A Capital Dream - 400g SPS build

[rockworm]

Popped into the LFS today. They just got a shipment of Fiji corals. I just had to pick up a few.

I just could not get over the yellow of this pocillopora. In front of it is a Cali Tort frag that I received earlier this week. The one to the right is a Palmer's Blue Millie. I hope it will colour up over the next couple of months.

Here is another yellow one, though it is not as intense as the Poci.

The picture did not come out as good as I had hoped. The branches have a pale yellow colour with pinkish tips. I bought this because I feel it has some potential for nice colours.

I am still learning how to use the camera, but I turned the LED Blues off for these photos. The pictures come closer to their real colours than previous pictures with the LEDs on.

 

[Rybren]

Hey Ward.

Mark and Keith knew you were coming and moved that last one front and centre so you wouldn't miss it. I could swear I heard them giggling about it just before you walked in. It really is a nice piece.

 

[rockworm]

Hey Ward.

Mark and Keith knew you were coming and moved that last one front and centre so you wouldn't miss it. I could swear I heard them giggling about it just before you walked in. It really is a nice piece.

I wouldn't doubt that is what they did. [emoji1] I am a sucker for good looking SPS. And they know I have a big tank to fill.

 

[sfsuphysics]

I've always had a soft spot for those bushy/knobby corals (poccilipora or stylophora) nice color on that pocci though, I've had bright green variant which it might end up being with polys out, but either way it's a great looking piece. And good luck on that Palmer, out of all the Milles out there that one was my favorite because it did get to that insane blue that the original picture everyone knee jerked as a photoshop

Granted that was years ago, and under metal halides, not sure if LEDs can get that same color out of it.

 

[rockworm]

I've always had a soft spot for those bushy/knobby corals (poccilipora or stylophora) nice color on that pocci though, I've had bright green variant which it might end up being with polys out, but either way it's a great looking piece. And good luck on that Palmer, out of all the Milles out there that one was my favorite because it did get to that insane blue that the original picture everyone knee jerked as a photoshop

Granted that was years ago, and under metal halides, not sure if LEDs can get that same color out of it.

I am hoping the poci keeps its colour. I use MH and T5 as well as Reefbrite XHO blue led.

The mille does have some polyp extension so it is a matter of time for the colour.

 

[rockworm]

I managed to get a few pictures today. I am having some algae issues. The pictures illustrate this very well. Every few days I will harvest some from the tank. It is slowly declining with the help of the clean up crew. I did not harvest any algae before the pictures were taken so that others can see this is a normal part of the tank maturing process.

FTS (hard to get because room is narrow)

Left end of the tank

Centre:

Right end:

I started the Aquaforest program at the end of August. I began just using the AF Reef Salt for a few weeks. I did daily water changes of 8 gallons, plus a few 40g water changes. Approximately three weeks ago, I started to add the Coral A,V.B.E (aminos and growth additives) at half the recommended dose. I also started the NP Pro (basically carbon source_ and Pro Bio S (bacteria additive).

There has been substantive growth in a number of corals and follows is one example. The first picture was taken Aug 24 and the second was taken today. (First out of focus, but you can see difference):

Aug 24

Oct 31

The colour is more like the first picture, but I am still trying to figure out how to take pictures.

I am getting some nice polyp extension:

 

[rockworm]

Here are some random corals that I have:

Cali Tort

Fiji Coral from my LFS

Tarantula

Love the red in this. Actually a little darker than the picture.

I am excited about the following one one. The colour is changing to pink from the green iyou can see in the lower right of the frag. I am looking forward to see what the end result will be.

My little monti cap wall with it's resident squatter.

Green and red dragon

 

[locito277]

Wow nice!!


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[ruiny]

Looks great. I just found your thread.
Always nice to see more Ottawa tanks.

 

[rockworm]

I dug up a few more shots that show the growth. The older photos are not the best, but confirms the corals are growing pretty well. I don't see the growth because I am always looking at them.

Sept 24

Oct 31

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Sept 9 (Cobalt - Front Right)

Oct 31 (Cobalt front centre)

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Monti Wall

Aug 24

Oct 31

 

[rockworm]

Wow nice!!

Thanks buddy. I see both your build and mine are doing good. Except for my green fuzzies.

Looks great. I just found your thread.
Always nice to see more Ottawa tanks.

Yeah, we seem to be a quiet bunch. I am always keeping my eyes open for Ottawa people.

 

[locito277]

Thanks buddy. I see both your build and mine are doing good. Except for my green fuzzies.







Yeah, we seem to be a quiet bunch. I am always keeping my eyes open for Ottawa people.

Green fuzzies are cool once you release the tangs lol or clean up crew...


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[rockworm]

Green fuzzies are cool once you release the tangs lol or clean up crew...


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I only have 2 tangs and a rabbitfish for algae eating fish. I beefed up my cleanup crew last weekend. I vowed I would not get hermits, but broke down and bought 75. The snails and urchins cannot get into the nooks and crannies. I also added 75 snails(pink turban and astrea) so that the hermits will get new housing when they grow up. [emoji16]

I have 6 short spine uchins, a dozen mexican turbos (including 5 near hardball size) and many other snails. They are all doing their job on the GHA but I also have bryopsis. I ordered some Vibrant to see if it will work. There are good reports about it. In the end, most of this algae will disappear as the tank matures.

 

[locito277]

I only have 2 tangs and a rabbitfish for algae eating fish. I beefed up my cleanup crew last weekend. I vowed I would not get hermits, but broke down and bought 75. The snails and urchins cannot get into the nooks and crannies. I also added 75 snails(pink turban and astrea) so that the hermits will get new housing when they grow up. [emoji16]

I have 6 short spine uchins, a dozen mexican turbos (including 5 near hardball size) and many other snails. They are all doing their job on the GHA but I also have bryopsis. I ordered some Vibrant to see if it will work. There are good reports about it. In the end, most of this algae will disappear as the tank matures.

Those 85 hermits will make short work of the green stuff!!


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[rockworm]

Those 85 hermits will make short work of the green stuff!!


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That's what I am hoping.

 

[Rybren]

Ward,

Thanks for having me over yesterday. The tank is awesome, even if it does have a bit of a chia pet look

Everything is vibrant and your fish look great.

Jerry

 

[rockworm]

Ward,

Thanks for having me over yesterday. The tank is awesome, even if it does have a bit of a chia pet look

Everything is vibrant and your fish look great.

Jerry

I am glad you came over. If anyone in the Ottawa area who follows this, or anybody who plans to be in Ottawa, wants to drop in, just send me a PM. Sue and I love to have company. Plus I can show off. [emoji16]

 

[percula99]

Hey Ward. I hadn't seen a post from you in a long time and was wondering how your tank was doing. Nice to see it's coming along very well. I love those growth shots, you are getting plenty. I'd love to come over but I am in the middle of a renovation to the laundry room, fireplace wall and kitchen floor right now. Maybe when I am done. I am retired so days are good for me when my wife is at work. Does that work for you?

 

[rockworm]

Hey Ward. I hadn't seen a post from you in a long time and was wondering how your tank was doing. Nice to see it's coming along very well. I love those growth shots, you are getting plenty. I'd love to come over but I am in the middle of a renovation to the laundry room, fireplace wall and kitchen floor right now. Maybe when I am done. I am retired so days are good for me when my wife is at work. Does that work for you?

Renos. I have been in the middle of some for quite a while. lol. Sounds good to me.

 

[reefmutt]

Hey Ward, haven't checked in, in a bit. Tank is looking hairy but really nice growth and healthy looking corals.
Very nice!
Have you considered a sea hare? When they work, they work well.