January 2016 Tank of the Month!!!

[Genetics]

<b>This month we are featuring Michael Cuttone’s 140 US-gallon reef aquarium.</b>


<img src="http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla//images/stories/totm/Jan2016/FTSsm.jpg" alt="" border="0"><br><br> <br> More details can be found <a href="http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/163-tank-of-the-month" target="_blank">here</a>.


Congratulations, Michael!


Also check out the <a href="http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/" target="_blank">Reefkeeping Blog</a>!<br> <br> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><table style="WIDTH: 431px" align="center" border="2" bordercolor="#006699" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td bgcolor="#006699" width="73%"><center><font color="#ffffff">If you'd like to nominate a tank for Tank of the Month, click <a href="http://reefcentral.com/forums/newthread.php?s=&amp;action=newthread&amp;forumid=189" target="_blank"><font color="#ffffff">here</font></a> or use the button to the right.</font></center></td> <td bgcolor="#ffffff" width="27%"><a href="http://reefcentral.com/forums/newthread.php?s=&amp;action=newthread&amp;forumid=189" target="_blank"><img src="http://reefkeeping.com/images/nominate1.gif" alt="" border="0"></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

[DgenR8]

What a great way to start 2016!
Your tank is beautiful Michael, thank you so much for sharing it with us :D

[MikeC120]

Thank you DgenR8 ;)

[Bogue Chitto]

Wow.... that is an awesome tank. Keep up the good work.

[corvettecrimson]

Gorgeous tank, excellent work!

[bdsage]

Stunning reef you have there. Congratulations.

[evolutionXXVII]

Wow amazing tank! Wondering what two corals are that I don't think I've ever seen before. First is this green one: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/images/stories/totm/Jan2016/softies/Jan201632.jpg

Second is this blue thing: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/images/stories/totm/Jan2016/coral/Jan201639.jpg

Thanks!

[glaukos]

Congrats,that's a very beautiful and colorful tank:beer:

[dkeller_nc]

Wow! Really impressive tank, and even us stony coral guys can have a deep appreciation for softies. My first large reef tank in 1992 had a number of stony corals, but easily my favorite coral in the tank was a very large mushroom leather.

With respect to your comment about the common misperception that "softies are easy", I'd challenge anyone that thinks so to successfully keep dendronephthya for longer than 6 weeks. ;)

I've a curiosity question - I can identify most of the corals and fish in the tank from the pictures, but I'm unfamiliar with the cardinalfish. Do you have a common or scientific name for them?

[MikeC120]

I've a curiosity question - I can identify most of the corals and fish in the tank from the pictures, but I'm unfamiliar with the cardinalfish. Do you have a common or scientific name for them?

Thank you for your compliments!
The red line Cardinal(Ochrestriped Cardinalfish) are among my favorite I have 6 in the tank and they are approaching 3"

[nl146]

Very nice, and well deserved. Congratulations! I like the look without pumps in the tank.

[homer1475]

Absolutely stunning tank!

I would have never guessed that it was a cutting board on the bottom, looked like sand to me. Great Idea! Even though its not technically a BB(IMO your still not "on the glass" so to speak), I'm curious if you get detritus building up between the glass and cutting board?

[joshbrookkate]

Beautiful!
I have a question about feeding...
You mention in the details that you make your own food and feed this 4 times a day. What is in your food? I am assuming that the food you make is frozen? If so, do you have an automated way to feed them so often in a day?

[C.Eymann]

very beautiful tank! Very well deserved. Makes me want to setup a softie/lps tank now. This tank proves that a great soft/lps tank can be equally stunning as some of the great mature SPS systems that were previous TOTM.

[MikeC120]

Absolutely stunning tank!

I'm curious if you get detritus building up between the glass and cutting board?

No not any to speak of, my previous tanks a 120gal & a 30gal I had the same set up both had a stand that you could see the bottom of the tank from underneath.
I attribute this to using 3/4" cutting board so it does not warp and allow anything to get underneath.
Whatever might manage to get underneath there is way less than what settles in a sand bed.

[MikeC120]

Beautiful!
I have a question about feeding...
You mention in the details that you make your own food and feed this 4 times a day. What is in your food? I am assuming that the food you make is frozen? If so, do you have an automated way to feed them so often in a day?

