Just wanted to share my first reef pictures

[edsbeaker]

Hi everyone, These are my first pictures of my new reef so please forgive the amateur photos. The frags are so small they are also hard for anyone to see, but I wanted to share them anyway.

I haven't had any major issues INSIDE of the tank, but have flooded the house 4 times while doing normal maintenance. This is usually due to hoses not staying in place while making RODI water, ATO water or while doing water changes from sump, etc. Am I the only one that makes these stupid mistakes? I haven't read from anyone else admitting to having these issues!! Anyway, to lesson the damage my Sump/refugium, ATO water and large container for mixing saltwater are going to the basement in the next two weeks!

To my beginner eyes, (new to saltwater, pretty experienced in FW planted) things seem to be going well. All parameters, after the initial cycle, that are supposed to be at zero have all remained undetectable. Calcium and alkalinity are usually within a good range, Ca between 400 and 440, dK between 7-8, but I'm having a bit more trouble` keeping it steady since adding a heavier load of SPS corals and a clam. Right now I'm dosing 2 part, but will be getting my calcium reactor up and running in the next month. I would like my dK to be closer to 9, though. pH is at 8.15 in the morning and 8.3 in the evening.


http:// http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/edsbeaker/IMG_0731.jpg



http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/edsbeaker/IMG_0736.jpg

http:// http://
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll66/edsbeaker/IMG_0735.jpg

[Elan L.]

Great pics and awesome tank!

[Stormvillefish]

Really nice ... love the aquascaping!

[soccerbag]

Great job. Looks great. You'll have to post more pics in a couple of months.

[spw4949]

Nice job.

[raen]

[welcome]


Looks GREAT!!! Keep up the good work.........and YES...............we have ALL made mistakes, keep your head up, and keep up the good work. Looks good.

[HoppyBunny]

Looks Fantastic!

[SaltyDr]

Keep up the great work. Should grow in very nicely. Yes, I think most of us have spilled/flooded or generally made a huge mess doing maintenance, etc. You are NOT alone. If you can get the sump in the basement, that will alleviate a lot of problems.

[Rae C.]

I can't tell you how many times I've flooded my husbands workshop in the basement when I'm running the RO/DI in the laundry room upstairs!!! We've all done the flooding thing, it's part of the learning process and helps you learn how to laugh at the hobby while cussing at the same time!

[edsbeaker]

Thanks everyone for the kind words. This hobby is the most fun I've ever had while spending my childrens inheritance! .:lolspin:

[bzotter]

Did you get all your corals from the lfs or from an online retailer cause those look like some pretty decent frags.

[edsbeaker]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13466737#post13466737 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bzotter
Did you get all your corals from the lfs or from an online retailer cause those look like some pretty decent frags.

Three of the frags were purchased from people selling on this forum. The others I have gotten from LFS. I live just north of Chicago and we have some great SPS dealers that carry some beautiful ORA corals as well as other beautiful pieces. Let's hope they stay as pretty as they are right now. That's the challenge!