East Coast Tank Battle

[derekf15]

My co-worker Mpower and I came up with the fun idea of having a tank battle since we both setup our tanks around the same time. Our rules are that we are going to post FTS every month to show the progression of our tanks and after a year leave it up to the members of Nano Reef to vote on a winner. We have both agreed that the winner between us will buy the other a piece of livestock of their choosing up to a value of $50. Voting will be active in the last month.

 

Ideally it would be nice if we each had the same sized tank but ill leave it to you guys to decide if an extra 10 gallons will be advantage or not.

 

Tank stats:

 

Derekf15:

 

29G Rimless Biocube

150 watt Current USA MH hanging light Black AI SOL

100 watt Jager heater

Medium hang on CPR refugium with custom baffle to accommodate a Euro Reef BC29 skimmer

Maxi-Jet 1200 return pump

Maxi-Jet 900 circulation pump Vortech MP10.

In-Tank media holder with filter floss/purigen/chemi-pure

Custom water change plumbing

30lbs of base rock

3lbs of live rock

30lbs of Caribsea Aragamax Select Sand

 

Mpower:

 

40GFluval Osaka 155

150W MHL with 4X actinic T5

Jager TruTemp Heater - 200 Watt

2X Hydor Koralia Evolution Powerhead Vortech MP10

Aqua C Remora Hang-On Protein Skimmer

Fluval 205 Canister filter with Carbon/Filter Floss

40lbs of base rock

2lbs of live rock

30lbs of Caribsea Aragamax Select Sand

 

[Mpower]

Initial Setup:

 

FTS:

 

Clown Fish:

 

[derekf15]

My initial setup:

 

 

Sand and rock added:

 

 

3lb of live rock added to seed dry rock:

 

 

First fish:

 

[altolamprologus]

Sounds like a great idea! How about posting a couple FTS to get it started?

 

edit: beat me to it, but your img links are broken

[Spirofucci]

Good idea!

 

Derek, you should just give Mpower your $50 now since we can't see your tank.

[TinyGiant]

lol should open this up and have competitors all pitch in $10 to enter.. and after a year the winner takes home the jackpot

[derekf15]

Good idea!

 

Derek, you should just give Mpower your $50 now since we can't see your tank.

 

Haha, its been a while since I used Photobucket and had to get everything straightened out! I won't give up that easy!

[derekf15]

lol should open this up and have competitors all pitch in $10 to enter.. and after a year the winner takes home the jackpot

 

Ya I can see that being fun, maybe next time around. I could see something like that getting carried away though....

[derekf15]

Here is my current FTS and my desired aquascaping look. Moved the piece of seed rock to my refugium.

 

Got some Bam Bam zoas and some green star polyps for my first corals. I don't count the hitchhiker brown polyps in the bottom left haha.

 

[basser1]

Does Mpower have a thread so we can see his progress?

[Mpower]

Does Mpower have a thread so we can see his progress?

 

We are going to just use this one thread to keep everything together for easy comparisons.

[Mpower]

FTS with clown fish and zoa's added:

 

 

Assorted Zoa's

 

I plan to add some snails soon. All the LFS are oddly out of stock right now.

[Mpower]

Tank Update.

 

Since my last post I have added:

 

5x Turbo Snails

10x Cerith Snails

10x nassarius Snails

Maze Brain Coral

Hammer Coral

 

And most importantly I replaced the Koralia's with an MP10!

 

Maze Brain:

 

Hammer:

 

FTS:

 

 

I had a hair algae breakout but is getting under control now and is almost completely gone.

[banshee]

OMG! I NEED that pink hammer! Sell it to me or promise me a frag or point me to where to get one PLEASE!

[derekf15]

Here's my tank update:

 

New equipment - I also upgraded my powerhead to an MP10! This pump is amazing, love the tidal swell mode.

 

New livestock - Got a red open brain, hammer frag, 5 turbos and 10 ceriths.

