Aquavista99's new SPS reef

[aquavista99]

I suppose my basement does look like a small-scale LFS. If you are ever in the area, please stop by for 50% off all LFS items....just kidding....if you are in the area, free frags for you! Here is the rest of the tour of my basement (IE, the drystock area).

[bslong]

what's that brute container??? some high tech salt mixer?

[aquavista99]

what's that brute container??? some high tech salt mixer?

One brute container is filled with RO/DI water, the other with new saltwater.

[jervismun]

Any update?

[aquavista99]

Any update? 

I removed my new SPS frags I purchased at the Cleveland frag swap from QT and recently placed them in my reef. Here are a few pictures of the new frags.

[aquavista99]

Here are a few more updated pictures ....lots of cheato, a cleaner shrimp, and sea cucumber pictures. Mangroves and existing coral seem to be doing great as well.

[jervismun]

Everything is looking good... can see improvements in some of the SPS

[aquavista99]

Everything is looking good... can see improvements in some of the SPS     

Yes, most of the corals are turning brighter colors (to blue, green, purple and yellow) and most are showing increased growth rates as well. Of course, my Geo 624 calcium reactor is probably responsible for the increased growth and added color. BTW, I still add kalkwasser to my daily top off off water to help maintain proper pH and alk levels. My reef is starting off well.....still very young with potential and room for improvements.

Here is another picture of my calcuim reactor. It has been in use for about 6 weeks now and I am very pleased with the results to date.

[aquavista99]

I recently purchased MacGillivray Freeman's Coral Reef Adventure on DVD (Imax movie from Fiji and South Pacific). Highly recommend.....here is a preview of pics from the movie I photographed from my living room TV.

[jervismun]

Look at those Table Acroporas I have that DVD too... nice

[godzillaliu88]

how i wish i can just take a frag from every colony.

[aquavista99]

A few updates. Recently changed my calcium reactor media from crushed coral to Acropora branches. Added a Tunze Nano Stream 6045 pump to my 30g SPS QT tank. Mangroves are doing well. And finally, a full tank shot.

[godzillaliu88]

there's still a lot of space to add more live rocks. big big tank.

how does the calcium reactor work?

the water reacts witht he CO2 gas and the residue is settle within the media?

[jervismun]

Your tank is too empty dude MORE MORE MORE!!!

[aquavista99]

Your tank is too empty dude MORE MORE MORE!!!

I would like as much room as possible for the acros to grow out in all directions. I plan on adding a few more acros and monti caps in the near future as well (IE, the corals in the QT system have not been added yet)...Again, this is a young new reef. After a few years, the acros will hopefully have enough room to grow out.....then upgrade to a much larger system.

[aquavista99]

there's still a lot of space to add more live rocks. big big tank.

how does the calcium reactor work?

the water reacts witht he CO2 gas and the residue is settle within the media?

I will not be adding more live rock.....want lots of space to allow the acros to grow out. There are many different types of calcium reactors on the market now ... some with second single pass chambers as well. Geo calcium reactors use a "bottom up flow of water" design which captures free CO2 and draws it back into the pump. This means less gas in the reactor and less gas in the effluent.

[godzillaliu88]

I would like as much room as possible for the acros to grow out in all directions. I plan on adding a few more acros and monti caps in the near future as well (IE, the corals in the QT system have not been added yet)...Again, this is a young new reef. After a few years, the acros will hopefully have enough room to grow out.....then upgrade to a much larger system.

upgrade?

to a 10ft?

[jervismun]

upgrade?

to a 10ft?

Nah... in the US... they go by US Gallons... and usually by the thousands

[aquavista99]

upgrade?

to a 10ft?

I am already planning my next reef tank....it is still a few years away. Would like something around 8 feet long by 3 feet wide and 31 inches tall.....300 plus gallons. Eurobraced. My current system is 6X2X2

[kevink]

think in a few years it will be packed with sps growing everywhere , but then u probably start fragging a lot and trading and selling them to make up for the new tank.

[aquavista99]

think in a few years it will be packed with sps growing everywhere , but then u probably start fragging a lot and trading and selling them to make up for the new tank.

You are probably right. I am already offering some frags, but down the road, fragging will be a part of routine maintenance. I added some nice new acro frags last night and changed the landscape of my reef (moved some corals and rocks around). In my area, there are not a lot of people interested in trading, buying or keeping SPS corals. My best bet is to offer frags for trade/sale at frag swaps.

[aquavista99]

Updated 10/29/07

I recently upgraded again. Here are a few pictures of my new 210g. Added more live rock as well. Same corals and fish. Just a little bigger now.

[aquavista99]

My mangroves are now thriving as well. Here are a few more updated pictures of my system.

[chercm]

too bad GEO CR can only purchase in US

[aquavista99]

too bad GEO CR can only purchase in US

The new tank is 72 X 29 x 24. The GEO CR is nice. Here are a few more pictures.