Perry's 120 Gallon Reef
- Thread starter plyle02
- Start date
plyle02
Active member
Little May update 
Have added a few fish, diamond goby, pair of black ice/snowflake clowns, and a mystery wrasse. I re-scaped back in early April, but have not put up a FTS, so, figured I would update with some pics.
I was able to clear out a lot of zoa/palys, they occupied some serious landscape, donated to a local reefer. I have plans on removing the hippo tang, and 2 RBTA's. I will drain the tank next week hopefully, and then plan on removals. Anyway, here are some pics of the recent look.
Thanks,
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Clown Pair:
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Mystery Wrasse:
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Have added a few fish, diamond goby, pair of black ice/snowflake clowns, and a mystery wrasse. I re-scaped back in early April, but have not put up a FTS, so, figured I would update with some pics.
I was able to clear out a lot of zoa/palys, they occupied some serious landscape, donated to a local reefer. I have plans on removing the hippo tang, and 2 RBTA's. I will drain the tank next week hopefully, and then plan on removals. Anyway, here are some pics of the recent look.
Thanks,
Clown Pair:
Mystery Wrasse:
Chris Lakies
Active member
Hi perry. I really like your aquascape! Nice looking corals too! I'm planning on getting a mystery wrasse as well in the future. What is your T5 bulb combo?
plyle02
Active member
Hello and thank you, I appreciate the kind words.
Combo Front to back all ATI Bulbs:
1. Blue+
2. Purple+
3. Blue Special
4. Blue+
5. Blue Special
6. Blue+
7. True Act
8. Purple+
CeeGee
New member
Dang! Already looks better than my tank!
Not sure what you are talking about on the ATB skimmer. A good skimmer is a good skimmer. Not much has changed in skimmer tech except for the DC pumps these days (which the quality of said pumps is questionable at the moment).
Tank looks great would like to know what you do to keep your colors as time goes on. I find the T5's put out a ton of light and can bleach quickly. I have been feeding my tank like crazy and my corals are still pale. I do however run a little GFO and Biopellets. May need to remove them at some point.
Not sure what you are talking about on the ATB skimmer. A good skimmer is a good skimmer. Not much has changed in skimmer tech except for the DC pumps these days (which the quality of said pumps is questionable at the moment).
Tank looks great would like to know what you do to keep your colors as time goes on. I find the T5's put out a ton of light and can bleach quickly. I have been feeding my tank like crazy and my corals are still pale. I do however run a little GFO and Biopellets. May need to remove them at some point.
plyle02
Active member
CeeGee,
Good to see you around, and thank you for the compliments
What I meant by the skimmer is the solid build in craftsmanship, but agree that the technology is really in the pump, I have since switched to the PSK1000 by Sicce, happy with it's performance.
As far as the t5's go, they seem to work well with my corals, in fact, the more recent photos show darker tissue, probably due to lack of pellets, gfo, and active carbon. I am only having to brush the glass every 3-4 days, I use that as a guide for nutrients. I can always go back online with gfo or carbon if necessary, but right now, simply skimming and feeding and 2 water changes a month. My bioload is relatively small, given I only have 5 fish. Thanks for checking things out
plyle02
Active member
Thanks Sahin!
The acros are super happy, revealing PE day or night, some other species are slow going, but happy to open the scape up a bit and allow for new corals to have plenty of future grow out space. At this point, I will only add a few more, very select sps to the tank, I will be applying my focus towards fish additions in the future. If I do happen to stumble upon some nice corals, cannot say I will resist, lol...
Thanks!
plyle02
Active member
Thanks Mike
Yeah, the Hippo at it's current size, really needs a longer tank than 48". The RBTA in the back is stinging any coral it comes into contact with, very irratating:headwalls:
Thanks again!
plyle02
Active member
Sahin, here is your update, lol....
FAIL.....
I am in a re-boot phase. Here is what I have decided to do moving forward, on this tank.
1. No additives at this time other than occasional ca or mag supplementation
2. Dripping Kalk/ Calcium Hydroxide(30ml every hour) this has proven to keep my current corals and inhabitants dialed in around 8.5DKH, Calcium slowly declining, but I give it a shot every week or so, Kalk alone not enough to sustain both, but doing a nice job nonetheless.