 

FTS:

 

 

Brain:

 

 

I was shocked to see this guy one night, white flatworm! I got it out pretty easily with some metal tongs and haven't seen another one since. Hopefully this one was the first and last.

 

 

My perimeters are doing well except my alk was low (around 6) so i've been dripping Alkalin 8.3, i'm up to 8 at the moment but I will keep dripping to achieve around 10.

[Mpower]

OMG! I NEED that pink hammer! Sell it to me or promise me a frag or point me to where to get one PLEASE!

 

I got it from a lfs here in Halifax, NS

 

Don't think it would survive the trip through customs

[Mpower]

My Bam Bam zoa frag is growing a new head! This is exciting for me as I had no luck with zoa's in my previous tank!

 

[Mpower]

Livestock update!

 

I picked up a couple new frags today

 

Green horn coral:

 

Blastos:

 

Ricordia:

 

FTS:

 

I'm really happy with the way the tank is progressing so far.

[derekf15]

This past weekend I got some additional livestock for the tank. Picked up a purple firefish, green horn coral (SPS) and two frags, torch and a random mushroom from a buddy.

 

Everyone getting along:

 

 

FTS:

 

 

I've been taking the photos with my BlackBerry at the moment but will get some better shots with a camera in the future.

[boxofh2o]

Livestock update!

 

I picked up a couple new frags today

 

...

 

I'm really happy with the way the tank is progressing so far.

 

The green horn coral is pretty sweet looking!

[derekf15]

It's about time for another update. I have added the following livestock since my last post:

 

Red Hawkfish

Zoa Colony

Teal SPS - Trying to find the exact name

Green/Yellow Branching Monti

Purple/Green Dot Chalice

Purple / Red Frilly Mushroom

 

Red Hawkfish:

 

 

Zoa Colony:

 

 

Teal SPS:

 

 

Green/Yellow Branching Monti - Purple/Green Dot Chalice:

 

 

Purple / Red Frilly Mushroom:

 

 

Random Shots

 

Bubba and Ray:

 

 

The Gang:

 

 

FTS:

 

[TheTroutWhisperer]

He's gonna getcha

[derekf15]

Christmas came early, I replaced my Sunpod 150w MH with a Black AI SOL with AI controller! Here are a couple pics I took with my phone:

 

Very low profile compared to the Sunpod and I was able to rig it up to use the same hanging kit

 

 

FTS

 

 

I've also added two auto dosers using the economical aqua lifter technique to raise my alk and mag. I haven't experienced an issue with low calcium as long as I keep up with my water changes.

 

Also don't pay attention to TheTroutWhisperer, he's a buddy that wishes he could have a saltwater tank but has to settle for catching trout....

 

I also have to add that I unfortunately lost my Red Hawkfish, after two days his coloration started fading even though he was eating well. Then two days later he croaked which I can only attribute to a disease or parasite as my tank parameters are in check and all other livestock is doing well.

[boxofh2o]

Congrats on the AI SOL, looks sweet!

 

Sorry to hear about the Hawkfish, he was pretty cool!

 

..troutwhisperer..haha

[Mpower]

I guess it is well past due for an update from myself. I have added a lot since my last update.

 

Equipment:

- Upgraded to a AI SOL (black)

- Added dosers for Alk and Calcium

 

Livestock:

 

- Azure Damsel

- Leopard Wrasse

- Green Eye Chalice

- Monti

- Digitata frag

- Candycane

- Multi colored Acan

- Purple/Blue Acan

- Torch

- Kiwi colored Zoa

- Huge Toadstool

 

And my favorite, a Maxi-Mini Carpet Anemone

 

I have been battling some algae outbreaks on my sand but it is starting to get under control now.

 

Pictures:

 

New light:

 

Toadstool:

 

Leopard Wrasse:

 

Acans:

 

Maxi-Mini:

 

Monti and Digitata:

 

Chalice (on the right):

 

FTS: