55G Mixed Reef Progression Pics - PICTURE INTENSE!

[thereefmaster]

Fellow RC Members-

First off, I would like to thank each and every one of you guys (and girls) for your wonderful advice and guidance since I started my 55G Reef 18 months ago. Without you, none of this would have been possible.

Now, for the Equipment and Livestock:

Equipment:

Coralife Super Skimmer 220 w/ PVC Output Mod w/ T Vent
Current USA 260 PC Fixture w/ four 50/50 10K/420nm Actinic Bulbs
One Maxijet 1200 and one ViaAqua 400 Powerhead on 45 second alternating currents.
200W Thermal Compact Heater by Hagen
Coralife Digi-Temp Monitor
pH Monitor by Precision Marine
Salinity Monitor by Precision Marine

That's it for the equipment, now for the livestock:

47 Lbs of Premium Fiji LR
50 lbs of Oolitic Sand by CaribSea
One Haitian Pink-Tipped Anemone
Xenia Frags galore
Assorted Zoanthids
One large Featherduster, lots of small ones
9 Headed Frogspawn (this one is my fave)
One Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus Japonicus)
2 MATED Percula Clownfish
One Rainford's Goby
2 Cleaner Shrimp
One Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata sp.)

As you can see, I tried to rely on mostly natural filtration, however I skim fairly wet with my skimmer. And believe me, it is NASTY!

Please ask any questions or leave any comments/recommendations you wish, as they are very welcomed and appreciated.

Now for the pics!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00238.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00208.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00222.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00207.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00212.jpg

[thereefmaster]

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00201.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00221.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00215.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00210.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00234.jpg

[thereefmaster]

And this is the skimate I get in 24 hours. That is about 1.5 cups. VERY Dark!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00213.jpg

[thereefmaster]

If you want to talk about reefs or anything, feel free to add me on MSN Messenger: thereefmaster@msn.com

-Nate

[Hurgoth]

I like your aqua scaping

[cfarrow2]

do your xenias "clutch" under the pcs? I've heard they'll only do that under MHs. Of course, that came from the lfs guy. Kick *** tank, man. You're an inspiration to all of us lowly 55 owners!

[cfarrow2]

also, what are you using for a sump?

[Blown 346]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6922818#post6922818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cfarrow2
do your xenias "clutch" under the pcs? I've heard they'll only do that under MHs. Of course, that came from the lfs guy. Kick *** tank, man. You're an inspiration to all of us lowly 55 owners!

I have silver tipped pulsing Xenia in my 12 gallon nano cube witht he stock lighting and it does great.
Ten I have the mother colony of it in my 90 with 2 250 watt halides and it looks just like the one in my nano.

[deansreef]

looks good, 55 is hard to aquascape but you have done a nice job.

[thereefmaster]

Thank you all for the kind comments. It took a while for me to get it the way I wanted to. And my total cost for this tank is....... $738.26 (I kept all the receipts, lol)

Anyhow, here is another front pic:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00228.jpg

Enjoy, and thanks again everyone.

:)

-Nate

[thereefmaster]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6922818#post6922818 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cfarrow2
do your xenias "clutch" under the pcs? I've heard they'll only do that under MHs. Of course, that came from the lfs guy. Kick *** tank, man. You're an inspiration to all of us lowly 55 owners!

Nope, my Xenia clutches near the end of the day. Why, I do not know. It is always open in the morning, lol.

BTW, in case you missed it, I have a Current USA 260W PC Fixture with 4 50/50 bulbs, replaced every 6 months.

Any other questions are welcome :)

-Nate

[thereefmaster]

BTW, does anyone else have that PVC mod on their CSS? I found that when I added the "T" section, it improved skimmate production for some reason. It greatly reduced backpressure on the skimmer, and fixed the leaking red valve problem.

-Nate

[thereefmaster]

bumped :)

[thereefmaster]

Anyone have an idea for what I should add next? (coral-wise)

[thereefmaster]

Here is a picture from the side:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/firezone42/DSC00237.jpg

[zemuron114]

how big is that goldrim? He looks small :)
very nice!

you had better rocks then me to aquascape my 55.. :( but i think i did an OK job

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v641/dlinehan/real%20one%20year/14.jpg

what do you have for flow?? I hate my powerheads.. lol but its the only option for a non drilled tank :(

[thereefmaster]

Hey there zemuron! Thank you for the kind words. For flow I use my CSS220, ViaAqua400 and a MJ1200. I am sumpless.

I think you did a great job on your tank! I don't really think their is a BAD reef, just some are better than others. You should be proud of yourself!

That Powder Brown Tang is about 4 inches head to tail. He eats garlic soaked nori like mad.

I rescued the little guy from Petco... so sad. They had him in a little 10 gallon tang with Blackspot and Ich and I saved him. But then again, he will be replaced by another poor fish that will die... I hate Petco.

Thanks all.

-Nate :uzi:

[thereefmaster]

Zemuron, one more thought. How about a Tunze Stream or, cheaper, a Seio?

The former kicks butt and is expensive, and the latter is a cheaper design that works.

-Nate :)

[reefrick.M]

Very nice !!! I also have a 55. It is a challenge when it comes to light fixtures and fitting a sump into a narrow cabinet. I had a custum acrylic sump made to fit in my cabinet. I also had a hard time finding a 8" wide MH combo fixture to fit on my tank.

[zemuron114]

yeah i was thinking about tunze (to many bad reviews on seio) But im not even home for more then 3 months out of the year, because im at school. So 3 maxi jets are cheaper and easier i think. Plus, i plan on ugrading to a 180 or 210 and merging my 55 with my 110 fowlr (which is more of a peaceful tank) Plus i need more room for the sweet fish i can get here in Hawaii!! I need more flame wrasse :) lol

i'll do tunze for the bigger tank :-D

[Nano_reeflover]

Nice tank Nate. I'll be getting a 75gal on monday, so maybe I'll use your tank as a model lol. When you have frags available you should let me know we're not that far a way from each other :)

-Travis

[thereefmaster]

Thanks guys.

:P

Nate

[tomnmaddie]

good job

[thereefmaster]

Thanks tomnmaddie.

I just bought another cleaner shrimp today so now I have 3. He is like... 2 inches long or so with 3 inch long antennae, lol.

Will see if I can get my hands on that camera again and post a pic.

-Nate