Full tank shot:
Here is the final shot... I did not have time to take a new photo today... basically what has changed since this photo was the monti cap that is in the lower right was placed up in the rockwork.. In case I didn't mention it earlier, I had thrown that piece in tank because it was virtually bleached out... it has recovered quite nicely... There is also a
purple montipora digitata in the upper right rock that is a real nice purple and has also been growing nicely. It was also a salvage piece that I nursed back from being 100% covered in xenia from a fellow reefer.
I think the overall progress of the tank has been good. I feel that I have gotten a better handle on the algae that was growing in here, especially since getting the tuxedo urchin and being deligent with the manual removal...
This tank has been up for about 6 months and though it looks a little bare, I think has been coming along quite nicely. I will introduce into this tank as the zoas and other corals grow in my 75g and require pruning.
This tank's focus was always going to be the anemone and the clowns and feel that I accomplished that.
On the other side of the spectrum, I'm a little disappointed that the tank didn't undergo a coralline algae explosion. I also need to upsize the return pump to get more flow out of the nozzles. I haven't been too happy with the skimmer's production.. could never get it darker than a light tea color. I am embarrassed that I let the algae get out of control, but things are looking better. If I could put a tang in there, I probably would not be seing a lot of the algae but it's too small a tank. I also went a little overboard with the wattage on the lights - 250w does generate heat and has required me to put 2L ice bottles in there.... but the corals, anemone and fish in there are all doing well. I also need to incorporate an ATO...
I may combine this tank with my 75g system... but before I do that, I need to make sure I eradicated all the algae and red flatworms (which have been showing their face again)... Until then, it will remain an independant system...
Params as of last Friday:
Temp- 81-86.
SG = 1.025
Ammonia, Nitrite = 0 Nitrate 1ppm...
Ca = 400ppm, Mg = 1210ppm
pH = 8.1
Alk = 8
Recap of the tank...
20g RR Oceanic
10g sump
AquaC Urchin pro with mag 3/5 (forgot which)
250W MH - 10k Coralvue bulb on IceCap ballast
DIY Stand
DIY Canopy w/ Icecap fan
Eheim 1250 return pump
Maxijet 1200 PH for extra circulation
18.9 lbs of LR
2-3 inches of sand
Thanks TRT for having this contest.. I did enjoy doing a build from scrath, though didn't like some of the new-tank headaches that came with it
Hopefully, others learned a little something from the build.
