Innovative Marine 150 EXT with a 8 Foot Frag Tank
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xiaoxiy
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October Updates: Is anyone out there?
I've had a heck of an October with the reef, especially the frag tank. I added egg-crate to the frag tank and created elevated platforms for better detritus control. Every time I add egg, I get a nasty dino bloom. This time, I decided to add expensive "acrylic egg crate" in case polystyrene (classic egg crate) leeched something that dinos preferentially fed on. Unfortunately, the acrylic egg crate fared no better, and I have a dino bloom on my hands again. Hopefully it's temporary like it has always been in the past...
This is a deceptive angle, that hides the dino nasties.
It pains me to share this view
. Look at all of the dinos, especially under the Radion section.
Now that we have the nasties out of the way, lets move onto some eye candy:
I've been propagating WWC OG bounces in my frag tank, and have collected quite a few now.
Some of them have really nice looking bubbles, like this one!
I got overzealous this summer and fragged a ton of goniopora up. I only have 2 of the UC Space goni frags left, but still have a ton of the ORA Red gonis...
Finally, the XY Blue Bonnet Tenius is looking really nice. It's starting to get some orange corallites at the base.
I've had a heck of an October with the reef, especially the frag tank. I added egg-crate to the frag tank and created elevated platforms for better detritus control. Every time I add egg, I get a nasty dino bloom. This time, I decided to add expensive "acrylic egg crate" in case polystyrene (classic egg crate) leeched something that dinos preferentially fed on. Unfortunately, the acrylic egg crate fared no better, and I have a dino bloom on my hands again. Hopefully it's temporary like it has always been in the past...
This is a deceptive angle, that hides the dino nasties.
It pains me to share this view
. Look at all of the dinos, especially under the Radion section.Now that we have the nasties out of the way, lets move onto some eye candy:
I've been propagating WWC OG bounces in my frag tank, and have collected quite a few now.
Some of them have really nice looking bubbles, like this one!
I got overzealous this summer and fragged a ton of goniopora up. I only have 2 of the UC Space goni frags left, but still have a ton of the ORA Red gonis...
Finally, the XY Blue Bonnet Tenius is looking really nice. It's starting to get some orange corallites at the base.
Last edited:
Devaji
5000 Club Member
I would be all over it.
tanks are looking great man!
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xiaoxiy
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I somehow managed to semi-bleach the acros in my display. At least the frag tank is still looking nice. :/
Superman Rhodactis
Assorted acro-frags
XY Blueberry Donut Acro - This one is starting to look really special.
Hawkins Echinata
Red Millepora
SC Orange Passion
Homewrecker
I gave up on all of my eggcrate; the dino bloom was too much. Since removal of the eggcrate, 95% of the dinos have disappeared. Still dealing with a bit left, but I expect this too to recede with time.
Superman Rhodactis
Assorted acro-frags
XY Blueberry Donut Acro - This one is starting to look really special.
Hawkins Echinata
Red Millepora
SC Orange Passion
Homewrecker
I gave up on all of my eggcrate; the dino bloom was too much. Since removal of the eggcrate, 95% of the dinos have disappeared. Still dealing with a bit left, but I expect this too to recede with time.
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xiaoxiy
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Not sure if anyone follows this thread still, but I've made a couple minor changes to the tank.
As you can see below, my tank was getting a bit overgrown. The Red Monti, Aussie gold, and WWC Yellow Tips were growing out of control, and basically steadily taking over the tank. Given the overgrowth, my scape also lots its original image and visual flow. As such, I decided it was time to perform a drastic tear down and aggressive trimming.
I ended up removing the colonies completely, cutting myself a small frag of each to regrow and giving the colonies away to a friend of mine.
I also took the opportunity cut a majority of my other acropora, and made numerous trimmings which I gave a lot away too.
As originally planned, I took the opportunity to add some new acropora (from the frag tank) to the display. Hopefully once things grow out in a few months, I will have better color contrast and visual flow. Wow, the tank looks empty now. Better turn down alkalinity, calcium and magnesium supplementation so I don't crash the system on accident...
Frag Tank:
Although I made a drastic change to the display, not much has changed in the frag tank. Here's some eye-candy though.
