This tank is really coming along great!

How are you managing to fix the corals to the foam backing?

Best regards

Ann

Thanks, I'm using standard super glue gel. The SPS get a small blob and right onto the foam, I dip the gel blob first so it forms a crust then press it into where I want to mount it. The polyps / mushrooms take much longer, I need them to naturally attach first to shell frags and then I super glue them to where I want them. To get them to attach to rubble, I put them in a plastic cup cut down to about a 1/3 of the normal height filled with rubble. Let the cup sit in a low flow area in my other tanks and in a few days they usually are attached to something big enough to super glue to the foam. I use tweezers to hold the tiny bit of rubble they are attached to and use the same method a glob of glue then press the frag to the foam where I want it.

The mats (GSP,etc.) I just apply a few small blobs of glue to the back of the mat and press it on the foam, the nice thing about the mats is that the form fit to the foam's surface.

Tank update:

Upgraded my lights since I wasn't happy with the color using the single 13w PC bulb. Last night I took apart a Satellite 18W fixture I had on my FW planted tank and retrofitted it into the hood. Added a few more frags as well. The left side shading is worse due to the bulb socket but I think the overall color is better with the single 18w 50/50 bulb than the AH 13w retrofit.

FTS Jan 10th


Corner Jan 10th


Purple dot mushroom


Green mottled mushroom - originally mounted to wall but it detached in the evening - I'm going to leave it there.


Tiny Lemnalia frag


Red Zoas


Ric with a arrangement of different colored polyps



More pics

More mats


Cream monti


Rare brown zoas


Cabbage without activated carbon bits on him
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbage_jan10.jpg[/img]

Purple mushroom
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/striped_mushroom.jpg[/img]

Yellow polyps with feather duster in background
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/yellow_duster.jpg[/img]

Toadstool with zoas
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/toadstool_zoas.jpg[/img]

I don’t know what the judging criteria is but your tank looks fantastic! Good luck in the contest.

best 2.5 i've seen! imo, if this tank continues on the track it's on, you will win stock.

Thanks, I hope I get better growth with the 18w bulb now. I really like the new bulb, it gives a much nicer blue light versus the white/yellowish light from the 13w 50/50. There are so many nice tanks in this contest its been really fun to follow - maybe I'll win in the foam background category

looking very good indeed!

The tank is looking awesome. I really like the background. I've got to give you props on the tetratec filter, I had thought about using it and the thing is enormous.

Thanks, yes the tetratec is pretty large on a 2.5 it pretty much limits me to a single bulb setup. It would work much better on a larger tank - like a 5.5g or maybe even a 10g. The corals seem to like the flow produced by it and the surge effect is pretty neat to watch. Your tank looks great also. I think we are the only 2 nano's stocking a gorgonian.

looks amazing, mel! i concur with tony, the background's looking great.

while i'm still not a fan of the foam (aesthetically speaking), your coral quality/placement/decorating more than makes up for that subjective issue imo.

Thanks, the foam is an experiment for me. I wanted to try something different in a small tank, the wall effect would have been difficult to achieve economically otherwise. Hopefully I'll have enough growth in the tank in 3 months so the back will be filled in a bit So far the SPS have maintained their color and everything is exhibiting good polyp extension. I'm pretty happy with the foam in general - I plan on building out a larger mainly SPS nano based on either foam or agrocrete over styro with live rock in the future.

I think it looks great. I would have covered the foam in a layer of agrocrete though.

Does it look like coralline is growing on the foam yet/at all?

Thats an amazing tank youve got there! You have so many great zoas. Also, the sps fits in nicely. How are they gowing?

Thanks,

Daemonfly, no coralline growth yet on the foam wall. I've seen it grow on the foam in other tanks on RC, but they are much larger so more stable water params.


Casabubu, SPS are doing good - even seeing a little growth on them. I have the Current 18w retrofit pretty close to the water line, with a DIY adjustable mount. I'll probably add in more colorful SPS frags later this week.

