LoJack's 144 Gallon Reef

[LoJack]

Well I figured since I did an intro thread and promised a Journal ages ago ... its time to give you folks some photos.

I've been poking around on this forum but haven't been overly active up to this point. I've been making lots of changes to my reef though, and figure its time to document them.

It won't be as jammed pack as my original thread on my local forum ... but thats only because there are now too many photos to sift through lol.

So I guess I'll start with the details.

Thank tank is a custom built, starphire front with black silicone, Euro braced tank with a coast to coast overflow and Beananimal standpipes.

Lets just get to the photos ... I know thats what everyone is going to want anyway lol

[LoJack]

The DIY Stand. I built the frame of the stand out of 2x6 lumber to prevent the need for a center brace.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/ea81d723.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/ea81d723.jpg.html)

Just basic good one side plywood for the top and the inside bottom since you weren't going to see it anyway.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/3933d4cb.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/3933d4cb.jpg.html)

Then I assembled the face frames. I originally wanted to build my stand out of maple, however I live in Thompson and you can't be overly picky here. Red oak was available, so Red Oak is what I ended up going with.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/3591cb8d.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/3591cb8d.jpg.html)

Once I had the face frames completed, I began building up some pillars to add some 3D depth to the stand. This was going to be a show tank, so I had to adventure out a little further with my woodworking ability and try and a few new things.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/932abc72.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/932abc72.jpg.html)

This photo shows a little better how I built up the pillars

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/3fd29171.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/3fd29171.jpg.html)

And the look of the stand before I added any of the trim

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/ae4c10c0.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/ae4c10c0.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/7d493a6c.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/7d493a6c.jpg.html)

The Rail cap that I built for the top edge of the stand could not be purchased, so I got creative with some oak and my router and made it myself. The trim that you see on the bottom of the stand is actually purchased, its the only trim I was able to buy rather than make. Its a standard 3 1/2" oak baseboard for your walls.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_2369.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_2369.jpg.html)

This photo shows the assembly of the rail cap. I designed it so that no end grain would show through when everything is finished. End Grain stains darker than everything else, and I didn't want that to happen on this build.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_2371.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_2371.jpg.html)

Then I cut pieces of oak to fill the tops of the built up material at the tops of the pillars.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_2374.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_2374.jpg.html)

a 3/4" cove bit and 1/2" 3step bit allowed me to make the trim that finished off the pillars. Here is a close up that shows each of those in one shot. The baseboard on the bottom, the cove that hides the mitres, and the step to provide a smoother transition inside of the pillars.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_2390.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_2390.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_2391.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_2391.jpg.html)

Then came the stain. I went with a water based Mahogany and 3 coats of water based Poly.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/b7e17f2e.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/b7e17f2e.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/28c26c79.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/28c26c79.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/0b43e3d1.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/0b43e3d1.jpg.html)

The Canopy was built in a very similar fashion so I won't bother with build photo's. here it is before stain and doors.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/0c4a6361.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/0c4a6361.jpg.html)

With the stain applied. I also painted the inside white with a high gloss acrylic paint. This will help to reflect more light than a dark interior would, directing the light into the tank.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/63c9b8cf.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/63c9b8cf.jpg.html)

Shiny Shiny lol

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/f2de2dcb.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/f2de2dcb.jpg.html)

And the Canopy with Doors:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/fa7df50a-e5b6-42e9-a1ff-97449d102482_zps809166ed.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/fa7df50a-e5b6-42e9-a1ff-97449d102482_zps809166ed.jpg.html)

[FishyFishy!]

My god thats some amazing wood working skills you got there!!!! Beautiful!

Wanna come finish my stand??

[Coralgurl]

:jaw:Wow, that's beautiful woodwork!!! Looks like you've got the canopy on a tank, so let's see some more!!!

Thanks for sharing!

[hillegom]

I love the woodwork!
Great Job

[LoJack]

:jaw:Wow, that's beautiful woodwork!!! Looks like you've got the canopy on a tank, so let's see some more!!!

