Leonardo's Formosa Forest - Page 3

ezcompany · 09/29/2007, 02:05 PM

do you plan on letting some pieces encrust to the bottom of your tank?
i think if you added a black background it will be even more stunning. definitely one of my idol tanks

Leonardo_ · 09/30/2007, 06:50 AM

BRISK495, I dose one ML of Vodka every day. Together with that I add 0.25 mg of sugar. I know, it's not much but enough to keep my Nitrates and (more important) Phosphates down.
Make sure you add another small piece of LiveRock one in a while (in you sump etc.) to keep the bacterial cononies diverse.

I don't want to bring my tank in danger so adding more is not safe, and in my case not even necessary.

ezcompany, I have had a blue and black background, but I like the clear one the most. Looks different IRL the on the pictures. I think it gives the tank a bit more of a Japanese look.

Leonardo

adddo · 09/30/2007, 11:08 AM

Its absolutely stunning Leo. Dont change a thing!

I also use Vodka. No sugar tho. Why do you dose both? Its essentially the same?

Leonardo_ · 09/30/2007, 11:38 AM

Thanks

The effect is the same, but vodka and sugar stimulates the growth of different bacteria-colonies. If you dose it both you prevent one bacteria to "overgrow" the other species.

So basically, by dosing it both you keep a greater variaty in bacteria.

Some also dose Vinegar for another extra Carbonsource, but I don't do that because of the risk of acetate forming.

Leonardo

trueblackpercula · 09/30/2007, 12:59 PM

Ok one must also be aware that if your tank is BB it tends to be more nutrient poor than normal. So be very carefull with the suger as i read somewhere that it will cuase STN/RTN I can't remeber were it was posted but I did read something about it. remeber read read read before looking for theat magic bullet

Michael

kysard1 · 09/30/2007, 06:17 PM

best looking tank on the internet.

Honestly makes the typical kalidescope TOTM look like a bad psychedelic carnival trip.

This is what a reef looks like folks.

I hope this is a start of a trend back to normalcy.

Keep up the great work.

drouner · 09/30/2007, 08:50 PM

I noticed that you mentioned you use Reefers Best Premium salt. Since I'm not sure about what salt mixes are available The Netherlands, can you comment on it vs. other available salt mixes. Or why you choose this brand. How often do you do water changes?

Here in the US the price is $90 US for 20kg bucket of Reefers Best Premium salt. That is very expensive.

Great tank. TOTM for sure.

dvanacker · 09/30/2007, 09:42 PM

So how many lbs total of rock do you have in this system??

I love the openess with large colonies.....amazing look.

King-Kong · 10/01/2007, 06:20 AM

Woo, go Leo!

One of my favorite tanks ever... always a pleasure looking at those photos... you've done so well!

Leonardo_ · 10/01/2007, 01:36 PM

kysard1, thanks for that huge compliment!

Drouner, the price over here is about the same. Many of the salts that you use in the US are also available here in The Netherlands.
I used Tropic Marin before this salt, the costs are the same as Reefers Best over here.
I like Reefers Best much more. The corals show more PE, and the parameters of freshly made water are much better then TM. I don't know why, but in my nutrient poor tank Montipora never do very well untill I started to use this salt. TOTM? Don't know, but thanks for saying it!

dvanacker, thanks. I only use one big rock, and a small one behind it. About 15 pound.

Thank you King-Kong!

Good to hear from you. How's your tank doing now?

Leonardo

eskymick · 10/01/2007, 03:44 PM

Awesome reef Leonardo !! Proof once again that "less is more".

How do you get by with such a small amount of live rock. Is it your feeling that the "rule" of at least one pound of live rock per gallon is a myth?

I'd like to get by with much less LR myself.

Leonardo_ · 10/01/2007, 03:54 PM

I don't know it is a myth or not... My tank is doing well, parameters are stable, corals and fish are healthy. No nitrate problems etc. at all. I do have a RDSB in the sump, maybe that makes a difference...

Leonardo

ezcompany · 10/01/2007, 04:20 PM

ah, i gotcha buddy

FUA · 10/01/2007, 04:34 PM

definately TOTM material. Can we vote on it or is it up to reefcentral admin. to do this?

kysard1 · 10/01/2007, 04:44 PM

This tank is so beyond TOTM, it is ground breaking. Leonardo will die of old age before the TOTM officials understand the significance of a tank like this.

drouner · 10/01/2007, 05:05 PM

Okay I will ask the dumb question here but what is RDSB?

kysard1 · 10/01/2007, 05:15 PM

remote deep sand bed

trueblackpercula · 10/01/2007, 05:15 PM

remote deep sand bed

trueblackpercula · 10/01/2007, 05:16 PM

we posted at the same time 7:15

drouner · 10/01/2007, 05:18 PM

I knew that! LOL

FUA · 10/01/2007, 07:04 PM

lol, I thought it was a really deep sand bed.

uhuru · 10/01/2007, 07:15 PM

Leonardo you have inspired more people in going with a BB system than you know! I think your tank is significant in this aspect and definitely TOTM material. It would be a damn shame if you were not chosen sooner or later.

