~ Todd's 125g ~ Part IV~ Building of the Reef~

[DolphinLVR]

Awesome bud! Looking forward to seeing the tank tomorrow

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[tat2z_21]

Tank is looking amazing.

 

[TJL]

OK, a quick up date.... did finally get some fish back in the system on Sunday as only finished tank maintenance on Friday and helped Jeff build his canopy on Saturday. Was really nice to sit down with a cup of coffee and a lap full of Boston Terriers this morning and watch the sunrise on my Reef with the Anthias and lil Kole Tang swimmin around, the Leopard Wrasse joined in after 3rd circuit lit up (went down for the night yesterday with the 3rd circuit turning off) Pics below similar to 4/12 shots showing minimal changes to aquascape and F-I-S-H. Once again just raw pics

FTS 4-16-12

Left side

Right side

Canyon

a few random pics I took as well

Cheers, Todd

 

[Peppie]

Looking great Todd
BWT are those white spots on your Wrasse?? Or is it just the picture? Maybe I am seeing things??/ LOL

 

[TJL]

Add on update. On my LED's I just removed most all optics again as lightly bleached out several corals over past few weeks, originally had them all at about 60-65% w/o optics then added them to about 45 or so and reducing output to about 35%. Some corals did just fine and some not, so removed all but a few and cranked it back up to 70%. I like the overall look this way (more blended without the optics) and since my tank is only 20" deep felt it not neccessary to get required PAR/PUR. Coral growth has been phenominal so far, and before adding the optics had some outstanding colors showing. I'll bring out the real camera and shoot some pics tomorrow then again in a week or so to show changes if any.

Cheers, Todd

 

[TJL]

Looking great Todd
BWT are those white spots on your Wrasse?? Or is it just the picture? Maybe I am seeing things??/ LOL

Yes, and it took me for ever to paint them all on him

 

[trido]

Some of your corals look like they are growing like weeds. Your monti hispada for starters. You up for a brief stop by after I get off work on Tuesday? I have to hit the cub scout store and will be in the neighborhood.

 

[TJL]

Hey Duane, feel free to stop by anytime... always welcome my friend. Maybe between the two of us we can spot one of the Sea Hares to take home to your tank.


Cheers, Todd

 

[TJL]

Pic and Video update now that ALL MY FISH ARE BACK IN THE DT :whoo: :high5: :clap2: :rockon::bounce:

FTS 4-27-12

left side

right side

canyon

2 min vid



Cheers, Todd

 

[justforfun]

Lookin good

 

[trido]

Looking great Todd. FWIW, I've set up a few and have seen a lot of tanks in the the Greater Seattle area over the last last six years. I've always found myself to be more of a 14-20K guy, but the way these LED's highlight all of the colors in the tank I would have to say this is the best looking 10-12K color spectrum on any reef tank I've ever seen. It has a HUGE variety of corals with great colors. I look forward to watching it grow in.

Ya, you can expect me to be over to bother again in the near future.

 

[user 26995]

Tank is looking really great Todd!

 

[user 2204]

Your tank is looking great Todd. Cannot wait to see how everything grows in and matures.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[TJL]

Thanks Guys -n- Gal, I'm really happy with the way things are going now that finally past the lonnnnnng QT/Fallow period and everyone back in the DT. Did my best in squeezing all these corals together in the most compatible way my experience has taught me... crossing my fingers. Duane, I do like/prefer a crisp bluish white look in my reeftank to mimic a shallow reef though in reality my tank is bluer than these pics show. Really needed to have made it down to that Photography session at BRA last weekend and learn how to properly use the settings on my SLR camera. Most of the corals are still recovering from LED overdose when I had placed optics on the majority of them while still at 60%. Since this tank is so shallow (20") it doesn't need them and they are definitely better blended without.


Cheers, Todd

 

[TJL]

OVERDUE UPDATE; Everything, water chemistry Fish & Corals doing very well and just about to do my first waterchange since being setup... YES the 1st since 12/24/11
I do dose for cal/alk/mg regulary to keep these in balance but only utilyzing a large fuge of Macro Algaes, SWC Extreme 200 skimmer and Ozo-Tech Ozonator running minimally (on at 390 off at 420 with Apex controller) at about 25% for waste removal. Nitrates and Phosphates have been nearly undetectable since 3rd week of January, even during the Hair Algae outbreak while fallow. Coral growth has been excellent except for some of the Softies and LPS that prefer thier water a little more green. I randomly feed two frozen cubes of the following both morning and evening: Hikari Mysis, H2O Life's Reef #2, 50/50 Plus, Spirulina Brine/Mysis and one or two mid-day feedings with Newlife's Spectrum pellets mixture of macro & medium sizes. My system is very full, diverse, stable and mature, much of LR and some Corals for more than 15 years and a primary goal for this setup was to be a easily maintaned fairly automated system with minimal water changes. I still need to install a permanent ATO, a 2-part dosing system, a removeable bracket for Automatic feeder and hook up my Apex to the web for remote access/controll. Along with finally building a canopy to enclose the LED's and keep fish in, lost my Male Bicolor Anthias last week (Tile-surfing... ouch)

My average water perameters have been:

Temp = 77.4
PH = 8.18
S.G. = 1.026
Cal = 390-ish
Alk = 2.5+
Mg = 1200+-
NO2/NO3 = 0
PO4 = <0.1
ORP = 455

Current Livestock:

Powder Blue Tang 4"
Blochii Tang 4"
Naso Tang 3"
Kole Tang 2.5"
(3) Bicolor Anthias
Bangaii Cardinal pr 2"+
Ornate Leopard Wrasse 4"
Tailspot Blenny 3"
Fisheri Angel 1.75"
Kupang Damsel 1.75"
Halfspotted Goby 1.5"
(3) T. maxima 4", 4", 2"
T. crocea 3.5"
Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp pr
Banded Coral Shrimp
(3) Hawaiian Cowries 1-1.5"
(80+) mixed snails
(20+-) Hawaiian Zebra & Lefty Hermit Crabs
Hawaiian Sea Hare 1 or 2?

I'll post up new pics and or video in next couple of days.

Until then Cheers, Todd

 

[Peppie]

Thanks for the update Todd,
Sounds like everything is going in the right direction. What brought on the waterchange??? Guilt???.....

 

[TJL]

Thanks for the update Todd,
Sounds like everything is going in the right direction. What brought on the waterchange??? Guilt???.....

YUP, and I bought a new bucket of Sea Chem's Reefsalt a couple months back and thought that I should probably give it a try

 

[TJL]

Well... hmmmm... paid a visit down to Rob's RED C this afternoon and now have to update Livestock list.

So adding to above list I now have the following in QT:
(2) Target Mandarins (A pair I hope)
Tailspot Blenny (very small and hope it will be a He for my She)
Yellow Watchman Goby and Candycane Pistol Shrimp ( cuz I needed a yellow fish)

Cheers, Todd

 

[TJL]

OK here is my 6 months update pics, all fish and corals doing very well. These pics are still raw and just from my Fujifilm Point-n-Shoot

FTS 6-26-12

Left side

Right side

Canyon

And a couple random pics of Sour Apple Birdsnest and Bird of Paradise Birdsnest with surrounding corals

Now I need to take the time to dial in the SLR so as to capture the real colors and details

Cheers, Todd

 

[Peppie]

Todd,
Your tank is so clear and full of color. Very nice!!