15gal SPS dominated nano

kireek · Jul 16, 2014

I like your tank and your taste in corals.Your pictures are beautiful.I was wondering what kind of macro algae you have in the background?

SCMatt · Jul 16, 2014

footballdude2k3 said:
Where do you get most of your coral?

This tank is almost all Cherry Corals coral, my go to shop (online)....love those guys. Don't think I've ever gotten anything bad or questionable from them, IMO one of the best WYSIWYG sellers. Also have a few pieces from Cultivated Reef and Copps.

SCMatt · Jul 16, 2014

kireek said:
I like your tank and your taste in corals.Your pictures are beautiful.I was wondering what kind of macro algae you have in the background?

Thanks! I can only guess you are referring to that ugly red stuff? The macro algae is called the stuff I'm trying to rid myself of.

haha Its what I believe to be Red Wiry Turf Algae. That rock has since been removed as it held most of the aptasia too. Was a hitch hiker.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to kill off these mint/green run of the mill polyps please let me know. You can see them for reference in this photo. They are taking over and eventually I'd love to be able to use that space to mount SPS.

SCMatt · Jul 18, 2014

New fish coming today. Picking them up from the LFS once I get off work!

SCMatt · Jul 18, 2014

Just picked them up, acclimation beginning. A pair (2 fish not bonded yet) of SA C-Quest Onyx clowns! One is a bit larger, so already starting out well. I was expecting small fish that needed to color up but I was blown away when I first saw them.

Crappy Iphone photo.

G_Sanab922 · Jul 18, 2014

Dang man they look great! Congrats! Can never go wrong with a pair of clowns!

Gabriel

SCMatt · Jul 18, 2014

Thanks, These two are inseparable right now and rush forward when I get close to the tank. They've acclimated very well it seems. Heres a few more pictures, some with flash.

SCMatt · Jul 19, 2014

Well, as I was going to feed the fish today I saw something making a mad dash straight up the wall towards the powerhead, one of my Nudis! I rescued him from certain death as he was on a straight line towards suicide and put him back on the rocks close to some aptasia. I caught a glimpse of another adult nudi on the rocks as well. So they are for sure still in there and alive, had some color to them as well so they are clearly eating. Not sure how many exactly are left but at least 2. Only time will tell. I kind of want to get a couple more.

Saw the clowns picking some food tonight too so thats a good sign. They are still doing well.

G_Sanab922 · Jul 20, 2014

Glad to hear everything is well! Keep it up

Gabriel

SCMatt · Jul 25, 2014

Someone stop me, I have multiple new toys coming for this tank next week. My credit card hurts, please help!!!!!!!! Ouchhhhhhhhh. But i'm excited. You'll have to wait and see whats coming...

ifarmer · Jul 25, 2014

very nice
it's a very challenging to be able to keep sps in such a small tank.

SkipperTheSohalTang · Jul 29, 2014

Do you have any coral for trade? And how do you mount the SPS with the plug in the way?

SCMatt · Jul 29, 2014

Nothing to trade yet. Have a few frags that I will be looking to trade/sell at some point soon as they are duplicates of stuff I already have, just growing them out a bit.

When I mount the frags onto the rocks I will clip the stem of the frag plug off and mount that to the rock with epoxy/superglue. So its basically a frag disc on the rocks and the coral will encrust over it.

SkipperTheSohalTang · Jul 29, 2014

Thanks, how do you trim yours? I can't get mine to the disc! Let me know when you trade!

SCMatt · Jul 29, 2014

I use a dremel to cut off the stem of the frag plug. Some you might be able to break with pliers but I just go the safe route and just hack if off with the dremel.

Heres one of my new toys....the bigger stuff is coming Thursday.

noobofthereef · Jul 29, 2014

Looks awesome! Where did you put your skimmer?

SCMatt · Jul 29, 2014

Its directly behind the tank, along side my HOB aquaclear. This tank does not have a sump....yet at least (future plans). See in photo above. Skimmer on right, Aquaclear on left, heater in aquaclear, ATO attached to the left hand side (covered by screen top). Dosing pump output will be run either to the Aquaclear or the output area back there.

I've built this setup to where every piece of equipment on this current tank, could be pulled off and used on a larger tank should I upgrade which is inevitable in this hobby. Skimmer is rated at larger tanks, lighting can carry over to a larger tank, dosing pump, powerhead, etc.

SkipperTheSohalTang · Jul 30, 2014

Tell me how that doser is please! I need one especially that cheap! I just picked up a CC sunset and CC Glowtip stag!

noobofthereef · Jul 30, 2014

OH! So it's a HOB skimmer.

SCMatt · Jul 31, 2014

Some goodies from Cherry Coral showed up today. I had to use my Gift Certificate before it expired, and they updated the acros at the perfect time. I couldn't resist.

All of them together. Idaho Grape monti in the background, and the back right frag came unglued during shipping, figured I'd mount it horizontal to see how it grows.

Couple macros of the Purple Plasma

And CC threw in a freebie! No skimpy frag either!

And heres an update on the Retina Blaster from Cherry Corals. This photo is from April.

After today seems to be one of the fastest growing corals in my tank. It bubbles up on the ends and sprouts new growth from those, very strange.