Clubreef's 90Gallon SPS

[ClubReef]

Hello Everyone,

I recently gave my tank a scrub down so I thought this would be a great opportunity to post a full and side tank shot. I usually have two big powerheads on the left hand side of the tank..but they are currently getting a vinegar bath at the moment which is a great time to take a full tank shot. It's time to document in case I have a crash :)

This is a 90 gal lit by 2-250watt DE Giesemann 13Ks and 4 –Actinic T5.

Enjoy

Darryl

Front Shot
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/_DSC7786Medium.jpg

Side Shot
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/_DSC7778Medium.jpg

[fishface]

beautiful!! how long has it been running?

[michika]

Its very beautiful!

What do you have for livestock?

[Jason McK]

Great looking tank. How about hardware deals ?

[Snappy]

The tank's looking awesome Darryl.:mrgreen: It's sure come a long way, well done!!!

[Delphinus]

Wow, nice !!

[Delphinus]

Wow, nice !!

[ClubReef]

Thanks for the compliments. You guys caught the tank in a clean state, the back wall is usually covered in coralline algae.

The tank has been setup for 1 1/2 years.

For livestock, I have the following:
-vlamingii tang
-sohal tang
-blue tang
-solaris wrasse
-2 false perculas
-clam
-blood shrimp
-peppermint shrimp
-red star fish

(I know 3 tangs in a 90 is crazy. They do get along and I plan on an upgrade in the near future.)

For hardware and gear I'm using the following:
-giesmann infinity 4foot light
-Euroreef 6-2+ skimmer
-Zeovit reactor
-Flow is all continuous (Seio 800, Sieo 1500, Tunze 6100)
-Sump is 33g
-Return pump is a mag 12

All supplements are done manually, zeo, Ca/Alk/Mg using the balling method. I suppliment KCL and Aquaconnect Trace Elements occasionally.

Darryl

[SuperFudge]

Beautiful tank Darryl !

Marc.

[christyf5]

Gorgeous tank! Love that side shot :biggrin:

[christyf5]

hey, so I'm looking into that balling method, where do you get all your chemicals from?

[Snappy]

I'm glad your'e finally willing to share some photos and are getting over your tank shyness.:wink: Do I see the next FTOTM here??

[ClubReef]

Christy - Balling Method in my understanding is simply a 3part dosing regiment that is extremly popular in Europe and NAmerica. I use the trusted Randy Holmes-Farley 3part recipe. I purchased my Chemicals locally in Calgary but I'm sure it's readily available in Edmonton. This is where i buy my stuff.

Dow flakes (CaCl) from Univar. Check to see if there is a Univar warehouse in Edmonton..Folks in BC are not able to buy directly from them, but you might luck out since you live in AB.

NaHCO3 is simply arm and hammer. I always bake it at 350F for at least 1hr (to relase C02 which will make your pH basic)..then store it. When I need to mix it up, I'll nuke in the microwave prior to mixing (stuff will disolve much better heated). Univar also carry bulk NaHC03 that is food grade.

Mag Flakes or MgCL is also available at Univar..this stuff will last you forever if you buy the 50kg bag.

Mg Sulfate is simply Epsoms salt that you can buy at any local drug store. I've used the Rexall brand. (you need this to counter balance the Chloride in MgCL..Randy explains this in his document)

Use Randy Holme-farley instruction and the dosing calculator. The advantage of this system is it's extremely cheap (forget those pre-bottled additives in an SPS tank) but will require manual dosing unless you invest in a dosing unit.

I hope this helps

Darryl

[vanreefer]

Sweet tank... nice colours

[fastfish]

Very very nice tank! I love your green stag in the second picture.

Any more pics to share? we would love to see. :)

[ClubReef]

Thanks for the compliments everyone! I've been on Canreef for over a year and half and I've seen some pretty impressive tanks and corals (all variations softy, LPS and SPS). I hope we can get some more premium coral stock out west :)

Greg - thanks.. You've been very generous with your frags!

fastfish - Here's some eye candy for you, lit with Giesmann 13K..no actinic due to reflections :(. BTW - I have seen your tank and specimens posted here..they are outstanding!


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7793Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7794Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7797Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7804Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7810Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7806Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7850Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7830Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7819Small.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/_DSC7817Small.jpg

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Very, very nice! It's interesting that this balling method has come up a few times on Canreef in the last few days as it's something I've been reading up on a bit myself. What were you doing before you started the balling method, or have you always done it?

