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11/09/2017, 09:05 AM | #1026 |
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Amazing colors Watchguy!
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Go with what works for you. Current Tank Info: Envisions 400g (96x32x30) online January 2012. 4-72" VHOs,7-OceanRevive T247,Aquamaxx Cone 6 Skimmer, Aquamaxx S3 CR,Aquariumplants CO2 regulator, Jebao SOW20's, 80w Emperor UV, tang dominated with anthias and longspine cards |
11/10/2017, 11:55 AM | #1027 |
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Pink Floyd is an example of a coral that I have tried countless times. Every time I add a frag, it sits, then turns brown and then sits some more... I have never, ever had a Pink Floyd thrive in my tank.. I have one more frag sitting in my frag tank that I decided to receive and instead of glueing it in right away, leaving it in the frag tank for a while.. so far so good.. hasn’t gone brown yet. I may put it in the display soon.. Love the pastel shades on the cotton candy
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Matt. Current Tank Info: 53x32.5x26 190g dt 60g of sumps 3 tank-100 gal frag system 6xAI prime 8xt5. 4x maxspect gyre. Skimz Dual internal sicce pump skimmer Deltec PF601s ca rx+Kalk stirrer |
11/13/2017, 06:24 PM | #1028 |
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Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Q4 2017, "Achieving Colorful SPS" ReefHacks.com, "The Ultimate Guide: How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals" Reef Spotlight February 2013, other Forum Current Tank Info: 180 Bowfront, 30 gallon sump, 20 gallon refugium, reeflo dart/snapper hybrid pump, 2 x 6105 Tunze ,Tunze ATO, dual chamber CA reactor, 3 x250 metal halides with 2x t5 actinic supplement, Reefbrite Blue XHO's dawn/dusk |
11/13/2017, 09:08 PM | #1029 |
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-Matt- 50g Acrylic SPS http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2653554 *Retired*34g Solana SPS Reef |
11/13/2017, 10:15 PM | #1030 |
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11/14/2017, 12:00 PM | #1031 |
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Scott Current tank: 65 gal DSA rimless, mixed reef, 20 gal sump, T5 6bulb, big skimmer, 40B Fowler, 20 gal sump, 4 bulb T5 |
11/14/2017, 02:18 PM | #1032 |
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Gorgeous!
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Matt. Current Tank Info: 53x32.5x26 190g dt 60g of sumps 3 tank-100 gal frag system 6xAI prime 8xt5. 4x maxspect gyre. Skimz Dual internal sicce pump skimmer Deltec PF601s ca rx+Kalk stirrer |
11/16/2017, 06:37 AM | #1033 |
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Awesome reef! Your corals seems so well... Gratz!
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11/18/2017, 06:10 PM | #1034 | |
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Excellent shots and wonderful corals you have in this thread.
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11/19/2017, 08:25 PM | #1035 | |
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Thanks
The contrast is crazy Thanks Corals for the most part are happy. Always one or two though that are complaining Quote:
A couple of monti's with photos under metal halides and t5s. I have taken so many shots of these two and somehow the color is almost always off on these two montipora. I think this is my best effort to capture the colors correctly under metal halides and t5s Z's Dream Monti (below)
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Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Q4 2017, "Achieving Colorful SPS" ReefHacks.com, "The Ultimate Guide: How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals" Reef Spotlight February 2013, other Forum Current Tank Info: 180 Bowfront, 30 gallon sump, 20 gallon refugium, reeflo dart/snapper hybrid pump, 2 x 6105 Tunze ,Tunze ATO, dual chamber CA reactor, 3 x250 metal halides with 2x t5 actinic supplement, Reefbrite Blue XHO's dawn/dusk |
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11/21/2017, 01:53 PM | #1036 |
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I don't know what species Z's Favorite is. It has a highly unusual growth pattern and almost impossible to frag without getting tiny little pieces. It looks great under metal halides or t5s or Blue Leds, it just looks good in my opinion.
