Author Topic: Nikki's 40g Mixed Reef (Read 8189 times)

MechanicalEngineer · « **on:** December 11, 2007, 00:04:33 »

As the 1 year anniversary approaches for my tank, I've decided to honor it with a tank profile.

It's been a crazy first year into the hobby, but I hope everyone will enjoy looking back as much as I do. I've made a lot of mistakes (damsels, gorgonians, flame scallops, cheapo equipment), but I've learned from them all.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2007, 00:07:29 »

Picture 1: Me building the stand. December 2006
Picture 2: Sand, rocks, and water go in! January 2007
Picture 3: Time for fishies! (stupid damsels) January
Picture 4: My flame scallop and arrowhead crab developed a symbiotic relationship. It was weird. February

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2007, 00:15:44 »

Picture 5: My boyfriend brought me home a *present*...not knowing we couldn't keep either one! - March

Picture 6: Tank - March

Picture 7: Tank - April

Picture 8: Tank - May

Picture 9: Tank...The GHA got so bad that I took everything out of the tank to scrub it. - June

reefman · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2007, 00:25:56 »

Looks nice!!

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2007, 00:31:50 »

Hold on now!! No one was supposed to see this until I was done...you're up too late MISTER!!!

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2007, 00:42:56 »

Picture 10: My first clam...and hopefully my last! - June

Picture 11: I started getting into blastomussas. - June

Picture 12: ...Until I found Acan's... - June

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2007, 00:49:34 »

Picture 13: Then I found SPS...sweet. - June

Picture 14: But then I realized I still have too much GHA to have SPS... - June

Picture 15: So, I got a skimmer - Tunze Nano running wet - July

Picture 16: Adding more SPS - August

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2007, 00:55:20 »

Picture 17: My rescue Bubble coral - August

Picture 18: Montipora Confusa - Frag Swap - October

Picture 19: Orange Crush Echinata - Frag Swap - October

Picture 20: Sunset Montipora - Frag Swap - October

Picture 21: McCosker's Flasher Wrasse - December

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2007, 00:57:15 »

And for the Finale...

December Tank

micki · « **Reply #9 on:** December 11, 2007, 06:10:28 »

Looks good Nikki

ohioreef · « **Reply #10 on:** December 11, 2007, 09:53:01 »

Looking really good!! I feel for you ref the GHA!! I was about to give up my tank before I got it under control.

saltybuckeye · « **Reply #11 on:** December 11, 2007, 12:14:41 »

looks great.Love the wrasse.Where did you pick it up at?

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #12 on:** December 11, 2007, 12:38:25 »

Quote from: saltybuckeye on December 11, 2007, 12:14:41

looks great.Love the wrasse.Where did you pick it up at?

You had to ask, didn't you. I'm a little ashamed. I took in some ugly corals to Jack's for store credit (usually I just get salt), but the Jack's in Centerville had two male flasher wrasses...one was a McCosker's & the other one I'm not sure of. So, I got both. I've been trying to get some good pictures of them, but they swim a bit too fast for my photography skills. But thank you.

mhhauser321 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2007, 13:25:13 »

looks hot

Secondgen · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2007, 19:23:23 »

I think I have said this before in this thread, but my posts are missing

. Very nice looking tank.

REDPYRO · « **Reply #15 on:** December 12, 2007, 19:25:25 »

is that a scarelt pumperninkle?

or an Engelbert Humperdinc?

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2007, 21:34:12 »

both...at the same time.

REDPYRO · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2007, 21:34:49 »

wicked sweet

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2008, 19:53:45 »

Latest pic with the MH's...weeee!

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2008, 14:25:58 »

Tank Equipment:

40g long SPS dominate
20g sump/refugium with Chaeto, Caulerpa, and a DSB
2x150W 10K HQI MH + 2x130W PC Actinics
Tunze Nano 9002 Skimmer
Two Little Fishies Phosban Reactor
Carbon Filter run 4 days/month
Auto-topoff with Kalkwasser
2 Maxijet 1200's + 2 other generic brand powerheads
Mag 5 return pump

Tank Chemicals/Additives:

Mixture of Reef Crystals, Instant Ocean, and Red Sea salt @ 1.026
Temp: 76-78 F
2-part solution when needed
Top-off with Kalkwasser

Feeding:

Mixture of Coral Snow, Cylopeeze (freeze dried and frozen), spirulina flakes, Roti-feast, enriched brine shrimp, and Spectrum once per day.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 23, 2008, 15:59:48 »

Looks Good, I have taken some frags to Jacks in Centerville as well but they never look half as good as they did in my aquarium. Although I must say they have a pretty good selection of fish.

