When I started in this hobby 4 years ago, I always had in my mind that one day I wanted to build a coral reef containing SPS corals. Of course I started with a 90G tank which I proceeded over the years to overfill with LR to the point where there was no more circulation in the tank and removing detritus was next to impossible.
But I did learn a lot of what to do for my next build. Nutrient export on my first build was a secondary thought and I paid dearly for it. I had a massive hair algae problem for 6 months because the only thing I used was an old technology non-circulating skimmer for nutrient export. I also learned the importance of having a refugium with chaeto in it. So after 3 years this is the tank in December 2007. All but three of these were grown from one inch frags added to the tank between March â€"œ June 2007. Actually, the three colonies that were bought from liveaquaria have not survived to date, even though frags of those three colonies did make it. But that is a story for another day. They got fried when I went from Hamilton 14K to Ushio 10K in the Coralife fixture.
90G 12/2007
In February 2008, I decided that I would upgrade the tank to a 220. That entailed moving the location of the 90 because I needed the location for the 220. Since I was going to tear down the tank I decided that I was going to ‘dislodge’ the SPS from the LR and just keep them on trays until the new build was completed. If they died in the process (I would have to do this anyway since I was not going to use any of the LR from the 90) then I would not have to rush setting up the new one. Another thing I learned over the years that LR bought at the LFS and internet will introduce unwanted pests into your aquarium no matter how much time you spend cycling it outside the tank. Especially if bought at the LFS. The LFSs mean well but they are built for volume not hard core reefers. Anyway, I was successful in removing the coral from the LR, not necessarily in one piece, but they all made it in one shape or another. Actually, the Digitata were left in shambles.
Two Trays of corals 2/2008
I’ll update the build as I get time.
But I did learn a lot of what to do for my next build. Nutrient export on my first build was a secondary thought and I paid dearly for it. I had a massive hair algae problem for 6 months because the only thing I used was an old technology non-circulating skimmer for nutrient export. I also learned the importance of having a refugium with chaeto in it. So after 3 years this is the tank in December 2007. All but three of these were grown from one inch frags added to the tank between March â€"œ June 2007. Actually, the three colonies that were bought from liveaquaria have not survived to date, even though frags of those three colonies did make it. But that is a story for another day. They got fried when I went from Hamilton 14K to Ushio 10K in the Coralife fixture.
90G 12/2007
In February 2008, I decided that I would upgrade the tank to a 220. That entailed moving the location of the 90 because I needed the location for the 220. Since I was going to tear down the tank I decided that I was going to ‘dislodge’ the SPS from the LR and just keep them on trays until the new build was completed. If they died in the process (I would have to do this anyway since I was not going to use any of the LR from the 90) then I would not have to rush setting up the new one. Another thing I learned over the years that LR bought at the LFS and internet will introduce unwanted pests into your aquarium no matter how much time you spend cycling it outside the tank. Especially if bought at the LFS. The LFSs mean well but they are built for volume not hard core reefers. Anyway, I was successful in removing the coral from the LR, not necessarily in one piece, but they all made it in one shape or another. Actually, the Digitata were left in shambles.
Two Trays of corals 2/2008
I’ll update the build as I get time.
