Upgrading my 50 gal.

[langtudatinh01]

it is amazing to see the transformation of the tank. i always look at the tank everyday a good 15 to 20 mins. hahha, well, whenever you ready. we could add a sump/ refugium. that will help. i hope to have more chaeto and tons of algae in my refugium to bring into the refugium sir. as right now, i am on the right track, the algae are growing everyday.

 

[carolina reefer]

Great job so far. Seems algae is a long term job to keep under control. What are you feeding the frogspawn?

 

[Alaska_Phil]

thanks carolina reefer. I just had a brief battle with the Dino's again, which seems to be under control now. And I've still got some hair algae issues I'm dealing with. I'll try and post some photos this weekend. However, I soaked my skimmer in vinegar to clean all the coraline algae out, and it's working much much better now. I've got foam overflowing around the collection cup daily! I think I'll pick up some muriatic acid and try that on some of the other components.

I've been feeding the LPS's a little mysis and cyclopese about once a week. I thaw them in a little cup of tank water, turn off all the circulation and very gently drop the mix over the coral with a turkey baster. I try to do this after the lights are off, or just before they turn off. I also try to use a mag-float on the glass each evening right before lights out. In theory it releases a bunch of micro alage and bacteria that many corals feed on. Don't know if that's really helping or not, but keeps the glass looking nice each day.

Still trying to come up with a good sump/refugium idea. My wife likes doing fine wood working, so we're starting to sketch up ideas for a custom stand that would have room for a 33 long based sump.

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Not much to update, I added an equipment cabinet next to the tank last weekend to hide the top off water. Now I'm trying to plan a sump to go in the same cabinet. Also, added a brown monti digitata on Friday. Seems to be doing well so far, but caught my flame angel picking at it earlier, so he may have to go.

I'll post pictures as soon as I get some decent ones.

Phil

 

[Alaska_Phil]

OK, time for an update with photos! Here's a full tank shot from this afternoon. There's a little hair algae down low on the rocks were flow isn't too hot.

And the latest addition, I'm attempting an SPS for the first time. This is a brown Monti Digitata from Blue Zoo. Suppose to be one of the easiest SPS, so I'm hopeful. The photo on the left is from a week ago, and my white balance was way off.

In the second photo, the white dots that appeared on the sides had me worried, I thought they were where the Flame Angel had been picking on it. But comparing it to the photo from a week ago, I realized they were protrusions! I think it's actually growing! :bounce2: And the angel seems to be leaving it alone now. I placed it in the middle of my clown fish's territory, so they usually chase him off if he gets too near that corner of the tank. :uzi:

In other news, I added a big cabinet next to the tank. So now I have a place to hide the top off jug and I'm hoping in the near future a sump too!

Phil

 

[Alaska_Phil]

Here's a close-up photo with the line of white bumps visible on the vertical branch. Are these signs of growth or should I be worried?

 

[Alaska_Phil]

My last upgrade to this tank was last spring, in April I think. I added and algae scrubber in the sump. It finally got rid of my algae problems in the tank. compare the pictures below to the full tank shot above from last year. I gotta say, if anyone is having algae problems they should try an algae scrubber.