Amstar · « **Reply #21 on:** January 23, 2008, 17:16:59 »

I like free frags. they can go in my mantis tank. or my newly created (well 3 months ago) nano. 16 gallon bowfront aquarium.

nikki your tank looks awesome. I remember when I got MH and saw my tank with them. it makes the fish the corals even the water look better. LOOKS AWESOME

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #22 on:** January 23, 2008, 17:25:56 »

Thanks! It's really hard for me to not post more pictures than I already do. Day by day I can tell a difference. The colors on my SPS pop so much, that I hate having any space dedicated for softies or LPS. I'm trying to convince my man that we should upgrade to a bigger tank. Hopefully in less than a year we'll go up to at least a 75g.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 05, 2008, 12:03:31 »

Very nice job, Nikki!!!

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #24 on:** February 05, 2008, 12:08:25 »

Thanks! Wow, I just looked back at that last picture from January...I can't believe how much those caps have grown!!!

aquavista99 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 05, 2008, 12:27:14 »

Maybe it iis time to post some updated pictures?

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #26 on:** February 05, 2008, 12:34:04 »

Eh, not quite yet. I'll probably wait until March since a couple of purple SPS's haven't finished coloring up yet. In March, I plan to do a full tank-cleaning...meaning, whatever isn't a knock-out coral is getting sold/traded. I'm going to pick the best few corals, and only buy what is really really awesome from now on. I've bought too much stuff only to say a month later that it isn't a nice coral anymore.

I think those caps in the last picture I posted have about an inch of growth around them. I wish everything else grew that fast!

I will post this pretty sweet picture though...can't resist. My fish was playing "Peek-a-Boo"!

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #27 on:** May 02, 2008, 09:32:23 »

Here's some updated pictures. Unfortunately, I need new MH lamps, so the colors aren't quite right on the corals. Oh well.

Secondgen · « **Reply #28 on:** May 02, 2008, 15:45:56 »

Lookin good Nikki, very nice photos.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #29 on:** May 02, 2008, 18:26:18 »

Thank you! I try...I just have a little cheapy Kodak camera. The pictures people take with their Nikons and Cannons makes me very jealous!

Riderc82 · « **Reply #30 on:** May 03, 2008, 00:05:24 »

looks good, I feel your pain a have an old cybershot camera. If the coral I am trying to take the picture of is two inches from the glass they look good otherwise I have to use my zoom and it's all down hill from there.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #31 on:** October 09, 2008, 17:57:38 »

Update time!

Full tank shot:

Duncan Coral, about 15 heads

LE Tyree Cyphastrea Ocellina

AE Tyree "Armageddon II" Palythoas

AE Tyree "Lighthouse" Acropora

Yellow Millepora - acquired from Quicksilver

Moon Coral - my rescue

ORA "Roscoe's" Acropora

LE Tyree "Sunset" Montipora

Tri-color Valida

Goby Pair + Pistol Shrimp

Garrett's Acropora - Acquired from Steve Tyree

jschrader1 · « **Reply #32 on:** October 09, 2008, 20:27:44 »

i forget what their called but i love those gobies of yours. I've tried them a couple of times and they've disappeared. i got a bigger gobie that was probably responsible. i will have a pair one day, it's on the top of my list. (yellow watchman my 2nd favorite)

quicksilver · « **Reply #33 on:** December 06, 2008, 16:30:42 »

I love the tank as always.

Dstyles · « **Reply #34 on:** December 06, 2008, 17:51:41 »

Nikki this is awesome and the picture taking is very very good also. You rock.

jake · « **Reply #35 on:** December 06, 2008, 17:53:44 »

ya looking good for sure

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #36 on:** December 07, 2008, 09:10:18 »

Aw, thanks everyone! jschrader1 - They're just high-fin gobies (I've seen two species listed for the same fish, so I'm not sure which one is right.) They usually pair with a Randall's pistol shrimp, but mine is paired with a Tiger Pistol Shrimp.

I'm really excited about taking pictures when I get the 120g, because I won an acrylic photo box from Melev.