[ClubReef]

Thanks Drew,

I've used Kalk additons way back when I started the tank but as corals grew out it couldn't keep up with the depletion rate so I started using the 3part method once I bought all of the chemicals. It's a very manual method for me but it's extremely cheap so I'm sticking to it for a while. It's a proven method and works well.

[ClubReef]

I took some fish portraits this morning and I thought i would share them in my tank journal. Nothing special/rare. The wife really likes clown fish :)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/fish/_DSC7891Large.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/fish/_DSC8102Large.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/fish/_DSC8080Large.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/fish/_DSC8120Large.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/fish/_DSC7965Large.jpg

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Thanks Drew,

I've used Kalk additons way back when I started the tank but as corals grew out it couldn't keep up with the depletion rate so I started using the 3part method once I bought all of the chemicals. It's a very manual method for me but it's extremely cheap so I'm sticking to it for a while. It's a proven method and works well.

Cool. So no dosing pump(s) or anything? I'm currently dosing Turbo Calcium and dKH Superbuffer. Seems to be working fine....and really IS cheap!

Great photos, btw. Love the last one, especially!

[christyf5]

Wow those fish photos are fantastic!! :cool:

What camera are you using?

[Delphinus]

Wow, I like how they all cooperate when it's time to pose for the camera! Does the camera have a little mysis on a stick thing to attract their attention? :)

Great shots btw!

[Snappy]

Excellent photos Darryl.

[ClubReef]

I used a Nikon D70 with a 50mm fixed lense.

Tony - you're close, I used krill with Berkley fish scent -jk :) I took over 150 images and selected my faves. The trick is to switch the AF from Single to Continuous (might not be available on all Point and Shoots) move with the fish and snap away.

[ClubReef]

I'm kinda late on my journal but here's an 11 month growth sequence. April 29 2006 shot is lit with 10K XM and PC Actinic, my recent May 29 2007 shot is lit with a Giesmann 13K and Super blue T5. I put back the powerheads back on..it's as clean as I can get em :)

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e393/jangdc/tank%20upload/changeMedium2.jpg

[Der_Iron_Chef]

Wow, tunze of growth (sorry...bad pun, but I honestly couldn't resist; reef humour is the WORST).

But seriously, lookin' good :smile:

[Snappy]

Darryl I think the growth is nothing short of amazing. Looks fabulous!

[Delphinus]

Diggity-yiggity!!!! :cool:

[wayner]

How long have you been using zeo & have you seen great results? , in other words, would you recommend it?

tks

[ClubReef]

Wayne - I've been using the Zeo system since last Sept, ~9 months. It's hard to pin point coloration and growth improvements directly at ZEo. I have changed up other variables such as flow and lighting as well. In my opinion Zeo will help keep your water parameters at 0 for phosphate and nitrates..I would recommend it for this purpose.

Here are somethings you have to keep in mind:

-daily dosing....doesn't take long but you have to do it
-pay a bit more $ every month. I have relatively small 90gal so it's managable (~$30 month)
-clear out some room in your sump..the reactor will take up some space
-remove existing investments if you have any (Phosban, Ozone, Refuge etc)

Depending on how hardcore you are..this might be just the thing for you :) But then again there are beautiful tanks out there that are maintained without Zeo.

[wayner]

Thanks Darryl, I lost all my sps a couple of months ago, slowly started stn'ing, it started at the tips, I fragged & lost all the frags also, still haven't figured out what caused it, the only thing I can remember doing around that time was using a 2 part epoxy which got a little mushy & turned the water milky somewat, it was an epoxy made for aquarium use so I'm thinking that probably wasn't the cause.

All parameters were good, so beats me, as you know I have a cal reactor - cal & alk were stable & ph was good also, only thing I didn't test for was mag, but I doubt that would of caused it, so I'll wait till sept before I add any more sps, Fish are fine.

I'm in BC rigth now for work and just got back from Hidden Reefs , think I might head to J&L one night this week, never been.

By the way, your tank is looking awesome.

Cheers.

[ClubReef]

Wayne - That sucks! Sorry to hear about your corals.... you had some awesome pieces :(. You have a PM.

[fastfish]

ClubReef - Thanks for sharing your pictures. Your tank is totally amazing!

[Delphinus]

Hi Darryl, how about some more pictures when you get a chance? Thanks!