Leonardo_ · 10/02/2007, 12:28 PM

FUA, kysard1, thank you very much.

drouner, I forgot to mention I change 10% of the water every two weeks with RODI and Reefers Best. I add some Tropic MArin BioMagnesium to bring the Magnesiumlevel to 1400-1500.

uhuru, I hope I inspired people, that's the best you could hope for if you show your tank to the community.
I hope people can see through to whole BB controverse. When I started this tank it seemed like a good theory, and I liked the look of it. I think it has contributed to make the tank like it has developed untill today. Thanks.

Leonardo

King-Kong · 10/02/2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Leonardo's Reef
Thank you King-Kong! Good to hear from you. How's your tank doing now?

Leonardo

No better.. still slowly losing corals..

Clams, zoas, etc. continue to grow and look healthy, but most SPS are still dying.

I am sending my water out this week to be tested by aquarium water testing .com to see if there is anything wrong.

Keep up the good work!

Leonardo_ · 10/02/2007, 01:17 PM

I hope you find the sourse, keep me (us) updated!

Leonardo

09/29/2007, 02:05 PM	#51
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	do you plan on letting some pieces encrust to the bottom of your tank? i think if you added a black background it will be even more stunning. definitely one of my idol tanks __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

09/30/2007, 06:50 AM	#52
Leonardo_ TRC Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,568	BRISK495, I dose one ML of Vodka every day. Together with that I add 0.25 mg of sugar. I know, it's not much but enough to keep my Nitrates and (more important) Phosphates down. Make sure you add another small piece of LiveRock one in a while (in you sump etc.) to keep the bacterial cononies diverse. I don't want to bring my tank in danger so adding more is not safe, and in my case not even necessary. ezcompany, I have had a blue and black background, but I like the clear one the most. Looks different IRL the on the pictures. I think it gives the tank a bit more of a Japanese look. Leonardo __________________ 450G Office Reef

09/30/2007, 11:08 AM	#53
adddo “Goodnight, tiny humans.” Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 1,008	Its absolutely stunning Leo. Dont change a thing! I also use Vodka. No sugar tho. Why do you dose both? Its essentially the same? __________________ If Pacman had affected us as kids, then we'd all be running around in a dark room, munching pills and listening to repetitive music //Bjarne

09/30/2007, 11:38 AM	#54
Leonardo_ TRC Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,568	Thanks The effect is the same, but vodka and sugar stimulates the growth of different bacteria-colonies. If you dose it both you prevent one bacteria to "overgrow" the other species. So basically, by dosing it both you keep a greater variaty in bacteria. Some also dose Vinegar for another extra Carbonsource, but I don't do that because of the risk of acetate forming. Leonardo __________________ 450G Office Reef

09/30/2007, 12:59 PM	#55
trueblackpercula Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: STATEN ISLAND Posts: 7,517	Ok one must also be aware that if your tank is BB it tends to be more nutrient poor than normal. So be very carefull with the suger as i read somewhere that it will cuase STN/RTN I can't remeber were it was posted but I did read something about it. remeber read read read before looking for theat magic bullet Michael __________________ Life is to short to buy frags ! But for FREE I'LL take them ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º> LIVE SAND ITS THE CURE........® Current Tank Info: 120 CUBE Live sand Mitras lx6100hv MRC MR 2 single becket MP40 power head Aquamedic dosing pump using B-ionic

09/30/2007, 06:17 PM	#56
kysard1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 827	best looking tank on the internet. Honestly makes the typical kalidescope TOTM look like a bad psychedelic carnival trip. This is what a reef looks like folks. I hope this is a start of a trend back to normalcy. Keep up the great work.

09/30/2007, 08:50 PM	#57
drouner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 668	I noticed that you mentioned you use Reefers Best Premium salt. Since I'm not sure about what salt mixes are available The Netherlands, can you comment on it vs. other available salt mixes. Or why you choose this brand. How often do you do water changes? Here in the US the price is $90 US for 20kg bucket of Reefers Best Premium salt. That is very expensive. Great tank. TOTM for sure. __________________ Doug I'm just happy to be here! It all started with a 10 gallon Wal Mart FW combo. Current Tank Info: Old school Oceanic 58 gallon mixed reef

09/30/2007, 09:42 PM	#58
dvanacker DID I SOUNDS SMRT?? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ontario, CAN Posts: 3,690	So how many lbs total of rock do you have in this system?? I love the openess with large colonies.....amazing look. __________________ --DARRYL-- Current Tank Info: 200g SPS dominant Mixed Reef

10/01/2007, 06:20 AM	#59
King-Kong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 2,346	Woo, go Leo! One of my favorite tanks ever... always a pleasure looking at those photos... you've done so well!

