My 150 gallon mixed reef - What next??

[Palting]

The SPS dominated mixed reef tank has been running for more than 2 years now. Specs are in my sig. I'm kinda running out of ideas what to do next.

I just finished a water change, refilled the ATO and the dosing containers, the lay down on a recliner in fornt of the tank. I truly enjoy watching the fish swim about, and the softies swaying in the flow, and the color of the SPS. After a while, I got up and thought, "I gotta do something". But what? The water changes are as automatic as I want it to be. Anything more automatic will require I hire someone to do it "automatically", but there's no fun in that.The kalkwasser/ATO via Tunze/kalk reactor and the 3 part dosing requirements via Bubble Magus have been dialed in, and the livestock are cooperating by keeping the demand constant. Occasionally I trim the caulerpa in the refugium, and I cull the Halimeda, GSP, Xenia and encrsuting gorgonia in the DT to keep them from overgrowing. I've been cuttiing off some of the green slimer, millepora and the monti cap to keep them from smothering each other. I think the blue Tenui will need to be trimmed soon. But other than that, nothing else. I still feel like a gotta do something. Thought of a few things, but they all have a "but....". I like the "natural look" so I leave the algae and coraline on the back wall and rocks, re-aquascape seem too dangerous to the ivestock, getting more equipment when I don't think I need anymore seems a waste of money, I have as much bioload as my tank can handle, I haven't seen any coral that jumps at me to be taken and the coral are already running into one another....

In an effort to keep my interest going, I decided to take a few pics. Pretending to be a photographer is always a nice fantasy, too :). And maybe you guys can look at the pics and come up with something else for me to do.

Obligatory FTS:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1527s.jpg

Three quarter turn, and wink:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1526s.jpg

Left side close-up:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1520s.jpg

Right sde close-up:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1524s.jpg

Thanks for looking!!

[jimmy n]

Looks very nice. Clean the back, clean the gravel. Let it grow in. Love your tank.

[Ambition]

You could build a frag tank for all of those corals you have to trim up.

If I were at that point in a tank I would be thinking of either upgrading or setting up another tank of some sort (frag tank, a smaller species tank, etc.). Me I may end up eventually setting up a frag tank or a pipefish/seahorse tank after my 120 is up and going well enough for me to sit back more often. Time will tell though.

[Palting]

Thanks for the replies.

It does look kinda dirty rather than natural, doesn't it? The back used to be covered with coraline, until I lost most of the coraline due to a period of innattention allowing the alk to go real low. Turf algae took over. The coraline is coming back, but that turf algae in the back wall is holding out. The 4 tangs feeed from it. I think I'll scrape and vaccum it all off, and be a little more conscientious with feeding nori to the tangs. The gravel, OTOH, I think I'm gonna leave it alone. Lots of critters in there. Feeds my mandarins and my 6 line. The mandarins are constantly pecking at it, and I've seen the 6 line actually pull long stringy things out from it.

Frag tank is an idea. Seems more work than fun, though.

[Metal Man 1221]

Hey, if the sand bed promotes the health of your live stock, why mess with a good thing right?

[Electrobes]

Gosh, I bet your tank would just be killer with a scraped background and a change to a lighter or maybe even a black sandbed! Your tank is pretty nice as it is, a little changes here and there to have the focus on your corals would definitely stun! :)

[Palting]

Thanks, Christian. I'll give it a try.

Started cleaning a segment of the backwall today. That thing is crusty, with a calcified base!! I think the turf algae grew over the coraline skeletons that died when the alk went too low. Unless this is some sort of calcifying turf algae I've never heard of. Looks like I'll have to wait for a water change and scrape/siphon them off.

[ReefUrchin]

Doh!, too late! I was gonna say DONT clean the back wall, leave it natural as it is kind of ike a flat rock backdrop. I was however gonna say clean your sand. Dont stir it up deep, just maybe the top 1/4". Oh well....., lol.

Also, if you can, from my presepective, move the rock mounds (just as they are) a little more to the back. This would free up some space in the front for those bif fuzzy...............things. This isnt something you "have" to do, but, would give you something TO do. :dance:

[Palting]

Clean the back, don't clean the back, clean the sand, don't clean the sand........what's a guy to do?? :)

Kidding aside, thanks for the responsse. I did like the back wall for the exact reason you mentioned: it looks like a flat rock backdrop. But, time for a change, I guess. Hoping it gets covered with multi-colored coraline instead. If not, and I want that look back, it will come back if I just leave it alone again.

Those "fuzzy things" front and center are large solitary colonies of encrusting Gorgonians and waving hand Xenia. They have been banned to that area so that I can easily keep an eye on them and keep them from overgrowing. Those rock towers are actually up against the back wall. There are large channels, caves and gaps to allow for flow, but they are essentially on the wall. Shortcomings of an 18" depth :). Should have gone for a 220 :D

[jake koppen]

I'd clean the back and slowly replace the sand with a brighter white sand. Just do sections. Just my 2 cents

[tony11387]

Here's a curve ball: glue some different colored encrusting montis on the back wall.

[Palting]

I just saw a thread where someone glued GSP to the back wall. I do have a GSP rock that has the GSP creeping up the wall it is touching and I've been cutting it back. I may just let it grow and see hpw far it gets. I think I'll try some zoas, and I have several Rics that have "walked" unto the substrate and glue those to the back wall too and see.

Montis. That's a thought. I'll look into it.

[Palting]

Okay. cleaned off the back wall. A lot of calcified stuff, probably coraline, came off. I kinda like it with the clean wall, but it's a PITA to keep it that way. I think I will let that stuff grow back on the wall, and put some islands of encrusting stuff, like GSP or montipora, to break it up. I didn't see it until I already uploaded the pic, but that green stuuf you can sstill see on the back wall is not algae. It is a reflection of the FOWLR that's across the room.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1531c.jpg

[Palting]

My favorite half of the tank:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1532c.jpg

[Patrick Cox]

Looks much better with the back wall cleaned! I think a whiter sand would look better as well. The corals all look very healthy!

