December nTOTM

Victoria · 12/26/2006, 06:42 PM

Thank you all for voting for my tank!!

Victoriaâ€™s 29 gal cube reef tank
Introduction:

I fell in love with this hobby back in 1974. I walked into a LFS and saw saltwater fish and invertebrates and said, â€œI must have thoseâ€ I bought my first tank a 20 gal, and quickly upgraded to a 300 gal. Of course it was a fish only, not many people were keeping coral alive at that time. Over the course of time I worked at that very LFS and then went on to start a business of aquarium maintenance. I continued that for about 10 years. I sold it and moved back into the hobby still in a fish only mode. I really had little contact with other hobbyist at that time. And so for another 10 years just had a small tank, not thinking much about the hobby.

Then one day I thought I would look on the Internet, to see how far the hobby has come. I could not believe what I sawâ€¦ Reef tanksâ€¦ got to have one of those. So I went to a LFS and purchased a 100 gal sea clear, it had a sump in the back of the tank. I started of with some soft corals, and advance to a tank filled with LPS and a few stony corals. I plumb in a 40 gal fuge, and the tank was beautiful. We had planned on moving in a year or so. So at that time we sold the tank and everything in it. When the new owner moved it I took a few frags of so of my favorite corals and started my 29 gal.

I started it in April 2005. Here is a clip of the growth
http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...1162667214.pbw

Aquarium profile:
Size:
Standard cube 29 gallons Oceanic 18x20x21.

Circulation:
I use 1 Maxi jet 1200 power head (295gph) and 1 Rio 800 (171gph). I also have a canister filter (Hagen Fluval 305) which adds (185gph) for a total (in theory) 651gph circulation. I have the two power heads on a nature wave maker. 10 seconds on one power head, 10 sec on the other, 10 sec both on, and 10 sec both off.

Filtration:
I use a Fluval canister filter in which I run Carbon and po4 remover 24/7. I also run bags of Miracle Mud. I also use floss to trap particulates.

Lighting:
Current USA fixture
24" Current USA Outer Orbit 10000K HQI Metal Halide
1x150W Dual Daylight / 2x65W Dual Actinic & 4 Lunar Lights *

Photo period:
Actinic on at 6am and off at 9PM
Metal Halide on at 8am and off at 8pm
Moon lights on 24 hr for 6 days a month.
Refugium:
CPR AquaFuge 2 Hang-on Refugium, Medium
In here I have Miracle Mud and Cheto and lots of pods. The lighting on the fuge runs 24/7 and has a 13 watt PC. The makers of Miracle Mud recommends changing the mud every six months. I find it disrupts my fuge and pods so I keep a bag in the canister filter.

Feeding and Additives:

I feed twice once in the AM and once in the PM after the lights of out. I feed the fish a variety of food. Frozen Mysis shrimp, flakes (formula one), pellets (sinks for the hermits and shrimp) Cyclopeeze.
I feed my coral Cyclopeeze, DTâ€™s , and Kent marine phytomax, Reef nutrition Roti-feast.

I use an Aqua medic-dosing pump to dose ESV 2 part additive. It doses alk before the lights go on in the morning. I also dose ESV magnesium. I occassionally add strontium. And add Lugolâ€™s once a week (one drop).

Victoria · 12/26/2006, 06:44 PM

Tank Parameters:
Alk 10.2 dkh
Ca 420
Mag 1350
S.G 1.026
Temp 77-80 degrees
Ph 7.9-8.4
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Po4 0
Maintinance:
I do a 30% water change every week. I use water from an R.O unit and use Instant ocean salt. I buffer it to match the tank.
I change carbon / po4 remover 1x month along with the floss.
I change PCâ€™s every six months, and MH 1 x year. I clean my light fixture off every week.
Clean Power heads once a month.
I look at my reef tank every day!

