Great Barrier Breeder of the Smokies - Page 2

joekidwell · 04/25/2012, 04:08 PM

How soon after my cycle finishes can I add corals?

8-ball · 04/26/2012, 08:25 AM

I wouldnt worry about adding a buffer right now tank is 2 young to really determine.

W/corals your could try easy ones like softies, lps and zoas shouldnt be too big of a problem.

I always have bought cheapo corals when my tank is done cycling just to see how they will do and if the tank is really ready.

joekidwell · 04/27/2012, 01:09 AM

I bought a beautiful purple dottyback and some turbo snails yesterday, I will have pics as soon as he decides to not be so shy.

joekidwell · 04/28/2012, 06:46 PM

Warming up a bit, I had to feed just to bring him out of the rocks.

joekidwell · 05/05/2012, 05:42 PM

I picked up some Dragons Breath the other day.

joekidwell · 05/05/2012, 05:54 PM

Sorry for the crappy pics, I will be buying a new six bulb hood next week...for now its just a standard t8 with a 10,000k bulb.

StephLionfish · 05/05/2012, 06:49 PM

Looks real nice. Love the macro!

joekidwell · 05/07/2012, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StephLionfish

Looks real nice. Love the macro!

Any suggestions on other types of macro? I saw somerhing that was blue...can't remember the name but it looked great.

joekidwell · 05/07/2012, 06:56 AM

She keeps a close eye on me when I get close to the tank.

xxstephensxx · 05/07/2012, 10:17 AM

I like the 40gal breeder... I am considering selling my 36 and getting a 40.

joekidwell · 05/07/2012, 10:23 AM

Depth and length make a great reef aquarium without breaking the bank

joekidwell · 05/07/2012, 10:23 AM

Depth and length make a great reef aquarium without breaking the bank

joekidwell · 05/10/2012, 01:11 PM

Got some new marcos from gulf coast ecosystems, have no idea what they are cause it was a sampler with six different types.

joekidwell · 05/17/2012, 05:26 AM

Picked up some new fish yesterday, will try to get better pics as soon as they come out of hiding.

BigCountry74 · 05/17/2012, 07:18 AM

Good stuff!

I was up in the smokeys 2 weekends ago hiking. About 45 minutes outside of Cherokee/Maggy Valley. Love it up there this time a year and in the fall. Absolutely perfect weather.

Spartanman22 · 05/17/2012, 09:22 AM

How are you liking the skimmer? I have the larger model and love it! I would suggest mesh modding the impellar. The mesh modded impellar reallly boosts the skimmers performance

joekidwell · 05/17/2012, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spartanman22

How are you liking the skimmer? I have the larger model and love it! I would suggest mesh modding the impellar. The mesh modded impellar reallly boosts the skimmers performance

It's ok I guess...first Skimmer I've ever owned. I find it kinda tricky to get it set just right, I'm either skimming wet or dry, can't find the perfect setting. What is that mesh mod you mentioned?

joekidwell · 06/15/2012, 11:05 PM

It's been a while since I've posted, still trying to figure out my nitrates before I add corals. I took out my sock filter, I'm still doing 25% water changes a week and can't get them to go lower than 20 ppm, I'm thinking about getting a reactor. I love the 36" royal blue magenta stunner strip it makes everything look amazing.

joekidwell · 07/28/2012, 07:50 AM

Im finally able to keep my nitrates around 10....it only took me three months. Now I get to buy a hood and corals.

iwishtofish · 07/28/2012, 09:32 AM

Everything looks great! Do you have enough flat surface area on your rock for corals, so that they can get light and flow from all directions? What gph are your powerheads?

joekidwell · 07/28/2012, 12:41 PM

They say 1600 each im guessing around 1400 actual plus the mag 7. I don't alternate the powerheads I leave them both on full so its around 3200 gph total flow

joekidwell · 07/28/2012, 01:01 PM

Recent pic

Teddynola · 07/28/2012, 02:03 PM

Hi joe, I happen to love my black and white ocellaris clowns. One of my favorite things to do is sit and watch the fish interpersonal relationships in the tank. The clowns play a big role in the tank. One thing I noticed is the feather caleurpa in your tank. That can become a nuisance, the roots will take hold in your rockwork and you will have a devil of a time getting it out. Looks like you're off to a great start, keep us updated.

joekidwell · 07/28/2012, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teddynola

Hi joe, I happen to love my black and white ocellaris clowns. One of my favorite things to do is sit and watch the fish interpersonal relationships in the tank. The clowns play a big role in the tank. One thing I noticed is the feather caleurpa in your tank. That can become a nuisance, the roots will take hold in your rockwork and you will have a devil of a time getting it out. Looks like you're off to a great start, keep us updated.

