My 65G Shallow Reef Tank

[trout]

Some historical photos:

2018​

Acropora microclados

Acropora millepora

Acropora hyacinthus

Montipora monaseriata and Montipora capricornis

 

[Teen reefer]

What a beautiful tank.

 

[trout]

Some historical photos:

2019​

Acropora sarmentosa

 

[trout]

Some historical photos:

2020​

Acropora sarmentosa

Acropora microclados

Acropora echinata

Acropora efflorescence

Acropora granulosa

Acropora millepora

Acropora desalwii

Hurlock Acropora

Red dragon acropora

 

[trout]

What a beautiful tank.

Thank you.

 

[mrtian97]

How is the majestic angel

 

[trout]

How is the majestic angel

Thanks for asking. It is growing at a slow pace. It has become nearly as big as my bellus angelfish. It is eating well and is no longer shy.

 

[trout]

Looking super nice.

I have missed your post. Apologies. Thank you for your kind words.

 

[trout]

Now, I would like to share the growth pictures of some of my Acroporids. All the photos in the next few posts, including this one, were taken from the same depth using an acrylic coral viewer. This coral seems to thrive on high PAR. It receives in excess of 400 mol/m2/sec PAR. I will provide a set of PAR values for all my corals in due course.

Acropora desalwii (aka pearlberry acropora)

March 2020	May 2020
July 2020	October 2020
January 2021	March 2021

 

[trout]

Acropora efflorescence is one of my favourite corals. It requires a LOT OF light and FLOW to grow table formation in a reef tank as in the nature. I set up my Tunze nanostream pumps in such a way that flow placed from the opposite sites of the tank crash onto each other, thereby creating a vortex-like water movement just over this coral. I find that this sort of water movement encourages acroporids to grow in table formation even if they may not be naturally tabling corals.

When I first purchased it in December 2018, I placed it in less than ideal position where it received less than 300 mol/m2/sec PAR. This had two consequences: first, the coral did not grow satisfactorily fast. Second, it did not exhibit good colouration. As can be seen from the first two photos below, in a less than ideal position, the coral spent most of its energy in basing out instead of basing out as well as branching out.

I then changed the position of the rock to which both Acropora sarmentosa and this are attached back in March 2020. Acropora efflorescence started to receive well over 300 mol/m2/sec PAR. As a result, its growth rate accelerated.

Acropora efflorescence

December 2018	January 2020
March 2020	June2020
October 2020	March 2021

 

[trout]

Acropora microclados has been one of the slowest growing corals in my tank after Acropora granulosa. It has tested my patience over the years but I have never given up on it.

 

[trout]

The red dragon Acropora colony has settled in on the setosa colony nicely and has started to grow again. As it is a fast growing coral, it will need pruning again quite soon.

 

[Indy_Reefer]

Your tank is very impressive!!!

 

[trout]

Your tank is very impressive!!!

Thank you for your feedback.

 

[trout]

My tank as of today:

 

[rusgum]

My tank as of today:

very aesthetically pleasing

 

[trout]

very aesthetically pleasing

Thank you.

 

[trout]

The red planet (Acropora hyacinthus) is growing at a fast pace again. Here are three photos taken on 8th January, 1st February and today (17th April) to show you its growth rate. For what it is worth, today's alkalinity test result is 6.55 dKH.

 

[trout]

Red dragon acropora:

Strawberry shortcake acropora:

 

[trout]

Latest alkalinity reading is 6.7 dKH. Corals are having

growth spurt.