Helsinki Low Iron Reef - 910 liters

[The Cardinal]

Some macro shots with extension tubes on my Canon 60mm macro lens:

Acropora:

[The Cardinal]

Ricordea:













Good week all!

[Crazy_Beaver]

Amazing photography skills!

[Newbie Aquarist]

I haven't read every thread but I never seen macro shots o coral that up close before. I think I'm going to have to add photographer to the title along with chemist, aquarium chef, aquascape designer, aquarium cleaner, and light specialist among other jobs I can't think of right away.

[jrod738776]

Wow awesome pics

[The Cardinal]

Thank you for your comments, glad you like the macros!


LED

I have now had my 2 x Radion Gen 2 over the tank for a few weeks and I am really happy with them so far. The ability to dim and change colors during the day and night has added a lot of variation to the tank and that means that you spend more time looking at the tank. The lighting effect is also a cool aspect.

I was a bit worried that they would not cover the length of the tank, 165cm, but I have them around 80 cm above the tank and this gives good spread and sufficient penetration. The spread seems better than with my 2 x 250w MH with lumen arc reflectors and that was a pleasant surprise. The heat was becoming an issue but after the switch to LED it is not a problem and I do not have to install a chiller or extra fans for the summer. I will keep the 3 x 80w T5 lamps as it lights up the side of the pillars better and adds to the total wattage required.

Here is the approximate graph I am using today:

[monster2183]

Any recent full tank shots with the new lights?

[somosomo]

I love those macro shots..I think I need to go buy myself an extension tube

[The Cardinal]

Hi guys!

Hope you are all well and that your tanks are thriving.


UPDATE

No major changes or mishaps since my last update and I can really enjoy this tank with minimal maintenace. I change about 20% water monthly, clean algae twice per week and change balling once a month. I have had no animal pests or problem with algae since the start so I count myself very lucky. The growth is good enough although a third LED would give a better spread. The clam in the lower right corner is growing nicely so I guess the light is sufficient. Maximum growth has never been the main goal of this setup and I want to keep the aquascape and open spaces. I do however aim to buy new fish and corals in the coming months and I feel that the system is mature enough for more demanding sps.


TANK SHOTS:

Full tank shots:





Left side:



Middle:



Right side:

[300fowlr]

beautiful

[WeeJ]

One of my favourites.....keep us updated please.

[laredo300c]

wow, one word.......VIDEO...... beautiful reef

[The Cardinal]

Thanks guys!


VIDEO SUGGESTIONS?

Haven't taken any videos but I will try to make one with my Canon 7D and see how it works. Any suggestions for sites where to upload videos and use of video editing software?


CLOSE UPS:


Blue tipped Acropora. The stem is more yellow IRL giving it a nice contrast to the blue (especially for a guy like me from Sweden ):




One of my two clams. Growing nicely in the right corner (probably responsible for killing my two clowns %&/¤#!!):




Mixed corals growing on the right side:




Rainbow BTA and the grumpiest fish in the tank guarding its' cave:

[Newbie Aquarist]

Glad to see you back Cardinal. Everything is looking great and your camera skills are very superb.

[OrionN]

Very nice tank.
Why do you think the clam kill the clowns? My clowns just live with and in my T. gigas without problem.
There is retraction of the mantel of your Derasa. I hope it is just some minor irritation. If this last for days you may want to look for reason why.

[Rogerh]

Very very nice Great photos!!

[laredo300c]

Is your back wall painted or your aquarium colored blue, looks really nice

[moondoggy4]

Very nice tank! Which coral is on thread #70 first and third photo?

[owenspackman]

this tank is really coming along beautifully! Congratulations! The photos are also beautiful.

I love the all in one nature of the tank, great work!

[smtank]

Wow. Love the scape.

[The Cardinal]

Thank you again for your positive comments!

NEW FISH

I purchased 4 new new fish during the weekend including a powder blue tang (PBT), two percula clowns and one sand sifting goby, Amblygobius phalaena. They have managed well and are all active and healthy. The PBT is quite a lot bigger than the four Zebrasoma flavescens and they seem to get along well and are now swimming together. I will not push my luck with adding more tangs though.

Originally Posted by OrionN

Very nice tank.
Why do you think the clam kill the clowns? My clowns just live with and in my T. gigas without problem.
There is retraction of the mantel of your Derasa. I hope it is just some minor irritation. If this last for days you may want to look for reason why.

Thank you OrionN. I noticed that both clowns were nesting aggressively in the Derasa and then all of a sudden died within a minute unable to swim, just jerking around in spasms. They were nesting in different corals and the clam so they were not there all of the time. I did not see the clam closing on them so I am not sure but on both occasions they were in the clam and afterwards the clam seemed agitated, violently expelling water. Not sure though and I have not had this problem in my previous tanks where clowns have been bothering larger clams. The ones that died were tank bred specimens by the way.

The clam does look a bit pinched I agree and I will keep my eyes on it, thanks. It does that on occasion and it may be that the feeding strings from the worm visable in the photo on the left side of the clam where the "net/string" is crossing the mantle from left to right. Maybe I should remove the worm? There is also a pretty strong current going left to right in this area. Are there any other options than a fresh water dip if the situation gets worse?

Originally Posted by laredo300c

Is your back wall painted or your aquarium colored blue, looks really nice

Thank you. It is a very dark blue color I mixed myself with blue and black paint. I think it turned out well and is a nice compromise between the pop you get from black color and the color contrast from the blue.

Originally Posted by moondoggy4

Very nice tank! Which coral is on thread #70 first and third photo?

Thank you. The first coral is a close up of an open brain and the third one was sold as a "dragon soul favia".

[OrionN]

If the pinching of the mantel persist day after day, then it is most likely PMD. PMD look worst at the end of the day. There may be sting discharge from the clam at the irritated area.
There are no effective treatment for PMD other than fresh water dip.
If you have other clams in the system, consider dipping all of them at the same time. I was able to cure my tank of PMD 10+ years ago I dipped all my clams at the same time including a 12+ inches T. gigas. Once I was able to do this I wrote about this protocol on ReefCentral.com and Reefs.org. I am not aware of any other effective treatment protocol since then. I think there are people who wrote about removal of Iron from the reef tank as treatment for PMD but I don't think it work.

I doubt that your clowns are kill by the Derasa clam. I raise clowns and running our of room so I have about 16 babies in my reef with clams. They stay in and around my Derasa, Gigas (even in it) without problem for months now. I think my clams are much bigger than yours. Derasa about 9 inches and Gigas 17 inches.

[prop-frags]

Beautiful and Inspiring Reef, not to mention, some serious photography skills... Thanks so much for sharing!

[The Cardinal]

Thank you OrionN for your feedback. I will watch the clam closely and consider a fresh water dip if the situation deteriorates.

Thank you Prop-Frags! It's always nice to share when you get feedback, good or bad. You have an amzing tank and I respect the work you are doing for charity. Keep it up!

[Dillan]

Tjena!
nice tank!