My 65 Gallon Mixed Reef

[cugly]

That tan branch acro looks like it has good potential. ..

 

[biggles]

That thing has been in the tank for 6 months and that's as good as it gets so far. I under saturated the shot a bit and the tips are much brighter in real life but there's way too much brown to blue ratio lol. Oh, and i discovered that it has been encrusting slyly in a spot i can't see and nuked a small aculeus frag also blasting some orange pav......... that's strike two........:deadhorse1:

Here's a shot without any color adjustment - you can see the nasty crap it's been up too. :mad2:

 

[Bello]

I dunno biggles, still liking the evil tank blue tipped acro . Thanks for the sandbed tips. Was hoping that my brown turds(cucumbers ) would do the job anyways but the extra help would do it good too.

In any case, given that every coral looks awesome anyway, I can understand why you're picky :lol:

I love that prostrata, and that's my problem. I can still get accurate colors on all corals except for millies/prostrata. Any tips? in terms of placement? Or just feed the bejesus out of it?

 

[cugly]

:lolspin::lolspin:If u u dont like it I can help u out and take it off your hands..lol

 

[biggles]

I've decided to chop the branches off near the rock and cover half the blue tipped acro with a rock top and stick another acro on it, how's that for a compromise lol. I'll take some pics when i do it so you can see how i go about it and what i end up with.
You got it in one Bello, clean water and feed the bejesus out of the corals

If i could send frags to you guys i would rather than bin them or give them away to the LFS cugly. Just so you guys know i can keep crap colored corals as well as anyone i took some sump pics - not exactly as colorful as their counterparts in the display. I think it's pretty obvious why i don't give a toss about the frag tank anymore. The blue/white 120W LED unit is a piece of garbage for lighting SPS.

The green monster would grow in a toilet i think.........

Frag of the horrida

The ugly looking purple acro i removed from the display a few months back.

The red table is the left frag - looks great..........

Blue tipped in the display and very purple in the sump. The thing on the right is the blue tipped acro we've been talking about, it's growing great but color is crud.

Top left frag is the purple prostrata that's insanely colored in the display. The right side frag mounted horizontally is the blue stag that i posted a tip closeup of recently.

 

[biggles]

On a more positive note, here's a growth shot of some SCC.

9th may - i removed the little frag on the left and stuck it on the overflow, it fell off weeks later so i stuck it on a plug, changed my mind weeks later and stuck it on a rock and a week later stuck it on a monti......... i know i have a problem........

25 August - the remaining two frags joined up and you can see how the larger frag has finally started shooting new tips all over and the trunk has thickened considerably just in the last 3 weeks or so. Not amazing growth but ok and as i said, everything seems to have kicked into gear in the last 3-4 weeks.

 

[echopiece]

Nice growth shot! Not sure if you talked about this yet, but do you dip any of your new additions for pests before they go in the DT?

 

[Bello]

That's great growth biggles, I know you've had that SSC for long enough to possibly be jumping for joy . My friend with the SSC, you know, the one I'm supposed to get a frag of someday, is still watching the SSC do............................. nothing! It's been a year

Some of the frags in the sump look well....nevermind... but a few are still pretty nice IMO. Growth seems to be as good as the display?

And seriously, I still can't believe you're taking these pics with that piddly iphone adapter

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Hi mate,

The beautiful colouration of your corals continue to fascinate me. I am about to feed my corals directly to improve their colouration and polyp expansion.

I have recently started to feed my fish with mysis relicta, which is very oily and full of protein. My sps corals' polyps have already started to expand more than before. There is also a slight improvement on the colouration. This shows that in nitrate limited tanks like mine heavy feeding certainly helps.

I have a question for you. I have been reading for some time about sodium nitrate dosing to nitrate limited tanks to provide additional nutrients to boost coral growth. I first came across sodium nitrate dosing in James Fatherree's and Daniel Knop's books on giant clams as a means to boost the growth of baby clams.

Have you ever considered sodium nitrate dosing to your tank as an alternative method for coral feeding? It is likely to be cheaper than purchasing various coral foods. I wonder if this method would also improve corals' colouration in addition to boosting their growth rates.

Cheers

 

[biggles]

Nice growth shot! Not sure if you talked about this yet, but do you dip any of your new additions for pests before they go in the DT?

Hey mate, no i should but i don't lol. I bring them home and float the bag for 10-15 mins in the sump as my LFS packs them in a poly box for me so temp is not too far out. Then i take them out and cut the bag over a bucket and inspect it with a magnifying glass before chucking into the display on the bottom until i see PE which is within minutes for some and a couple of days for sulky ones.

