A Macro Tank in a TV Studio

[acbaldwin]

Hey guys, getting back into it after a few years. This tank is going to end up in our master control office at work. We just renovated and I managed to make it an excuse to get back into reefing

This is my old big macro tank, I'm going for a similar vibe:

Bought a nice 20g from Reefer78 and decided to build a nice stand to fit the space perfectly. Should have it done tonight.

No sump so I can keep it simple.

Lighting I've been going back and forth between an A160we and a PrimeHD. I think the Prime is going to be my choice, since I want a white light and the controller is integrated.

If any of y'all still have my macros out there I'll definitely have to hit you up!!

 

[acbaldwin]

One step closer. Gotta find some rock!

Got the rock and sand in this weekend. I have a bit more BRS rock and fiji rubble that I may end up adding for hiding spots for fish and pods.

This tank is in our Master Control that runs our local education and public access TV channels in San Diego - you can see our master screen split in the reflection.

These are feeds from IP and satellite decoders, as well as local cable, feeds from the studios, and some other places.* From here our ops make sure the stations stay on the air.

 

[acbaldwin]

Got the first additions to the tank... two clowns, some pom pom xenia, and some zoas.

I'm on the prowl for macros if anybody's got em. So far have:
Codium
Chaeto
G. Mammilaris/Lauris
C. Serrulata
C. Prolifera
Ulva Lactua

Especially looking for Porteria sp., Dragon's Tongue and a very similar strain of Halymenia that was not irridescent and very pink, I dubbed Pink Dragon.

 

[acbaldwin]

 

[acbaldwin]

Progress! These shots are from ten days ago:

No idea, hope it survives:

And as of last night: things are growing pretty nicely already. The C. Prolifera especially has taken off.

I really need a nem, though... the clowns are hosting the Prolifera! They dive in and just waggle around in it most of the day.

The rather crappy C. Serrulata I got has almost totally died off right off the bat. Maybe I'll get lucky and it'll regrow, doubt it. This whole side was full of it.

Added a tiny Bangaii Cardinal today. Almost went with a small Lubbock's Wrasse but figured people in my office would like the Bangaii more.

This has been coasting along nicely, got quite a bit more pink... perhaps Rhodopeltis sp.?

 

[acbaldwin]

Ferts ready to go

Busted out one of my old ghetto temp controllers for the growout tank at home... still works!

Red Gracilaria is pearling like crazy already. I'm gonna start supplementing pressurized CO2 using my offroad tire fillup kit and a cheap $7 needle valve, should get crazier pearling than this once that's done.

Here's the 55g growout tank. Using the CREE 150w equivalent par38s from home depot, but I think I'm gonna switch to chinese black boxes and see how it goes. These floodlights are a little too far up IMO.

From right to left - chaeto and ulva growout, which will moved to make room for halymenia and portreria. The tubing is from my submerged pump, which keeps the tank flow going constant left to right in order to keep the chaeto from getting mixed in with everything else.

Then the "good stuff" - Halymenia, Birdsnest Graciliaria, Portreria, branching coraline, G. Mammillaris, Bryothamnion, C. Prolifera, Codium, Brown Graciliaria, Rhodopeltis (?), dragon's breath, Botryocladia, etc.

top down

Last off, plain red graciliaria and C. Prolifera, and the return spray bar.

 

[jefra]

Especially looking for Porteria sp., Dragon's Tongue and a very similar strain of Halymenia that was not irridescent and very pink, I dubbed Pink Dragon.

Have you tried here? I can't recommend this company enough. You get a huge quantity for incredibly reasonable prices. Their current stock is very limited, a lot of their specimens are seasonal, but the other day they did have the Porteria and Halymenia you're looking for.

Also, beautiful tank! I love macro dominant displays like this.

 

[Goodair]

Macros really deserve more attention then they currently get. Some of em really make a tank feel alive and look so natural! Your macro tank is very inspiring and hope I can replicate some of it.

 

[najer]

Looking very nice, love it!