[jarederaj]

Agreed with whiter sand it would look cleaner

[my2girls]

The nice thing about keeping some SPS is that there is almost always room for improvement. If you're bored, start tweaking colors. I know you mentioned that you like the natural look, but I'd keep that glass clean, clean/add sand, change to a bluer light, and tweak those colors. Then let it grow and you'd have a top notch mixed reef. JMO

If you left it alone it's still pretty darn nice :)

[Palting]

Thanks for the responses, all. :)

The colors do look a little washed out, but that's because I can't take a good pic! LOL! The camera averages it, and the dark substrate and rocks make the coral tops glare. It's a lot more colorful in real life.

But, as you guys say, if it's getting boring, time to tweak! :)

The bulbs are getting close to their 1 year anniversary, and I do have a trio of 14K MH's sitting on a shelf. I tried those last time, and found them too blue when matched with the actinic T5's, so I shelved them. Maybe I'll switch out the T5 actinics for 10K's. Then the light combo will switch to 14K MH and 10K T5's. Will see what that looks like when it's time to change the bulbs.

As to the substrate, it is tempting to clean it. But, I follow the belief that it's best to leave it alone. Let the pods and bacteria thrive in there undisturbed. I will stir it occasionally, but that's about it. For aesthetics, I think I'll just populate it with some low light loving coral, like zoas and more shrooms.

[Palting]

Starting a frag tank feels more like work than a hobby to me, though. I have brought in a few frags to the lfs for credit, actually more as a gift, and he gives me discounts, also as a gift :). Some frags I just replanted into the tank. Here's one that started about as big as my pinkie several months ago.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1516.jpg

[Palting]

Friendly tip to everyone, particularly noobs, like me :) : Mark the adjustment knobs on the skimmers. Both my skimmers just have one little ridge on the knobs, with no corrsponding mark on the articulating or adjacent surface. Very minute adjustments on these knobs result in large changes on the skimmer consistency, at least with the skimmers I have. So, it helps to put several marks to identify where your "ideal" knob position should be for the skim consistency you want.

Here's a pic of the marks on the Aquamedics TurboFloto Multi SL that's on the FOWLR system:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/7BA288E2.jpg

And on the skimmer for the reef system:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/5ED348FD.jpg

[Palting]

Just got back from vacation. The tank had nothing done during that time. No feeding, no water change. Just the ATO and the dosing. After almost 2 weeks of benign neglect, the tank seems to be doing fine. In fact, I think the softies and the LPS seem to have thrived on neglect!! They are more full and fat. I wonder if this means anything?

Took a pic of my favorite corner. The fish followed me everywhere. Though I would like to think they were welcoming me back, I think they saw me and all they thought of was "FOOD!!!' LOL!!!

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/016157AD.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/27D938E7.jpg

[Reef264]

Palting,

Really nice tank!I would clean off the overflow boxes like you did and leave it alone!The tank is what I dream of having...

Cheers,
-Ray

[Palting]

Palting,

Really nice tank!I would clean off the overflow boxes like you did and leave it alone!The tank is what I dream of having...

Cheers,
-Ray

Thanks, Ray. You'll get there with your tank. Just give it time :thumbsup:

[Palting]

I guess I should periodically update this thread. Not much going on, dosing is dialed in and parameters stable as a rock. All coral growing, needing to get branches chopped off on some to keep warfare down. Have not touched the substrate at all. Did notice that the substrate is changing, though. Less turf algae like and more coraline looking, with a variety of colors, from the original black with scattered reds, yellows, greens, even some blues. I'll let it go some more and see what happens, then post a pic.

I did notice that there is less crud in general as the tank gets older. I have several trays of sponge filters in my sump, and they stay clean much longer. There is also less skim production, and the macro in the refugium dones,'t seem to grow as quickly. Tank is now about 2 1/2 years old. Anyone else notice that their tank seems to get "cleaner" running as it gets older?

I have macro in the refugium but I've wanted some macro in the DT for diversity. However, the 4 tangs decimate any macro I put in there, even chaeto. Several months ago, I noticed a hitchiker. This grew froma rock that was in the tank for 2 years already! Talk about delayed emergence of hitchikers.

Little green sprits of Halimeda:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium/IMG_0631.jpg

About 6 months later:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/67FA7D8A.jpg

It takes care of any nitrates and phosphates, maybe it's one reason the tank seems cleaner. Unfortunately, it also eats a lot of calcium :(. But, I'm keeping the Halimeda forest. It's the only macro that survives in this tank with the 4 tangs.

[Palting]

Withering Xenia.

I had a glorious Xenia forest, been with the tank since it started almost 2 years ago. It had to be trimmed almost every week to keep it contained on it's rock island. But in the last month it has been slowly withering away, and now barely opens. Nothing has changed in the tank, parameters are pristine with alk 8dkh cal 440 mag 1350, running carbon 24/7.

I can't explain it. It went from this:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium2/IMG_1084.jpg

To this:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/3ADD4466.jpg

[mayjong]

here's an idea on the sand. keep the old, just add new (white) on top.
you can "push" the sand in the front back from the glass, and put new , white sand up against the front glass. looks new, but not.
just do it in stages (probably don't have to tell you that!)
anyway, just an idea....
but i would agree, if it comes to removing or leaving the sand, i would leave it

[Palting]

I'm not so sure anything needs to be done to the substrate. It's medium grain, started as coal black, but it is now multicolored with coraline. It doesn't show as well on an FTS, but I think the multicolored nature gives the substrate character. Here's a closeup of the substrate, untouched an uncleaned.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/A6F0DE40.jpg

[jbfloor]

That skimmer looks like it's the Marineland Pro 300. I bought that recently, though have not used it yet. How is it working out? I have read mixed reviews.

[Palting]

I like the Marineland 300 very much. Not just excellent value, but excellent skimmer for any budget, IMO. The only thing against it is it's relatively inexpensive price making some people think it's a cheap product! LOL!! I can dial in any type of skim I want, and it will consistently produce it.

Here is 5 days worth of "dry" skim, and it has produced this consistently for the 2 years that I've had the skimmer:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium/IMG_0564.jpg


Be careful you don't make it too dry, otherwise you get a "Mickey Mouse" result!! :D LOL!!!
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1411.jpg

[jbfloor]

Looks good.