Z's Favorite (metal halides). Z's Favorite (blue leds close up view)
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Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Q4 2017, "Achieving Colorful SPS" ReefHacks.com, "The Ultimate Guide: How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals" Reef Spotlight February 2013, other Forum Current Tank Info: 180 Bowfront, 30 gallon sump, 20 gallon refugium, reeflo dart/snapper hybrid pump, 2 x 6105 Tunze ,Tunze ATO, dual chamber CA reactor, 3 x250 metal halides with 2x t5 actinic supplement, Reefbrite Blue XHO's dawn/dusk |
11/22/2017, 09:46 AM | #1037 |
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Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Q4 2017, "Achieving Colorful SPS" ReefHacks.com, "The Ultimate Guide: How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals" Reef Spotlight February 2013, other Forum Current Tank Info: 180 Bowfront, 30 gallon sump, 20 gallon refugium, reeflo dart/snapper hybrid pump, 2 x 6105 Tunze ,Tunze ATO, dual chamber CA reactor, 3 x250 metal halides with 2x t5 actinic supplement, Reefbrite Blue XHO's dawn/dusk |
11/22/2017, 05:19 PM | #1038 |
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I would like to know more about additives and what people are using and why. I obviously do not run an overly low nutrient tank hence my sps tend to be deeper colored as opposed to pale.
i am curious about what effects additives are intended to accomplish. I don't use additives, i just feed my fish a variety of foods. A couple more pictures, hopefully presuming there is interest. Blueberry Wine, a somewhat Canadian phenomena--although not to suggest this came from the Canadian Great Barrier Reef. I can't quite capture the metallic blue color in my photos, i try but somehow just can't seem to do it. JF Jack-O-Lantern. Mine is sitting on the sand, but this thing will grow under a rock, not so sure that is a good thing. I keep it isolated off the rock work, it just grows too well. It is sitting in a corner where not much else would be all that happy Back to another Canadian phenom: Reef Raft Canada Shazam ( this is metal halides, it really is a stunner)
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Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Q4 2017, "Achieving Colorful SPS" ReefHacks.com, "The Ultimate Guide: How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals" Reef Spotlight February 2013, other Forum Current Tank Info: 180 Bowfront, 30 gallon sump, 20 gallon refugium, reeflo dart/snapper hybrid pump, 2 x 6105 Tunze ,Tunze ATO, dual chamber CA reactor, 3 x250 metal halides with 2x t5 actinic supplement, Reefbrite Blue XHO's dawn/dusk |
11/22/2017, 07:20 PM | #1039 |
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being Canadian, I gotta say YAY for the blueberry wine.
and as I've said before, I adore that shazam.. I can't seem to find it here.. Just read your article. Very Nice! Mark, I wouldn't even go down the supplement road, if I had a tank like yours... The group of elements I looked for to supplement to supplement my tank with were: zinc, Iodine/flourine, Manganese, potassium and iron. This was to keep both my cheato and corals happy... This is added via Prodibio Bioptim and AF Iodine+AF Flourine- added every saturday and Wednesday I also add AF Vitamins and AF Build each night- along with a pinch of Polyplab's reef roids/Fauna Marin Reef Vitality. Lately, I have been also adding a pinch of FM Coral Balance and Coral Sprint...AND Prodibio's reef booster which is omega fatty acids... So, in short, I even add the kitchen sink! Otherwise my system is similar to yours - mh/t5/led lighting, cheato fuge, lots of biomedia, lots of well fed fish and always some n but often too much p (.1-.2) Do I want to use all of this stuff?? good question... the products I use have been a slow accumulation of trial and error and up to now, this recipe is working for me.. Could I stop? good question.. Will I try to stop? No, because it is working for me.. Do i think you should start? No, because what you are doing is working for you.... and ME when I drool over your corals! If I had the incredible results you have without dosing all the stuff I dose, I would NEVER have begun using them..
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Matt. Current Tank Info: 53x32.5x26 190g dt 60g of sumps 3 tank-100 gal frag system 6xAI prime 8xt5. 4x maxspect gyre. Skimz Dual internal sicce pump skimmer Deltec PF601s ca rx+Kalk stirrer |
11/23/2017, 03:38 AM | #1040 |
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Why would you change anything with a tank looking like that? I'd be conservative and spend my time taking pictures of these beauties.
I'm really impressed by your colors and the health of your corals. You are doing it right that's for sure.
