September 2015 Tank of the Month!

[Genetics]

<b>This month we are featuring Adam Sutherland's (One_Divided) 180 US-gallon reef aquarium.</b>


<img src="http://www.reefkeeping.com/joomla//images/stories/totm/Sept2015/FTSsm.jpg" alt="" border="0"><br><br> <br> More details can be found <a href="http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/161-tank-of-the-month" target="_blank">here</a>.


Congratulations, Adam!


Also check out the <a href="http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/" target="_blank">Reefkeeping Blog</a>!<br> <br> <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><table style="WIDTH: 431px" align="center" border="2" bordercolor="#006699" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td bgcolor="#006699" width="73%"><center><font color="#ffffff">If you'd like to nominate a tank for Tank of the Month, click <a href="http://reefcentral.com/forums/newthread.php?s=&action=newthread&forumid=189" target="_blank"><font color="#ffffff">here</font></a> or use the button to the right.</font></center></td> <td bgcolor="#ffffff" width="27%"><a href="http://reefcentral.com/forums/newthread.php?s=&action=newthread&forumid=189" target="_blank"><img src="http://reefkeeping.com/images/nominate1.gif" alt="" border="0"></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

 

[DgenR8]

Great tank, Adam! Thank you for sharing with us.

 

[Shawn O]

"- In my experience, the popular brand coral dips don’t always seem to work on small acropora/montipora copepods. I have witnessed them living in the slime while the coral is being dipped. The best way to be sure you won’t end up with these buggers is to give new corals a strong treatment of Interceptor or similar (I use Milbemax) which you will need to acquire from your local vet. If done correctly, this will be 100% effective in eradicating any/all crustaceans."

As a complete noob I'm wondering why you don't want crustaceans (pods) in your tank?

 

[toothybugs]

Wow. Yea I would not mind having that in my basement.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Absolutely beautiful tank Adam! Congratulations!

 

[ReefBum]

Stunning! Congrats!

 

[Pny]

Congrats!

 

[One_Divided]

"- In my experience, the popular brand coral dips don't always seem to work on small acropora/montipora copepods. I have witnessed them living in the slime while the coral is being dipped. The best way to be sure you won't end up with these buggers is to give new corals a strong treatment of Interceptor or similar (I use Milbemax) which you will need to acquire from your local vet. If done correctly, this will be 100% effective in eradicating any/all crustaceans."

As a complete noob I'm wondering why you don't want crustaceans (pods) in your tank?

I'm referring to the parasitic kind that come in on acro's and monti's. Search red acro bugs and you'll see what I mean.

 

[s2nhle]

Congrats. Well deserve. Thank you for sharing your tips.

 

[Wazzel]

Congrats Adam, nice tank.

 

[martyf]

Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing details of the tank

 

[Wiskey]

Amazing tank! I love the huge stags and monti caps, they really draw your eye around the tank.

Whiskey

 

[Oldude]

Congrats Adam!! Beautiful reef tank.

 

[Gondore]

Congrats man! Your tank looks great and your write-up was excellent!

A few questions came to mind for me as I read your article. I have always struggled with my phosphates being 0.00 in my tank (tested with Hanna). I run BRS GFO and change it out monthly. I found it interesting how you are using the FoZ Down to manage your phosphates. I wonder if this might be a better way for me to allow some phosphates to exist but at a low level. I was also wondering what brand of phytoplankton you are feeding and how you power the t5 figure on your frag tank versus the halides on your DT in regards to growth and coloration?

 

[One_Divided]

Congrats man! Your tank looks great and your write-up was excellent!

A few questions came to mind for me as I read your article. I have always struggled with my phosphates being 0.00 in my tank (tested with Hanna). I run BRS GFO and change it out monthly. I found it interesting how you are using the FoZ Down to manage your phosphates. I wonder if this might be a better way for me to allow some phosphates to exist but at a low level. I was also wondering what brand of phytoplankton you are feeding and how you power the t5 figure on your frag tank versus the halides on your DT in regards to growth and coloration?

Thanks! I use Pacifica Plankton that is harvested in the Georgia Straight close to where I live. Same company that carries Fozdown. I think the Fozdown is a good way to go. Mostly because it's easy, but also, like you were getting at; it will allow intermittently between dosings for some phosphates to exist in the water which in turn, can be absorbed as food. Running media means your pulling stuff out all the time. Also, changing media once/month = Pain in the ***!

 

[Gondore]

Thanks! I use Pacifica Plankton that is harvested in the Georgia Straight close to where I live. Same company that carries Fozdown. I think the Fozdown is a good way to go. Mostly because it's easy, but also, like you were getting at; it will allow intermittently between dosings for some phosphates to exist in the water which in turn, can be absorbed as food. Running media means your pulling stuff out all the time. Also, changing media once/month = Pain in the ***!

Thanks for the reply!

How about the T5 fixture on your frag tank compared to the halides on your display? Much difference on growth and coloration?

 

[One_Divided]

The corals in the optimal halide spots appear to grow the fastest. I would say some pieces get better colour from the T5's, but for the most part, you can't beat the Radiums. Keep in mind I have 4 80w T5's in that canopy too.

 

[Gondore]

The corals in the optimal halide spots appear to grow the fastest. I would say some pieces get better colour from the T5's, but for the most part, you can't beat the Radiums. Keep in mind I have 4 80w T5's in that canopy too.

I do love the Radiums. I ran them on my old 90 gallon tank. My new 150 is a rimless so finding a MH fixture that looks good hanging above it is very challenging these days...that's why I ended up going with an 8 bulb ATI Sunpower with a XHO reefbrite strip.

Thanks again man for all the great info.

 

[MikeTR]

Definitely true that what works for one tank doesn't for another. Looking at your equipment I can't figure out how your sticks aren't growing sideways and how you haven't burned everything to a crisp. I was only running 250w radiums and bleaching everything, even in the lower thirds. Also having to reevaluate my powerheads, only running 2 mp40s (reef crest anti-sync) and the sps that's 2 feet away has odd growth patterns, flat on the one side or sharp right angles. Any suggestions?

 

[One_Divided]

Definitely true that what works for one tank doesn't for another. Looking at your equipment I can't figure out how your sticks aren't growing sideways and how you haven't burned everything to a crisp. I was only running 250w radiums and bleaching everything, even in the lower thirds. Also having to reevaluate my powerheads, only running 2 mp40s (reef crest anti-sync) and the sps that's 2 feet away has odd growth patterns, flat on the one side or sharp right angles. Any suggestions?

I'm not sure.. I'll take some pics inside my canopy.. My bulbs are pretty high up and the reflectors are pretty wimpy retrofit ones.. I needed small reflectors to fit the T5's in. I have never bleached an acro with a metal halide!