Russ Reef Tank 60gal.

[ruslicus]

Hi guys

I am fairly new to reef tanks, so any comments and feedback are welcome.
So it is my second tank upgrading from JBJ Nano. Denny from Concept helped me to build this system and at this stage it is just tank, stand and sump.
Hardware:
1. 36x21x20 front low iron Tank
2. Stand and Sump to match tank's footprnt
3. Illumina SR260 24" fixture
4. Vortech MP40wes and MP10wes.
5. DC5000 return pump
6. RLSS R6-i skimmer
7. ReefKeeper Light controller

Pretty much this I have already in my basement and is waiting to be installed. In next couple of day I will do the plumbing. and hopefully in a week will add water.
The stand will be skinned with doors to cover the sump.

My existing livestock will be moved from Nano. I have firefish and yellowtail damsel fish. Some Zoas, Some SPS and one Hummer Coral. Once moved into will take some pictures

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8320385466_69caccc303_b.jpg[/url]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8320406492_d77b751c6d_b.jpg[/url]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8320411174_b47d6100c7_b.jpg[/url]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8361/8319324897_34c2803fc3_b.jpg[/url]

[chef]

Nice clean setup. Great choice in lighting. That vertex is going to luck stunning once she's filled

[reefwars]

looking great russ man:) im sure this tank is going to look beautiful when its finished, great choice on equipment too:)

cheers


denny

[ruslicus]

Thank you Denny! I like the tank and hope will look nice when completed!

[ruslicus]

So it's been a while. I have installed all my equipment and waiting for my doors only :) Got water in my tanka nd sump. Skimmer is skimming very nicely, return pump is super quite. First my corals from Nano Tank moved into and 2 fish:
Fish currently:
1. Yellow Tail Damsel
2. Purple Fire Fish
Plan:
1. Ember Blenny
2. School of Bartlet anthias
3. Designer Clowns - snow flakes or Premium Picasso
4. Wanatapei Angel

Corals currently:
Zoas - candy apple, dragon eye, watermelon, pink zoa
Acro - Stag, some unknow, Pocci, Stylo, Birds Nest, Red Planet
LPS - Blastimusso
Peppermint shrimp and Bubble anemone

Thank you Denny and Sean for the frags.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8390318923_fc938d20f1_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8373/8391402444_bae5f7b50d_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8391403032_8cbb81d6a8_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8391403260_93e86349e5_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8500/8390320083_b4b84abb44_o.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8391402092_a949868083_o.jpg

[ruslicus]

If anyone can help to identify the small Acro in 3rd picture would be much appreciated. One more question. On the same picture my Stag Acro at the begining of left branch has different color, I wouldn't say it is bleahced because it is greenish. Anyone can comment on this? Thx.

[NIVLEM09]

possibly growth...thats one sweet set-up you got there:biggrin:

[ruslicus]

Sorry for my previous large pictures. Was learning to post. Some new corals in my system:

Candy Apple with YellowTail Damsel:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8363/8400121160_18501f8f00_b.jpg

Red Blasto (Thanks Fragit Dan)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8092/8399035201_5023ef3746_b.jpg

Rainbow Stylo (thank you Xtreme) and Acro Valida (Thank you FragIt Dan):
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8399036599_f9e319b3ab_b.jpg

Riccordea (Thank you Denny)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8088/8399038349_dfec4947c2_b.jpg

Zoas
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8221/8399038461_ff1536d92f_b.jpg

BlueTip vermiculata
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8085/8397481264_21ba55a79a_b.jpg

Green Pocci
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8396400195_acc3bdb07b_b.jpg

Green with purple Blasto
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8396401297_37bca3d857_b.jpg

Acro Stag
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8397486708_2c991c3517_b.jpg

[ensquire]

Awesome pictures, and very nice frags.

[ruslicus]

Awesome pictures, and very nice frags.

