My 120 SPS tank growth shots and top-downs

[bwyoung]

Hello,

Here are some shots of my first reef tank that I have had running since March of 2008. It has come a long way. I have been meaning to post some updates for a long time. I do not post often (yet), but have been researching here for 2+ years.

I appreciate everyone here for the information and help to make my "conversion" from fresh to salt reefs a reality!

And to think going into this I wanted to be a softies or LPS type tank. SPS rocks!

I'll post some SPS ID queries in the ID section too as there are many types I have not indentified yet. If you have any questions or comments, pplease let me know.

Thanks!


May 2008

July 2008

May 2009

November 2009

 

[SWINGRRRR]

Awesome growth!!! Can you post details on lights and water flow?

 

[bean59]

agree

 

[bwyoung]

Tank Bio

Tank Bio

Sure!

My tanks bio:

Water
79F
1.024-1.025 SG
Ca 500 ppm
Alk 8-10 dKH
Mg 1300 ppm
Ave. pH 8.1 Winter / 8.3 Summer (due to house being closed-up)
Reef Crystals Salt - No other additives dosed

Lighting Cycle
VHOs: 6:30 am - 7:30 pm
MH_1: 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
MH_2: 9:30 am - 6:30 pm

Tank
Built-in 120 gallon tank
Twin 250W Ushio 10K MH DE and twin 120W Actinic VHO lights, LED moonlights
175 lbs live rock
100 lbs sand
Basement 75 gallon sump with refugium on reverse lighting cycle
400 gph filtration pump, 1200 gph closed-loop circulation pump with Wavy Seas (shooting left to right)
EuroReef 180 skimmer
5 stage RO/DI filter
Automatic doser system – Ca, Alk, Mg and top-off water
AquaController tank automation system – all pumps, lights, chiller, dosers, heater controlled

9 fish, 30 snails and crabs, 3 shrimp, 1 sea cucumber, 1 conch, 4 anemones
~50 corals

Commissioned March 2008

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

Nice progression, those ushio 10ks are growing some corals in your tank for sure!!!

 

[oldreefer76]

Very Nice

 

[Logzor]

Awesome tank, the growth on far right millie is incredible.

 

[sedor]

Wow your growth is truly amazing. I'm very surprised your not dosing anything to maintaing Ca and Alk. You say no other additives added, but then further down in your equipment list you mention an auto doser system. Does this mean you are dosing 2 part?

 

[Denadai]

Well done dude

 

[bwyoung]

Sorry, I do dose the 2 part kit. I meant that I do not does Zeovit or other special dosing for corals.

I have been pleased with the growth. I now have a sump full of frags!

Wow your growth is truly amazing. I'm very surprised your not dosing anything to maintaing Ca and Alk. You say no other additives added, but then further down in your equipment list you mention an auto doser system. Does this mean you are dosing 2 part?

 

[bwyoung]

Awesome tank, the growth on far right millie is incredible.

Yes, that milli (not sure what specific type) grows about 1/8th per week or so. I regularly prune it as it also is the boss of the tank. I kills anything it has touched so far - birdnest, blue tort, and two varieties of acropora.

I'd like to see how big it can get, but I have other nice corals around it.

Here is a compare from Sept. 08 to Nov. 09

Here are a few more of that particular milli:

 

[Reefobsession]

Really nice tank. Have a couple questions for ya.
1. How long have you been using reef crystals? Reason why I ask is because I am trying to debate in RC or Seachem reef salt.
2. How do you have no nusiance algae. I all see this wonderfull tank and it makes me envious that I have a little bit, but I still have some hair algae and some bryopsis.

 

[reefer31]

Dang, thats some crazy growth! Nice reef tank!

 

[bwyoung]

Really nice tank. Have a couple questions for ya.
1. How long have you been using reef crystals? Reason why I ask is because I am trying to debate in RC or Seachem reef salt.
2. How do you have no nusiance algae. I all see this wonderfull tank and it makes me envious that I have a little bit, but I still have some hair algae and some bryopsis.

Thanks! I have used reef crystals since I started the tank.

Regarding the algae, I just follow the normal best practices - RODI water, feed adequately, run a good skimmer, water changes, etc.

Good luck.

 

[Moebuis]

Wow! That growth is amazing.

 

[naldopr]

amazing growth

 

[GCT]

Very nice....

 

[Haksar]

Amazing growth,do you dose two part everyday and since when have you been dosing.

 

[arnoldreef]

amazing tank and amazing growth!!!

 

[Boyman]

very nice growth