PDA

View Full Version : A Reef From NZ


Benar
12/11/2014, 04:20 AM
Hi everyone I thought I'd introduce my little reef.
Here in New Zealand it's all wild/mari's, and my last setup was tabling acro dominant. It looked alright and went through various stages. Ran BB, zeovit for a while, carbohydrates. Zeo made me lose interest to a degree and skipped zeolite changes etc.
With the birth of my second child looming I wanted something simpler. A staghorn dominant reef running the vodka, glucose, vinegar method.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/11/dac22793b9b45b1edf484408ffc613d9.jpg
Mostly mini colonies/frags, I'm starting this thread to keep a record of my growth.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/11/a8f1c8b93f08ae53e9de6f455f567a9e.jpg

250 Radium w/ Lumatek e-ballast's set to super lumens, 2xT5, diy LEDs. KZ Revolution M, KZ CaRx S, Vortech's.
I'm hoping for thickets of stags to grow all over in the next couple years to come, by which time I'll reevaluate if I want to keep this reef going.

psidriven
12/11/2014, 04:54 AM
Congrats on your second kid and go all blacks. Any reason for picking stags since? Always found digis and plating montis to be the easiest.

sahin
12/11/2014, 08:37 AM
Very nice. :beer: Which vortechs and how many are you using for flow?

Benar
12/11/2014, 10:10 PM
Congrats on your second kid and go all blacks. Any reason for picking stags since? Always found digis and plating montis to be the easiest.

Thank you! I like the growth speed and pattern, colours aren't in your face like some of the other acros but they don't hold a grudge if you slack off in some areas. I don't think I've got a single Monti in this tank :-(.


Very nice. :beer: Which vortechs and how many are you using for flow?

Cheers my commonwealth brethren. I'm now at 2x 20s and 1x40 throttled back a bit. Was using 2x20's and 2xWP25s but was a bit much of a contrast in pump shapes - I think I'm pretty OCD about that stuff!

sahin
12/12/2014, 04:01 AM
Was using 2x20's and 2xWP25s but was a bit much of a contrast in pump shapes - I think I'm pretty OCD about that stuff!

That is pretty OCD man...:debi:

:lol:

Benar
12/12/2014, 04:49 PM
Just one of my many downfalls! :/
I have a spot for just one more acro that I've been holding out for. A.abrotanoides
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/12/4615e4cf90037406e89a8a4581cc3620.jpg
T5+LEDs only, little bit of sun coming through the sun shade.

psidriven
12/13/2014, 02:40 AM
Watermelon abro? Good luck. It's a pain keep colored up in my experience.

Benar
12/16/2014, 06:15 PM
Disaster struck, kinda.. I had one big unstable piece of rock that toppled and caused a bit of a landslide..while I was at work.. Gone back to my old ways of minimal rock in display, staghorns look better this way I reckon.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/16/c8b1a5cd3e14e0e913027b7b05f4d640.jpg
One more staghorn incoming, a big blue one. Bali slimer is dwarfing everything else so hopefully this takes the heat off it. Going in the hole below the regals tail.

reeflover62
12/16/2014, 06:43 PM
I like this new look and them nice corals.

Benar
12/16/2014, 08:01 PM
Watermelon abro? Good luck. It's a pain keep colored up in my experience.
I'd love that colour variant, but will take any abro that comes in (haven't seen one in a while.) might be hard to find space after my conundrum, but I'm sure I'll manage for an abro.


I like this new look and them nice corals.

Thank you! Your tanks have always been on my nice list :) Flow is insane now

Here is why I want stags. Fast forward to 3:00 minutes, I was on top of these about 6 months ago!
http://youtu.be/N5kRD0Wc1V8

reeflover62
12/16/2014, 08:33 PM
Some day I hope to make a trip there and dive some really nice reefs. I did grow up in the Florida keys and can't complain but Bali or Maldives would be a highlight.

Benar
12/17/2014, 07:14 PM
It's amazing!
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/17/9fd97f22759f3f48bd80c23a9a991970.jpg
That just about does it.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/17/1a9b8fc1b99bc1ab7235727c152c4610.jpg

sahin
12/18/2014, 01:13 PM
Looking very good Benar :beer: Dare I say it looks a little like Biggles's scaping style. :)

Benar
12/19/2014, 02:17 PM
Thank you, yeah you're right now that I look at it. Me and biggles must share the same tastes, flat and bony with a little bit of flubber where it's needed!
Added a torch aka "one of those wavy things" to keep the family happy. The things we do..

sahin
12/19/2014, 02:21 PM
Thank you, yeah you're right now that I look at it. Me and biggles must share the same tastes, flat and bony with a little bit of flubber where it's needed!
Added a torch aka "one of those wavy things" to keep the family happy. The things we do..

