Hey guys I have been trolling RC for several years and have finally decided to create an account!
Heres a breakdown of my system and some pics!
Solana 34 Gal
- Removed stock skimmer
- Back center channel filled with rubble rock
- No mechanical filtration
Sicce 1.5 Return Pump
Tunze Nano Doc Skimmer
Vortech MP10w
Ecoxotic Panorama LED Fixture
- w/ Ecoxotic Blue Stunner Strip
Running for 7 months with all current livestock.
Lighting : Lights run for 4 hours a day. Although a large percentage of these are considered true azooxanthellae coral (there are 2 photosynthetic gorgonians) I have found that being without light leads to a decrease in all the corals health. I have found that even in the diodigorgia smaller less expanded polyps and overall faded coloration along with a decrease in overall tissue mass. The Swiftia tend to prefer to open during the traditional day under the lights. It is tough for me to see a difference in the overall tissue as they are skinnier than the rod types.
Feeding : Feed consists of
- Cyclopeeze
- Ova
- Reef Caviar (Capilene fish eggs) (Swifita Gorgs do not eat)
- Phyto Feast
- Reef Roids
Feeding Regimen : Food is fed as many times a day as possible. Usually at least 6-7 times a day. It is spot fed to all the gorgonians and sun corals using a "turkey baster" type tool. The Carnation corals (dendronepthyea), Red Ball Sponge, Red Chili Corals and the Spiral Coral receive the leftovers that are not taken by the Gorgonians. Although the following are not specifically spot fed there is a large amount of food present throughout the day/night in the water column.
Livestock:
Fish / Inverts (excluding corals)
- Rhinopias Frondosa
- Damselfish (Rhino Food)
- Arrow Crab
-Filter Feeding Cucumber
-Tiger Tail Sand Sifter
- 3 Small Hermits
Corals ( sorry for spelling )
- Diodigorgia
- Swiftia Exserta
- Dendronepthyea
- Tubastrea
- Red Sponge (unsure of scientific )
- Spiralis Wire Coral
- Red Chili Corals
- Red Gorgonian ( I havent ID'd )
Growth :
I have noticed growth in the majority of corals. It is not the traditional growth in one sense, On the diodigorgia I have noticed a lot of encrusting on the base with many polyps on the newly encrusted areas. Also significant thickening of the tissue.
Swiftia Exserta : When I received the pieces there was a few spots on the skeleton that where "transparent", where I could see the black skeleton through the tissue and some spots where there was bare skeleton between two healthy sections. After multiple feedings the flesh has thickened up and the transparent spots are now full color and you can no longer see the skeletons.
Chili Corals : Its tough for me to judge based off of size as these inflate/deflate at random points throughout the day. One significant thing I have seen is that they have encrusted themselves to pieces of rock they were placed on.
Carnation Coral : Again tough to judge size, many of the little pups that were attached to the rock have grown about 2x. Tha main colonies seem to have retained weight/put on weight.
Heres a breakdown of my system and some pics!
Solana 34 Gal
- Removed stock skimmer
- Back center channel filled with rubble rock
- No mechanical filtration
Sicce 1.5 Return Pump
Tunze Nano Doc Skimmer
Vortech MP10w
Ecoxotic Panorama LED Fixture
- w/ Ecoxotic Blue Stunner Strip
Running for 7 months with all current livestock.
Lighting : Lights run for 4 hours a day. Although a large percentage of these are considered true azooxanthellae coral (there are 2 photosynthetic gorgonians) I have found that being without light leads to a decrease in all the corals health. I have found that even in the diodigorgia smaller less expanded polyps and overall faded coloration along with a decrease in overall tissue mass. The Swiftia tend to prefer to open during the traditional day under the lights. It is tough for me to see a difference in the overall tissue as they are skinnier than the rod types.
Feeding : Feed consists of
- Cyclopeeze
- Ova
- Reef Caviar (Capilene fish eggs) (Swifita Gorgs do not eat)
- Phyto Feast
- Reef Roids
Feeding Regimen : Food is fed as many times a day as possible. Usually at least 6-7 times a day. It is spot fed to all the gorgonians and sun corals using a "turkey baster" type tool. The Carnation corals (dendronepthyea), Red Ball Sponge, Red Chili Corals and the Spiral Coral receive the leftovers that are not taken by the Gorgonians. Although the following are not specifically spot fed there is a large amount of food present throughout the day/night in the water column.
Livestock:
Fish / Inverts (excluding corals)
- Rhinopias Frondosa
- Damselfish (Rhino Food)
- Arrow Crab
-Filter Feeding Cucumber
-Tiger Tail Sand Sifter
- 3 Small Hermits
Corals ( sorry for spelling )
- Diodigorgia
- Swiftia Exserta
- Dendronepthyea
- Tubastrea
- Red Sponge (unsure of scientific )
- Spiralis Wire Coral
- Red Chili Corals
- Red Gorgonian ( I havent ID'd )
Growth :
I have noticed growth in the majority of corals. It is not the traditional growth in one sense, On the diodigorgia I have noticed a lot of encrusting on the base with many polyps on the newly encrusted areas. Also significant thickening of the tissue.
Swiftia Exserta : When I received the pieces there was a few spots on the skeleton that where "transparent", where I could see the black skeleton through the tissue and some spots where there was bare skeleton between two healthy sections. After multiple feedings the flesh has thickened up and the transparent spots are now full color and you can no longer see the skeletons.
Chili Corals : Its tough for me to judge based off of size as these inflate/deflate at random points throughout the day. One significant thing I have seen is that they have encrusted themselves to pieces of rock they were placed on.
Carnation Coral : Again tough to judge size, many of the little pups that were attached to the rock have grown about 2x. Tha main colonies seem to have retained weight/put on weight.