Thanks for sharing!

Alrighty ... Carrying on

The next step I took care of was soldering up my DIY LED's.

I purchased 3 heat sinks, and made 3 separate units. Each unit contained 12 Royal Blue (460nm) and 12 Cool Whites (6500K) wired into meanwell drivers controlled by RapidLED's dimmable controller.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/460badb7.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/460badb7.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/889aca92.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/889aca92.jpg.html)

White Test:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/6f8c8be1.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/6f8c8be1.jpg.html)

Blue Test:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/22603889.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/22603889.jpg.html)

They work! Time to mount

Oh wait ... pure Chaos!!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/7757b781.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/7757b781.jpg.html)

Chaos Cleaned up

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/658f7cca.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/658f7cca.jpg.html)

You can see that the right side is whiter than the left side. This meant that I needed to adjust the SVR2 setting on the driver for the blues on the left pendant which was taking slightly more amperage than the others.

A close up of a single heat sink

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/56a167de.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/56a167de.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

Time to move back one step ... because the canopy was built after I had the plumbing done ... but it screwed up my sequence for the Journal.

So lets get to the plumbing.

First the tank needed to be drilled.

Plumbers putty and a bit of patience to the rescue:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/c8fc95a6.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/c8fc95a6.jpg.html)

And thanks to trickery of photography ... I'm done

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/768a8e70.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/768a8e70.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/799a1b33.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/799a1b33.jpg.html)

After the holes were drilled I painted the back ...

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/6d2b9c07.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/6d2b9c07.jpg.html)

And then began construction on the Coast to Coast Overflow

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/373d443c.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/373d443c.jpg.html)

And voila!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/bab87001.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/bab87001.jpg.html)

The pump is a Reeflo Dart (3600 GPH)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/3cae034e.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/3cae034e.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/46fcb619.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/46fcb619.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/308222ca.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/308222ca.jpg.html)

And because I used the Beananimal overflow ... 3 standpipes

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/78bf31ed.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/78bf31ed.jpg.html)

There is also a 1" line that diverts from my 1.5" piping on the return that circulates back into the sump. This is for a filter sock. But because my overflow doesn't go to the sock, there is a 0% chance of an overflow because of a plugged filter sock.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/a82dd8f1.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/a82dd8f1.jpg.html)

The return on the pump is diverted into 4 separate outlets of loc-line that have fan nozzles and locline ball valves. This gives me full control in terms of flow. If I have a piece that can't handle the high flow, I can turn down 1 of the ball valves decreasing the flow in one area and increasing it in another.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/d904744e.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/d904744e.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/f95e41f8.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/f95e41f8.jpg.html)

[Skimmerking]

nice bro looking really good. where is the fans for the heat sink

[LoJack]

My god thats some amazing wood working skills you got there!!!! Beautiful!

Wanna come finish my stand??

lol thanks ... Its a bit far to travel I think ...

I love the woodwork!
Great Job

Thank You very much. This was the first job of this calibre that I attempted. I couldn't find plans, so I just searched DIY stands on ReefCentral and got my inspiration from there ...

nice bro looking really good. where is the fans for the heat sink

I didn't put fans directly on the heat sink, they are exchanging the air in the canopy. 2 pushing fresh air in, 2 sucking warm air out.

[daplatapus]

Very nice work. Hope you don't mind, but I copied a couple of your corner post pics. I saw something similar on a reefcentral post a while back but couldn't find it again. I'll save it for posterity :)

An idea I saw (I can't remember where) for hanging heatsinks is run them on pocket door track. That way when you have to work in your tank you can just push them back on the rail and they're not hanging in your way. Just a though if you hadn't seen it done.

[LoJack]

Very nice work. Hope you don't mind, but I copied a couple of your corner post pics. I saw something similar on a reefcentral post a while back but couldn't find it again. I'll save it for posterity :)

An idea I saw (I can't remember where) for hanging heatsinks is run them on pocket door track. That way when you have to work in your tank you can just push them back on the rail and they're not hanging in your way. Just a though if you hadn't seen it done.

