115g Reef

[majesticangelfish]

Newest inhabitant:
Pterosynchiropus splendidus aka Mandarin fish (male)





Bad photo, but shows the growth well:
from

to

[majesticangelfish]

Still don't know who lives here!

[majesticangelfish]

25kg of MgCl2


40kg of Crushed Marble (dust)


Started adding the SSB, purely for aesthetics and increased substrate reflected light

Covered Acan.


Just after addng around 10kg! :cheers: SANDSTORM!
Please ignore the three sick corals on the substrate, they are simply being housed for another reefing mate during tough times.

[majesticangelfish]

As of today, thanks to a mate: The Golden Stag. Featuring behind two curious fish! Note the strange tips? That’s when your corals grow so well, that they out grow the tank and breach the water surface! I think you need a bigger tank mate. Wonder if it colours up more...


A few more pics as the water has cleared.
New Orphans Island (small colonies that have been misplaced by The Golden Stag)


And the Majestic:

[/quote]

[GSMguy]

i had a hole in an acro like that i broke it open and i had a mini mantis shrimp in there.


Your tank is awsome very good job. did you use the crushed marble for the sandbed?

[adddo]

You know what i think is the only right thing to do.

Looks awsome with sand in it. Post more pics (FTS) when it settles pls.

[Leonardo's Reef]

Woow, I'm definately a big fan of your tank! Curious if you like the Balling-Method, I'm setting it up also. Do you use A Grotech 3-channel dosingpump for it?

Leonardo

[Rod the Roofer]

The Golden Stag before it was removed from my tank. (Top of photo)

Started as a small brown stick that steadily grew and grew and grew, right out of the water! It was 30cm diam x 20cm tall.



I hope it grows right out of the water for you Josh!!

I now have one small frag left in my tank, which has made room for..............................MORE ACROS!!!!

Rod.

[majesticangelfish]

Originally posted by GSMguy
i had a hole in an acro like that i broke it open and i had a mini mantis shrimp in there.

Very interesting! I will need to check that out! I certainly have (at least) one mantis.

Originally posted by GSMguy

Your tank is awsome very good job. did you use the crushed marble for the sandbed?

That's correct, I needed to rinse the "dust grade" marble to remove silt sized particles very well first. It's a nice bright white colour.

Originally posted by adddo
You know what i think is the only right thing to do.

Looks awsome with sand in it. Post more pics (FTS) when it settles pls.

Thanks Bjarne! I will get some new FTS soon.

Originally posted by Leonardo's Reef
Woow, I'm definately a big fan of your tank! Curious if you like the Balling-Method, I'm setting it up also. Do you use A Grotech 3-channel dosingpump for it?

Leonardo

Thanks Leonardo! I am a huge fan of your "Formosa Forest" reef.

Regarding the Balling method, it certainly has it’s positives and negatives, regular water tests are required as parameters can get out of wack easy. My biggest tip would be to get the largest containers possible, as this will promote far greater stability, relative to mixing up smaller volumes (<10L) regularly. A good scale is also a must.
I will start using a DIY Ca Rxtr soon, in combination. And mix up my own NaCl free salt.
Using the Grotech TEC 3- love this pump!

Rod, I still think you need a bigger tank mate.

Cheers, Josh

[downset]

You have a beast tank Keep up with the updates

[upsetter]

Very nice indeed!! Where does one find crushed marble & are there any pros or cons to using it for aesthetic purposes? Less clumping/hardening compared to aragonite maybe?

[majesticangelfish]

Thanks Downset, I will try.

Thanks Upset, I found mine at a local sand/terracotta supplier, not sure where in FL you could get some?

1) It will aid in reflecting light at the base of the coral, leading to more comprehensive pigmentation.
2) Otherwise Standard SSB Pros/Cons
3) Looks good

I friend of mine also uses crushed marble, and he hasn’t had any excessive clumping.

HTH

Got one of these guys today: http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/ang...bridpygmyangel
Also gave a new home to a light brown stag.

[Serioussnaps]

Thanks for the updates! From everything I have read, a BB tank reflects more light than one with a SB. Evidently our information conflicts. I wonder if there is truth to both. Its probably one of those it just depends things.