3. Upped my feeding to fish twice per day
4. ATB skimming like a beast, running chaeto in center chamber of sump, lit on opposite cycle of main tank.
5. ATI Carbon active, changed every month
6. NO PO4 removers(may have been my problem, explain later)
Personal observation: I believe like so many others that have had successful SPS tanks, before all the propaganda behind number chasing/obsession, I lost my ability to see what was truly happening in the tank. I have taken a step back, rebooted, and started over essentially. I will get a current snap shot at some point to show my current rock layout. At this time I only have the following, and the list is short in SPS, lol...
1. Orange Digi
2. Montipora Setosa
3. Purple Bonsai
4. Acropora Desalwi
These are all fragish size, and have added some other non sps as well. I am taking my time, and making sure that these corals sustain a few weeks with signs of growth before any new additions. BTW I have PO4 Hannah pocket meter, and Salifert Nitrate test kit, however, I am no longer going to test for these. I am going old school, using the algae on glass to determine my nutrients. I am however testing Alk, CA on the regular to make sure and dial in. Again, Kalk dripped seems to be locking me in, my PH really appreciates it too PH, not something we here in discussion anymore, used to be heavily discussed, I truly believe a proper PH is more important than PO4 and NO3
Thanks for checking things out!
Regards,
FAIL.....
I am in a re-boot phase. Here is what I have decided to do moving forward, on this tank.
1. No additives at this time other than occasional ca or mag supplementation
2. Dripping Kalk/ Calcium Hydroxide(30ml every hour) this has proven to keep my current corals and inhabitants dialed in around 8.5DKH, Calcium slowly declining, but I give it a shot every week or so, Kalk alone not enough to sustain both, but doing a nice job nonetheless.
3. Upped my feeding to fish twice per day
4. ATB skimming like a beast, running chaeto in center chamber of sump, lit on opposite cycle of main tank.
5. ATI Carbon active, changed every month
6. NO PO4 removers(may have been my problem, explain later)
Personal observation: I believe like so many others that have had successful SPS tanks, before all the propaganda behind number chasing/obsession, I lost my ability to see what was truly happening in the tank. I have taken a step back, rebooted, and started over essentially. I will get a current snap shot at some point to show my current rock layout. At this time I only have the following, and the list is short in SPS, lol...
1. Orange Digi
2. Montipora Setosa
3. Purple Bonsai
4. Acropora Desalwi
These are all fragish size, and have added some other non sps as well. I am taking my time, and making sure that these corals sustain a few weeks with signs of growth before any new additions. BTW I have PO4 Hannah pocket meter, and Salifert Nitrate test kit, however, I am no longer going to test for these. I am going old school, using the algae on glass to determine my nutrients. I am however testing Alk, CA on the regular to make sure and dial in. Again, Kalk dripped seems to be locking me in, my PH really appreciates it too
PH, not something we here in discussion anymore, used to be heavily discussed, I truly believe a proper PH is more important than PO4 and NO3 Thanks for checking things out!
Regards,
sahin
Ultimate Reefer
I restarted about October time as well...started to get random STN...even LPS corals that I'd had for years browned out...all the coralline algae bleached and died off...So I restarted the tank, carried out some mods...and then got AEFW's...beat that. :lol:
But, I am working through it all with a level head and a lot more patience; and its paying off. My corals are colouring up nicely, despite the AEFW's and the weekly dipping.
In terms of filtration...you copied me man. :lol: Just kidding. Its exactly what I am doing; Kalk, and to use two part alongside once growth takes off. Only run GAC; no GFO. I dont have any real algae issues; but the rocks do have tiny tiny green hairs that the snails and one Tomini Tang keep mowed nicely. If it gets worse, I will bring in an army of hermits and more snails.
I think if I can keep this up for another 6 months I should get some pretty decent colour in the SPS.
So it looks like you are heading for more or less the same. :beer:
But, I am working through it all with a level head and a lot more patience; and its paying off. My corals are colouring up nicely, despite the AEFW's and the weekly dipping.
In terms of filtration...you copied me man. :lol: Just kidding. Its exactly what I am doing; Kalk, and to use two part alongside once growth takes off. Only run GAC; no GFO. I dont have any real algae issues; but the rocks do have tiny tiny green hairs that the snails and one Tomini Tang keep mowed nicely. If it gets worse, I will bring in an army of hermits and more snails.
I think if I can keep this up for another 6 months I should get some pretty decent colour in the SPS.
