Jourdy's 90 Gallon Mixed Reef

Bao · Feb 4, 2015

Very nice and unique tank.

SharkJP · Feb 5, 2015

YHSublime said:
always beautiful. So many explosions of color! I'm hoping to try and so something even remotely close to this with my new setup.

How do you manage fragging all the zoas when the grow into each other? I hate doing it with my zoa garden, can't imagine what it must be like when you have to make it happen!

First off, I'll echo everyone else...your tank is absolutely BREATHTAKING!!

It's exactly the look my fiance and I are going for with the color pop, but I've got a LONG way to go to get even remotely close, lol.

I am curious as well about your fragging technique because all of my zoas are growing at different rates and I'm mostly curious how you frag off the LR rather than from plugs. So far, all of my frags have been "accidental" lol.

Keep up the amazing work as I'm now following your tank with close close attention

renato120 · Feb 5, 2015

Beautiful looking tank!

sergix · Feb 6, 2015

wow, an amazing reef, with incredible pieces, congratulations !!!: Pop2:

jourdy · Feb 17, 2015

Sorry for the late reply, I have been out of the country the past few weeks. This was the first time I've come back to see the thread.
Thanks for the kind comments, I'm hoping it continues.

spspirate said:
Jourdy do you have a top down shot of this chalice? Keep up the great work

I'll try to remember to take a photo tomorrow. I have tried fragging it numerous times. Some frags live but some died haha. I will check if the mother colony it was fragged from is still here. The frag is more colorful than the colony though!

Munch said:
Wonderful tank!

I see no cleanup crew, how do you keep it algae free? Even your frag racks are spotless!

I have a lot of snails! Hehe. Most are stomatella snails (hitchhikers) and they are always hiding during the day. I started with around 3-5 but now I have over 50 in my tank! They grow and multiply very very fast! Love them because they're not big and hence they do not bump off the corals.

YHSublime said:
always beautiful. So many explosions of color! I'm hoping to try and so something even remotely close to this with my new setup.

How do you manage fragging all the zoas when the grow into each other? I hate doing it with my zoa garden, can't imagine what it must be like when you have to make it happen!

SharkJP said:
First off, I'll echo everyone else...your tank is absolutely BREATHTAKING!!

It's exactly the look my fiance and I are going for with the color pop, but I've got a LONG way to go to get even remotely close, lol.

I am curious as well about your fragging technique because all of my zoas are growing at different rates and I'm mostly curious how you frag off the LR rather than from plugs. So far, all of my frags have been "accidental" lol.

Keep up the amazing work as I'm now following your tank with close close attention

I get this question a lot haha. The answer is simple - I don't intervene. I let them battle it out unless I have no spare frag of the zoa that is getting suffocated. In that case, I pull out as much as I can and move it to the frag tank and will decide later on where to place it haha.

I know a lot of people want to keep their zoa colonies neat and tidy, but personally I don't mind the chaotic look; like the right portion of this picture

In fact, I think sometimes I enjoy looking at these mixed up zoas more because of the stories they sometimes tell.
For example, in this picture above. The bambams (orange skirt and reddish center zoas) originated from a frag placed further down. They are hardier and seem to not mind being in very tight spaces unlike the hornets that they overrun.

spspirate · Feb 17, 2015

Thanks for the updates Jourdy! That chalice is really easy on the eyes!..Lol A true beauty. It looks as if it has every color a chalice could have in it. Keep up the great work!!!

YHSublime · Feb 19, 2015

jourdy said:
Sorry for the late reply, I have been out of the country the past few weeks. This was the first time I've come back to see the thread.
Thanks for the kind comments, I'm hoping it continues.

I'll try to remember to take a photo tomorrow. I have tried fragging it numerous times. Some frags live but some died haha. I will check if the mother colony it was fragged from is still here. The frag is more colorful than the colony though!

I have a lot of snails! Hehe. Most are stomatella snails (hitchhikers) and they are always hiding during the day. I started with around 3-5 but now I have over 50 in my tank! They grow and multiply very very fast! Love them because they're not big and hence they do not bump off the corals.

I get this question a lot haha. The answer is simple - I don't intervene. I let them battle it out unless I have no spare frag of the zoa that is getting suffocated. In that case, I pull out as much as I can and move it to the frag tank and will decide later on where to place it haha.

I know a lot of people want to keep their zoa colonies neat and tidy, but personally I don't mind the chaotic look; like the right portion of this picture

In fact, I think sometimes I enjoy looking at these mixed up zoas more because of the stories they sometimes tell.
For example, in this picture above. The bambams (orange skirt and reddish center zoas) originated from a frag placed further down. They are hardier and seem to not mind being in very tight spaces unlike the hornets that they overrun.

Thanks for replying!

I find it hard not to mess with them, ie. if my bam bams were choking out my hornets, I think about the cost of one vs. the other, lol.

That's a great technique, maybe I need to let it go.

