Kevlow's Very Shallow Reef Tank

[kevlow]

Some of the little frags left in the shallow tank are taking off now that the Colonies are gone.

 

[kevlow]

This little guy is becoming a beast! Now he is getting more light and more flow. His colors are popping and his growth is accelerating. I am not sure what he is. I thought it was a Cousin it but I now do not think so. Teal hairy body with red and purple arms.

 

[RedneckReefer68]

I also have a shallow tank with sps, but with a 16" sb reef light overt it. I was wondering what your settings are now. Thanks!

 

[kevlow]

I also have a shallow tank with sps, but with a 16" sb reef light overt it. I was wondering what your settings are now. Thanks!

My 80 gallon, 16" deep tank has blues at 100% and whites at about 50% (I am in the field at don't remember exactly). The 40 gallon 8" deep has blues at 65% and whites at 45%. Both have nearly the exact par on the bottom, 350-450.

 

[kevlow]

Been away for a while but all is good. Life has been very busy and I have not been on the reef sites but my tank is still rocking. Corals are growing and colors popping. I made a few basic husbandry changes as I cannot help tinkering with the system.

Rose tipped, light skinned, blueberry polped acro.

Lokani beautiful and growing fast. I love this piece.

 

[kevlow]

Sorry for the poor quality pics.

Purple Fusion. Now out of control. Cant wait to see this grow out.

Of note , the tiles these are mounted on are 4" by 4" granite tiles so it will help give a size perspective.

 

[kevlow]

Tierra del Fuego and a Miami Orchid in the backround. The TDF has been here two weeks but has colored up and polyped out. Beginning to encrust. It should be a stunner.

Another newby. Orange Passion. A fast growing SSK that I wish had a little more red is in the back left. Right rear is the MO photobombing the OP.

 

[kevlow]

Purple (with green base) acro with red polyps by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

This piece I got as broken tip from the bottom of a shipment box at my LFS. It was not much more then a 1/4". It was a light blue but apparently that was from stress. It has settled as a teal with light purple tips.
Unknown acroteal and purple. by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

A couple better pics taken with an Ipad instead of my cheap phone.
IMG_6230[1] by kev low, on Flickr
IMG_6232[1] by kev low, on Flickr
IMG_6228[1] by kev low, on Flickr
IMG_6251[1] by kev low, on Flickr
IMG_6235[1] by kev low, on Flickr
IMG_6224[1] by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

A 6 month update. Things are cruising along pretty boring. Getting consistent growth, some pieces more then others. Colors are good , some pieces more then others. Not changing the husbandry really at all. I am fighting some occasional battles with ciano.
2018-06-12_08-22-53 by kev low, on Flickr
My Lokani has lightened up a bit. I may need to increase nutrients back to former levels or move it out some.

 

[kevlow]

2018-06-12_08-21-15 by kev low, on Flickr
2018-06-12_08-19-51 by kev low, on Flickr
2018-06-12_08-18-07 by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

This FTS is about two months old but it gives a general sense of the look of the tank.
2018-04-29_03-43-02 by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

A newbie in the frag tank.
Don't know what it is , but is coloring up fast.
2018-06-21_05-16-37 by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

Chalice is out of control. I placed a bunch of cerith and red leg crabs in the tank. When they crawl on the chalice the mouths eat them like popcorn. Now the chalice is lit up and glowing and the skin is fluffing up soft and thick.
6/28/18 by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

Another new piece being to get its color. Looks like some sort of stag. Did not get names with the new frags, just "acros".
Let the colors begin by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

Ponepe is huge.
6/16/18 by kev low, on Flickr

 

[kevlow]

This was sold as a pink/mauve stag. I am not sure that is a stag but it has definitely taken off now. It sat for a year and did nothing but encrust slowly. Now it has turned a bright pinkish color and is branching quickly.
6/28/18 by kev low, on Flickr

 

[ikolbaba06]

The amount of matrix you were running, not sure if still the case, may cause you some troubles eventually. I had 8 L in my 120 gallon and it’s dropped my nitrates too low. I’ve taken out around 3/4 of that and waiting to see what happens.

Nice corals and growth too!

 

[kevlow]

The amount of matrix you were running, not sure if still the case, may cause you some troubles eventually. I had 8 L in my 120 gallon and it’s dropped my nitrates too low. I’ve taken out around 3/4 of that and waiting to see what happens.

Nice corals and growth too!

Thank you.
And your advise is duly noted and you correct. I have already had to adjust for this. Sometimes the corals begin to look a little bland and I must adjust. Feed more is an option and works, but sometimes leaves too much waste. Then I need more clean up crew. Quick dosing some nitrate is a quick and clean fix and the colors pick right up. I just don't want to abandon the basic structure that brought the tank to this point.
It is a constant balancing act. But, overall, I prefer to have good bacteria count.
I think that is what intrigues us in this hobby; The constant adaption and tinkering we do to keep a contained eco system healthy and thriving.