[Flint&Eric]

nice selection on the hybrid. i love the placement and growth of the thick staghorns.

[kybreos]

Your tank is awesome, I also am envious of you living in Australia. My becoming an Austrailian citizen guide just came in the mail. Maybe within a few years I'll be an Aussie as well. Gotta be in north east Queensland though. Cheers.

[majesticangelfish]

Originally posted by Serioussnaps
it just depends things.

Agreed. My BB reflected light from plain glass with dark blue plastic below. The white substrate is far better (in my case).

Flint&Eric, Thanks mate, I love stag type Acropora. This hybrid angel is really cool, has more blue on his tail than the link provided. I will try to get a photo soon.

I may be able to get a female queen and painted anthia tomorrow (if I can catch my male stocky) I have heard they are feeding... we will see! The last LFS failed to get them feeding.

kybreos, Thanks mate! Goodluck with the application. I'm hoping to move up north very soon

[majesticangelfish]

The hybrid:


Here is his tail shot (turned out way too blue in the shots above!)


I’m planning to do some travelling late next year as I have finished my undergrad in Aquaculture. South Pacific and South America are in the plans, so Automating the aquarium as much as possible is vital for me. For my 21st birthday, I have ordered a Profilux system to look after the reef while I am away, and proved some greater stability and peace of mind.

Here is a breakdown of the Profilux system ordered:

-Profilux Plus 2 kit (inc.: temperature probe, pH probe, 4xplug power bar, RS232 cable and CO2 magnet valve)
-Salinity Probe + module
-Extra 6 plug digital power bar (2300w load)
-LAN interface (to connect system to the ADSL router)
-EVG-AP (0-10v signals to my Giesemann T5 dimmable ballasts)
-2x Optical water level sensor with holder
-Propeller Breeze fan (5 fan model) 325cbm/h

The 0-10v dimmer controls will allow me to dim some special Giesemann T5 ballasts from 0-100% for overnight T5 moonlighting, sunrise/sunset, storms, season cycles etc. Perhaps this will help induce mass spawning in the Acropora?? I hope so! I cant wait for the new eX upgrade coming in!

As the balling method constantly adds NaHCO3 and Ca/Mg/SrCl2 Salinity rises in an unbalanced manner. I’m still trying to source NaCl free salts to supplement this method (so that there is no imbalance, rather just an increase in salinity) I may need to make my own! Once all these systems are in place, increasing salinity will be logged by the salinity probe, letting the profilux switch on dosing pumps to conduct small water changes with brackish or fresh water. This works with the optical float switches that tell the profilux when to stop the pumps to allow for draining.

Eventually I will build a large Ca Rxtr that this unit will control via CO2 solenoid valve, adjusting the pH of the tank too. I hope this system will meet my planed requirements of:
-Control of Temp, Salinity and pH
-Dimming of T5s (moon/sunrise/sunset)
-Connection to internet to control online.
-Automatic water changes/ water evap. Top-up

Should be in next week. Can’t wait.

Happy Reefing

[Machado deSousa]

I was reading your trhead from the beginning and I was impressed with your setup, great development and coral colors. Congratulations.
Obviously you are satisfied with the Balling metod. In your opinion this metod has more advantages or disadvantages, relativaly to the method using calcium reactor systems, CO2, etc.. ?
Cheers,

[majesticangelfish]

Originally posted by Machado deSousa
I was reading your trhead from the beginning and I was impressed with your setup, great development and coral colors. Congratulations.
Obviously you are satisfied with the Balling metod. In your opinion this metod has more advantages or disadvantages, relativaly to the method using calcium reactor systems, CO2, etc.. ?
Cheers,

Hi, thanks for reading the thread, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm actually planning to utilize both methods, as together they should complement each other and promote a more stable system. Ie, Magnesium and Strontium supplementation.

I find the parameters can become out of whack (very fast) with Balling, and constant testing is required.

Here are some screen shots of the profilux:




Cloud feature is so cool scared me the first time I saw it!
Cheers, Josh