Victoria · 12/26/2006, 06:46 PM

Inhabitants:
Coral:
Acropora 7 species
Hydnophors 2 species
Seriantipora (pink) has produced Planula Larvae in tank.
Euphyllia Torch
Green Star Polyps
Yellow Polyps
Montipora 4 species
Poricillipora has reproduced in my tank
Merulina sp.
Montipora digitata
Asst mushrooms
Fish:
Amphipron Ocellairs
Gobiosona Multafasciatus
Blue devil Damsel
Hector gobi
Invertebrates:
Scarlet cleaner shrimp
Peppermint shrimp
Blue legged hermit crabs
Red scarlet hermit crabs
Sponge, featherduster, worms ect
Rock boring sea urchin
Cucumber
2 Crocea clams
Final thoughts:
I have a simple system, one anyone could have. I think my success comes from learning as much as possible before I add things. Learning what there requirements are. And above all else caring my tank like it was a pet like a dog or cat. It has living breathing life in it and itâ€™s my responsibility to care for it.

Victoria · 12/26/2006, 06:47 PM

More tank shots

Victoria · 12/26/2006, 06:48 PM

Victoria · 12/26/2006, 06:52 PM

again thanks to all of you!!

Victoria

steph30 · 12/26/2006, 09:05 PM

Wow! Fantastic tank. I just started a nano and your tank makes me want to consider sps. Great example of what a nano can be.

Stephanie

louist · 12/27/2006, 08:59 AM

That's an inspiring tank, Victoria...

Reading about your tank makes me want to run off, empty the skimmate, scrub the glass and wash filter floss!

icenine2005 · 12/27/2006, 09:33 AM

Stunning system Victoria... this tank really, really makes me want to set up an SPS nano. Absolutely inspiring!

Victoria · 12/27/2006, 11:32 AM

Much thanks Stephanie, Louis, icemine2005. I just love this hobby!!

acrodave · 12/27/2006, 11:39 AM

love the pink milli in the cap are they not killing each other

phenom5 · 12/27/2006, 11:47 AM

beautiful tank Victoria...after looking at those pics, there's no way i'm going to be able to stay away from SPS in my 20L.

DragonFish · 12/27/2006, 01:38 PM

Are you running a skimmer in the refugium? How do you like the dosing pump? I've been seriously thinking of getting one. Beautiful!!!

saltycreefer · 12/27/2006, 01:43 PM

That's a great tank!

danfrith · 12/27/2006, 02:55 PM

The nicest nano I have ever seen.

Victoria · 12/27/2006, 04:21 PM

It's something I have to watch. I just cut back the monti after the milli kills it. The milli always wins. But the monti grows faster. I really like the look!

Victoria · 12/27/2006, 04:23 PM

Yes I forgot to mention the skimmer. Its just a DIY addon, no biggie. I do like having a dosing pump, but If I had to do it again I would of bought a better one.

Victoria · 12/27/2006, 04:26 PM

Thank you both so much!

acrodave · 12/27/2006, 05:13 PM

the same thing happens to me the acro allways wins but the mont just grow so blanking fast that in the long run the mont wins

jeffgp · 12/27/2006, 07:10 PM

i see you have a skimmer in there
is that the one that came with it or did you add that

and witch one is it

Cyclone123 · 12/27/2006, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by louist
That's an inspiring tank, Victoria...

Reading about your tank makes me want to run off, empty the skimmate, scrub the glass and wash filter floss!

lol same here

Very Nice Job Victoria

Victoria · 12/28/2006, 12:19 PM

The skimmer I have in there is not the one that comes with the unit. I got cpr that did not have the skimmer, because it was cheaper. Then I just used some odds and ends to make my own. It works ok I get plenty of skimmate.

Paladin · 12/29/2006, 06:27 PM

one word: awesome

Victoria · 12/29/2006, 07:20 PM

Paladin thank you very much!!
Victoria

Paladin · 12/29/2006, 08:36 PM

Victoria, quick question on your Merulina sp. Was that a difficult coral to keep?

