The 75g Reef - New pictures! ^_^

[LittleReef]

Heya, MAAST. :)
After my introduction thread, I thought I might make a thread just to monitor my progress, and keep updated pictures. Well, here it goes!

Unfortunately, I don't know the specifics on the equipment that I have. (Don't know brand names)

My setup:
-75g standard
-48"x18"x20" (Length, Width, Height)
-Sump/Refugium (I use live rock rubble)
-Built-in overflow
-Skimmer
-IceCap 4 x 54w T5 HO.
-Lights attached to canopy

Livestock: (Fish - Corals)
- Amphiprion Ocellaris (False Percula; Two)
- Chrysiptera cyanea (Blue Devil Damsel; Female)
- Siganus unimaculatus (One Spot Foxface)
- Nemateleotris magnifica (Firefish)
- Goniopora Stoski (Flower Pot Coral)
- Acropora Secale (Tri-Color Acropora)
- Seriatopora Guttatus (Green Bird's Nest)
- Acropora sp. (ORA Purple Plasma)
- Epizoanthus scotinus (Orange Zoanthid)
- Montipora capricornus (Orange Montipora)
- Neoliomera pubescens (Green Mushroom)

Water Parameters:

Ammonia - Undetectable
Calcium - 500 ppm
kH - 12 ppm
Nitrate - Undetectable
Nitrite - Undetectable
Phosphate - Undetectable
pH - 8.2
Temperature - 80-82 (Fahrenheit)


SPS Coral Growth (Numbered as they were added):
1. Green Bird's Nest
Date added - 2/10/09
Bought at (size) - 1 1/2"
Current (size) - 2 1/2 " (Multiple branches)
2. Tri-color Acropora
Date added - 2/21/09
Bought at (size) - 2"
Current (size) - 2" (Was recovering from shock; zooanthellae regained; colors regained [blue/green])
3. Orange Montipora
Date added - 2/21/09
Bought at (size) - 2" diameter
Current (size) - 2 1/2 " diameter
4. Purple Plasma
Date added - 3/8/09
Bought at (size) - 2 1/2"
Current (size) - 2 1/2"

LPS Coral Growth (Numbered as added):
1. Goniopora
Date added - 2/6/09
Bought at (size) - 5" diameter (Tentacles branching at 4"-5")
Current (size) - 5" diameter (Tentacles branching at 4"-5 1/2")

Soft Coral (Numbered as added):
1. Orange Zoanthid
Date added - 2/1/09
Bought at (colony size) - 30-35 polyps
Current (colony size) - 40-50 polyps
2. Green Mushroom
Date added - 2/1/09
Bought at (colony size) - 8 heads
Current (colony size) - 9 heads


Pictures:

New pictures currently not available. I should have some by tomorrow at latest.

About me:
My name is Brooks. I am 15 years old and I live in Austin, Texas.
Since the age of 9, I've been fascinated with the idea of creating an ecosystem that mimics that of what we see in our ocean's today. As I've grown, I've come to understand the specific environmental conditions these species require for life.
Being somewhat new to reef aquariums, I can only say that I am growing in my knowledge acquired along the journey to simulate the habitat that occurs in many different areas of our world's oceans.
I hope that the corals and fish that I acquire throughout this experience have been responsibly raised in captivity. As days go by, our ocean's reefs deteriorate due to the carelessness of humans. Due to this, I feel as though it is our (as saltwater enthusiasts) responsibility to help preserve reefs in the wild, and further educate the people of the world on how we can keep these magnificent areas healthy.

As my tank progresses, I will continue to update this thread at my earliest convenience. (Meaning 15 minutes after I stop jumping around in circles screaming "I GOT A NEW ONE!") Lol :blushing:

[ErikH]

Welcome, I too have a 75. :)

Now, post some pics! :D

[mharmon]

I have a 75 also! Welcome aboard!

[sharkboy]

Welcome! its nice to see young enthusiasts...

[Mr Cob]

Welcome to MAAST!

Can't wait to see pics. You will find that we are all visual people on here...and will bug you until pics are posted!

[Jarob]

PICS!!! :)

[LittleReef]

Heading home now! Pictures will be posted no later than 10:30 p.m.

[LittleReef]

Pictures will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon. Photobucket is taking AGES to upload all 34 of them, and I must sleep. :'(

Sorry guys!

[LittleReef]

Alright guys! I've been saying I'd upload the pictures for about a day now... time to finally upload them!

Last night the weather was rather nasty, so it slowed down the process of uploading pictures to photobucket.

Sorry for the delay, however it's nothing special. :P
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5803.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5814.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5709.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5707.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5824.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5359.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5563.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5278.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5253.jpg
^That's my old anemone. I no longer have him.v
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5555.jpg
And again... he was big. v
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_5467.jpg


Thats it for now. :)

[sharkie]

The tank looks great!

[LittleReef]

Thanks guys. :D

Today I might be adding a few more SPS corals to the family.

I'll list them if I get them today.

[LittleReef]

Update

New additions to the tank courtesy of J_G!


Thanks so much J_G! Beautiful tank, extremely helpful, GREAT prices, GREAT frags!



New Additions

Acropora Millepora (Blue Hairy Milli)
Acropora Nausta (Northern Lights)



Pictures soon to come.


Thanks again, J_G!

-Brooks-

[LittleReef]

Added 250w 15,000k MH + spider reflector.

[DrMark]

I am impressed with your organization and motivation in this wonderful hobby. Keep it up.
mark

[LittleReef]

Thanks! :)

I have a quick question, though: What would be a good light cycle?


My lights:
3 54w T5's
1 250w 15,000k MH.

