WetWhistle 180 reef build.

[WetWhistle]

A little about myself I am a veteran reefer that has been in the hobby since I was 10. I am a lifetime reefer, once I got in I have never gotten out. Decades later I am still loving this hobby and I make it a point to try and keep learning and to push myself.

My last tank was set up for over 10 years but I decided to take it down because I wanted to move it across the room so I could put my sump in the fish room that sits behind it. Previously I didn't have the fish room and wanted to set one up. Now that my tank is over the 2 year mark I have decided to do a reef build so I can show the progression of my tank as it matures and comes into its own over time. I do a Natural style system and will explain how I set my system up and run it. I use as little products as possible in my tanks. For those of you that like the natural method I will share my ins and outs of this Berlin style of system a little later on in the thread.

Previously I used to run MH\T5 combo for over 25 years but decided to try out some LED. I do not regret my decision. As the pictures progress you will be able to see the crazy growth rates I got.

Week one. The tank is settling out quite nicely.

 

[hybridazn]

Looking good! Let's see some more pics and info on the setup!

 

[WetWhistle]

This is the back of my Blue coral that has been happily growing on the back glass. When I got it it was the size of a dime and has not stopped growing since. As you can see from this angle it is easy to see why they call it a blue coral. lol

 

[WetWhistle]

This picture is at the one year mark. As you can see from the first picture the leather is getting out of hand, as well as my torch and frog spawn. At this point the frog and torch are over 60 heads each. Hard to tell from the angle but from looking down they are as wide as they are long. I have switched from Maxspect to my AI Hydra 52. They are a way better LED for growth and color.

 

[WetWhistle]

As you can see the leather has gotten quite big and I will have to soon deal with it.

 

[WetWhistle]

This is a little over one years growth. When I got this frag it came from a 400 watt MH and I put it right into its final placement.

 

[WetWhistle]

This is over the 2 year mark now. As you can see I have transitioned over to a mixed tank that is SPS dominant tank. A few months ago I added supplemental T5 (4X80 watt) as I really like growth and color I get from mixed lighting. I run the T5 for three hrs a day at my peak time. I run my LED for 12 hrs with a 30 min ramp up and down for sunrise and sun set.

 

[WetWhistle]

Some mixed pictures and different angles.

 

[Sir Chris]

Ok what is that red and blue accents acro or monti. Or is it a chalice? Frag 3 pics up. Thanks. I started membership here when I was 3 month into a fresh tank and 1st salt tank and that was over a ur ago

 

[Sir Chris]

Idk how 2 post pics of where it's at now. Was a crazy 1yr learning what a new tank doesn't b4 fully set up.

 

[WetWhistle]

Ok what is that red and blue accents acro or monti. Or is it a chalice? Frag 3 pics up. Thanks. I started membership here when I was 3 month into a fresh tank and 1st salt tank and that was over a ur ago

That is an Orange sky chalice. It has a nice orange with baby blue. I plan to get better pictures done with my camera as these are done on my phone and are not the best.

 

[drernesto Verified Sponsor]

Nice! I hope that the leather got a sweet huge new home!

 

[Neptune1707]

What kind of LEDs are you using and what are the settings for each color?

 

[WetWhistle]

Nice! I hope that the leather got a sweet huge new home!

I have had him for so long and he is so big and a show piece I put him in my 120.

 

[WetWhistle]

What kind of LEDs are you using and what are the settings for each color?

I use the Hydra 52 for LED and will attach my schedule in the thread soon. Work has been crazy busy.

 

[WetWhistle]

Some updated pictures of my tank with my Phone.

Left 2X2 section.

Middle 2X2 section

Right side 2X2 section.

 

[WetWhistle]

 

[WetWhistle]

Here is my leather that I had to take out of my 180 because it was causing issues as it grew and I put into my 120 Frag tank. It is taking up most of the 2X2 section.

Here is a shot from the left side of the tank to give you a size reference.

 

[WetWhistle]

This one is growing quite nicely. It is 2 months growth between the last picture that was posted up on May 18th in this thread and is now well off the plug. Time for me to find a forever home for it so it is not just kicking around on my substrate anymore.

 

[WetWhistle]

The front one is RR Red Diablo and just behind it is my RR Orange Passion and are coming along quite nicely for color and growth. As the frags are a little bigger now I have seen an increase in growth. When I first got them they were small and really didn't do anything for a few months. The pictures don't do the color justice for both frags unfortunately.