That's great growth biggles, I know you've had that SSC for long enough to possibly be jumping for joy . My friend with the SSC, you know, the one I'm supposed to get a frag of someday, is still watching the SSC do............................. nothing! It's been a year

Some of the frags in the sump look well....nevermind... but a few are still pretty nice IMO. Growth seems to be as good as the display?

And seriously, I still can't believe you're taking these pics with that piddly iphone adapter

For me the SCC has been very slow but that's prob down to the constant disruptions along with the ups and downs i've put the frags through. I think you need to start searching for a new source mate........
The sump tank is overall a total fail and the growth is terrible - those frags that have encrusted onto the acrylic took about 4 months to do that and the same would take half that time in the display.
All these pics are with just the iphone, no added lenses etc. I really don't understand how people can't take a decent pic with a phone camera as they do a pretty good job imo.

I'm seriously considering removing about 90% of the SPS from my display and starting again as i've just discovered how crappy the acros i have are compared to what the LFS's are getting in. I want you to scroll through the coral pics on my LFS FB page Bello and i think you'll understand why i'm not impressed at all with the left overs that i've filled my tank with.
All my boring acros are going to start being replaced with stunners from this point on, i'm not buying the left over stuff anymore. Warning - you're going to vomit when you see the stuff that comes in that i never get to even look at lol.

https://www.facebook.com/reeflectionsaquarium/photos_stream

Hi mate,

The beautiful colouration of your corals continue to fascinate me. I am about to feed my corals directly to improve their colouration and polyp expansion.

I have recently started to feed my fish with mysis relicta, which is very oily and full of protein. My sps corals' polyps have already started to expand more than before. There is also a slight improvement on the colouration. This shows that in nitrate limited tanks like mine heavy feeding certainly helps.

I have a question for you. I have been reading for some time about sodium nitrate dosing to nitrate limited tanks to provide additional nutrients to boost coral growth. I first came across sodium nitrate dosing in James Fatherree's and Daniel Knop's books on giant clams as a means to boost the growth of baby clams.

Have you ever considered sodium nitrate dosing to your tank as an alternative method for coral feeding? It is likely to be cheaper than purchasing various coral foods. I wonder if this method would also improve corals' colouration in addition to boosting their growth rates.

Cheers

Hey mate, if you're seeing better PE as a consequence of a particular food addition i always use that as my indicator as to whether or not a food is being well received so that oily one sounds like a winner.
Never heard about sodium nitrate dosing but i'll definitely read up on it and if it sounds ok i'll add it to the current food list rather than replace any i currently use. Thanks for heads up mate :thumbsup:

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

Bigs, your freaking tank is AMAZING. I envy you so much. You must have and insane coral selection down under. Ill i have done is drool over the last 12 pages of sticks lmao. BTW thanx for all the help with my tank. Hoping to get doors in today, as well as some shots. more sexy pics from you as well btw.

 

[Bello]

For me the SCC has been very slow but that's prob down to the constant disruptions along with the ups and downs i've put the frags through. I think you need to start searching for a new source mate........
The sump tank is overall a total fail and the growth is terrible - those frags that have encrusted onto the acrylic took about 4 months to do that and the same would take half that time in the display.
All these pics are with just the iphone, no added lenses etc. I really don't understand how people can't take a decent pic with a phone camera as they do a pretty good job imo.

I'm seriously considering removing about 90% of the SPS from my display and starting again as i've just discovered how crappy the acros i have are compared to what the LFS's are getting in. I want you to scroll through the coral pics on my LFS FB page Bello and i think you'll understand why i'm not impressed at all with the left overs that i've filled my tank with.
All my boring acros are going to start being replaced with stunners from this point on, i'm not buying the left over stuff anymore. Warning - you're going to vomit when you see the stuff that comes in that i never get to even look at lol.

https://www.facebook.com/reeflectionsaquarium/photos_stream

Damn Biggles, your store's got quite a few pieces of SSC's!! But overall, whether its their poorer photography or not, I see better pieces in your tank. Honestly, quite a few of their pieces look like mari pieces that I've seen before, but this observation is based on their basic structure. It could be my inexperience in spotting the "sps gems", but I certainly think that you've got some better stuff in your tank. Unless you're referring to the multiple thin branched pieces they seem to have got lately. I know you like those. They do have some nice yellowish acros that'll look great in your tank.

All in all....NOOOOOOO!!!! . How about setting up that second tank, and having different themes? You'd be so busy with the second tank, that the first would just grow out beautifully......