Tank update, my home lost power for about 7 hours today. We had a pretty big ice storm last night. All my tanks are on UPS's. The 2.5g ran for about 2 hours before it ran out of power. My 12g ran for even less - my larger tanks ran for about 2 hours before exhausting the batteries. Everything appears to be fine except for my 12g nano, the smaller tomato clown appears to be on its last legs. I just did a water change on the 2.5g and changed out the filter/carbon. On my other tanks I'm running the skimmers extra wet crossing my fingers that everything else looks good tomorrow.

dose your tank for the coralline growth. all the corals are sucking up the calcium it needs to thrive.

Later this week I'll take a full set of params from the 2.5g. I normally don't dose until I know my current params. I've been doing water changes using water from my larger tanks, so my calcium should be around 420 or so. Holding off on adding the new SPS until the tank fully recovers from the power outtage I had over the weekend.

Here are some SPS growth pics - notice the corals are coloring up better under the 18w retro. The reflector is about 1.5" from the water line currently - I can adjust the height using a DIY rig I setup.

Old shots were taken under 13w PC 50/50 with AHSupply reflector about 1/4" off the water line. New shots are taken under 18w PC 50/50 with Current USA reflector about 1.5" off water line.

So there has been some growth, not crazy but its happening. Of course I'm only putting in the hardiest aquacultured montipora. But if the more colorful monti's that I plan on adding do well, I'll put in a hardy acro and see how it does - if I can find the space

Old shot digi #1


New shot digi #1


Old shot digi #2


New shot digi #2


Old shot - purple monti on right - also notice the growth for center digi since its the oldest shot I have of the digi #1


New shot of purple monti

Other misc pics

GSP mat growth

Old shot


New shot - notice mat has been creeping down - sorry for blurry picture, lots of current in this part of the tank.



New tiny ric frag I added used tweezers to place its so small


Took down my planted FW nano's and consolidated my last freshwater tank into one planted 30g Oceanic cube. Here is a pic of the 3 tanks in a row.

It's lovely to see your Pico tank nestled in with the others. The lush green colours of the freshwater tank contrast nicely with the different colours of the reefs.

Your Pico is looking better and better with each new set of pictures. You must have the Midas touch!

Best regards

Ann

Thanks Ann, I'll try and take some updated tank pics this week. We had another power outtage yesterday that lasted for 17 hours. The tanks look like they are doing fine for the most part since I broke down and bought a 5.5kW gas generator after getting a quote for $8k to install a 15 kW home Generac. I like the contrast of the planted tanks versus marine as well. Your tank is truely a work of art - post up some new pics

Tank Update
Mounted three more monti frags, had to peel left mat off rock to make room to mount the orange monti.

Jan 20 FTS


Jan 20 Corner


Misc tank shot


Misc tank shot #2


Orange M.Digitata


Orange M.Capricornus


Dark Green Monti


Tiny Ric detached and now settled on sandbed




Updated cabbage shot


Pink Anthelia (showing some growth) started with tiny frag on purpose


Polyp arrangement updated photo
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/polyp_arrangement_jan20.jpg[/img]

looks good! everything seems to be growing in nicely.

is the free-floating ric a new baby? are those flatworms in the 3rd pic or some type of brownish algae/coralline? i can't really tell.

the gsp's beginning to reach for other rocks too. great job overall!

Mike, where in somers are you? Our power was only from about 9 am to 6:30 pm but we had a small generator so the tanks were ok.

Tinyreef, Thanks - yup its algae I have a bad algae problem in my tank. I need to replace the membrane on my RO/DI. I am running a small sock of phosban but so far it has had little to no effect. The ric was a small frag I attached to the upper left of the tank last week - it detached from a bit of shell I had mounted it on.

Pili, off of Rt 118 the Preserve at Somers. We had no power from 9 AM to 3 AM the next day. I ran my tanks and 2 refrigerators and a bunch of other stuff off a 5.5kW generator I bought at Home Depot.

Oh, thats tough. Good thing you had the generator though.

Tanks looks great by the way!

Thanks, busy week at work. Was able to snap a few shots before the lights went off. Sorry for the dirty glass. Nothing new added from last time.

