From stupid to less stupid: tank growth

[gizmoody]

I started a 65 gallon tanks on August 2010, so about one year five months ago. I read a lot but practical application, sneaky bugs and patience are very different from thoughts when dreaming and reading about other amazing tanks and advice. It will always be a work in progress and I wouldn't change anything from this maturity experience except the red bugs. They may be an integral part of the natural reef system, but definitely not in my creation.

Every penny and second spent on this hobby was a great investment in pleasure for me, my wife, cat, family, friends and I am sure soon to be born son (or maybe this is the end of the tank).

August 2010

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762381847/" title="IMG_1316edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6762381847_b554c19f95_z.jpg" width="640" height="336" alt="IMG_1316edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

Started out with lps even though I didn't really know the difference between lps and sps. Store guy said these corals right here are great for your tank and I bought. Look carefully, first corals.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762382119/" title="IMG_2015edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6762382119_e7c3fd13b2_z.jpg" width="640" height="326" alt="IMG_2015edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

Fish, more corals and purple!

September 2010

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762382239/" title="IMG_2040edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6762382239_a9e0df92f6_z.jpg" width="640" height="329" alt="IMG_2040edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

Rocking it high.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762382371/" title="IMG_2074edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6762382371_1f90b3dd27_z.jpg" width="640" height="324" alt="IMG_2074edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

3 little fishes, mushroom with hairnet and not rocking it so high.

September 2010...still.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762382633/" title="IMG_2204edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6762382633_8b0ce98158_z.jpg" width="640" height="328" alt="IMG_2204edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

More dead reef added. Building better caves hopefully without a cave-in.

November 2010

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762382819/" title="IMG_2430edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7034/6762382819_c2b72f6dc4_z.jpg" width="640" height="333" alt="IMG_2430edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

More rocks. Still a lot of LPS, but don't worry it eventually gets SPS...unless you weren't worried, then there is no need to worry.

November 2010

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762382955/" title="IMG_2442edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6762382955_f616fdc354_z.jpg" width="640" height="330" alt="IMG_2442edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

Better fauna arrangement and rockery. Very successful at the wall of rock decor. Check out the purple! I was scraping the back at this time and it was a pain in the back side of my front side and I stopped.

December 2010

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762383691/" title="DSC_0757edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6762383691_177bf01cd7_z.jpg" width="640" height="329" alt="DSC_0757edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

More rock rearrangement. Can't stop it. Keep an eye on the coral at the top middle during the next photos. That is a Red Planet. What...a visible SPS?! Yes. Boring fact: I've been using an iPhone to take most of these photos.

January 2011

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762383277/" title="IMG_2554edited by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6762383277_abc0aacd06_z.jpg" width="640" height="334" alt="IMG_2554edited"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

Anemone, Sea Urchin, more SPS and success at growing hair algae. Things are growing including purple and rocks are still moving around.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762384479/" title="photo by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6762384479_e95464bc75_z.jpg" width="640" height="349" alt="photo"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

Remember that coral in the upper middle, the Red Planet? Check out it's growth. It's slowly becoming an SPS tank. Hair algae, I kill you but I know you are a zombie and can't be killed by me. I'm running out of space and that anemone is getting big.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762385685/" title="photo(2) by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6762385685_1542d3535a_z.jpg" width="640" height="364" alt="photo(2)"></a>

 

[JR719]

Looking very good. If you want to get really wild with rock building, you can drill holes and run acrylic rod or just epoxy them together. I've seen some really wild formations without worry of the rock falling.

 

[gizmoody]

New additions, rearrangement, etc. I am not sure about dates, but this is in the middle of an approximately 6 month period where things weren't growing well and lost color. There was a serious alkalinity problem and red bugs that killed a few things because I didn't catch it in time and stunted the rest of my smooth skinned acros. I was traveling a lot and didn't do much with the tank. Had to sell get rid of the Orange Hammer because it was getting too big, but I kept it's little baby.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762386301/" title="photo(3) by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6762386301_52af5b5e39_z.jpg" width="640" height="368" alt="photo(3)"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

Started to supplement alkalinity and things started to color up again and grow! I can't believe how much growth I didn't have over the last 6 months due to low alk and red freakin bugs! Check out the Red Planet!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762386827/" title="photo(4) by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6762386827_ecf8ebddf6_z.jpg" width="640" height="373" alt="photo(4)"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

And my friends here it is today. I have finally taken out the none iPhone camera. All purpled out, growing out, and out growing the tank. I have a maroon clown, blue spotted jawfish and pistol shrimp that compete to rearrange my sand. Also a few months ago I added an MP40 for additional flow due to cyano outbreaks. Man what a ride!

January 2012

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6762383847/" title="DSC_3524 by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6762383847_665f6d19af_z.jpg" width="640" height="333" alt="DSC_3524"></a>

 

[gizmoody]

Here is an older picture of my sand-rearranger Mr/Ms Blue Spotted Jawfish doing it's thing to intimidate a Neon Dottyback that isn't intimidated...or maybe this is the sharing of some lovin. Yep, my name is Nishal as seen in the picture.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64417019@N03/6763243147/" title="jaw-and-dottyback-nishal by djgreenmonkey, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6763243147_e2f735262f_z.jpg" width="640" height="520" alt="jaw-and-dottyback-nishal"></a>

 

[dunc101]

The tank is looking great! Anyway we could get a close up of the red planet today?

 

[Cosmo^Kramer]

The colors are beautiful.What lighting are you using?

 

[120reefermadnes]

Great progress keep up good work hows the mp40?

 

[franklypre]

Great progression shots, that last pic is a classic. Definately need some close ups of the Red Planet.