A Few of my SPS

[stonecold]

Ah....amazing as always nick!
In every aspect buddy!
Thanks for the pics!

Thank you, Mike. You need to post a FTS!!

Amazing tank, great job.

Loving the red gonipora!

Nick, your tank continues to amaze me. What's scary is that it's even nicer in person.

Thank you so much.

Really awesome and inspiring. A very beautiful collection of corals that are in perfect health and with fantastic growth.

If You know it, can You tell me what your average NO3 value?

Do You add anything to water, other than food to fishes?

Have You always used instant ocean salt only?

Thanks.

Luca

Thank you, Luca.

NO3 and other values are posted in the next post.

A long time ago, I used to add Oyster Feast. A few months ago, I added Coral Vitalizer. However, in my personal experience I didn't see any benefits so I haven't added anything.

Yes, I've always used Instant Ocean since day 1.

 

[stonecold]

I took my water to the LFS and have them tested. Here are the results of my water parameters.

Salinity - 1.025
PH - 8.4
Alkalinity - 7.4
Calcium - 360
Magnesium - 1200
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Phosphate - 0.06

 

[MBMAX]

I took my water to the LFS and have them tested. Here are the results of my water parameters.

Salinity - 1.025
PH - 8.4
Alkalinity - 7.4
Calcium - 360
Magnesium - 1200
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
Ammonia - 0
Phosphate - 0.06

Some may say "I think your Alk and Mg are too low and Phosphate is too high ".... Lol
That is way we should not chase numbers and just get to know our tanks.
Great job Nick.

 

[stonecold]

Some may say "I think your Alk and Mg are too low and Phosphate is too high ".

That's exactly what the gentleman at the LFS said. Are you a Fortune Teller?

 

[reefmutt]

Nice numbers! An a laisser faire kind of a way!
This thread is tying in so nicely with Thales' 'guess the phosphate level' thread..
You know how I feel about your awesome tank..
By the way, although I have nothing against good reef info, Nick, it may be time for a few more pics!!!
... If you don't mind..

 

[stonecold]

By the way, although I have nothing against good reef info, Nick, it may be time for a few more pics!!!
... If you don't mind..

Per Matt's request.

Here are some of my Milleporas....

I can't get the polyps to come out on this. It has always been like this. Any suggestions?

This is supposed to be a Bubble Gum, but I think I have killed the bubble since I can never achieve that hot pink.

 

[reefmutt]

Well, thank you kindly, stonecold!!
Awesome!!
They all look like candy!!

 

[stonecold]

Well, thank you kindly, stonecold!!
Awesome!!
They all look like candy!!

I will have to figure out a way to make room and buy more corals should you decide to make another request.

 

[pancho]

I had a few acros that had no polyp extension and dipped them in Bayer. After a few weeks polyp extension returned

 

[afishionado]

TOTM.

Nicely done, stonecold

Now, as far as the alkalinity discussion, from a few posts back, there are a few variables which many may not be aware of that enables this low dKH phenomenon without any adverse effect. Often times, people running ULNS find that their system/corals' characteristics, particularly those in the genus Acropora, improved greatly only then to find they were unaware of a gradual decline in alkalinity levels ... This is due to the acute stress high alkalinity has on Acropora under low nutrient conditions; a key factor of "tip burn" in Acropora sp. ... Simply put, for experienced ULNS/SPS reefkeepers "who have a 'successful' history/experience of keeping dKH levels stable" Id highly recommend an unusually low dKH of 5 over an unusually high dKH of 10. Given that they could/would keep it stable and with Ca >400 / Mg >1250

 

[sahin]

:dance: Milleporas are my favorite Acropora!!!

I have this as well, and cant get it to colour up HOT PINK:

I have another which is HOT PINK...so I think that may be as bright as it will get...?

 

[reefmutt]

I will have to figure out a way to make room and buy more corals should you decide to make another request.

Ha ha... Well... I wouldn't want to make any.. UNreasonable requests..

Curious.. Did you stop the pumps to take those shots, or are you able to use a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the polyps like that?

Afishionado, interesting.. I didn't know that higher alk will actually cause acute stress to ulns acros..
How does the high alk do this only under uln conditions?
Thanks

 

[Ink]

Stonecold,
I hope not to appear fastidious; do You know what brand for NO3 and PO4 test have been used?

Thanks.

Luca

 

[stonecold]

I had a few acros that had no polyp extension and dipped them in Bayer. After a few weeks polyp extension returned

I made a frag and have dipped it in Revive. I don't see any pest ie AEFW and/or Red Bugs. It also has no polyps extension. The colony is well encrusted so I don't want to remove it, but will try your advice. Thank you.

TOTM.

Nicely done, stonecold

Now, as far as the alkalinity discussion, from a few posts back, there are a few variables which many may not be aware of that enables this low dKH phenomenon without any adverse effect. Often times, people running ULNS find that their system/corals' characteristics, particularly those in the genus Acropora, improved greatly only then to find they were unaware of a gradual decline in alkalinity levels ... This is due to the acute stress high alkalinity has on Acropora under low nutrient conditions; a key factor of "tip burn" in Acropora sp. ... Simply put, for experienced ULNS/SPS reefkeepers "who have a 'successful' history/experience of keeping dKH levels stable" Id highly recommend an unusually low dKH of 5 over an unusually high dKH of 10. Given that they could/would keep it stable and with Ca >400 / Mg >1250

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

:dance: Milleporas are my favorite Acropora!!!

I have this as well, and cant get it to colour up HOT PINK:

I have another which is HOT PINK...so I think that may be as bright as it will get...?

I think we may not achieve that Hot Pink is due to the difference in our water, light and a bazillion other things. All I know is that I wish it can turn Hot Pink.

Ha ha... Well... I wouldn't want to make any.. UNreasonable requests..

Curious.. Did you stop the pumps to take those shots, or are you able to use a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the polyps like that?

Yours and others request will never be unreasonable. Just hope that you don't get bore looking at the same coral all the time.

All top down pictures were taken with the pumps completely shut off.

Stonecold,
I hope not to appear fastidious; do You know what brand for NO3 and PO4 test have been used?

Thanks.

Luca

I notice that they had used API and Salifert when testing my water. I didn't want to stay in front and watch him. I am sorry, Luca, but I don't know which was use to test each parameter.

 

[PanicBuyer]

Nice color combinations. I will be using some of your pics as inspiration for my new tank.

 

[MBMAX]

Hey if you need test kits I could lend you a few.... Lol .. Since I have two and three of everything to test and then double check then I get the middle number and divide by 7 , then I get square root and multiply it by ...:hmm4:.........too much testing.
I hope One day I will learn to look at my tank with minimal testing and know what is going on.

Great job!!!!

 

[Oldude]

I had a few acros that had no polyp extension and dipped them in Bayer. After a few weeks polyp extension returned

Agreed - I find that sometimes the occasional quick dip can give some corals a good "kick in the pants" and smarten them up afterwards.

 

[glaukos]

Oh god...another shot from nick!:beer:

Those milles are amazing!
So happy that you shared your "clicks"
You give me so much inspiration you can't even imagine!

Thanks buddy!

 

[Moser]

Voted :thumbsup:

Mo

 

[MBMAX]

Stonecold , we voted...... now we need more pictures!!!!!!:bounce1: