Neal's Barebottom SPS & ZOA System...

the first 6 months of my system... a look back

the first 6 months of my system... a look back

the following is a look back at the first 6 months of my system as if started out completely different... 40g breeder with shallow sandbed, 30g breeder sump, 20g high refuge and deep sand bed... eheim 1250 return pump, 1 vortec mp10 old version... I will say, i was pretty heavily stocked in the beginning with fish, and a young system, and i never really had any nitrates to speak of, if any at all, and i attribute it to the deep sand bed that was made up entirely of live sand, and got up to 7" deep... I will advocate the heck out of these things if anyone is considering one, set it up and maintain it properly and leave it alone, and they will work wonders in my opinion and my experience... i could never grow macro cuz the sand bed in my fuge took it all first i guess... i tried cheato from different sources 4 times... and I have always tested my alk and calcium about twice a week, well not at first as i learned alot as i didnt know anything about it when i started an sps tank, i will admit... anyhow, thats a little more history before some older pics...

and also, obviously i changed things around alot, however none of the rock ever left the system, it was jus moved to the sump or fuge... however, as many would agree, this is not a good idea... and honestly i regret doin it as i think i stunted alot of growth, and prolonged them from really getting goin sooner...

also, i still have these corals as they are seen in my previous pics as the larger colonies... the orange monti however, was given away, and i almost didnt want one... then like it august or something, i had one little chip from the colony my friend started growing from the one i had given him... glad i have a peice now as i think mine has great start... also dont have that deformed purple cap either lol... anyhow here is some pics once again...

June 2011

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=007-5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/007-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=036.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/036.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

July 2011

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/113.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=003-7.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/003-7.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=009-6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/009-6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

August 2010

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=017-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/017-2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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the deep sand bed i utilized for the first 7 months until the end of december to january of this past new year's... then i went barebottom and high flow, instead of sand bed, and lower flow... again, if you chose to use one and maintain them properly and setup, i recommend them 100%...

also, i never kept the light on really except more so when i was trying to keep macro, but that didnt last long, so it stayed nice and clean without a light on most the time, and a nice current supplied by the drain from the main tank and the small powerhead i used... i really liked this simple setup honestly, but i wont go back to one for this system as they do work great, but they are jus one more think to make me worry lol...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=002-6.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/002-6.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
about the end of august into september of 2010... getting into barebottom... also tried out a 30g breeder as well for the display, worked great for flow, jus a bit too shallow for me at the time... however that is pretty much the type of proportions the tank i wana have made is... 60 x 24 x 18 tall...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/?action=view&current=014-9.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20the%20first%205%20months/014-9.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

and a 2 months or so later i start my idea of the tile columns, but much shorter, though the look and feel did appeal to me from the get go...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20breeder%20the%20second%206%20months/?action=view&current=068.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/40%20breeder%20the%20second%206%20months/068.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
the following text is a copy of a post i made in a thread on sps keepers forum in regards to a question someone asked me about how i came up with the file columns and why... and i also expressed another idea i had about going about it, as well as how i feel about the overall approach i take to my hobby...

********************************************

... it was jus kinda my idea of a showcase... one idea i had that i really liked, and i really think would look sharp... is using 1.5" acrylic rod as your column, and on the top have a 2.5" acrylic disc and a 3.5" disc on the bottom, and fuse them together to make a sleek, yet bold coral pedastal made of a very clean and clear material... i think this would look very clean and very awesome... and of course have them all in different and proprotioned heights... i was going to go with this, but when i priced it out, it jus wasnt financially feasable... to get roughly 40 pedastals, with a even number of them at 3", 4", 5" and 6"... it would be at least four hundred dollars, most likely more with the cost of materials... so i went another way... and also, it wasnt as heavy as the tiles, and isnt height adjusstable like the tiles, which i REALLY love about them...

and feel free to try it, i am not sure anyone else has gone in this direction with presentation and growth as i have not seen any anywhere in 5 years of saltwater (started April 06'), but please anyone and everyone... get creative, not only can it be a love for the ocean, but a method of art and expression... a real show of beauty, colors and shapes straight out of your sense of creativity... it gives you a whole new sense of pride about it... pushes you that extra mile and keeps you goin...

these things i get for $8... a 1' square with 36 tiles, and i jus remove them from the mesh backing... the glue that i cant get off doesnt seem to have any negative effect whatsoever and most will come off with a quick rubbing with a good file... so it helps... one thing I need to do is get some more lol, as always... but to start re-glueing them as when i first started i didnt realize how high i wanted to go, so some of them need a good re-do for the safety of the corals... but anyways, i am very satisfied with the look of the tiles... they are jus plain, uncoated in anyway, and jus have a good "underwater feel" when they color up a bit... personally, i think they work out great, and make for a great look... as well as make it very possible to keep the tank very clean looking especially in the area of detritus removal... with those 2 mp40s, that stuff doesnt have a chance... I even use a koralia magnum 6 at 2200 gph to keep everything off the bottom of my sump now i am gonna work on getting a diamond goby for the 65g to keep the sand constantly stirred... and its shallow, like 1/4" throughout the bottom... so i feel very little will settle their either, but i got some clean up crew so i am not too worried once i get the goby... again, hope this to become the nice lps and anenome part of my system... it wont be any nutrients for them, but ill feed them all for sure if they need it and jus to help them along...

anyhow, again, i encourage all to get creative... regardless of how over the top, or however simple... make it yours and unique... as many of you here do already and not to take anything away from anyone, as i have learned from so many of you... i think its the empowering feeling of creation mixed with that oceanic re-creation thing that gets us going about it all, and its the greatest thing about this hobby... its my passion, as well as yours...
 
and again, this is where I am currently at... looking back a bit its changed quite a bit... i like it then and now :)

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/System%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0444.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/System%202011/IMAG0444.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
a little change...

a little change...

i wanted to make a bit less clutter in my display to i moved all my zoas and palys to the "fuge" since i have a much better light now and i think the lower flow will be better for them too... but i thinned out the sps columns to only to have the ones i felt that are doing best, or have the most potential, especially amongst my smaller and newer frags or colonies... so i know only have some good space for 26 colonies/frags... the unoccupied column to the left is for the ORA orange digi i got a couple days back...