12/26/2006, 06:42 PM	#1
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	December nTOTM Thank you all for voting for my tank!! Victoriaâ€™s 29 gal cube reef tank Introduction: I fell in love with this hobby back in 1974. I walked into a LFS and saw saltwater fish and invertebrates and said, â€œI must have thoseâ€ I bought my first tank a 20 gal, and quickly upgraded to a 300 gal. Of course it was a fish only, not many people were keeping coral alive at that time. Over the course of time I worked at that very LFS and then went on to start a business of aquarium maintenance. I continued that for about 10 years. I sold it and moved back into the hobby still in a fish only mode. I really had little contact with other hobbyist at that time. And so for another 10 years just had a small tank, not thinking much about the hobby. Then one day I thought I would look on the Internet, to see how far the hobby has come. I could not believe what I sawâ€¦ Reef tanksâ€¦ got to have one of those. So I went to a LFS and purchased a 100 gal sea clear, it had a sump in the back of the tank. I started of with some soft corals, and advance to a tank filled with LPS and a few stony corals. I plumb in a 40 gal fuge, and the tank was beautiful. We had planned on moving in a year or so. So at that time we sold the tank and everything in it. When the new owner moved it I took a few frags of so of my favorite corals and started my 29 gal. I started it in April 2005. Here is a clip of the growth http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...1162667214.pbw Aquarium profile: Size: Standard cube 29 gallons Oceanic 18x20x21. Circulation: I use 1 Maxi jet 1200 power head (295gph) and 1 Rio 800 (171gph). I also have a canister filter (Hagen Fluval 305) which adds (185gph) for a total (in theory) 651gph circulation. I have the two power heads on a nature wave maker. 10 seconds on one power head, 10 sec on the other, 10 sec both on, and 10 sec both off. Filtration: I use a Fluval canister filter in which I run Carbon and po4 remover 24/7. I also run bags of Miracle Mud. I also use floss to trap particulates. Lighting: Current USA fixture 24" Current USA Outer Orbit 10000K HQI Metal Halide 1x150W Dual Daylight / 2x65W Dual Actinic & 4 Lunar Lights * Photo period: Actinic on at 6am and off at 9PM Metal Halide on at 8am and off at 8pm Moon lights on 24 hr for 6 days a month. Refugium: CPR AquaFuge 2 Hang-on Refugium, Medium In here I have Miracle Mud and Cheto and lots of pods. The lighting on the fuge runs 24/7 and has a 13 watt PC. The makers of Miracle Mud recommends changing the mud every six months. I find it disrupts my fuge and pods so I keep a bag in the canister filter. Feeding and Additives: I feed twice once in the AM and once in the PM after the lights of out. I feed the fish a variety of food. Frozen Mysis shrimp, flakes (formula one), pellets (sinks for the hermits and shrimp) Cyclopeeze. I feed my coral Cyclopeeze, DTâ€™s , and Kent marine phytomax, Reef nutrition Roti-feast. I use an Aqua medic-dosing pump to dose ESV 2 part additive. It doses alk before the lights go on in the morning. I also dose ESV magnesium. I occassionally add strontium. And add Lugolâ€™s once a week (one drop).

12/27/2006, 08:59 AM	#8
louist Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Sydney Posts: 737	That's an inspiring tank, Victoria... Reading about your tank makes me want to run off, empty the skimmate, scrub the glass and wash filter floss! __________________ Louis Tsai

12/27/2006, 11:39 AM	#11
acrodave REEF NERD Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: maryville tn-- work in knoxville Posts: 3,923	love the pink milli in the cap are they not killing each other __________________ Peace,Dave Superman puts on Tim Tebow pajamas when he goes to bed The Heisman as a sophomore nuff said Less technology more biology Tattoos are the only art you can take to the grave Current Tank Info: 26gal bow,20gal mantis tank/fuge150wHQI,20k AB Seio 620 maxijet1200x's 2 on a wave maker. all sps

12/27/2006, 11:47 AM	#12
phenom5 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sitting on a park bench... Posts: 3,338	beautiful tank Victoria...after looking at those pics, there's no way i'm going to be able to stay away from SPS in my 20L. __________________ all generalizations are false...including this one. Current Tank Info: 20L-Waiting for everything to grow in.

12/27/2006, 01:38 PM	#13
DragonFish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI Posts: 1,438	Are you running a skimmer in the refugium? How do you like the dosing pump? I've been seriously thinking of getting one. Beautiful!!! __________________ by beerguy "This is a reef keeping hobbyist board. Things would be much better if we just got back to that." Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder, Tek T5HO, Vertex IN-80. Check out my home page for my build log!

12/26/2006, 06:44 PM	#2
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	Tank Parameters: Alk 10.2 dkh Ca 420 Mag 1350 S.G 1.026 Temp 77-80 degrees Ph 7.9-8.4 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 0 Po4 0 Maintinance: I do a 30% water change every week. I use water from an R.O unit and use Instant ocean salt. I buffer it to match the tank. I change carbon / po4 remover 1x month along with the floss. I change PCâ€™s every six months, and MH 1 x year. I clean my light fixture off every week. Clean Power heads once a month. I look at my reef tank every day!

