The real purple monster!

[mgny]

Had this blue ridge colony since 1996. It has grown from a 3 inch frag to this. Through the years it would only show its white polyps on rare occasions. The last week or so they have been out 24/7. What a difference, the coral is stunning this way. I have always said this coral was underrated, most people ignore it. It is without a doubt the most impressive coral in the tank. Enjoy the pics.

 

[Julio]

Tank looks great, great blue color on that coral!!

 

[DEXTER SOLIS]

everything in this tank makes me soooo jealous! I feel so lucky to see Mikes tank in person..... not to mention you couldnt find a more down to earth reefer. thanks for all the advice dude, hoping to follow your lead.

 

[mgny]

Thanks guys. The tank amazes me every day. I learned a long time ago that perfection in this hobby is something that will never be reached. You can always look to improve the tank one way or another. This is what keeps me intrested. Reallly similar to my other vice, golf.

 

[pyro383]

mgny - how about some stats on the tank. The clam looks huge. I also have the blue ridge and its polyps extend once in a blue moon.

Do you frag anything

 

[onegreenray]

tank looks great mike!

 

[Antman]

Just saw Mikes tank in person last week and the pix look great but looks much better in person
Keep up the great work

 

[woodworker1959]

Tanks is awesome

Tanks is awesome

It does look better in person, but those pictures are really great. Thanks for posting. By the way I tried your way of make up with a Reef Filler pump and a Rubbermade 32 gallon container w/ Kalk.
Works great took me a few days of fooling arout to get it right, but my Ph is alot better and it seems to be helping the Calcium Reactor. Thanks for the advice.

 

[mgny]

Cant take credit for the kalk make up. I followed Farley's method in the chemistry forum. It made a big difference in the overall tank quality and cut down on maintenance. No longer had to carry buckets from the basement.

Tank is a 180 bb. Lighting vho's. MTC procal reactor. 25 gal fuge bb with cheato and 2 types of xenia for nutrient export . 30 gal sump. Skimmer is the original turboflotor from the beginning. No need to go out and spend crazy money on a skimmer. Had 2 closed loops for flow. Removed one and replaced it a year ago with a vortech. The vortech has been a huge addition to the tank. Flow was always a problem as the corals grew, no longer since the vortech was added. 2 sea swirls also are on the tank. I dont need a chiller, another benefit of the vho,s and the vortech. Frags are always available. Thanks Mike

 

[pyro383]

how much wattage on the vho's, incredible growth in the sps. Proves that it isn't always about wattage

 

[mgny]

Have run 3 aquasuns and 3 actinics with icecap ballasts since the beginning. Quality equipment .

 

[pyro383]

160watts ea?

 

[bobbbm]

Is there anyway you can post pics of the lighting itself? I hate to be a pain but I am trying to get ideas... I want to switch from MH because of heat

 

[mgny]

THe bulbs are the 5ft 140watters. The 6 footers with the endcaps would be too long. The 2 660 iceap ballasts are kept away from the tank in a closet. The ballasts come with a heat sink as well. I think mh lighting is overkill in most cases. Between the energy bill and the need for a chiller not sure why most reefers choose mh lighting.

bobbbm, your welcome to stop by and check it out anytime. Just shoot me a pm.

 

[sleezyp1]

Mike your tank is an insparation to us all.

 

[Editour2]

Tank looks great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[godlyme]

my frags you hooked me up with a while ago are doing great....polyps are out regularly on the blue ridge, it seems to grow up and up. yours does look really cool in your tank

 

[mgny]

Glad to hear it god. Thats intresting about your frag. I would say that the polyps were almost never out on the colony up until a week ago. They have remained out, what a difference. If this coral would look this way at the lfs,s i think more people would give it a try. It has also been super hardy for me. It survived the neanderthal years of my reefing!

 

[godlyme]

yeah i was surprised when you said they were rarely out... wonder what that means.. i was curious how this guy was going to grow..and now looking at yours more closely I see. it certainly is a cool coral....and i have never seen one at a lfs

 

[Reefist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9419348#post9419348 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mgny
Cant take credit for the kalk make up. I followed Farley's method in the chemistry forum. It made a big difference in the overall tank quality and cut down on maintenance.

Can you describe this system? How often do you mix an new batch or do you just keep adding kalk to the reservoir.

Thanks
Tom