While I was looking at reviews for this skimmer I came across two interesting threads, one from this forum in fact. They may be of use to you:

Explains a common leak problem of this unit that can be easily resolved:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/protein-skimmers/marinelands-new-skimmer-47631-7.html

Old thread from 2009 explaining how to use the cup drain to reroute to a bottle to save yourself the hassle of having to unscrew the cup
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1645278

[Palting]

I just checked the collection cup, and where the O-ring sits is smooth. No leaks, either. Maybe they corrected it with the newer productions? Since yours is new, take a look at yours.

My biggest issue witth the O-ring is that sometimes it sticks to the cup then falls down somewhere between the sump and the bathroom sink as I take the cup off to clean it. I've had to go looking several times before I finally learned to check for the O-ring first before I move away from the skimmer, and replace it unto it's groove in the neck if it's stuck to the cup.

Yeah, I saw that thread about using the nipple to drain the cup. However, I keep my skim quite dry. As result, the cup develops a thick coating of mud at the bottom and also at the reaction chamber of the collection cup. This has to be cleaned off manually once a week whenever I drain the cup, so using the nipple as a drain is impractical for me. The presence of that mud and a truly thick dry skim is a testament to how well the skimmer picks up junk.

[Electrobes]

Man it's been a while seeing this tank, and I love it! The scraped back makes the corals come out more. Wierd about your Xenia... I've always had trouble growing it and now it's unstoppable. I'm sure I just jinxed it now! :lol:

[Palting]

I think the reef tank is just too clean for the Xenia, Christian. I transferred the Xenia rocks over to the FOWLR tank. That tank is a little "dirtier", with nitrates that you can actually detect. Seems to be recovering slowly, with the polyps now just opening again.

How about some time lapse pics? It always elevates my mood, and it needs some elevating :).

Millepora when first placed in the tank:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/IMG_1409.jpg

Millepora, the mother, at present:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/49261A1F.jpg

Millepora "offspring", a frag I just glued to a rock not expecting anything:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/72F30EF7.jpg

And another offspring:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/6CB82F23.jpg

Green slimer, fresh off the LFS:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Time%20lapse/IMG_0597s.jpg

Green slimer mother, at present:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/B5711930.jpg

Green slimer offspring:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/CB0EE4D6.jpg

Tiny, hungry, brain:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/IMG_1300p.jpg

Brainiac:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/2E372D0E.jpg

[Palting]

Oregon tort (that's what I've decided to call it, anyway) fresh from LFS, who had no idea what it was, BTW:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Time%20lapse/IMG_0030s.jpg

One of my slowest growing SPS, but still showing good growth. Today:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/7A3F687C.jpg

Candy cane:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Time%20lapse/IMG_0261s.jpg

Candy store:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/EEA365F9.jpg

Monti cap (should be "cup")
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Time%20lapse/IMG_1356s.jpg

Monti cap today (should be "plate"). It actually is two levels, but I've decided to let that mille overgrow the lower level. I have to keep trimming the mille to keep it from reaching the upper level.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/9D6FF8F5.jpg

[Palting]

And finally, an FTS. Took this with the wife's new cellphone. It has a "panorama" feature, where you pan the cellphone and the software creates one picture. Gotta love the new cellphone cameras, and snapbucket :D
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/02442CC5.jpg

[tony11387]

Awesome growth shots. Great job! :thumbsup:

[rchavez]

Awesome growth shots. Great job! :thumbsup:

Agreed. Nice work!

[Palting]

Thanks, guys.

I've been working on keeping nutrients low. I think I overshot the "ideal" compromise for a mixed reef. SPS and stomies are doing great, but the softies, like the Xenia, are now suffering and receding. I can't get Zoas to propaagate at all. I'm going to start working on getting it a little "dirtier" by increasing coral feeding somewhat. Hopefully I'll hit that happy medium.

[Palting]

Well, the xenia had continued to melt away, so I transferred the whole colony to my lion tank.

The Xenia went from this:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/3ADD4466.jpg

To this. There was even a hitchhiker mini maxi that bloomed out of nowhere!
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/58106766.jpg

I think the reef tank's nutrient levels are just too low. Great for the stonies, bad for the Xenia. The lion tank is "dirtier", with nitrate levels you can actually detect, so the xenia seems to be recovering. And I got a mini maxi I didn't even know I had.

[Palting]

Double post. Sorry

[rogermccray]

Just read this thread from your other thread and I have to say that the cleaned back of the tank looks a lot better.

[Palting]

Thanks, Roger.

One cautionary tale. I had a tuxedo urchin, cute little thing, running around tring to put on rocks and even the occasional hermit on it back. I've noticed the 6-line go at it a few times, and then it was gone. I think the 6-line ate it :angryfire: . I've read about it, and I guess it's true. One more reason to NOT get a 6 line wrasse.

I've had one long spine sea urchin, D. setosum. Spine tips are toxic, so it has survived. So, I decided to get another one. This one came about the size of a big toe, but in a few weeks has grown to the size of a softball, just like the first one.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/88026FA4.jpg

[rogermccray]

I had a six line and it took out my mandarin. When I swapped to a smaller tank I gave it away.

[Palting]

Yup, they can be ornery. So far, other than his being a suspect for the demise of the tuxedo, the six line seems to be getting along fine with other fish, including two mandarins. Still, I wish I didn't get a six line, and instead got a fairy wrasse and some other more colorful wrasse. As it is, no other wrasse can go into this tank with the 6-line already in there.

[codyreef29]

what corals is above the the brain coral it's pink with green in the center? I ask because i have a single head frag in my pico.

[Palting]

That's also a brain, an Acan brain. I got it from LA DD, and it was labelled Acanthastrea bowerbanki. You're asking about this one, right?
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/IMG_1300.jpg

[Palting]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Trying to come up with some scary pictures from the tank for you all.

How about a gnarly birdsnest?
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/E1377380.jpg

Or maybe a picture of the caulerpa forest from the refugium? I think that's scarier.
They can take over a tank, and spawn causing all kinds of havoc with water chemistry.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/D8EBC2E0.jpg

[Reefnut2010]

Clean the overflow boxes, and add 1/2 an inch of white substrate. That green/brown substrate really takes away from how nice the tank/corals are. The white substrate will reflect light much better as well. Good luck.

[Palting]

I actually like the way to substrate looks. Anyhow, the substrate will be covered with coral soon enough.

Playing around with the wife's new phone, decided to take a pic from the end. I need to clean the tank edges!!

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/photo1.jpg

[Metal Man 1221]

I actually like the way to substrate looks.

Me too, it's colorful and looks more natural

[Palting]

I was just struck at the fluorescence of the coral under actinics, I I tried to catch it with a pic.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/65C22A28.jpg

[Reef264]

Wow, those Green Acro's look nuts under the Actinics!Nice!

-Ray

[Palting]

How about a hungry candycane?

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/B03AC0A0.jpg

[Palting]

Time to update the thread.

The newest addition. A palythoa being used as a space filler.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/01CD391F.jpg

Not much other changes in the tank. Coral are growing and filling out, have to trim bits here and there to keep them from running into one another and waging war.

Right side:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/074BB18F.jpg

Left side:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/BA6E0BB4.jpg

[rogermccray]

looking good! trimmed bits can be mailed to me :)

[Palting]

Thanks, Roger. You won't like the trimmed bits, though. I only trim off the growing tips of the opposing corals, just enough so they don't touch each other. I do it once a week, and the bits are all less than an inch long. I just let the bits drop to the bottom, and they become part of the substrate.

[Palting]

I've succeeded in making my tank "dirtier" such that the front glass needs to be cleaned several times a week now, but the LPS and softies seem to like it while the SPS don't seem to mind. I think I may have achieved that nebulous arbitrary compromise nutrient level for my mixed reef tank. :dance:

In areas where zoas have died off and completely disappeared, new zoas are popping up:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/8A8D4A6B.jpg

The hammer is rapidly growing, throwing out stingers to clear some space:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/CFBE4AAE.jpg

The leather is dropping babies like crazy. There are at least 5 of these around the rock now:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/68B0421C.jpg

The SPS don't seem to mind at all. I've been trimming them, cutting the outside tips, so they have started getting denser by growing more branches within their boundaries, like this slimmer:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/AD6C1C28.jpg

And what used to be 1" trimming frags that I just glued to rocks are becoming proper coral, like this mille:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/F7953361.jpg

It only took over 2 years LOL!! I'm sure the "ideal nutrient level" will change again as the tank continues to change as well.

[Palting]

And of course, the obligatory FTS:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/23B1F570.jpg

[elio]

Wowaa...

[elio]

Awesome Tank. Any pics of your sump?

[Palting]

Thanks. Be warned, my sump does not and can never have the Reef Central Forum seal of approval :). It is a Marineland Model 4, with two giant biowheels earning it the official RC frown LOL!!! I do have a remote 20 gallon refugium, so maybe that part and only that part may get a grudging nod.

Here's an older picture of the inside of the cabinet. The tank on the left is the 20 gallon refugium, and the sump on the right is holding about 30 gallons:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/IMG_1329.jpg

Here's a current pic I just snapped with a cellphone:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/94E2B763.jpg

[terirass]

looks like a beautiful tank. I'm so happy when things are going along well and the tank doesn't need too much work, I'd say just sit back and enjoy the ride :-)

[TKCC]

Thanks for keeping this post going. I love seeing your success & growth.....Great job! You say that you feel like you've found the happy medium regarding nutrient levels. May I ask what your Nit & Phos are?

[TKCC]

Thanks for keeping this post going. I love seeing your success & growth.....Great job! You say that you feel like you've found the happy medium regarding nutrient levels. May I ask what your Nit & Phos are?

[Palting]

Thanks, terirass. TKCC, I haven't check nitrate nor phos for a while now. About 4 months ago, they were undetectable, and have been so since the tank was maybe 8-10 months old. Now I just look at the tank, and if there's no algae or cyano, I assume nitrate/phos are still undetectable. The only parameter I check maybe once every 4 weeks or so is alk, just to make sure the kalk and 3 part dosing are keeping up with consumption. I'm generally on this forum daily, there's always something to learn from the postings of others, so I update this thread every so often.

[Palting]

URCHINS!! You've got to have urchins in a reef tank! I was doing routine maintenance to the tank, when I realized all the turf algae was gone! What's left behind is not dead white rock as I feared, but rocks with multi colored thin algae film, probably coralline along with some regular algae, rather than the monotonous brown shag of turf algae. Just before the algae gets too thick or too dominant, it seems the urchins mow them down again. Love 'em!

Most of the rocks were covered in this brown shag of turf algae. Not too bad, I kinda liked it better than what would otherwise be dead white rock. Then another reefer friend suggested urchins. I got a tuxedo and a long spine. Tuxedo didn't last long, I think the 6 line attacked it, so I got another long spine. Kids called the first one Vlad, the Impaler. Unable to come up with another menacing name for the second one, they just called it Mrs. Vlad. LOL!!!

Here's "Mrs. Vlad". She has white accents on her spines, while Mr. Vlad is all black spine:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/FFA72924.jpg

[Palting]

New month, next update.

Been doing what I consider to be overfeeding, and there has been a slow response from zoas and softies. A little too slow or me. I was considering taking the skimmer off-line to increase the nutrient level some more, posted that question on another thread, and it seems to be a +/- idea based on the responses. I think I'll just set the skimmer to super dry, make the skim more mud in consistency. Water changes are also down to 10% every 2 weeks rather than weekly. We'll see.

New FTS:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/IMG_0090jpgc_zpsba6c0d1d.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/IMG_0090jpgc_zpsba6c0d1d.jpg

[Squidmotron]

Sorry for the weird segue here, but what is the yellow SPS on the left? I love it and I want it.

[Palting]

Also trying to populate the lower light lower flow areas of the tank. So, got two new additions.

Elegance:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/81EFE5B9_zps717e098a.jpg

Maroon mushroom rock:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/9680C305_zpsee554d03.jpg

[Palting]

Sorry for the weird segue here, but what is the yellow SPS on the left? I love it and I want it.

