Chris' 50G SPS and Zoanthid Dominated Reef - Page 4

chris88 · 03/27/2011, 04:35 PM

It has been a few months since I have updated this thread but I took a couple of quick pictures with a cheap digital camera to show some progress. I had to get rid of a few corals to make room for the growth I have been getting. Also I have begun dosing a few zeovit products and they have been helping a bit with color.
I still have never done a water change on this tank and do not plan on doing one unless the corals show some sign of stress. I do dose a lot and test often but other than that I just let nature take its course. I think you will be able to notice some big growth from the last pics even though I have fragged mostly every coral in there.
Enjoy!

chris88 · 03/27/2011, 07:09 PM

Forgot to mention that i changed the bulbs slightly.

KZ SUPERBLUE
KZ NEW GEN
KZ FIJI PURPLE
KZ SUPERBLUE
KZ NEW GEN
KZ SUPERBLUE

Jay-sun · 03/27/2011, 10:21 PM

Wow!! Tank looks super nice!
U have some really nice colonies in there.
Very impressed.

Jason

sahin · 03/28/2011, 02:02 AM

It's looking so beautiful! Keep up the good work.

Which zeovit products are you using and what differances have they made to coral colour.

fishcraze_1 · 03/28/2011, 06:05 AM

tank looks amazing

best part is you have an average T5 Fixture, yet have awesome results

any reason why you use KZ Bulbs over ATI

chris88 · 03/28/2011, 07:18 AM

I have tried a lot of different products for color because i cant really buuy any new colonies so i need somthing for fun lol. The zeovit products other then the addition of potassium have been the only thing to really help. They are not miracle makers but it will help with your color.

I do not run the whole zeovit line. I only use the following and have only used them for just over a month.

XTRA
CORAL VITALIZER
AMINOS
SPONGE POWER

I dose based on thier guidlines and have noticed improved color within a few weeks. I do dose a bit of vodka but i have been cutting back.

chris88 · 03/28/2011, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishcraze_1

tank looks amazing

best part is you have an average T5 Fixture, yet have awesome results

any reason why you use KZ Bulbs over ATI

In canada the ati bulbs are the same price as the kz bulbs. I have tried the ati bulbs but i have found the best success with the kz bulbs overall. The KZ new gen is the only daylight bulb i really like and i have tried just about every one on the market. I like the results i get with the fiji purples and notice a big difference in color without them. As for the ati blue plus and the kz superblue to me they are the exact same bulb and i would use either or.

I do not get a great selection in corals where i live so the colors would be even better if i had some of the beautiful corals i see on this site. I just kind of do the best with what i can find locally.

XSharkboyX · 03/28/2011, 09:06 AM

Nice looking tank! It's very refreshing to see a tank with colonies again!

chris88 · 03/28/2011, 04:00 PM

Thanks. Once you get everything dialed in things take of and grow into colonies pretty fast. Only problem now is finding people to give frags to. where i am at there is not many people who keep reefs so i end up just tosing frags which sucks.

chris88 · 05/16/2011, 03:47 PM

So here are some pics from my iPhone taken semi recently. I dont think i like the border so i wont be using that again. The pictures look pretty good for a camera phone but the quality is no where near a DSLR.

Let me know if you have any thoughts or comments.

ezerasurfr · 05/16/2011, 04:24 PM

I wouldnt toss them, I would take them to your local LFS. Even if he doesnt pay you for them (which is unlikely) - it would be better than throwing them away. Also, if you're fragging that often. Start up a website and sell $5 frags plus shipping.

Preservation is an incredibly important part of our hobby and you have some great corals.

BTW, where are you - i'll even buy some frags from you if you're willing to ship (I'll pay shipping too)

chris88 · 05/16/2011, 06:26 PM

i agree with what your saying, and i have given tons of frags way to local reefers but where i live there isnt a lot of people who keep sps. I live in norther alberta (canada)

ezerasurfr · 05/16/2011, 07:53 PM

well let me know when youre going to frag next (if you would be willing to get them together to overnight) and I'll send a money order your way. We could save some corals and I could get some cool new stuff :-)

chris88 · 05/21/2011, 05:13 PM

I sold a birdnest colony and fragged a bunch of my A.staghorn corals. It allowed me to move a few things around and to make my sand bed a bit cleaner. Take a look at the pictures and let me know what you think. As always questions and comments encourgaed.

Pictures were taken with my iPhone 4.

Full Tank shot:

Hammer coral (slow grower for me):

Full Tank shot:

Zoanthids (Fast growing):

Full tank Shot:

Zoanthids and Red palys:

Palys:

Full tank shot:

Fire red Plays (don't knwo thier real name):

Zoanthids:

Jay-sun · 05/21/2011, 05:21 PM

This tank looks sooo nice!!
Your doing something right!
Keep up the great work

Jason

Nebthet · 05/21/2011, 05:45 PM

Wow.. everything is looking so good in your tank. Makes me so jealous.

chris88 · 05/21/2011, 05:55 PM

Thanks!

I have tried to simplfy everything and just concentrate on growing out large colonies. I think i have everything right were i want it now. I stoped carbon dosing and the only difference i notice is that i get a green film on the glass every coulpe of days. I used to get a white film about once a week.

collie man · 05/21/2011, 11:58 PM

if you need to sell of anymore corals to make room id like anything you have lol.

your tank looks so beautiful and natural. i hope to have growth like that one day, what do you dose?

chris88 · 05/22/2011, 01:36 AM

Collie man where are you located. I dose home made calcium / alkalinity / magnesium daily. My tank has a very high consumption rate due to the growth. I also dose a bit of potassium, iron, iodine from brightwells. I only do it weekly and not very much. I do also dose the zeovit nano package which I find really dose help with color.

If you have Any other question feel free to ask.

collie man · 05/22/2011, 10:30 AM

I live in Ventura, California a bit far from you I must say. Do you dose manually or a 2/3 head dosing unit? I haven't tried zeo yet but im very close

chris88 · 05/22/2011, 11:09 AM

Yeah i dose manually. I have been doing it a while so i kinda have it down pack. I have to test weekly just to make sure everythign is in line becuase the growth isnt always steady, i find the corals grow in spurts so the consumption rate isnt regular.

I do not run the full zeovit system. I just use the nano package. It has four bottles and its pretty simple and cheap to use. It isnt going to give you the same results as a full on zeo system but you will see some add color and polpy extension benifits.

chris88 · 06/21/2011, 09:49 PM

New tank shots taken with my iphone so the quality isnt the best. i have moved a few corals around and fragged up my large bali green slimmer because it started to look like crap after my DKH got uo to 11. As always questions and comments are encouraged.

Full tank shots:

Zoanthids growing like grass:

Tricolor acro growing from a frag:

chris88 · 06/23/2011, 05:49 PM

I borrowed a DSLR and a few different lenses and took a bunch of pictures. I don’t have much camera skills but these are some of the better ones. I should have used a tripod for the macro lens. The pictures were coming out blurring because I couldn’t stay still lol. I think a few of them turned out amazing so i hope you enjoy.

Full tank shots:

Sps coral shots:

This is my favourite pictures and it makes and amazing desktop background, just try it and see.

chris88 · 06/23/2011, 05:50 PM

Zoanthid / Palythoa and Hammer corals:

EdSnyder · 01/18/2012, 11:18 PM

Still no water changes?

03/28/2011, 09:06 AM	#83
XSharkboyX Wishin' I Was Fishin' Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 472	Nice looking tank! It's very refreshing to see a tank with colonies again! __________________ "But why is the rum gone?" Captain Jack Sparrow

01/18/2012, 11:18 PM	#100
EdSnyder Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Port Orange, FL Posts: 527	Still no water changes? __________________ "He worked really hard Grandma..." "So do washing machines." Current Tank Info: Changes Daily

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03/27/2011, 04:35 PM	#76
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	It has been a few months since I have updated this thread but I took a couple of quick pictures with a cheap digital camera to show some progress. I had to get rid of a few corals to make room for the growth I have been getting. Also I have begun dosing a few zeovit products and they have been helping a bit with color. I still have never done a water change on this tank and do not plan on doing one unless the corals show some sign of stress. I do dose a lot and test often but other than that I just let nature take its course. I think you will be able to notice some big growth from the last pics even though I have fragged mostly every coral in there. Enjoy!

03/27/2011, 07:09 PM	#77
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	Forgot to mention that i changed the bulbs slightly. KZ SUPERBLUE KZ NEW GEN KZ FIJI PURPLE KZ SUPERBLUE KZ NEW GEN KZ SUPERBLUE

03/27/2011, 10:21 PM	#78
Jay-sun Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ctr. Ossipee NH Posts: 100	Wow!! Tank looks super nice! U have some really nice colonies in there. Very impressed. Jason

03/28/2011, 02:02 AM	#79
sahin Ultimate Reefer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,540	It's looking so beautiful! Keep up the good work. Which zeovit products are you using and what differances have they made to coral colour.

03/28/2011, 06:05 AM	#80
fishcraze_1 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 284	tank looks amazing best part is you have an average T5 Fixture, yet have awesome results any reason why you use KZ Bulbs over ATI

03/28/2011, 07:18 AM	#81
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	I have tried a lot of different products for color because i cant really buuy any new colonies so i need somthing for fun lol. The zeovit products other then the addition of potassium have been the only thing to really help. They are not miracle makers but it will help with your color. I do not run the whole zeovit line. I only use the following and have only used them for just over a month. XTRA CORAL VITALIZER AMINOS SPONGE POWER I dose based on thier guidlines and have noticed improved color within a few weeks. I do dose a bit of vodka but i have been cutting back.