12/26/2006, 06:46 PM	#3
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	Inhabitants: Coral: Acropora 7 species Hydnophors 2 species Seriantipora (pink) has produced Planula Larvae in tank. Euphyllia Torch Green Star Polyps Yellow Polyps Montipora 4 species Poricillipora has reproduced in my tank Merulina sp. Montipora digitata Asst mushrooms Fish: Amphipron Ocellairs Gobiosona Multafasciatus Blue devil Damsel Hector gobi Invertebrates: Scarlet cleaner shrimp Peppermint shrimp Blue legged hermit crabs Red scarlet hermit crabs Sponge, featherduster, worms ect Rock boring sea urchin Cucumber 2 Crocea clams Final thoughts: I have a simple system, one anyone could have. I think my success comes from learning as much as possible before I add things. Learning what there requirements are. And above all else caring my tank like it was a pet like a dog or cat. It has living breathing life in it and itâ€™s my responsibility to care for it.

12/26/2006, 06:47 PM	#4
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	More tank shots

12/26/2006, 06:48 PM	#5
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912

12/26/2006, 06:52 PM	#6
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	again thanks to all of you!! Victoria

12/26/2006, 09:05 PM	#7
steph30 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 113	Wow! Fantastic tank. I just started a nano and your tank makes me want to consider sps. Great example of what a nano can be. Stephanie

12/27/2006, 09:33 AM	#9
icenine2005 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 524	Stunning system Victoria... this tank really, really makes me want to set up an SPS nano. Absolutely inspiring!

12/27/2006, 11:32 AM	#10
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	Much thanks Stephanie, Louis, icemine2005. I just love this hobby!!

12/27/2006, 01:43 PM	#14
saltycreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fairfield,CT Posts: 1,702	That's a great tank! __________________ I love being a turtle!!! Current Tank Info: Got out of tanks for a little while.

12/27/2006, 02:55 PM	#15
danfrith Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: st. louis, missouri Posts: 1,377	The nicest nano I have ever seen.

12/27/2006, 04:21 PM	#16
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	Acrodave It's something I have to watch. I just cut back the monti after the milli kills it. The milli always wins. But the monti grows faster. I really like the look!

12/27/2006, 04:23 PM	#17
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	Dragonfish Yes I forgot to mention the skimmer. Its just a DIY addon, no biggie. I do like having a dosing pump, but If I had to do it again I would of bought a better one.

12/27/2006, 04:26 PM	#18
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	Saltycreefer danfrith Thank you both so much!

12/27/2006, 05:13 PM	#19
acrodave REEF NERD Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: maryville tn-- work in knoxville Posts: 3,923	the same thing happens to me the acro allways wins but the mont just grow so blanking fast that in the long run the mont wins __________________ Peace,Dave Superman puts on Tim Tebow pajamas when he goes to bed The Heisman as a sophomore nuff said Less technology more biology Tattoos are the only art you can take to the grave Current Tank Info: 26gal bow,20gal mantis tank/fuge150wHQI,20k AB Seio 620 maxijet1200x's 2 on a wave maker. all sps

12/27/2006, 07:10 PM	#20
jeffgp Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: milwaukee Posts: 626	i see you have a skimmer in there is that the one that came with it or did you add that and witch one is it __________________ (Member of the Gem Tang Rider Posse) check my red house Current Tank Info: reef tank

12/28/2006, 12:19 PM	#22
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	jeffgp The skimmer I have in there is not the one that comes with the unit. I got cpr that did not have the skimmer, because it was cheaper. Then I just used some odds and ends to make my own. It works ok I get plenty of skimmate.

12/29/2006, 06:27 PM	#23
Paladin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Bay Area, CA Posts: 872	one word: awesome

12/29/2006, 07:20 PM	#24
Victoria Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Camp Verde AZ Posts: 912	Paladin thank you very much!! Victoria

12/29/2006, 08:36 PM	#25
Paladin Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Bay Area, CA Posts: 872	Victoria, quick question on your Merulina sp. Was that a difficult coral to keep?