Gondore · Feb 20, 2015

Since it seems like you have had great success with leds, I have a question I was hoping you could answer. I am setting up a 48x30x22 tank. I want to primary go keep sps but there will also be a good number of lps in the tank. I was considering going with the Powermodule 48'' 10 bulb fixture or the Giesmann Spectra. If I were to go with LEDs what would you suggest I use for the best possible growth of sps? Have you ran other types of lighting in the past on your tank and if so have you seen a difference in growth/coloration? Awesome looking tank!

davejep · Feb 25, 2015

Hey Jourdy, first and foremost I have to compliment you on such a beautiful tank.
I just picked up a radion Gen 2 and am going to use it over my 2x2x2 cube.
My focus is going to be almost all zoas with a few LPS and ricordia.
Are you still using the same lighting schedule that you posted up a while back?
Have you changed anything?
Do you think that your schedule will work over a 60 gallon cube like mine or will it be too bright?
I am totally inspired by your pictures and would love for my zoas to look half as good as yours

jourdy · Mar 2, 2015

spspirate said:
Thanks for the updates Jourdy! That chalice is really easy on the eyes!..Lol A true beauty. It looks as if it has every color a chalice could have in it. Keep up the great work!!!

Hi Spspirate, sorry it took such a long time to take a photo.
Just got time this past weekend.

One of these is that. It has recovered and the colors have darkened. It was more colorful when it was still healing from the stress (when the flesh got burnt)

These are the frags I've tried. Some live, some die.

Gondore said:
Since it seems like you have had great success with leds, I have a question I was hoping you could answer. I am setting up a 48x30x22 tank. I want to primary go keep sps but there will also be a good number of lps in the tank. I was considering going with the Powermodule 48'' 10 bulb fixture or the Giesmann Spectra. If I were to go with LEDs what would you suggest I use for the best possible growth of sps? Have you ran other types of lighting in the past on your tank and if so have you seen a difference in growth/coloration? Awesome looking tank!

Sorry to say I have never tried any other LEDs before, so I cannot comment on that one.

davejep said:
Hey Jourdy, first and foremost I have to compliment you on such a beautiful tank.
I just picked up a radion Gen 2 and am going to use it over my 2x2x2 cube.
My focus is going to be almost all zoas with a few LPS and ricordia.
Are you still using the same lighting schedule that you posted up a while back?
Have you changed anything?
Do you think that your schedule will work over a 60 gallon cube like mine or will it be too bright?
I am totally inspired by your pictures and would love for my zoas to look half as good as yours

Thank you!
Yes I am still using the same schedule. You don't need to keep it as bright since you're not going to keep SPS. The zoas can totally handle the bright lights, but the LPS might get bleached. I have had some brains bleach while some remain perfectly healthy. Very weird. I think it depends on the individual coral. The Radions aren't exactly powerful, The zoas I keep at the bottom part of the tank are actually stretching for light. Hehe.

jourdy · Mar 2, 2015

Quick update:

I decided to add a few more rock extensions on my zoa platform. Gonna be a while before they spread though.

Top down shot of the middle part.

I am thinking of replacing some corals with other varieties. Getting somewhat bored of my tank. The zoas are growing too fast!

By the way, I am having trouble with my MP40s. A few months ago, one MP40 conked out (driver blinking red) and doesnt start up anymore.
Today I come home and see the other MP40 with blinking red drivers! Has anyone else had this problem? I tried googling but it just says to contact Ecotech! But the thing is - there is no current distributor for Ecotech here in the PH!

Cannot even buy replacement parts without having someone buy it for me from the US! It reminds me of the time a year or two ago when ALL 3 of my Radions' fans stopped working and the past distributor was absolutely no help at all. I had to look for a technician to fix it myself.

Sorry for the mini rant. Just got home after being away for a week and I come home to broken equipment. Lol.

davejep · Mar 2, 2015

Hey Jourdy watch this about the blinking red.

http://ecotechmarine.com/media-gall...a-pump-disconnect-blinking-red-error-occurs-2

Dextereef · Mar 2, 2015

:faint2: wow thats a sweet tank

jourdy · Mar 2, 2015

davejep said:
Hey Jourdy watch this about the blinking red.

How-To: Resetting your VorTech when a Pump Disconnect (blinking red) Error occurs | EcoTech Marine

Thanks!
But it doesn't fix the problem.

The issue is with the adaptor, I just found out. The green light signifying that it is on keeps blinking on and off. Like it's turning on then off then on then off really fast.

Anyway, thanks for the help.

backyardfriends · Mar 17, 2015

jourdy said:
That is a red cynarina coral. Quite common here in the PH. Started about 2" in diameter and now expands up to 6". It has been with me for around 3 years I think.

Sure, send me a PM with your email address. Lots have already asked for mine. Be careful with the intensity though as it might burn your corals.

Thanks guys!
Regarding the maintenance.. I actually don't have any sort of program or schedule.
I just water change every 2 weeks or so around 25-30%.

Yes. In my experience, I had to ask friends coming home to bring them for me.
Lots of DOA as well. I think around 50% of what I got ended up either DOA or dying from the stress