Check out these Florida Hard Corals!

Brandon McHenry · Jul 9, 2020

Sbpe said:
Thx, and your display tank growth is great! Hope you have continued success.

Thank you! I appreciate it!

lemonade · Jul 9, 2020

Looks awesome, I'm sure they appreciate the T5s

Brandon McHenry · Jul 9, 2020

lemonade said:
Looks awesome, I'm sure they appreciate the T5s

Thanks! As they grew the need for more evenly distributed light grew with them ;Hilarious

AllSignsPointToFish · Aug 3, 2020

You know, I find it really sad that the state of Florida won't allow some well-respected aquaculturers like WWC to have a few specimens for propagation. I don't see how that would hurt anything, especially if the mother colonies are aquacultured like the ones in this tank. Seems like that would also help to guarantee the survival of the species in the long term. Maybe I need to write my local legislators to see if we can get this changed with proper oversight.

Brandon McHenry · Aug 3, 2020

AllSignsPointToFish said:
You know, I find it really sad that the state of Florida won't allow some well-respected aquaculturers like WWC to have a few specimens for propagation. I don't see how that would hurt anything, especially if the mother colonies are aquacultured like the ones in these tank. Seems like that would also help to guarantee the survival of the species in the long term. Maybe I need to write my local legislators to see if we can get this changed with proper oversight.

There are lots of regulations around keeping endangered and protected species. Luckily lots of public aquariums and research institutions (specifically Mote and Florida Aquarium) are increasing their efforts and resources to culture and even breed several protected Florida coral species. As things trend in a positive direction, who knows how things will change. Fortunately there are lots of great efforts out there to restore Florida’s reefs!

AllSignsPointToFish · Aug 3, 2020

Brandon McHenry said:
There are lots of regulations around keeping endangered and protected species. Luckily lots of public aquariums and research institutions (specifically Mote and Florida Aquarium) are increasing their efforts and resources to culture and even breed several protected Florida coral species. As things trend in a positive direction, who knows how things will change. Fortunately there are lots of great efforts out there to restore Florida’s reefs!

I appreciate that! Wouldn't hurt for us to exert some pressure on our state and federal congresscritters for some meaningful change!

tehmadreefer · Aug 3, 2020

What are the parameters, since you feed so much?

Brandon McHenry · Aug 3, 2020

tehmadreefer said:
What are the parameters, since you feed so much?

Current parameters are as follows

Ca-420
Alk-7.5
Mg-1350
NO3-0.5
PO4-0.03
pH-8.3-8.4
Salt-35-36
Temp-78-79

tehmadreefer · Aug 4, 2020

Brandon McHenry said:
Current parameters are as follows

Ca-420
Alk-7.5
Mg-1350
NO3-0.5
PO4-0.03
pH-8.3-8.4
Salt-35-36
Temp-78-79

nice, how do you keep your po4 so low?

Brandon McHenry · Aug 4, 2020

tehmadreefer said:
nice, how do you keep your po4 so low?

I keep a pretty decent sized refugium with cheatomorpha and mineral mud. It’s been pretty efficient at removing nutrients. There are also a ton of sponges growing which probably help pull out organics before breaking down.

Brandon McHenry · Aug 24, 2020

Just snapped a few quick cellphone pictures today. Corals are doing well. The palmata is finally starting to put out some small “branches” ;Hilarious

lemonade · Aug 24, 2020

That elk is going to be awesome when it starts to take off

Brandon McHenry · Aug 24, 2020

lemonade said:
That elk is going to be awesome when it starts to take off

Oh I know! I can’t wait! I’m completely prepared to trim back Staghorn when this starts to grow out.

Brandon McHenry · Sep 22, 2020

The corals have been looking amazing lately and since we are still closed I figured I share them with everyone here! I think the staghorn is going to need a haircut soon! ;Hilarious

SeaDweller · Sep 22, 2020

That last shot looks great, bud.

Brandon McHenry · Sep 22, 2020

SeaDweller said:
That last shot looks great, bud.

Thanks! I’m actually surprised because I took that when I was running around in a hurry and I got home to look at it and I was like “wow!” Lol. I’m going to make that my FTS Friday post on IG this week

Graffiti Spot · Sep 22, 2020

Love the tips on the stag, it’s growing so well right now and looks very healthy!

Brandon McHenry · Sep 22, 2020

Pedoconfuego said:
Love the tips on the stag, it’s growing so well right now and looks very healthy!

Thanks! Me too. They just look so amazing in person. It actually looks like a Caribbean reef! I’m pretty impressed with how well they’ve done over the last two years.