That's a slimer, Acropora yongei. A very hardy and fast growing SPS. The one on the lower left is a frag from the mother coral that sits just above and to the right of it. Here's a closer pic:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/8646D93E_zps920f5e36.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/AD6C1C28.jpg

[Squidmotron]

Very cool, thank you.

[Palting]

How about some more "night" pics? Hope y'all like 'em.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/F8988A09.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/0DAADEFC_zps72e6e42f.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/275CD016_zps856f85a7.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/D23E90F9_zpsaa3beb68.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/B1C14F99.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/6F8A4005_zps0246d351.jpg

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/12631914.jpg

[Palting]

Lazy afternoon, Decided to play with videos. Takes time to download, but best in 720p HD.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kBZz_VkYwwU?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Palting]

Ooops.

[Palting]

I have been obsessing a little bit on nutrient levels and the effects on growth of my corals. I've been saying the nutrient levels are too low, despite feeding all that fish plus coral feeding every 2 weeks. Even started a few threads on it, including one about taking the skimmer off line to increase DOC levels. Sounds crazy, right?

Just to show the discrepancy in growth between my SPS and my softies, here's a few representative pics.

This is a mushroom rock I placed in the tank when the tank was relatively new:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/IMG_1420.jpg

They are supposed to grow fast, and can even take over a tank, right? Almost 3 years later, today in fact, here it is.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/9B160982_zps70c0ee00.jpg

Moved down a little, Xenia is gone, but that's all it has done in almost 3 years.

Here's an SPS, a Bali Green slimmer, all 1" of it, placed in the tank fresh from the LFS:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Time%20lapse/IMG_0597s.jpg

Three years later, here it is, fragged several times already, with one daughter colony:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/A2DC6CDC_zpse79c129a.jpg

Lost several zoa colonies, too, and LPS are only doing so-so. SPS growing like gangbusters, softies so-so. The only thing I can come up with is that the nutrient levels have been too low. I've upped the feeding significantly, and there are early positive signs. I've also started to see some cyano, where I have not seen cyano in a loooong time. I am actually glad to see cyano, as I take it as a sign of increased nutrient levels LOL!!!

We'll se what happens in the next several weeks. Maybe I'll get an abundance of mushrooms, or I get dead SPS. :eek:

[Palting]

I was no longer going to add any more fish to the reef, but I just could not resist this guy. Even the fact that he is called a Blue Streak Devil did not dissuade me. His better name is Blue Velvet Damsel, Paraglyphidodon oxyodon . He actually glows under the actinics, as you can see. At about 1" length, he would just get eaten in the FOWLR, so to the reef he goes. They supposedly grow up to 6".

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/IMG_0149s_zps45fa1e9b.jpg

[Palting]

Another month. The Blue Streak devil seems to be behaving himself. He hangs out on the upper part of the tank, close to the Oregon Tort staghorn where the PJ cardinals hang out. They seem to be buddies LOL!! I suppose being the tiniest of all the fish in the tank, he can't really act like the devil. Kids have called him Solid Snake. Figure that out :D

I'm on the search for coral to fill in the low light moderate flow areas of the tank. Mushrooms, ricordeas and mini maxis seem to thrive in these areas of the tank. I even have ricordeas growing in absolute shade. Now to find ones with colors different from what I already have. Found a minimaxi that is similar to my favorite gold and red one, but this one is more banana yellow with red and green highlights. Here it is:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/7E018AAA_zps70339e38.jpg

[Palting]

The newest 'nem is coloring up nicely as it settles in. I'm calling it "Golden rainbow".

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/AD44B773_zps27f478ec.jpg

[rogermccray]

very cool looking!

[Palting]

Thanks, Roger. Looking for livestock to fill in the shady parts. Mini-maxis seem to prefer the shady parts in the tank, scooting over to the overhangs or to the rock/substrate interface, so they seem to fit the bill.

[Palting]

The more or less monthly FTS:

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/BFF081E3_zpsdc789622.jpg

[borderreef]

I love this tank! And I totally agree with you considering the substrate. I think the natural look is much nicer than the "prestine" white. My substrate is too fine to get the same colored look as yours, but I like the drifts made by the powerheads. That's as natural as I can get. For whatever reason, I've never had much luck with the sps, and I envy the growth in your tank. I see the coraline growing on the back of the tank again. I hope you are not going to remove it. Thanks for the updates. Keep it up!

[borderreef]

Btw, how many minimaxis do you have in there now?

[Cmoua]

Wow, your tank is stellar! Here's an idea of what to do next...Upgrade! Go bigger, that's what I would do. Unfortunately I am still stuck in the "how to get these sticks to grow" stage.

The layout and corals look very natural, enjoy what you have achieved.

[Palting]

Thanks, guys.

I have 5 minimaxis, borderreef, all in different color combinations. I'm looking to fill in the shadier arts of the tank, and they seem to like those areas well. Other candidates I'm keeping an eye out for at the LFS are ricordeas and acans, with colors that are different than the one's that are already in the tank.

[cugly]

Looking better everytime. ..keep it up.

[biggles]

Really nice mixed reef you have, it's looking at displays like yours that remind me why i never end up with SPS only tanks despite intending to at the start - thanks for the inspiration. :)

[Palting]

The mixture of SPS, LPS, softies and inverts really makes a mixed reef more interesting, IMO, Andrew.

I know urchins eat algae, including coralline algae, but it's the first time I've seen it eat nori. Tangs are messy eaters, ripping the nori sheets. A piece got away and got tangled in the spines of this long spine urchin. I watched fascinated as it rolled the nori piece along its spines, like dozens of little chopsticks, finally getting it to it's mouth and started munching on it.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/764CC953_zpscbdc115e.jpg

[lluv24]

Nice

[biggles]

Cool pic of the urchin eating nori, if i'd seen that i prob would have pulled it off him thinking it was simply stuck there and he couldn't get rid of it lol. Can i ask how much carbon you're running in the sump, i need to grab some before i go to the LFS as i want to get some interesting movement in the tank, my SPS only is pretty but the novelty wears off quick and it's already boring me being so static.

