Chas' 24NC Reef

[chasdb]

Hi everyone, wanted to thank Jennie, Edgray and Reefman 23 for the welcome and I'm finally making time to share. I hope the pics aren't too awful. Tank was started 4/24/2006 . I built the stand out of quartersawn white oak. I decided to replace the hood and upgrade lighting after I broke it- darn plastic... ok maybe I'm a little heavy handed. The lighting is a Current USA Outer Orbit that I cut down. It was 24" long and hung over 6 inches and was lighting up the room. I removed the MH ballast and 65W PC lights. The MH ballast is now mounted in the cabinet and I installed 32W PC in the hood to fit the reduced length. I really like Current's pennant cable system, it's adjustable, you just push a release button and you can move it up and down for tank maintenance. I built a tank cover out of acrylic because I'm so afraid of the Firefish jumping. I got a frosted Acrylite piece of scrap from a local plastic store as well as the hinges and handle. It's taking the heat ok but the frosted finish has eliminated all the MH shimmer. I may need to revise this at a later date. Last week I think I over dosed my 2 part calcium and the corals looked awful. I did a 10 gal WC and all but Xenia has bounced back. I'm still learning.....Any imput on coral placement is appreciated. Thanks Chas

overall shot

tank top

Branching Hammer and Monti. Do you think the hammer looks bloated?

 

[jay]

Looks like a nice start with some great colors!

Jay

Ps.. nice wood work :builder

 

[Anonymous]

very nice work on that cabinat!!! and the tank looks good too. your hammer looks really nice but i think it may be too close to your orange digi though they both will grow and the hammer does have powerful sweepers that will kill that digi if it decides to reach out and touch someone. but otherwise very nice aquascape.

 

[EDGRAY]

WoW :shock: I really like your aquascape it looks amazing what kind of LR is it... i wish i could get some plain pieces around here once in a while i get them but sure you aquascape catch my eye really nice next time i start all over again i want something similar as yours Why?? cause looks easier to grab the pieces to glue some zoas unlike my LR tiny pieces and touch something everything falls apart :sad: :cry: anyways ... nice work keep out the good work and dont mess with your aquascape... i love it

 

[jay]

I have to agree with EDGRAY, your aquascape really does look great.... I don't think I'd change a thing about it.

Jay

 

[chasdb]

Thanks for the kind words. I'll keep an eye out for sweepers. I don't remember what kind of rock it was but those darn Margaritas seem to know what rock to push so when I readjust I end up with a mess. I think they get pissed when I clean the glass. :roll:

Charles

 

[skipm]

What is that on top of the tank? Is that something to partially shade the MH?

 

[EDGRAY]

Thanks for the kind words. I'll keep an eye out for sweepers. I don't remember what kind of rock it was but those darn Margaritas seem to know what rock to push so when I readjust I end up with a mess. I think they get pissed when I clean the glass. :roll:

Charles

Easy solution just take them out you dont need those big things to be cleaning your stuff replace them with Nerite or cerith snails they are the best small and really careful with frags and everything but i like more to have just NERITE better infact than cerith...

But anyways really nice pics and well does Macro pics are amazing... it looks like a big slamie monster.. :fear:

 

[chasdb]

Got a Neon Toadstool from a Nano-Reefer this morning... can't wait for it to extend!

Skip, you are correct I am still acclimating my tank. I have a few screens directly under the MH, this way I still get full PC lighting and moonlights as I'm still on the lookout for hitch-hiker crabs. I caught 2 and haven't seen a molt for a few weeks.

Ed, that macro has been getting greener and greener. The rock has either coralline or macro...pink and green. I have only used RODI for top off, Phosphate .1 ppm and Silicate .25ppm. Running PhosGuard and will retest this weekend. I have Chaeto in the back. Will the macro decrease as my tank matures? I have been dosing 2 part calcium alternately with purple up but I'm thinking I won't get any new coralline growth with all that GREEN. I really like your tank especially the zoo's and ric's

I'm going to Coral Oasis and Tongs tomorrow. wife likes the idea of a 50g but I'm not ready for the extra expense and maintenance work so I think that gives me the green light for some more life in the tank! ..... OK I pay all the bills tonight and we eat mac and cheese for the next 2 weeks :roll:

 

[EDGRAY]

OHH Thx for the complement about my tank and well i mentioned nice macro pics but that line was from another reply from other window i guess i typed wrong in bouth replys :lol: :lol: anyways i ment to say MACRO PICTURES (closeups no algae ) :lol: my mistake and well the green algae in your rock not sure what kind of algae is but i always get in new LR and then it turns brown or red then some coraline start to appear but good luck ...

if your wife gives you the flag to get a bigger tank go for it or you'll regreat it later :mrgreen:

P.S: if you see anything good at coral oasis let me know like nice zoas ok!!

 

[chasdb]

I've been busy in the tank and have time to share so here goes!

I got a sea horse from a package deal. I never thought of getting one but it came with another set up. I really like it, it goes everywhere in search of pods where as the firefish and clowns have their designated hangouts.

Added a Remora, had to notch between chamber 1 & 2

The clam was on sale for $19.99 or 3 for 50 at Fish Collection in Yorba Linda I couldn't resist

Shrooms are getting big, will have to frag soon.

I think I'm gonna have to get a RO/Di system at home cause going to the fish store for just water has been difficult. :strip

 

[reefman23]

Great setup... nice addition with the remora. Skimmers are almost essential to take your reef to that next level and the remora is one of the best choices out there.
Jesse

 

[SomethingFishy]

MH Lighting

I have a 29Gal BioCube and was thinking of going with the same light you have but only in the 20inch. How do you like the light???

My only thing was that I would loose the actinic light because it only has the LED's for night time. Is that why you went with the 24inch??


Tank looks great!!

Pete

 

[islandcreation]

How's the seahorse doing? I did so much research on keeping seahorses that it kind of shyed me away from them... Great setup, doesn't money just add up while your having fun. Keep us up to date about that seahorse sooner or later if everything goes well with you I may create a new tank for seahorses only. Thanks :mrgreen:

 

[rockpoolie]

ON the pics I can see pipes going out of the tank, have you got a sump and if so can you provide some details please

 

[chasdb]

Just an update... seahorse is doing great but I must admit I have spent a lot of time making sure she gets fed on a daily basis. I lost the purple firefish in Sept. The fish stopped eating everything I presented it, don't know why, fins looked good no parasites visable....I was bummed :anxious . We bought a house end of Nov and in Feb I started a 120G and transferred livestock over from my nc24. I've stocked it pretty heavy and the fish have become very food aggressive. I'm gonna have to set up a seahorse tank which means I'm on the lookout for a happy healthy male kuda that won't brake the bank. The tanks gonna be a Visio 18T, I dremeled a hole and built a corner overflow so I can plumb this into my common sump. For lighting it will just be PC as it will just be softies, nothing with hi lighting needs.