Love the lobos.
Wish I could have some.
Wish I could have some.
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jlanger's Reef Build: Episode II - The 120gal Strikes Back (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter jlanger
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- 120 gallon coral fish reef tank build
Sorry to hear about the eight line, I know it was one of your favs... Glad to see everything else is doing well!
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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I should've included this in my update...
The live rock that I ordered from Tampa Bay Saltwater has been doing well in my sump since this summer. I haven't really done anything with it over the last few months; it's taking care of itself. I did dose my system with Live Rock Enhance over the fall which may have contributed to much of this success. Certain sponges (especially the translucent white sponge) are continuing to grow and spread throughout the rock, sump and even the display. The tunicates and squirts seem to be content in the sump as they're always expanded when I check on the rock. The rock itself has cleaned itself up; no algae or grunge to really speak of as it doesn't receive any light unless I have the doors open. I'll be inspecting the rock more when I need to reinstall the scrubber so I will have a better idea of what life is still thriving on the rock.
I have found and removed a couple of tiny crabs over this time, but no real pest threats. The micro-brittlestars and pods love the rock as they're populations are expanding and the number of baby trochus snails in the sump is astounding. And I cannot forget the tiny urchin that stowed its way into my system on the live rock. When I first noticed it, the entire urchin was no bigger than the end of a pencil eraser. Now, the urchin is about the size of a nickel and its spines can be half-an-inch long; just over 1-1/2" in diameter.
Purchasing the live rock this summer was probably the best thing I did for my reef this year.
The live rock that I ordered from Tampa Bay Saltwater has been doing well in my sump since this summer. I haven't really done anything with it over the last few months; it's taking care of itself. I did dose my system with Live Rock Enhance over the fall which may have contributed to much of this success. Certain sponges (especially the translucent white sponge) are continuing to grow and spread throughout the rock, sump and even the display. The tunicates and squirts seem to be content in the sump as they're always expanded when I check on the rock. The rock itself has cleaned itself up; no algae or grunge to really speak of as it doesn't receive any light unless I have the doors open. I'll be inspecting the rock more when I need to reinstall the scrubber so I will have a better idea of what life is still thriving on the rock.
I have found and removed a couple of tiny crabs over this time, but no real pest threats. The micro-brittlestars and pods love the rock as they're populations are expanding and the number of baby trochus snails in the sump is astounding. And I cannot forget the tiny urchin that stowed its way into my system on the live rock. When I first noticed it, the entire urchin was no bigger than the end of a pencil eraser. Now, the urchin is about the size of a nickel and its spines can be half-an-inch long; just over 1-1/2" in diameter.
Purchasing the live rock this summer was probably the best thing I did for my reef this year.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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You can... it's called a second tank.Love the lobos.
Wish I could have some.
Everything is looking great Jason!
Your tank looks great! Love the Goni-Garden and the Lobo- Garden. Very beautiful and healthy!
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Thanks guys.
It feels good to post some photos again that show things are headed in the right direction.
Here's a couple of photos of a coral that came along with my live rock order this summer. It appeared that it was originally one piece with two branches that were about three inches long each, but one branch was snapped off during transit.
Originally, I was perplexed as to what the corals was as it had "larger" polyps but grows as a branching colony.Since I picked up Veron's "Corals of the World" book collection, I believe the coral is a Porites; possibly Porites porites. The coral has been correctly identified as Oculina robusta; Robust Ivory Tree Coral.
When the live rock order was delivered, the polyps were clear and the tissue was white. Both branches survived being added to my display and the corals appreciate being feed fine pieces of frozen foods and other coral foods. They exhibit great polyp extension and the polyps have colored up very nicely.
Here's a couple of photos showcasing the broken branch; back to using my camera for photos.
It feels good to post some photos again that show things are headed in the right direction.
Here's a couple of photos of a coral that came along with my live rock order this summer. It appeared that it was originally one piece with two branches that were about three inches long each, but one branch was snapped off during transit.
Originally, I was perplexed as to what the corals was as it had "larger" polyps but grows as a branching colony.
When the live rock order was delivered, the polyps were clear and the tissue was white. Both branches survived being added to my display and the corals appreciate being feed fine pieces of frozen foods and other coral foods. They exhibit great polyp extension and the polyps have colored up very nicely.
Here's a couple of photos showcasing the broken branch; back to using my camera for photos.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
Lifetime Member
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Meeting Host 2020
Meeting Host 2021
Meeting Host 2022
Here's a quick look at the twelve goniopora corals in the new goni-garden.
I'm still tweaking the specific locations for each frag, but once I see which frag looks best where, I'll glue them to the rock. I do like the location of the garden; front and center in the display on the .