No problem copying pics ... I love to inspire lol.

I thought about actually doing a thread dedicated to just the stand and canopy ... because I have 10 times as many build pics as I showed here. Most people are interested in the tank and the livestock, so I focus on those when sharing on the forums.

As for the pocket door rail, thats a stellar idea. I am fortunate enough to have a rather tall canopy, and my heat sinks hung high enough that they have never been in the way while working in the tank. My hanging set up is very caveman ... but it does the trick and is hidden inside of my canopy.

[LoJack]

So here's a full tank shot showing the finished Canopy

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/ecc8a52e.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/ecc8a52e.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

And then I started adding some of the livestock to the tank ... slowly but surely. Keep in mind I had a sump stocked with fully cured rock from another tank ... so my cycle was non existent.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/f103bace.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/f103bace.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/3d8e0026.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/3d8e0026.jpg.html)

The first piece of SPS in the tank ... Pocillipora

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/992551c7.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/992551c7.jpg.html)

Toadstool Leather Frag

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/dc07972f.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/dc07972f.jpg.html)

5 Heads of Green CandyCane

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/0f001cec.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/0f001cec.jpg.html)

Right side rock work:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/9aa4c0a1.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/9aa4c0a1.jpg.html)

Full tank shot:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/9010f928.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/9010f928.jpg.html)

[kien]

Seriously, that stand and canopy is off the hoook! You got mad skills bro. And I love that aquascape. Well done!

[thmh]

Lego lvl expert! That aqua scape is so damn fine.... I might have to issue you a ticket sir!

~Tony

[LoJack]

A few more ...

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/81cf1eef.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/81cf1eef.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/a457e0ab.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/a457e0ab.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/87391223.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/87391223.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/a758e3bf.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/a758e3bf.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/ca561797.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/ca561797.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/54743b2a.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/54743b2a.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/842de24c.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/842de24c.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/01c716b6.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/01c716b6.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

Some of the Fish ...

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/a13bc2d1.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/a13bc2d1.jpg.html)

ORA Sunrise Dottyback

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/b89348ea.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/b89348ea.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/51a5c9b7.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/51a5c9b7.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/12aea9d5.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/12aea9d5.jpg.html)

And a couple of Land Sharks for Fun !!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file-1.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file-1.jpg.html)

[typezero]

Love the setup! Big fan of dry rock here. Also very sharp and crisp shots of fish.

[kien]

great photos!

[LoJack]

Thanks guys!

[LoJack]

A shot with the doors finished on the stand.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/cbcccaae.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/cbcccaae.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

Right side of tank

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/8959d6bc.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/8959d6bc.jpg.html)

Pink Fox

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file-2.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file-2.jpg.html)

Hulk Green Acan

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file-3.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file-3.jpg.html)

Euphyllia Cristata

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file-6.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file-6.jpg.html)

Triple threat shrimp shot

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file-7.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file-7.jpg.html)

ORA Neon Dottyback

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file-10.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file-10.jpg.html)

Toadstool Leather

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zpse546d59e.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zpse546d59e.jpg.html)

Favia Frag - not sure which type. It was shipped to me as dragon soul, which I clearly didn't get ... but its pretty nice nonetheless.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps474acad9.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps474acad9.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

Left side of tank

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps3710e6c3.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps3710e6c3.jpg.html)

Toadstool Frag

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zpsc022a1d2.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zpsc022a1d2.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

Full tank Shot

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps791938e5.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps791938e5.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

Ctenochaetus binotatus "Blue Eyed Tang"

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zpsa15079f4.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zpsa15079f4.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps6ff1727b.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps6ff1727b.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps6330a330.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps6330a330.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zpsf7c8820d.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zpsf7c8820d.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zpseeba787f.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zpseeba787f.jpg.html)

[JDigital]

Tank looks great and that is one sharp looking tang!

[bonsaidave]

Wow . What an beautiful tank . Great job on the stand and canopy. I was wondering what type of paint did you use and what shade of blue is that?

Thanks

[input80]

Wow . What an beautiful tank . Great job on the stand and canopy. I was wondering what type of paint did you use and what shade of blue is that?

Thanks

Yes please, what type & colour of paint please ? Very nice work overall. Also, how do you get the rocks to stay like that ?

[Azzkr]

Wow very impressive tank and stand. I love the colour of the stand. Great job this will be an amazing tank when it gets filled in. I might have to build a canopy now for my tank after seeing this.

[LoJack]

I'm not sure what the color is. Its just a premixed rustoleum roll on paint that I got from Canadian Tire.

Thanks for the kind words!

[Dearth]

Superb tank design and some of those frags I would kill for

[LoJack]

Superb tank design and some of those frags I would kill for

Thanks!

[explor3r]

Well done thats a killer aquascape!!!!!! :biggrin:

[LoJack]

Well done thats a killer aquascape!!!!!! :biggrin:
Thanks a lot

[LoJack]

Figured I could probably provide a few more photos

I went through a lighting change. I recently switched from LED back to T5. I have one piece in the tank that has adapted phenomenally to each change.

Here is the piece the day I put it in the tank. It was a throw away browned out unidentified frag

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps6923044b.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps6923044b.jpg.html)

Under my White and Blue LED's it started to settle in and show a little bit of color:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps58308120.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps58308120.jpg.html)

When I added UV and Cyan to my LED's the colors really started to change

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps4b1cd0a9.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps4b1cd0a9.jpg.html)

And a few months later under the same lighting

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps0f693721.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps0f693721.jpg.html)

And then with the switch to T5. I've lost the teal color, but the growth has been much better under T5 than it ever was with LED's

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/BlueAcro2_zpsa2974f09.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/BlueAcro2_zpsa2974f09.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/BlueAcro_zpsf74be5f1.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/BlueAcro_zpsf74be5f1.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

A few other changes. I just got home from a 3 week stay in Winnipeg. I had a friend check in on my tank a couple of times to fill my ATO reservoir and feed the tank. Some of the changes were amazing. I should learn the lesson and keep my hands out of my tank more often.

Here is a frag that I got from J&L on one of my orders. They didn't provide an ID with it, and based on the colors its tough to know for sure. I'm leaning towards Red Planet based on the tabling and the polyps.

Here it is:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/RedPlanet2_zps1070157e.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/RedPlanet2_zps1070157e.jpg.html)

I moved it higher into the rockwork before leaving and this is what I came home to:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/RedPlanet_zpsc6d2052a.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/RedPlanet_zpsc6d2052a.jpg.html)

Significant growth in my opinion. It also is giving me confidence that its a frag of Red Planet. The color is changing to red, plus its got a green tint to it that you can't really see in the photo.

Anyhow, another frag from the same order. It showed up browned out with almost no polyp extension. No Identification either. The polyps were the size of salt grains:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/PurpleFrag_zps19cb287f.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/PurpleFrag_zps19cb287f.jpg.html)

And then 3 weeks later when I returned. It had overgrown its plug already and look at the color and polyps. Biggest transition while I was gone for sure!

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/purplefrag2_zps96f5ac13.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/purplefrag2_zps96f5ac13.jpg.html)

I don't have a before photo of this one, it was just much deeper in color when I got home so I thought I'd post a picture of it as well.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/PurpleAcro_zps309b4cca.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/PurpleAcro_zps309b4cca.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

Was playing with the camera today, thought I'd provide a photo update to the thread.

June 2012:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/9010f928.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/9010f928.jpg.html)

Approximately June 2013

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file_zps13539bc0.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file_zps13539bc0.jpg.html)

Current (Sept 30th, 2013)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/FTSSept30_zps7941b270.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/FTSSept30_zps7941b270.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

And a few other shots from today that were okay.

Female Lyretail Anthias, it was the only decent fish shot I could get today

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/Lyretail_zps38ad92a9.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/Lyretail_zps38ad92a9.jpg.html)

The unknown blue tip acro (my most successful transformation)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/ACRO_zps2018eb42.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/ACRO_zps2018eb42.jpg.html)

Amazingly bright, yet surprisingly slow growing orange digi frag

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/OrangeDigi_zpsfd7f3cc0.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/OrangeDigi_zpsfd7f3cc0.jpg.html)

And a panned out shot of the tank where it stands in my basement

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/Pannedout_zpsd0f87244.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/Pannedout_zpsd0f87244.jpg.html)

[thmh]

Very cool progression shots!

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4

[LoJack]

June 2012

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/file-16.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/file-16.jpg.html)

September 30th, 2013

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/Pocci_zps9a59a37a.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/Pocci_zps9a59a37a.jpg.html)

[kien]

Everything is looking great! Sometimes less really is more :-)

[LoJack]

Very cool progression shots!

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 4

Thanks! I always like seeing them in others threads so I like to try and keep some photos every few months to show progress

Everything is looking great! Sometimes less really is more :-)

Thanks Kien

[LoJack]

Yes please, what type & colour of paint please ? Very nice work overall. Also, how do you get the rocks to stay like that ?

I used fiberglass rods and drilled holes in the rock to keep them in place like that.

I used driveway markers and cut them to length with a small handsaw as I was aquascaping.

[Doug]

I used fiberglass rods and drilled holes in the rock to keep them in place like that.

I used driveway markers and cut them to length with a small handsaw as I was aquascaping.

OH kool. Thats what I will do. :smile: Thanks

[LoJack]

OH kool. Thats what I will do. :smile: Thanks

Yeah a nice cheap option for sure. I think they were like $5 each at canadian tire, and you could get them in 4 or 8 foot lengths.

[asylumdown]

You've had some fantastic growth! I've got a pink digi just like yours and it's also surprisingly slow growing compared to my other digis. And I think that one whose polyps turned neon green is probably a purple bonsai. Such stunning corals when they grow out.

That one that's turning red, does it have any green in it? Red planets have a really electric green base depending on the light.


Anyway I'm med jelly over your rock structure. I'm about 3 inches away from ripping apart my rocks cape to make it look more like yours!

[LoJack]

Yes, very green base. and right now its twice as red/pink as in my last photo. I need to try and get a current photo of it thats half decent.

I have a photo from a couple weeks ago … I just can't get a good shot. Its too far back from the glass.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7448_zps50f8b4bf.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7448_zps50f8b4bf.jpg.html)

If you look close you can see the green tint to the base … especially where it is encrusting … its almost neon.

I just wish I could get a good shot of it that shows the detail. The polyp growth is now starting to resemble the other Red Planets that I've seen photos of

[LoJack]

You've had some fantastic growth!


Anyway I'm med jelly over your rock structure. I'm about 3 inches away from ripping apart my rocks cape to make it look more like yours!

The growth I'm quite happy with … however you wouldn't suspect good growth with where I keep my levels.

I just tested again tonight, because I'm trying to slowly raise them

Alk - 7.7 dKh
Cal - 410
Mag - 1400

I added approx 300 ml of calcium chloride solution manually to jump my calcium up about 20 ppm … and then added approx 30 minutes to both doser's over the course of 24 hours.

Should equate to an extra 35ml each of Alk and Cal. I keep testing daily until I see the number plateau.

My target params are Calcium of 440 and Alk of about 8.5 and then stabilize them so that they never move. Seems to me you have less issues with Alk related problems when you keep your Alk on the lower side of the acceptable range.

EDIT: And thanks about the aquascape … It's quite the compliment, I really like it as well. But like Doug pointed out in a different thread about aquascaping … this is more for aesthetics and less for practicality. Not a lot of caves for fish. They make do, but I'm sure they'd be happier with more protection at night.

