SRC Tank of the Quarter Winner - Honkit (Dec 2012 to Feb 2013 )

[Harlequinmania]

We are proud to featured this quarter Tank of the Quarter ( TOTQ ) winner . Honkit beautiful SPS dominated reef tank to be be showcase . Congratulation to Hon Kit !!!

Theme of your wining tank : Hon Kit’s SPS dominant reef tank

Brief Introduction of your history of setting up your tank

I am honoured to be choosen as the latest TOTQ winner and it is with joy and thankfulness that I am writing this.

My reefing roots sprouted almost a decade ago in 2003 when after watching Finding Nemo the movie, I was inspired to set up a saltwater tank in my home. It was a simple 50 gallon bowfront tank that was converted from an old goldfish tank with no sump. When things turned sour in my tank with livestocks suffering, I decided to pull the hobby plug in 2007.

However, little did I know that the reefing poison is permanently ingrained in my nervous system and try as I might, after a four year hiatus, I finally succumbed to temptation and set up a new reef tank in October 2011 which was slightly more than one year after having moved to my new home.

Ironically, I initially intended to keep a simple fish only tank with a few interesting invertebrates to keep costs down. However, having tried keeping SPS corals before, the SPS bug bit me deeply and I decided to plunge into it again (although my bank account certainly protested!).

With this in mind, I firmly intended to do the best I could for an SPS dominated reef tank and thus I embarked on a few steps which were firsts for me namely:

1) Use RO/DI water exclusively

2) Utilize a probiotic method religiously (I began with Prodibio but eventually switched to the Fauna Marin Ultralith system)

3) Slow stocking of fishes (one fish every 2-3 weeks) and enforcing a limit on the number of fishes I intended to keep in my tank

4) Use dead rock for rock scaping as live rocks are filled with pests and unwanted algae

It’s been almost 15 months since my tank was up and running and I am glad that things have been relatively smooth with the occasional algae break-out notwithstanding.

Tank specifications

Salinity: 1.025

Temperature: 25-27 degrees celcius

Ph: Unknown

Calcium – 400

Alkalinity– 7.5-8.0

Magnesium – Unknown

Tank: Hardware

Skimmer: Skimz SM251

Mechanical filtration: Filter sock

Dosing pump: Kamoer

Chiller: Drop-in titanium coil with 1 HP Daikin air-con compressor

Biopellet / reactor: None

Chemical filtration: Activated Carbon

Main return pump: Eheim 1262

Wave maker: Tunze Turbulle 6125, Tunze Turbulle 6155, Vortech MP40wES

Others Equipments : ATI Sunpower 6X39W + DE retrofit T5 2X39W

Lighting period : 4 bulbs on for 9.5 hours, 4 bulbs on for 4.5 hours

[Harlequinmania]

Addictive used

I utilize the Fauna Marin Ultralith system (zeolite stones, bacteria, bacteria food & amino acids) to keep nitrates and phospates as low as I possibly can as well as Fauna Marin Reef Color Elements for tweaking SPS coral colours.

I also dose Two Little Fishies’ C-Balance which is a two-part solution to replenish calcium and bicarbonate (alkalinity).

I find it is very helpful in maintain stable Ca and dKh levels as well as supplying trace elements which are beneficial to the corals. As my tank is SPS dominated, I further augment my bicarbonate replenishment with sodium bicarbonate dissolved in warm water which is added daily via a dosing pump.

Live stocks – Corals

About 75% of my corals are SPS types. Species I keep include:

Acropora yongei (Bali Green Slimer), Acropora Loisettae, Acropora Nobilis, Acropora millepora, Acropora horrida (Chips acro), Montipora danae, Montipora Verrucosa, Montipora captitata, Acropora valida, Acropora Hyacinthus, Acropora Echinata, Acropora Hoeksemai, Acropora Gomezi, Acropora Batumae, Stylophora Pistilatta, Acropora Tortuosa, Acropora Chesterfieldensis, Seriatopora Hystrix, Acropora Abrolhosensis, Acropora Sarmentosa, Montipora Capricornis, Acropora Abratanoides, Poccilopora damicornis, Acropora Sameonsis, Poccilopora Eydouxi, Acropora Verweyi, Montipora Porites, Montipora Digitata

[Harlequinmania]

LPS corals I keep are:

Scolymia australis, Euphyllia divisa (true octopus coral), lobophyllia (brain coral), blastomussas, favites which I also keep a variety of zoanthid corals in one corner of my tank.

[Harlequinmania]

Live Stocks - Fish:

Yellow tang

Mystery Wrasse

Radiant Wrasse

Black oceallaris clownfish

African flamenback angelfish

[Harlequinmania]

Some personal Q & A questions

1. How long have you been reefing?

Ans: I began reefing in 2003 and stopped in 2007. I re-commenced the hobby in October 2011.

2. How did you get into this hobby?

Ans: The Finding Nemo movie was the catalyst that sparked my reefing interest.

3. Are you a fish guy or a Coral guy?

Ans: Very much a coral person, in particular SPS corals.

4. What is your main concern when looking around for your reefing equipment?

Ans: Value for money

5. What is your favorite past time

Ans: Keeping a reef tank, what else!

6. What is the satisfaction you got from this hobby?

Ans: To see my saltwater animals grow and thrive in my tank.

7. Any advice for newbie in this hobby?

Ans: Start with easier-to-keep fishes and corals and look for an experienced reefer or two who can function as a mentor of sorts (this is where forums like sgreefclub.com can be very handy!)

Final Acknowledgement and thank you note.

I would like to thank my missus for her patience and understanding in putting up with my glass box of saltwater in the living room (thanks dear!) and to all the reefer friends that I have met and have given me excellent advice and support throughout my years of reefing.

[Harlequinmania]

On behalf of SRC, I would also like to take the opportunity to thanks our member jquek for accepting the roles of being our official photographer taking the time to his place for the photo taking. If not we will not be able to capture the wonders of the winner tank.

All photos shown here is taken by jquek .

[Harlequinmania]

Congratulation again to Hon kit for winning one set of the Polyplab Reef Resh worth $ 189.00 sponsored by

[Admiraltian]

Congrats, bro!! Very beautiful tank indeed.

[linko]

Hi Bro,

Congratulation

Very Beautiful Coloring!

[surreal1228]

Congratulations Hon kit. Deserve it.

Very wild feeling and nice pics also!

[Gouldian]

Congrats Honkit!

[tht79]

Congrats Honkit!

[pitto]

Congrats bro! Beautiful!

[honkit]

Thanks for the compliments everyone

[honkit]

Special thanks to the admin and jquek for the beautiful photography and composition.

[kaykay]

The colours are amazing! Beautiful tank.

I especially love the last pic after the acknowledgements.

Congrats bro.

[karlyau]

congrats honkit

[moscowites]

Only a matter of time. Congrats bro!

[jquek]

Congrats again Hon Kit! It was a pleasure taking the photos!

[Senses]

Congrats bro! Very nice tank and fishes u have!

[peacemaker]

Well deserved! :thumbsup:

[yellowtang]

One of the best TOTQ.

Blood , Sweat And Tears are well recognized by the Reefing Community.

A personal visit to your tank would be one of the important task I set for this month.

Congrats Many ,

Bigmike.

[jxlex]

Congrats! Really beautiful colours!

[Eniram]

Congratulations! Beautiful tank!

[hanafi_weeseng]

Superb reef tank that I can only image with all the stunning colours