I still want to add another 6-8 different varieties to the garden. I do have a few multiples already, so maybe those will be traded out for new varieties. I'm especially interested in getting the Rainbow Goniopora that LiveAquaria offers from Kevin's old office display. And I'd like to find some deep purple/blue varieties, some with the white eyes and some brighter yellow/red ones; ie. Burning Man or Amazeballs.
I'm still tweaking the specific locations for each frag, but once I see which frag looks best where, I'll glue them to the rock. I do like the location of the garden; front and center in the display on the .
I still want to add another 6-8 different varieties to the garden. I do have a few multiples already, so maybe those will be traded out for new varieties. I'm especially interested in getting the Rainbow Goniopora that LiveAquaria offers from Kevin's old office display. And I'd like to find some deep purple/blue varieties, some with the white eyes and some brighter yellow/red ones; ie. Burning Man or Amazeballs.
Following Jason! Your reef looks great!
I like the way the phots turn out. Even the ones with your phone look pretty darn good. Nice looking tank.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Just a quick look down on a section of the goniopora garden as the day ends.
I've started feeding them some Reef Roids and Live Nutrition bottled feeds at night to fatten them up; looks like it's having an effect.
I've started feeding them some Reef Roids and Live Nutrition bottled feeds at night to fatten them up; looks like it's having an effect.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Meeting Host 2020
Meeting Host 2021
Meeting Host 2022
Here's the first update for 2020.
(I almost feel like I should start a new thread (jlanger's Reef Build: Episode III - Return of the Monti) after the struggles over the past year seem to have passed.)
I've been spending more time actually hands on with my tanks now that the holiday season is over. I've managed to get my ATS unit back online, dial in the calcium reactor and I started to attach more corals to the rocks. I've also purged all of my older supplements and test kits and purchased new ones. New year, new start. I'd like to test more frequently this year to see any trends with my system. (Let's see how long this keeps up.)
I needed to get my ATS unit running because I was in need of some algae to seed a screen for a customer. In order to have algae available, I needed to have my unit operational. It's been about a month and I'm harvesting algae every week; almost two cups per week. Having said that, my nutrient levels are on the low side. Nitrates are testing around 1ppm and phosphates are 0.015ppm. I ordered a bottle of ESV's Nitrate supplement that I started dosing this week to see what happens with my system. Will I grow more algae? Will my nutrient levels rise? I have multiple routes to take to try and get the nutrient levels where I want them, so I'll update this thread on when that happens.
The calcium reactor (a Geo's Reef CR618 with the SMC415 secondary chamber) hasn't been touched in about two months. The calcium level has ranged from 476ppm down to 424ppm this week. The alkalinity level has ranged from 9.6dKH down to 9.3dKH this week. Magnesium has stayed around 1500ppm. I attributing the drop in calcium and alkalinity to the corals showing lots of new growth over the past couple of weeks since they've gotten mounted. If it continues to drop, I'll make an adjustment to the CaRx to bump up the effluent and keep steady levels. I do have to mention that this has been the most stable that these levels have ever been; when compared to dosing 2-part.
I also started daily dosing ESV's Transition Elements as a supplement for coral nutrition. I was randomly dosing Acropower over the last few months, and I really like ESV's product line and I spoke with Bob at RAP about a number of products/topics.
The reef itself is doing so much better after having the live rock in the sump for the last six months. The corals (once established to this system) are showing great color and new growth. It seems like montipora frags take a couple of weeks to adjust; they lose their color for a while. Once the color comes back, the frags start to grow. Most of the montipora frags that I received last summer were very thin and pale from the other system. I didn't know how they would react in mine but after about four months, I'm noticing positive results.
Green M. foliosa.
There's a red M. foliosa behind it.
Purple Rim Montipora.
You can see where the donated frag ends and the new growth begins.
Top down shot of a Bubble Gum Digitata frag that's looking really good and exploding with new growth.
I may snap off the tall branch from the center (out of focus) and start another frag somewhere else.
And here's the Goniopora garden after the frags have been attached to the rock.
I did loose one frag when it was knocked off the rock and fell into a Lobophyllia coral.
I still want to add more goniopora frags to this garden along with another shelf that would be a good place for some more movement.
I also left a nice open spot in the middle for some special goniopora corals; i.e. Amazeballs, Burning Man, Rainbow, etc...
And some close ups of a few nice gonioporas.
I completely forgot to take a FTS this afternoon, but I'll try and get one tomorrow so it stays consistent with the other photos and the test results that were posted.
Oh... the fish???
They're all doing just fine. I still have the two tangs (a Kole and a Yellow), the Percula Clownfish and the Harlequin Tuskfish.
A high priority for me this year is to add the pair of angelfish that this system was intended for. Once I find them, I should be done with adding fish; unless... (I still want a Pintail Fairy Wrasse!)
