Chu because if you look close enough in the center of his crown he has a face with a mustache (fu man chu), the one on the right earned the nickname French Maid because he looks a lot like a feather duster that a french maid would use.

Sixline Wrasse


This was the choice of Maltese. We noticed a growing number in bristle worms, and this is one of the reef safe tank mates that will keep their numbers in check, and he just so happens to be a pretty fish. Due to his colorations (purple in the front and green in the back) he earned the nickname Syrah...you know the grape?

Neon Green Bird's Nest

This little guy was the choice of Maltese. With his beautiful neon green polyps he will grow more horizontally and full like a bird's nest rather than vertically. As he gets bigger his polyps will enlarge as well making him a full, beautiful neon green bird's nest and for obvious reasons he was nicknamed Emerald.

Australian Sailfin Tang

This was the choice of Maltese and Jewel. Maltese wanted a sailfin and Jewel picked him out. His beautiful colorations and large upper/lower fins makes him an angelic addition to jewelreef. The interesting thing about him is that he will grow more so vertically so his fins will be much larger than they are now. Because of the black stripe going across his eyes he earned the nickname Bandit.

Open Brain Coral LPS

This one was the choice of Jewel. He doesn't do anything special, but when we get the lunar lights you will see how spectacular he is because he gets all glowy and stuff. He has a plether of colors under regular light that makes him a visual marvel in jewelreef. He got the nickname Oz because when we were looking for a coral like this Jewel kept telling me that she wanted a brain, so I said that we're off to see the wizard, and that's how he got the name.

Blue Hippo Tang

This radiant beauty was the choice of Maltese. He was chosen due to his peaceful nature and color. His pectoral fins flap up and down like a bird instead of front to back like a fish so it looks like he's flying in the water. When his dorsal fin is erect it looks like he has a hat on. Due to his nature he's been given the name Sapphire because he is the jewel of Jewelreef.

Polyp Cluster

This cluster was the choice of Brother Bates. Everything on this cluster is a soft polyp coral from four different zooanthids (button polyps) to a white star polyp, two different mushrooms and palm tree polyps. It was nicknamed Fantasia because of the array of colors and obviously multiple species. When looking at Jewelreef for some reason your eyes will always come back to this cluster.

Electric Flame Scallops


These were the choice of Maltese who had to wait awhile to get due to lack of LFS (local fish store). As you can see along the lining of their mouths, it's actually color flashes that looks a lot like electricity. Unfortunately they like to stay in the dark and that means in the rock wall they hide, but one has been considerate enough to stay somewhat visible. They move around by rapidly opening and closing their shells creating a jet stream that propels them through the water. We got a little disappointed by their elusive behavior and blurted out names that are not meant for tv so they got the nicknames Flame and Fire.

Thank you for joining us in our saltwater trials and tribulations, see you next time and have a blessed week.

New tank mates and one loss

Well since the last time we posted it's been an emotional rollercoaster with some new arrivals and one that had to leave jewel reef, but he will not be forgotten. Now we will begin with the bad news; four of our hermit crabs were killed by the arrow crab and this is why he is no longer with us. He went back to the pet store on Saturday so this cool guy was not invertebrate safe so we say good bye to Yao Ming, but Brother Bates did pick a cool coral in his place as you will see.

arrow crab-hope he finds a good home

Now on to the good news: this tank is really starting to look amazing but it is far from done, this photo was taken Friday which means that we are up to date on the posting, so from now it is in real time and we hope you have and will enjoy our journey with the makings of a reef tank.

April 4 2009

More zoanthus (green and orange) this beautiful coral was picked out by Jewel and we are trying to add more brilliant colors but its hard because of the age of the tank, but we have plenty of time and room to do it. He is another that feeds off of photosynthesis, he closes at night and will be completely open ten minutes after the light come back on. The name that was chosen for this guy is "Bi Colony".

orange and green zoanthus

This clam was the picked by Sweets, it is called a Derasa clam with some wonderful colors within her from brown and white outlined in a neon green color. We tried to put her on the rock wall but she seems to like the substrate better. She mostly feeds off of photosynthesis but, she also filter feeds meaning that she will help clean the tank of left over food and other undesirable things that float around "keep up the good work." "The name that was chosen is Pearl".

Derasa clam

This fat little coral was the pick of Jewel; its called the Tongue coral. He lounges on the substrate and feeds off of low light and looks like a hairy tongue. The colors on this little guy is mostly beige and a little mother of preal on its base and the hairs look like tentacales that wave in the current. The name that was chosen for this one is "((Cousin)) Cuz Its Tongue".

tongue coral

Now this guy here is one that Malteseputter is trying to figure out what's up with his wife's side of the family because Brother Bates picked this beautiful, yet aggressive coral. It is called the long tentacle frogspawn coral which has a brilliant transparent green coloring with sweeping tentacles that will sting anything that gets too close. The bubble like tentacles is where it gets its food, and also feeds from the lights. He was the exchange for the arrow crab and what a good exchange it was. It turns out that all arrow crabs like to feast on other crustaceans so if you do start a reef tank leave that guy out. Don't you just want to pop these bubbles like bubble wrap.... :-) He earned the nickname "Puph Daddy."

long tentacle frogspawn coral

This is the last guy of the blog. Well, not much can be told about this montipora coral . He is a frag from a bigger coral and from the photos online of this guy he will grow like a tree and have a deep purple coloring but for now he's just a little guy. It was the choice of Malteseputter and we do have high hopes for him. He has earned the nickname "Stix." Due to him being a SPS (small polyp stony) and jewel reef being at the beginners stage this will be a test to see if we're ready for the bigger and better corals.


montipora coral (sps)


Well, thats all for now but we still have two fish in the quaratine tank and should be in jewel reef by next Friday, and I can't wait until you see them so stay tuned for the next blog and have blessed week.