Latest Pics - Just a few

[MtnDewMan]

Here are the latest pictures I have taken of my tank and a couple of coral pieces.

This is a shot as of 12/7/02



And a shot of one of my favorite all purple pieces (I believe Formosa)



And this Nana just keeps growing and growing and growing

[Ninong]

Very nice!

[Barry N.]

Awesome

Barry

[zhenya]

Sweet tank and corals Chuck One question Chuck,if I remember right, you running 250w bulbs on this 75 how in the world this corals grow that big on the sandbed? I just can't get over that.You have to share the secret

[geofloors]

Absolutely amazing tank!!!!


George

[Ninong]

Originally posted by zhenya
Sweet tank and corals Chuck One question Chuck,if I remember right, you running 250w bulbs on this 75 how in the world this corals grow that big on the sandbed? I just can't get over that.You have to share the secret

Interesting question but you can find out the secret for yourself if you check out his homepage.

His 75-gal tank is only 20" tall and his sandbed varies from 4" to 6" deep. He has 500 watts of 10,000K metal halides and 330 watts of VHO actinics. He runs the 330 watts of VHO actinics for 13 hours/day and the metal halides for 11 hours/day, which seems like an excellent idea. The results speak for themselves.

[zhenya]

Thanks Ninong I've visited his site quite a few times and I have same ammount of lights on my 75 but boy,there has to be something else I know I should've made my sandbed higher ,plus take some of the rocks out and I could have so much more room for corals

[Reefland]

Chuck,

I was browsing through your site (for inspiration and information) looking for some info on your current circulation. I am interested in knowing how much you flow through your sump and the size of it in addition to other means of circlation you have (i.e. closed loop, power heads, etc). I have a continued problem with bubbles being returned to my tank and I am ready to defeat them. I have redone my plumbing to ensure there were no small leaks pulling air in. I have tried to lower the overall flow through the sump by restricting the return pump output and this works to some degree.

I have been considering using a MAG 7 for my return pump and using my current MAG 18 on a closed loop. What are your thoughts?

Thanks,
Scott Z.

[MtnDewMan]

Thanks guys ... It is coming along nicely ... a local friend came by today and snagged about 10 frags from me where I needed some trimming

Zhenya, Ninong has it correct. Lots of light, plenty to penetrate to the sand dwelling corals

Reefland ... I run about 400 gph through my sump and about 1800 gph through the closed loop. I have found that using a low flow sump is more than sufficient to ridding the main display of nutrients. This also reduces the bubbles sent back to the tank. Since my refugium is in my sump as well, with too high a flow through the sump, the velocities are too high to get rid of the micro bubbles unless I keep the flowrate down. Hope that makes sense. Bottom line, I am an advocate of low flow sumps and high flow closed loops

[kevinpo]

Gene,
It's not always about intensity (or lack thereof). But one note first Chuck uses an HQI ballast to drive those halides which may be different than what you use. I got 2 frags of the beautiful purple stag from Chuck (I'm pretty sure it's not formosa ;) and one of the purple A. nana. I put them under my 400W'ers and fried both the purple stags. I moved the 2 stags to my 90 gal the next day to try and save them and one corallite survived on one frag for about 3 weeks before losing the battle. The A. nana turned completely brown. The tip of it was stung by another stag and oddly enough grew back purple. Now the tip has lost most of it's bright purple color but a side corallite has started to develop into a branch and is very bright purple. This new branch is on the shaded side of the frag. I believe it will grow into a colony the same color as the parent over time. It will just have to adapt to the higher light. IME this can take up to 6-7 months. I originally put the frags about 12" below the water surface.

The lesson for me was that even if a tank looks to your eye to be very bright, if the wattage is very much different plan accordingly. To my eye Chuck's tank looks just as bright or brighter than mine.

I hope this can help someone else save a coral. Out of 120 corals I have lost only 4 or so. I promise to do better next time Chuck

Regards,
Kevin
PS:The color in Chuck's pictures are very accurate the corals really are that bright and intense (I've been there in person several times).

[MtnDewMan]

Kevin,

Thanks for the details of how different lighting and conditions can really do wonders to coral. You are right, the differences between our tanks are definately noticeable to our coral, maybe not to our eyes. Your tank is nearly twice as deep, I can get lots of reflection off the white sand that also makes a difference as well ... So many factors that is for sure.

Regarding that formosa

Here is where I got that particular piece. Look for the formosa on that page. Of course it has a ? mark next to it, but that is why I call mine a formosa anyway.

http://www.theaquariumcity.com/saltw...agmentlist.htm

And yes, they admit it is probably not a formosa on that page ... hehe

Gonna come by next Saturday before the meeting Kevin?

[zhenya]

Thanks for setting me straght guys Whatever the reasons, both of you guys have fantastic tanks and I thank you for taking time to share your knowlege

[kevinpo]

Wow Chuck!
I also purchased a frag of that from them back in Sept '01 but mine is not nearly as nice color as yours. I will post a picture when the lights come on. Mine is 20" below the lights (400W Ushio). I just aded a 400W Radium next to the 10,000K Ushio a couple of days a go and I'll be interested to see if any/all of the corals change color.

Just a side note:
I noticed they haven't updated their (AC) pictures or availability since Jan. I bought 11 frags from them and all of them were the smallest I've ever seen. For the pink/blue millepora frag the size of your baby fingernail (no not the finger just the nail) I paid $50 plus shipping

Chuck,
I would love to come by. I have a blue A. nobilis you might want (I will post a picture later) also I can't remember if you already have a piece of my A. aculeus (it's the teal colored frag below)

Regards,
Kevin

[MtnDewMan]

Hi Kevin,

Yah, I noticed they haven't changed their site since I ordered from them long ago. Also weird how we both got the same frags but they are totally different? The one you got, do the coralites crush easily when you touch them? The one I have crushes very easily. I like the way mine turned out.

Yes, I still have that teal one you gave me. It hasn't taken off yet, but suspect it will when it feels like it

Yes, bring the frag along. Let me know what time you want to stop by. I plan on going to Paul's house about an hour early, I am sure you are welcome to go then too.