Thank you

[FragIt Dan]

Looking good :) Curious about why you think that is a vermiculata? As I said, I am not so good with the names so I am keen to learn. I looked up the vermiculata and wouldn't think it was. My best guess was a convexa. Here is a link to the vermiculata that I was looking at:
http://coral.aims.gov.au/speciesPages/species_metadata/0787/image#

Dan

[ruslicus]

Looking good :) Curious about why you think that is a vermiculata? As I said, I am not so good with the names so I am keen to learn. I looked up the vermiculata and wouldn't think it was. My best guess was a convexa. Here is a link to the vermiculata that I was looking at:
http://coral.aims.gov.au/speciesPages/species_metadata/0787/image#

Dan

Thank you Dan. It is a great site I should bookmark it :) I was looking at this site as well: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=1679+1492+2292+2497&pcatid=2497 I think they ae very close and for sure it is tough to identify. Two things have leaded me to think it is vermiculata is:
1. The branches are formed from small type pockets and the are longer than convexa
2. The tentacules are extended longer than convexa which makes it very hairy which I like very much.
Please see convexa type http://fragd.it/product/view/1003 and compare to the frag picture above.

But it is my guess

[ruslicus]

More pictures:

This is as for me a plate coral that came with my liverock. It is a size of a penny:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8410475866_f74efa9217_b.jpg

New habitat. Difficult to get a good picture - pair of herlequin shrimps:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8409379075_bca62f750b_b.jpg

And my Red Blasto. It is getting better every day :):
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8096/8410476184_15b3323271_b.jpg

[ruslicus]

Better picture of my pair Bonnie and Clyde, as they travel all around and already finished a star leg in 2 days.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8410662758_b46ba32cc7_b.jpg

[kien]

Love that blasto and shrimps! So are Bonnie&Clyde temporary or permanent? Do you plan to feed them starfish forever?

[ruslicus]

Love that blasto and shrimps! So are Bonnie&Clyde temporary or permanent? Do you plan to feed them starfish forever?

Thank you Kien. Think permanent, depends how I can find star fish for feeding, but want to kind of teach them 2 legs per week :) I was reading they should be ok with this diet. I should reasearch where I can find starfish cheap :)

[ruslicus]

So, skin for my stand is done, first my corals in. Still have PO4 at 0.05 level that I have to work it out. Looking for BioPellets reactor to fix it:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8093/8418051542_c821ed77b3_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8418051312_bf74e8f628_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8191/8418050976_1aebd142b8_b.jpg

[ruslicus]

ok everything is going well so far, and finally I've got some new additions. Some anthias Bartlett's and a pair of designer clowns:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8523/8456018063_7047341423_b.jpg

Some new Zoa addition:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8457118496_1a660bef31_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8100/8457118146_10454e48fd_b.jpg

some SPS picture will follow up.

Thank you

[lastlight]

new additions are nice but wow i had previously missed that blasto! where'd you score that it's really sweet?

[ruslicus]

new additions are nice but wow i had previously missed that blasto! where'd you score that it's really sweet?

Yeah it is great looking Blasto. Actually first time I saw this color. I've got it from FragIt Dan.

[ruslicus]

New Tank shots and new members of Reef 2013

my new clowns starting to host BTA
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8227/8545127013_b3db3e901b_b.jpg

Buzz - my new member:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8545128161_5bb4ec6464_b.jpg

Pirate - another member:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8106/8545124139_ef6bda093d_b.jpg

New addition in my collection - Space Monsters. Thank you Victor:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8111/8545125801_f6f60eedcb_b.jpg

My best Yellow tip Gorgonian. Thank you Denny:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8232/8546224804_82656a09b1_b.jpg

And a snapshot:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8388/8545129397_2f8357b6dc_b.jpg

Thank you for watching. Everything is going nicely for now. BioPellets reactor starts to work. Need dosing system. Still not decided which one.

[denny_CC]

told you that gorg is nice , by far my brightest whip:) its nps so be sure to spray some mysis juice or other foods its way once in a while...overall an easy nps gorg though:)

looking good brudder!!

[lastlight]

yeh def looking nice. I dig that sloping boulder formation in the background it's got a sweet look to it.

[mrhasan]

Buzz - my new member:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8545128161_5bb4ec6464_b.jpg


$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ shot!

Awesomeness is getting saturated ;)

[ruslicus]

Thank you guys