I am adding a torch to my tank too! Out of all the Euphyllia's, I like torches most. I am on the lookout for a nice green one. And yes, its to keep the family happy. :spin2:

trueblackpercula
12/19/2014, 03:50 PM
Nice

Benar
12/20/2014, 11:25 PM
Thank you! I actually quite like the torch my mrs chose. The green contrasts well with the blue stag behind. Of course the only spot I had was front and center..
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/20/88efeb07aeecbfbf7c66ef193b37c862.jpg

Emptied my entire sump today and did an 80L or so water change. Now I remember why I hate doing them, what a task that was.. Was a solid layer of detritus so hopefully I can keep it clean now. Nitrates 5 and dropping. http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/20/9591bafae7e398720938e7da536d8596.jpg
Can't complain. Whatever it is I'm doing seems to be working.

Tomorrow on my way back from my 2nd job I may just bring home a good sized orange stag to place at the back "then call it a day.." Yeah right!

Benar
12/20/2014, 11:51 PM
Also like biggles I have a new little pet
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/20/21b7f6468b74bab3e0d1d1b84be4c3df.jpg
It was the first Mari base I've let slide for a wee while. Survived the revive dip?!
Kinda cool, it was David Attenborough talking about mantis shrimp that got me into the hobby. Blue around the eyes, some red, some brown. Hmmm

trueblackpercula
12/21/2014, 10:48 AM
LOL nice they are cool shrimps but can eat small fish when they get large

Benar
12/27/2014, 09:51 PM
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/1f0a4487dd22a06efb29e568350a74a9.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/156c8acd946d93dd5611c44dd3604993.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/ca37544ea1b86f3b8e450be5596887c2.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/56797e8541e632f7a0197acfd30cc681.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/81d2009d3f48c3275e69676557f5351b.jpghttp://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/74a7274eabd8db86f2a675477f00f40d.jpg

Benar
12/27/2014, 10:04 PM
'Scuse the blown over frag rack at the back, not even that branch rock can hold it down with my flow, and my epoxy bases of the two frags I wish to keep down on the left ..
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/27/40e0b8cdc617957bcc93f75832d3d48e.jpg

Benar
12/28/2014, 01:26 AM
Not sure why the rocks came out so purple.. Hit auto balance once, must be the new iPhone. Otherwise VGV seems to be working well. In a month I've got nitrates down from 20 to 5, po4 was .06 now .04. Might save up for a apex. DD 1ml/min peri pump is ordered so can auto carbon dose while away. No more coral will be added as I'm flat outta space, even for an abro :-(

sahin
12/28/2014, 11:00 AM
Looking good mate. Seeing your torch makes me want to buy one so badly...will be picking one up in the new year for sure. I also want to buy an Apex and will be saving for for it...trouble is, so many things I need to buy :lol:

Benar
12/30/2014, 07:34 PM
Totally ruined the big green stag trying to mount it, so to the back it goes :( http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/30/87bb2c82f099881b96c013074217ac4b.jpg
Luckily I had a 'Bali slimer' (not sure it's a yongei?) lined up to take its spot. You can see my botched efforts behind
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/30/c10e0c05222de6a4c55a0b1c1b4c8653.jpg
I think I like the thinner branches anyway.

biggles
01/01/2015, 04:55 AM
Looking great mate, i love the stags all over the place. :thumbsup:

I know your pain when it comes to botched acro mounting, i've had a few expletive laden moments when things went wrong :facepalm:

Scotty freddy
01/01/2015, 08:12 AM
Looking good benar, I'm also a fan of lots of stags as it looks awesome once it all grows out.

Me and the wife had a little mishap a long time ago mounting a double layered monti cap (well it was her not me) :lol: she accidentally ended up with it coral glued to her finger rather well and instead of waiting decided she could try to remove it herself. The end result was 2 single layered monti caps :debi: :lol:

Keep up the great work mate ;)

Benar
01/01/2015, 06:37 PM
Cheers guys, but I'm again having trouble with placement and things swaying about in the flow. Really disappointing and this has always been the bane of my reef keeping experience. The place I part time at imports from Walt smith and I'm wondering if I just get some of this http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/01/538b3521abe1a86da29e8d97eba36edc.jpg and then break apart this http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/01/1ede5054c97a16e8e38e78a1ca76c4c7.jpg to glue to the branch as holes for the plug bases. It, never, ends..

