my 40g

[glennr1978]

40 breeder w/ 20L sump / fuge. CSS125, carbon, macro, and lots of LR for filtration. 250w hqi w/ 14k phoenix lamp, 2x's 24w T5's. Vortech MP20 moves the water. Lots of fish (9), lots of corals (50+), lots of fun (infinite), enjoy!!!!

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00948.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00955.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00940.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00805.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00671.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00674.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00077-1.jpg

[glennr1978]

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00254.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00547.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00476.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00485-1.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00265.jpg

[glennr1978]

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00970.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00973.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00739.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00840.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00837.jpg

[glennr1978]

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00678.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00738.jpg

coralife skimmers suck, huh?

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00685.jpg

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC00687.jpg

[LUVSPS]

Nice tank and set-up! FTS, pretty please?

[LUVSPS]

Whoops! Your FTS shot hadn't loaded by the time I had posted. :) Pretty tank!

[LUVSPS]

Whoops! Your FTS hadn't loaded by the time I had posted. :) Pretty tank!

[glennr1978]

The tank has been running strong for almost a year and a half. It's survived me really screwing things up while learning how Ca, Alk, Mg, and pH all work together (those were tough times). It also made it through a move to a new house about a month ago (that was a tough day!!).

the tank is still very much a work in progress. I have tons of frags that once grown out should look pretty nice. As I stated earlier, I have 9 fish including a small yellow tang. The tang has been thriving in my tank for over a year now and has only been remotely ill once. That was after the move to the new house. He came down with a pretty mean case of ich (I assume caused by the stress of the move), which spread to one of my 2 true percs. The tang definitely had ich worse than the clownfish, and i really didn't think he was going to make it. Both fish have recovered 100%, and are back to their former glory.

I just placed an order with liveaquaria Friday night for a purple firefish, a McCosker's flasher wrasse (from the divers den), and a small green mandarin. I figure that I've already broken two of the rules for small tanks (first being the tang, and second being "over stocked" with 9 fish) so I may as well go for the triple header with the mandarin. Don't worry, you won't have to call PETA. I'm very dedicated to my tank and will do whatever is necessary to get the little dragonet well fed.

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13535384#post13535384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LUVSPS
Whoops! Your FTS hadn't loaded by the time I had posted. :) Pretty tank!

Thanks!

[OceanDweller]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13535399#post13535399 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by glennr1978


I just placed an order with liveaquaria Friday night for a purple firefish, a McCosker's flasher wrasse (from the divers den), and a small green mandarin. I figure that I've already broken two of the rules for small tanks (first being the tang, and second being "over stocked" with 9 fish) so I may as well go for the triple header with the mandarin. Don't worry, you won't have to call PETA. I'm very dedicated to my tank and will do whatever is necessary to get the little dragonet well fed.

I mean it can be done though it seems like it would be tough with water quality issues. I mean you must have like 55 gallons total volume? Does the mandarin eat prepared food? Man you must be diligent with those water changes.

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13535427#post13535427 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OceanDweller
I mean it can be done though it seems like it would be tough with water quality issues. I mean you must have like 55 gallons total volume? Does the mandarin eat prepared food? Man you must be diligent with those water changes.

5g's a week religously. Used to be 10g, but I get by just fine with 5 now. Well, as you can see from the pic I posted of the kind of skimmate I'm getting, the skimmer does a pretty good job. I've actually had 15 fish at one time (13 chromis). I don't attribute their demise to water quality issues as I've never really had any (that are relevant to fish anyway). I had a purpleback pseudochrmois that did a good job of picking the greenie's off one by one. I had been down to 6 for about a month before moving the tank, and I removed the pseudochromis when we moved and still have 6 today. The remaining school get along just fine. I don't ever really see any aggression among them.

I couldn't tell you what the mandarin eats just yet. It won't arrive until Tues. or Wed..