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11/23/2017, 09:47 AM | #1041 | ||
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Quote:
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We each achieve or perceive our success at different end points. First, we shoot for not having an sps/rtn on introduction , then we look for growth then ultimately color. And given the difficulty, we all stumble at different points and time. And so therein lies the interest. Are there products that truly increase growth and/or color. And if so what are they and why. There are complete systems as well as specific additives marketed-promoted and I would like to better understand their rationale, heck even their science. Some of the many things I would like to know, why is zinc or manganese or other elements suggested by some . Why add bottled bacterial strains, do they really survive and is there truly a need for added diversity. Are there really things like color supplements. Why aminos—aren’t all the building blocks free floating already? Why would one assume (or not assume) that fish food doesn’t provide all the missing elements once our fish have excreted it. So although I don’t add additives, so many do utilize them and advocate their use—so my curiosity asks why, which ones and ultimately do you think they really work. Nutritional and bacterial additives is a large market within reefing and I would like to know more. We are all real or imagined scientists, we should know and understand this topic better. Maybe I need to introduce a thread on the topic to get some input. And back to what I enjoy doing, sharing a photo of one of my current favorites: Z’s Paradise
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Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Q4 2017, "Achieving Colorful SPS" ReefHacks.com, "The Ultimate Guide: How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals" Reef Spotlight February 2013, other Forum Current Tank Info: 180 Bowfront, 30 gallon sump, 20 gallon refugium, reeflo dart/snapper hybrid pump, 2 x 6105 Tunze ,Tunze ATO, dual chamber CA reactor, 3 x250 metal halides with 2x t5 actinic supplement, Reefbrite Blue XHO's dawn/dusk |
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11/23/2017, 11:30 AM | #1042 |
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First and foremost, you have some amazing SPS! The coloration you've achieved is off the charts also
By reading your most recent posts, I really think you've answered your own question - no, additives are not necessary to obtain incredible coloration and coral health - I can't really see how your colors get any better, and all you're doing is feeding your fish. I really think the answer is finding the nutrient edge of the knife, and staying there, and additives (whether AA's, nitrates, coral "foods") can help find that edge by adding more nutrient. IME, I really do think that a 10% water change every one or two weeks helps my corals, with the theory being is replenishes trace elements, and feeding the fish just the right amount (not too much or too little), can be enough to produce spectacular results. Although I can't claim to have any success near what you've experienced, especially of late!
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11/23/2017, 03:13 PM | #1043 |
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I admire the last year your excellent collection and coloration of your sps, read many times that your tank is not ready in your eyes for an fts, but just minutes ago I red the begining of your thread where actually you had an fts! So can you please clarify time when did you start your currently sps colonies and how did you achieve those amazing results? What is you routine? How often do you change water, bailing or calcium reactor? Refugium or ATS or just skimmer? Any kind of carbon dosing? Do you use gfo or and carbon?No additives at all?how many fish and how often and what do you feed? Please share your "secret" :-)
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11/23/2017, 03:39 PM | #1044 |
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It’s funny.. it’s taken me a good two years of experimenting and playing with so many different products and I have recently come up with my current crazy regimen for making my corals happy and colorful.
I am happy with my color but only reasonably happy with growth and general health... Mark, your system always, ALWAYS makes me question whether I should try to ween my tank off of everything... Hm..
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12/03/2017, 02:51 PM | #1045 | |||
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It does seem to be a pretty simple formula, monitor alk and keep it stable, 10% weekly water changes, clean the skimmer, change the socks a couple times a week, trim the chaeto and make sure youre giving it good light, and 10% water changes. That formula seems to work most of the time. And of course, the Goldilocks rule for feeding the fish, not too much and not too little. Quote:
I use a calcium reactor, I change 20% every two weeks now, a refugium with a Kessil H350 light which is a lot of light, I don't dose carbon, since i added siporax I now need to supplement nitrates so my phosphates stay manageable without gfo, no additives, I feed my fish all kinds of different dry foods on a rotating schedule with occasional frozen LRS treat. I have about 15 plus fish or so, couple clowns, 6 tangs, 6 plus wrasses, mandarin. Protein skimmer. I am the basic reefer with basic habits. I test alk and nitrates once or preferably twice a week. Quote:
It is December already, so new month means I get to take new pictures. This is through the front glass and it is with t5's and reefbrites. I always feel apologetic about reefbrite pictures because they show off so many colors. But it seems that there are so few people using metal halides anymore that it is harder to share those pictures and feel confident that people really understand what that lighting is all about. Z's Pink Cotton Candy
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Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Q4 2017, "Achieving Colorful SPS" ReefHacks.com, "The Ultimate Guide: How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals" Reef Spotlight February 2013, other Forum Current Tank Info: 180 Bowfront, 30 gallon sump, 20 gallon refugium, reeflo dart/snapper hybrid pump, 2 x 6105 Tunze ,Tunze ATO, dual chamber CA reactor, 3 x250 metal halides with 2x t5 actinic supplement, Reefbrite Blue XHO's dawn/dusk |
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12/03/2017, 06:19 PM | #1046 |
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Why do you test nitrate so often? The issue you ran into was it from high or low nitrate? I find my nitrates when I test are .2 and my sps are deeply colored and not pale at all. I have 180 gallon tank with probably 25-30 fish and feed roughly 7-8 cubes of frozen a day and pellets two other times on a feeder. I also started dosing aquavitro fuel about a month ago and have noticed increased growth but also notice my glass needs cleaned almost daily now. Since I like the growth I keep doing it. I find the trend of dosing unnessary unless your carbon dosing to drive them ultra low. My chaeto keeps nitrates very low.