[asylumdown]

Yes, very green base. and right now its twice as red/pink as in my last photo. I need to try and get a current photo of it thats half decent.

I have a photo from a couple weeks ago … I just can't get a good shot. Its too far back from the glass.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7448_zps50f8b4bf.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7448_zps50f8b4bf.jpg.html)

If you look close you can see the green tint to the base … especially where it is encrusting … its almost neon.

I just wish I could get a good shot of it that shows the detail. The polyp growth is now starting to resemble the other Red Planets that I've seen photos of

You know I actually have this exact coral in my tank. It's not exactly "red planet", but it's just as nice IMO. This is it from October:
http://i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g411/asylumdown/IMG_5943_zps8df4d210.jpg (http://s1100.photobucket.com/user/asylumdown/media/IMG_5943_zps8df4d210.jpg.html)

You'll find it has less of a tabling habit as it gets larger, more of a traditional acro pin cushion look, but it's definitely one of my favourite pieces. Relatively fast grower as well. Mine has kept that beautiful deep red colour with whitish tips to on the actively growing branches, but the neon green has diminished pretty dramatically as it's gotten larger. My red planet in comparison is almost pink.

[LoJack]

You know I actually have this exact coral in my tank. It's not exactly "red planet", but it's just as nice IMO.

Its kind of funny … I started thinking when the color started changing that it might not be ORA's strain.

I found an article stating that Acropora Hyacinthus is the coral that is often confused with Red Planet, and that if you receive a Red Planet frag, and don't receive it from ORA directly, or someone who can tell you thats where it's from that this Hyacinthus is often what it is.

Its still pink, has white tips, tabling growth … and is very similar in colour and appearance to Red Planet … but isn't the same species.

Here is a pic of A. Hyacinthus

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/P3310253.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/p96531/media/P3310253.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

And for the record, that's not my photo … just a pic of A. Hyacinthus from google images

[Doug]

Yeah a nice cheap option for sure. I think they were like $5 each at canadian tire, and you could get them in 4 or 8 foot lengths.


I assume its not the yellow ones I seen there today

[LoJack]

Yup, I used the yellow ones.

I had seen them in a few builds on Reef Central totm's and thats why I went looking for them. Much less flex than acrylic dowel.

[Doug]

Ok. I thought perhaps the colour would cause problems.

[LoJack]

Ok. I thought perhaps the colour would cause problems.


I was worried about it too. People on RC assured me they wouldn't. Its been 18 months and I've seen no adverse affects, not to say I won't in 5 years ... all speculation at this point haha

[asylumdown]

hmmm, that pic does look suspiciously like what I've been calling red planet lol.

[LoJack]

July 4th:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/July4th059_zpsabd2e501.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/July4th059_zpsabd2e501.jpg.html)

November 15th:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7268_zps5ca744ca.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7268_zps5ca744ca.jpg.html)

[ashr]

Tank looks great!

But I see you're a maple leafs fan... Im sorry to hear that.. haha :mrgreen:

[LoJack]

Tank looks great!

But I see you're a maple leafs fan... Im sorry to hear that.. haha :mrgreen:

I'm sorry a lot of the time too … so no worries lol

[LoJack]

A shot from today. Shot from the right side of the tank. I like this photo because you can just see the tops of all my colonies pushed together … I love the contrast of colours looking from end to end in my tank

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7535_zpsa1cbf640.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7535_zpsa1cbf640.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

I already posted these separately, but thought I'd add them to my journal as well.

I borrowed a macro lens from a friend of mine before buying one for myself. Trying to figure out how to use it. Much more challenging than I thought. The colour and lighting seems to be thrown off in every shot, even under the same camera settings.

Here's the best of the crop though … let me know what you think.

