72g bowfront mixed reef

[Peterock]

Hi fellow reefers.
New to the forum, been lurking for a while but thought I'd jump in and introduce myself and my tank. Been reefing for about 5-6 years now, learned a lot and have a long way to go. It's one of many expensive hobbies that chose to torture myself with but I love it. I'm actually glad I don't have the money I wanted to put into this because I really believe in slow and balanced improvements.

I take a very hands off approach to my tank and try not to tinker when its not needed. My set up is rather simple compared to a lot of the one's I've seen, but I'm happy with how it's doing. I get great joy out of it every day when I get home from work and decompress with a cold beverage.

My recent accomplishments I would say is getting my SPS to finally have good PE and keeping my bubble algae at bay via emeralds and a new yellow tang.

Goals: Better growth and colors (especially yellows and purples). Probably plumb in a small frag tank once I get my new lights. Considering a calcium reactor or doser, for some reason I'd favor the reactor over dripping chemicals in my tank, but thats a pretty silly way to think.

Lighting:
250W 14K (2-6pm)
175W 20K (6-10pm)
2x36" VHO actinics (noon - midnight)
I have two LED units coming on Saturday, merry Christmas to me! (I love local group buys!) So I'll be switching those out early 2013

Pumps:
Using an alternating wave outlet that switches between the four powerheads in my tank. I think this was the best addition to keeping SPS I've made beyond the halides.

Eshops 120 skimmer

20g Fuge with LR, cheato and a mangrove

No Heater or filter sock. (will prob add a heater if Santa brings me a controller)

Maint.
I don't dose anything, I add some Elos Omega's when I remember but thats prob once a week.

W/C 15g every 2-4 weeks with Kent Reef salt and <1 TDS RO/DI

Fish: (I like to keep the bioload low)
3 Dispar Anthias
Pair of Perculas (had these for 6 years!)
PJ Cardinal
Yellow tang (aka "Mista TANG")
Psychodelic mandrin

Lots of inverts and one small clam. I have a brittle star in there that is about 6 years old now. Each arm is over 10" and he posts up right in the middle once the lights go out.


If anyone has any thoughts or advice for me I'd gladly take any suggestions !.., an

Get to the pics Pete!

^These red mushrooms are a PITA!!! Wish I purge them with FIRE!

and my favorite section:

 

[lizardfish]

Nice!

 

[bullysam]

Nice, I used to run a 72 bowfront mixed reef but last year I upgraded to a 125

 

[Peterock]

Took some pics the other day:

Plumbed in a lil 10g as well. Not sure what I'll do with it, maybe a frag tank but maybe something more interesting.

And a FTS

 

[Peterock]

Well I moved. Bought my first home. Moveing really sucked but everything survived and the tank is doing great. I had all this livestock in 12g tubs for 6 days while I built a support brace in my floor. The tubs were all bubbleing and power cords where everywhere. I am happy to say that 100% of the corals and fish survived. So much that I finally set up a frag tank.






just picked up a Ca reactor from a local reefer. What PITA this thing is to get dialed in... Can't wait to forget about it though


Hooked up a RKL and got rid of all those timers. strip[s are in a cabinet that I can close and you can't see any wires. Except the ones through the back of the tank, which will be painted black this weekend.


Tricolor



Massive Alien Eye Chalice and a photobombinb powder blue tang.






The OR tort :clap2:


another crowd pleaser, the Male mandrin


Dragon soul favia, this looks so cool IRL


Blue tipped tenius


Pink lemonaid frag is doing nicely.


I love the color on this, but its growing in a funky pattern, I wish it would table out or something.
yellow body with purple tips and green polyps.


And last but not least, my widdowed clown. Still happy in her frogspawn host.


Thanks for looking. I'll work on my photo taking. Need to read up on how to do that better.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Looks like you're getting growth without dosing. I commend you.