Some of my Acro Collection

[coral reeftank]

A few more pics for the weekend!

CRT Undertaker

TGC Sour Skittlez

TGC Disturbia

CRT Limit Breaker

 

[coral reeftank]

Took a quick fts of my other display tank, this one’s been through a lot of rough patches but I think it’s finally on the right course now

 

[coral reeftank]

Over the years I've received many messages regarding how I keep my tanks or other various tips and tricks regarding sps keeping. My general approach is to keep things simple. All of my tanks always compromise these 3 aspects.

1. Robust Biological Filtration
- Probably the most important aspect, yet often overlooked.
This point emphasizes the cycling process of the aquarium. I was left scratching my head a while back in regards to why one of my tanks had issues.
My tank had algae problems and could not grow sps and achieve the colors I wanted. I was frustrated and had the idea to re-seed my tank's micro-community. It worked! over the course of the month my algae issues diminished and I noticed visible improvement in coral health and growth.

2. Calcium Reactor
- My opinion: Hands down the best way
All my tanks have one, they have greatly reduced my overall maintenance and allow for complete replenishment of the building blocks for coral growth, since we're essentially reusing coral for coral growth

3. Efficient Flow
-Flow before light! Worry about lighting after!
In my experience proper flow should be priority #1 in all SPS tanks in regards to proper coral growth.
(Coloration is another issue)

As I have told many over the years, Lighting and everything else is second priority, since if you can't grow it in the first place, how are you going to make it look pretty, right?

Strong flow allows proper delivery of nutrients to the coral and reduces the chance of rtn
Minimizing dead spots and ensuring that your aquascape and tank has little to no detritus build up is key in maintaining beautiful SPS. By not letting detritus accumulate we are actively proactively denying the growth of unwanted nuisance algae.

These 3 aspects are the fundamentals of my philosophy.


So here are the bite sized take-aways of my philosophy

1. Establish strong Biological community
- lots of liverock, or other substitutes
- refugium if possible
- Strong Filtration( skimmer,zeovit,etc)

2. Calcium Reactor
- become familiar with one
- It will help keep stable parameters and will be key for lower overall maintenance

3. Efficient Flow
- minimize dead spots
- don't let detritus build up
- proper delivery



I hope this helps anyone who decides to read this thread!




As Always Happy Reefing,
Allan

 

[nbd13]

How did you reseed that tank?
Thanks

 

[coral reeftank]

How did you reseed that tank?
Thanks

By adding water and live rock from an already established, healthy system. Along with adding bacterial growth supplements like zeovit.

 

[Anirban]

The long awaited Full Tank Shot!
This is the tank that started it all for me, been chugging along with me for over 20 years now!

Allan, 20 years same tank????? I seriously wanted to know the tank builder...

 

[coral reeftank]

Allan, 20 years same tank????? I seriously wanted to know the tank builder...

The tank is an old oceanic

 

[coral reeftank]

Enjoying it while it lasts!



RMF Psychoberry

CRT Cotton Candy

TGC Afterlife

TGC Cerberus

CRT Limit Breaker

 

[sam.veilleux30]

Over the years I've received many messages regarding how I keep my tanks or other various tips and tricks regarding sps keeping. My general approach is to keep things simple. All of my tanks always compromise these 3 aspects.

1. Robust Biological Filtration
- Probably the most important aspect, yet often overlooked.
This point emphasizes the cycling process of the aquarium. I was left scratching my head a while back in regards to why one of my tanks had issues.
My tank had algae problems and could not grow sps and achieve the colors I wanted. I was frustrated and had the idea to re-seed my tank's micro-community. It worked! over the course of the month my algae issues diminished and I noticed visible improvement in coral health and growth.

2. Calcium Reactor
- My opinion: Hands down the best way
All my tanks have one, they have greatly reduced my overall maintenance and allow for complete replenishment of the building blocks for coral growth, since we're essentially reusing coral for coral growth

3. Efficient Flow
-Flow before light! Worry about lighting after!
In my experience proper flow should be priority #1 in all SPS tanks in regards to proper coral growth.
(Coloration is another issue)

As I have told many over the years, Lighting and everything else is second priority, since if you can't grow it in the first place, how are you going to make it look pretty, right?

Strong flow allows proper delivery of nutrients to the coral and reduces the chance of rtn
Minimizing dead spots and ensuring that your aquascape and tank has little to no detritus build up is key in maintaining beautiful SPS. By not letting detritus accumulate we are actively proactively denying the growth of unwanted nuisance algae.

These 3 aspects are the fundamentals of my philosophy.


So here are the bite sized take-aways of my philosophy

1. Establish strong Biological community
- lots of liverock, or other substitutes
- refugium if possible
- Strong Filtration( skimmer,zeovit,etc)

2. Calcium Reactor
- become familiar with one
- It will help keep stable parameters and will be key for lower overall maintenance

3. Efficient Flow
- minimize dead spots
- don't let detritus build up
- proper delivery



I hope this helps anyone who decides to read this thread!




As Always Happy Reefing,
Allan

Will frame near the tank to keep in mind!
Jokes aside, thanks for the description of your method.
Never had a calcium reactor, the learning curve is somewhat intimidating but that's something i saw over the years: most mature reefs run those.

By the way the tropic thunder monti is awesome!
Never heard of it, but now i will keep an eye for it.

 

[coral reeftank]

Time's runnin short, time for more pics!

CRT Big Red

CRT Peachy Delight

CRT Night Stalker

TGC Starry Night

 

[AlainD]

You talk about strong flow. I think that you use 4 mp40 in your 120g. Can you share the Mobius program that you use.

 

[coral reeftank]

You talk about strong flow. I think that you use 4 mp40 in your 120g. Can you share the Mobius program that you use.

I just have them all on 80% reef crest

 

[coral reeftank]

This graft looks crazy on the TGC Vendetta!

 

[AlainD]

Thanks, Do you have your 2 opposing pump at antisync mode and do you lower the intensity at night

 

[t5Nitro]

What an inspiring thread! Can't believe it can look so good. Im about 2.5 hours from ya. Can I get some of that cool yellow encrusting monti on the bottom? Whats that guy called? Looking at your top 3 philosophy I just bumped my flow rates up again only to get a positive response from the coral. The tanks an algae producing machine but I think because it isn't near the age yours is.

 

[coral reeftank]

Thanks, Do you have your 2 opposing pump at antisync mode and do you lower the intensity at night

I have them on anti sync and night mode

 

[coral reeftank]

What an inspiring thread! Can't believe it can look so good. Im about 2.5 hours from ya. Can I get some of that cool yellow encrusting monti on the bottom? Whats that guy called? Looking at your top 3 philosophy I just bumped my flow rates up again only to get a positive response from the coral. The tanks an algae producing machine but I think because it isn't near the age yours is.

That monti is my CRT Tropic Thunder, and I’ve noticed my oldest tank rarely develops algae, perhaps it’s because of its age.

 

[coral reeftank]

Anyone know any good reef stores near Princeton New Jersey? Being away from the tank sucks lol

 

[coral reeftank]

School's out, been a heck of a semester.

Finally had some time to fly back home and enjoy the tanks again

CRT Delight, absolute stunner!!!

TGC Megatron

CRT Undertaker

CRT Monstro

RR Asia Multicolor Matrix

 

[Perry]

School's out, been a heck of a semester.

Finally had some time to fly back home and enjoy the tanks again

CRT Delight, absolute stunner!!!

TGC Megatron

CRT Undertaker

CRT Monstro

RR Asia Multicolor Matrix

Stunning!
You have such a beautiful collection, thank you for sharing