10/01/2007, 01:36 PM	#60
Leonardo_ TRC Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,568	kysard1, thanks for that huge compliment! Drouner, the price over here is about the same. Many of the salts that you use in the US are also available here in The Netherlands. I used Tropic Marin before this salt, the costs are the same as Reefers Best over here. I like Reefers Best much more. The corals show more PE, and the parameters of freshly made water are much better then TM. I don't know why, but in my nutrient poor tank Montipora never do very well untill I started to use this salt. TOTM? Don't know, but thanks for saying it! dvanacker, thanks. I only use one big rock, and a small one behind it. About 15 pound. Thank you King-Kong! Good to hear from you. How's your tank doing now? Leonardo __________________ 450G Office Reef

10/01/2007, 03:44 PM	#61
eskymick Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pulaski, WI Posts: 1,368	Awesome reef Leonardo !! Proof once again that "less is more". How do you get by with such a small amount of live rock. Is it your feeling that the "rule" of at least one pound of live rock per gallon is a myth? I'd like to get by with much less LR myself. __________________ SG - 1.025 pH - 8.1 NH4/NH3 - 0 mg/L NO2 - .003 mg/L NO3 - .2 mg/L Calc. - 420 dKH - 8.0 Flow ~ 80x Current Tank Info: 24" cube SPS Reef, 15 gal sump, 1- LumenBright Pendant with 250w 20K Phoenix lamp, 1 - Vortech MP40, ATB 840 v1.5 skimmer.

10/01/2007, 03:54 PM	#62
Leonardo_ TRC Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,568	I don't know it is a myth or not... My tank is doing well, parameters are stable, corals and fish are healthy. No nitrate problems etc. at all. I do have a RDSB in the sump, maybe that makes a difference... Leonardo __________________ 450G Office Reef

10/01/2007, 04:20 PM	#63
ezcompany Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 4,640	ah, i gotcha buddy __________________ Jin Have a nice day! Current Tank Info: IM40

10/01/2007, 04:34 PM	#64
FUA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 863	definately TOTM material. Can we vote on it or is it up to reefcentral admin. to do this?

10/01/2007, 04:44 PM	#65
kysard1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 827	This tank is so beyond TOTM, it is ground breaking. Leonardo will die of old age before the TOTM officials understand the significance of a tank like this.

10/01/2007, 05:05 PM	#66
drouner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 668	Okay I will ask the dumb question here but what is RDSB? __________________ Doug I'm just happy to be here! It all started with a 10 gallon Wal Mart FW combo. Current Tank Info: Old school Oceanic 58 gallon mixed reef

10/01/2007, 05:15 PM	#67
kysard1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SE PA Posts: 827	remote deep sand bed

10/01/2007, 05:15 PM	#68
trueblackpercula Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: STATEN ISLAND Posts: 7,517	remote deep sand bed __________________ Life is to short to buy frags ! But for FREE I'LL take them ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º> LIVE SAND ITS THE CURE........® Current Tank Info: 120 CUBE Live sand Mitras lx6100hv MRC MR 2 single becket MP40 power head Aquamedic dosing pump using B-ionic

10/01/2007, 05:16 PM	#69
trueblackpercula Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: STATEN ISLAND Posts: 7,517	we posted at the same time 7:15 __________________ Life is to short to buy frags ! But for FREE I'LL take them ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. >((((º> LIVE SAND ITS THE CURE........® Current Tank Info: 120 CUBE Live sand Mitras lx6100hv MRC MR 2 single becket MP40 power head Aquamedic dosing pump using B-ionic

10/01/2007, 05:18 PM	#70
drouner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 668	I knew that! LOL __________________ Doug I'm just happy to be here! It all started with a 10 gallon Wal Mart FW combo. Current Tank Info: Old school Oceanic 58 gallon mixed reef

10/01/2007, 07:04 PM	#71
FUA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 863	lol, I thought it was a really deep sand bed.

10/01/2007, 07:15 PM	#72
uhuru Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Columbus Posts: 2,949	Leonardo you have inspired more people in going with a BB system than you know! I think your tank is significant in this aspect and definitely TOTM material. It would be a damn shame if you were not chosen sooner or later. __________________ August 2011 TOTM

10/02/2007, 12:28 PM	#73
Leonardo_ TRC Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,568	FUA, kysard1, thank you very much. drouner, I forgot to mention I change 10% of the water every two weeks with RODI and Reefers Best. I add some Tropic MArin BioMagnesium to bring the Magnesiumlevel to 1400-1500. uhuru, I hope I inspired people, that's the best you could hope for if you show your tank to the community. I hope people can see through to whole BB controverse. When I started this tank it seemed like a good theory, and I liked the look of it. I think it has contributed to make the tank like it has developed untill today. Thanks. Leonardo __________________ 450G Office Reef

10/02/2007, 01:17 PM	#75
Leonardo_ TRC Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,568	I hope you find the sourse, keep me (us) updated! Leonardo __________________ 450G Office Reef