darryl_v
Active Member
EXPERIENCE:
Maintenance consists of bi-weekly 40G water changes using Instant Ocean Salt. I find this salt economical and sufficient. Like previously mentioned, one 40g breeder tank is used as a water change vessel. This tank is taken off and on the system with the turn of one two inch valve. During the two weeks between water changes the W/C tank is allowed to collect detritus which I clean and siphon at the time of the next water change. During this process I also run the RO/DI (bi-weekly) to fill the 40g tank as well as the 40g storage barrel which will supply the fresh water top up that is needed due to evaporation. The automatic fresh water top-up is accomplished using a solenoid valve and 2 float switches in series. The fish are feed a small amount of omega one flake daily on an eheim fish feeder. In conjunction with that they are feed once more each day consisting of either PE mysis, ¼ nori sheet, or NewLifeSpectrum pellet on rotation. Corals are feed a half cap of NutraKol reef complete twice per week. I also take the time to blast the rocks with a turkey baster at least once per week. I feel this process cleans the rock surface of organic detritus which will break down and feed algae waiting to get a foot hold on the rock. All the equipment is cleaned and inspected at least once or twice a year.
PHILOSOPHY
I believe my personal method and philosophy in keeping difficult SPS corals to be quite simple yet still consists of a few very important factors. Strong lighting with lots of light in the blue and actinic spectrum. Turbulent, random and high flow. Stable parameters, most importantly alkalinity which will affect pH and has the most impact on coral health in my experience. I believe in high import of good quality foods as well as strong nutrient removal methods. Experience and logic has shown me that our captive reef tanks are a small closed system and there is a nutrient balancing act that is taking place. It is easy for this nutrient balance to get skewed, mostly in the direction of nutrient rich but also can be turned nutrient poor. In order to allow a good amount of food to enter the system I make sure I have a large skimmer, waterchange routine, and subsequently use biopellets as a biological means of processing nutrients. I also incorporate the use of GFO(1.5cups) and ROX carbon(2cups), which is changed monthly.
A FEW PICTURES.....
- SALTWATER AND SPS SINCE 2005 (some SPS 5yrs old, almost all over 1yr)
- CURRENT TANK SINCE 2009
- Skimmer: Modified SWC250 Extreme
- Lighting: 2 x 400w Radium + vho actinic + 20xCREE ROYAL BLUE + 6xCREE COOL WHITE
- Flow: Tunze Wavebox + 2 x Tunze 6100
- Return pump: Gen-x mak4
- Biofilter: SWC biopellets in reactor
- Ro/di: 6 stage with 0tds output
- Dosing: Ca+alk on BRS dosing pumps
- Controller: Ranco temperture only
- Sumps: 3 x 40g in basement
- Other: Gfo and carbon in brs reactor
- Calcium: 400ppm
- Alkalinity: 8dkh
- Magnesium: 1200ppm
- N03: 0-.02ppm w/Salifert
- P04: Undectible w/Hanna meter
Maintenance consists of bi-weekly 40G water changes using Instant Ocean Salt. I find this salt economical and sufficient. Like previously mentioned, one 40g breeder tank is used as a water change vessel. This tank is taken off and on the system with the turn of one two inch valve. During the two weeks between water changes the W/C tank is allowed to collect detritus which I clean and siphon at the time of the next water change. During this process I also run the RO/DI (bi-weekly) to fill the 40g tank as well as the 40g storage barrel which will supply the fresh water top up that is needed due to evaporation. The automatic fresh water top-up is accomplished using a solenoid valve and 2 float switches in series. The fish are feed a small amount of omega one flake daily on an eheim fish feeder. In conjunction with that they are feed once more each day consisting of either PE mysis, ¼ nori sheet, or NewLifeSpectrum pellet on rotation. Corals are feed a half cap of NutraKol reef complete twice per week. I also take the time to blast the rocks with a turkey baster at least once per week. I feel this process cleans the rock surface of organic detritus which will break down and feed algae waiting to get a foot hold on the rock. All the equipment is cleaned and inspected at least once or twice a year.
PHILOSOPHY
I believe my personal method and philosophy in keeping difficult SPS corals to be quite simple yet still consists of a few very important factors. Strong lighting with lots of light in the blue and actinic spectrum. Turbulent, random and high flow. Stable parameters, most importantly alkalinity which will affect pH and has the most impact on coral health in my experience. I believe in high import of good quality foods as well as strong nutrient removal methods. Experience and logic has shown me that our captive reef tanks are a small closed system and there is a nutrient balancing act that is taking place. It is easy for this nutrient balance to get skewed, mostly in the direction of nutrient rich but also can be turned nutrient poor. In order to allow a good amount of food to enter the system I make sure I have a large skimmer, waterchange routine, and subsequently use biopellets as a biological means of processing nutrients. I also incorporate the use of GFO(1.5cups) and ROX carbon(2cups), which is changed monthly.
A FEW PICTURES.....
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