QT Tank:
I've got a cool green birdsnest that I'm in the process of QTing; it's going to go where the WWC Yellow Tips was previously in the display. I think that the green will contrast well with the pink millepora that will sit in front of it. I also have some cool zoas (rainbow fusions) in the QT process too.
In an effort to keep out all coral pests, I've even been QTing my invertebrates. Here's a cool Salmacis Bicolor Urchin.
As you can see below, my tank was getting a bit overgrown. The Red Monti, Aussie gold, and WWC Yellow Tips were growing out of control, and basically steadily taking over the tank. Given the overgrowth, my scape also lots its original image and visual flow. As such, I decided it was time to perform a drastic tear down and aggressive trimming.
I ended up removing the colonies completely, cutting myself a small frag of each to regrow and giving the colonies away to a friend of mine.
I also took the opportunity cut a majority of my other acropora, and made numerous trimmings which I gave a lot away too.
As originally planned, I took the opportunity to add some new acropora (from the frag tank) to the display. Hopefully once things grow out in a few months, I will have better color contrast and visual flow. Wow, the tank looks empty now. Better turn down alkalinity, calcium and magnesium supplementation so I don't crash the system on accident...
Frag Tank:
Although I made a drastic change to the display, not much has changed in the frag tank. Here's some eye-candy though.
QT Tank:
I've got a cool green birdsnest that I'm in the process of QTing; it's going to go where the WWC Yellow Tips was previously in the display. I think that the green will contrast well with the pink millepora that will sit in front of it. I also have some cool zoas (rainbow fusions) in the QT process too.
In an effort to keep out all coral pests, I've even been QTing my invertebrates. Here's a cool Salmacis Bicolor Urchin.
MichaelP
Community Member
Great looking tank and pictures!
Question for you going back to the giesemann setup. Was that with a 150w or 250w? How high did you have it hung and how was the coverage side to side with a 36” tank
Question for you going back to the giesemann setup. Was that with a 150w or 250w? How high did you have it hung and how was the coverage side to side with a 36” tank
KevinC
Well-Known Member
Still following! Honestly the monti was the center piece if you ask me. That’s the best shape I have seen so far, but I agree it has to go.Not sure if anyone follows this thread still, but I've made a couple minor changes to the tank.
As you can see below, my tank was getting a bit overgrown. The Red Monti, Aussie gold, and WWC Yellow Tips were growing out of control, and basically steadily taking over the tank. Given the overgrowth, my scape also lots its original image and visual flow. As such, I decided it was time to perform a drastic tear down and aggressive trimming.
I ended up removing the colonies completely, cutting myself a small frag of each to regrow and giving the colonies away to a friend of mine.
I also took the opportunity cut a majority of my other acropora, and made numerous trimmings which I gave a lot away too.
As originally planned, I took the opportunity to add some new acropora (from the frag tank) to the display. Hopefully once things grow out in a few months, I will have better color contrast and visual flow. Wow, the tank looks empty now. Better turn down alkalinity, calcium and magnesium supplementation so I don't crash the system on accident...
Frag Tank:
Although I made a drastic change to the display, not much has changed in the frag tank. Here's some eye-candy though.
QT Tank:
I've got a cool green birdsnest that I'm in the process of QTing; it's going to go where the WWC Yellow Tips was previously in the display. I think that the green will contrast well with the pink millepora that will sit in front of it. I also have some cool zoas (rainbow fusions) in the QT process too.
In an effort to keep out all coral pests, I've even been QTing my invertebrates. Here's a cool Salmacis Bicolor Urchin.
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xiaoxiy
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It was the 250W. I only hung it 6-8 inches above the waterline. No issues with coverage, it just got too hot.
Agreed. The flow pattern in the back corner of the tank must have been suitable for it, because it scrolled in a stunning fashion. I replanted a frag of it, and plan on growing it back out again.
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xiaoxiy
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My acro collection continues to slowly grow, but I was able to get rid of a majority of the trimmings from January.
My CSB is also slowly recovering too. Two months ago it had a rotting mouth and I thought I was going to lose it for good.
My CSB is also slowly recovering too. Two months ago it had a rotting mouth and I thought I was going to lose it for good.
KevinC
Well-Known Member
Mind sharing?My acro collection continues to slowly grow, but I was able to get rid of a majority of the trimmings from January.
My CSB is also slowly recovering too. Two months ago it had a rotting mouth and I thought I was going to lose it for good.
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