So it looks like you are heading for more or less the same. :beer:
plyle02
Active member
Hey Sahin,
Looks as though many are starting back to the basics, lol... I like what kalk offers, I like that it keeps my dosing down to a weekly basis, vs a daily basis. I know that once I lock in, all I have to do is simply mix each time the same way, I have calculated to deliver the amount that compensates for evaporation, this way, as the reef grows, I can simply up my amount of kalk per gallon, and/or supplement with 2 part. If the reef gets too demanding, I may add a CA RX down the road, but this is way in the distant future Kalk compensating for evaporation allows me to keep ALK locked in first and foremost, I will simply add Salifert CA on a weekly basis, and a shot of their Hard Trace on a weekly basis. This should lock me in and allow for Ionic Balance to be achieved for my best approach and lifestyle. I am done with automated dosing, especially 2 parts, I have rarely had them work perfectly in a linear way, and with dosing pumps failing, or not being regularly re calibrated, I feel this becomes too much for me and my schedule. I plan on testing the Big 3 each week, taking notes, and bumping the kalk up or down based on results. I feel Kalk alone will hold my Alk stable and strong. I am fine with a slight drift of calcium and magnesium on the weekly basis, the results will let me know how much I will need to buffer for the CA and MAG. I am merely moving to a way of husbandry that has proven for me in the past. Fish, feeding, strong lighting, skimming, and stable parameters. That is the goal anyway
Looks as though many are starting back to the basics, lol... I like what kalk offers, I like that it keeps my dosing down to a weekly basis, vs a daily basis. I know that once I lock in, all I have to do is simply mix each time the same way, I have calculated to deliver the amount that compensates for evaporation, this way, as the reef grows, I can simply up my amount of kalk per gallon, and/or supplement with 2 part. If the reef gets too demanding, I may add a CA RX down the road, but this is way in the distant future
Kalk compensating for evaporation allows me to keep ALK locked in first and foremost, I will simply add Salifert CA on a weekly basis, and a shot of their Hard Trace on a weekly basis. This should lock me in and allow for Ionic Balance to be achieved for my best approach and lifestyle. I am done with automated dosing, especially 2 parts, I have rarely had them work perfectly in a linear way, and with dosing pumps failing, or not being regularly re calibrated, I feel this becomes too much for me and my schedule. I plan on testing the Big 3 each week, taking notes, and bumping the kalk up or down based on results. I feel Kalk alone will hold my Alk stable and strong. I am fine with a slight drift of calcium and magnesium on the weekly basis, the results will let me know how much I will need to buffer for the CA and MAG. I am merely moving to a way of husbandry that has proven for me in the past. Fish, feeding, strong lighting, skimming, and stable parameters. That is the goal anyway 
glaukos
New member
That's not a FAIL perry buddy,that's a new nice start:wave:
Happy to see that and can't wait for the rockwork pics!
I'm a "kalk believer" too,so i'm with you on that
Amost 3 litres of it daily,kept my older tank 90 gallons,staedy regarding its demand in ca and alk.
And it had many many sps in there,so i think too,you'll be ok!:thumbsup:
Happy to see that and can't wait for the rockwork pics!
I'm a "kalk believer" too,so i'm with you on that
Amost 3 litres of it daily,kept my older tank 90 gallons,staedy regarding its demand in ca and alk.
And it had many many sps in there,so i think too,you'll be ok!:thumbsup:
plyle02
Active member
Thanks for the kind words Mike, your tank is looking outstanding, great job buddy Yep, I know what works, and works on the wallet too. I have spent so much uneccessary $ on supplements in the past, just trying to make things happen with the basics, so far so good. I will dust off the camera tomorrow and snap a few pics, thanks again!
Yep, I know what works, and works on the wallet too. I have spent so much uneccessary $ on supplements in the past, just trying to make things happen with the basics, so far so good. I will dust off the camera tomorrow and snap a few pics, thanks again!
plyle02
Active member
Thanks Matt,
Even though I have few corals right now, I am really appreciating and watching them grow and color, I am eager to get things going, but want to do so in stages that I can measure impact on ca/alk/mag uptake. This way I can appreciate the existing corals, and gain confidence as I move forward to my ideal pieces, and their respective locations. Anyway that is the general idea for now
Even though I have few corals right now, I am really appreciating and watching them grow and color, I am eager to get things going, but want to do so in stages that I can measure impact on ca/alk/mag uptake. This way I can appreciate the existing corals, and gain confidence as I move forward to my ideal pieces, and their respective locations. Anyway that is the general idea for now
