Shaun's 2000 Litre (530 USG) Living Reef & Red Sea Max S 650 LED Design & Build

[SPR1968]

What are your nitrates and phos?

Nitrate is 3 - 4 and phosphate yesterday 0.02 so very low. I’m wanting about 5-10ppm nitrate so steadily climbing and I’m feeding a bit more. Im feeding the corals around twice a week with a mixture of Reef Energy and Reef Roids while nitrates are at the lower levels

So my theory with established colonies is, the ones sold certainly by my LFS’s, have been grown in another hobbyists tank for several years in most cases, and then sold to the LFS. they’ve become accustomed to certain water parameters, and then given the first shock of going into the LFS‘s water. And then I come along...... and they get another water shock and the culmination of this is they don’t survive very long.

I realised this several years ago in the S650 as I had gotten into the habbit of just replacing them, then I stepped back and thought their not surviving long term, yet any type of frag grows without any issues. So I stopped buying them

When I purchased the brain coral, the new tank was pretty empty, so I thought that would look stunning, completely forgetting my theory. So I’ve now been reminded again!

I suppose it might make a good door stop or something.....

 

[SPR1968]

Wow shaun all caught up! The pooch is so beautiful! And the grilling view, ;Drool

Spring looks to be in full swing at your end. Nice! Been chilly here..

I died laughing at the last 2 pages. Good stuff. The DEEP is a dream room. Goals.

Sorry about the colony taking a hit. Hope it bounces back soon.

Cheers

Thank you Rich, I’ll try and get a better picture of the ‘deep’ that was a quick shot. I’ll try and catch the atmosphere in the evening if I can hold the camera still! Lol

The weathers been very nice here over the last few weeks and the forecast is good. We had another bbq yesterday and I must say the Weber is very good, they've advanced somewhat since my old Outback which was around 12 years old.

Im currently experimenting with the Weber smoker box, last night we had the poultry wood chips on a spatchcock chicken. I make up a hot marinade from various spices and sauces lying around and just make it up as I go along

Weve got 3-4 more hot days forecast so we will be having some more bbq with different things.

Oh I nearly forgot, the mountain bike. Well it’s not arrived yet, but I have been researching cycle shorts and they have also advanced somewhat so I’ve ordered 2 pairs, and some ointment. I’ll post some pictures when they arrive!

 

[NY_Caveman]

So my theory with established colonies is, the ones sold certainly by my LFS’s, have been grown in another hobbyists tank for several years in most cases, and then sold to the LFS. they’ve become accustomed to certain water parameters, and then given the first shock of going into the LFS‘s water. And then I come along...... and they get another water shock and the culmination of this is they don’t survive very long.

I realised this several years ago in the S650 as I had gotten into the habbit of just replacing them, then I stepped back and thought their not surviving long term, yet any type of frag grows without any issues. So I stopped buying them

When I purchased the brain coral, the new tank was pretty empty, so I thought that would look stunning, completely forgetting my theory. So I’ve now been reminded again!

Loved this. Corals grow based on the flow, lighting and parameters. I always felt the bigger the colony, the more it relied on that stability. I think flow plays the biggest role. The structure of a colony must grow specifically and optimally into the flow. The flow is crucial to the shape (lighting too). Change the flow drastically, or move it to a new tank, and the colony may lose its unique ability to consume.

A frag is just a baby deciding what it wants to grow into. It will often encrust and secure itself before growing out. It senses its environment first, then grows in reaction to it.

 

[SPR1968]

Loved this. Corals grow based on the flow, lighting and parameters. I always felt the bigger the colony, the more it relied on that stability. I think flow plays the biggest role. The structure of a colony must grow specifically and optimally into the flow. The flow is crucial to the shape (lighting too). Change the flow drastically, or move it to a new tank, and the colony may lose its unique ability to consume.

A frag is just a baby deciding what it wants to grow into. It will often encrust and secure itself before growing out. It senses its environment first, then grows in reaction to it.

Exactly and you’ve summed it up better than I did, but yes that’s my theory.

I don’t have any scientific evidence other than experience of larger colonies not surviving long term in water parameters which are pretty stable, but as you say flow plays a vital part. It’s impossible to replicate in different tanks, because you have no way of knowing what the colony is accustomed to, other than high medium or low.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Exactly and you’ve summed it up better than I did, but yes that’s my theory.

I don’t have any scientific evidence other than experience of larger colonies not surviving long term in water parameters which are pretty stable, but as you say flow plays a vital part. It’s impossible to replicate in different tanks, because you have no way of knowing what the colony is accustomed to, other than high medium or low.

Right! The lighting is easier to mimic. The flow relies more on the whole tank often with several returns and devices. The placement and general aquascape are also major factors in flow.

 

[Mortie31]

So my theory with established colonies is, the ones sold certainly by my LFS’s, have been grown in another hobbyists tank for several years in most cases, and then sold to the LFS. they’ve become accustomed to certain water parameters, and then given the first shock of going into the LFS‘s water. And then I come along...... and they get another water shock and the culmination of this is they don’t survive very long.

I agree with you here, but I also think most reefers with established tanks who move colonies on after several years and especially LPS/ softy systems will have far higher nutrients than you have, in my experience nothing kills a colony quicker than cleaning up water quality too quickly. Light I believe is much less important with LPS, unless you are suddenly moving them from a LPS tank with low light, to an SPS tank with tons of light... flow and position in food currents is a bit of an unknown to me, to comment on

 

[Peach02]

Just found this thread, Looking awesome!

 

[SPR1968]

Just found this thread, Looking awesome!

Thank you and thanks for saying hello!

Ill be testing you on the previous 110 pages shortly! Lol

 

[SPR1968]

Double post so...

Here’s a half picture of a clown, but he’s not laughing very much!

 

[crusso1993]

Ill be testing you on the previous 110 pages shortly! Lol

This should surely be interesting. Without bookmarks and pictures, I'll be shocked if you can remember more than 3 pages of it yourself!

 

[GBRsouth]

This should surely be interesting. Without bookmarks and pictures, I'll be shocked if you can remember more than 3 pages of it yourself!

C'mon! He's got at least 60 proof memory!

 

[SPR1968]

Ah the ’Black Gold’, I made this in a plastic bucket you know, and it’s delightful darlings delightful!! Lol

 

[Mortie31]

Ah the ’Black Gold’, I made this in a plastic bucket you know, and it’s delightful darlings delightful!! Lol

@najer and I are still waiting for an invitation for the beer tasting, sorry tank warming party....

 

[GBRsouth]

Ah the ’Black Gold’, I made this in a plastic bucket you know, and it’s delightful darlings delightful!! Lol

So the skimmer overflow bucket Huh?;Vomit

 

[crusso1993]

Ah the ’Black Gold’, I made this in a plastic bucket you know, and it’s delightful darlings delightful!! Lol

Looks tasty.

Little less drinking stout and a little more updating Galapagos. Better yet, a little more drinking stout and a little more updating Galapagos!

 

[crusso1993]

Saw this and, for some odd reason, immediately thought of you. I do not know why.

 

[RichtheReefer21]

Saw this and, for some odd reason, immediately thought of you. I do not know why.

Stay thirsty, my friends.

 

[SPR1968]

Here’s a coral picture....

 

[SPR1968]

Here’s one of the Acropora corals in the new system

 

[SPR1968]

I’ve tried to capture sunrise in the new system as best I can so here’s a short video. The tank is just over 4 months old

I hope you enjoy it anyway......