I'm also planning to host a house meeting this year once I add my angelfish and the corals have grown in a bit more. Fingers crossed.
(I almost feel like I should start a new thread (jlanger's Reef Build: Episode III - Return of the Monti) after the struggles over the past year seem to have passed.)
I've been spending more time actually hands on with my tanks now that the holiday season is over. I've managed to get my ATS unit back online, dial in the calcium reactor and I started to attach more corals to the rocks. I've also purged all of my older supplements and test kits and purchased new ones. New year, new start. I'd like to test more frequently this year to see any trends with my system. (Let's see how long this keeps up.)
I needed to get my ATS unit running because I was in need of some algae to seed a screen for a customer. In order to have algae available, I needed to have my unit operational. It's been about a month and I'm harvesting algae every week; almost two cups per week. Having said that, my nutrient levels are on the low side. Nitrates are testing around 1ppm and phosphates are 0.015ppm. I ordered a bottle of ESV's Nitrate supplement that I started dosing this week to see what happens with my system. Will I grow more algae? Will my nutrient levels rise? I have multiple routes to take to try and get the nutrient levels where I want them, so I'll update this thread on when that happens.
The calcium reactor (a Geo's Reef CR618 with the SMC415 secondary chamber) hasn't been touched in about two months. The calcium level has ranged from 476ppm down to 424ppm this week. The alkalinity level has ranged from 9.6dKH down to 9.3dKH this week. Magnesium has stayed around 1500ppm. I attributing the drop in calcium and alkalinity to the corals showing lots of new growth over the past couple of weeks since they've gotten mounted. If it continues to drop, I'll make an adjustment to the CaRx to bump up the effluent and keep steady levels. I do have to mention that this has been the most stable that these levels have ever been; when compared to dosing 2-part.
I also started daily dosing ESV's Transition Elements as a supplement for coral nutrition. I was randomly dosing Acropower over the last few months, and I really like ESV's product line and I spoke with Bob at RAP about a number of products/topics.
The reef itself is doing so much better after having the live rock in the sump for the last six months. The corals (once established to this system) are showing great color and new growth. It seems like montipora frags take a couple of weeks to adjust; they lose their color for a while. Once the color comes back, the frags start to grow. Most of the montipora frags that I received last summer were very thin and pale from the other system. I didn't know how they would react in mine but after about four months, I'm noticing positive results.
Green M. foliosa.
There's a red M. foliosa behind it.
Purple Rim Montipora.
You can see where the donated frag ends and the new growth begins.
Top down shot of a Bubble Gum Digitata frag that's looking really good and exploding with new growth.
I may snap off the tall branch from the center (out of focus) and start another frag somewhere else.
And here's the Goniopora garden after the frags have been attached to the rock.
I did loose one frag when it was knocked off the rock and fell into a Lobophyllia coral.
I still want to add more goniopora frags to this garden along with another shelf that would be a good place for some more movement.
I also left a nice open spot in the middle for some special goniopora corals; i.e. Amazeballs, Burning Man, Rainbow, etc...
And some close ups of a few nice gonioporas.
I completely forgot to take a FTS this afternoon, but I'll try and get one tomorrow so it stays consistent with the other photos and the test results that were posted.
Oh... the fish???
They're all doing just fine. I still have the two tangs (a Kole and a Yellow), the Percula Clownfish and the Harlequin Tuskfish.
A high priority for me this year is to add the pair of angelfish that this system was intended for. Once I find them, I should be done with adding fish; unless... (I still want a Pintail Fairy Wrasse!)
I'm also planning to host a house meeting this year once I add my angelfish and the corals have grown in a bit more. Fingers crossed.
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Looking good... I wonder if that transitions can be added to my AWC water or if there would be some sort of precipitation.
I already elevated the potassium in it to help make up for the constant depletion in the display.
I already elevated the potassium in it to help make up for the constant depletion in the display.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Meeting Host 2021
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I'm not 100% positive, but I would think it would be possible. There's no mention of needing to shake the bottle before administering the product. The only stipulation is that it should be added when lights come on (single dosing method) or during the daylight photoperiod (timed dosing method), so that may be the hiccup of dosing with the AWC.
There is potassium in the Transition Elements but I'm using it more to replenish the iron that my ATS will be pulling from my water.
I've added potassium to my weekly testing routine, so we'll see how that trends over time as corals grow. My potassium levels have been spot on at 400ppm since I started weekly testing.
Gonis are looking great! I need to see more montis though, like 20 more. Branching, Encrusting, Knobby, Platting, Swirling.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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I agree!!!
I have a couple more frags that I haven’t shown yet as they’re not looking as pretty or have been mounted yet. I’m looking into buying a pack of montis coming up soon.
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jlanger
@thatfishcookieguy
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Meeting Host 2021
Meeting Host 2022
Here's the FTS for the new year.
The reef is starting to look more than just a couple of rocks.
The Lobophyllia spp. corals are all grouped in the bottom left corner. There's six of those. I did rehome one lobo due to it not doing as well as the others.
I moved the two Duncan colonies off to the end of the left side. As they've grown, they started to clog up the channel that runs between the two shelf rocks. It took the clownfish a day to realize where the corals moved to; he just bobbed in the open where the corals used to reside.
The goniopra garden is front and center on a shelf. That's my favorite area of the reef, for sure.
The two Oculina frags have found a home top and center. Why not?
I have mounted a handful or more Montipora spp. frags. I have a M. spongodes of the far left, a small collection of green, red, purple and Bubble Gum Digitata on the uppermost section. There's some plating montipora pieces attached along midlevel; red, green and purple rim. A handful of encrusting pieces are mixed throughout; Rainbow, Juicy Fruit, Appleberry and a very tough remnant of my old M. hoffmeisteri.
The montipora frags on the right rock shelf and the frag rack (I so want that out of there!) have yet to find a permanent home; they're just laying about. I'm still undecided as to how I want to fill up that sweeping shelf. I have placed some small red and green frags along the outside to grow out along the edge, but it's what do I mount on the shelf itself. The third piece of rock that rests on the two shelf pieces has nothing attached to it as well. I haven't decided on if that rock will remain in the display or not. It's purpose was to give the fish some cover when needed, but they all tend to like hiding under the shelf near the tuskfish in the photo.
And there's the fish in the photo. This is the most camera shy group of fish that I have ever kept! The two tangs will hide and quickly dart around to see what I'm doing. The tuskfish is worse. It will hide and peek around the rock to see if I (the camera) am there waiting. When it does come out, it will only circle the base of the rock in the foreground, not coming out into the open or the light. I'm hoping by adding the pair of angelfish that it will help calm these nervous nellies when it comes time to get their photos taken.
Here's the Bubble Gum Digitata from the front; I like how the base is growing out!
This is that "ugly" Rainbow Montipora; it has lost some brightness from being moved lower in the tank.
The two Oculina frags finally together.
The corals have begun to overgrow the epoxy that is used to mount them. It's kind of weird. You can see through the tissue of surrounding the individual polyps. So you should be able to see how the polyps will lay down a calcium-based skeleton as it grows.
And another goniopora close-up; the Tiffany Goniopra.
The reef is starting to look more than just a couple of rocks.
The Lobophyllia spp. corals are all grouped in the bottom left corner. There's six of those. I did rehome one lobo due to it not doing as well as the others.
I moved the two Duncan colonies off to the end of the left side. As they've grown, they started to clog up the channel that runs between the two shelf rocks. It took the clownfish a day to realize where the corals moved to; he just bobbed in the open where the corals used to reside.
The goniopra garden is front and center on a shelf. That's my favorite area of the reef, for sure.
The two Oculina frags have found a home top and center. Why not?
I have mounted a handful or more Montipora spp. frags. I have a M. spongodes of the far left, a small collection of green, red, purple and Bubble Gum Digitata on the uppermost section. There's some plating montipora pieces attached along midlevel; red, green and purple rim. A handful of encrusting pieces are mixed throughout; Rainbow, Juicy Fruit, Appleberry and a very tough remnant of my old M. hoffmeisteri.
The montipora frags on the right rock shelf and the frag rack (I so want that out of there!) have yet to find a permanent home; they're just laying about. I'm still undecided as to how I want to fill up that sweeping shelf. I have placed some small red and green frags along the outside to grow out along the edge, but it's what do I mount on the shelf itself. The third piece of rock that rests on the two shelf pieces has nothing attached to it as well. I haven't decided on if that rock will remain in the display or not. It's purpose was to give the fish some cover when needed, but they all tend to like hiding under the shelf near the tuskfish in the photo.
And there's the fish in the photo. This is the most camera shy group of fish that I have ever kept! The two tangs will hide and quickly dart around to see what I'm doing. The tuskfish is worse. It will hide and peek around the rock to see if I (the camera) am there waiting. When it does come out, it will only circle the base of the rock in the foreground, not coming out into the open or the light. I'm hoping by adding the pair of angelfish that it will help calm these nervous nellies when it comes time to get their photos taken.
Here's the Bubble Gum Digitata from the front; I like how the base is growing out!
This is that "ugly" Rainbow Montipora; it has lost some brightness from being moved lower in the tank.
The two Oculina frags finally together.
The corals have begun to overgrow the epoxy that is used to mount them. It's kind of weird. You can see through the tissue of surrounding the individual polyps. So you should be able to see how the polyps will lay down a calcium-based skeleton as it grows.
And another goniopora close-up; the Tiffany Goniopra.