Monkey's Reef - A photo journal [img heavy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6247336#post6247336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jakes39reef
wow looks nice,
just curious, what do you use to keep your calcium lvls up?

As of right now nothing. however, in an attempt to rid my tank of bryopsis, im doing 5 gallon water changes every ~2 days.. its IO. I assume this has kept my calcium at good levels.
 
im settig up a new 90 gallon and im using like all of the same equptment and it seems to be working on yours so im glad

are you supplementing calicuim some how????? and how?
 
sry i wasnt paying attention to the thred i just read about the camcium if you do set up a way to supplement calcium will you send me a PM with picrures
 
61-fulltank.jpg


Large image.. I finally found a good method for taking detailed-rich photos of the tank. I will be taking an additional one soon that has better exposure for certain corals. Do ignore the multiple fish :P I still only have 1 clown, 1 sixline, and 4 chromis, but the photo is a stitch and they got into both halves.

As you can see, my lack of rock cooking has resulted in a dirty faux-bottom, fuzzy rock, and slimey walls. That aside, the corals continue to grow and seem very healthy, but with all of the work I am doing on the tank, im not surprised, either.

I am contemplating getting another skimmer, perhaps another G-2 or a G-3 to really kick this thing into drive.
 
Looks Great Kong, I am just setting up a 120 very similar to your setup. I'm looking forward to following your progress, keep up the good work.
 
very nice so far Kong, are you at all concerned about getting a calcium reactor for them acro's in the near future, just a thought.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6392443#post6392443 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChAoTiCrEeFeR4U
very nice so far Kong, are you at all concerned about getting a calcium reactor for them acro's in the near future, just a thought.

Very concerned. What is occuring right now is that my frequent water changes are maintaining the Ca, Alk, and mag levels to reasonable amounts (Ca is still low due to using IO). When I begin to turn the tide against my rocks shedding detritus and the bryopsis, such a rigorous water change schedule wont be necessary.

At that point I will get a Ca reactor and continue to drip kalk. I am currently eyeing this kit: http://www.championlighting.com/product.php?productid=21147&cat=654&page=1
 
I drip kalk 2 to 3 times a week, and I dose Kent Liquid Calcium and AragaMilk 2 times a week, which keeps my calcium at 420 to 440.
 
Tank looks great and I like your design for the rock layout but have you put any special treatment on that iron stand. With that sump under there I would be worried about the stand rusting and little flakes of rust in my sump. The reason I ask is I have an iron stand and it is beginning to rust around the base from some water getting on there during water changes. I think a sump with constant salt creep could create some problems IMO. Anyways keep up the good work.
 
he just went 5 days without being fed (vacation), and left my cleaner shrimp alone.

im not saying it wont happen, but so far it hasnt.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6392968#post6392968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sean48183
Tank looks great and I like your design for the rock layout but have you put any special treatment on that iron stand. With that sump under there I would be worried about the stand rusting and little flakes of rust in my sump. The reason I ask is I have an iron stand and it is beginning to rust around the base from some water getting on there during water changes. I think a sump with constant salt creep could create some problems IMO. Anyways keep up the good work.

no treatment, but I am actively working on blocking all splash. I had one major area of splash (where the overflow came down) and I covered that with a strip of acrylic. Now I dont have any splash anywhere else.

At any rate, its becoming obvious that rust isnt an issue. Reef's colonize on old steel barges and corals literally grow on the rusted hulls.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6391974#post6391974 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by King-Kong
61-fulltank.jpg

I see you a faux SB... I am thinking about doing this on my 600gal... Using starboard and applying the epoxy and sand to that as you did... If you were to do it over again would you still install the faux SB ?? Anything you would change ??
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6457517#post6457517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asnatlas
I see you a faux SB... I am thinking about doing this on my 600gal... Using starboard and applying the epoxy and sand to that as you did... If you were to do it over again would you still install the faux SB ?? Anything you would change ??


I dont think I would.

The things I would change would be in relation to going BB, not in relation to going faux-sand BB.

The faux-sand itself is great looking, and had I prepared properly for BB, I wouldnt have had the algae growing on it that I did.

Also, corraline has nearly covered a few rocks already, yet my bottom is only beginning to show spots in a few shaded areas. I think the parts of the faux-sand that are directly underneath my MH will not have any corraline growth, either (or the growth will take a lot longer to show up).

ninja edit: let me also add, that since I began using a tootbrush to scrub my rocks and the faux bottom, it's appearances have returned. 1-2 times a week I just briefly scrub it and clean it up, and the algae goes away.

This weekend I finally added a clean up, so now I have 2 mexican turbos, 35 astreas, 35 ceriths, 5 emeralds, and 2 lettuce nudibranchs. I think this will also help keep my faux-sand cleaner.
 
small update:

saturday afternoon my clean up crew arrived. Yes I know what you're saying, "you mean you just now got your clean up crew?".

Yes. Don't rub it in. Don't worry, I tried to make it right. I got 35 astreas, 35 ceriths, 2 lettuce nudis, and 5 emerald crabs. Purchased from saltwaterfish.com for $135 delivered on sat.

I looked at the tank monday, after work (the snails had finally gotten down off the rock i put them ALL on) and I nearly crapped myself. They had made my powerheads look new, and showed me parts of my bare bottom I hadnt seen in months. Even me scrubbing with a tooth brush isnt as good as these guys.

The lettuce nudis, though different from my past lettuce nudi (who met his fate inside a power head.. sigh) are also eating my bryopsis again.. 3/3!

I received 5 emerald crabs, and 4 out of the 5 were female, so those went up top. The male (who was also the most aggressive of the bunch) is in the sump.

But, the real point of this update is to announce the latest (and lol, better be last!) member of the tank, a peppermint hog: http://www.marinecenter.com/media/photos/8DA8AA87C3A140E189DF46A7999D6B04W.jpg (*note, not my photo, the lights are off right now so he can be calm).

My LFS never carry rare fish, and when I saw this beautiful hogfish I was caught off guard. Then I saw the price tag, ($120) and I ran away. They told me they didnt expect anyone to buy it, and sold it to me for $80. The most I have ever paid for a fish, but based on what I am seeing, it was a good deal.

His red is very striking and overall I enjoy having a fish that is not common in most tanks. I hope he does well.

P.S. my pink millepora has decided to explode. I am seeing daily growth in it. It's a freaking SPS! not xenia!

Pictures soon!
 
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