135 gallon SPS tank from the Philippines

[menthol]

Hello fellow RC members, I would like to share my 135gal SPS dominated tank. I will try to make it look like a "build" by posting photos of the tank's progression. It's been running close to a year now. It might also be an interesting read for some of you as this tank was switched from T5HO lighting to DIY hi-power LED's. here goes...

after cycling for 3 weeks...

after another couple of weeks, i started stocking...

and another couple of weeks later....

T'was pretty much the same for another couple of week up until i finished my DIY LED's. Here are some comparison shots between T5HO's and LED's (same camera settings - ISO, Aperture, shutter, etc.) .....

T5HO

LED's

few weeks and addtional livestocks later....

after a couple of months or so, nuissance algae happened as expected....

after a month, nuissance algae is GONE, back to enjoying it...

and then here are some recent photos.....

There are still a lot (they grow like weeds) of softies in there but i've been pruning and scraping (fragging of course) most of it. Ultimately, it will be an SPS tank with some LPS.

Equipments that i use would just be a skimmer and a 30gal. sump, plus a couple of China wavemakers of course.

I hope we can get more colorful specimens of sps like you guys abroad have, coral collection are extremely illegal here. We've got all sorts of colorful and extravagant corals here in our oceans too but we all like to keep it there, hehe.

Later!

 

[happyclam]

Great job on the tank! It's nice to get some inspiration, as I also have a 135 gallon tank that I've been wanting to set-up. Could you give us more details of your system? Also, what are the tank dimensions? You have a nice aquascape, and I was wondering if the tank has different dimensions than that of a standard 135 (72"Lx18"Wx24"T) that I have.

 

[menthol]

Thanks, and you got it, it is the standard 72"Lx18"Wx24"T 135gal tank.

Here are some details:

NH3/NH4 - 0 ppm
NO2 - 0 ppm
NO3 - 25 ppm
PO4 - 0 ppm/undetectable

PH - 8.1
Salinity - 1.023

Alkalinity - 9-11 dKh
CA - 460ppm
Mg - 1300+

Weekly dosage of Strontium and Iodine is part of my UPKEEP.
Lighting schedule is 10hrs/day
Cold season temp plays between 25-28deg Celcius.
Warm season temps plays at 29-32deg Celcius.

Skimmer - ReefDragons RD-400.
Return pump - rio 26hf
Wavemakers - Resun 15000 /w controller
SunSun brand wavemaker

I dose the DIY 2-part Alk-CA and Magnesium recipe by RandyHolmes.
295ml/day of Alk and CA.
295ml/wk of Mg.

Experimeting now with SantaMonica's ATS (algae turf scrubber) for nitrates export.

Saltmix is Instant Ocean mixed with 0 TDS RO/DI water. Water change regimen is 20% bi-weekly.

I'll add more details if I can think of some more or asked for more.

 

[drdoolittle]

wow.. very nice..

P.I. is alway a nice place to come home to, i was in Bicol, in Caramoan island last summer.. its one of the best places i seen.

where are you located? i'll be in PI next April..

 

[menthol]

wow.. very nice..

P.I. is alway a nice place to come home to, i was in Bicol, in Caramoan island last summer.. its one of the best places i seen.

where are you located? i'll be in PI next April..

Thanks! I am in the province of Bulacan. I have plans to go snorkeling in Bicol hopefully sometime soon. Everywhere over here is just plain nice to go to for diving. I'd go to even more places before i go back to California myself, last place i've been was Lapu-lapu city in Cebu, got some nice frags over there.

 

[animan]

Beautiful tank and pictures!
29-32 deg C seems a bit high, but the corals dont seem to mind it.
Nice job!

 

[drdoolittle]

Lapu-Lapu.. never been there.. I only know of a few places in PI. My trip last year was the first in 25 years.. after last years visit. I think i'll be visiting more often.

Try to go to Caramoan island.. its one of the nices beaches i ever seen..

if you dont mind, i could post some of the caramoan pictures on your thread.

 

[hdesai123]

Excellent excellent aquaspacing and great placement of the corals. Yours is one of those few tanks that is full with corals but still having plent of open space because of proper aquascaping.

 

[scuba guy ron]

please do tell about the led's somemore. I'm new to the led thing.

 

[menthol]

Thanks guys!

@drdoolittle - Just PM me the links to the photos or email me at mentholr @ yahoo, PLEASE!. those photos would be super nice, i would really appreciate it!

@scuba guy ron - My LED fixture was greatly inspired by RC's very own, Soundwave. I'm pretty sure you have already come across his thread about his DIY BUILD of his LED fixture. Only difference was that i used 36 Cree XR-E Q5 white's and 36 Cree XR-E Q5 blue bulbs. Here are some photos I took back then:

 

[menthol]

Equipment setup, nothing much.

A.T.O. is a joystick switch, hanging to it is a baby powder bottle as a floater, LOL.

 

[redsea reefer]

very nice tank, rock work is awesome...

 

[dipan]

Beautiful results ...

You are using Cree XR-E blue LED's? Not royal blue?

Thanks guys!

@drdoolittle - Just PM me the links to the photos or email me at mentholr @ yahoo, PLEASE!. those photos would be super nice, i would really appreciate it!

@scuba guy ron - My LED fixture was greatly inspired by RC's very own, Soundwave. I'm pretty sure you have already come across his thread about his DIY BUILD of his LED fixture. Only difference was that i used 36 Cree XR-E Q5 white's and 36 Cree XR-E Q5 blue bulbs. Here are some photos I took back then:

 

[menthol]

Beautiful results ...

You are using Cree XR-E blue LED's? Not royal blue?

Sorry if i was not specific, they are indeed ROYAL BLUE's and the white are COOL WHITE's.

 

[aquasport24]

Very nice mix tank.I like the bonsai tree alot.

 

[elijaher]

Led 135gal wow nice looking tank growth is outstanding.

 

[gatorchem]

Your tank looks realy nice. I really like the rockwork with all the ledges.

 

[SWINGRRRR]

if I counted right, the spacing on your LEDs is about 4"s. Is this correct?

 

[menthol]

Thanks guys!

@SWINGRRRR - Yes, about 3-4inches.

 

[flying53brian]

Great looking tank and color!