03/28/2011, 04:00 PM	#84
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	Thanks. Once you get everything dialed in things take of and grow into colonies pretty fast. Only problem now is finding people to give frags to. where i am at there is not many people who keep reefs so i end up just tosing frags which sucks.

05/16/2011, 03:47 PM	#85
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	So here are some pics from my iPhone taken semi recently. I dont think i like the border so i wont be using that again. The pictures look pretty good for a camera phone but the quality is no where near a DSLR. Let me know if you have any thoughts or comments.

05/16/2011, 04:24 PM	#86
ezerasurfr Moved On Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 663	I wouldnt toss them, I would take them to your local LFS. Even if he doesnt pay you for them (which is unlikely) - it would be better than throwing them away. Also, if you're fragging that often. Start up a website and sell $5 frags plus shipping. Preservation is an incredibly important part of our hobby and you have some great corals. BTW, where are you - i'll even buy some frags from you if you're willing to ship (I'll pay shipping too)

05/16/2011, 06:26 PM	#87
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	i agree with what your saying, and i have given tons of frags way to local reefers but where i live there isnt a lot of people who keep sps. I live in norther alberta (canada)

05/16/2011, 07:53 PM	#88
ezerasurfr Moved On Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 663	well let me know when youre going to frag next (if you would be willing to get them together to overnight) and I'll send a money order your way. We could save some corals and I could get some cool new stuff :-)

05/21/2011, 05:13 PM	#89
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	I sold a birdnest colony and fragged a bunch of my A.staghorn corals. It allowed me to move a few things around and to make my sand bed a bit cleaner. Take a look at the pictures and let me know what you think. As always questions and comments encourgaed. Pictures were taken with my iPhone 4. Full Tank shot: Hammer coral (slow grower for me): Full Tank shot: Zoanthids (Fast growing): Full tank Shot: Zoanthids and Red palys: Palys: Full tank shot: Fire red Plays (don't knwo thier real name): Zoanthids:

05/21/2011, 05:21 PM	#90
Jay-sun Moved On Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ctr. Ossipee NH Posts: 100	This tank looks sooo nice!! Your doing something right! Keep up the great work Jason

05/21/2011, 05:45 PM	#91
Nebthet Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Belleville, Ontario, CAN. Posts: 438	Wow.. everything is looking so good in your tank. Makes me so jealous.

05/21/2011, 05:55 PM	#92
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	Thanks! I have tried to simplfy everything and just concentrate on growing out large colonies. I think i have everything right were i want it now. I stoped carbon dosing and the only difference i notice is that i get a green film on the glass every coulpe of days. I used to get a white film about once a week.

05/21/2011, 11:58 PM	#93
collie man Stoney Reefer Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 548	if you need to sell of anymore corals to make room id like anything you have lol. your tank looks so beautiful and natural. i hope to have growth like that one day, what do you dose?

05/22/2011, 01:36 AM	#94
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	Collie man where are you located. I dose home made calcium / alkalinity / magnesium daily. My tank has a very high consumption rate due to the growth. I also dose a bit of potassium, iron, iodine from brightwells. I only do it weekly and not very much. I do also dose the zeovit nano package which I find really dose help with color. If you have Any other question feel free to ask.

05/22/2011, 10:30 AM	#95
collie man Stoney Reefer Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 548	I live in Ventura, California a bit far from you I must say. Do you dose manually or a 2/3 head dosing unit? I haven't tried zeo yet but im very close

05/22/2011, 11:09 AM	#96
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	Yeah i dose manually. I have been doing it a while so i kinda have it down pack. I have to test weekly just to make sure everythign is in line becuase the growth isnt always steady, i find the corals grow in spurts so the consumption rate isnt regular. I do not run the full zeovit system. I just use the nano package. It has four bottles and its pretty simple and cheap to use. It isnt going to give you the same results as a full on zeo system but you will see some add color and polpy extension benifits.

06/21/2011, 09:49 PM	#97
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	New tank shots taken with my iphone so the quality isnt the best. i have moved a few corals around and fragged up my large bali green slimmer because it started to look like crap after my DKH got uo to 11. As always questions and comments are encouraged. Full tank shots: Zoanthids growing like grass: Tricolor acro growing from a frag:

06/23/2011, 05:49 PM	#98
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	I borrowed a DSLR and a few different lenses and took a bunch of pictures. I don’t have much camera skills but these are some of the better ones. I should have used a tripod for the macro lens. The pictures were coming out blurring because I couldn’t stay still lol. I think a few of them turned out amazing so i hope you enjoy. Full tank shots: Sps coral shots: This is my favourite pictures and it makes and amazing desktop background, just try it and see.

06/23/2011, 05:50 PM	#99
chris88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Alberta (canada) Posts: 657	Zoanthid / Palythoa and Hammer corals: