That's how it started with Christian:) He would watch finding Nemo all of the time. He saw all of the corals and fish, along with his grandpa's tank. That's how it all started:)
Christian's Overstocked AP 24
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That's how it started with Christian:) He would watch finding Nemo all of the time. He saw all of the corals and fish, along with his grandpa's tank. That's how it all started:)
lol.. It is nice to get out and do a few things on my own, but for some reason I always feel guilty:)
I've been wondering if we should upgrade to LED's because they make corals colors pop!!! It'll also save money on electricity and bulbs, but the technology is still fairly new and we've been waiting patiently:)
Christian and I dose our 2 parts every morning when I get home from work. We also test our salinity and Alk a few times a week to make sure there aren't any major swings. The temp stays between 79-80 degrees and the Alk we try to keep it between 9-9.5dkh. Generally if the Alk is stable the Ca and Mg will stay within parameters because the three are all correlated and if one is off the other two are usually off as well.
Lighting and flow is important and we watch the corals to see how well they're doing. Most are on frag plugs or the colonies are on small rocks that are moveable in the event they don't like the particular lighting and flow conditions. Christian usually has the final say in placement, unless he wants to put a acro in the sandbed or a chalice on the top tier. In that case, I have to make an executive decision and explain to him why the coral won't be happy in that spot:)
SPS loved it when we got our first MP10ES in the 24 gallon. The alternating flow and speeds provide a much closer replication of water movement in the ocean, so when we built the 45 gallon we had to buy a second one.
We'd say stable Alk, Mg, Ca, salinity, temp are the most important parameters to keeping sps. Understanding the lighting and flow conditions the particular sps thrive under is important. Not all sps like high light and high flow. A good example is our Jedi Mind Trick colony, which is in the bottom tier below the Hawkins Enchinata colony. To keep the beautiful blue rim, red polyps, and overall color it like low-moderate light with moderate flow. Many reefers have come by who have frags of this piece and ask why theirs hasn't colored up. Most have them placed with their other monti's assuming they need high light.
Make sure to keep phosphates down and use a good RO/DI water source because high phosphates could cause several issues, such as, algae outbreaks and sps will lose their color.
Lastly, if your temp or other parameters are off don't freakout and try to correct them too fast. We've learned to be patient and to analyze the situation during an emergency or malfunction of equipment. We had two heaters malfunction last year in our 24 gallon AP. One stopped working and the temp dropped down to 70 degree, so we got a new heater and let it raise gradually on its own over the period of several hours, rather than do a automatic water change to get the temp up. The replacement heater (Stealth:Do not buy these heater) last 5 months and decided to stay on one day and raised the temp to 89 degrees. Again, we unplugged the heater and turned off the lights, so the water could cool over several hours. In both occassions losses were minimal, which we were really happy about. Same goes with Alk.. There were some days where we got busy and our Alk dropped to 6dkh if we didn't dose for a few days due to the corals consumption in the little tank. We won't adjust Alk more than 1dkh per day, so not to stress the corals and shock them.
It's all about stability with sps or that's what we've noticed and why we enjoy them so much. Don't ask us how to keep zoas because for some reason we lose more zoas and palys than we have lost sps or chalices:)
Well we picked up the last pieces of our coral collection yesterday. We picked up a Polleta Pink Tip, Rouge Milli, and Palmers Blue Milli. We're also beginning to dose Brightwells Potassium for the sps and so far the polyp extension of the corals has increased in the past two days we've been dosing. Christian's sitting in my lap right now and I'm reading him all of your kind and encouraging comments. Hope to get you guys some better quality pics soon:)
sf_ramsden
Valuable Member
I love seeing this thread updated. Great story and awesome tank! Looking forward to updated photos, etc.
BTW, what is the Potassium for? Is it mainly for the SPS, or do other corals benefit?
BTW, what is the Potassium for? Is it mainly for the SPS, or do other corals benefit?
I just skimmed through this thread. You weren't kidding hwenyou said overstocked. I don't think there is any more relastate left. I love that LA Laker's scroll you have in the front middle. How often do you see PE on that coral?
Nice updated pics and FTSs....things are growing very nicely in there!! I think its time for a BIGGER tank :wink:
kevinpratt823
Active Member
Sweet tank!
Thanks sf.. We're going to have to update with some better quality pics:) The potassium is for the sps. It's suppose to help growth and coloration, but we can't really tell yet..
Yeah, it's definitely packed right now and there really isn't any real estate left..lol
The LA Laker's Scroll usually has polyp extension 24/7, unless we're feeding and then it'll pull food in. I've seen it eat small pieces of mysis and cyclopeeze. It's one of our favorite pieces:)
I know, we should have went with a 60 gallon cube instead:) We're seeing good growth after the corals have settled in and now we need to stop adding and let the ones we have grow..
Thanks Kevin, the Tyree RW on the lower righthand side of the tank is the chalice we picked up from you last year. It's awesome!!
It's always tough to just watch and not buy anything LOL...Heck even if you had a 60 cube i have a feeling it would be packed too
lol.. I think your right. We would have filled up a 60 gallon in no time:) Now I know why women have such a hard time not buying so many shoes or purses. It's not like we need anymore, but we find that perfect color and need to have it..haha Once we get another house in the next year or two we may have to do a larger tank, but right now I can't imagine moving our 95 and 45 gallon.
cdness
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All I can say is AWESOME! I just wished I had as much success as you and your son. I know my fiance and daughter are really getting into the hobby as well doing fish and coral research and even doing their own frags now. They were not reefers a year ago and now I don't think either of them would let me get rid of the tank...lol.
OMG - Cant let me Fiance see that comment - She might use my hobby against me...bad enough how much time i spend here :tongue:
lol.. I see what you guys mean.. That's why when my wife goes and gets a new outfit I have nothing but good things to say:) It's pretty much Christian and my hobby right now and my wife and our youngest little guy haven't really caught the bug. I actually prefer it that way because could you imagine if my wife was into this hobby too. We'd be living in a 1 bedroom apartment with a 500 gallon sps dominated reef sitting in our bedroom. The kids would have to sell frags for lunch money..haha
That's how it starts:) I wasn't interested at all in this hobby 3 years ago and with a little research the addiction took over:)
LOL - Selling frags for lunch money...I could see the kids on the corner "Will work for Coral Signs"
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