 

[acbaldwin]

Have you tried here? I can't recommend this company enough. You get a huge quantity for incredibly reasonable prices. Their current stock is very limited, a lot of their specimens are seasonal, but the other day they did have the Porteria and Halymenia you're looking for.

Also, beautiful tank! I love macro dominant displays like this.

Thanks! Yep, I've spent probably $150 with live-plants this month already. I've been checking their site once or twice a day all month. I ordered a triple pack of their halymenia and a couple of red variety packs which this time included some really nice portieria. The halymenia I got from them was a very delicate nonirridescent variety that is sort of between dragon's breath and dragon's tongue. Still looking for the two dragon's tongue varieties that I love.

Macros really deserve more attention then they currently get. Some of em really make a tank feel alive and look so natural! Your macro tank is very inspiring and hope I can replicate some of it.

Looking very nice, love it!

Thanks guys!

 

[Goodair]

How do you guys treat the macro after ordering it? Qt, dip, treat for potential parasites etc..

 

[NY_Caveman]

Very nice! I work in live television as well. Where are you / the tank located? I worked for Bloomberg Financial Television in Manhattan for many years and they had thousands of gallons of tanks throughout the building. Loved having tanks at work.

 

[Hemmdog]

Nice tank!

 

[Katrina71]

The tank is beautiful! I love macros! I think they are very underrated in a DT.

 

[acbaldwin]

Thanks for watching, guys!

How do you guys treat the macro after ordering it? Qt, dip, treat for potential parasites etc..

Personally, I haven't been doing that with this tank because I'm being irresponsible. I'll regret this later. Much easier to QT from the start than to implement QT later. I'm also staying away from more delicate fish partially for this reason.
A quick freshwater dip has been reasonably effective for me in the past, kicks most of the flatworms and other junk off.

Very nice! I work in live television as well. Where are you / the tank located? I worked for Bloomberg Financial Television in Manhattan for many years and they had thousands of gallons of tanks throughout the building. Loved having tanks at work.

I'm in San Diego, work for government office that runs our local ed and public access channels. I'm not a TV guy, though, most of my work is live events and commercial A/V install. But I got to set the tank up in the TV guys' spot

 

[acbaldwin]

Finally did something I've wanted to do forever... pressurized CO2 for the macros! Used the CO2 that I use to refill my tires when I'm offroading. All I had to buy was a cheap needle valve to dial the flow wayyyy down. I have it diffusing into the powerhead.

I've also been practicing my macro shots a bit today. Pretty happy with them but I have more to go.

The Dragon's Breath has gotten suuuuper bright. I have it under pretty high light, which limits the growth a bit but gets great color.

 

[acbaldwin]

11 days later FTS, getting past the nasty stage! Diatom bloom is definitely over. Next is to handle the GHA. It's receding, but I might throw a small blenny in there to help out. I moved the uppermost rock so it gets a bit less light. I hate having rocks against the display glass, though, so I'll probably move it again soon.
Added Halimeda Opuntia in a couple spots, moved the Dragon's Breath down low to increase growth, added what might be Gracilaria or Eucheuma sp, and finally got some Blue Hypnea in there! Might actually be Blue Ochtodes, I need to check it against my old pictures.
C. Prolifera is doing great, finally had to prune a bit. The crappy C. Serrulata is long gone, but I'm picking more of that up (and C. Brachypus!) later today.
Nitrates/Phosphates are way low, gonna start dosing those in this tank next week.

 

[Subsea]

@acbaldwin

I have always liked how Caulerpa Prolifera displays. It reminds me of Oar Grass. With respect to the group of feather Caulerpa, I especially like Caulerpa Paspoides, but it will go sexual if you limit its nutrients.

You are on track with co2 injection. For a grand slam home run, upgrade to a calcium reactor.

 

[User]

reviving this because i think it awesome and im about to turn my 40g fuge section in my 125 sump into a planted macro garden. will need to dose nitrate and po4 etc. what are you dosing for phosphate, and what level are you aiming for?

what did you do for substrate? regular aragonite sand? looks like caribsea special?

thanks

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Definitely awesome!