[Palting]

I would have removed it too, when that I saw that nori piece get caught at the very end of one spine, and then the spines started twirling like crazy. I watched it, thinking it was trying to get rid of it, until I realized it was actually moving it towards it's mouth. It was pretty neat to watch, looking like dozens of chopsticks manipulating a noodle :). And it was sitting in a high flow portion of the tank to boot!

I calculate carbon need at 1/2 cup per 50 gallons, so it's 2 cups for an approximately 200 gallon system. Maybe more or less, depending on the carbon you use and how nitpicky you go about it. I just read a thread where people were arguing about what exactly is "one cup". LOL!! I just use a name brand carbon, I even forget the brand at the moment, and 2 kitchen measuring cups of that and replaced monthly more or less is good enough for me.

[biggles]

Thanks Palting, i'll use Rowa carbon and go with half a cup. Lol about the 'cup' argument - i don't sweat the small stuff and enjoy this hobby, i'm not in it to have a sump display of equipment constantly tweaked and stressed over. I am always amused at the ' i added this stuff and now things are bad so i will add that stuff to deal with this stuff that i added to deal with the other stuff i previously added......' - less you do the less you can stuff up.

[phantomg23]

how about a nice blasto colony for the sand bed? or a plate, they fill nicely

[Palting]

Thanks, Phantom. I'm holding the open and well-lit substrate in reserve for some clams, either crocea or derasa. I already have one lonely crocea, I think the tank will look better with at least one more. I already have one blasto, and it too requires moderate to high light.

I am, however, looking for low light and low-moderate flow coral suggestions to place in the shadier and less well-lit portions of the tank. So far, I'm considering acans, 'shroom, rics, duncans, in different colors from what's already in the tank.

[phantomg23]

what would look really cool is a ric garden, but not on the main rock pile. Like drill holes into the rock to fit frag plugs and then put them in and let it fill. that would look great imo

[jason angel]

Congrats on the ROTM Palting!

[Palting]

Thanks, Jason.

[SushiGirl]

Beautiful tank!

[Palting]

Thanks, SushiGirl.

[greg1786]

What a great tank and a great thread. I noticed in one of your first posts in this thread you mentioned a tenuis. Any chance you have a time elapsed pic of it small and what it has grown to be. Or even just a shot up close of it now. I bought a tiny frag at a swap in late january and had some die off in the first two weeks from the base up leaving me with about a frag 1/4" after i cut the dead skeleton away. 3 months later it has turned a beautiful blue color with a hint of yellow at the base and has grown to be just under an inch long. Id just like to see a nice big colony from a healthy tank so i know what to look forward to! Btw congrats on the ROTM

[Palting]

The purple tenui is the fastest growing coral I have. It's been fragged several times already. Some frags I gave away, some got replanted in the tank. There are 4 separate colonies in the tank now.

Here's the original frag. Sorry for the poor photo, I was still learning how to take photos of subjects inside aquariums.:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Time%20lapse/IMG_1295s.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Time%20lapse/IMG_1295s.jpg.html)

Here's a pic of two colonies from the mother colony:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/395B72C4_zps1e3e8063.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/395B72C4_zps1e3e8063.jpg.html)

[jbyankees1]

Congratulations on ROTM. How is the Blue Velvet Damsel doing? I had one, and while he was peaceful while young he became a monster full grown. They do get close to 6 inches and I eventually had to get rid of him as he attacked anything new I tried adding to the tank, including my hand.

[greg1786]

The purple tenui is the fastest growing coral I have. It's been fragged several times already. Some frags I gave away, some got replanted in the tank. There are 4 separate colonies in the tank now.

Here's the original frag. Sorry for the poor photo, I was still learning how to take photos of subjects inside aquariums.:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Time%20lapse/IMG_1295s.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Time%20lapse/IMG_1295s.jpg.html)

Here's a pic of two colonies from the mother colony:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/395B72C4_zps1e3e8063.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/395B72C4_zps1e3e8063.jpg.html)

Thanks for the photos palting your tenius is stunning! I noticed you said its one of your fastest geowing corals? What placement in your tank is it in terms of lighting intensity? Was it always a fast grower or did it start slow and take off once it settled in? The reason I ask because in comparison to most of my acros it is growing slow, less than 3/4" in three months. I think it may be due to the fact it had dieoff at its base. Its just now starting to encrust the rock nicely. Thanks again

[Palting]

Congratulations on ROTM. How is the Blue Velvet Damsel doing? I had one, and while he was peaceful while young he became a monster full grown. They do get close to 6 inches and I eventually had to get rid of him as he attacked anything new I tried adding to the tank, including my hand.

Thanks. The blue velvet damsel is still behaving. Even at 6", I think he will be just too small relative to the rest of the tank to be an effective bully.

[Palting]

Thanks for the photos palting your tenius is stunning! I noticed you said its one of your fastest geowing corals? What placement in your tank is it in terms of lighting intensity? Was it always a fast grower or did it start slow and take off once it settled in? The reason I ask because in comparison to most of my acros it is growing slow, less than 3/4" in three months. I think it may be due to the fact it had dieoff at its base. Its just now starting to encrust the rock nicely. Thanks again

I have the tenui colonies about halfway up the tank, around 10"-15" from the surface, under 150watt 10K MH plus actinic t5's. It seems to be tolerant of a wide range of light intensity. It does seem to like really high flow, however, with the colonies that are directly in the path of a powerhead or return flow growing best. But I think that would be true for any SPS.

[Palting]

More or less monthly FTS, this time under actinics for variety.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/65B9F44D_zps012187ff.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/65B9F44D_zps012187ff.jpg.html)

[insaneDynamix]

Wow that looks like a scene straight out of Avatar ...

I love your tank Palting

[Palting]

Thanks. And I just watch Avatar on TV last night!

[Palting]

Took some macro shots. Hope y'all like them.

