December nTOTM
 

Thank you all for voting for my tank!!:D
Victoria’s 29 gal cube reef tank
Introduction:

I fell in love with this hobby back in 1974. I walked into a LFS and saw saltwater fish and invertebrates and said, “I must have those” I bought my first tank a 20 gal, and quickly upgraded to a 300 gal. Of course it was a fish only, not many people were keeping coral alive at that time. Over the course of time I worked at that very LFS and then went on to start a business of aquarium maintenance. I continued that for about 10 years. I sold it and moved back into the hobby still in a fish only mode. I really had little contact with other hobbyist at that time. And so for another 10 years just had a small tank, not thinking much about the hobby.

Then one day I thought I would look on the Internet, to see how far the hobby has come. I could not believe what I saw… Reef tanks… got to have one of those. So I went to a LFS and purchased a 100 gal sea clear, it had a sump in the back of the tank. I started of with some soft corals, and advance to a tank filled with LPS and a few stony corals. I plumb in a 40 gal fuge, and the tank was beautiful. We had planned on moving in a year or so. So at that time we sold the tank and everything in it. When the new owner moved it I took a few frags of so of my favorite corals and started my 29 gal.

I started it in April 2005. Here is a clip of the growth
[url]http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/Time%20shots%20growth/?action=view&current=1162667214.pbw[/url]

Aquarium profile:
Size:
Standard cube 29 gallons Oceanic 18x20x21.
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Nov%202006/Nov2906cubetank008.jpg[/IMG]

Circulation:
I use 1 Maxi jet 1200 power head (295gph) and 1 Rio 800 (171gph). I also have a canister filter (Hagen Fluval 305) which adds (185gph) for a total (in theory) 651gph circulation. I have the two power heads on a nature wave maker. 10 seconds on one power head, 10 sec on the other, 10 sec both on, and 10 sec both off.

Filtration:
I use a Fluval canister filter in which I run Carbon and po4 remover 24/7. I also run bags of Miracle Mud. I also use floss to trap particulates.

Lighting:
Current USA fixture
24" Current USA Outer Orbit 10000K HQI Metal Halide
1x150W Dual Daylight / 2x65W Dual Actinic & 4 Lunar Lights *

Photo period:
Actinic on at 6am and off at 9PM
Metal Halide on at 8am and off at 8pm
Moon lights on 24 hr for 6 days a month.
Refugium:
CPR AquaFuge 2 Hang-on Refugium, Medium
In here I have Miracle Mud and Cheto and lots of pods. The lighting on the fuge runs 24/7 and has a 13 watt PC. The makers of Miracle Mud recommends changing the mud every six months. I find it disrupts my fuge and pods so I keep a bag in the canister filter.

Feeding and Additives:

I feed twice once in the AM and once in the PM after the lights of out. I feed the fish a variety of food. Frozen Mysis shrimp, flakes (formula one), pellets (sinks for the hermits and shrimp) Cyclopeeze.
I feed my coral Cyclopeeze, DT’s , and Kent marine phytomax, Reef nutrition Roti-feast.

I use an Aqua medic-dosing pump to dose ESV 2 part additive. It doses alk before the lights go on in the morning. I also dose ESV magnesium. I occassionally add strontium. And add Lugol’s once a week (one drop).

Tank Parameters:
Alk 10.2 dkh
Ca 420
Mag 1350
S.G 1.026
Temp 77-80 degrees
Ph 7.9-8.4
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Po4 0
Maintinance:
I do a 30% water change every week. I use water from an R.O unit and use Instant ocean salt. I buffer it to match the tank.
I change carbon / po4 remover 1x month along with the floss.
I change PC’s every six months, and MH 1 x year. I clean my light fixture off every week.
Clean Power heads once a month.
I look at my reef tank every day!

[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06063.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06004-1.jpg[/IMG]

Inhabitants:
Coral:
Acropora 7 species
Hydnophors 2 species
Seriantipora (pink) has produced Planula Larvae in tank.
Euphyllia Torch
Green Star Polyps
Yellow Polyps
Montipora 4 species
Poricillipora has reproduced in my tank
Merulina sp.
Montipora digitata
Asst mushrooms
Fish:
Amphipron Ocellairs
Gobiosona Multafasciatus
Blue devil Damsel
Hector gobi
Invertebrates:
Scarlet cleaner shrimp
Peppermint shrimp
Blue legged hermit crabs
Red scarlet hermit crabs
Sponge, featherduster, worms ect
Rock boring sea urchin
Cucumber
2 Crocea clams
Final thoughts:
I have a simple system, one anyone could have. I think my success comes from learning as much as possible before I add things. Learning what there requirements are. And above all else caring my tank like it was a pet like a dog or cat. It has living breathing life in it and it’s my responsibility to care for it.
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06056.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06052.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06034.jpg[/IMG]

More tank shots
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06032.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06031.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06020.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06019.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06017.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Oct%202006/TANKPHOTOSOCT06015.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Sept%202006/reeftanksept013.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Sept%202006/reeftanksept015.jpg[/IMG]


again thanks to all of you!!:D
[IMG]http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e284/VICTORIARAW/reef%20tank%20Sept%202006/reeftanksept010.jpg[/IMG]
Victoria

:bigeyes: Wow! Fantastic tank. I just started a nano and your tank makes me want to consider sps. Great example of what a nano can be.

Stephanie

That's an inspiring tank, Victoria...

Reading about your tank makes me want to run off, empty the skimmate, scrub the glass and wash filter floss!

Stunning system Victoria... this tank really, really makes me want to set up an SPS nano. Absolutely inspiring!

Much thanks Stephanie, Louis, icemine2005. I just love this hobby!!<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZNxdm824YYUS%2526i%253D4%252F4%255F19%255F1%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_19_1.gif" alt="SmileyCentral.com" border="0"><img border="0" src="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fimgfarm%252Ecom%252Fimages%252Fnocache%252Ftr%252Ffw%252Fsmiley%252Fsocial%252Egif%253Fi%253D4%252F4_19_1/image.gif"></a>

love the pink milli in the cap are they not killing each other

beautiful tank Victoria...after looking at those pics, there's no way i'm going to be able to stay away from SPS in my 20L. :thumbsup:

Are you running a skimmer in the refugium? How do you like the dosing pump? I've been seriously thinking of getting one. Beautiful!!!

That's a great tank!

The nicest nano I have ever seen.

Acrodave
 

It's something I have to watch. I just cut back the monti after the milli kills it. The milli always wins. But the monti grows faster. I really like the look!

Dragonfish
 

Yes I forgot to mention the skimmer. Its just a DIY addon, no biggie. I do like having a dosing pump, but If I had to do it again I would of bought a better one.

Saltycreefer danfrith
 

Thank you both so much!

the same thing happens to me the acro allways wins but the mont just grow so blanking fast that in the long run the mont wins

i see you have a skimmer in there
is that the one that came with it or did you add that

and witch one is it

[QUOTE][i]<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8833491#post8833491 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by louist [/i]
[B]That's an inspiring tank, Victoria...

Reading about your tank makes me want to run off, empty the skimmate, scrub the glass and wash filter floss! [/B][/QUOTE]





lol same here

Very Nice Job Victoria

jeffgp
 

The skimmer I have in there is not the one that comes with the unit. I got cpr that did not have the skimmer, because it was cheaper. Then I just used some odds and ends to make my own. It works ok I get plenty of skimmate.

one word: awesome

Paladin thank you very much!!
Victoria

Victoria, quick question on your Merulina sp. Was that a difficult coral to keep?