BranchingHammer’s sps journey

[BranchingHammer]

It’s not usually like me to post so many actinic pictures, and less daylight ones, but these are what I have right now from my last photoshoot . I’ll throw in some daylight ones this week at some point.
BC Aquatic man:

A top down of various corals:

RRC Pink Cadillac

 

[BranchingHammer]

Also, I got a new toy for my reef! The Tropic Marin precision hydrometer. Just measured my salinity and I can confirm that my tank is definitely at: 1.0273 specific gravity. I checked my refractometer against it and I got 1.027 there too. Definitely confident with my salinity measurements going forward!

 

[JCOLE]

Also, I got a new toy for my reef! The Tropic Marin precision hydrometer. Just measured my salinity and I can confirm that my tank is definitely at: 1.0273 specific gravity. I checked my refractometer against it and I got 1.027 there too. Definitely confident with my salinity measurements going forward!

Nice. Is that the one that floats in the tank? If so I was looking at that one too for awhile. I might just pull the trigger. I have the Hanna digital tester and always looking for redundancy.

 

[BranchingHammer]

Hey @JCOLE, yes that's the one. I bought a 500mL graduated cylinder to float it in, however, because some of my tanks aren't deep enough. Seems very accurate; definitely worth it IMO.

 

[BranchingHammer]

Ok, heres a growth progression that I want to share with you: BC mothership table
November 28, 2020

January 10, 2021

January 25, 2021

February 10, 2021

March 18, 2021

April 16, 2021- encrusting like crazy and starting to shoot its first branches!

 

[BranchingHammer]

So I mounted my Bonfire contest frag, but I made a bit of an oopsie: I had mounted it WAY too close to my BC strawberry fields. I then tried to remount the strawberry fields, but ended up moving them closer together. I’ll show you the situation tonight before I attempt to move them apart. I also realized that not all of my Battlecorals will be able to fit in this tank... Time to ready the grow out tank for sps!!!

 

[BranchingHammer]

Hey everyone,
I've been super busy lately, and unfortunately, I don't think that the busyness will subside until early June. Anyways, an update on the tank: Haven't tested alk in a while, so it crept up to 8.5, not an ideal situation. Some corals have some thin-textured flesh, but should be okay in a month. My plan is to reduce the alk via water changes with 7.5 alk water, and to reduce alk dosing. Good thing is that the bonfire frag is looking as good as ever. While, I didn't want to share another disappointing update like this, I felt obliged to tell the whole story of my tank, and not just the best stuff.

Good news: My birthday is coming up, and I've decided to treat myself to an Aquatic Life 36in T5 hybrid to help illuminate the shadows in my tank. Super excited to see how that will turn out!

Let me just say, while acros can be super frustrating at times, and I often kick myself for stupid mistakes that I make, I still love them because of their difficulty and of course their rewarding colors. At the end of the day, I'm just grateful for corals like BC Aquatic Man, which always seem to aim to please me!

 

[BranchingHammer]

Hey again everyone, still struggling with alk swings and some stn as I am very busy currently. Hopefully the end of this week will bring me more free time for the tank. Here are two mushrooms that I bought the other day:

 

[drawman]

Good luck! I know the feeling with the business but you'll get back to the stability.

 

[BranchingHammer]

I'm back everyone! The tank is the same as it was a month ago, but my goal this summer is to try to put this tank back on track. Stability may soon be within sight. I will post some more pictures and updates as I work on the tank more. I also just got back from diving in the Florida Keys, and now I'm inspired to get my tank back up and running like it used to be! Wish me luck!

 

[atlantean]

How did are your BC corals faring? I have lost 8 BC corals (aquatic man and muthaship also still going though). I’ve lost only one acro from another vendor (DOA). Trying to figure out if other people have had a similar experience.

 

[BranchingHammer]

Well everyone, I think it's time for an update. The past year and a half was the busiest time I've ever had, and as such one of the worst years for my tank as well. Things were never quite the same once they started to go downhill. Lost almost all of my acros. Worst part of my reefing experience also occurred two months ago. My beloved derasa clam died . A very big wake-up call, and also one of the most discouraging things that has ever happened to me. My emotions were quite mixed about the hobby in general, but I don't like to give up. Only some things died during this time period, most just hanging on or growing. So, I scheduled automated water changes with my Hydros (Yes, I purchased one this year. Amazing decision.), and I focused and doubled down on bringing the tank back to its former glory (or however it used to look lol). I bought some nice SPS frags at a frag swap in the beginning of June to test the waters, and then I did what I think was a very smart decision: went on vacation for three weeks and let the stress melt away. The aquarium was automated, I finished all the work I had to do right before I left, and I lived my life. I surfed everyday and I also did some much-needed SCUBA diving in Oahu. I think this centered me in multiple ways. And I returned to a wonderful tank, even though the glass was covered in algae lol. The SPS had grown. They gained some amazing color, and the tank was stable. I did some maintenance, but I needed a new perspective on this tank. My passion renewed, I wanted the tank to reflect what I've always wanted in a reef. So, I rescaped, and I think I like it! I added more nice corals, shifted my lights to a warmer spectrum, and I'm happy.

Most of all, I'm grateful to return to this forum and its people, which is one of my favorite parts of this hobby!

Photos coming next!

 

[Perry]

Awesome!!!
Glad you paddled out, got what you're soul needed! Catch you're vibe my brother!!! Peace, love, and harmony my friend!

 

[BranchingHammer]

PHOTO DUMP TIME!!

First, an FTS: (photo doesn't show the depth of the new scape very well)

av99 Orange Crush

No Name Acro with promising yellow tips that's growing well

The Hawkins frag that I recently bought but accidentally dropped and fractured into so many pieces
Also a new Tenuis in the background that was grown in a blue light only shop , so no color during the day

New derasa clam that I got today

Millepora from the aforementioned "blue light only" shop. Hopefully it colors up

Seasons greetings Monti

Montipora Spongodes

Pocillipora

My Trachy that has colored up so well (looks amazing in person)

Splatter Hammer

Massive gorgonian (Tile is 3" x 3")

New clam with Gold Lobo in the back

Forest Fire Monti

Blue/green acans

 

[5280Reefer]

Looking good! Love the stick selection!

 

[BranchingHammer]

A much needed update! I think the tank is looking the best it ever has to be honest. Current acros in the tank are doing great, and I feel that I'm ready to get some Battlecorals in this tank again! Stay tuned for when a Battlebox may or may not be shipped to my door in the near future...

Anyways, pictures:

Green acro with yellow tips that I picked up as a brown/green no name:

July 16th (a month after being in the tank)

Today 8/19/22, shooting branches and coloring up

TAC Splash of Rainbow, encrusting slowly and getting purple in the tip, but mostly grey/green still

My clam garden , one derasa, a green/blue maxima, and a deep blue crocea

And lastly, some top downs:

Now I need to figure out how to get those ricordeas off the main rock structure. Anyone got ideas?

 

[BranchingHammer]

Also, I've got a special project that I've been working on for a year under wraps. Here's a sneak peak!

 

[drawman]

Loving the clams! Where did you get them?

 

[BranchingHammer]

Loving the clams! Where did you get them?

The derasa I got from my LFS in July, and the maxima and crocea I recently got from Clammania on Instagram. They have a great selection of clams that are super healthy! Would highly recommend them. All three are captive bred

 

[drawman]

The derasa I got from my LFS in July, and the maxima and crocea I recently got from Clammania on Instagram. They have a great selection of clams that are super healthy! Would highly recommend them. All three are captive bred

I follow clammania too but don't know much about them. You got some nice ones!