Benar
01/01/2015, 06:51 PM
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/01/b1ac77caee5c7a9f43566c7e96bad0ce.jpg
Just found this of my big catch. Check out the clothes, must've been the 80's!
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/01/ef217fb68969f8e7ea2bcd01405827e9.jpg
Me and Kev go way back biggles.

Urbs
01/01/2015, 10:30 PM
haha nice pics

Urbs
01/01/2015, 10:31 PM
How big is the tank not sure if I missed it?

Benar
01/04/2015, 03:49 AM
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/04/8e9e23b11594792c3f6fd07f209a6a01.jpg t5+led and a little bit of evening sun. All the rock is centred around the middle as the single LumenBright isn't the best for spread. It's 120cm long, 75cm front to back and 45?cm high. I think it works out to around US 90gal. There's about 30cm of free space either side of the rockwork to the glass but I'll settle for that if I can get away with a single halide.
This is the only distance shot I have to show how minimal it actually is (was selling the zeo reactor)
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/04/c406ba40bd84e259393b65c4b254ea2b.jpg

sahin
01/04/2015, 01:24 PM
Wow mate, that photo above really give a good impression of how minimal your rockwork is...I imagine it a lot more...no wonder you are very selective with corals etc. :)

Benar
01/04/2015, 04:23 PM
Yea looks a bit average from a distance actually :/ .. The Walt Smith Fiji rock is looking like a real possibility now. I wonder if I can sneak on another reflector with a 150hqi hmmm http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/04/b7ebeba9cfc769247a2da3d48c0994df.jpg
This is what I have to work with, another LumenBright won't fit in the frame unless I cut a bit out, one of these will just fit http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/01/04/e577ec3593425c36de760dbf3b63b965.jpg but with my ocd and two different reflectors..eek. Might just chuck a couple par38 spotlights on each end, as much as I don't like LEDs.

Benar
01/04/2015, 10:48 PM
A quickie
http://youtu.be/isaA26dv3k4

sahin
01/05/2015, 04:13 AM
Looks great! Nice video!

isaA26dv3k4

You and Biggles make me real jealous of your halide units...:fun2:

Benar
01/24/2015, 02:15 PM
A few adjustments incoming. The reflector wasn't giving me coverage on the sides. 70w halides either side weren't gonna cut it, 150w halides would cook it and 24w t5s wouldn't fit.
305180
12 normal Blue, 12 cool white, 8 violet, ala Lani leds.
305181 corals moved to the sand and based, awaiting the arrival of 15kg/35lbs branch rock to complete the new scape. Customs just advised me that they have cleared it and should be here in the next week. Always. Changing. My. Frikken. Mind...
305182 some experimenting, does the colour look too fake?

Benar
01/28/2015, 03:28 PM
35lbs. This stuff is thick 305712
My wee bubbas play mat in the back for size 305713
When I find the scape I'm after I'm gonna drill/rod/speed glue it so I can't mess around.

Benar
01/28/2015, 03:34 PM
305716 0.00-0.04
305717 ~5
Some corals in waiting
305718305719305720
Silly iPhone picks up the blue too much..

sahin
01/29/2015, 03:23 AM
Quite a bit of changes to your tank. Look forward to seeing it all put together. :)

Benar
01/29/2015, 11:58 PM
Imminent brown out incoming!
http://i.imgur.com/yA3I7zJ.jpg
Some things have started already from the shift to the sand, defence force sending me on a short trip, and now the Tonga phos branches + being shifted again.

Benar
01/30/2015, 07:57 PM
http://i.imgur.com/TnXTmKs.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/ApScwEQ.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/4XG2ZOR.jpg
Still have a semi designated staghorn area.
Will see how things go as the po4 starts leaching.

sahin
02/01/2015, 05:42 AM
Looking good man. Like it! :beer:

SPS Galore
02/01/2015, 10:24 AM
This is cool. Never saw a tank from New Zealand. Lol

trueblackpercula
02/02/2015, 07:56 AM
very nice set up

Benar
02/08/2015, 11:27 PM
http://i.imgur.com/Obq8flh.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/LzcJqpC.jpg

Benar
02/10/2015, 01:15 AM
http://i.imgur.com/EZP84Wa.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/sGFkt1M.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/9vdbK0i.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MuB2HFc.jpg

markalot
02/10/2015, 12:09 PM
Nice pics! :)

