MikeC's SOFTY TANK

[Ashish Patel]

Stunning colors and corals

 

[MJC]

Love your tank. I have been tossing the idea around of doing a softy tank instead of SPS for the same reasons you mentioned at the beginning of your story. Did I read on here that all your corals came from an LFS? Do you have any online sources for softies? Really a beautiful tank.

Thank you.
I have never bought coral on line.
All from my local fish store and club members

 

[Magem]

Very nice tank...congratulations..
I must say I thinking about doing the same change you did in the past...I have a mixed reef and sps are doing well. However, my two little kids demand me time and I would like to spend time in doing another activities... how many time do you spend in maintenance every week? What is most important difference from keeping an sps tank? Money or time? Or worries...? Thanks!

 

[MJC]

Very nice tank...congratulations..
I must say I thinking about doing the same change you did in the past...I have a mixed reef and sps are doing well. However, my two little kids demand me time and I would like to spend time in doing another activities... how many time do you spend in maintenance every week? What is most important difference from keeping an sps tank? Money or time? Or worries...? Thanks!

Thank you Megam
As far as maintenance
1) I clean my glass every two days.
2) I like to use a turkey baster at least 2 to 3 times a week just to stir things up and get it into the water column available for the skimmer to take out.
3) Every weekend I do a 40 gallon water change.
4) Every other week I change my carbon in my reactor.
Total time per week I would guess would be about 2-3 hours.

What is most important difference from keeping an sps tank?

LESS STRESS.
I really do enjoy the movement and the coloration of my softies better than any SPS I've ever had.
The bottom line is an SPS tank can go south real quick like in 2 to 3 days you can lose everything and a lot of money .
The chances of that happening with a softy tank are rare unless something catastrophic has happened.

 

[MJC]

Quick update shots

 

[Magem]

Thank you Megam
As far as maintenance
1) I clean my glass every two days.
2) I like to use a turkey baster at least 2 to 3 times a week just to stir things up and get it into the water column available for the skimmer to take out.
3) Every weekend I do a 40 gallon water change.
4) Every other week I change my carbon in my reactor.
Total time per week I would guess would be about 2-3 hours.


LESS STRESS.
I really do enjoy the movement and the coloration of my softies better than any SPS I've ever had.
The bottom line is an SPS tank can go south real quick like in 2 to 3 days you can lose everything and a lot of money .
The chances of that happening with a softy tank are rare unless something catastrophic has happened.

Thanks!

 

[Devaji]

thanks for posting this! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!
I just read from page one.
are you using gel filters on your cam for the vids and stills? sorry for all the likes realized you prob. gonna get 10 notifications..lol
my 90 is heading this way no where near as nice as yours tho. so you do a 40 gal every week? I thought it was every other week. I tend to do 17% once a month. thinking I might need to start bi weekly changes.

 

[MJC]

Thank you.
No gels any more I use my Samsung s7

1.Get a Samsung S7
2.Set camera to Pro mode
3.Set the Appratur to 1/90
4.Set the ISO to 50
5.WB to 10000k
6.Use Auto focus

And yes 40 gal every week.

 

[Devaji]

I'll play around with that. I have the sS6 but the LEDS really mess with the quality of pics.

 

[oneilwiz]

such beautiful tank, Mike C where do you get to buy your softies, I cant find much online sellers with good selection of softies. I am in the process of rebuilding my tank after tank crash ( refuse to go SPS and LPS), an in the Bronx, NY area

 

[MJC]

such beautiful tank, Mike C where do you get to buy your softies, I cant find much online sellers with good selection of softies. I am in the process of rebuilding my tank after tank crash ( refuse to go SPS and LPS), an in the Bronx, NY area

Thank you.
Pm me if you are willing to travel out to the island I might be able to help you out with a few places I deal with.

 

[want2bsleepy]

I LOVE your tank! It is beautiful! I am currently setting up a seahorse tank and plan on having lots of soft corals. Maybe one day it will be a mini version of yours!

 

[revhtree]

Would love to see an update to this beautiful reef!

 

[MJC]

I LOVE your tank! It is beautiful! I am currently setting up a seahorse tank and plan on having lots of soft corals. Maybe one day it will be a mini version of yours!

Thank you and best wishes for your sea horse tank

 

[MJC]

Would love to see an update to this beautiful reef!

Sure will Rev as soon as I can.

 

[sundog101]

Wow!
Do feed anything for the corals?

 

[klp]

I switched to a gorgonia dominant with some softies over two years ago and love it. You have a beautiful tank and amazing color.

Could you post pictures? I have never seen a gorgonia dominant tank.

 

[MJC]

Wow!
Do feed anything for the corals?

Thanks sundog I feed my own DIY blender mush to my fish and whatever the coral gets they get I don't target feed any Coral

 

[luis carreiro]

Any Chance you can give us your recipe for your blender mush. Sorry if you have already answered this.

 

[MJC]

Any Chance you can give us your recipe for your blender mush. Sorry if you have already answered this.

Some variation of this :
I blend these separately in a quisinart for proper texture of each and use fresh not frozen
Shrimp, clams,silver sides,and some kind of fresh fish. I try to stay away from bottom feeding fish like flounder.
I then mix this in with AmericanReef HPD food
PE mysis, Reef Chili, Reef NutritionOyster Feist, Reef NutritionR.O.E., Norie.

Put it in a few large zip lock bags and freeze it. Every 2 days When I'm ready to to feed i brake of a small amount and put it in a hair color application bottle I got new from my wife (she's a beautician) with RO water and keep it in the refrigerator. I feed multiple small amounts throughout the day.