[boakley]

You should find out what they eat before you order them. Very rarely are even the most dedicated aquarists successful in keeping them alive. Typically they will do better in a tank that has a refugium for growing out the live food they need in the sandbed I think.

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13537727#post13537727 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boakley
You should find out what they eat before you order them. Very rarely are even the most dedicated aquarists successful in keeping them alive. Typically they will do better in a tank that has a refugium for growing out the live food they need in the sandbed I think.

lol, you should do some research yourself before you post advice. Tons of people have successfully kept mandarins in a wide variety of different sized tanks.

I know what they eat and, if necessary will feed accordingly. I have quite a pod poulation between my 70 lbs of 2 year old LR (about half of it is quite a bit older than that, 7+ years), and my REFUGIUM.

don't let the post count fool you, no newb here.

I'm sure you didn't mean any harm when giving your advice, but seriously, you should get your facts straight before posting such advice.

[clowns101]

looks good.

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13538174#post13538174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clowns101
looks good.
thanks.

[Hurley12]

Do the water changes alone keep your Ca up or do you dose?

[nate82]

nice tank but why so many fish??

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13538710#post13538710 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nate82
nice tank but why so many fish??

Alot of my favorite SPS tanks (many of the TOTMs here) are heavily stocked, and fed. I'm just trying to mimic them on a smaller scale. None of the fish I'm currently keeping are over 3" (and that's the tang). The majority are really not much over 1".

My skimmer is rated for 3x's the water volume I have, I run alot of carbon, and have a large chunk of cheato in my sump. I monitor the crap out of my tank, and haven't had detectable levels of phosphates, nitrites, nitrates, or ammonia in a very long time.

The tank is very stable, and I'm confident that I can keep my current fish, plus a few more successfully for a long time to come.

I don't mean to come across the wrong way, but I just don't see a problem with calculated risk. I'm not advocatting everyone should load up a small tank with alot of fish, but sometimes you can successfully keep more than what is "recommended".

All of my fish are very docile (since I dtiched the pseudochromis anyway), and the ones that i'm adding are too. I think that has alot to do with my success of keeping a large # of fish in my tank.

[GPhiAce]

Very nice. If what ou are doing works for you-- keep it up. Can you post a top down view. I also have a 40br and hope to post some pictures soon----- soon as I find my camera memory card. I have a mandarin now and he eats mysis and cyclopeeze. This is my second one and the first one would not accept anything I tried. They are picky but it can be done. Good luck.

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13540311#post13540311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GPhiAce
Very nice. If what ou are doing works for you-- keep it up. Can you post a top down view. I also have a 40br and hope to post some pictures soon----- soon as I find my camera memory card. I have a mandarin now and he eats mysis and cyclopeeze. This is my second one and the first one would not accept anything I tried. They are picky but it can be done. Good luck.

I'm no photographer, and I have yet to get an even remotely decent top down shot. Sorry!

I traded a frag for a mandarin right after we moved the tank. It didn't look too hot from the start, but I figured I would give it a shot. Sadly, it died within two days. I think it was pretty much a goner before I even put in the tank though. It didn't even try to avoid the net when it was caught to be bagged up.

I'm hoping this one will arrive in much better health, and that I can keep it that way!!

[SLOreefer]

ahhhh glenn! you made it over from the other forum! Nice to see a familiar face (screen name) and tank. It was nice to read your post instead of sifting through the other ones!

Thanks again for the dosing system advice!

[Reefer07]

Corallife skimmers are thee worst. As soon as I get some extra cash I will be getting a different one and finding some way of blowing up the corallife.

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13541442#post13541442 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SLOreefer
ahhhh glenn! you made it over from the other forum! Nice to see a familiar face (screen name) and tank. It was nice to read your post instead of sifting through the other ones!

Thanks again for the dosing system advice!

lol, yeah this thread is definitely easier to navigate. I tried to start a condensed version of my tank thread, but even that's around 15 pages now (after just a couple months) too.