I really hope you don't end up trading in too much at the LFS, and you do get the second tank going.... That'll just be UNBELIEVABLE!!!! 2 fantastic displays.....yummy!!!!.....If gets tiring, maybe you can train the roos to help you out :lol:, after they're done catching SSC's

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Never heard about sodium nitrate dosing but i'll definitely read up on it and if it sounds ok i'll add it to the current food list rather than replace any i currently use. Thanks for heads up mate :thumbsup:

This thread might be of some interest to you as a good starting point.

The Dutch guy feeds his tank heavily like you, but in addition he doses nitrates and phosphates as additional food for his corals. I am not sure in what form he doses nitrates, but it might be worth asking that question.

Cheers

:wavehand:

 

[troubadour11]

This thread might be of some interest to you as a good starting point.

The Dutch guy feeds his tank heavily like you, but in addition he doses nitrates and phosphates as additional food for his corals. I am not sure in what form he doses nitrates, but it might be worth asking that question.

Cheers

:wavehand:

HA... good one DiscusHeckel! I was actually going to share this with him as well. I've been tagging along in that thread reading up on his method. Some really interesting stuff he's playing around with.

I agree Biggles, you'd probably enjoy checking it out.

As for me today... I'm about to finish up work and finally head home. It's nice that since it's a Holiday weekend here in the US, even though I worked today, at least get a 2 day weekend now!

It was fun checking out that facebook page for your LFS too! Thanks for sharing!

Until next time, keep up the good reefin' :beer:

 

[biggles]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback and links.

I know you're right Bello and i need to get a second tank going so i don't have these grass is greener on the other side moments lol. I was just looking at the pics i've posted and a lot are ridiculously over saturated :facepalm: - that's what happens when you play with pics too much and your eyes go screwy lol.

Do you think i should just post my stuff untouched and blue as most do as i really need raw files in order to properly correct the colors and that's not an option with the iphone. I took a few top downs and tried to lessen the saturation but these will prob be ridiculous looking too when i see them in a week........

Does anyone know what type of tabling acro this is, i thought maybe a hyacinthus. It loves a ton of flow and lots of light.

Can you see what i mean about the ugly branches on the blue/yellow tipped acro, maybe it's just me lol.

I stood on an esky and tried to get everything, this is the best i could manage without falling off

Once again, apologies for all the whacky colored pics i've posted.

Here's some examples of what the iphone actually captures.

 

[cugly]

Verry nice im trying to convince the wife on a trip to Australia my cousin lives there might have to see t b is set up in person...

 

[biggles]

Verry nice im trying to convince the wife on a trip to Australia my cousin lives there might have to see t b is set up in person...

Well if you come to Melbourne mate you're very welcome to drop in. Some very cool shops to visit too :thumbsup: I'll have to tie the roos up when you visit as they get a bit roudy hopping all over the house and such which sets off the bloody koalas...... crocs - don't get me started and we're not talking about those little squirt alligators you have, these are 18ft tourist munching scaled death and whatever you do don't volunteer to feed one a dead chicken on a stick while you hang over the side of a boat....... think about that one long and hard if you go croc spotting cause you won't see the aussies doing it - just the suicidal tourists......... we do take pics though just in case something good happens.........

Tried to show you the two purple acros i have, both still coloring up from drabdom. The lower one is funky as it has thick round tips without the usual protruding tip growth. It's very deep reddy purple color that's hard to capture whilst the lighter higher frag has no pop at all, i think i showed the overall lack luster look of both even though they're getting better slowly. Top right flat frag is off the red table side when i chopped it to fit the rock, it has a slight pink hue in spots. The blue stag is lighter than that but that steely blue grey color is close to what i see in real life. Only the very tips are glowing blue so it's not a stunner at all. Very hard to get everything the right color but i tried my best on the purple stuff.

 

[cugly]

Haha..my wife would love a croc gucci purse lol...and my daughter would love to pet the roos and koalas..are those blue polyps on that bluetip yellow one

 

[biggles]

No the polyps on that blue tip with yellow tops are white so if thety look blue it's my color correction out. Here's another shot before and after i try to whiten it.

The blue tipped acro down low is pretty accurate, the stylo is hot pink not drab, the green stag is very fluoro green like in the blue shot. The purpley acro lower right has a nice pale aqua showing through on the branches. Very top right is a browned out frag in high light - same as the blue tipped one in low light so it's getting removed. Just to the left of that one is a drab looking frag of the purple acro in the sump that i placed there to see if anything good happens toasting under the radium.
The very pale frag in the middle is that color but i can't get the pink to do any more than the merest hint showing no matter the lighting. That little green stub of acro i found on the underside of a monti when i bought it so i stuck it on in case it isn't just green lol. The big blue stag color is more like real life in this pic as is the pale seri far left.

 

[milsaltnewbie07]

drooling all over my floor..... wow