I really like it opened up a bit more, and so does my tang :)

first some new FTS's...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0546.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0546.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0551.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0551.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0547.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0547.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0548.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0548.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
my whole system...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0518.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0518.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

and my secondary display that i call my "fuge"... hoping to adding some more zoas, palys and some lps and anenomes... really glad to have finally gotten a new light for this... now i hope to get an vortec mp10es for it sometime soon...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0498.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0498.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0496.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0496.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0497.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0497.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

and a couple flue shots... i now use 2 ati blues on both outer sets of bulbs for a total of 4...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0516.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0516.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0517.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/full%20shots%202011/IMAG0517.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Coral shots... Green "Cat's Paw" Stylophora...

Coral shots... Green "Cat's Paw" Stylophora...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0553.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0553.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0525.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0525.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0543.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0543.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Coral shots... "Joe the Coral" Acro & Green Monti Confusa

Coral shots... "Joe the Coral" Acro & Green Monti Confusa

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0555.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0555.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0541.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0541.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0534.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0534.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0542.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0542.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Coral shots... Green Milli & Orange Monit Cap...

Coral shots... Green Milli & Orange Monit Cap...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0554.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0554.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0531.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0531.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0521.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0521.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0527.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0527.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0544.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0544.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Coral shots... a few more...

Coral shots... a few more...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0557.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0557.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0558.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0558.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0552.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0552.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0523-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0523-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0538.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0538.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0535.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0535.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0532.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20under%20blue%202011/IMAG0532.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Coral shots... a few of the newer ones...

Coral shots... a few of the newer ones...

not sure what this one is exactly? bout it as a mystery coral, and have had a couple peeps call it a bellina, though i dont know for sure... id anyone?

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0559-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0559-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

my australian strawberry shortcake i jus got :) has some coloring and healing to do, but im very happy...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0560.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0560.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

ATL limeade also jus received and healing... both were fresh cut, and have a good amount of coloring up to do, but im sure they will be jus fine...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0561.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0561.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

and my ORA red planet, this one makes me really happy jus cuz i like milli's and i love red and green, and the red is real nice on this one...

<a href="http://s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/?action=view&current=IMAG0562.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i906.photobucket.com/albums/ac268/Pallobi11/corals%20in%20color%202011/IMAG0562.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
fote03 said:
Very cool! Cant wait to see the sps grow to the water level! Why do you use the tiles?
Click to expand...

they jus make for a nice and clean, height differ'd display, and allow for lots of flow through the whole tank... jus kind of what i like to do and a good way to present my corals...
 
Updated SPS Stocklist...

Updated SPS Stocklist...

...the Display is now sps only...

Colonies...

Green Highlighter Acro
Pink Birdsnest
Blue Milli
Green Cats Paw Stylo
Bird of Paradise Birdsnest
Green Milli
tyree Flower Petal Monti Cap
ora "Joe the Coral" Acro
Green Monti Confusa
ora Green Bali Slimer
Orange Monti Cap
Blue-tipped Emerald Stag


Smaller "Colonies", healed, encrusting & starting to do really well...

Pokerstar Monti
ora Orange Monti Digi
Cali Tort Acro
ora Hawkins Echinata
mr coral unknown purple w/ green polyps Acro
tyree Pink Lemonade Acro
ora Red Planet Milli
tyree Tricolor Acro
Idaho Grape Monti Cap
unknown teal w/ blue tips & green polyps Acro (Bellina?)


Frags, still have some healing and/or coloring up to do...

atl Limeade Acro (fresh cut, still healing)
culivated reef Strawberry Shortcake Acro (fresh cut, still healing)
tyree Purple Monster Acro (still healing, was damaged badly during shipping)


Frags on "nursery" racks...

Bonzai Acro
Monti Setosa
Pink Milli
Sunset Monti
Undata Monti
umknown red w/ pink polyps encrusting Monti
Icefire Echinata
Carl's Candlelight Acro
500 Efflo Acro
ora Chips Acro
Green Monti Digi


on Racks, in great shape, jus need a spot...

ora Green Birdnest
Green Monti Digi
 
Last edited:
Updated ZOA/PALY Stocklist...

Updated ZOA/PALY Stocklist...

Radioactive Dragon Eyes
Eagle Eyes
Candy Apple Pink
Original Xmen
Armor of the Gods
Tubbs Blues
Poison Ivy Palys
Candy Apple Reds
Triple Reds
Magicians
Sunkist
Dragons Fire
Rastas
Fire & Ice
Red Hornets

and two unknowns...

one from an African order... has yellow center with bluish body and greenish blue skirt

and one with peach mouths, blueish body, and yellow skirts...
 
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