Jesse's 20L SPS tank
- Thread starter reefman23
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johnanddawn
New Member
wow that first one is really nice - has a commensal crab too i see 
that is really cool cause you don't usually get them with captive frags - must be wild caught - looks kinda like my sarmentosa but not exact?????
that "reddish" acro is neat too - i like the polyp color, they really stand out
that is really cool cause you don't usually get them with captive frags - must be wild caught - looks kinda like my sarmentosa but not exact?????that "reddish" acro is neat too - i like the polyp color, they really stand out
I have seen a little bit of growth so far on my blue millepora...
It's kinda hard to tell by those pics but the branches have grown out a little bit, it has colored up, and the plug is fully encrusted. The picture on the left is from Feb 14, the pic on the right is from March 23... so 5 weeks. Not the best growth, but not bad either.
Here are my parameters from today:
It looks like I have about 6 SPS frags coming my way next week, so I'll post some pictures of those when they come in.
I have been doing 2g water changes every day now and I have virtually no nuisance algae, my water is very clear, my parameters are very stable including my SG. Overall I think this is the best my tank has ever been, although I really wish some coralline will start to grow :roll: .
I have some plans in the near future that include a new stand and revamped plumbing, so stay tuned for that!
Jesse
It's kinda hard to tell by those pics but the branches have grown out a little bit, it has colored up, and the plug is fully encrusted. The picture on the left is from Feb 14, the pic on the right is from March 23... so 5 weeks. Not the best growth, but not bad either.
Here are my parameters from today:
- Alk= 9.44 dKH (3.37 meq/L)((I have been dripping Kalk))
- Ca= 400
- pH= 8.2-8.3
- PO4= 0
- Mg= 1,335
- SG= 1.024
- Temp= 79.5*-80.5*
It looks like I have about 6 SPS frags coming my way next week, so I'll post some pictures of those when they come in.
I have been doing 2g water changes every day now and I have virtually no nuisance algae, my water is very clear, my parameters are very stable including my SG. Overall I think this is the best my tank has ever been, although I really wish some coralline will start to grow :roll: .
I have some plans in the near future that include a new stand and revamped plumbing, so stay tuned for that!
Jesse
Phischy
New Member
You're using Scripps water? Isn't that a bit of a drive? There is a posting up on sdreefs as far as what the local water is lacking, but I'm sure you read up on that and made the proper adjustments. I personally mix my own, but I have used scripps water before. Most the guys out here do.
johnanddawn
New Member
wow jesse that is awesome growth for 5 weeks, new frags often just sit there the first month - yours looks like it hit the ground running
quote="Phischy"]You're using Scripps water? Isn't that a bit of a drive? There is a posting up on sdreefs as far as what the local water is lacking, but I'm sure you read up on that and made the proper adjustments. I personally mix my own, but I have used scripps water before. Most the guys out here do.[/quote]
I get it from a LFS in Tustin which is only about a 20 min drive. I used to get it more often, but lately I have ended up just getting my saltwater from a LFS right by my house. Do you mind linking me to the sdreefs thread you mentioned? Last time I bought it I didnt have the Ca, Alk, PO4, etc tests that I have now.
Im really looking forward to receiving a small shipment of SPS frags next week!! ;-)
Jesse
I get it from a LFS in Tustin which is only about a 20 min drive. I used to get it more often, but lately I have ended up just getting my saltwater from a LFS right by my house. Do you mind linking me to the sdreefs thread you mentioned? Last time I bought it I didnt have the Ca, Alk, PO4, etc tests that I have now.
I was a bit surprised when I looked back at that first picture. I didnt really realize how much it had encrusted and grown until I did the side-by-side.johnanddawn said:
Im really looking forward to receiving a small shipment of SPS frags next week!! ;-)
Jesse
EDGRAY
New Member
:fu MMM we will have to discuss that...... huuumm hum :angry7: :evil: :fdevil: ................... mmmm J/K J/K they bouth look cute dont care witch one is mine really.... by the way if this posts grabs your attention i think the neon candy canes need another home or go back to you, they not doing not well in my tank ... no bad nor good but cool do better in yours i guess....reefman23 said:Almost forgot about the green Sarco frags :mrgreen:
Eddy, the smaller one is yours. :twisted:
Jesse
Anyways Nice looking frags .... by the way i can see the crab on one of the frags as J&D pointed... it looks kinda cute...
ED
Jesse,
The mg. level is key to keeping the calcium available for the corals...If you see drop in mg. level...don't waste time dosing calcium. Keep mg. above 1300 and things will work ok. I also like to keep my alk levels close to but under 10dkh...seem to grow better..
If ya can come up with some iv drips like John said...will make it easier to keep things in line. As they grow they are really gonna pull stuff out of the water leaving you chasing numbers.
The mg. level is key to keeping the calcium available for the corals...If you see drop in mg. level...don't waste time dosing calcium. Keep mg. above 1300 and things will work ok. I also like to keep my alk levels close to but under 10dkh...seem to grow better..
If ya can come up with some iv drips like John said...will make it easier to keep things in line. As they grow they are really gonna pull stuff out of the water leaving you chasing numbers.
Yeah I check the Mg levels about every 7-10 days and dose Kent Mg accordingly. I usually have it somewhere from 1,300-1,350. The Ca has been stable now at right around 400-420 and the Alk is about 9.5dKH.... I have been dosing 2 liters of Kalk every 24 hours and it has seemed to do a great job so far. Plus it is really easy to do... I have a 5g water jug with a spigot and I fill it with about 4 gallons of water and a tsp if kalk, roll it around to mix it up, give it a day or two to settle, then dispense the clear water into several 2-liter bottles and I just drip it with airline tubing. Each bottle takes about 12 hours to empty out into the sump and I put a new bottle down there every night.Semo said:
Wish I had the balls to try kalk...I use the two part solution from www.twopartsolution.com to dose mine. I seem to have to adjust alk about every 3 weeks..it gets a little low.
