Some recent tank pics

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone. I haven't posted in a while, most because I had become a jerk. But I think I am over that now.

Anyway, I thought I'd share the progress on my current tank. This tank was set up about 9 months ago after we moved. The idea for this tank was that it would be mostly open space with just a relatively small number of very large corals. I think it will look good in a few years, but right now there is a lot of empty space as I wait for the corals I do have to fill in.

I haven't quite mastered the camera, but they are getting better. The color on the slimer is not correct, but most of the other corals are pretty close to true.

 

[bleedingthought]

Welcome back, Marcus.

You and Laura have been owing pictures for a while! It's looking good, but we need more pictures (especially FTS)!!! 8)

What size tank is this?

 

[Anonymous]

Nice!

 

[Anonymous]

Marky-mark! Looks good, and maaaddd props for being patient enough to do the grow out deal.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks!

Its a 120 gal. tank (4' x 2' x 2') Open top, bare bottom, high flow, heavy feeding, and heavy skimming.

I can't take a good FTS, this one shows the whole tank, but its a bit dark.

 

[Anonymous]

What kind of lighting?

 

[Anonymous]

Just two 250-watt Phoenix 14k DE Mh bulbs.

I like the simplicity of just having two bulbs light the entire tank, but I am tempted to supplement with more actinic somehow, at least if I can do it without cluttering up the top of the tank. I love being able to walk up to the tank and reach into it if i need to right a frag or something.

 

[Anonymous]

Very nice, sir!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you Crispy one!

 

[Anonymous]

What the General said. Very nice.

 

[trido]

I really like that unusual monti cap in the middle. Nice.

 

[bleedingthought]

Is that an echino the front/right? Looks really nice and big!!! Send me a frag! 8)

 

[Ben1]

Looking good...

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone.

Yes, BT, that is an Echinophyllia Sp. (aspera?).

The colors in that pic don't do it justice, it is really a vivid teal and pink. I haven't been able to gather the courage to frag it. I frag SPS without a second thought, but those meaty corals always scare me... they shouldn't though, this coral has been torn a couple of times because of things falling on it, and it always heals up very fast.. but still

 

[Anonymous]

Sweet tank. Looks a bit dim but at least those 14k bulbs actually have some blue in them compared to most 14ks which seem closer to 10ks.

Love the echino covering the bottom of the tankalso.

I have been breaking down my 300 gallon reef this weekend which after 5 years the sandbed has been sinking way too much crud. Next tank will definitely be barebottom for ease of maintenance and condiciveness to massive flow!

 

[Anonymous]

The 'dim' look is more a product of my poor photography skills. The tank looks much brighter in person. I'll try to get some better shots tonight.

When I had a cheap camera that I couldn't really adjust, I took much better pictures... now that I have a ton of settings, I can never get the pics to look right, and the 'auto' settings are terrible for tank pics.

I like these bulbs a lot. I was originally running XM 20ks. I loved the color, but there just wasn't enough intensity in the bottom third of the tank. If I switch to 400watt bulbs I may go back to the XMs. But I like the color of the Phoenix bulbs, and they are bright enough that many of my SPS (montis especially) thrive on the bottom.


When I took down my 155 with a very established, very deep sandbed, I was pretty amazed at how much crap had built up in it. Now I siphon out any detritus that accumulates when I do waterchanges. Its more labor intensive, but I know what is in there, and what isn't.

 

[ChrisRD]

Looks good! 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Hey, I learned something new tonight!
It turns out the cheap editting program I was using to resize my pics was making them look washed out and dark.

These should look a little better:

 

[Anonymous]

Now that I have figured this out I will try to get a decent FTS tomorrow

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone. I haven't posted in a while, most because I had become a jerk. But I think I am over that now.

:lol: Looks good Marcus! I like the layout, it looks very natural.