Living my 75G SPS Dream Tank - Monthly Pics

[Patrick Cox]

I have a build thread for my new SPS tank but I have decided to combine my two hobbies - photography and salt water aquariums - and start a new thread that's purpose is to photographically document the progression of my new tank, month by month. My plan is to post a new FTS and macro shots, once or maybe twice each month.

Equipment Summary:
Miracles Rimless Aquarium - 75G - 36x24x20
Miracles Custom Stand
Apex Controller
ATI 6x39w Dimmable Sunpower T5 fixture
Nextreef custom sump with small fuge - about 20 Gallons in total
Skimmer-Super Reef Octopus 1000 LS Space Saver with Bubble Blaster pump
Tunze Recirculation Pump
2-Tunze 6095 Power heads
Tunze Osmolator ATO
Eheim Jager 125W & 100W heaters
BRS Reactor running GFO (Will probably add one more for GAC)
BRS Pukani Rock
Tropic Eden Reef flakes sand
Reef Crystals Salt mixed to 1.025

I am manually dosing B-ionic 2-part but I plan to add dosing pumps in the near future. Most likely BRS pumps.

Current Livestock:
2-Percula Clowns
ORA Joe the Coral
ORA Frogskin
ORA MIMF Yellow Fuzzy
ORA Pink Birdsnest
Green and Orange Birdsnest
Strawberry Shortcake
Vivid Blue Monster
Green Apple Cap Montipora
Vivid Red Table
Ultra Pink Millipora
Duncan
Frogspawn
Red Eye Chalice

Camera:
My current camera is an Olympus OM-D E-MS Digital M43 camera with an Panasonic 20mm pancake prime lens for FTS and an Olympus 60mm Macro lens for close ups.

Here are a few photos of my tank and then contents. From here, photographic updates come 1-2 times per month. Thanks for following along!

Tank and Sump Photos:

3-16-13 Update:

FTS

Joe the Coral

Green Apple Cap

Strawberry Shortcake

Pink Birdsnest

 

[Sander_Bos]

Nice looking aquascape, are you planning other fish or invertebrates?

Can you give me the name of the coral placed in front of the tank left? Looks sweet!

 

[Patrick Cox]

Nice looking aquascape, are you planning other fish or invertebrates?

Can you give me the name of the coral placed in front of the tank left? Looks sweet!

Thanks. I do plan to add more fish, just not sure what yet. I also forgot to mention my CUC - 10 nassarius snails and 10 small red leg crabs.

If you are referring to the large colony in the front, that is a birds nest. It has bright green tips and orange branches. It is a nice piece.

Thanks for your comments!

 

[sahin]

Now following this thread...

 

[hobbzz]

How are you liking the 6095's so far? I picked up one to try it out and will probably be getting another one shortly. So far I made a reef crest like program and I'm liking it.

 

[HunterBryan]

Awesome build so far! I'm along for the ride..love the strawberry shortcake too!

 

[Patrick Cox]

How are you liking the 6095's so far? I picked up one to try it out and will probably be getting another one shortly. So far I made a reef crest like program and I'm liking it.

I like them a lot! I had 2 MP10s on my old tank and I can't say that the Vortech's are worth the extra price if you have a controller. I can program about whatever effect I want with the Apex.

Awesome build so far! I'm along for the ride..love the strawberry shortcake too!

Thanks! Yes, the strawberry shortcake looks awesome. I can't wait for it to grow out. This is my first SPS tank so I am excited about what's to come.

 

[diablo30xp]

What kind of return pump are u using?

 

[Patrick Cox]

What kind of return pump are u using?

Tunze Recirculation Pump Silence T1073.040

 

[Surf&turf]

Nice scape!!

 

[allsps40]

Nice tank and setup. A 75g is a good tank size to start with not too big but not too small and I like the dims of yours. Looks very well planned and thought out.

 

[geldof]

Great looking tank and plumbing. A perfect size for SPS. Have fun living that dream!

 

[Unknow]

subscribe :dance:

i got the same tank size, will post it soon.

 

[Mr D smack]

Subscribed

 

[Patrick Cox]

Thanks all! Things are going well. I just ordered two new corals - ORA Plum Crazy and ORA Verde. I also ordered an ORA Yellow Assessor. Should be in next week. I will take update pictures over the weekend. I am definitely seeing growth on several of my corals. Tank looks great too. While I had some early diatom algae, once I got my phosphates down to zero, algae is gone. And my chaeto is growing well in the fuge. Nitrates are still at 10 or so, but it doesn't seem to be having any negative effects.

Thanks again! FTS and macro shots to come.

 

[Patrick Cox]

Here are a few new coral shots. Tank is progressing nicely. Thanks for looking!

Vivid Blue Monster

ORA Frogskin

Vivid Red Table

Strawberry Shortcake

 

[MammothReefer]

Really nice setup! I wish mine was 20" over 18"

 

[latinreefer]

Great looking set up! Did you do the external overflow or did miracles do it for you?

 

[Patrick Cox]

Great looking set up! Did you do the external overflow or did miracles do it for you?

Thanks! Miracles built the whole thing. They were great to work with!

 

[nvictor]

great setup and the strawberry shortcake is awesome!