BUILDING A DREAM....SPS Dominated Tank build

[Reef_Noob]

Chiller is online now....i was waiting to install it once the new sump had been done. Till now the tank was running on the fans which were on a timer. I did not think it was a good long term idea because the evaporation was quite high.
The Chiller is very silent (even with the silent mode off). I have placed it outside beside the tank cabinet.

Fans will be connected to a SANDER Temperature controller...to be set to come on in an emergency if tank temp raises above 27 deg C

 

[Reef_Noob]

Coral Update...
New corals in DT

 

[chrishayes]

NICE! I see you are sporting some of that ultra LE bubble algae everyone is raving about huh? LUCKY

 

[Reef_Noob]

NICE! I see you are sporting some of that ultra LE bubble algae everyone is raving about huh? LUCKY

:lol: Chris....well yes i had told before there are some patches of algae, which is localized and has not yet gone out of hand, but its more of a "cycling" tank effect i think.

About the pics..its not actually bubble algae :bigeyes:...

Photos with flash ON...

They do give an illusion of bubble algae in the pics i posted before

No sand grains...

 

[chrishayes]

Oh thank god for you! I HATEEEEEEEEEEEE that stuff. There is NO cure for it so I sit on my hands and knees for hours if I have to picking through sand grains in the fuge to pluck them out of the new tank. My QT is full of them after just spending 3 hours straight picking and scrubbing each and every rock, coral, pump etc to within an inch of its life just 2 weeks ago! Its really that bad. Keep a vigile eye out for it on anything you get. Check the holding tanks as well cause this stuff simply pops and settles on anything and everything throughout the day...glad to see some sps in that sucker, some NICE pieces ya got there cant wait to see a FTS and sump pics!

 

[Reef_Noob]

The algae looks dense turf like. Dont know the exact ID. But its localized to the seed rock i had placed in the tank.

The algae is not taking an upper hand as of yet because its not showing any new growth and its getting stringy and peels of if lightly brushed thats why I am not scrubbing/brushing the rock and another reason I'm leaving it untouched is its showing some Halimedia, Sponges and a cool looking macro algae

Some pics...

Algae localized to this area/rock...

 

[Reef_Noob]

Oh thank god for you! I HATEEEEEEEEEEEE that stuff. There is NO cure for it so I sit on my hands and knees for hours if I have to picking through sand grains in the fuge to pluck them out of the new tank. My QT is full of them after just spending 3 hours straight picking and scrubbing each and every rock, coral, pump etc to within an inch of its life just 2 weeks ago! Its really that bad. Keep a vigile eye out for it on anything you get. Check the holding tanks as well cause this stuff simply pops and settles on anything and everything throughout the day...glad to see some sps in that sucker, some NICE pieces ya got there cant wait to see a FTS and sump pics!

I totally agree with ya on that Bubble algae is really dreaded....and i dont want to see em in my tank for sure. I am keeping a very close watch on this particular rock, it came with so much life on it, both good and bad i guess...It was a clean piece of premium live rock when i had put it in my tank...i still looks nice and hoping the "turf" like algae will clear off and the the tiny macros will take over

A before pic for comparison....

 

[chrishayes]

Well, I hate that I always sound so negative but that red "cool algae" is a bubble algae as well and does become a pest. Each time ive had valonia ive also gotten that type and for sure its prettier than valonia but it seems to thrive and live in the same areas where the valonia does. As to the halimeda, it too becomes a nusuence as it will spread all over including where you dont want it. The worst is a toss up, sand or rock...in the sand it spreads faster and when removed the holdfasts are substantial and remove a ton of sand with them plus they dont stay gone. In the rocks its nearly impossible to remove all of it cause a little nub where it attaches just cant be removed. I hate the stuff! After I enjoyed it to begin with...

All these algaes seem most prevalent on carribean auqacultured rock which it looks possible that is what you got. Personally id remove that rock, but thats me. I feel ALL algaes are bad in the display, they just cant be kept in check longterm and compete for space and nutrients(definately halimeda). Its also likely that when you see turf algae that dense on a rock that it is likely loaded with phosphate so itll take a while to leach it all out.

This is just info and my opinions, not baggin on ya, promise! Love that tabling acro you pictured! What type is it and what color is it to your eye?

 

[chrishayes]

And geesh, that tubastrea is MASSIVE! I bet you feel like a morman man with octuplets with all those mouths to feed!Looks so cool though and quite healthy as do all your lps. Love the favia, what color is it in real life?

 

[jpsika08]

Beautiful system, rockscape and livestock.
Your username is far from reality, I wish my tank will look as amazing as yours some day.

Following along.

 

[jpsika08]

I would recommend based on your system an MP40, it will give you enough flow as the major powerhead within the tank, maybe in the future you can add another same one and some MP10's on the back, with this, your corals will always get random flow.