I'm glad to help, let me know if I can assist in any way. Are you going to try out my little DIY "ghetto" dosing system?

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13542156#post13542156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefer07
Corallife skimmers are thee worst. As soon as I get some extra cash I will be getting a different one and finding some way of blowing up the corallife.

thanks for posting!!!



mine works.

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13538677#post13538677 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hurley12
Do the water changes alone keep your Ca up or do you dose?

Sorry, I missed this one...

I dose 30mL (each part) of B-Ionics daily via a DIY $60 dosing pump system I've rigged up. It works very, very well for me, and cost nothing compared to a LitermeterIII.

[SLOreefer]

Ya, I think I will try it out, Ive got all of the components minus the air line valves and airline. I already have a few electronic timers and aqua lifters, so at this point i think it will be about a 6 dollar setup for me.

[glennr1978]

cool, let me know how it turns out.

[Hurley12]

No problem I was just curious because yout system is about the same size as mine. I bought a geo 612 Ca reactor for mine. I am sure it is overkill, but it going to be nothing but SPS we shall see. I have heard good things about dosing with B Ionic though too.

[glennr1978]

I was considering getting a reactor, but I really don't spend enough un supps to justify buying one. Averaged out, 2 part only costs me about $7.50 a month.

Just out of curiousity, what bulbs are you running in your T5's.

[Hurley12]

I am using Geisman Aqua Blue + and love them, but don't have much to compare them to other than the cheap TRU bulbs that came with mine.

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13545176#post13545176 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hurley12
I am using Geisman Aqua Blue + and love them, but don't have much to compare them to other than the cheap TRU bulbs that came with mine.

so you're using the geissemanns on both, right? do they bring out the colors in your corals pretty well?

[glennr1978]

I got my order from liveaquaria today. My Mccoskers was shipped to the wrong address (my mother in laws'), and was DOA. the mandarin although nice and plump, looks like he isn't going to make it. the purple firefish arrived in good shape though.

Cross your fingers for my mandarin. I turn all the lights off in the tank, and covered it with blankets. hopefully it will pull through.

I already contacted liveaquaria and their customer service is top notch. they are sending me another Mccoskers that will be here the day after tomorrow.

[Hurley12]

Yea I am using the geissemanns on both, and they bring out the colors a lot better than my old ones, but like I said they were cheepos. I used to use a 20k bulb too and the colors were awesome, but switched over to a 10k to see if I could get some more growth.

[glennr1978]

I'm also thinking about switching to a 20k. Was the blue in the tank overbearring with the 20k + actinics?

[fatkien]

nice tank, look like 100g:bounce2: :bounce2: :bounce2: :bounce2:

[Hurley12]

Just depends on your preference I think, personally I like the more blue look, but I know some people don't care for it.

[glennr1978]

I'm about to order the geissemanns. thanks for the info.

[nanoty]

Silly, you can't keep a tang in a 40 breeder:rollface:

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13569491#post13569491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanoty
Silly, you can't keep a tang in a 40 breeder:rollface:

neither can you!!!

[glennr1978]

got this frag today.

ORA pearlberry acro.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC01022.jpg

[west co reefer]

damn nice acro. im jealous of ur tank

[glennr1978]

Got a few more things today.....

ATL sunrize milli
ATL pink tulip acro
Tyree Ponape brdsnest (another one)
Leng Sy look-a-like cap

[nanoty]

Pics or it didn't happen......

[glennr1978]

ORA red planet
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p103/glennr1978/DSC01301-1.jpg

[SeeDemTails]

Wlow such a nice tank never seen this one before!:eek1:

Is it just me or does anyone else see a future TOTM?!

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13708592#post13708592 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SeeDemTails
Wlow such a nice tank never seen this one before!:eek1:

Is it just me or does anyone else see a future TOTM?!

yeah, I'm new to this stuff, lol.

[zcx8888]

nice !

[glennr1978]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13710009#post13710009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zcx8888
nice !

thanks!!