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[Boret]

1 month into the 55g tank. So far so good!

Many little things have changed.

I totally erased the Lion notion of my head and decided to do a community tank. The Lion's a beautiful fish but everything I read about them made me reconsider.

I put the Domino Damsel in the RockCuring tank, which is kind of becoming a "nano" tank... we'll see where I get with that tank....

I purchased a few things from fellow "reefers" and join the local Marine Society in the Wash.DC area. I acquired a couple of mushrooms. One is brownish/green with little fingers, I believe its called a hairy mushroom. I also got a nice little Dark and bright green mushroom, no idea what the official name is.

I added paired Percula Clown fish and a Rose BTA. The BTA is not hosting the clowns yet and it is moving all over the place. It is strange how it opens up like crazy at night and hides underneath rocks when I turn the lights on. Right now it is under a rock kind of sideways...

I also have a Star Polyp Clavularia.

I also bought a Sand Shifting "cleaner crew" package from a LFS. It includes:
* 10 Cerith Snails
* 20 Nassarius Snails
* 1 White Sand Star
* 1 Fighting Conch
* 6 Oceania Nassarius Snails

The tests today:
pH 8.2
Nitrate 5-10
Nitrite 0
Ammo 0
Phosphate 0
Alk 12 / 214
Ca 500
Salinity 1.026
Temp 80.4

I put a HydroFlo wave maker in one of the MaxiJets 1200.

And I have a Yellow britle star and a blue Sea Star. Also added 4 cronies.

[Boret]

More pictures.

[Boret]

and more...

[Boret]

and more...

[Boret]

A shrimp, these guys are awesome, they have both (I have 2) setup cleaning stations. They even clean my hand when I put it inside the tank. Awesome!!
I love the marine tank, its so much better than freshwater!!

[mr_X]

looks good!
good luck with that linkia star, i hope it works out for you. i couldn't keep stars early on. i haven't tried since, but i knew i'd be moving everything anyway, so i'll wait.

nice echino btw. i have a hot pink one. it's really awesome. it will take misis and cyclo-peeze incase you weren't aware.
that's what that is right? coral1.jpg?
if so, i got mine and it was a somewhat dull pinkish, but it colored up nicely. it's now the most outstanding coral in my tank.

[Boret]

Thanks X

I believe Coral1.jpg is OpenBrain coral http://www.wetwebmedia.com/trachyphlliidae.htm

It supposed to be one of the hardiest corals. From what I read it needs plenty of light and semi calm waters. I think I have it in a good spot close to the PC and away from direct currents. I bought new bulbs for the Orbit fixture, Shavo is da man!! got a great deal on bulbs!!

I looked at the echino after you mentioned it and now I want one!! It supposed to color up nicely! But I haven't seen any around. I will ask in the Marine Society maybe someone has frags for sale!

Does the Brain Coral take misis as well? What I read mentions feeding it once a week and place the food at night directly over the coral...

[mr_X]

yes. brains eat. open brain?? wow...lol..i never would have guessed that.
just drop the food over it's mouth. i feed everything in my tank that eats solid food once a week or so. sometimes i cut a small piece of fresh fish and put it right on the mouth of my brain. he gobbles it right up.

[Boret]

Hello guys!!

It has been over 6 months since I acquired the 55 gallon tank.
During this time I have improved the system tremendously.
I joined a local Aquarist Society (www.wamas.org) and I been purchasing equipment from people that were either getting out of the hobby or upgrading.

This is what my tank looks like now.



I have 500W of MH (250 10k x2) and T5 (64wx2 Actinic) lighting, UV sterilizer, Ca Reactor, Kalkwasser Stirrer, CPR 194 sump with Protein Skimmer with a Sedra 3500, a 20g fuge, and a Mag9 return, 5 stage RODI system, 40g RODI water resevoir bucket, auto top off system, and semiautomatic water change mechanism.

Quite a few very healthy SPS, LPS and soft corals live in the tank now.