 

[Reef_Noob]

Well, I hate that I always sound so negative but that red "cool algae" is a bubble algae as well and does become a pest. Each time ive had valonia ive also gotten that type and for sure its prettier than valonia but it seems to thrive and live in the same areas where the valonia does. As to the halimeda, it too becomes a nusuence as it will spread all over including where you dont want it. The worst is a toss up, sand or rock...in the sand it spreads faster and when removed the holdfasts are substantial and remove a ton of sand with them plus they dont stay gone. In the rocks its nearly impossible to remove all of it cause a little nub where it attaches just cant be removed. I hate the stuff! After I enjoyed it to begin with...

All these algaes seem most prevalent on carribean auqacultured rock which it looks possible that is what you got. Personally id remove that rock, but thats me. I feel ALL algaes are bad in the display, they just cant be kept in check longterm and compete for space and nutrients(definately halimeda). Its also likely that when you see turf algae that dense on a rock that it is likely loaded with phosphate so itll take a while to leach it all out.

This is just info and my opinions, not baggin on ya, promise! Love that tabling acro you pictured! What type is it and what color is it to your eye?

Hiya Chris

No worries bro!! Your posts really make me think and I do learn from what you say.
About the algae again I agree with you. Any type of algae in the DT tank can be hazardous!!
To be honest I kinda like Halimedia why? Coz it gives a garden like look. But hope people don't get me wrong. I had posted before in one of my old tanks, I got successful in cultivating a controlled Halimedia garden. But believe me it was quite a hands on task. Keeping it trimmed and bonsai like. But I once left it untrimmed for almost a month to allow for some growth and dang it went sexual. Though the water was hazy, I did a water change and wet skimming and it luckily got back to normal and I did not lose any corals, this old tank had softies and few LPS. If it had SPS it would been another story. Anyone had this issue in their SPS tank? Do share their experience?

I will take definately take what you had told me. So this will be on a closer watch. I'm not gonna let these grow out and conquer my reef. :furious:

Yes Halimedia competes with SPS for Calcium. Was aware of that. That's why I dint stock my previous tank with SPS coz I kinda enjoyed Halimedia husbandry for a change
But this tank will be about SPS (and few LPS ) so the algaes will be on check. The Halimedia is so tiny, I feel cruel to kill it now . Once it reaches it's teens il trim it or rip it off depending on it's behavior

This piece of rock is direct from my old mature tank (approx 2 years). It looked the way I had posted before. Clean with different varieties of coralline. Will it still leach phosphates? Does seem like a rogue rock now coz algae localized to it. But as I said the turf like algae looks like it's dying, as of now and not spreading, hasnt spread to other rocks since a month now. The decline started once I started my water changes. Hmm

Glad you liked the Acropora. A mix of whitish grayish blue hue.

Thanks for your pointers. It's nice to know about ur genuine
concerns regarding my humble system. I definitely will heed the warnings you posted. This live rock will be watched... Watched very closely :eek2:

Just for reference my very very amateur old 'Halimedia dominated" tank lol (taken down during a move). There were some buyers for my Halimedia frags when I used to trim it. $$

 

[Reef_Noob]

Nice build.

Thanks a lot for the compliment Reloadeddevil. :wavehand:

 

[Reef_Noob]

And geesh, that tubastrea is MASSIVE! I bet you feel like a morman man with octuplets with all those mouths to feed!Looks so cool though and quite healthy as do all your lps. Love the favia, what color is it in real life?

Hahaha.
Yep! But im not feeding the individual mouths per se. I have this plankton/zooplankton suspension which I squirt into the mouths about once in two days, when lights are out. The polyps remain closed when lights ON, though iv placed them in shade.

This favia is bit hard to find it's almost same colour as the photo, like a pale turquoise colour. It's showing growth all round the edges.

 

[Reef_Noob]

Beautiful system, rockscape and livestock.
Your username is far from reality, I wish my tank will look as amazing as yours some day.

Following along.

Thank you so much for the compliments!! :bounce3: That's a great confidence boost for me.
Mine is a very humble setup. Your planning and attention to detail in your build is truly great. So many ideas you have and thanks for sharing them to all of us.
I appreciate it a lot and glad that my setup has interested you
and that you will follow this journey. :beachbum:

Thanks

 

[Reef_Noob]

I would recommend based on your system an MP40, it will give you enough flow as the major powerhead within the tank, maybe in the future you can add another same one and some MP10's on the back, with this, your corals will always get random flow.

Thanks again Juan.
Yes I guess the MP40 will be a better choice for my tank. Best placed on the side panel of the tank right? Or at the back? I have a new Tunze Nano Stream 6015 with me. Where do you think it will be best suited to place it? On the back panel?

Though I have the two nano prop pumps on the right and left bottom corners their flow is directed in a forward n upward direction. There seems to be less flow along the back panel bottom area. That's why I got the Tunze Nano. But yet to figure out the best place to place it.

Nano propeller pumps at right and left bottom corners, for reference. This is an old pic. Now iv adjusted these pumps at a slight upward angle, so there is no direct flow on the corals.