FTS Jan 27


FTS Corner Jan 27


Unknown Macro Algae / Duster / Yellow Polyps


Kenya/Cap


Various Monti's


Wall Monti's (haven't photo'ed these in a long time)


Green Monti's


Middle of tank closeup


Lem growth shot

dude very sick tank..looks like i am heading to home depot for some of that stuff

Eeek! A 17hr power cut, that's the stuff of reefkeeping nightmares. Does that happen a lot? I guess that a generator is absolutely essential for you (and your tanks!)

I think that the algae is Lobophora, I've had it before and it's never been a big deal for me but I have read that it has been quite troublesome for others.

I really do like this mix of polyps, did you put those together yourself?



Best regards

Ann

Coralcrazy, Thanks - I'm going to do another tank with foam + agrocrete when I have some free time.

Ann, lucky I had the generator otherwise I'm sure I would have had major issues in my tanks. The collection of polyps I did myself, manually arranged. Earlier in the week I put in a small mexican turbo to work on the some of the macro, in the morning when I checked the tank, a few monti frags had been knocked off the wall and the polyps were all over the place I haven't had time to redo them but I plan to. The power outtages seem to be getting worse - we've seen progressively worse winters but I've only lived in this area for around 4 years - still hoping to move back west to SoCal and the nice weather Thanks for the macro ID - the brown stuff on the rock although not very attractive is not nearly as invasive as some macro I've seen.

Did a water change this week and changed out the Marineland carbon I had been using with SeaGel - wanted to give it a try since it was on sale.
Sorry for the bad tank pics, not everything is out since I did the water change, but I have a small window to take pics on Friday before the
lights go out.

Nothing new added except for the temporary weed wacker turbo.

FTS Feb 03


Corner Feb 03


Orange Monti which I mounted slightly under mat - mat has recovered and growing again


Tiny Anthelia frag growth pic, starting to fill out more


Pink Pom Pom Xenia growth pic (slow grower even under halides)


Pic of mat growth Tinyreef noticed before, sorry for the blurry picture but the mat has spanned a small gap and colonized another piece of rock - hard to see in pic but look between cap and kenya

Cabbage growth pic

your tank has the best growth of all the contestants so far IMO! tank looks really good! anyway
is it possible i see a better pic of your FW planted 30g. ?????

Looking excellent as usual. That cabage coral intrigues me. It looks like its doing great.

Thanks - I haven't had time to do much to my tanks this month. No water changes - my FW planted has really suffered due to lack of attention. The 2.5g has been doing ok considering. Updated pics of growth.

FTS - taken tonight


FTS - corner


GSP mat growth is finally going up instead of down Polyps are not out but it makes it easier to see the growth up.



Few new dusters have appeared - they seem to like the fact I haven't done any water changes this month.


Orange M.Digi showing some growth


Orange Cap has colored up nicely / more of a pink than orange in this tank


One of the wall digi growth - colors have maintained in this tank which is nice


More digi growth shots




Wall of digi's - all exhibiting growth and retaining color well.


More pics

Green mushroom on ground has spread out a bit
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/green_mush_growth.jpg[/img]

Critter from my other tanks fuge I threw in since Cerith is not enough of an algae crew
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/new_critter2_26.jpg[/img]

Tiny Candy Cane frag has done well despite its location in the tank notice the split heads and tiny head growing in compared to when it was added.
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/candy_growth_2_26.jpg[/img]

Pics from when it was added

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/tinycandy.jpg[/img]

Polyp growth
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/polyp_growth_2_26.jpg[/img]

Well this tank still appears to be flourishing despite having had no attention recently.

Best regards

Ann

Thanks, I've been able to defeat the algae problem I was having. I replaced my RO/DI membranes / filters and replaced the resin - back at 0 TDS again on the meter. I added in 3 small blue leg hermits, and a temporary astrae which made short work of algae. The astrae knocked loose a few of my monti's. Also having corralline growth appearing on the glass now, so at least it started - a few months later than most folks but at least it started Was able to snap a few shots before the lights turned off - here they are.

