Updated Tank Pics!

[bassettmd]

Just thought I would share some of my progress...

3-25-07
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u18/bassettmd/DSC04417.jpg

5-7-07
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u18/bassettmd/Reef%20Tank%205-7/IMG_0971.jpg

5-29-07
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u18/bassettmd/Reef%20Tank%205-29/IMG_2219-edited.jpg

Most Recent (11-23-07)
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u18/bassettmd/Reed%20Tank%2011-26/IMG_3012.jpg

My Tank Mates:
- Sailfin Tang
- Niger Trigger
- Snowflake Eel
- Maroon Clown Pair
- Mandarin Dragonet
- Blue Dot Jaw Fish (Waiting for him to come out of Rocks)

Corals:
- Too many and still adding to my collection frequently

Clams:
- Gigas
- Maxima
- Derasa
- Squamosa

Equipment:
- Aqua C EV-180 Skimmer
- 24 Watt UV Sterilizer
- 2 x 250 watt 14k Coralvue Halides with Lumenarc Reflectors
- 2 Seio 1500s
- Looking for Controller Reccomendations
- 65 Gallon Tank with 15 gallon wet dry sump (live rock in place of bio balls)

[Chihuahua6]

It looks great. Do you keep the tank covered? I lost a large beautiful Snowflake Moray eons ago. He escaped out of a small opening

[bassettmd]

Yes I do keep the tank covered after a similar lesson... Before my current snowflake (about 6 months ago) I lost a baby SFE to carpet surfing. The tank is now covered by egg crate which so far has done its job well.

My SFE:
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u18/bassettmd/Reef%20Tank%205-29/IMG_2183-Edit.jpg

[reeferman00]

how many punds of rock did you use? this is very nice. GREAT PROGRESS

[bassettmd]

If I were to guess I probably have around 125 pounds of live rock total... I even removed my bio balls to make room for more. I attribute my success and low nitrates (never higher than 10ppm) to my deep sand bed and large clams (16" gigas, 8" squamosa) and my other smaller species of clams (derasa, maxima). I plan to add a few more maxima this weekend. I personally like to keep my nitrates around the 5-10ppm range for I believe the corals and clams benefit from the dissolved nutrients to a great extent for I have NEVER fed the tank phytoplankton, or any other similar additive. I am also a heavy feeder, my fish are very fat!

[bassettmd]

BTW. Thanks for the compliment reeferman00!

[reeferman00]

yepp. looks great im just starting my 37 gal. and im new to saltwater.
i need help!!!

[gh0st]

Gotta love the progress pictures...

Looking good as always!

[WharfRat]

hey lookin good..luv the progress shots too. Like to see more of those as people build their systems.

[bassettmd]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

[gasman059]

gotta love that squami. Great job

[ScubaBeth]

I thought snowflake eels weren't reef-friendly? A 24g would be too small to house one, wouldn't it?

[BSamuelson]

My understanding is they will not bother the corals, but they will make a snack out of any shrimp or smaller fish and they are a big fish, so feeding will be heavy and this is not desirables in a system that you are trying to maintain low nitrates.

[bassettmd]

I have had my snowflake housed with two shrimp (blood and coral banded) for about 8 months with no problems... I dont believe the feeding is all that heavy for these guys since they eat only about two to three times per week. However you must make sure that you have all your frags well attached for they can knock them over.

[stubble88]

I would remove or isolate that green star polyps on the bottom right side. They will take over and kill everything in the tank. I know, it happened to me. Had to remove all the rock and exchange it. But it was such a bright green color. It also absorbed all the nutrients.