Benar
02/12/2015, 02:37 AM
Cheers, trying to keep on top of po4 somewhat as it leaches from the rock, I don't care too much about algae as long as it isn't bryopsis. Down to one hanna po4 reagent so I'll save it for a rainy day. Saw enough algae diving in Bali to know its natural and the corals grow over the top of it anyway. I've lost more coral in ULNS than dealing with a little bit of green/red/brown here or there. Anyway would be rude not to add a picture, hoping this yellows up and stays.
http://i.imgur.com/OGeKEnA.jpg

sahin
02/12/2015, 03:49 AM
Looking good mate. I have bit of algae remaining on my plate rock...It was worse but is reducing over time. I just let snails deal with.

Benar
02/14/2015, 03:27 AM
Realised I haven't been dosing VGV for about 3 weeks, screwed the lid on the bottle too tight and created a vacuum. Cut the dosing right back as I'll have to start from fresh kinda. Works sending me away for a week again, fingers crossed, hate messing with stuff right before going away.

sahin
02/14/2015, 04:19 AM
Hope its all ok when you get back. isnt it safer to forget the VSV for a week?

k4ndyk1ng
02/14/2015, 05:14 AM
What are the dimensions of this?

Benar
02/17/2015, 11:56 PM
48x28x18high. Everything survived the trip away and 1ml/day of VGV. Growth and colouration improved, sand bed still a bit funky though.. This blue mari is starting to look a vibrant sky blue
http://i.imgur.com/z5upPqb.jpg
Just ignore the sand, I'm working on it.
http://i.imgur.com/Dr6PkST.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/x09lMpS.jpg

sahin
02/18/2015, 08:07 AM
Awesome colours on those Acros mate. :beer:

Benar
02/22/2015, 04:27 PM
Today is a bad day http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/22/a093fb5aa4216c7d86b7349147237c4a.jpg

sahin
02/23/2015, 12:36 PM
Is that an Acro Eating Flatworm or part of a crab?

Benar
02/23/2015, 02:31 PM
AEFW brah. Cut half of it off scraping it out of the turkey baster, checked it a couple hours later and it seemed to be regenerating the tail and looking like a full worm again. Tough gits! Plan of attack is Turkey baster/power heads, can't deal with dipping and qt'ing at this point.

sahin
02/23/2015, 02:41 PM
AEFW brah. Cut half of it off scraping it out of the turkey baster, checked it a couple hours later and it seemed to be regenerating the tail and looking like a full worm again. Tough gits! Plan of attack is Turkey baster/power heads, can't deal with dipping and qt'ing at this point.

Very sorry bro. :( That sucks big time.

I just beat them (to the best of my knowledge). But it required dipping/taking out infested corals and placing in QT etc. I guess you know the drill. But it damn sucks big time cos I know how it must feel especially if its at a bad time when you have other lifes problems etc.

Whilst I am not a fan of the baster/powerhead method its probably the most convenient option for you right now.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. :(

reeflover62
02/23/2015, 04:42 PM
The coral in the third picture is awesome ! I hope you get rid of them and save some of those beautiful corals.

Benar
03/04/2015, 05:23 PM
Tank is going. The mrs has evicted it from the house. Paid parental leave is 12weeks in New Zealand, so we've been down to just my income. A soon to be crawling baby, noisy fans, not enough time..the list goes on.
Hope everyone else's tanks are doing great! Adios!

mhucasey
03/04/2015, 05:31 PM
Well that is a bummer:(
Ive been there myself and I know the pain of having to give the hobby up for a while. Hopefully when things are more appropriate, you'll be back. Good luck until then!

reeflover62
03/04/2015, 09:06 PM
Sorry but my advice is stop making excuses get balls back out of her purse and tell her you're keeping it. Not like it's 200gal. system! Nobody is going to tell me I can't have my reef tank... unless she is Kate Upton

sahin
03/05/2015, 03:47 AM
Sorry man. Hope you are back one day. :(

jayball
03/05/2015, 11:17 PM
As a reefer I'll say sorry, as a father though I say congrats. You can always restart a tank in a year or two when money is not so tight.

Benar
03/07/2015, 02:19 AM
Cheers guys, reeflover62 nailed it, I forgot what it's like to have a set swinging around :(
In my defence, I've kept the KZ Revolution M and CaRx for a rainy day (that unused carport running on sunlight.)