thebanker's 55G: Progress Pics

thebanker · 05/09/2010, 08:31 PM

Since I'm about 1 year in, I decided to take some new pictures of my 55 gallon I started 1 year ago. It's been an amazing journey with this tank. All my mistakes, combined with the knowledge base here on RC helped me create this successful reef tank. I now laugh when I think of my humble beginnings... a UGF, penguin bio-wheel filters, and tap water. It's been a long journey, so thanks to all those here on RC whose knowledge has made this such an enjoyable one.

April 2009 (cringe... that IS crushed coral and Top Fin polished white rocks)

June 2009

September 2009

November 2009 (after acquisition of more livestock and live rock)

Then the big T5 & refugium upgrade

May 2010

thebanker · 05/09/2010, 08:40 PM

Left side of tank

Right side of tank

Obligatory false percs

My gramma

One of my scooter blennies

Crocea

thebanker · 05/09/2010, 08:43 PM

FTS

Hammer

Green slimer... growing quickly!

Zoas

Thanks for reading!

gia3161 · 05/10/2010, 02:07 AM

beautiful tank! really has come a long way, congratulations.

Zappo · 05/10/2010, 03:27 AM

Awesome tank! You've come a long way in a year! I especially love the way the rocks are arranged. Your 55 seems way less cramped than mine. Great use of space.

muttley000 · 05/10/2010, 03:53 AM

Nice! You've overcome the challenge of landscaping the narrow tank nicely!

reefboy1994 · 05/10/2010, 04:33 AM

looks great! i think your clam may be a deresa...

Sugar Magnolia · 05/10/2010, 08:46 AM

Very nice looking tank!!

Skins · 05/10/2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reefboy1994

looks great! i think your clam may be a deresa...

It is a dersea.

thebanker · 05/10/2010, 11:16 AM

Thanks for all your positive feedback and kind remarks. I have more pics to come, showing good SPS growth.

looks great! i think your clam may be a deresa...
It is a dersea.

Interesting. I wouldn't be surprised if my LFS gave me a poorly ID'd clam.

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 12:56 AM

My friend took a bunch of updated pictures with the Canon DSLR. Enjoy.

FTS

Left Side

Right Side

Selected Fish

The oscellaris clowns, they rule the tank

The blue devil damsel, he's been there since he beginning

The scooter dragonets

The square box anthias, R.I.P.

The filefish, trying to do something sneaky and bite that coral

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 01:07 AM

Sinularia leather

Caulastrea collection

Euphyllia glabrescens

Stylophora pistillata

Green montipora capricornis

Green w/ blue tip acropora

The obligatory clavularia, green star polyps

ORA pink seriatopora

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 01:15 AM

Euphyllia parancora

Totally blown out shot of euphyllia paradivisa (frogspawn)

Derasa clam

My largest corallimorpharian, a big green rhodactis

Plenty of this beautiful crap, pink pulsing xenia

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 01:21 AM

My giant brown montipora

Nice blue tipped acropora tenuis

Yellow acropora, extremely fluorescent

Purple tipped acropora valida

Pocillopora Damicornis

Large mat of palythoa

Small colony of "pearlberry" acropora

Thanks for reading!

RVANANO · 03/22/2011, 07:26 AM

Wow!!! It's looking great! Those are some nice pix too. I know you now want to go out and get yourself a nice camera

The clownfishes be calling me.... Now bring yourself to Richmond!

Korrine · 03/22/2011, 08:13 AM

wow! Fantastic tank. Now even I am wanting a DSLR even more!

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 09:29 AM

Thanks for stopping by and checking it out.

And yes I really do want a DSLR. Someday!

iwishtofish · 03/22/2011, 11:02 AM

Spectacular tank. Very impressed! I noticed that you are sumpless. Can you give more info on your husbandry (ie water changes, dosing, etc)?

How long have you had the filefish, and what kind of trouble is he causing?

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 11:16 AM

Thanks iwishtofish.

My husbandry is really simple. My water changes are pretty minimal. I change about 2 gallons per month when cleaning out my canister filter with activated carbon, so there are virtually no large water changes. I don't reccommend that for most people, but it works for me.

I dose Seachem Reef Fusion 2-part, and regularly change activated carbon, GFO and trim chaetomorpha. I'm running about 250ml of pellets along with a miracle mud refugium, and together those keep my nitrates at 0 on salifert tests. Phosphate tends to creep up, and GFO takes care of that. Or patches of bryopsis and hair algae, I still haven't beaten that stuff. But I'm working on it.

