Tang Reefs
- Thread starter Cu8ano
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Here is a look back at the progression of my new 300 gallon. Currently planned as a SPS dominant tank. Originally I had a 180g in the front part of the house with a wall dividing wall that split the front from the back of the house. Eventually I added on a makeshift sump and frag system to the 180. Unfortunately with this setup it created a large dead space in that corner and looked kinda messy. My wife agreed to let me knock the wall out if I found an 8ft tank. What did I do? Proceed to knock the wall down before I find an 8ft tank. Began the job and quickly found I had gotten in deeper than expected. I eventually found a professional to re route the electrical lines and finish the wall out. Eventually found a beautiful 8x2x30” starfire all sides tank. Had Luna reefs build a beauty of a custom sump as well. Tank is now wet and been cycling for 3 months
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Reefdiculous22
Active Member
That top coral is sick. What acro is that? I have another 11 or so no. Before I can even think about acro
Ghostbuster
Active Member
Your systems look amazing! Wondering if you could describe your lighting, schedule and intensity… Also, interested in your basic water parameters? What you’re feeding and how much? Thanks!!
chipchipbro
Valuable Member
Looking great and awesome! Nice corals and stunning coloration.
Keep it growing&glowing!
Keep it growing&glowing!
Thank you! And yes, id be happy to share. I have a mix of lights on different systems but for the most part I use Radion Gen 4s with T5 supplemental (ATI Blue Plus and ATI True Actinic).
Gen 4s I run Blue, Dark Blue, Violet, and UV at 100%. Green, Red and Cool Whites at 60%. Warm White at 30%.
For SPS I like to keep my par around 350-400.
Phosphates I keep around .1 and don't really track my nitrates all that much. I just try to keep them at Redfield ratio.
I feed twice a day with frozen and rotate between Rods food and PE Mysis. Food portion is probably the size of 1-2 quarters. I also feed nori once a day. I'm a big fan of KZ Flatworm stop and use it daily (money has gotten tight so haven't been able to get more as of late). I use Aquavitro Fuel from time to time but sparingly.
I mainly use Reef Fusion 1 and 2 for my Alk and Calcium and Aquavitro Ions for for Magnesium. The Ions also adds boron and strontium hence why I use the Fuel Sparingly. Ive also implemented kalk on my growout recently to help alleviate how much 2 part im blasting through daily as well as for the ph benefits.
I do run recirculating co2 scrubbers on all my systems as ive found a high, stable ph is a huge driver of growth and keep it as close to 8.4 as possible.
I do find benefit in carbon dosing but learned its very easy to go overboard. I don't know if you've ever heard the Lou Ekus' MACNA presentation on carbon dosing but if you have not its most definitely worth the watch. That being said I find my coral grows faster with carbon dosing and with such a heavily stoked system, the nutrients can be sucked up real quick if not careful. I have seen my nutrients drop so quickly that even heavy feedings would not keep my phosphates up, so coral began to pale. So here and there I take a turkey baster or two full of skimate and squirt it back into the tank, just enough to kinda put some back into the system without totally bombing it out. Its kinda that fine line of give and take. Good benefit but you have to monitor it closely as not to swing too much one way or the other.
A little higher nutrients I've seen contribute to more rich and vivid coloring in the coral so definitely important not to starve them.
Gen 4s I run Blue, Dark Blue, Violet, and UV at 100%. Green, Red and Cool Whites at 60%. Warm White at 30%.
For SPS I like to keep my par around 350-400.
Phosphates I keep around .1 and don't really track my nitrates all that much. I just try to keep them at Redfield ratio.
I feed twice a day with frozen and rotate between Rods food and PE Mysis. Food portion is probably the size of 1-2 quarters. I also feed nori once a day. I'm a big fan of KZ Flatworm stop and use it daily (money has gotten tight so haven't been able to get more as of late). I use Aquavitro Fuel from time to time but sparingly.
I mainly use Reef Fusion 1 and 2 for my Alk and Calcium and Aquavitro Ions for for Magnesium. The Ions also adds boron and strontium hence why I use the Fuel Sparingly. Ive also implemented kalk on my growout recently to help alleviate how much 2 part im blasting through daily as well as for the ph benefits.
I do run recirculating co2 scrubbers on all my systems as ive found a high, stable ph is a huge driver of growth and keep it as close to 8.4 as possible.
I do find benefit in carbon dosing but learned its very easy to go overboard. I don't know if you've ever heard the Lou Ekus' MACNA presentation on carbon dosing but if you have not its most definitely worth the watch. That being said I find my coral grows faster with carbon dosing and with such a heavily stoked system, the nutrients can be sucked up real quick if not careful. I have seen my nutrients drop so quickly that even heavy feedings would not keep my phosphates up, so coral began to pale. So here and there I take a turkey baster or two full of skimate and squirt it back into the tank, just enough to kinda put some back into the system without totally bombing it out. Its kinda that fine line of give and take. Good benefit but you have to monitor it closely as not to swing too much one way or the other.
A little higher nutrients I've seen contribute to more rich and vivid coloring in the coral so definitely important not to starve them.
This is officially the last picture of my 220g build in all its glory. I found a crack in one of its braces a little while back which set in motion the need to find a replacement. Wasn’t willing to chance 220 gallons all over the floor. In reality it was the perfect opportunity to pitch to my wife we needed a bigger tank. “But honey, the fish need more space to swim and the coral needs room to grow”. More to come
