40 Gallon Breeder reef tank build...

[mmittlesteadt]

Water change was super easy and uneventful. Put in new Activated Carbon.

Parameters are perfect.

Haven't posted a pic of my sump since I set it up...

And a closer pic of my refugium (you can see pods all over). Chaeto is new....

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Thank God, my tank suffered no ill effects from the water change.

Anyone have any suggestions for very easy-to-keep soft corals to add to my collection?

 

[gavinsepanik]

a mushroom garden would be cool, also you can add some more color with more zoas.

 

[mmittlesteadt]

a mushroom garden would be cool, also you can add some more color with more zoas.

Yes, I plan on adding a variety of mushrooms and maybe some more zoas. Any other softies with some different shapes (like taller) that have more color?

Right now I have Xenia and Kenya trees that have more reddish colors to them, and the zoas, mushrooms and GSP are very bright green. Anything else?

 

[mmittlesteadt]

My shrimp died. NOT! What an absolutely perfect molt. Right down the last details. Just hanging on the rock like he was still there. Wish I could have gotten a better pic.

 

[Swope2bc]

That's awesome! You should try to preserve it lol

 

[mmittlesteadt]

It's kind of funny, one of my Cardinals is hanging by it like the molted shell is going to clean him!

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Added a Torch coral to the mix. I guess we'll see how it does. I'm hoping it grows out and becomes a host for my clowns. If not, well at least it will be a nice addition. I'll post up pics later.

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Here's my torch coral after just putting it into the tank. Note that my Clownfish (ugh, those guys never sit still long enough for a decent photo...LOL) is actually right up to the front glass whereas the Torch coral is back further about midway in the tank. Clowny ain't that big and the Torch ain't that small.

I'm hoping the Torch becomes nice, big and full and becomes a host for the Clownfish which hang out in that part of the tank. The Torch is has more green in it than the pic shows but its doing well in its new home after just being introduced.

 

[mmittlesteadt]

And an obligatory full tank shot. My algae comes and goes in waves. But I like it that way. It never grows beyond the ability to feed my CUC and Lawnmower Blenny. I keep the nutrients (via feedings, water changes, skimming) at just the right level to retain enough algae to feed, but not enough to overwhelm the tank. Plus I'm thinking of getting a Coral Beauty so I have one fish that will just keep swimming throughout the tank and pick at it.

I like looking back through the stages of tank development. I'm still really impressed with the amount of light just one single Kessil A160WE can put out over my 40 gallon, and its not even on full intensity in this pic.

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Also, just an update on my Twin Spot Goby. It is doing really well and it has grown since I got it.

:celeb3:

 

[Swope2bc]

Love your tank still!!! A coral beauty would be sweet in there!

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Love your tank still!!! A coral beauty would be sweet in there!

I keep going back and forth between a Flame Angel and a Coral Beauty. The pros and cons are driving me crazy. LOL.

Love the progress on yours.

 

[gavinsepanik]

maybe a pineapple tree? Same thing happened except with my peppermint shrimp

 

[mmittlesteadt]

I didn't get a pic of it, but earlier my Torch coral sent out a tentacle. I thought it was a long strand of reddish brown filament algae stuck to it at first, but it came right out of its center and it retracted it later. First time seeing something like this.

Pineappple tree? Hmm...I'll have to look into that.

 

[ZeeSparrow]

Looks really nice Mark. Stinking weeds look better every time. lol

 

[mmittlesteadt]

Looks really nice Mark. Stinking weeds look better every time. lol

Thanks. Yes they do. They are all growing like, well, weeds! Not quite the coloration you get from yours but I get lots of movement. I fall asleep to it almost every night.

I'm still on the lookout for some really nice corals that would go well. Everything has thrived where I put them, except my flower pot (goniopora). But I got to trade it in for my Torch, which is doing fantastic.

 

[Isaacs55]

Thanks. Yes they do. They are all growing like, well, weeds! Not quite the coloration you get from yours but I get lots of movement. I fall asleep to it almost every night.

I'm still on the lookout for some really nice corals that would go well. Everything has thrived where I put them, except my flower pot (goniopora). But I got to trade it in for my Torch, which is doing fantastic.

I know this is mainly a weed tank, but maybe try an elegance coral

 

[mmittlesteadt]

I know this is mainly a weed tank, but maybe try an elegance coral

I'm not opposed to trying some hardy LPS at all. I would need to find those that like nutrient rich water. My nitrates and phosphates are at 0 but that is more likely due to some of the softies and chaeto using that up, which would really make no difference. If it doesn't measure, it isn't a problem.

 

[mmittlesteadt]

My LFS got in a huge variety of ORA corals. Frags of all kinds of softies and LPS (SPS too, but I'm not into those). I can get them for anywhere from $10 to $40 depending on how big each coral is. Decisions, decisions.