I've tried dosing other stuff, but I can't see any difference. This list includes MB7, Koralcolor, Restor, iodine, strontium, various phytos and aminos. I can't see any difference, at all from any of the above. Dosing Potassium Chloride seems to bring out pinks and dosing iron seems to bring out greens, but I've practically stopped dosing everything now except calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium.

I've had the filefish for about a year and a half. He's tried just about every coral in the tank, but doesn't cause any noticeable harm. The clownfish do far worse to the euphyllids, since they love to pretend everything is an anemone.

davocean · 03/22/2011, 11:29 AM

Nice transition shots, I even like the older nov 2009 shot, reminds me of my older tank when I first went reef.
Love that pink birdnest colony, keep me in mind if you have an accidental frag.
Those euphyllia shots are great too.

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 11:53 AM

I have a few intentional, and unintentional frags. You want one?

davocean · 03/22/2011, 12:20 PM

Totally do!
I just got done looking at your sticky in lounge(took forever, bored, rain day) and I have a green toadstool also dropping babies like crazy if you haven't already scored that yet.

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 12:38 PM

Would love a green toadstool. I don't have any toadstool leathers and I've been eyeballing them at the LFS. We should meet up.

davocean · 03/22/2011, 01:01 PM

Sounds cool, not too far, but would be best on a weekend or reason to meet half way or something.
I have several good size ones, couple inches, nice green polyps.

thebanker · 03/22/2011, 01:06 PM

Yeah meeting in the middle is a good call. I make it down to SD county every once in a while but I'd be down to meet up half way. Maybe we should meet at the carlsbad outlets?

Assisting for page two...

05/09/2010, 08:31 PM	#1
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	thebanker's 55G: Progress Pics Since I'm about 1 year in, I decided to take some new pictures of my 55 gallon I started 1 year ago. It's been an amazing journey with this tank. All my mistakes, combined with the knowledge base here on RC helped me create this successful reef tank. I now laugh when I think of my humble beginnings... a UGF, penguin bio-wheel filters, and tap water. It's been a long journey, so thanks to all those here on RC whose knowledge has made this such an enjoyable one. April 2009 (cringe... that IS crushed coral and Top Fin polished white rocks) June 2009 September 2009 November 2009 (after acquisition of more livestock and live rock) Then the big T5 & refugium upgrade May 2010 Last edited by thebanker; 05/09/2010 at 08:49 PM.

05/09/2010, 08:40 PM	#2
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	More of May 2010 Left side of tank Right side of tank Obligatory false percs My gramma One of my scooter blennies Crocea

05/09/2010, 08:43 PM	#3
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Actinic Shots FTS Hammer Green slimer... growing quickly! Zoas Thanks for reading!

05/10/2010, 04:33 AM	#7
reefboy1994 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 362	looks great! i think your clam may be a deresa... __________________ --Charlie-- 40 Breeder Mixed Reef Current Tank Info: 30 Gallon Rimless -- Mainly Softie tank and a few 'Nems

05/10/2010, 08:46 AM	#8
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Very nice looking tank!! __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

05/10/2010, 02:07 AM	#4
gia3161 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 68	beautiful tank! really has come a long way, congratulations.

05/10/2010, 03:27 AM	#5
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	Awesome tank! You've come a long way in a year! I especially love the way the rocks are arranged. Your 55 seems way less cramped than mine. Great use of space.

05/10/2010, 03:53 AM	#6
muttley000 MTS Sufferer! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: NW Ohio Posts: 1,926	Nice! You've overcome the challenge of landscaping the narrow tank nicely!

05/10/2010, 11:16 AM	#10
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Thanks for all your positive feedback and kind remarks. I have more pics to come, showing good SPS growth. looks great! i think your clam may be a deresa... It is a dersea. Interesting. I wouldn't be surprised if my LFS gave me a poorly ID'd clam.

03/22/2011, 12:56 AM	#11
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Updated Pics My friend took a bunch of updated pictures with the Canon DSLR. Enjoy. FTS Left Side Right Side Selected Fish The oscellaris clowns, they rule the tank The blue devil damsel, he's been there since he beginning The scooter dragonets The square box anthias, R.I.P. The filefish, trying to do something sneaky and bite that coral

03/22/2011, 01:07 AM	#12
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Corals, from left to right Sinularia leather Caulastrea collection Euphyllia glabrescens Stylophora pistillata Green montipora capricornis Green w/ blue tip acropora The obligatory clavularia, green star polyps ORA pink seriatopora

03/22/2011, 01:15 AM	#13
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Euphyllia parancora Totally blown out shot of euphyllia paradivisa (frogspawn) Derasa clam My largest corallimorpharian, a big green rhodactis Plenty of this beautiful crap, pink pulsing xenia

03/22/2011, 01:21 AM	#14
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	My giant brown montipora Nice blue tipped acropora tenuis Yellow acropora, extremely fluorescent Purple tipped acropora valida Pocillopora Damicornis Large mat of palythoa Small colony of "pearlberry" acropora Thanks for reading!

03/22/2011, 07:26 AM	#15
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	Wow!!! It's looking great! Those are some nice pix too. I know you now want to go out and get yourself a nice camera The clownfishes be calling me.... Now bring yourself to Richmond! __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

03/22/2011, 08:13 AM	#16
Korrine You could get a ticket!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper midwest Posts: 4,288 Blog Entries: 1	wow! Fantastic tank. Now even I am wanting a DSLR even more! __________________ Try to keep in mind that we are all human...mistakes do happen! Be kinder than necessary because every one you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Current Tank Info: 40 breeder - started 9/2011 - platinum perc and sanjay's black photon clownfishes; sps and lps, and soft corals; 250w MH, 20 long sump w Bubble Magus Nac 3.5 skimmer 12g nano cube -serpent star, mini carpet anemones, w 6 sexy shrimp, 150w MH, maxi je

03/22/2011, 09:29 AM	#17
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Thanks for stopping by and checking it out. And yes I really do want a DSLR. Someday!

03/22/2011, 11:02 AM	#18
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Spectacular tank. Very impressed! I noticed that you are sumpless. Can you give more info on your husbandry (ie water changes, dosing, etc)? How long have you had the filefish, and what kind of trouble is he causing?

03/22/2011, 11:16 AM	#19
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Thanks iwishtofish. My husbandry is really simple. My water changes are pretty minimal. I change about 2 gallons per month when cleaning out my canister filter with activated carbon, so there are virtually no large water changes. I don't reccommend that for most people, but it works for me. I dose Seachem Reef Fusion 2-part, and regularly change activated carbon, GFO and trim chaetomorpha. I'm running about 250ml of pellets along with a miracle mud refugium, and together those keep my nitrates at 0 on salifert tests. Phosphate tends to creep up, and GFO takes care of that. Or patches of bryopsis and hair algae, I still haven't beaten that stuff. But I'm working on it. I've tried dosing other stuff, but I can't see any difference. This list includes MB7, Koralcolor, Restor, iodine, strontium, various phytos and aminos. I can't see any difference, at all from any of the above. Dosing Potassium Chloride seems to bring out pinks and dosing iron seems to bring out greens, but I've practically stopped dosing everything now except calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium. I've had the filefish for about a year and a half. He's tried just about every coral in the tank, but doesn't cause any noticeable harm. The clownfish do far worse to the euphyllids, since they love to pretend everything is an anemone.

03/22/2011, 11:29 AM	#20
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Nice transition shots, I even like the older nov 2009 shot, reminds me of my older tank when I first went reef. Love that pink birdnest colony, keep me in mind if you have an accidental frag. Those euphyllia shots are great too. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/22/2011, 11:53 AM	#21
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	I have a few intentional, and unintentional frags. You want one?

03/22/2011, 12:20 PM	#22
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Totally do! I just got done looking at your sticky in lounge(took forever, bored, rain day) and I have a green toadstool also dropping babies like crazy if you haven't already scored that yet. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/22/2011, 12:38 PM	#23
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Would love a green toadstool. I don't have any toadstool leathers and I've been eyeballing them at the LFS. We should meet up.

03/22/2011, 01:01 PM	#24
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Sounds cool, not too far, but would be best on a weekend or reason to meet half way or something. I have several good size ones, couple inches, nice green polyps. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

03/22/2011, 01:06 PM	#25
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Yeah meeting in the middle is a good call. I make it down to SD county every once in a while but I'd be down to meet up half way. Maybe we should meet at the carlsbad outlets? Assisting for page two...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
9 month progress pics	ssbreef	SPS Keepers	84	02/17/2007 10:23 PM
Progress pics lots o pics	grinch77	New to the Hobby	10	12/07/2006 05:30 PM
Deltec clone progress pic	kentrob11	Saltwater Enthusiasts Association of St. Louis (SEASL)	20	10/30/2006 03:54 PM
Another DIY Deltec clone progress pics....	kentrob11	Do It Yourself	0	02/15/2006 09:27 PM