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My 58 Gallon Caribbean Reef


michael_cb_125

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michael_cb_125

Hello Everyone.

I just found this forum, and I dont see many Biotope aquariums around, so I figured I would share mine.

This is a very basic setup.
Rimless 58 gallon aquarium

Stand

Sump

Maxspect Razor

Koralia powerhead.

 

I do have an Octopus Diablo skimmer, but I do not run it, as I am able to maintain water quality with simple water changes of 20 gallons per week.

 

This tank is still very young and has much growing and filling in to do, but I am happy so far.

Everything in they system was collected in the Florida Keys

 

Anemone_zpsm1rhlsih.jpg

Gorg2_zps5kgeqlbn.jpg

 

Gorg_zpsjr088ytf.jpg

 

tank_zps9art77s2.jpg

 

Sorry for the terrible pictures.

~Michael

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Mr. Microscope

Brilliant tank! Love the biotope theme. Following!

 

How old is it?

 

Can we get a sump shot?

 

I think I see a cleaner shrimp, and are those trimma gobies?

 

:welcome: to Nano-Reef!

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jedimasterben

From the FTS it looked like sun corals with the rock flowers (which would still technically be Caribbean since they now live all over the Atlantic) but the rock flowers are just that puffy :)

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Not terrible pictures at all! Following this tank. :)

 

Your gorg and RFA collection is amazing. I'm hoping my gorg in my Florida biotope tank can get half that good!

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Unbelievable. This is an amazingly spectacular display. I love the fact that it is directly from nature, with a variety of life beyond just corals and fish. Maybe add in some native macroalgae, just a suggestion? Absolutely amazing.

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Yep, that's the only place they're found :)

That is so cool! I think my next tank will be a caribbean biotope and it will definitely have the grandis :).

 

What is the disc shaped thing on the left jutting out above the sponges?

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Michael, your tank looks great! Where do you get all your gorgonians? Ecogorgs?

 

What is the disc shaped thing on the left jutting out above the sponges?

I think it's a pen shell, atrina rigida
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michael_cb_125

Hello Everyone, Thanks for the kind comments.

This tank has been up and running for only two months. It is still very young and has much growing to do.
My ultimate plan for the tank is to have every square inch of rock covered with life of some sort. I want to see natural competition for space, and corals and invertebrates mingling as they do in the wild.

 

As of now the livestock includes the following, just ask if you would like latin names.

 

Masked Gobies x9

Royal Gramma x1

Sailfin Blenny x1

Rock Flower Anemones x12

Beaded Sea Anemones x2

Pederson's Cleaner Shrimp x1

Spotted Anemone Shrimp x3

Sexy Shrimp x1

Skunk Cleaner Shrimp x1

Blue Leg Hermits x3

Scarlet Reef Hermit x1

Orange Leg Hermits (unidentified) x5

Pen Shell x1

Orange Ruffled Sponge x1

Red Ball Sponge x1

Orange Tree Sponge x2

Purple Frilly Gorgonian x3

Purple Knobby Gorgonian x1

Purple Candalabra Gorgonian x1

Rusty Gorgonian x2

Red Sea Whip x2

Golden Frilly Gorgonian x1

Purple Split Pore Gorgonian x1

Knobby Sea Rod x1

Red Tree Gorgonian x1

Ridcordea florida x12

St. Thomas Bubble Mushrooms x8

Zoanthus sp. x2

Palythoa grandis x1 colony

Protopalythoas sp. (Green Buttons) x1 colony

Feather Duster x1

 

I have several Mermaid Fans and Shaving Brush Algaes arriving soon.

 

My ultimate stocking plan for fish is pretty basic. I plan to add one more masked goby, to make an even ten.

I will add two of the following gobies: Blue Neon, Green Banded, Yellow Line and Peppermint.
I want a butterfly in the display, and I am only fond of a few Caribbean species, and go figure they come from deep water. So my butterflyfish will be a Bank's Butterflyfish (Prognathodes aya.). I have kept this species in the past and they are extremely interesting to watch and are mostly reef safe.

I want another cryptic basslet species, and what better choice than Liopropoma carmabi (Candy Basslet). I have also kept this species with great success. IME over time they become a true reef pet. I plan on adding a collected pair.

 

That is is for the fish.
As for coral and invertebrates, anything that I find that is interesting will be added as I am lucky enough to find it!!

Let me know if there are any questions about my little tank.

~Michael

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michael_cb_125

Thanks tibbay07.

As much food as I add to this system, I would have a kelp forest without the heavy water changes.
The corals and inverts love the food, but so does the algae :(.

I am working on getting some photos worth sharing.

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michael_cb_125

Hello Everyone.

I made a new addition over the weekend, a little teeny slipper lobster. I have yet to see him during the day, but he sure scoots around at night.

Here are a few pictures that I just snapped. I am using a camera phone so the quality is not great.
I hope everyone enjoys.

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-03-09_zpstqpsf

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-02-19_zpsvnbhk

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-02-59_zps1kkrf

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-02-33_zpshx9mu

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-02-48_zpscmtcm

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-02-05_zpsricxh

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-04-04_zps6dpjq

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-03-52_zpsaunqz

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-03-24_zpsdzrpv

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-04-28_zpsxswnr

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-04-53_zpsx6sdc

 

Screenshots_2015-02-22-13-05-08_zpsej9df

~Michael

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Really beautiful tank dude, I love all the Florida corals. I must see a picture of your lobster as soon as you are able to snap one. I learned that mine doesn't really mind red lighting so I can see him at night without making him run for cover.

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michael_cb_125

Yup, most invertebrates cannot detect red light wave lengths. This is how I have pulled many worms out of my systems.

Thanks for the kind comments.

~Michael

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FOLLOWING.

 

btw...the green palys in the back behind the grandis polyps...did you collect those yourself? Because I got mine in the keys too if you did lol

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