This is what I use in my food.I make it up every two months in a small blender/chopper,
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/My%20Reefomania%20140/7FE8E6B5-2314-449C-A21D-33A3A8E4F8F7_zpsklcgamjk.jpg


I found these small ice cube trays on amazon.
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/My%20Reefomania%20140/9E97F88A-5A17-40FD-8F33-871A71AA3E48_zpsybfv8eym.jpg

This is my squirter. I put eight cubes in here with RO water every two days and keep in the fridge. When Im ready to feed I just squirt some in the tank.
So Im feeding about 4 small cubes a day.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/My%20Reefomania%20140/DDB06391-DE70-4F21-BD74-6F71A9E086E9_zpssphokuoe.jpg

I have a EHEIM auto feeder that feeds pellets (spectra pure) at 10am & 12noon
I get home from work at 1:30 in the afternoon so Im able to feed the blender mush every few hours after that. Its not regimented and I have been known to skip a feeding or two.

[oh207]

Congratulations! Awesome tank you have there. And its nice to see a LPS dominant tank making TOTM. And even nicer that its from local reef club member.

[bigsink]

Looks awesome Mike. I am very happy for you. You deserve it.

[joshbrookkate]

Thanks for taking the time to describe your feeding process.
Michelle

[Fernando Chang]

Hi Michael,

awesome reef tank like very much your combination of softies and LPS corals.
congratulations from Panama.

Regards
Fernnando Chang

[Jamie1210]

Congratulations!! This is probably the nicest lps/softy tank I have ever seen :)

Maybe I missed it, but I do wish that there was a livestock list for some of the softies. What is the bright yellow gorgonian-type coral? Is it an east gorg to keep? Also, is that a tree sponge? If so, how is it doing in your tank?

[MikeC120]

Maybe I missed it, but I do wish that there was a livestock list for some of the softies. What is the bright yellow gorgonian-type coral? Is it an east gorg to keep? Also, is that a tree sponge? If so, how is it doing in your tank?

Hi Jamie thank you for your compliments.
Sorry about the livestock list Im not big name kind of guy.
If I see somthing I like I google it and try to mach up a photo and research it from there but after its in my tank I just enjoy it.
Remember my goal is to have a stress free tank lol

A quick Google search of Yellow polyped gorgonian gave me this from one of our own members "Aquabacs"

Common names: Menella Gorgonian, Golden Sea Rod
Note: coral also comes in blue and brown variations Blue Sea Rod

Type of Coral: Gorgonian

Care Level: Intermediate

Reproduction: most likely sexual, can be fragged

Coral Placement/Orientation: Insensitive to light. Coral in not finicky in placement, does well in laminar flow or turbulent flow, can be glued or epoxied vertically or horizontally

Feeding: Gorgonians are suspension feeders that filter small food particles from the water column: zooplankton, eggs/larvae, possibly bacterioplankton and detritus. Food should be no larger than frozen cyclop-eeze, with the majority being much smaller such as rotifers. Polyps will retract without constant food in the water.

Additional tips or words of wisdom This large polyp species of gorgonian is one of the more easier species of non-photosynthetic gorgonians to keep. They are still difficult relative to most photosynthetic corals and should be attempted once Beginner non-photosynthetic corals have been able to be sustained in the aquarium for a period of time. You should feed small amounts as often as possible. A continuous feeding system (dry or liquid) will yield the best results as the polyps should stay open almost 24/7. If the polyps stay closed most of the time, either you don't have enough flow, enough food in the water or your water quality is too poor. This coral will grow vertically from the tips and "encrust" from the base if it is healthy. It will grow in the direction of the strongest flow and can handle literally being blasted with it. The tissue gets algae and detritus build up easily and should be kept clean (high flow will help a lot).
Note: Coral can "wax over" and shed. While this process is occurring, polyps will not expand. The process can be assisted by using a turkey baster to gently remove the "waxed over" coating. Coral will have a "new" appearance after this takes place.

The Orange sponge is dooing ok I have had it for 7 months but I must admit it did look better when I first got it and recently has been not as full but we will see it could be a number of things only time will tell.

[MikeC120]

Thank you
oh207 & Fernando ;)

[MikeC120]

Looks awesome Mike. I am very happy for you. You deserve it.

Thank you John
I will have to post up some photos of your contributions made after the photo session was completed for TOTM that make my tank even more special to me ;)

[Wazzel]

Congrats, beautiful tank.

[Jade5051]

Congratulations on the honor Mike! Amazing tank!

