My new tank is in (the garage)

[KafudaFish]

Ken,
Could you please tell me about the back walls, the reef ceramic? Where did you get it and will it eventually become live rock? Beautiful tank btw.
Thanks.
Mike

 

[moonpod]

what do you think Mike?

 

[Konadog]

Nice Chuck! Is that a pillar or back plate?

Mike, the ceramic walls can be ordered from Captive Oceans or from any of the US Distributors, but I got mine from Chuck when he couldn't use all of what he had for his tank. Yes they will eventually become LR and look just the same in about 6 months. They have already gone thru some algae stages and are starting to spot with coraline already.

 

[moonpod]

that's a pillar, but the back walls look the same except I've tried to put little clams in each of the landings....

 

[Konadog]

I'm stealing your clam idea Chuck! When the tank's ready for them, I'm calling Barry and have him pick me out a few.

Do you have a Ca reactor on your tank or just water changes?

I just put in a few "trial" Acro's to test the water with. Thanks to Dave B for the frags. I'll wait a month to see how things go, then wait for the summer frag swaps.

 

[moonpod]

kalkwasser reactor (I got A LOT of evap). I change about 50g every other week or so. It's holding up the alk around 8ish so I figure the CA must be ok.

 

[KafudaFish]

Ken,
Thanks for the information. I'm just not sure if it would be economical for the cost plus freight to Tennessee. Again beautiful set up.
Mike

 

[Konadog]

My evaporation so far is only about 2 gallons a day. I expect that to go up some in the summer. Is yours due to the EcoChiller, or is that not running yet.

Mike, if you look at the cost of LR in some areas, the reef ceramics aren't far off in $$

 

[moonpod]

I dunno Ken, my system evaps a lot. I have a dehumidifier in the room

 

[Konadog]

I've been running my dehumidifier at night so my back sliding glass doors aren't dripping in the morning. Nice thing about new double pained windows is they don't seem to have the condensation problems that single does.

On another note, I finally figured out how to white balance my camera so I hope to have some new pictures this weekend that aren't all blue.

 

[pmike25]

Thank you Ken

 

[moonpod]

The thing about the reefceramics is the shapes. It's definitely not "cheap", but with time certainly gets plenty "alive" and the backplates and pillars are things that are simply not very easily reproducable.

 

[Konadog]

Well, I think I finally figured out how to white balance my camera so the pictures look a little truer to color. Here is the start of the rubble pile at the end of the reef:

Pictures from both sides.

 

[David P]

Ken, I just your post about blue ridge, I've got a piece for you. If I don't forget about the meeting this month... I'll bring it to you. Might be best to give me a call to remind me though... have any extra monti or zoos?

 

[Konadog]

Thanks Dave!

I don't have any Monti's yet, but I'm sure I can dig up a Zoanthid or two.

 

[818]

UPDATE, PICS

 

[pmike25]

Looking nice Ken (rubble pics),

 

[Konadog]

OK, I'll post some new pictures tonight (maybe) not much to report, I have just added a few SPS frags to test the water with

 

[Konadog]

OK, here is the right side of the tank, from the front. Waiting for the zoos, acans, and ric's to start to grow in.

From the end, same side.

And the left side. Not much on this side yet, waiting to see if my test frags make it.

 

[moonpod]

Hey it's coming along real nice Ken!