Gorgonian is also showing growth although at a slower pace - if you look back at the older shots you will see it is now growing a new branch on the lower left side

FTS 3-15-06


Corner 3-15-06


Side


Spotted mushroom is reproducing again- you can see baby behind parent in this pic


Mushroom under HOB output pipe is doing well and grown


Green ric starting to split


Side shot of monti mountain with various softies mixed in


Lem has shown some decent growth from a tiny tiny frag I added


Toadstool has done well in this tank - here is a side shot of it

More pics

Close up of monti mountain


Close up of polyp extension on violet / white monti


Candy Cane is doing well


Good old cabbage as a tank center piece - who would have thought

i love the spotted shroom and cabbage. very nice!

i thought of your tank recently when i saw a thread on using the foam for a large tank (RC?). things seem to be settling in very well. :thumbsup:

Wonderful piccies, everything looks so fit and healthy. I love the look of the cabbage coral, funny but I've never given that species a second glance before now in a shop.

Any sign of coralline growth on the foam yet?

Best regards

Ann

Tinyreef, Ann - thanks. No signs of coralline growth on the foam. From what I've read it takes much longer for coralline to establish on the foam unless you have a thick coating of rubble or sand which I don't I certainly learned from this experiment how to make it better next time around.

FTS
04-05-06


Corner
04-05-06


[Livestock]
Florida Tan Gorgonian
Pink Pom Pom Xenia (Red Sea)
Elongata Xenia (Silver Branch)
Pink Anthelia
Green Star Polyp (Long) (Briareum)
Pink Star Polyp (Long) (Briareum)
Brown Zoanthus (ultra rare )
Orange Zoanthus
Red Zoanthus
Tan Zoanthus
Green Zoanthus
Green Eye Zoanthus
Orange Center Zoanthus
Green Center Palythoa
Tan Cabbage Coral (Sinularia dura)
Green Ricordea Yuma
Yellow Polyp (Colony zoanthus)
Brown Kenya Tree (Capnella)
Cream Toadstool (Sarcophyton)
Cream Montipora Digitata
Purple Montipora Digitata
Brown Montipora Digitata
Green/Blue Candy Cane (Caulastrea furcata)
Blue Striped Mushroom
Purple Dot Mushroom
Green/Tan Mushroom (Rhodactis)
Misc featherdusters
1 Cerith Snail
2 Blue Leg Hermits
1 Unknown Snail / Limpet

[Equipment]
2.5 AGA glass tank
Tetratec PF150 Filter
Tetratec Heating Capsule
Current USA 18w 50/50 retrofit
Hogs Hood Canopy/Base
Corallife Digital Thermometer
DIY ATO (currently removed)

The mats on the left are were not open when I took the FTS today, I may take another later this week if I have time. Not that I have much of a chance. I'm hoping that people will see that small tanks are viable and quite enjoyable and can be low maintenance. For folks interesting in starting a small tank and keep costs low - I found the foam worked quite well, I would use a thicker layer of rubble/sand next time. For corals I would join a local reef club, almost all my corals are frags from my larger tanks and are common corals so they should be easy to get. I'm pretty happy with the way the Tetratec filter performed in this application, its just about right for a 2.5g and the surge provides sufficient flow to keep everyone happy. This has been a fun little project

FTS History from contest start to today
10-20-06


11-13-06


11-24-06


11-27-05


12-20-05


01-01-06


01-06-06


01-10-06


01-20-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_jan20.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_jan27.jpg[/img]

02-03-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/Feb03_FTS.jpg[/img]

02-26-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_02_26.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS03-15-06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_04_05_06.jpg[/img]

Corner Shots
11-27-05
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_shot.jpg[/img]

12-20-05
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cornershotdec.jpg[/img]

01-01-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cornerjan01.jpg[/img]

01-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_jan10.jpg[/img]

01-20-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cornershot_jan20.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/FTS_Corner_Jan27.jpg[/img]

02-26-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_2_26.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_4_05_06.jpg[/img]


Misc. Shots
01-20-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/misc_shot_jan20.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/Middle_Jan27.jpg[/img]

02-03-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/corner_feb03.jpg[/img]

02-26-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_wall_2_26.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_mountain_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/side_monti_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/green_mush_4_5_06.jpg[/img]



04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/kenya_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/gorg_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/misc_zoas_4_05_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/baby_ric_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