Electric Green Torch Coral:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7319_zpsc69352cb.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7319_zpsc69352cb.jpg.html)

Green Birdsnest:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7550_zpsad122d58.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7550_zpsad122d58.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7617_zps963171ae.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7617_zps963171ae.jpg.html)

Unknown Acro … Blazing Yellow with Gorgeous purple tips, my favourite piece in my tank for sure

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7557_zps5cd9608a.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7557_zps5cd9608a.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7560_zpsfd188cf4.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7560_zpsfd188cf4.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7561_zps297658f8.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7561_zps297658f8.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7608_zps18aff5e2.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7608_zps18aff5e2.jpg.html)

ORA Red Planet:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7563_zps0aa7eaf3.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7563_zps0aa7eaf3.jpg.html)

Unknown green bushy acro:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7582_zpsaa7322be.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7582_zpsaa7322be.jpg.html)

Really deep orange, Monti Capricornis:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7592_zps9c61b471.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7592_zps9c61b471.jpg.html)

And a nice Purple Monti Capricornis:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7594_zps4e8ab64e.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7594_zps4e8ab64e.jpg.html)

Unknown greenish zoanthid:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7620_zps083f0163.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7620_zps083f0163.jpg.html)

Acropora Valida:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7621_zps2583770a.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7621_zps2583770a.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7624_zps2e5a666b.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7624_zps2e5a666b.jpg.html)

Blue Tip Acropora

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7628_zps1883a93f.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7628_zps1883a93f.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7636_zps3f1e29a2.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7636_zps3f1e29a2.jpg.html)

[Doug]

Looks pretty good to me. Nice pics

[LoJack]

Well today was a maintenance day in the Reef … so I figured I'd snap a few shots while I was at it.

Pics from today:

Acropora Hyacinthus on a shot looking end to end in the tank

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7978_zps71b22d56.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7978_zps71b22d56.jpg.html)

A green birdsnest frag:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7942_zps7fa5d73d.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7942_zps7fa5d73d.jpg.html)

A Forest Fire Digitata frag I just added from pufferlover

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7886_zps26776c01.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7886_zps26776c01.jpg.html)

A shot from the centre of the Arch where things are starting to fill in

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7937_zps7c0cf572.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7937_zps7c0cf572.jpg.html)

Panned out a bit

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7924_zpsdba435df.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7924_zpsdba435df.jpg.html)

Frag Rack shot … A beauty of a blue Acro Gomezi frag from my main colony.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7938_zps0fcb4cba.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7938_zps0fcb4cba.jpg.html)

One of the Acro Valida frags

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7939_zpsf8c4ccd9.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7939_zpsf8c4ccd9.jpg.html)

And the newest addition to the Reef. Doesn't seem to care for Aiptasia unfortunately … but he hasn't nipped any corals or bugged my Squamosa Clam yet either … Fingers Crossed

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7964_zps2680c30a.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7964_zps2680c30a.jpg.html)

Hope you enjoy

[Doug]

And the newest addition to the Reef. Doesn't seem to care for Aiptasia unfortunately … but he hasn't nipped any corals or bugged my Squamosa Clam yet either … Fingers Crossed

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_7964_zps2680c30a.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_7964_zps2680c30a.jpg.html)


Oh. Beautiful.But a chancy move. I have always liked them. Hope he/she dont bother your corals.

[LoJack]

They're one of the most reef safe butterfly's … Supposedly more Reef Safe than Copperbands even … however they are less likely to take a liking to Aiptasia unfortunately.

[LoJack]

A quick update. Progression shot

October 29th, 2013:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_6956_zpse896f0e2.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_6956_zpse896f0e2.jpg.html)

February 5th, 2014:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_8218_zps67f203d3.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_8218_zps67f203d3.jpg.html)

[LoJack]

Forest Fire update.

Week 4:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_8236_zps3590ac56.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_8236_zps3590ac56.jpg.html)

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u58/LoJack29/IMG_8227_zpsd3738808.jpg (http://s165.photobucket.com/user/LoJack29/media/IMG_8227_zpsd3738808.jpg.html)

It was added to my tank January 4th. Seems to be doing pretty good. No blue to the body yet … but its growing nicely and the tips are colouring a lot