55g tank progression

[ge-off707]

I started my tank back in September '09. This is my first salt tank and what a learning experience! I just wanted to share some pics and show how it has progressed. I started out wanting to do a mostly FOWLR tank but have gone the other direction! I only have 4 fish and the rest are coral and CUC. Here are some pics, let me know what you think:

This is right when everything settled
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/3989090862/" title="IMG_1546 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/3989090862_82ff2f0b9b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1546" /></a>

Once I got my T5HO lights
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/3989092058/" title="IMG_1590 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2542/3989092058_c0b8c0f184.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1590" /></a>

My algae bloom from the cycle!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/3988340155/" title="IMG_1646 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3988340155_73311cc9cb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1646" /></a>

My first corals
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590335503/" title="IMG_1700 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4047/4590335503_0b0dfa5502.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1700" /></a>

New bulbs, and new rock from ShaneH. I had to re-do my rockscape... Took FOREVER!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590352493/" title="IMG_2028 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4590352493_a05f2d7c68.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2028" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590994600/" title="IMG_2058 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4590994600_cf0affedde.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2058" /></a>

 

[ge-off707]

Purple polyped birdsnest
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590974886/" title="IMG_2034 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4590974886_3e92a35d6d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2034" /></a>

My mutant Emerald crab "Emeril", He's huge!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590978032/" title="IMG_2044 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/4590978032_c0bdeec838.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2044" /></a>

Growing very well... Thank you Grant!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590996280/" title="IMG_2064 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4590996280_16bfa4e537.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2064" /></a>

Gold strike cloves, they really pop under the Blue+ and the LED's
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590999172/" title="IMG_2076 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4590999172_f2cc30649d.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2076" /></a>

Green button polyps
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590380225/" title="IMG_2082 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4590380225_8d7e6c9057.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2082" /></a>

Eagle Eye
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590967696/" title="IMG_1955 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4590967696_9389a8b65a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1955" /></a>

Branching Hammer
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590998844/" title="IMG_2073 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4590998844_cd7f4dae14.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2073" /></a>

Grant, help ID these guys??
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4590997660/" title="IMG_2068 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4590997660_d497aa8e74.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2068" /></a>

I need to get rid of this ASAP!!!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27247317@N08/4591000752/" title="IMG_2083 by geoffbrown707, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4591000752_45b2cfc281.jpg"
width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_2083" /></a>

 

[Grant W]

Pink palys , they will color up well to a nice bright pink like the ones in my tank

 

[crispyreef]

Tank looks great. I know what you mean by starting off with a fowlr and quickly getting into to a full blown reef. It is addicting!

 

[shaneh]

use aptasia-x to get rid of the aptasia....you may have gootten one form me....it's all gone now but took a while to track down all the small ones. how many months did it take to get the coraline like that?

 

[Reef Bass]

Tank is coming along nicely!

Definitely move on that aiptasia right away. I've finally got mine under control thanks to my copperband butterfly but I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to get rid of them completely.

 

[ge-off707]

use aptasia-x to get rid of the aptasia....you may have gootten one form me....it's all gone now but took a while to track down all the small ones. how many months did it take to get the coraline like that?

Actually Shane that is the rock you gave me! There is quite a bit on them but its all good. A little Aptasia-x will take care of it! I was hoping my peppermint shrimp might take a liking to it, but no luck... The rock had lots of good life on them; GSP, Kenya trees, tons of pods! I have thousands of amphipods and copepods running around. My Mandy is going to be FAT!

The Coraline has been growing on the back glass since the tank started, so 8 months. The picture actually shows it after I attacked some of it with a credit card. I think its consuming a lot of my Calcium. But I like it!

The rockscape on a 55g is a total pain because the lack of depth, but I think it turned out great and there is lots of spots for everyone to swim around.

Thanks for the compliments :fun4:

 

[santarosasalt]

Geoff get one of those red Kent scrapers. They get the coraline right off plus you can get replacement blades for them and you'll save your credit cards. Are you still in need of xenia. I'm thinking of getting rid of that whole rock and it has some red mushrooms on it. I just need to find a rock to replace it to keep my cave for my chili coral.

 

[santarosasalt]

Double post.

 

[ge-off707]

Ya i would like a little bit! I'm afraid of the crazy growth of the stuff... Maybe we can trade a rock or something, just let me know. I didn't save your number from before so PM me with it and we'll figure something out

 

[ge-off707]

Did you ever trim that xenia Joe??

 

[Grant W]

Hey ge-off the tank is looking good. hope all is well with you .

 

[santarosasalt]

Did you ever trim that xenia Joe??

sorry Geoff I just sarted a new job about 3 weeks ago. I've been pretty busy with that lately. I'll hopefully be able to cut it tomorrow. I haven't even been able to do a water change in about a month. I'll pm you my number when I have it cut so you can pick it up. Any other new reefers want some free xenia?

 

[ge-off707]

New addition

First with flash from my camera, then with my Blue plus' on, then just moon light LEDs

 

[santarosasalt]

Hey Geoff Im finally ready to get rid of that rock with the xenia and red mushrooms if your still interested. if your going to the meeting on friday i can bring it then or we can get together some time

 

[ge-off707]

Hey Joe, I am still interested! I was not able to make the meeting tonight so let me know when you want to meet up and we'll make it work. I'm free most nights