Should I leave the MH on for 10 hours, then leave the actinic T5's on for the rest of the time?


Thanks,
Brooks

[dustint21]

I wouldnt run the MH longer than 8 hours. I run mine 7. Some people only run them for 5. JMO

Dustin

[Big_Pun]

Great job with your setup, very well done, i just started with a nano tank i hope to have my 150g up this summer. Keep up the good work.

[LittleReef]

Alright. Thanks Dustin. :)

And thank you too, Stang! LMK how your progress goes!

[cpreefguy]

Great looking tank.
Id run the actinics 1-2 hours before/after the halide. Id run the halide for 7-8 hours.

[LittleReef]

Corals are coloring up nicely with the new lighting. Though, they're down in the sandbed/lower rocks getting adjusted.

[LittleReef]

Maintenance Preformed

(A new idea I had.)


Since I'm trying to keep track of everything I do with my tank to see where I succeed, and where I fail, I decided to also give a maintenance report.



Reported Maintenance:

Water change - 5 gallons
Parameter Testing - Results listed below.
Skimmer Cleaning
Reflector Cleaning
Pump Filter Cleaning
Adjusted Power heads - Reason: Algae build up
Corals moved up from substrate - Reason: Acclimation to new lights



Parameters:

Ammonia - Untraceable
Alkalinity - 11 dkH
Calcium - 440 ppm
Nitrate - Untraceable
Nitrite - Untraceable
pH - 8.2
Phosphate - Untraceable
Salinity - 1.023
Temperature - 80 (Fahrenheit)


Magnesium - Untested.
Reason: Testing kit lost.

[LittleReef]

Newly Added Livestock


Additions:
1. Hot Lava Chalice (3/4")
2. 3 Nassarius snails


Soon To Come Additions
1. 22 Blue Leg Hermits
2. 2 Fuzzy Chitons
3. 10 Nerite Snails
4. 85 Dwarf Cerith
5. 10 Florida Cerith

[danny]

I have a 75 as well and it doesn't look near as nice as yours. I'm very much a noob at saltwater. :(

[LittleReef]

I have a 75 as well and it doesn't look near as nice as yours. I'm very much a noob at saltwater. :(

Thank you very much! I consider myself a noob, and I always will. :)




Just wanted to give a reason for the lack of pictures: my camera is taking HOURS to upload on my computer. So the time is just bleh... sorry guys! I'll try and schedule some in this week. FTS, closeups, etc. etc.

[LittleReef]

I haven't uploaded many pictures in a while. Here's some after adding the Halide, and most of these are while under actinics.


Halide -
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6311.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6353.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6307.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6292.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6302.jpg
(Orange Monti is looking much more colorful now.)



Actinics -
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6556.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6547.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6529.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6534.jpg



-Brooks-



CLEAN UP CREW GETS HERE TOMORROW! :D


P.S. The bubbles all over the rock, and the green are A) from the pump shooting out bubbles, and B) the actinics and my camera don't mix. (to explain the greener color)

[sharkie]

Looking good...

Wow... are you really getting 85 dwarf ceriths for your tank? I hope they are teeny-tiny... :)

[LittleReef]

Oh they are! Only a couple of CM. But the Hermits will thin out their population. :P

[LittleReef]

Clean Up Crew arrived safely.


New livestock added:

1. Cranberry Milli
2. Pink Jade (I believe)
3. Contents of clean up crew.


Maintenance Preformed:

1. Cleaned Skimmer
2. Water Change
3. Water Testing
4. Sump scrub down
5. Cleaned return pump



Tank Parameters:
Ammonia - Undetectable
Nitrate - Undetectable
Nitrite - Undetectable
Phosphates - From what I can see in the testing, undetectable
Calcium - 440 ppm.
kH - 10 dkH
Salinity - 1.021 (raising through top-off and water changes).
pH - 8.3
Temperature - Daytime: 80.5 Lights Off: 78


Thanks for reading!

-Brooks-

[LittleReef]

Hey guys! Here are some pictures of my new corals. Hope you like 'em!


http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6572.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6575.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6576.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6585.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_6566.jpg


A lot of the algae is being destroyed by the cleanup crew! :)

[LittleReef]

Haven't updated in a while... might as well restart. :D



Maintenance Preformed

15% Water Change
Water Testing (Tested Perfect)
Sump cleaning
Skimmer Cup cleaning
Pump Cleaning
Glass scraped/wiped

Bulb switched from XM 15k to SPS 14k (METAL HALIDE)


Everything is going VERY well! I'm EXTREMELY excited about how things are proceeding. Wouldn't have been able to have it go this well if it weren't for ARC and MAAST. :D


Thanks to all of you!!


-Brooks-

[chark]

Great pictures.

[LittleReef]

New Livestock!


-Lawnmower Blenny


Hopefully he'll gobble up some of this GHA

[LittleReef]

New pictures! Enjoy ^_^


New Milli - It has a green base, so I sort of have a feeling it could be the ORA Red Planet? IDK
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7047.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7062.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7043.jpg

New Blue/Green Tort -
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7041.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7049.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7046.jpg

New Roscoe's Blue -
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7054.jpg
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7042.jpg


FRS (Full Reef Shot xD) -
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7048.jpg

[sharkie]

Looks great!

[fishypets]

Great looking pictures and corals Brooks! I don't believe the milli is the Red Planet. None the less great looking coral!

[LittleReef]

Drum roll please!!


And finally... pictures:

5 Minutes in
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7094.jpg

8 Minutes in
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7096.jpg

11 Minutes in
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7100.jpg

About 16 minutes in
http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7102.jpg

And just under fully opened; 20 minutes in.

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq247/Colmes_ArtisticSuit/DSC_7104.jpg