Atomikk's 65 Reef

[Atomikk]

Today I am officially an SPS owner!! I got two acros (1 is, the other I think it is) frags. One is light orange with brownish polips, and the other is purple with green-neon/green polyps. They are AMAZING!! Now I just need to get my Calcium up to 450. Its sitting at 380-390. Its really hard to find Dow flakes or any pure Calcium Chloride solution here in Toronto. I did find a guy who has 5 bags to spare (20lb for 20$ Can) which right now is fine by me. I am going to grab 1 bag and will make that 2 Part additive (I already got the A&H Baking Soda and Epsom Salts).

I know you guys are in dire need of pics so I will post some tomorrow when the lights are on

The CBB is still doing its thang... searching for food and such. He does eat the mysis that are sitting on the sandbed, so that is a good sign. Due to the fact that I polluted my water with food (the food that I tried to give to the CBB) i have to do another water change this week. FUNK! To the store for some IO.

 

[Atomikk]

Ok pics, pics, pics...

The alage that is growing everywhere due to my overfeeding... just did 13% water change.. and will have to do another by the end of the week.

A bit blurry closeup of the frogspawn..

ID anyone? Its an acro, but what type?

The other nice little acro.. ID?

Some really nice lime green Zoas that are quickly spreading..

Full frontal...

Side shot w/ 1 MH on..

 

[Atomikk]

Ok today I realized that I need a whole lot more flow in my tank. Waited for cyano to grow so that I can figure out my dead spots. Plus, my brown acro needs a whole lot more flow too. Its funny, one side is fully extended with green polyps, and the other is lifless brown. So here are the things I am going to be working on from now on...

1) Install a closed loop system
2) Get a better lighting setup for my HOB fuge
3) Design and build a new canopy
4) Get a new set of reef janitors (Snails, Crabs, Hermits, Urchin(s))
5) Get more LR and DR (I have roughly 15lbs to reach 100lbs)
6) Design a stand/station for the PFO Ballast, and the electrical equipment.
7) Replumb the return line (its giving me headaches with the microbubbles)

 

[Atomikk]

The good news out of my camp is that my CBB is eating well. I started motioning towards to top of the tank, and he followed. Then I did it with mysis cube in my hand. He followed. So i dabbed it on the surface of the tank, and he ate.. like a pig. I can breathe easier knowing that he is in on a eating routine.

 

[Atomikk]

Ok, a mini update. Right now I am working on a closed loop system to increase flow. I will brobably be using a sprinkler system, but we will see. Some people that have tried it said that you would need a higher than normal gph pump to make the sprinklers work properly.

Also, I had a small algae bloom. The good news is that my nitrates climbed down 10ppm because of it. They are sitting at 10ppm. So I bought 4 margarita snails and 5 Turbos to help me out (so far they are kicking butt).

 

[Atomikk]

Well here is what I picked up today.... enjoy the pics.

The acclimation..

part 2...

Initial position in the tank..

Closeup...

Its started to move...

 

[Atomikk]

Well my GBTA is very weird. During the daytime hrs, it sits behind the rocks and doesnt do anything. At night it wanders everywhere. Last night, it was upside-down facing the sand. Then it climbed the glass, and then back to being upside-down. I dont get it. What is it trying to do? Find a good spot to flourish? Is it still sensitive to light? Is that why it is moving only at night?

I dont think its a flow issue as I changed by flow from the sump, and it still moved away from the flow.

 

[mrreuben]

Its looking pretty good atomikk. I was wondering if you are planing to put some clams up front, since you have to room? I think they would look very nice.

 

[clownfishman]

Hey Atomikk - Can you update us on your reef?

Thanks!

 

[Atomikk]

UPDATES!!

UPDATES!!

Well, here are some updates....

The tank is now a full blown reef!

Installed were:

1) Tunze Osmulator
2) DIY Dual Chamber Calcium Reactor
3) Phosphate Reactor

What I am going to do next is upgrade my RO to a 100gpd RO/DI. My TDS is a bit high.


Here are some pictures. NOTE that I took these pictures with 20K Hamilton bulbs. I currently only use the 10k XMs, and the color and growth is incredible.

For all the noobs, DONT GIVE UP. Keep testing your water. Make sure your Alk, Calc and Magnesium levels are in check. Water changes replace trace minerals. Skim well, and have a decent refugium.

Thats it... Nothing special.

 

[clownfishman]

Hey Atomikk! Thanks for posting the updated pics - your reef is looking great! Can you give me a quick summary of the equipment you are currently running?

Thanks!

Chris