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Christy Doug Tony Brad Ryan Jason Chin |
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Untamed's 400 Gallon Reef Congratulations to Untamed for being selected as Canreef's Featured Tank of the Month for November 2008. Thanks, Brad, for sharing your system details with us!
Introduction Each of us is our own harshest critic. I was flattered and surprised that my tank was selected as TOTM because it doesn't really achieve the standards of previous TOTMs. It just goes to show you that there is no one, single correct way to run your aquarium. Thank you to Canreef staff for this recognition. I kept a 30 gallon FOWLR system for 7 or 8 years. Later, I modified that tank by adding a sump and 175W metal halide and operated it as a reef tank for another 4 or 5 years. When we decided to move to another house, this gave me the opportunity to build out my dream tank. So ... this is only my 2nd aquarium and I fully expect it to be the last. As we would not be moving into the new house for nearly one year, I spent all that time surfing the internet forums for information. I promised myself that I would try to document my build as completely as possible as my contribution to helping out others. Judging by the popularity of my build thread, it seems that I've achieved that goal! Once construction began, it took me almost 1 year to build it.
The tank is a 6 foot by 4 foot acrylic built by Envision in Oregon. Aquacultured live rock was imported from Tampa Bay Saltwater. The tank is viewable from all four sides. I wanted to create a very open tank, with lots of swimming space for fish and for coral to grow very large. I expected that it would take 5 years before the tank would start to fill in, but it has surprised me at how quickly the coral has grown. It has not even been 2 years since startup and I already feel that I don't have any more room to place new coral. Equipment
Fish
Coral
Yes ... lots. Mostly SPS, but the rock arrived with a few lovely gorgonians that wave in the current and I have a couple LPS and even a few softies. My coral has coloured up beautifully, which I can only attribute to the healthy digestive systems of the fish, good control of Ca/Alk/Mg, and regular water changes. If there is one aspect of this hobby I don't enjoy it is dealing with the mounting and fragging of coral. Other Inhabitants Pistol Shrimp, two sea urchins, 3 cleaner shrimp, tons of starfish, hermit crabs and assorted snails. Philosophy
I've always just done what I wanted with my tank. Until some critter proves unbearable to keep, I'll try to keep it. So far, this includes keeping mantis shrimp, gorilla crabs, SPS eating angelfish ... and the Lookdown. I've grown to love the fish more than I expected. (I've not been tempted to give any of my coral a name ... ) I'm sure that I will eventually have to part with the Lookdown as it will break my heart when he eats his first tank mate.
I've certainly developed a soft spot for Naso Tangs ... they are so
relaxed and friendly and they have those great big "feed me" eyes ...
Most who see my tank would say that it has a very natural look and
that is probably a reflection of my reef keeping methods. Look closely
and you'll see turf algae, hair algae, cyano, valonia and probably
every other thing that people say is "bad" ... but nothing seems to get
out of balance or become a problem.
Thanks again to Canreef for this recognition and the opportunity to share my little piece of the ocean with others.
Brad.
For more info on Untamed's tank build, please see
here.
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