Tank of the Month - September 2002

[Elmo18]

Nice tank there Joe.

- Elmo

 

[JB NY]

Re: Awesome

Re: Awesome

Totally awesome display!!! If i could ask how did the tank change when you recently added the fuge? Did you have nutrient excess before/ any less or more alge now? And also are you useing any mechanical (sponge) filters in the sump? Thanks.

Yeah I used to have lots of excess nutrients in the tank. Trying to feed all the fish and corals (before using live food) was causing too much nutrients to accumulate in the tank. Although I had no hair or other common algae, I had a bryopsis problem that was starting to get out of control. Probably about 5 months ago the bryopsis was on about 20% of the rock. So I added the fuge, and did a bunch of water changes. Also ran lots of carbon. About two months later the bryopsis started dying back. Now it is almost non existent. I think the refugium helped the most as I have done the water changes and carbon before but not had the same effect as when I used the refugium.

 

[in2deep]

Joe, thanks for the insight on the fuge. Just curious but do you run the sponge filters in the sump? and how does your Lifereef skimmer do with the Dolphin 1200? Thanks, Mike.

 

[JB NY]

No sponges in the sump or anywhere. the baffles I put in the refugiums pretty much take care of any bubble in the main tank.

I used to have a little giant 3MD on the skimmer. I swapped it out about 3 months ago and like the dolphin better.

 

[slojmn]

JB, Just glorious. I will fourth, fifth, and sixth the "fish room to die for". Really nice sps color and growth, love the comparison growth pics.

sci33,

It's not just that they require more work, but being successful with SPS usually shows a reef keeper who knows what he is doing. That's what tank of the month is about, setting up a tank the right way, not just growing the colors but knowing what you're doing.

lots of she's out here

 

[Corpus Callosum]

sorry I meant to write "he/she". For example look at Sue Truett's tank.

 

[joefish]

Joe Congrats,:celeb1: :celeb3:
There is nothing left to say everyone beat me to it.

 

[JazzMan]

Joe,
I actually have your site bookmarked, and have been following your progress for sometime. The tank is amazing. Keep up the good work.

 

[xmadcowx]

so how much convincing?

so how much convincing?

how much convincing did it take to let you use an entire room for the "fish room"...gosh, if my girlfriend ever let that happen i dont know what i would do, probably go out and buy another tank while she was still in the mood. o yea most execllent job on the tank, like i cant describe, so much cool stuff, plus you have a hippo! you win!

 

[JB NY]

The fish room is actually a corner of the basement. We have a finished basement that is not used at all, other than for some storage. So convincing was easy as it got all the equipment out from under and around the tank stand and meant my wife would get her living room back.

 

[nematode]

Joe,
great tank.
I could only find a partial list of you fish stock?

I see you added a DSB in the basement. How do you like your DSB in your tank? Would you do it again if you had to start over?

 

[Mushroom Boy]

As always, fabulous tank Joe!!! Inspiration abounds!

Paul.

 

[joefish]

Hey Joe,
Why did you seperate and make 2 refugiums instead of 1 with every thing in it???

 

[JB NY]

I could only find a partial list of you fish stock?

I see you added a DSB in the basement. How do you like your DSB in your tank? Would you do it again if you had to start over?

Fish list is posted on my website, here it is:

Lyretail Anthias (3)
Spotted Mandarinfish
Yellow-Streaked Fairy Wrasse
False Clown Fish (2)
Coral Beauty
Hippo Tang
Six-line wrasse
Niger trigger
One-spot Foxface
Fathead Anthias

I really like a DSB, I think they work great and help tremendously in keeping nitrates at near zero levels.

Why did you seperate and make 2 refugiums instead of 1 with every thing in it???

I felt that two, each one serving a specific purpose, would be better than one large one trying to do it all. I think if you have the room, multiple refugiums are a great benefit to the display tank.

 

[JoJoIndianapolis]

You're he first person I have seen in a while that has a Niger Trigger in their reef tank. How well does this guy do, any problems, such as knocking corals over, or bulling smaller fish.

I also added your site to my favorites, so I can show my friends what an idela tank looks. AWESOME!


Great tank JOE!

 

[cvye]

phytoplankton

phytoplankton

You seem to be feeding alot of phytoplankton. Which are the target animals you hope will benefit from this?

 

[DJMEAT]

Dream Tank

Dream Tank

I can safely say that that tank is the stuff dreams are made of!!!! I have just got to get a second job!!!



Spectacular tank JB

 

[hiddendragonet]

All I can say is, Wow! Stunning purple montipora. I WANT ONE.... aaahaaghghhghghgh.... (Homer Simpson-esque drool sound).

Let me know if you're ever shipping monti frags to Wisco! :smokin:

 

[DJMEAT]

traders WHUT!!!!!

traders WHUT!!!!!

ITs official JB you are now going to have to frag every piece of coral you own!!!

 

[JB NY]

You're he first person I have seen in a while that has a Niger Trigger in their reef tank. How well does this guy do, any problems, such as knocking corals over, or bulling smaller fish.

No. So far the niger has behaved better than some of my other "reef safe" fish. The Niger never bothers any corals or fish. He seems to get along fine with the whole tank. He is still very small less than 2" but I bought very small 5 months ago. Time will tell.

You seem to be feeding a lot of phytoplankton. Which are the target animals you hope will benefit from this?

For the most part I hope that some gorgonians, soft corals, invertebrates, feather dusters and other small and microscopic critters will eat the phytoplankton. I don't think the SPS will eat it. That's why I also feed rotifers.

Again, everyone, thank you for all your complements.