Full Tank update Pictures
 

I came across some pictures from last Christmas when I was having a big brown out from a "Nitrate Nightmare" (yikes). I thought it might be fun to post a then and now picture sequence since there have been a few changes since then. With a close look you can see the coraline algae that was on the back glass in the first picture is now mostly gone which helps give the appearance of having more depth. Not sure how or why it's gone,:question: it just is.
So this first photo is my tank at the end of December 2006 and the 2nd picture was taken today, January 12 2008. Thanks for looking.:wink:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...030cropped.jpg
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...pm038FTS22.jpg

wow greg. quite the turn around. the colors are much nicer now. have you changed bulbs as well ? how did you overcome your nitrates and what level do you consider nightmare?

Wow .. what a difference.

Indeed, I'm curious what your NO3 levels were? I don't think you've truly experience a nitrate nightmare BTW - unless it was over 80ppm, I am claiming the title on that one still :p

(I am happy to report I finally overcame my NO3 nightmare though - thank you Polyp Labs!!! Although even still, the one tank in particular just pushes NO3 like no tomorrow - all 3 reef tanks on Reef-resh, 2 out of 3 read consistently zero - the 3rd will be anywhere from 0 to 5, not sure why it seems to fluctuate so much. But, I'll take 5 over 80 any day!!)

wow big difference

If there are enough nitrates to turn things brown and have hair algae taking over, for me it's a nightmare. For example that purple acro in the center of the tank in the 2nd photo was more purple before the problem than it is now. You can see it was totally brown in the first picture. Tony as you know I also use Polyp-Labs but getting a bigger & better skimmer didn't hurt either.:wink:

howd you get the nitrate down

Wholley mackeral. What a difference. BEAUTIFUL. :D

Holly Cow. Looks amazing. But I have to say you have way to many corals. HAHA. I think I need to place an order

J

what product did you use to bring down your nitrates?

buddy it looks awesome but even in the pic that you say is 'brown' stuff still looks great.


and by the way i agree with jason, you should send some of those our way. just think if you give them to us you'll have more room to put new corals :lol: :biggrin:

Yeah, now we all need to know how you dropped the Nitrate...don't keep us in suspense.

Thanks Doug.
Jason & Colin, thanks as well. Jason I think you are certainly overdue for an order:wink:
Colin I am counting on you to help me make more room.:lol:

Please see below:smile:
likewise:smile:
Okay, long story.
There are several parts to that equation. I started using Polyp-Labs "Reef-resh" which made a big difference, I added a 40 gallon refugium which not only worked as a nitrate & bioload export but increased water capacity, I introduced a whole bunch of blue legged hermits to eat the hair algae, I got a way bigger & better skimmer and I added a prop tank which again added more water volume. Unrelated to nitrates but I also added a chiller so I could avoid the annual "summer kill" or "brown out" from the heat. Unfortunately in July I had my infamous dishwasher leaking into my tank incident which either bleached or browned everything out again (lost about 9 pieces of sps) but as you can see it is now on the rebound. Thanks for the interest.:biggrin:

hey greg i will definitely help you my friend. the trick is convincing my wife that it is a NECESSITY to have more corals. no i'm just kidding, she is sometimes worse then i am. my tank is definitely on the rebound so be prepared for THE order coming your way. unless maybe a trade may be in order :biggrin: .

by the way congrats on the new business venture, there is no need to wish you luck because once people realize the quality and health of your pieces and shipping the business should go through the roof.

Thank you Colin, I look forward to hearing from you:biggrin: You always need more corals. :wink: I look at my tank everyday and think of all the places I could squeeze more pieces into.:lol:

i'm glad you said that because i do the same thing. i always see a spot thinking hey something would go really really nice there. i think its part of the addiction.

I definately do not go for the minimalist look. I like to be able to keep seeing different things even if I am staring for an hour.:wink:

Misc coral shot
 

Is there any rock in there? or do you just have corals on top of corals. :razz:

:lol: :lol:

Tank is looking fantastic Greg!!

I just came across this. Thanks Ryan, and Lando in some cases that is true, monti caps make a great shelf for acro's.:lol:

Hey Snappy..........just wondering what color temp bulbs you are using in the two photo's.......looks like a bulb change happened as well.

Actually the lights are the same. Well new bulbs but the same K.

And what K is that? 20K 15K? Also what brand?

The fixture has 3x 250 w 10k Aqualines & 2x 150 w 20k XM's, all HQI. I of course moved a few corals around as well to find their "happy place".