Your corals always look amazing. When you look at someone else's photos who has the same corals you do, do you find your colors better? If so, I wouldn't worry about dosing anything. |
12/03/2017, 07:50 PM | #1047 |
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I test nitrates weekly or more as just part of my routine with alkalinity testing. I think the two most critical factors for guesstimating stable tank chemistry are alkalinity and nitrates.
I use a calcium reactor so I presume that my alkalinity and calcium and even magnesium (I have magnesium in the reactor as well) are balanced. So I target the alkalinity and again presume the calcium and magnesium are in line with the alkalinity. The other part of reef chemistry that I am focused on is nutrient control. And since I am supplementing nitrates via KNO3 powder, I want to make sure that it is stable and neither decreasing nor increasing. I log my results and quite frankly things remain relatively stable but there may be some fluctuations and I want to be aware of trends. Sometimes my alkalinity will trend lower and whether that is a result of more growth or some fluctuation with the calcium reactor itself, I am not a 100% sure but I will tweak the reactor to compensate. And although I have been adding the exact same amount of KNO3 powder for many months, when I am away from the tank, it generally gets overfed and the nitrates will jump. I usually respond with less feeding for a while but the point is I can easily modify my feeding routine to compensate. Perhaps it is unnecessary but I think it is a far greater mistake to under evaluate tank chemistry than to test more frequently. I very well may be paranoid about my concerns but I definitely don’t want to witness another tank crash, ever. One of the things I value on the forum are the various threads with lots of full sps colonies. It shows a commitment to constant vigilance over a period of years. One has to be either very lucky or very diligent to end up with full colonies, and I would guess diligence with good fortune is the winning combination. I should add that although I am frequently testing, I’m not constantly adjusting anything. I try to simply observe trends.
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Reef Hobbyist Magazine, Q4 2017, "Achieving Colorful SPS" ReefHacks.com, "The Ultimate Guide: How To Successfully Grow Beautiful SPS Corals" Reef Spotlight February 2013, other Forum Current Tank Info: 180 Bowfront, 30 gallon sump, 20 gallon refugium, reeflo dart/snapper hybrid pump, 2 x 6105 Tunze ,Tunze ATO, dual chamber CA reactor, 3 x250 metal halides with 2x t5 actinic supplement, Reefbrite Blue XHO's dawn/dusk |
12/03/2017, 08:03 PM | #1048 |
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Z's Pink Cotton Candy
[/QUOTE] Mark, you win the internet today with this shot! Absolutely amazing growth tip contrast. A stunning, stunning coral!
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Matt. Current Tank Info: 53x32.5x26 190g dt 60g of sumps 3 tank-100 gal frag system 6xAI prime 8xt5. 4x maxspect gyre. Skimz Dual internal sicce pump skimmer Deltec PF601s ca rx+Kalk stirrer |
12/04/2017, 12:28 AM | #1049 |
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WOW! Absolutely incredible. You have some of the nicest sps I have ever seen and great photography as well.
You are in a whole different class than the "run of the mill reefers" like myself.
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12/04/2017, 09:36 AM | #1050 |
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Not only did you nail the tip color, hard to do, but you even captured the yellow ring around the tip polyp in a few spots! I can never do that, very cool! Matt is right on, you win!
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