I haven't been in the sps too long, but really have noticed how much quicker the encrusting starts with the alk around ten...
Sharp looking pics...love the toadstools...I have a big one I have been thinking of takin' the knife too...just haven't forced it quite yet...
I haven't been in the sps too long, but really have noticed how much quicker the encrusting starts with the alk around ten...
Sharp looking pics...love the toadstools...I have a big one I have been thinking of takin' the knife too...just haven't forced it quite yet...
Semo, have you read this article? It is what inspired me to go the Kalk route as opposed to 2-parts (which I still may try Randy's 2-part in the future).
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
This is the "formula" that I am currently follwing from that article,
"Tanks with a medium calcification load, defined as 150 meq of alkalinity per day (0.4 meq/L/day). This is the equivalent to the daily replacement of 1% of the tank volume with saturated limewater. This works out to 55,000 meq of alkalinity per year."
HTH,
Jesse
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm
This is the "formula" that I am currently follwing from that article,
"Tanks with a medium calcification load, defined as 150 meq of alkalinity per day (0.4 meq/L/day). This is the equivalent to the daily replacement of 1% of the tank volume with saturated limewater. This works out to 55,000 meq of alkalinity per year."
HTH,
Jesse
Here are some pictures of the SPS frags I received from the very generous JohnandDawn on Wednesday.
1) We think it might be an A. Nasuta
2) ORA rose Millepora
3) ORA yellow Millepora
4) Wild-caught tri-color A. Valida
5) ORA Chip's Acropora
6) Live Aquaria "blueberry tipped staghorn" A. kirstyae
7) ORA A. Tortuosa
They spent a little bit longer in the mail than we wanted, but they arrived very healthy. The millepora's polyps were extending while I was dripping them and by the end of the day they all had some good PE. I think some of them may have lost a little bit of color from the stresses of being shipped but that is normall and they are already coloring up a bit. I must say that John was very generous. Some of these "frags" are more like small colonies! The smallest is the rose millepora and it is about 1-1/4"... we wont count the Chip' as that was an accidental frag. ;-)
I really look forward to seeing these things mature in my tank and will keep you all updated with growth shots and progress reports.
Thanks John!
Jesse
1) We think it might be an A. Nasuta
2) ORA rose Millepora
3) ORA yellow Millepora
4) Wild-caught tri-color A. Valida
5) ORA Chip's Acropora
6) Live Aquaria "blueberry tipped staghorn" A. kirstyae
7) ORA A. Tortuosa
They spent a little bit longer in the mail than we wanted, but they arrived very healthy. The millepora's polyps were extending while I was dripping them and by the end of the day they all had some good PE. I think some of them may have lost a little bit of color from the stresses of being shipped but that is normall and they are already coloring up a bit. I must say that John was very generous. Some of these "frags" are more like small colonies! The smallest is the rose millepora and it is about 1-1/4"... we wont count the Chip' as that was an accidental frag. ;-)
I really look forward to seeing these things mature in my tank and will keep you all updated with growth shots and progress reports.
Thanks John!
Jesse
mikeguerrero
Active Member
Nice collection of butterflies....
MG
MG
johnanddawn
New Member
its cool to see the polyps out all ready - but the tips do look a bit beat up from the bags - it may take a while before they start growing and color up again. i can't wait to see what your t-5's do for them
the LA is actually their "blueberry tipped staghorn" acro A. kirstyae, http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod ... CatId=2354
as for size/shape and placement: as for lighting your tank is shallow so any level of the tank is basically the same. their growth pattern is what will determine the "best" spot for them - IMO
after a couple weeks of acclimation in the sand put the blueberry and the unidentified acro toward the back of the tank - they grow tall and like crazy. keep the chips up front as it will likely "plate" and stay low growing. the millis will be slow growing until they get encrusted, then they grow up and out. the tort and the valida will be the prettiest they need a special spot.
glad you like them
the LA is actually their "blueberry tipped staghorn" acro A. kirstyae, http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod ... CatId=2354
as for size/shape and placement: as for lighting your tank is shallow so any level of the tank is basically the same. their growth pattern is what will determine the "best" spot for them - IMO
after a couple weeks of acclimation in the sand put the blueberry and the unidentified acro toward the back of the tank - they grow tall and like crazy. keep the chips up front as it will likely "plate" and stay low growing. the millis will be slow growing until they get encrusted, then they grow up and out. the tort and the valida will be the prettiest they need a special spot.
glad you like them
Yeah I did notice the tips being a little roughed up but that should recover pretty quickly.
I corrected the name for the "blueberry tipped staghorn"... dont know how I messed that up!
I have been giving them full exposure to the Blue plus lamps and a couple hours exposure to the daylights. I use some opaque plastic to shield them from the daylights part of the day. After a few weeks I will follow your recommendations for placements.
Thanks John!
Jesse
I corrected the name for the "blueberry tipped staghorn"... dont know how I messed that up!
I have been giving them full exposure to the Blue plus lamps and a couple hours exposure to the daylights. I use some opaque plastic to shield them from the daylights part of the day. After a few weeks I will follow your recommendations for placements.
Thanks John!
Jesse
aquemeni5110
New Member
The new frags look great Jesse :thumbup: