Jourdy's 90 Gallon Mixed Reef

[g6gang]

I just came across this amazing thread...can someone please explain how a tank (his first 90g) could look so good with little maintenance and zero nitrates with just water changes and pellets? Is it the food choice for fish? Or type of skimmer and pellets? I don't get it how tanks with similiar traits can have such variety in params.

 

[jourdy]

i absolutely love this tank, i wish i could get cynarina in the colours you have, when you next have the camera can you take some closer shots of the cynarina island please

@Twistedpro Sure thing. It's a group of cynarinas but there's actually one in the middle that is not colorful haha.
They're about as bright as my Aussie Scoly - that reminds me! I should probably put the scoly and acans in the DT instead of keeping them in the frag tank.

Why is there sand in a display that did not like to clean the bottom?

@Aleks I decided to put sand because the bottom was completely filled with coralline algae. It consumes too much alk/calcium and it's getting hard keeping up with the dosing.

Do you have your lighting schedule?
Would like to see what you have if you don't mind sharing

@kharn101 Sure, send me your email. I don't have an ETG file though, only the ETP file (old platform).
I am having trouble connecting to ecosmart live, keeps saying offline mode.
Also, my radions are gen 1 (No UV) and the power difference is VERY VERY big. If you have modern Radions, you won't be able to use my schedule without killing your corals. Hehe.

Your tank is awesome!! Do you still have the rose bubble tip?

@mochaclownlover Thanks! Yup the RBTA is still there, just not seen in the photo. I moved him to the small rock in the middle,where there is a cup shaped hole in the center.

 

[jourdy]

I just came across this amazing thread...can someone please explain how a tank (his first 90g) could look so good with little maintenance and zero nitrates with just water changes and pellets? Is it the food choice for fish? Or type of skimmer and pellets? I don't get it how tanks with similiar traits can have such variety in params.

@g6gang I kept mostly LPS and Zoas in my 90g, and those aren't hard to take care of. Just place them under good lights and they naturally color up over time.
In my experience, biopellets really helped my case because I am almost always not home. I see my tank just a few days per week (about 3 days per week) and the biopellets kept nitrates down (API test kits say 0 but not sure how accurate those are).

BTW, don't underestimate water change. It is IMO the most important thing in keeping corals happy.

 

[Tahoe61]

Good LAWD!

^ that pretty much sums it up. A dream tank.

 

[Bokevince]

Hi jourdy!
Congratulations to you!
Really amazing tank! And a good photographer! Awesome pictures!
I discovered reef2reef with your thread! Lol
I have gen1 radions also, can i send you a pm to send me your etp schedule by mail??? ( still have this old version on my pc)
Thanks

 

[slayerhellfire]

what do you keep your levels at? CA, ALK MAG

 

[Bokevince]

Hi Jourdy!
It seems that you have made severals changes, more sps and less zoas???
You 've changed your pumps also? Are you happy with your maxpect gyre? which model do you have?
No brown algae problem after adding your sand bed? How deep is your sand bed?
Thanks and congrats again for your tank!

 

[ReeferJohn408]

Your dedication is admirable. Great job KABAYAN!

 

[jourdy]

Thanks!

@Twistedpro
As promised, here's the cynarina picture (taken during night mode though)

These 2 are my favorite though

 

[jourdy]

@slayerhellfire Alk is currently at 7. It is actually a problem, my alk always dips low (5.5 -6). Calcium latest test was at 480. Magnesium last test was 1300+

I barely test these 3 though..


@Bokevince I still have a lot of zoas in my frag tank. However, I have sold a lot of my zoas off because they grow too fast and I also decided to try SPS more. For the challenge lol. I bought a gyre when my MP40's power adaptor broke. I still have 1 MP40 there with my Maxspect Gyre.

Sandbed is about 1" thick. Sand is fairly new, so I am expecting a diatom bloom. I wanted to keep my tank barebottom but the coralline algae was consuming too much calcium and I decided to cover it.

 

[Fish_BowLisha]

Simply stunning!

 

[Oscaror]

I wish my beach had ultra grade corals, it just has lilipads and sunfish

 

[slayerhellfire]

Question regarding adding sand, I have a thin layer of aragonite and want to add sand how much you reccomend and what brand. The tank is very established and don't want to screw up anything. Also a friend said he doubles his skimmer capacity, mine is rated for 110 but it's a 75 with prob 20 gallons in the sump

 

[jourdy]

@slayerhellfire I don't know what sand to recommend because I just used beach sand. I added all my sand at the same time because I don't have the patience to add slowly. Haha. My skimmer is rated for 200 (heavy load) - 400 gallons (light load).

I am still anticipating the diatom bloom, it has not shown up yet (it's been 1.5 weeks)

My tank is getting really full so I am just waiting for them to grow out. Got all my SPS as 1-2" frags and some gave grown quite well in 6months and some have grown very little.

This mille used to be all green when placed near the top but when I moved it down, the red coloration started to appear! What gives? I thought red colors and milleporas like high intensity?

I am really bad at names - this is one of my favorites because of its pastel green color with blue tips. It has grown little but there are a lot of protrusions coming from the base! Reallya lot, like the whole plug is covered in bumps and protrusions.

 

[jourdy]

Lastly - thought I'd share. Don't know why but some of my Utter chaos palys are starting to morph. Turning light color.

Compared to one of my other UC frags:

 

[bknapp]

Outstanding! Great tank, great pics. Keep it coming @jourdy

 

[kschweer]

Absolutely amazing @jourdy Wish I had half your photography skills!

 

[Fish_BowLisha]

And half your wallet lol. That tank full must have cost you a fortune!

 

[Bokevince]

I'm really impressed by the numbers of species!!!
Hope you won't have issues with your sand...

At what time of the day do you take yours amazings pictures (compared to your shedule, time with lots of reds?)

Reefgards

 

[Rodneyri]

Those top downs are amazing!