Reef Journal

[moron_clown]

Hi, seems like most of the old timers are gone for good. The faces i see at LFSs now all look so unfamiliar.

After many months of planning and consideration,finally have time and reources to properly set up a new tank.

Here's a little preview.

Reverse Sunset and Sunset Monti

[moron_clown]

Equipment

Tank, Cabinet, Sump made by Aquamarin

Tank Dimensions ... 3X2.5X2 external overflow Approx 100Gallons 12mm Euro-Bracing all round

Sump Dimensions .. 2.5X2X1.5

Cabinet ... Chengai support, matching formica Slow-Shut stainless steel Hinges/ Stainless Steel Screws all round.

Plumbing ... F.I.P valves and plumbing

Supporting equipments

Skimmer ... Skimz Monzter SM200 powered by single 5000L/Hr Aquabee needlewheel, Gravity Fed

Chiller ... Artica 1/4Hp Chiller

Return Pump ... Eheim 1262

Controller ... Aquatronica Basic controller

Dosing Pump ... Aquatronica 3-channel dosing pump

Top Up ... Aquatronica Water Level Module + Eheim Compact 300

Lighting

Primary Lightings ... ATI Sunpower 6X39W

Secondary Lightings ... ATI Retrofit with Arcadia gull wing reflectors 4X39W

Water Movement

Wave Makers ... 2X Modified Tunze NanoStream 6055

+ 1X Tunze 6100

+ 1X Tunze 6080

Controller ... Tunze 7096

Total Turnover ... 50 X Volume

Additional Wavemakers ...3X Hydor Koralia K2

Husbandry

Dosing ... Balling method via 3-channel dosing pump and aquatronica for Calcium,dKH and Magnesium + top up with Kalk infused DI water.

Water Change Regime.. 10% water change weekly consisting of 5% Marine Environment Salt + 5% Natural Sea Water. I think thats the best compromise for nutrient export + diversified live bacteria colonies & live plankton import.

Daily Dosing Regime ... 100mg Sugar , 0.5ml Vodka , 10 Drops Microbacter 7.

Weekly Dosing ... 2 Drops Iodide , 0.5ml Vinegar , 5 drops Brightwell's Amino Acid+Vit C

Feeding Regime ... Flakes, Pellets Daily. Chopped seafood(mussels,shrimps,raw salmon eggs) weekly.

Tank Criteria

The main and only criteria for the tank is it needs to be whisper silent as it is beside my bed. The whole setup is geared in this direction in the planning and implementation stages. I tested alot of equipment(mainly pumps) before deciding on the above list, any equipment that is remotely capable of creating more noise that it should is replaced. Without the chiller kicking in, I believe the tank is running at >50dB. For comparison, my room aircon(marketed as one of the most silent in the market) runs at >45dB. Normal conversations should rate in at about 70dB. Everything right down to the plumbing parts in contact with the cabinet were clamped down and wrapped in sound absorbing materials. Special Thanks to the Aquamarin team for their help in planning and materialising my dream tank.

More on livestocks later!

[moron_clown]

LiveStocks

Fish

-Purple Tang

-Pair perc clownfish

-Flame Hawkfish

-White tiger Goby

-Leopard wrasse

-6 Line Wrasse

-Solar Wrasse

-Cleaner Wrasse

-Sunburst anthias

[moron_clown]

Corals

Mixed shallow reef.

Let the pictures do the talking

Sps, Most of the Sps are still mini colonies and some are 3inch frags.

Lps and softies

More on equipments later!

[Fragmaster]

The sunset monti is gorgeous.

[ryan]

Nice nice! I want to see it in person soon. Maybe this week before i leave. can?

[HellBliss]

is that an achilles tang? wanted to get an AT for my tank too which is 3 feet like urs but was advised that they need lotsa swimming place.. do update on how its doing.. thanks!

[moron_clown]

The sunset monti is gorgeous.

Thanks! looking forward to collecting your beautiful red open brain. Already found a spot for it.

[moron_clown]

is that an achilles tang? wanted to get an AT for my tank too which is 3 feet like urs but was advised that they need lotsa swimming place.. do update on how its doing.. thanks!

Hi, i kept it for 3 months before it stopped eating suddenly and passed away within a week. the pre-requisites for keeping an achilles tang are perfect water quality, very strong water movement and a varied diet including lots of nori.I seen thriving achilles tangs in small tanks but i've never seen a thriving one in a poorly maintained tank. I had a spike in No2 & No3 after an abalone died in my tank, then the achilles developed an ick infection, from then on it was no return. YES they are that sensitive.

Here it is in a night-morph colour sorry for the poor pic.

[HellBliss]

Hi, i kept it for 3 months before it stopped eating suddenly and passed away within a week. the pre-requisites for keeping an achilles tang are perfect water quality, very strong water movement and a varied diet including lots of nori.I seen thriving achilles tangs in small tanks but i've never seen a thriving one in a poorly maintained tank. I had a spike in No2 & No3 after an abalone died in my tank, then the achilles developed an ick infection, from then on it was no return. YES they are that sensitive.

oic.. mayb ill keep one when i managed to get perfect water quality and after my tank is more mature.. my tank jsut cycled and nitrate is still around 10+. guess its still too high. perhaps i will try out dosing bacteria like u.. is that how u keep ur nitrates lvl down?

[moron_clown]

oic.. mayb ill keep one when i managed to get perfect water quality and after my tank is more mature.. my tank jsut cycled and nitrate is still around 10+. guess its still too high. perhaps i will try out dosing bacteria like u.. is that how u keep ur nitrates lvl down?

