Helsinki Low Iron Reef - 910 liters

[Newbie Aquarist]

Thank you all for your kind comments!

The tank is quite stable now and the growth is picking up. When the weather gets warmer I will add more corals and fish but I am taking things slowly and enjoy the slow and stable change. The calcifying algae now covers most of the dead rock and fan worms and sponges makes the rocks look alive.

I am very pleased with the concept of the tank and how it has worked out so far. It is great not to see a single cord or pump in the display and it does add a lot to the viewing experience. I also sleep better at night knowing that all the water is contained within the aquarium. One fear I had was that the circulation would be a problem with all the pumps on one side of the tank but the streams in combination with the new wavebox seems to handle it well. I may need a bit more light but for now the 2x250w MH and 240w from the T5 is enough. I will most likely make a change to LED later but for now I am pleased.

I am glad I made the refugium viewable and I think I and people visiting almost spend as much time in front of the refugium as the main display . I will try to make this more interesting and also add some corals with lower light requirements.


Aquarium pics:

Refugium:

The chaetomorpha is growing quickly and a healthy population of pods and mysid shrimp is providing live food for the fish and corals in the main display.

That sir is a beautiful work of art all the way down to the refugium..

 

[The Cardinal]

Thank you Newbie Aquarist!

Coral Pics

 

[the real fishman]

what a beautiful setup. i love your scaping. very nice work.

 

[The Cardinal]

what a beautiful setup. i love your scaping. very nice work.

Thank you Fishman!


NEW LED LIGTHING & MORE CORALS ON THE WAY

I have now ordered 2 x LED Radion Gen 2 to replace my MH lights and I am really excited to see how these lights will work :bounce3:. I will still keep my T5 (3x80w) and possibly buy a third LED down the road.

I also ordered more corals and a clam that should arrive next Tuesday.

Will try to get back with pictures and a report next week.

Have a nice weekend guys!

 

[cbitsiaras]

I love it! - Keep up the fantastic work!

GREAT JOB!

 

[Reef or Die]

great looking tank!!!
quick question- how does the water flow in and out of the fuge area??
I like that concept and would love to incorporate into my next build..

 

[ISAF_vet]

Beautiful tank and amazing photography! One question, can you please let me know where you got your base rock from in Germany? I've been trying to source dry rock for the past 6 months with no luck. Please help!

 

[hoooop54]

This might be one of my favorite tanks on here. I am using your rock work as inspiration for my build that I am starting soon. Very cool tank!!!

 

[The Cardinal]

Thank you all for your nice comments!

I got around 15 corals and a nice Crocea clam in the mail yesterday and will soon post pictures . It is great to see how the selection of corals have improved in Europe since I last was in this hobby.

great looking tank!!!
quick question- how does the water flow in and out of the fuge area??
I like that concept and would love to incorporate into my next build..

There is a pump sitting in the technique compartment pumping in water to the fuge through an elbow pipe in the lower right hand corner (only "plumbing" in the whole system). The water flows back into the technique compartment/main display through an overflow in the opposite upper corner (ca 5 cm wide). This works well and ensures that no animals are hurt by pumps in the fuge when the water enters and leaves the compartment.

Beautiful tank and amazing photography! One question, can you please let me know where you got your base rock from in Germany? I've been trying to source dry rock for the past 6 months with no luck. Please help!

I got them from KN Aquaristik in Germany and most of the rocks were very nice (some stones were heavy and not the same as shown on the pictures though). I did have a bad experience with them regarding a shipment of live rock so I would not recommend that especially if you live outside Germany. Delivery took ca 10 days and no reply or compensation whatsoever from them. Needless to say the "live rock" was a stinking pile of rotting rock when I got it.

 

[The Cardinal]

NEW CORALS & CROCEA

On tuesday I received some nice new livestock from Germany. Here are some of the cherry picks. Hope you like em :

 

[Crazy_Beaver]

Great additions!

 

[cbitsiaras]

Great pictures man! Would be nice to see the corals also from a distance to get a better feeling. Also have you been happy with the German supplier? Have been thinking of using them in the future.

Warm regards,

Dino

 

[vair]

Fantastic tank and great photography.

Curious on the black sound absorbing material, did it actually make a big difference? I don't even need it for my current build just being a curious sceptic. ha ha

 

[The Cardinal]

More Shots

 

[The Cardinal]

Fantastic tank and great photography.

Curious on the black sound absorbing material, did it actually make a big difference? I don't even need it for my current build just being a curious sceptic. ha ha

Thanks!

Not sure how much it muffles the sound to be honest; got it from a store selling car parts/speakers. The tank is right next to the sofa in the living room and it does not disturb when viewing TV. There are probably better ones out there but the ones I saw were quite heavy and harder to mount the way i have.

 

[The Cardinal]

Some macro shots with extension tubes on my Canon 60mm macro lens:

Acropora:

 

[The Cardinal]

Ricordea:

Good week all!

 

[Crazy_Beaver]

Amazing photography skills!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

I haven't read every thread but I never seen macro shots o coral that up close before. I think I'm going to have to add photographer to the title along with chemist, aquarium chef, aquascape designer, aquarium cleaner, and light specialist among other jobs I can't think of right away.

 

[jrod738776]

Wow awesome pics