36G - A small measure of Reef

[André Silvestre]

Glad you got your color combo back to where you want it! How had the experience been with your flame angel? Big props for testing it out. Colors still look fantastic, so amazed!

Thanks! The flame angel is an SPS nipper. Since I introduced him in the tank, the SPS polyps stay more retracted during the day, only to fully open at night. You can actually see in the millepora´s pics how retracted they are. Still, no harm done to the corals. He only touches SPS and he´s gentle. Other than that, he´s a model citizen.

Well André, we bought a new house The shallow reef was sold during the moving process. Currently i have a ELOS 70 that i started this spring. I'll snap some pics and start a thread any day now, my aquascape is as in the shallow reef inspired by your tanks

Well, I´m glad you´ve stayed in the hobby despite the move. I love ELOS tanks. So clean, so beautiful! Please share the link of the thread here or by PM when you decide to create it. I always like to see what you are cooking. Thanks for your comments.

Pure "loving" awesomeness andre:inlove:
Simply amazing!

That pic of the fungia is sooo sick!
All corals seem to be very happy and i can only imagine how the tank will look like in a few more months when they'll double their size!
Great job!

Have you changed anything regarding your routines cause i think colors are deeper/better(imho) compared to the previous pics!

Hey Mike! Yeah, things are filling in nicely. Slowly but with satisfaction.

I too think that colours have improved in these last two months. I think (or at least I´m aiming for it) it is because of the increased bioload, either by increasing the number of fish and, consequently, by increasing feeding. This, along with the tank´s balance and maturity, seems to do the trick in achieving deeper colours. Although I don´t test for nitrates nor phosphate, I try to keep nutrients in check with steady weekly water changes. Things seems to work with not much work.

Beautiful tank! Is that a gold torch coral at the very top right corner? If so, how did you get it to acclimate to the intensity of the ATI fixture?

Thanks! Yes it is. Truth be told, I have not acclimated it. I just put it there when I first introduced it to the tank. Despite its height in the tank, it only gets direct light from the last two bulbs of the fixture. I think that´s why it likes to be there without being harmed.

Thanks for watching.

 

[Fishy 1]

This tank is so awesome and you skills with the camera are stunning:thumbsup:

 

[reeflover62]

Hello Andre ! You have some beautiful corals and I like the way we get too see them through you eyes with those awesome images to share with us.

 

[Dean Donaldson]

All I can think of when i see this stuff... is that you must make people's mouths incredibly beautiful too!! ;-D

I actually had to just join this site just to get access to your pics, having read an article on aquascaping elsewhere André. I am blown away you aren't a designer by trade, but you clearly have a very strong creative talent... truly, you have a gift and are very inspiring! ;-)

I'm just about to order a set-up too - around 270 litres I believe and going to go the baling/Triton method. Having not kept marines for 20 years, been interesting to see that airstone skimmers and under gravel filters are no longer the rage! ;-)

One question i am keen to know - is from reading your posts, looks like you jumped straight into SPS corals from planted tanks... and have had some painful routes along the way. Did you never think to do the soft / LPS first... keen to hear your thoughts into this one.

Dean

 

[André Silvestre]

This tank is so awesome and you skills with the camera are stunning:thumbsup:

Thanks Fishy.

Hello Andre ! You have some beautiful corals and I like the way we get too see them through you eyes with those awesome images to share with us.

Thanks reeflover. I hope to keep sharing in the future.

All I can think of when i see this stuff... is that you must make people's mouths incredibly beautiful too!! ;-D

I actually had to just join this site just to get access to your pics, having read an article on aquascaping elsewhere André. I am blown away you aren't a designer by trade, but you clearly have a very strong creative talent... truly, you have a gift and are very inspiring! ;-)

I'm just about to order a set-up too - around 270 litres I believe and going to go the baling/Triton method. Having not kept marines for 20 years, been interesting to see that airstone skimmers and under gravel filters are no longer the rage! ;-)

One question i am keen to know - is from reading your posts, looks like you jumped straight into SPS corals from planted tanks... and have had some painful routes along the way. Did you never think to do the soft / LPS first... keen to hear your thoughts into this one.

Dean

Dean, you have made me laugh with your first paragraph. I think that caring for corals is far more easy than treating people´s mouths or people, in general. :lmao:

Your words are truly encouraging. Thank you for that. I did write an aquascape article for reef tanks in the past, yes. I think it´s no longer online since the blog for what was created has been shutdown. I all try to share it again if anyone is interested as I still have the original in PDF.

270L is a great way to restart. I always aim for more depth thank height. I´m telling you this since, in the past, people used to go the way around. I feel like the Balling method or two part is far less complex than calcium reactor but there are still many people using the last one with exceptional results so"¦ Regarding the Triton method, in my opinion, it´s another way of spending money in trying to achieve the optimum parameters, if there´s such thing. I think that regular feeding and water changes with a good salt is enough for staying in the comfort zone (where corals actually thrive happily) without too much elaboration or costs. But, again, that´s just my opinion.

Regarding your question, actually, yes, I did experimented with softies and LPS and even NPS (non-photosynthetic corals). It was a great experience. If you search for my threads here on RC, every setup I have created is a mixed system. In my opinion, it brings the best of reef keeping which, by itself, either with softies or SPS, is a demanding hobby and sometimes life throws us some curveballs that need to be catched. It´s a question of establishing priorities. That´s why I have experimented with many things in the past regarding water chemistry and reef additives and, nowadays, I´m more keen to keep it simple and enjoy the hobby but also the other aspects of life like family, friends, other hobbies"¦ Too much time dedicated to a hobby that is already very demanding can turn us very limited and slaves to the very activity we pursue as a hobby. :crazy1:

Here´s my softies and LPS tank.


Thanks for watching.

 

[sahin]

Andre, please post updated shots of this stunning little tank.

 

[Bolo Tran]

Gorgeous little tank. One question. How do you make your pics have that 3d canvas effect to them?

 

[panozzz]

amazing photos my friend! what is yous bulb combo??

 

[Ricardo Fonseca]

Thanks, really appreciated.







Thank you Todd. I am running an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower with no dimm function. Total light is 9h/day. blue light is 10h/day. These are on and off half an hour before and after the other 6 bulbs, respectively.



The order and bulb combination resumes to ATI Blue Plus and ATI Coral Plus (front to back):



- Blue Plus

- Coral Plus

- Blue Plus

- Blue Plus

- Coral Plus

- Blue Plus

- Coral Plus

- Blue Plus

 

[SneekaPeek]

Update Please. I think we can all agree, more eye candy!

 

[André Silvestre]

Hello guys,

I am sorry for my late reply. Things have been very tight with work and the tank has been suffering with it. Well, actually, the tank has suffered way more in November´s last year since I had to travel to São Paulo and stay there for 1 month. Curious fact: bad things always happen to our reef tanks when we are not around... Short story: I have lost 60% of the corals during my absence and have lost a couple more after that.

Things seem to be stabled now (tank and work) so the timing is good to regroup and get this tank back on track. Meanwhile, I´m almost opening a new dental practice of my own and the plan is to transfer this tank to the waiting room. Trying to dissipate the dentist fear through our beloved corals and fish.

I have already another system to replace this one at home so both tanks will be updated as things progress. Despite my absence, I have not forgot this thread or reefcentral, for that matter. Things just have a time of their own to be done and appreciated. Thank you for your patience and interest. Updates very soon.


Regards,
André

 

[sahin]

Sorry about the issues Andre. Congrats on the new dental practice. I'm sure the patients and kids will love the tank. Hope the tank recovers soon. :beer: