Mark's 150 gallon

[markalot]

With the raised Alk, now 6.7 and very slowly raising it to 7.0, the tank has had an explosion of color and growth. This includes not only Acros but montis, birdsnests, and even my acans are showing much improved color.

This could have been easily avoided by running at 7.0 all along, with enough room on either side for some testing error.

This one showed very little change and continues to slowly get more red.

The Rose milli browned a bit and now has some discolored polyps but has been putting on new growth.

Red Robin and the smaller Katropora frag.

New growth on the larger Katropora.

 

[joshky]

With the raised Alk, now 6.7 and very slowly raising it to 7.0, the tank has had an explosion of color and growth. This includes not only Acros but montis, birdsnests, and even my acans are showing much improved color.

This could have been easily avoided by running at 7.0 all along, with enough room on either side for some testing error.

This one showed very little change and continues to slowly get more red.

The Rose milli browned a bit and now has some discolored polyps but has been putting on new growth.

Red Robin and the smaller Katropora frag.

New growth on the larger Katropora.

Really beautiful Mark, the first one has great potential!

 

[reefmutt]

Oh baby that's some damn fine looking coral.
I just love that first one. The colour is fantastic.

 

[Alex Costa]

Very nice shots......
It's good to see the things back on track again.

Alex

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I love this latest set of pictures. I am very impressed. Keep up the good work Mark. Polyp extension is amazing. My favourites in this set are the first and fourth ones.

 

[GalHill]

Absolutely stunning colours on the SPS. Hopefully have a good read of the thread when I get a chance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[markalot]

Absolutely stunning colours on the SPS. Hopefully have a good read of the thread when I get a chance.

Good luck, might just want to stick to the last page. :lmao:

Thanks everyone for the nice words, we all know how much everyone likes to post photos.

I've still got a ways to go. I'm at the happy point where I must have caught the tank just as growth was ramping up because I can't keep up with Alk and I love it. Started at 1 tsp kalk per 2 gallons of topoff. I'm not at 1.5 tsp and still losing KH and having to dose 2 part manually just to stay at 6.7 KH. My goal is 7 if I can ever get there.

Growth rates way way up, possibly faster than I've ever seen them or at least it's been so long I've forgotten. Historically my two biggest Alk users have been the slimer and purple stylo and both have brilliant white growth tips.

Here's a few shots from the front to give an idea what the tank looks like.

Lower left, flubber, with the dead red dragon, which can bite me.

The pink milli is doing something. Polyps have always been green but now the discolored ones glow pink under blue LED?

Those of you who own a Miami Orchid now what I'm talking about here. Impossible to get a good picture but when it's growing the tips really stand out. A Handsome coral.

FTS, LED's only and fading to evening so colors are exaggerated.

 

[Wrangy]

Bloody hell!! Mark the tank has come along in absolute leaps and bounds :inlove: it really shows just how knowledgeable and dedicated to your tank you really are

The colours and health of all your babies make me very jealous! Very jealous indeed The tank is just thriving and it fills me with joy lol the lokani and pink bit though! :inlove:

 

[Myka]

Wow Mark, the tank is making a great bounce-back after the alk issues. That little pink frag is looking awesome! I agree with the Red Dragon issue - you look at it funny and it RTNs. I've tried 3 frags in my tank, and it always RTNs within a few days. I'm soooo order Red Dragon now... :lol:

 

[reefmutt]

Mark, gorgeous fts.
What a great rescape!
I wasn't familiar with the Miami orchid.. Beautiful blue on purple.
I wonder if it's made up to Canada. I'd like to get better acquainted without that coral!
Really nice turnaround, Mark

 

[glaukos]

+1!!
Mark if i didn't know that you had those problems with the tank a few weeks ago and you told me,i wouldn't believe you bud!
Tank looks awesome and sharing all those misfortunes can only work as an example to never give up on your tank:beer:

Pics are really nice and corals look amazing:inlove:
That red robin is still in my "kill him and steal it" list

7.0 is my favorite alk spot too.I always thought that it might not be as safe/risky as 8.0 but dropping to 6 never did any damage to my corals and raising it back at 7 didn't either.

 

[Scotty freddy]

Tanks looking great Mark
Awesome photos as well mate!

 

[markalot]

Thanks all, again, you're all too kind.

Cousin It, 6 days since I took the first picture and raised the Alk. This coral is a absolute beast.

The top was completely burned with almost no polyp extension. Look how it appears to be rebuilding around the live polyps. How cool.

Lots of new growth on the side that did not suffer any dieback.

I guess the only remaining question is: do I know what fixed it. Correcting Alk? The small water change replenished something? Was it lighting related?

 

[markalot]

Since I had the macro lens out anyway ...

Katropora (subulata) is starting to get the rich colors back. Close up it is just an amazing creature.

Trying again to capture how good the Lokani looks from the front. Yes, it looks better than yesterday somehow.

Not really a very good picture but U caught the Kole swimming at me. Nice lips. :lol:

 

[joshky]

I am in love with your pics lately Mark! Keep them coming! :beer:

 

[kevlow]

Excellent.
What is the first pic in your last post?

 

[markalot]

Excellent.
What is the first pic in your last post?

Thanks Josh and Kev.

First pic is that reddish acro, a wild from Pacific East Aquaculture. It was large but had all kinds of issues when the tank "crashed" so I chopped it up. The biggest piece, the one in the picture, has been getting redder and redder, but the polyps remain that greenish brown color.

Here it was in July 2015 soon after purchase.

And here is what was left of it in the middle of the tank issues.

I'm hoping I can get the white polyps back.

 

[plyle02]

Looking really sweet Mark, the colors are fantastic, I know we can never be totally happy, but you have come a long way, you should be proud my friend!

 

[markalot]

Thanks Perry!

6 months of growth of the Lokani. I knew it was getting better but I can't tell how unless I look at older pics. Lots of new branches.

 

[HuskerBioProf]

How are you getting such good macro shots of the polyps? I have my camera on a tripod but still can't find enough light for a fast enough shutter to avoid motion blur. I also am using old extension tubes instead of a macro lens, so maybe that is the problem. Any tricks?