Would you mind sharing some pictures of your equipment and perhaps explaining your setup in a little more detail? I'm particularly interested in the settling tank, it's design and concept. I'd also like to see how you set up your closed loop system and anything else you take particular pride in and think may be interesting to share?

[sde1500]

Nice tank, would look better if you had sand. :clown:


But really, tank looks awesome, congrats on TOTM. ALways nice seeing something other than SPS dominant tank. This would be the type of tank I am aspiring to create with my current build. Though, mine does have sand haha.:hammer:

[MikeC120]

Congratulations on the honor Mike! Amazing tank!

Would you mind sharing some pictures of your equipment and perhaps explaining your setup in a little more detail? I'm particularly interested in the settling tank, it's design and concept. I'd also like to see how you set up your closed loop system and anything else you take particular pride in and think may be interesting to share?

My skimmer handles 600 gallons per hour so I see no reason to drive anymore flow through the sump than that.
From the display I have a 1" drain to a 30 gallon conical settling tank before going to a 75gal sump and skimmer.
The settling tank is set up so the water enters into the tank at a lower level in a circular motion with a flow break inside. The settling tank acts as a whirlpool inside and the egg crate as a flow break causing the detritus to settle in the bottom of the tank. I also have a drain valve in the bottom making it much easier for me to do a water change and get that buildup out. Having things set up this way for me makes it easier to monitor the amount of food and nutrition going into the tank. Having control of this also gives me the ability to monitor phosphates.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/Sump%20room_zpsp7xe5ykb.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/AQ1E0041_zpsrul4ggpc.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/My%20Reefomania%20140/AQ1E8191_zpseobhcofn.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/My%20Reefomania%20140/D3BED8DA-CDE0-4346-AB71-A42741EA118B_zpsj4ypwrug.jpg

[TUSI]

Congrates Mike very well deserved a very nice tank indeed and also very inspirational to all of us

[MikeC120]

Congrates Mike very well deserved a very nice tank indeed and also very inspirational to all of us

Thank you Joe ;)

[s2nhle]

Congrats, it is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[MikeC120]

Congrats, it is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you :beer:

[juzz.raath]

Thank you for your compliments!
The red line Cardinal(Ochrestriped Cardinalfish) are among my favorite I have 6 in the tank and they are approaching 3"
I have a cardinal in my tank too, identical to yours. He keeps eating the small shrimp I get for clean up crew!! Amazing tank by the way.

[MikeC120]

Wow amazing tank! Wondering what two corals are that I don't think I've ever seen before. First is this green one: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/images/stories/totm/Jan2016/softies/Jan201632.jpg

Second is this blue thing: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/images/stories/totm/Jan2016/coral/Jan201639.jpg

Thanks!

Hi evolution sorry I missed your post
The green one is a Cabbage coral and the Blue is a Blue Photo Sponge,Collospongia auris

[MikeC120]

Nice tank, would look better if you had sand. :clown:


But really, tank looks awesome, congrats on TOTM. ALways nice seeing something other than SPS dominant tank. This would be the type of tank I am aspiring to create with my current build. Though, mine does have sand haha.:hammer:

Thank you and good luck with your build :)

[MikeC120]

Congrats, it is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

My pleasure glad you enjoyed it

[sfdan]

Wow, very cool setup!

[biecacka]

Amazing tank you have here.
Question on the settling tank, you use it to collect the debris from your DT? How do you remove that debris?

Corey

[TNT32D]

I would be in trouble if put fish/coral food using our ice tray in our freezer! Lol. Great tip!

[MikeC120]

Amazing tank you have here.
Question on the settling tank, you use it to collect the debris from your DT? How do you remove that debris?

Corey

Thank you
"The settling tank is set up so the water enters into the tank at a lower level in a circular motion with a flow break inside. The settling tank acts as a whirlpool inside and the egg crate as a flow break causing the detritus to settle in the bottom of the tank. I also have a drain valve in the bottom making it much easier for me to do a water change and get that buildup out. Having things set up this way for me makes it easier to monitor the amount of food and nutrition going into the tank. Having control of this also gives me the ability to monitor phosphates."

[MikeC120]

Wow, very cool setup!

Thank you sfdan :D

[MikeC120]

I would be in trouble if put fish/coral food using our ice tray in our freezer! Lol. Great tip!

Sorry to here that:wave:

[izfisk]

WOW what an insperation! congratz to tank of the month and a truly outstanding setup!

[MikeC120]

WOW what an insperation! congratz to tank of the month and a truly outstanding setup!

Thank you izfisk ;)

[Oldude]

Very nice, congrats!

[Ghlreefer]

Just stunning Mike! I have a ATI T5 8X80w too. What is your bulb combination front to back if you don't mind sharing. I love the soft purple/blue color! Amazing tank! Congrats!


Ohh one other question. Where did you get the cutting board long enough for the bottom? Or did you put a few together?

[MikeC120]

Just stunning Mike! I have a ATI T5 8X80w too. What is your bulb combination front to back if you don't mind sharing. I love the soft purple/blue color! Amazing tank! Congrats!


Ohh one other question. Where did you get the cutting board long enough for the bottom? Or did you put a few together?

Thank you Ghlreefer

I got my one piece board from http://www.cuttingboardcompany.com/

And my buld combo is:

FM-Royal Blue
ATI-Actinic
FM-Royal Blue
ATI-Coral Pluse
LED
GE-6500
FM-Royal Blue
ATI-Actinic
FM-Royal Blue


*FM-Fauna Marin

[keez]

Awesome tank!

[MikeC120]

Very nice, congrats!

Thanks Greg:wave:

[MikeC120]

Awesome tank!

Thank you keez:D

[Maxiusg]

Congratulations on winning Tank of the Month Mike, yours is a truly epic aquarium!!

[MikeC120]

Congratulations on winning Tank of the Month Mike, yours is a truly epic aquarium!!

Thanks Max ;)
On a side note my Father inlaw is from Essex.......cheers mate!

[MikeC120]

Wow.... that is an awesome tank. Keep up the good work. http://s.coop/1xpjb http://financeisok.com/loan/images/34.gif

Thank you for your kind words;)

[Landshark61]

Fabulous tank. Love the colors

[vikinglord13]

Awesome tank, congrats Mike!

I'm glad your softie tank won. It's nice seeing a beautiful softy tank every now and then. I'm more of a softy fan myself as they tend to be much more relaxing for me with how much they flow with the current.

[MikeC120]

Fabulous tank. Love the colors

Thank you

[MikeC120]

Awesome tank, congrats Mike!

I'm glad your softie tank won. It's nice seeing a beautiful softy tank every now and then. I'm more of a softy fan myself as they tend to be much more relaxing for me with how much they flow with the current.

Thank you Viking definitely A relaxing tank ;)

[HK_Fuey]

Stunning

[Jone]

Very nice reef aquarium,,Im a softie lover too..
Congrats on the honor of being picked tank of the month,,very well deserved..
Curious to see how your settling tank is plumbed and how it all works with your system..
Nice to see all the hard work pay off...
Congrats again for the TTOM

[MikeC120]

Stunning

Thank you:wave:

[MikeC120]

Curious to see how your settling tank is plumbed and how it all works with your system..
Nice to see all the hard work pay off...
Congrats again for the TTOM

Thank you Jone
The best description I can come up with is in post #28 :fun2:

[CoralBeauty13]

How on earth do you get so much packed in there without Chemical warfare. I can't even put two corals together without chaos in the tank. YOu have my dream tank.

[MikeC120]

How on earth do you get so much packed in there without Chemical warfare. I can't even put two corals together without chaos in the tank. YOu have my dream tank.

Thank you CoralBeauty13
I don't have a problem with chemical warfare(man those are horrible words) in this tank and never experienced it myself?

To be honest I'm still not sure if that isnt something that is just regurgitated about softies, because someone a long time ago in this hobby wrote it in a book because, they thought they had a problem?
What might be considered a problem to one person is not to another:headwally:

or maybe its because I run 2 cups of carbon and change it out weekly with water change in this tank.

or maybe Im just lucky:celeb1:
one thing I have Learned in this hobby is that there are very few things that are written in stone.

and in the future if I experience this maybe I'll just separate the two corals?

Thank you for your compliments;)

[ZeeSparrow]

Absolutely gorgeous tank. Congratulations!

[MikeC120]

Absolutely gorgeous tank. Congratulations!

Thank you Zee :wavehand:

[HARLEYDAWG01]

Awesome tank. What is your water change regimen and how old is the tank?

[MikeC120]

Awesome tank. What is your water change regimen and how old is the tank?

Thank you Harley

I change 40galons and 2 cups of carbon weekly.
30gal Gets drained from the conical settling tank and 10 siphoned from the display removing any detritus.
Im also not afraid to stir things up in my tank.
I use a turkey baster at least 4 times a week to blow anything off the rocks and bottom just to get it up and into the water column.
This helps feed the coral and at the same time remove any detritus to the settling tank.
I do this at night so I don't have to look at stuff floating around in my tank ;)

The majority of his tank has been set up for a year and a half but the rock was from my previous SPS tank that was set up for 2 years prior.:beer:

[CoralBeauty13]

Sorry about the Chemical Warfare wording, they are horrible words, but that's the only reference I've ever heard to explain the battle between corals. I have no idea what to call it other than..."Them just not liking each other". I will try your regime and hopefully that will do something for me. Thx

[netdawg]

Hey Michael,

First of all congrats, very well deserved!

I'm a big fan of being dialed into the comfort zone a specific reef setup when it comes to types and quantities, and I think you nailed it with this one! Letting the corals take center stage and accessing with smaller fish I'm a big fan of as well. Great Job!

never mind on the pics, somehow I missed that post on 2nd page :S

[MikeC120]

Hey Michael,

First of all congrats, very well deserved!

I'm a big fan of being dialed into the comfort zone a specific reef setup when it comes to types and quantities, and I think you nailed it with this one! Letting the corals take center stage and accessing with smaller fish I'm a big fan of as well. Great Job!

never mind on the pics, somehow I missed that post on 2nd page :S

Thank you netdawg ;)

[ShawnLeary]

Amazing tank! I want!! :)

[Tsteak]

Beautiful, congrats!

I am very jealous of your equipment room, I think I could disappear in there for days if I had the space for that much invention; impressive!

The settling tank is a great concept, but like some of the others, I don't fully understand how it works; you mention the egg crate, is that below the inlet? Any chance of a pic of the insides at work? Also, the concept is new to me, did you come up with it? It's brilliant! :cool:

[MikeC120]

Beautiful, congrats!

I am very jealous of your equipment room, I think I could disappear in there for days if I had the space for that much invention; impressive!

The settling tank is a great concept, but like some of the others, I don't fully understand how it works; you mention the egg crate, is that below the inlet? Any chance of a pic of the insides at work? Also, the concept is new to me, did you come up with it? It's brilliant! :cool:

Thank you Tsteak
I did not come up with the settling tank idea.
This concept I do believe originated from aqua phonics where they have fish in a pond and use the Detritus for fertilizer for the plants and vegetables .
Same concept but I choose to throw the fertilizer away LOL

I made a video man it is amazing how you sound so funny on your own videos lol!but I hope it helps.
http://youtu.be/CPoSO0QQcMo

[DgenR8]

Thank you Tsteak
I did not come up with the settling tank idea.
This concept I do believe originated from aqua phonics where they have fish in a pond and use the Detritus for fertilizer for the plants and vegetables .
Same concept but I choose to throw the fertilizer away LOL

I made a video man it is amazing how you sound so funny on your own videos lol!but I hope it helps.
http://youtu.be/CPoSO0QQcMo

The video was great, Mike. Answered all my questions, except, where did you get the conical tank?

[Tsteak]

Great video Mike, thanks for sharing that, it's brilliant! And again, I'm jealous!

[MikeC120]

The video was great, Mike. Answered all my questions, except, where did you get the conical tank?

There is a guy on sunrise highway across from Pets Wairhouse in Copauge he is not the most friendliest of people to meet but always has plastic barrels out front. I got mine from him but you can also order it online from here
http://www.plastic-mart.com/category/19/cone-bottom-tanks?mn=pm030z&gclid=Cj0KEQiAuqC2BRDVxMSnpa-mhZoBEiQAFta8wdOn0myqhYo5ODenWhvov5eCE9he8u026wCY0i09W0waAguU8P8HAQ

[MikeC120]

Great video Mike, thanks for sharing that, it's brilliant! And again, I'm jealous!

:beer:

[MikeC120]

Amazing tank! I want!! :)

Thank you Shawn ;)

[DLreef]

I see you don't use a top/lid, have you ever lost a fish to jumping??

[MikeC120]

I see you don't use a top/lid, have you ever lost a fish to jumping??

O I do and only take it off for photos and when company comes over when viewing the tank ;)

[JPMagyar]

Your are an incredible artist to put that beautiful reef together so perfectly. Thanks for showing us all how it can be done and done well!

[MikeC120]

Your are an incredible artist to put that beautiful reef together so perfectly. Thanks for showing us all how it can be done and done well!

WOW coming from you and all your wonderful accomplishments with your great tank that is a great honor thank you very much:D

[Richard789]

Excellent work.

[s2nhle]

wow, beautiful. Thank for sharing.

[tinfoilhate]

Stunning colors.

[MikeC120]

wow, beautiful. Thank for sharing.

;)

[MikeC120]

Stunning colors.

Thank you :)

[MikeC120]

Up Date Photos

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%201%20of%2035_zpscsuzhybk.jpg

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http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%204%20of%2035_zpsk8za4on8.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%207%20of%2035_zpshujbsldl.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2011%20of%2035_zpsifhcopxa.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2012%20of%2035_zpsfme0td9j.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%209%20of%2035_zps8kilpfft.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%208%20of%2035_zps4qyryiiz.jpg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2010%20of%2035_zpsq1oxn5uy.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2013%20of%2035_zpsnqmqztqp.jpg

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http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2014%20of%2035_zpsffou4m1o.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2018%20of%2035_zpsjgziej2r.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2016%20of%2035_zpsq2jdoeui.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2021%20of%2035_zpscsga739l.jpg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2022%20of%2035_zpsuwhbxpqw.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2023%20of%2035_zpstoo4zplv.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2025%20of%2035_zps0r9fdaev.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2026%20of%2035_zpsl8scxtug.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2027%20of%2035_zpstp6i9k7o.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2028%20of%2035_zpsqowwyhh5.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2024%20of%2035_zps9zjmk23u.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2030%20of%2035_zpsso6p6ro5.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2029%20of%2035_zpsjtojgd4l.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2031%20of%2035_zpswozh0axi.jpg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2033%20of%2035_zpsdn3uugsg.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2032%20of%2035_zpsgenuit8j.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2034%20of%2035_zpsgflcxqqy.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/4-30-2016%2035%20of%2035_zpsqunicnkv.jpg

[s2nhle]

Very beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[Bfoot]

I'm new at this but I always thought I could not allow corals to touch. Is there any problem with them being so close. Are they actually touching? Yours look beautiful and would like to add more to my tank

[Laura.Christina]

This is a beautiful tank! Mine does not look anything like this but I wish it did. As a beginner, would you mind going into a little more detail about having no sand and a settling tank?? The pictures make it look like there is sand, what am I seeing there?? I find that my sand is always collecting nasty stuff and I am vacuuming it constantly. I am very interested to learn more about the system you use.

[MikeC120]

This is a beautiful tank! Mine does not look anything like this but I wish it did. As a beginner, would you mind going into a little more detail about having no sand and a settling tank?? The pictures make it look like there is sand, what am I seeing there?? I find that my sand is always collecting nasty stuff and I am vacuuming it constantly. I am very interested to learn more about the system you use.

Hi Laura thank you
What you are looking at is a cutting board
I got my one piece board from http://www.cuttingboardcompany.com/

As far as settling tank see post #28 #40

[tripleS]

:thumbsup: beautiful tank

[MikeC120]

:thumbsup: beautiful tank

Thank you👍

[adddo]

One of my all time favourites!

[MikeC120]

One of my all time favourites!

Thank you :thumbsup:

[tripleS]

how do you maintain your no3 and po4 with this heavy feeding just 40 gal water change is enough. i too have lps and softy in my tank but when i started to feed frozen my no3/po4 was sky rocket.

[MikeC120]

how do you maintain your no3 and po4 with this heavy feeding just 40 gal water change is enough. i too have lps and softy in my tank but when i started to feed frozen my no3/po4 was sky rocket.

Hi Sandy

I contribute the control of my phosphate to-
1. No sand for detritus to biuld up in
2. Flow- designed to let little if any detritus settle on the bottom.
3. Setteling tank- allowing the detritus to settle in a designated area for easy removal.
4. I always try to feed the freshest food that is rinsed with RO watter.

For me it's not the amount of water you remove each week but the amount of detritus that phosphates feed off that is removed each week.

Also one last thing.
This does not happen over night, it is my belief that the system must be run this way for awhile, giving the live rock time to perg itself.
What that means is allowing the biuld up of good bacteria to perg(or push out)built up of phosphates that was previously in the live rock.

Blowing off the rock work at night with a turkey baster helps force what is expelled from the rocks up into the water column for removal by the skimmer or end up in the setteling tank.

Eventually over time it all comes together;)
This has been my experience and I hope this helps you out.

[MikeC120]

Quick video update
https://youtu.be/NwtSIURRHMc

[tripleS]

Quick video update
https://youtu.be/NwtSIURRHMc
Awesome video Mike

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

[MikeC120]

Awesome video Mike

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

thanks man I got a new one up
https://youtu.be/3HAqbfAD-RM

[tripleS]

thanks man I got a new one up
https://youtu.be/3HAqbfAD-RM
Ya saw on your YouTube channel corals are looking beautiful specifically those clams

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

[MikeC120]

Some update tank shots

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144537-01_zpsalorhwtv.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144616-02_zpsybierqsc.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144522-01_zpschjtfsvn.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144506-02_zpsyegjapaf.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144645-01_zpscm91kpya.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144729-01_zpstr7ddchg.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144823-01_zpsmx3dhfmc.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144840-01_zpsd902uwcj.jpeg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144856-01_zpso6mih2tu.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_154155-01_zpsrx7llsh5.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144459-01_zpsgz8zcasg.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144449-01_zpspywezz7n.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144423-01_zps2ekrjzga.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144345-01_zpsfifr8vzl.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144335-01_zpsy2so49ab.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144321-01_zpszgxdti5u.jpeg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144258-01_zpsiaplagqt.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144246-01_zpsmx8nkxly.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144156-01_zpsp9zewz3n.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144137-01_zps0uwfz7ou.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144108-01_zpsms4z56gp.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144044-02_zpsbw8df8x9.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_144022-01_zps4ll5dcko.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143943-01_zpsvzo8ygqr.jpeg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143914-01_zpsjpyebzpw.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143857-01_zpslov8sxmi.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143847-01_zpsmpfjem7f.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143820-01_zps3bm1iqdv.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143735-01_zpsawt9dije.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143650-01_zpsdrzeywws.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143615-01_zpsxhb4tt2y.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143545-01_zpsupjmt7pb.jpeg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143538-01_zpsaypdv3ml.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143519-01_zpsyo3x9c9z.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143506-01_zpsoblntdjy.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143459-01_zpsoi0bfuvc.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143451-01_zpswqldeqwj.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143446-01_zpschktwhd7.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143410-01_zpss5l8rz3a.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143403-01_zpsetbdthsa.jpeg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143355-01_zpsidra5v54.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143320-01_zpseps2kc7o.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143308-01_zps0x8tkfio.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143246-01_zpsumbbwvzc.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143236-01_zpst580ed6n.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143228-01_zpsfei1tpct.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143214-01_zpsd7abxnn4.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143205-01_zpsyp5r6ejw.jpeg

[MikeC120]

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143150-01_zpsrzqhzbi8.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143143-01_zps6caghdii.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143134-01_zps7dxatfhv.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143119-01_zps4eeaakds.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_143049-01_zps85gq4ikm.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_154112-01_zpsopmlkxau.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_154057-01_zpstqcckqkt.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_154046-01_zpsvr6aclmw.jpeg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170112_154127-01_zpsjw335clt.jpeg

[tripleS]

Awesome pictures of beautiful corals 😊

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

[MikeC120]

Awesome pictures of beautiful corals ��

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk
Thank you Sandy

[bigsink]

Looks awesome dude.

[MikeC120]

Looks awesome dude.

Thanks John and I can't believe I didn't post a pic of this one which is doing great thank you ;)
http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l242/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/20170116_200339_zpsdccgv2ti.jpg (http://s98.photobucket.com/user/CAPTUREDINTIMEPHOTOGRAPHY/media/20170116_200339_zpsdccgv2ti.jpg.html)

[MikeC120]

Video update
https://youtu.be/jspSIxCU9Dc

[ashish]

Great to see it still going strong - Your tank is an inspiration...thanks for the update

[MikeC120]

Great to see it still going strong - Your tank is an inspiration...thanks for the update

Thank you

[Magem]

There is life far away from sps...stunning! congratulations!!


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk

[WLachnit]

There is life far away from sps...stunning! congratulations!!


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk



Yes, I agree as well! I love all the movement. Very inspiring for my softie tank.

[notenoughtanks]

Beautiful! Love the huge old school sinularia and neptheas! Miss those corals.

[MikeC120]

Thank you everyone I appreciate the feedback

[MikeC120]

Video update
https://youtu.be/iMScRYsHF-8

[MikeC120]

Updated tank video
https://youtu.be/oeSLFepTq3M

[Benson0219]

Nice video and a beautiful tank.