For some reason my clown is very shy, if I go near the tank to feed or clean he hides in the rocks till I leave or he sees food. As for the feather caleurpa my powerheads took care of that problem for me....soon after I took that pic it came loose while I was at work and came home to find caleurpa pulp stuck in my overflow lol

StephLionfish · 08/09/2012, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joekidwell

Any suggestions on other types of macro? I saw somerhing that was blue...can't remember the name but it looked great.

Oh, sorry for not replying.

Caulerpa prolifera is my fav. It prefers low to med flow, though. It's very easy to care for, doesn't often go sexual, and isn't hard to remove from the tank. I stick mine in the sand; I find that it doesn't stay to the rocks.
I also keep Caulerpa taxifolia, but the strands get pretty tall, and I've had some ( in different tanks) go sexual a few times in a year... or try to anyways. It's another sand dweller.
Codium and Ulva are nice greens.
Geledium is a nice red one, IMO.

I've never looked into the blues.

Google those and do a little research on their requirements

EDIT: The clown will warm up to you, eventually. Try to spend a lot of time around the tank/ in the room. It took one of my fish two months to warm up to me, but now he's at the top of the tank begging as soon as he sees me.

05/05/2012, 06:49 PM	#32
StephLionfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,836	Looks real nice. Love the macro! __________________ The most intelligent people ask the most questions.

05/07/2012, 10:17 AM	#35
xxstephensxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 96	I like the 40gal breeder... I am considering selling my 36 and getting a 40. __________________ Current Tanks: Nano Cube 6, 20g long reef

05/17/2012, 07:18 AM	#40
BigCountry74 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,761	Good stuff! I was up in the smokeys 2 weekends ago hiking. About 45 minutes outside of Cherokee/Maggy Valley. Love it up there this time a year and in the fall. Absolutely perfect weather. __________________ 135g mixed reef (retired) http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815 Current 40g reef http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2483250 Current Tank Info: 40g bare bottom reef

07/28/2012, 12:41 PM	#46
joekidwell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Greeneville TN Posts: 471	They say 1600 each im guessing around 1400 actual plus the mag 7. I don't alternate the powerheads I leave them both on full so its around 3200 gph total flow Last edited by joekidwell; 07/28/2012 at 12:49 PM. Reason: typo

07/28/2012, 02:03 PM	#48
Teddynola pod wrangler Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 301	Hi joe, I happen to love my black and white ocellaris clowns. One of my favorite things to do is sit and watch the fish interpersonal relationships in the tank. The clowns play a big role in the tank. One thing I noticed is the feather caleurpa in your tank. That can become a nuisance, the roots will take hold in your rockwork and you will have a devil of a time getting it out. Looks like you're off to a great start, keep us updated. __________________ 75g Oceanic RR mixed reef in progress, 40b sump. Current Tank Info: Black occ pair, lawnmower blenny, scooter dragonette, yellow tang, male and female green mandarin, one spot foxface, flame hawkfish, fire shrimp, harlequin shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp, harlequin starfish, with softies, sps, lps.

04/25/2012, 04:08 PM	#26
joekidwell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Greeneville TN Posts: 471	How soon after my cycle finishes can I add corals?

04/26/2012, 08:25 AM	#27
8-ball Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 106	I wouldnt worry about adding a buffer right now tank is 2 young to really determine. W/corals your could try easy ones like softies, lps and zoas shouldnt be too big of a problem. I always have bought cheapo corals when my tank is done cycling just to see how they will do and if the tank is really ready.

04/27/2012, 01:09 AM	#28
joekidwell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Greeneville TN Posts: 471	I bought a beautiful purple dottyback and some turbo snails yesterday, I will have pics as soon as he decides to not be so shy.

05/07/2012, 10:23 AM	#36
joekidwell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Greeneville TN Posts: 471	Depth and length make a great reef aquarium without breaking the bank

05/17/2012, 09:22 AM	#41
Spartanman22 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Oswego Posts: 1,314	How are you liking the skimmer? I have the larger model and love it! I would suggest mesh modding the impellar. The mesh modded impellar reallly boosts the skimmers performance

06/15/2012, 11:05 PM	#43
joekidwell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Greeneville TN Posts: 471	It's been a while since I've posted, still trying to figure out my nitrates before I add corals. I took out my sock filter, I'm still doing 25% water changes a week and can't get them to go lower than 20 ppm, I'm thinking about getting a reactor. I love the 36" royal blue magenta stunner strip it makes everything look amazing.

07/28/2012, 07:50 AM	#44
joekidwell Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Greeneville TN Posts: 471	Im finally able to keep my nitrates around 10....it only took me three months. Now I get to buy a hood and corals.

07/28/2012, 09:32 AM	#45
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Everything looks great! Do you have enough flat surface area on your rock for corals, so that they can get light and flow from all directions? What gph are your powerheads?