Hoping for suggestions from everyone in this regard. :spin1:

 

[chrishayes]

Hiya Chris

No worries bro!! Your posts really make me think and I do learn from what you say.
About the algae again I agree with you. Any type of algae in the DT tank can be hazardous!!
To be honest I kinda like Halimedia why? Coz it gives a garden like look. But hope people don't get me wrong. I had posted before in one of my old tanks, I got successful in cultivating a controlled Halimedia garden. But believe me it was quite a hands on task. Keeping it trimmed and bonsai like. But I once left it untrimmed for almost a month to allow for some growth and dang it went sexual. Though the water was hazy, I did a water change and wet skimming and it luckily got back to normal and I did not lose any corals, this old tank had softies and few LPS. If it had SPS it would been another story. Anyone had this issue in their SPS tank? Do share their experience?

I will take definately take what you had told me. So this will be on a closer watch. I'm not gonna let these grow out and conquer my reef. :furious:

Yes Halimedia competes with SPS for Calcium. Was aware of that. That's why I dint stock my previous tank with SPS coz I kinda enjoyed Halimedia husbandry for a change
But this tank will be about SPS (and few LPS ) so the algaes will be on check. The Halimedia is so tiny, I feel cruel to kill it now . Once it reaches it's teens il trim it or rip it off depending on it's behavior

This piece of rock is direct from my old mature tank (approx 2 years). It looked the way I had posted before. Clean with different varieties of coralline. Will it still leach phosphates? Does seem like a rogue rock now coz algae localized to it. But as I said the turf like algae looks like it's dying, as of now and not spreading, hasnt spread to other rocks since a month now. The decline started once I started my water changes. Hmm

Glad you liked the Acropora. A mix of whitish grayish blue hue.

Thanks for your pointers. It's nice to know about ur genuine
concerns regarding my humble system. I definitely will heed the warnings you posted. This live rock will be watched... Watched very closely :eek2:

Just for reference my very very amateur old 'Halimedia dominated" tank lol (taken down during a move). There were some buyers for my Halimedia frags when I used to trim it. $$

Yeah, its a double edged sword for sure. As I said I liked it too but it was incompatible with my sps reef over time. I just couldnt keep it from spreading so I assume it went sexual many times without causing water quality issues. I did however have a different species than the one in your tank. I had the cactus variety but also some of the smaller bushy variety that you show. The bushy stuff was easily kept in check and never spread badly but that cactus stuff was a pest. Its your call obviously, just thought id share my concerns.

That old tank is GORGEOUS! Please change your screen name, its so very untrue!

 

[Reef_Noob]

Coral Update...

Added these yesterday

This coral came with a very tiny goby (< 1cm). He has been unseparable from this colony since it arrived at the LFS and been in QT with thye colony for almost a month now, and though there were many other SPS in the QT he never left his favourite coral :inlove:
I will need a macro lens to get his pic...pretty cute seeing him scurrying around in this coral. I hope he doesnt damage his host.
But ever since he had arrived at the LFS he hasnt been a bad boy, so il keep fingers crossed on this guy. He is sharing his crib with a commensal crab. :beer:
I really love these tiny gobies and always wanted to have a collection of the various coral gobies but they are not absolutely safe and may bite off the SPS :headwallblue: But if my corals grow big and thrive, i wanna add some into my tank, coz even if they do some tiny damage the SPS can cope with it.
What ya all think? Bad or Good idea?

The Montipora looks slightly more darker pink than this pic...looks bit washed out in the photograph.

 

[Reef_Noob]

Yeah, its a double edged sword for sure. As I said I liked it too but it was incompatible with my sps reef over time. I just couldnt keep it from spreading so I assume it went sexual many times without causing water quality issues. I did however have a different species than the one in your tank. I had the cactus variety but also some of the smaller bushy variety that you show. The bushy stuff was easily kept in check and never spread badly but that cactus stuff was a pest. Its your call obviously, just thought id share my concerns.

That old tank is GORGEOUS! Please change your screen name, its so very untrue!

:wavehand: Chris....

Hm yea the Halimedia is not a very bright idea to be co existing in SPS tank...I will be watching em....if they are going to spout out of other rocks then im gonna remedy it before it goes ballistic :lol2:

Thanks for the compliment for my old tank....this was my first ever reef tank. :strange:
You can see my model citizen coral beauty in it :fish2:
I always feel like a noob coz no matter how experienced we are, our reef teaches us something new and the learning never stops

 

[jpsika08]

Thanks again Juan.
Yes I guess the MP40 will be a better choice for my tank. Best placed on the side panel of the tank right? Or at the back? I have a new Tunze Nano Stream 6015 with me. Where do you think it will be best suited to place it? On the back panel?

Though I have the two nano prop pumps on the right and left bottom corners their flow is directed in a forward n upward direction. There seems to be less flow along the back panel bottom area. That's why I got the Tunze Nano. But yet to figure out the best place to place it.

Nano propeller pumps at right and left bottom corners, for reference. This is an old pic. Now iv adjusted these pumps at a slight upward angle, so there is no direct flow on the corals.

Hoping for suggestions from everyone in this regard. :spin1:

Yes, the MP40 on the side would be perfect.

Congrats on the new Tunze! Really don't know these pumps but anything that increases random flow within the tank is good, I would say having them on the back (With the MP40 on the side) would be perfect, even maybe on the side pointing at the bottom of the rear section so you can cover that area.

At the end, the ones who will tell you that these pumps are placed correctly are your corals