I wanted to extend a hearty thank you to all of you who helped me at the beginning (you know who you are ).

Happy reefkeeping!!!

Warm regards!

Boret

[captainobvious]

WOW. You've been busy !

I just read through your entire thread. To start off, Im glad you redid the aquascaping from the initial plan as it was too cluttered. I like the caves and structure you set up. Looks like you have some really nice growth now. The tank looks good!

Oh, and damn did you upgrade the system, lol. Way to go !

[Mrktplayer]

it's definitely looking good

[Boret]

WOW. You've been busy !

I just read through your entire thread. To start off, Im glad you redid the aquascaping from the initial plan as it was too cluttered. I like the caves and structure you set up. Looks like you have some really nice growth now. The tank looks good!

Oh, and damn did you upgrade the system, lol. Way to go !

LOL tell me about it!!!

One thing is for sure.... had I known the stuff I know now I would have done things differently.

For starters, and if anyone that its getting into the hobby is reading this... go as big as space and budget permits. All the work, all the equipment, etc... at the end of the day, my biggest problem is real state inside of the tank. I will go to 90 or even 120 as soon as a good deal on an old system comes up locally. 4 feet is my only limitation, I can go 2 ft deep without a problem.

The second thing is, get a Reef Ready tank, or even better, have a regular tank drilled. The overflow box is the weakest point in my system. I have it so that I can leave the tank for a week flying solo and everything is pretty much automatic (haven't figured out an automatic water change system yet).

Plan way ahead and don't feel afraid of asking for help online, I have found the reefing community very helpful and always willing to give advice (or even a helping hand).

All the equipment I end up buying can sustain a 120+ gallon system, and that is probably the smartest thing I have done in the whole ordeal. I had to sell the crappy skimmer, crappy lights, crappy pumps, because I was getting algae, no growth, and was getting very frustrated.

And a final thought.... try to buy used! If you are patient you can find great deals!!

[Boret]

it's definitely looking good

Thanks!!

This is my goal: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-10/totm/index.php

[Boret]

Man this thread brings memories. It was the first place I posted online before I joined my local club.
It's been a while and the 55 is no more.
This is the last picture I took before I took it down to setup my new 92 corner tank.



And this is my new tank:



Everytime I remember this thread it cracks me up how much of a noobie I was!!
Happy Thanksgiving!

[Boret]

Btw that's the same Yellow Tang I got back in sep 2007. He is doing great!

[Len]

Looked great Keep us posted on your new 92.

[Boret]

Thanks Len!!

Here you have a couple updates of the 92, a video and a picture:

VIDEO [YouTube] Try the HD version.

[Saltlick]

This thread could be VERY helpful to people. It is as likely as not that his used light fixture with used
but working lamps gave him his unwanted algae. I understand that once the spectrum begins to shift
as the lamp ages, it tends to spur growth of unwated algae. I am not a scientist, so what do I know, but
I was worried about it as I read, but by page four and YEARS later, it looks sweet as hell in that tank.
Also, when someone sells you live rock, it stands to reason that they are selling you the rock they least like
in order to make room for the rock they really want. It is only natural. I see alot of old TBS rock in there
or something that looks like it. In the recent pics, it is clear that that old square junk is inside the reef
performing base rock duties.

And the biggest lesson to come from all of it is, if you have some nice live rock and
a magnifying glass, you can make your own fun while you properly cycle your tank with just some live rock.
No need to hurt animals with ever-changing water quality. SLOOOWWW DOOOwwnnn. It's ALMOST as fun.
Nice to see the reef looking AWESOME on page 4.

I wish my new tank could look like that, but I am a rolling stone. That is a tank for a person who never intends
to move. I am going to keep myself WAY in check on my 40/25. I am thinking a forest of non-photosynthetic
purple Gorgonians, and maybe some mushrooms. If my Nova Extreme Pro turns out to be a good fixture, I may
grow some fast growing "in demand" species for fragging and eventual sale prior to any moves, but I am going
to K.I.S.S. on this reef I am cycling right now.