229192

229193

229194

229195

229196

[Palting]

Mehhh. Photos didn't quite post they way I wanted it. Didn't realize tapatalk disn't do as good a job. I'll try again.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/D959F041_zpsf2d6391c.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/D959F041_zpsf2d6391c.jpg.html)

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/DF34FB6B_zps4f6db199.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/DF34FB6B_zps4f6db199.jpg.html)

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/3BB0813F_zps51b9d6c9.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/3BB0813F_zps51b9d6c9.jpg.html)

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/DB25BBB3_zps11f9e51d.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/DB25BBB3_zps11f9e51d.jpg.html)

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/8E897BF0_zps157f4eb6.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/8E897BF0_zps157f4eb6.jpg.html)

[Palting]

Two more:

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/712FC1D5_zps079f0fe1.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/712FC1D5_zps079f0fe1.jpg.html)

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/6939F2FB_zps5e366b4b.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/6939F2FB_zps5e366b4b.jpg.html)

[SushiGirl]

Beautiful!

[Palting]

Thanks, SushiGirl. I think I'm starting to like macro close-ups better than FTS. Seems more interesting.

[thereeftank]

Just wondering what do you keep your phospates at? Just GFO? Or refugium does it all?

[Palting]

I used a GFO reactor when the tank was new. Took it off line after about 3 months, and after that it's been all refugium for almost 3 years.

[goma]

Very nice looking, everything looks really healthy!

[Palting]

Another month, FTS shot.

Moonlight:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0244_zpse60f4434.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Aquarium3/IMG_0244_zpse60f4434.jpg.html)

Bright daylight:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0247_zpsaf80f472.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Aquarium3/IMG_0247_zpsaf80f472.jpg.html)

[Palting]

This turquoise acro is my favorite this month. The photo just does not do the color justice. In real life, it has a translucent character:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/IMG_0248_zps1f9f006f.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/IMG_0248_zps1f9f006f.jpg.html)

This, OTOH, is getting to be a bad boy. It's a Bali slimmer acro that has developed multiple layers and is taking over one corner, shadowing the acan lord, rics and mushrooms below:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Snapbucket/076817B7_zps76d7db81.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Snapbucket/076817B7_zps76d7db81.jpg.html)

[Palting]

May 13, 2013:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/IMG_1676_zps496b70f7.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/IMG_1676_zps496b70f7.jpg.html)

[Palting]

One of my mandarins. "Love you guys...pucker up.. *SMOOCH*" LOL!!!

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0559c2_zps74194101.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Aquarium3/IMG_0559c2_zps74194101.jpg.html)

[Palting]

WAR!

If we watch our tanks long enough, they have stories to tell.

This devil hand coral started out as little fingers. It would flop around and sting the neighbors, clearing a space for itself. It has grown to be several "hands". Well, it picked a fight with the wrong enemy. It flopped over to attack an anemone, and lost fingers in the process. It now has a bare spot where fingers uded to be. LOL!!!!
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0266_zpsb0be4fc0.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Aquarium3/IMG_0266_zpsb0be4fc0.jpg.html)

There are 5 SPS corals fighting in this little space. A slimmer on the left, a mille on the right, a tort and a monti in the back. In the middle of this battlefield, a sprig of a tenui decided to grow. I have no idea how this tenui got there, as the tenui colony is all the way at the other end of the tank. Anyway, to support this upstart Daniel that decided to go to war with the bigger goliaths around it , I've been trimming the others back. Way to go, tenui!!
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0267_zpsfd043998.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Aquarium3/IMG_0267_zpsfd043998.jpg.html)

This pink birdsnest, OTOH, is all by it's lonesome:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0258_zps3d7c0421.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Aquarium3/IMG_0258_zps3d7c0421.jpg.html)

But not for long!! There's the large tenui, a wild Fiji, a monti down at the bottom, a candy cane, and even a large shrub of halimeda just in the periphery but closing in!
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0259_zps12bc2d54.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Aquarium3/IMG_0259_zps12bc2d54.jpg.html)

[Palting]

Found a scraper attachment to the Mag-Float. Works very well!! This is the cleanest the tank has been from coralline and stubborn algae in a long time.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1763_zps1023eb8f.jpg (http://s851.photobucket.com/user/Kalawing/media/Aquarium3/IMG_1763_zps1023eb8f.jpg.html)

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_1763_zps1023eb8f.jpg

[Palting]

July 2013 FTS update.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/2013-07_zps260701ed.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/2013-07_zps260701ed.jpg~original

It's been a while. At this point, the tank is simply about maintenance. Water changes, dosing, pruning/fragging.

Hmmm. Maybe time to plan a bigger tank? LOL!!

[Drae]

Sweet! Nice and lush. Good growth. Good job. Question though. Your not running any controllable powerheads?

[Palting]

Thanks, Drae. No, there are no controllable powerheads. All those powerheads are continuous. Their flows and the flows from the return intersect one another, however, and this creates a chaotic random flow. I'll take a video of the hairy millepora colonies some time, and you'll see their long polyps swaying randomly and in all directions.

[Drae]

I know what you mean. My 150 only had koralia's on it. Worked well with some fine tuning. Your tank is awesome.

[Fish_King_25]

Absolutely stunning tank...very gorgeous setup!

[Palting]

Thanks, guys. I toyed with the idea of a controller/wavemaker. Seemed like a real cool idea to simulate waves as well as tidal movement. But at that time I was close to using up the budget just for the set up already, so I went with straight powerheads to start. By the time that I had the budget for the Ecotech Vortechs, the tank was doing so well it didn't make sense to change things. I used the money for other things instead. That was 3 years ago. Now that I know, I'll probably stick to the multiple continuously running powerheads for the next :eek: tank.

[danielp]

Great looking tank, congrats.

[Palting]

Thanks, danielp. I'm currently waiting for that right corner of the tank to fill in. There's a green mille, a blue tort, a pink birdsnest, and an orange monti cap in there that I hope in time will create another fairly colorful area.

[Palting]

After a long hiatus where no new livestock have been added and just waiting for things to grow, here's the newest addition: a 6"-7" tan colored Crocea with gold, yellow and green highlights. Got a good deal in exchange for a frag of green slimmer and some cash.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0297_zps515728d1.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0297_zps515728d1.jpg~original

[Palting]

Let there be light!!