The problem is if your tank is just cycled, the nitrate value might not reflect the true end nitrate value. chances are, things are still rotting slowly in the tank. It took about 3 months till all sponges either died or survived before my nitrates leveled off at below 5ppm. actually IME 10ppm is alright for fish,lps and even SOME Sps(montis,green stags).

Sponges contains some of the most powerful anti-bacterial agents and they will release these agents when they are dying. these are BELIEVED to curb the growth of benificial bacterial.

I have been dosing Micro Bacter7 by Brightwell Aquatics since day one after reading a senior reefer's experience on Ree*centra* (search SunnyX). Bad news is, i have to buy my first bottle in Hong Kong, good news is, they are now available in Aquamarin.

[HellBliss]

The problem is if your tank is just cycled, the nitrate value might not reflect the true end nitrate value. chances are, things are still rotting slowly in the tank. It took about 3 months till all sponges either died or survived before my nitrates leveled off at below 5ppm. actually IME 10ppm is alright for fish,lps and even SOME Sps(montis,green stags).

Sponges contains some of the most powerful anti-bacterial agents and they will release these agents when they are dying. these are BELIEVED to curb the growth of benificial bacterial.

I have been dosing Micro Bacter7 by Brightwell Aquatics since day one after reading a senior reefer's experience on Ree*centra* (search SunnyX). Bad news is, i have to buy my first bottle in Hong Kong, good news is, they are now available in Aquamarin.

icic... wah learnt so much.. haha. yeap like all the seniors always say patience is the key and i will most certainly adhere to that.. thanks so much for ur advice!

[chercm]

The problem is if your tank is just cycled, the nitrate value might not reflect the true end nitrate value. chances are, things are still rotting slowly in the tank. It took about 3 months till all sponges either died or survived before my nitrates leveled off at below 5ppm. actually IME 10ppm is alright for fish,lps and even SOME Sps(montis,green stags).

Sponges contains some of the most powerful anti-bacterial agents and they will release these agents when they are dying. these are BELIEVED to curb the growth of benificial bacterial.

I have been dosing Micro Bacter7 by Brightwell Aquatics since day one after reading a senior reefer's experience on Ree*centra* (search SunnyX). Bad news is, i have to buy my first bottle in Hong Kong, good news is, they are now available in Aquamarin.

Micro Bacter7 is good stuff i heard about it on Reefcentral too ....

[Gouldian]

Nice set-up bro, sorry that you loose your AT.

My personal experience for sensitive tang such as AT & clown tang are:

1) Leaving my tank fish-less except for small gobies and cleaner shrimp

2) Deliberately encourage growth of macro-algae by not trimming them

3) Introduce AT after tank have been allowed to matured for more than 3 months after completing nitrogen cycle

4) Ensure high flow and high dissolve oxygen

Just my 2 cents.

Hi, i kept it for 3 months before it stopped eating suddenly and passed away within a week. the pre-requisites for keeping an achilles tang are perfect water quality, very strong water movement and a varied diet including lots of nori.I seen thriving achilles tangs in small tanks but i've never seen a thriving one in a poorly maintained tank. I had a spike in No2 & No3 after an abalone died in my tank, then the achilles developed an ick infection, from then on it was no return. YES they are that sensitive.

Here it is in a night-morph colour sorry for the poor pic.

[ryan]

Bro hows your tank now? Did my additives work?

[moron_clown]

Bro hows your tank now? Did my additives work?

Yah man. how are u? back to enjoying life downunder? thanks for the additives, KH back to normal.

[ryan]

Yah man. how are u? back to enjoying life downunder? thanks for the additives, KH back to normal.

Hey. I'm alright. Landed this morning. Went home then straight to school. After seeing your tank my hands super itchy!

About my refugium, i'm considering taking your advise and raising the height of the DSB and adding coarser grain sand above so i can put 2 small wavemakers to run over the sand. but without stirring the sand up. do you think it'll be good for the tank?

[moron_clown]

Hey. I'm alright. Landed this morning. Went home then straight to school. After seeing your tank my hands super itchy!

About my refugium, i'm considering taking your advise and raising the height of the DSB and adding coarser grain sand above so i can put 2 small wavemakers to run over the sand. but without stirring the sand up. do you think it'll be good for the tank?

yup,should be ok, just remember to siphon off the top when you next do a water change.

[moron_clown]

Some new pics, sorry for the visible specs of dust. Lens in the dry cabinet for too long...

multicolour open brain with purple tang

Macro shot of multicolour Brain

Green Octo

Sps pics coming up!

[moron_clown]

SPS Pics

My favourite Blue Mille

Green Humilis

Green Stag,Bali Tricolour and Blue acro

Turqoise Acro

Blue BottleBrush

Pink Birdnest Growth Tips

Group shot, with pink tip walt smith acro in the background

CentreView

One more LPS

Green Candy Cane

My Previous setup

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Please feel free to comment.

Thanks for looking!

[ryan]

Nice nice! everything seems to be doing well!

has your new equipment arrived yet?

Take photos of new toys?

[moron_clown]

Nice nice! everything seems to be doing well!

has your new equipment arrived yet?

Take photos of new toys?

yup. everythings here already, will post some pics later.

[moron_clown]

some new updates!

Some of my LPS

Wellsophyllia

Trachy, Thanks Fragmaster for this piece.

Fiji Favia

Acan

Cup Coral, very easy to keep and grows fast.

Zoas

Green Zoas courtesy of Marc

Garden of zoos

Thanks for looking!

[moron_clown]

took some pictures yesterday

Thanks for looking!

1) Algae Blenny

2) Royal Gramma

3) Sunburst Anthias

4) Solar Wrasse

5)Mystery Wrasse

[moron_clown]

Full tank shot, some colonies are still way too pastel. bumping up my feeding amount to see if that works!