Here's the RC thread with tons of pics:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/printthread.php?threadid=409899&perpage=156
Quote 1
"The tank in the pictures above is run by a famous italian aquarist in Rome, Maurizio Manili.
The astonishing growht and color of the corals is mainly due to the method he has elaborated in the last 8 years. Some staghorn acropora branches are 1 inch wide
The tank is a modified-Berlin, intensive skimming, plenty of live rocks, bare bottom (a must!), higly illuminated (mainly by 400W Radiums, but with some integration), with high water circulation.
Water parameters are: Ca 500, Mg 1500, KH 14-16, pH 8.2-8.4, nutrients below detection limits (PO4 always below 0.01 ppm).
The high growth rate is due to the careful use of food, amminoacid solutions, and a particular hormone. Color is obtained tru high light intensity, food, and use of some trace elements (I, F)
The tank has very frequent sexual spawning of corals and clams (also corals not older than a few months) and the application of his method led to frequent spawnings also in other tanks."
Quote 2"
"we are talking about Growth Hormone (GH)- somatropin.
Maurizio Manili, just recently made public to the Italian reef community his almost 10-years experience in experimental use of this hormone.
In fact after the initial skepticism by some Italian reefers, many have now started to experiment his conduction method. Some had already started several months ago and are claming exceptional results.
However, the important points in his conduction method are several, not only the GH.
The baseline is the well known Berlin method, (much light, live rocks, bare tank bottom, oversized skimmer, etc.). In particular the water parameters must be absolutely kept around the values mentioned by italianreef!
We are all very happy that Maurizio has decided to share his experience with all the international reefkeeping community."