Was starting to lose the acan lord, minimaxi, ricordeas, because the SPS were now all the way to the front glass and was shadowing them. So I got busy with frag scissors and just chopped off the front ends. Got a line on several fellow reefers to come get all those frags, for free!!

BEFORE:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0304_zps0b917e59.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0304_zps0b917e59.jpg~original

AFTER:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0307_zps15b420fb.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0307_zps15b420fb.jpg~original

One of the frags:
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0308_zpsab7b87d4.jpg

[gmyers0203]

Beautiful tank! Congrats on the new additions

[pmrossetti]

Beautiful, gorgeous tank Palting.
I was wondering if you were still using the MarineLand skimmer.
And the MarineLand return pumps.

[Palting]

Thanks for the kind words.

Yes, I am still using the same skimmer. The skimmer started to act erratically, and I figured the built in muffler chamber was getting loaded with junk or salt creep. Since it was built into the body there was no way I could access it directly, and try as I might, I could not get it clean. So, I drilled a hole in the side of the base and connected a new air-line to the venturi. The new airline goes straight up outside the body. Easier to clean/replace whenever needed. Skimmer has been running like a charm again.

Same pump, too, though it's not really fair to say it's one pump for 3 years. I have 2 pumps. I use one on continuous duty as a return pump, and the other one for water change duty. Every 3 months or so, I clean one, and swap them.

[Bdial]

Awesome tank! Those frags are bigger than all my corals! Let know if you want to donate some to me. I could use some. Beautiful tank!

[Palting]

Thanks, Bdial. You're a bit far from me, otherwise I'd be glad to give the frags to you!

August 2013 FTS, cellphone photo. The acan lord, Rics, blue shrooms, mini-maxi, palys.......all like the increased light they are getting after fragging the overhanging SPS.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0314_zpsfa14c32c.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/IMG_0314_zpsfa14c32c.jpg~original

[Palting]

Well, between the last FTS and now, I messed up. I increased the dosing rate but forgot to turn the doser back on, then left for vacation. With no dosing for a week, the alk went down to the 4 dKH. By then, several of the SPS had developed STN. Got the alk back up to 8 slowly, the STN has stopped and the SPS are slowly recovering. I did a little experiment, where I cut off the STN tips on some and left it on the others. The cut off stumps seem to be recovering faster, while the one's I left alone now have algae on them. Surprisingly, in some areas the coral tissue is actually pushing the algae back in some areas. I think I'll keep observing them.

Anyhow, here's an FTS. If you click on the direct link below the embedded photo, you can go to the full size photo and see the damage yourself. On a happier note, the LPS and softies did not care about the low alk, and have continued to grow.
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/2013-910_zps37706aa9.jpg
http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/ab71/Kalawing/Aquarium3/2013-910_zps37706aa9.jpg~original

[markalot]

Sorry to hear about the oops, but certainly glad everything is recovering, Very nice tank, and I've really enjoyed reading about it.

I don't have nearly as much experience as you do, but I have had newbie issues and along the way have discovered Acros, Stylo, and Pocillopora all seem to be able to push algae out of the way when healthy. My purple stylo killed off some bubble algae at the base and then encrusted over the spot. :)

I painted superglue on a stylo with shipping damage, this seemed to speed recovery as well. It will be interesting to see if Acros can be as robust.

[Palting]

So, I did an experiment. Some of the STN areas I chopped off, some of them I left alone. The stumps of the chopped off areas are showing new buds, but have lost skeletal length since I chopped off the skeleton. The STN areas I left alone got covered in algae, and the coral tissue is growing back slowly, but the length is maintained. So, my conclusion is that it is a wash whether you cut off the STN areas or not. If you cut them off, growth buds are clean but you lose length. If you don't cut them off, growth seems slow but the coral length is maintained.

Here's a pic of an area that has both chopped off and left alone areas. You can see the new growth in the chopped off areas, and the coral tissue pushing back the algae in the non-chopped off areas.
249475

Here's another photo, this time of a tenui that had all it's tips get STN and was left alone. You can see the purple areas of new growth pushing back the algae.
249474

Here's an FTS October 2013
249476

[chain]

Nice tank and great information. Where in Ohio do you live? I am just south of Pittsburgh.

[Palting]

I'm in Alliance, just over an hour out of Pittsburgh. Before this event, I was fragging several of my SPS every 3 months or so due to overgrowth, and giving the frags away for free. If you're interested and willing to make the drive, I can give some to you next time I frag healthy pieces.

[chain]

I might have to make the drive one day. You're not to far at all. I currently have a 29 gallon nano cube but have a 120 I just picked up that should be up next week. Hoping to move my fish and corals in by mid November. I am actually more interested in seeing how stuff gets trimmed and how you go about all of that. Would be great to see it first hand instead of looking online. Of course if I end up with a frag or two all the better. =)

[Palting]

FTS, December 2013. Not quite fully recovered from STN, but getting there.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2355&pictureid=58203

[Palting]

Happy new year! January 2014 FTS. The tank is more like a Bonsai garden, now. I just trim things down so they don't run into one another:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2355&pictureid=58840

[Palting]

Feb 2014 FTS. Looks pretty much the same, since all I do now is trim the growths to keep it looking the same.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2355&pictureid=59627

[GQuinn]

It looks like you are using 15k 150 watt bulbs. What brand are you using and are you using electronic or magnetic ballast? Nice tank.

[Palting]

They are 10k 150w XK. The T5 HO actinics balance the color spectrum. 15k comes out too blue. Electronic ballasts.

[GQuinn]

Thank you for the info.

[Palting]

April 2014 tank update. Still alive, slowly recovering but recovering nevertheless.

FTS
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2355&pictureid=62050

Left
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2355&pictureid=62051

Right
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2355&pictureid=62052

[markalot]

I really like this tank and now I'm considering upgrading to either a 120 or 150. How do you like the dimensions? Is 18" deep to narrow? It looks fantastic and nothing seems crowded.

[footballdude2k3]

The SPS growth that you have had, is just fantastic, great job

[jamiesmithnc]

Very nice tank!

[GroceryGetterS4]

Great looking tank!