Bubba's SPS Journey

[bubbaque]

Will you still be selling frags these days? Would love to come by and pick some up

Yes I will be selling frags again soon. Just waiting for things to fully color up. Maybe another month and I’ll be selling again.

@bubbaque Hi. When you mount the frag plugs to the rock do you use glue>epoxy>glue? Which brand you using?

Yes that’s how I mount them.

I use the instant ocean epoxy and gel super glue from the dollar store.

 

[bubbaque]

It is time for the monthly tank shot.
About the bottom, once the coral take off and block the light to the bottom, the coraline will reduce its growing rate.
I would take just some temporary measures for the moment and had great success with a collector urchin (Tripneustes gratilla).

I do have some pincushion urchins but they only eat coralline sometimes in my tank.

I couldn’t take the pink bottom any longer so today I added sand. I like the look so much more than bare bottom. Plus it seemed to really brighten up the tank, which is a plus.

 

[AngryMike2016]

Curiosity; how does one physically add sand to an existing tank like that? I can't imagine just dumping it in.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

Curiosity; how does one physically add sand to an existing tank like that? I can't imagine just dumping it in.

I'm going to guess a funnel and a pipe. But would still likely add some cloudiness!

 

[aabjones888]

I do have some pincushion urchins but they only eat coralline sometimes in my tank.

I couldn’t take the pink bottom any longer so today I added sand. I like the look so much more than bare bottom. Plus it seemed to really brighten up the tank, which is a plus.

Awesome, I agree on how it brightens the tank up. Tank is looking good, I really like the arched rock on the right with the swimthrough.

 

[Huff747]

I like it.

I couldn't do the bare bottom either when I set up my new tank. Granted I made that decision before I filled it but I couldn't get accustomed to the look of it when I was trying to plan it out.

 

[bubbaque]

Curiosity; how does one physically add sand to an existing tank like that? I can't imagine just dumping it in.

The tropic Eden reef flakes comes dry in a bag so I filled one of the brute cans of water and rinsed the sand for about two hrs until it was mostly clear. Then I filled another can full of rodi water to rinse the tap water off and I added it to the tank with a cup. It took a while but it’s not as messy as the live sand that comes in bags.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

I definitely prefer the look of sand. It's so much more natural. That said, I'll never have another acro tank with sand! ;Woot

 

[tripdad]

Well, I followed your lead on my new dry rock tank and went bare bottom. Not sure how I feel about it yet but it is easy to clean. I guess we'll see how it goes. Thanks for all the info in this thread. Sand does look nice in your tank...............

 

[Fudsey]

I love it ! ! But then I like sand better than BB. Only problem is going to be when it starts to change color

 

[bubbaque]

I love it ! ! But then I like sand better than BB. Only problem is going to be when it starts to change color

Hopefully it won’t turn pink this time as I plan to stir it weekly. My last sand turned pink because I never touched it.

 

[Antics]

@bubbaque how dare you betray the coralline alliance!? This treachery shalln't be forgiven.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

You truly are an amazing reef keeper. Your tank, coral and photos are nothing short of incredible! Great job and thank you for sharing your system with us!

 

[bubbaque]

You truly are an amazing reef keeper. Your tank, coral and photos are nothing short of incredible! Great job and thank you for sharing your system with us!

Thanks for that amazing compliment!

I see you live kinda nearby so if you ever are up for trading let me know. I travel to Lakewood park pretty often so I am always near your neck of the woods.

 

[najer]

Love the addition of sand.

 

[McPikie]

If you want sand to stay clean, just add a couple of gobys. I only have one in my 3 foter and he does an amazing job with my Reeflowers pearl white sand

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Thanks for that amazing compliment!

I see you live kinda nearby so if you ever are up for trading let me know. I travel to Lakewood park pretty often so I am always near your neck of the woods.

You earned it! If the frags in my new tank ever get large/desirable enough to trade I’d love to! Lol. And yeah Lakewood park is less than 10 minutes from me, small world. I work at the visitors center at FAU Harbor Branch which is right by there and we have some pretty cool/different saltwater aquariums if you are ever looking for something to do while you are in the area!

 

[drawman]

Thanks for that amazing compliment!

I see you live kinda nearby so if you ever are up for trading let me know. I travel to Lakewood park pretty often so I am always near your neck of the woods.

Sounds like I need to move to Florida lol

 

[SeaDweller]

If you want sand to stay clean, just add a couple of gobys. I only have one in my 3 foter and he does an amazing job with my Reeflowers pearl white sand

Sand sifting gobies? That’s one purchase I regret until this day. I hate coming come to acros covered in sand. I had to buy an 18” baster to keep things clean, and my hands out of the tank. Hate those a holes.

 

[blackizzz]

Sand sifting gobies? That’s one purchase I regret until this day. I hate coming come to acros covered in sand. I had to buy an 18” baster to keep things clean, and my hands out of the tank. Hate those a holes.

Agree, highly doubt my V. Strigata will be allowed in my upgrade tank... He's buried LPS a couple of times
I'd consider something from the Cryptocentrus genus tho, as they rarely leave the sand surface before releasing the sand. They're much more static though, so might not be as useful for the sand sifting purpose.

@bubbaque which ones have you considered?