It's just too big to fit in the 40g.

apelaston · « **Reply #37 on:** December 19, 2008, 16:09:52 »

just getting to see your pictures.....very nice!!

quicksilver · « **Reply #38 on:** December 20, 2008, 10:53:35 »

How is that green furry acro I sold you at my house? I never c prictures of it wonder how its growing for you.

MechanicalEngineer · « **Reply #39 on:** December 23, 2008, 10:00:01 »

It's doing well...encrusting and stuff. I know I've been slack on posting pix of everything, but my photography skills are lacking.

quicksilver · « **Reply #40 on:** December 24, 2008, 07:50:46 »

you get and A in my book how can that aswome fish tank get anything other than that.

Reefd Up · « **Reply #41 on:** April 26, 2009, 21:38:36 »

Well, after almost 2.5 years, my 40g is no more. We tore it down today and set it back up (well...we're still setting it back up) as a 55g with a 20g sump. It'll be a holding tank until the 150g is up and running...then will act as a frag/grow-out tank. It's in the utility room, along with my 10g/10g QT/sump. It's very bare in the living room without the 40g (and makes me very sad.) But, there's a spot now for the 150g!!

jungliztkruger · « **Reply #42 on:** April 26, 2009, 21:48:20 »

can't wait to see the 150 in action

Reefd Up · « **Reply #43 on:** May 18, 2009, 06:20:29 »

Just thought I'd post some eye candy...

Zoanthids from Lazylivin

Zoanthids from Coral Ranch (no kidding, these things glitter!)

Tyree Pink Lemonade & Oregon Tort

Purple Death Palys

Palys from Lazylivin

Reefd Up · « **Reply #44 on:** May 28, 2009, 19:39:57 »

Teehehehe. I just had to share these:

Valentine's Day Massacre's:

Reefd Up · « **Reply #45 on:** July 04, 2009, 10:12:11 »

Well, this tank is officially dead. Never found out what happened (in fact, there are still fish in there and about 4 corals that never died.) Best guess is that when I transferred tanks, the sponges covering the bottoms of my rocks probably died and released toxins or something (never measured a spike of any sort.)

Regardless, it's gone. Here's a photo of some of the skeletons I removed. There are several more that were encrusted too well onto large rocks that I haven't taken out yet.

aquavista99 · « **Reply #46 on:** July 04, 2009, 10:55:41 »

So sorry to see this, Nikki. Are you going to recycle the dead acro skeletons and use them as calcium reactor media to help build your new 150 gallon reef?

Quote from: Reef'd Up on July 04, 2009, 10:12:11

Well, this tank is officially dead. Never found out what happened (in fact, there are still fish in there and about 4 corals that never died.) Best guess is that when I transferred tanks, the sponges covering the bottoms of my rocks probably died and released toxins or something (never measured a spike of any sort.)

Regardless, it's gone. Here's a photo of some of the skeletons I removed. There are several more that were encrusted too well onto large rocks that I haven't taken out yet.

Reefd Up · « **Reply #47 on:** July 04, 2009, 21:28:05 »

I'm not sure if I'll run a calcium reactor yet, at least not initially. I've heard so many horror stories (although, I think I've heard a horror story for everything now.)

I am concerned about recycling them though. Seeing as how I don't know what killed them, I'm worried that whatever killed them might be on the skeleton. I've heard about copper actually building into the coral skeletons themselves and killing stuff later (I have no reason to suspect copper poisoning...just an example.)

For the 150g, I'm going to have a crazy quarantine process. I'll do the usual dipping/breaking off the frag plug, etc. Then, it'll go into the 10g QT tank. After it sits in there for a month, it'll get moved to the 55g (I'm tearing it down and starting it back up with the 150g). Once it grows out a bit, a large frag will be moved into the 150g with a small back-up frag kept in the 55g. I'll dip between all tanks...and no bases will be transferred.

At work, we have to do "practice presentations" a lot since we brief so much. I usually brief on coral stuff, so I'm planning to bleach some of those skeletons to use as visual aids in my briefings. I think there's more educational benefit than aquarium benefit from them. My goal is to also put together a "newbie presentation" for the club...and use the skeletons as visuals there too.

jungliztkruger · « **Reply #48 on:** July 04, 2009, 23:43:09 »

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: Nikki's 40g Mixed Reef (Read 8189 times)

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

mhhauser321

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

MechanicalEngineer

jschrader1

quicksilver

MechanicalEngineer

apelaston

quicksilver

MechanicalEngineer

quicksilver

Reefd Up

Reefd Up

Reefd Up

Reefd Up

Reefd Up