220 Gallon SPS Reef Build

[JonoH]

Latest wild caught acro colonies are slowly colouring up.

I reckon one is going to end up a pink/red colour, and the other green...but time will tell.

:)

 

[DarkReefer]

That's cool, jealous that you can keep these, would love to add sticks to mine but they just seem to die off :P

 

[JonoH]

That's cool, jealous that you can keep these, would love to add sticks to mine but they just seem to die off :p

You'll get there, i used to have the same problem!

 

[JonoH]

So...took a visit to my LFS to stock up on my next 6 months of Alk and Trace and Calcium and Trace (Coral Essentials stuff i buy in 10L drums).

Replaced all my RODI filters also as noticed my TDS had crept up a little, been about 12 months since i last did the resin (still has a little to go, but better safe than sorry).

Ended up picking up some more Acro colony's

This acro is super bright green, so adds in a pop of colour to the tank.


Pretty sure this is a Millie - not sure what colour it will end up


And this is another Pinkie coloured Acro (but who knows in the next 6 months what it will end up as)


My frag tank is slowly filling up also, as I have now taken frags from most of the coral in my tank.

 

[JonoH]

 

[DarkReefer]

Awww those acros look so bright and awesome. Actually so jealous hahaha

 

[JonoH]

Awww those acros look so bright and awesome. Actually so jealous hahaha

It's been on my to do list for the last year now to put together a spreadsheet with a list of all the corals in the tank and have progress pics of their growth...

 

[DarkReefer]

It's been on my to do list for the last year now to put together a spreadsheet with a list of all the corals in the tank and have progress pics of their growth...

Yeah nice.
I use an app called aquarium note where you can kind of do that.
I dont use it for that purpose, I use it to record water parameters and note down when I've bought stuff and for how much. (you can also note if they're still alive or died and when).
It's basic but it works okay.

 

[JonoH]

Had a local Reefer come through and pick up some Frags from me, he helped identify quite a few of the Wild corals in my tank that I wasnt 100% sure on the types.

A few of the newer ones have browned a bit since putting them in, so its just a waiting game now till they come back!

Acropora Florida (WA)


Acropora Spathulata (QLD)


Acropora Millepora


Acropora Aculeus (Neon Green)


Acropora Microclados


Acropora Spathulata


Acropora Nasuta


Acropora Tortuosa


Acropora Hyacinthus


Acropora Nasuta

 

[JonoH]

Went away over the Easter weekend, and came back to a newly split nem roaming around - grabbed him and put it in a box for now.

Looks bright red at the moment (Its a Rose Bubble Tip), way brighter than it's original one's. Will be interesting to see if it stays this way.

 

[JonoH]

Seven Month Update on my Frankie's Kryptonite Acro.
Here is the frag i put into the tank in September 2024

And here it is May 2025 (taken yesterday)

Got some wild growth out of the base - lots of potential frags :-)

Traded a few Nems at one of my LFS yesterday also, and brought back a Wild Blue Stag which will take some time to colour up, also picked up a TNT Anacropora.

 

[JonoH]

My turbo snails have been spawning for a while now in the main tank, so much that i have been selling them to local reefers for a while now!

I figured my Stomatella snails should also if i could isolate them to one area (they probably do already in the main tank, but too many places for them to hide there).
Ended up getting 4 large ones (around 2cm long), and moving them into the frag tank - have noticed eggs all over the place under frag plugs, and last night saw these guys on the glass.

Could count over 20 just on the front and side panel. :)

 

[DarkReefer]

Nice one, saves you having to buy a bunch of new ones to replenish yours too.

I've been thinking about bolstering mine (I have very minimal snails in my tank) to try help with breaking food and everything down seeing as my nutrients are still high. I rekon I'd be lucky to have 10 or so of various types lol. I just don't really see them.

 

[JonoH]

Nice one, saves you having to buy a bunch of new ones to replenish yours too.

I've been thinking about bolstering mine (I have very minimal snails in my tank) to try help with breaking food and everything down seeing as my nutrients are still high. I rekon I'd be lucky to have 10 or so of various types lol. I just don't really see them.

Shame your not over here!
I could give you 50 Turbo's ATM!

 

[DarkReefer]

Shame your not over here!
I could give you 50 Turbo's ATM!

Haha yeah spewing!
OH well.. I'll probably go have a look at one of the locals tomorrow. Would be good if I could get an urchin, about 10 hermits and about 20 odd snails or so.

 

[JonoH]

Picked up some small AI blades for a killer price a few weeks back, and finally decided to add them onto the ends of my tank as there is too much shading on the Acro colony's at the sides.

Have to make up some custom brackets for these, so drew these up last night and ordered some M8 thumb screws for the ends of the LED's.

Should look good once these are in, making them so i can tilt them to the angle i need.

Also finally settled on a bar across the front, so that is on order at my LFS (will need to custom make some brackets for that also...

 

[JonoH]

Been a while since an update - the bracket's I am having made for the end of the tank are almost ready (at the powdercoaters now).

Designed some more brackets to mount the AI blades across the front and rear of the tank. These are being made now also.

Did some trades with a few local reefers for some more rarer Zoa's and got the below

Sakura Sunrise

Flaming Suns

Utter Chaos


Enjoy some FTS and Top down shots i took the other week :)

Also finally added in a live cam to the side of the tank, planning on adding a few more into the sump and one that i can see the frag tank with. (Used an Amazon Wyze Cam v4)


Not everything has been perfect - had a heap of new anenome's split off a few weeks ago, so decided it was time for them to go, had to break away the overhanging rock they were all hiding in, and re-arrange the aquascape a bit, but it seems to have worked out well - removed about 9 Anenome's (still one hiding in the very back of the tank)

Nitrates have been sitting high still, so finally decided to start some carbon dosing with vinegar - see how this tracks, but its been a couple of weeks now since starting with no adverse response.
Also have a new reactor to add into the tank to help keep phosphate in check, but trying to tackle one thing at a time, so its just sitting waiting at the moment.

 

[JonoH]

Fun little video my lad put together

 

[JonoH]

Couple Acro pics from the weekend -

Took all my nems down to the LFS and traded them for a frag of Golden Cherry Blossom Acro - only small at the moment but hopefully it settles into the tank!

 

[DarkReefer]

They always look so good