Algae Clean Up Crew taken 04-05-06

Smaller Hermit sitting on Xenia
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cleaner_crew_2_4_05_06.jpg[/img]

Larger Hermit on sandbed looking for food
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cleaner_crew_04_05_06.jpg[/img]

Cerith Snail cleaning glass
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cerith_04_05_06.jpg[/img]



Ric
11-27-05
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/newric.jpg[/img]

12-20-05
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/largeric25.jpg[/img]

1-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/ric_polyps_jan10.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/split_ric_03_15_06.jpg[/img]


Toadstool
12-20-05
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/toadstooldec.jpg[/img]

01-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/toadstool_zoas.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/toad_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/toadstool_04_05_06.jpg[/img]

Yellow Polyps
11-27-05
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/yellowpolypgrowth.jpg[/img]

01-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/yellow_duster.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/duster_algae_jan27.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/yellow_polyps_03_15_06.jpg[/img]


Cabbage
01-01-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbagemacro.jpg[/img]

01-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbage_jan10.jpg[/img]

01-20-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbage_jan20.jpg[/img]

02-03-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbage_feb03_growth.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbage_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cabbage_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

Cream Digi
01-01-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/montidigi01.jpg[/img]

01-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cream_monti.jpg[/img]

??
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_3.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_polyp_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cream_monti_4_5_06.jpg[/img]


Various M.Digi Green
01-01-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/montidig02.jpg[/img]

01-10-06 ??
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_1.jpg[/img]

01-20-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/green_montijan20.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_jan27_green.jpg[/img]

02-26-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/digi_02_26.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/green_monti_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

01-20-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/green_montijan20.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_jan27_green.jpg[/img]


M.Digi Purple
01-01-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/montidig03.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/side_monti_jan27.jpg[/img]

02-26-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/digi2_2_26.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/misc_monti_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

Various Wall M.Digi
01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/monti_zoa_jan27.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/wall_purple_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

Lemnalia
01-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/lemnalia.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/lem_jan27.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/lem_growth_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/lem_04_05_06.jpg[/img]

Purple Dot Mushroom look for baby mushroom in later pictures
01-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/purple_dot_mushroom.jpg[/img]

01-26-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/digi5_2_26.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/dotted_mushroom_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

04-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/spotted_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

Candy Cane
1-10-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/tinycandy.jpg[/img]

02-03-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/candy_growth_2_26.jpg[/img]

03-15-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/candy_03_15_06.jpg[/img]

Orange Cap
01-20-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/orange_cap.jpg[/img]

01-27-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cap_kenya_jan27.jpg[/img]

02-03-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/mat_feb03_growth.jpg[/img]

02-26-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/cap_growth2_26.jpg[/img]

Orange Digi
01-20-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/orange_montijan20.jpg[/img]

02-03-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/orange_feb03.jpg[/img]

02-26-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/digi3_2_26.jpg[/img]

Remounted after snail knocked it loose - mounted in different position
04-05-06
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/melbourne0/orange_monti_4_5_06.jpg[/img]

did you use great stuff to do the background , and did you coat it with anything?

Wow, what a great set of pictures, some good growth there too. I hope that you'll be keeping this tank on so that we can still see how it progresses in the future. Best of luck when the voting starts.

Best regards

Ann

man, unbelievable pictures!!! great documentary!!! this is one of my favorite tanks for sure. I really wish the coraline would have taken on theback wall... oh wells.... do you plan on keeping this setup for a while to see if it takes to coraline, or are you going to tear it down? awesome work!!!!

Thanks - I plan on keeping the tank its almost no maintenance which is what I love about nano/pico tanks. I'm going to add my ATO back in now so I don't have to top off every day. It took a long time for the corralline to establish, curious to see how long it will take for the back wall to get covered. I'm almost positive if I had a thicker layer of sand/rubble I would have faster results for the wall. If there is another contest I may try another foam entry but improved

Oh and the wall is standard Great Stuff foam with a thin layer of southdown playsand. I sculpted the foam before it cured and then put the sand on.

melbourne,

This is the first time I've check out your tank and I've got to say that is looks awesome! You did a great job on the back wall and the corals are beautiful.
Cheers,

- Chad

very nice.