Jordan's reef [TOTM June 2008]

[jordan]

Hi everyone!

It's been a while that I have wanted to start posting my tank pics. So here we go.

Initially I was going start small (nano) and had convinced my wife that the new tank was going to be small (I have another FW tank). But after reading up on all things salty It was better to start bigger rather than small. I got myself a standard 4ft x 14 x 20 tank with a drilled weir + mini-reef for filtration.
Tank shot December 2004


Tank was initially filled with pre mixed salt water (red sea) and treated tap water (prime)...I know...bad mistake.

First rocks

After more reading the bioballs in mini-reef were removed and rock rubble placed in their place. Tank was left to cycle for about 3 weeks whilst small quanities of cured live rock was added. There is about 40kg of rock in the tank now.

After the cycle I started adding some button polyp coral and a yellow damsel. As well as other corals (mushies, sarco, goni and a helio fungia (plate coral)
February 2005


Other live stock added included snails, hermits, blue linkia starfish, 3 blue chromis, bannerfish, 2 tank bred ocellaris and an eyelash blenny.

In late Feb 2005 the tank had an outbreak of white spot - everything got stipped down and all fish quarantined and treated with Cupramine for 21 days. Tank was left fishless for 6 weeks. During this time the tank was re-acquascaped and a plenum added to help nitrate reduction.

Tank as it is at April 2005


left side

Right side

Lights are 2x55w pc 10k and 2x55w pc actinics all run from 3pm to 2am.

Skimmer upgraded to one bought from Barrier Reef Aquariums


Helio fungia I had to trade because it was getting too big to fit in the tank. Things are going pretty good at the moment. Looking to increase lighting soon and getting the nitrates lower (20ppm atm). Plenum got disturbed when our apartment get tiled and everything had to be moved and stop running for 3 days.

The tank volume is about 200L + sump 30L. I do a 60L water change ever fortnight.

Fish are fed flake, frozen mysis/brine/marine dinner/prawns saoked in Seachem Garlic Guard.

Will update when further things happen to the tank.

Cheers

[searlesy]

You have done a great job with the aquascaping, you have made the tank look much bigger than a 4 footer!

[jordan]

Thanks!

I had mate help me with suggestions. Probably helps that I only get things that are small to grow out....I'm sure the LFS think that I'm just stingy buying the small corals and fish but I get my satisfaction when I see the little things grow.

[dafidav]

very nice

also agree with great aquascaping

nice corals too

[jordan]

After 2 months my clowns have finally begun to host in the BTA!!!!


Added fluffy green mushies

Fungia

My brain

And closer shot of the eyelash blenny (Benny the blenny)


More stuff to come tomorrow from Barrier reef!! Getting my first shrimp!

[WAREEFER]

WA REEFER GIVES YOU THE THUMBS UP...NICE LOOKING TANK

WELL DONE...KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

CHEERS
CHE

[Sinistar]

Love the blenny.

[jordan]

Upgraded lighting to 2 x 150w 14k shoplighter MH with Astralux lamps from http://www.viclite.com (great looking lamp, top service and very good pricing!).

In the process of upgrading the lights I also had to modify the hood to accommodate the extra height required to fit the halides in.

Full tank shot


Left side shot


Right side shot


My favorite coral, my torch coral which has coloured the best in my tank since buying it. It used to be mostly brown now it's mostly fluoro green.


Apologies for the blurry pics. Upgrading to a new camera in a few weeks. Will post some more better pics then + the modification of the hood.

[jho51e]

fantastic tank!! i agree that it looks larger than a 4ft tank... :-)

[philip_c]

F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C WORK Jordan.
i agree with everyone else, the tank does look alot bigger that a standard4 footer.
keep up the good work

[dafidav]

looking great

thats a big leather

[Andy]

Very nice job. Is that anemone in the later oics the same one that was bleached when you got it. Has certainly regained some health if so. Keep the updates coming Jordan.



Andy

[jordan]

Hi

No the anemone is still bleached. The first time it got bleached was when it went through a powerhead. I feed it a couple of times a week but I am still waiting for it to recover if it ever will.

[jordan]

Hi all,

Here are some more updated shots.

Firstly the modified hood housing halides (new fish getting acclimitised)


This is the new addition to the tank - a cleaner wrasse. I'm very happy to say that he eats like a pig. Will take anything and everything. He has taken pellets, flake, nori sheet, brine, mysis and daphia. Also seems to pick stuff off the glass as well.



Here is the first piece of SPS that I am attempting to keep....so far so good. I am hoping that it might colour up a bit more.



Here is the second piece that I got the other day. It's a really beautiful piece that the photo doesn't do any justice (still trying to get the hang of the new camera).



Here is a full tank shot

[jordan]

New equipment on the way. Waiting delivery of a Tunze 6060 to replace all the powerheads in the tank. As well as Tunze Osmolator coming from Singapore on Wednesday. Can't wait to get my hands on some new toys.

Bad news is that the cleaner wrasse has dissappeared. One night it was out eating with the rest of the crew and the following it had dissappeared. I suspect crabs somewhere.

[jordan]

My Osmolator and magnet holder have arrived via Singpore (Reefdepot.com.sg) Top service guys!!! Thanks for the free towel as well!

Sent on Wednesday and arrived today Friday....that's fast.

Here is a pic of the goods. Can't wait to get home to set it up....oh crap...still don't have my Tunze 6060 yet....and that was ordered locally 2 weeks ago.



More updates to come when it is installed.

[JDub]

Tank certainly is coming along nicely jordan, looks a lot better with the new lighting etc

[shockdude]

Hey Jordan, regarding your osmolator from singapore, do you need a power converter? and mod power plugs to au?

My Osmolator and magnet holder have arrived via Singpore (Reefdepot.com.sg) Top service guys!!! Thanks for the free towel as well!

Sent on Wednesday and arrived today Friday....that's fast.

Here is a pic of the goods. Can't wait to get home to set it up....oh crap...still don't have my Tunze 6060 yet....and that was ordered locally 2 weeks ago.



More updates to come when it is installed.

[jordan]

Yeah it comes as a 2 prong pack. Just need to whack on a converter plug to run it.

[jordan]

Update to tank.

Finally got my a$$ into gear and installed the Tunze Osmolator. Had a bit of a fiddle trying to figure out how to fix the braces onto the edge of the sump.



Here's the freshwater reservoir (decided to buy one from bunnings for $7 instead of getting the Tunze one for $40 )



Mounted the controller...



Oh yeah...2 x 36w NO actinics installed a few weeks back (Thanks Bonsaiboy for helping me get the tubes )



Another shot with flash showing fan (not in operation yet as winter weather)



New(ish) acro under the actinics.



New piece of acro with purple tips acquired.



And finally managed to get a closeup shot of the CBS that has been in the tank for a few months now. He has only started to come out more often to search for food with the lights on.



That's all for now. Still waiting for my Tunze pump to come.......been waiting for about a month now........the osmolater took 2 and half weeks....and that came from Singapore

[jordan]

New pieces of acro and montipora



and this really awesome looking blue tip



I made a little frag of the monti. Will see if it grows well.

Shots were take with halides and actinics on.

[jordan]

First clam bought from Barrier Reef's opening sale!! for a bargain $65 as advertised. Thanks guys!

[bill]

tank is looking mad!!! excellent work

do you remember what caused your whitespot break out?

[jordan]

White spot breakout was caused by introducing bannerfish without quarantine. It died whilst undergoing cupramine treatment as I could not get him to eat anything.

[jordan]

Pics of my first frags







I hope they take and grow because I really like the blue one. The first frag already had polyps extended out within 10 minutes of fragging.

[bill]

aww so cute!

[Salty]

Thats an great tank what do you think of the protien skimmer its like my one which I havent used as yet

[jordan]

Salty,

Skimmer is really good.....not that I have compared it to a DBreeftech or anything else other than a Queen Turbo (stay away from that one!). I have the medium sized skimmer from Barrier Reef. Currently running a OR 2500 on it. Seems a bit underpowered. The pump that Barrier supply is a 3500LPH one which did run the skimmer better.

I will be getting the OR 3500 to replace the OR 2500 for the skimmer. I think that for the amount of money you pay for the skimmer is worth it.

[hoffsta]

Great tank jordan, love your range of corals and you have some good frags that will turn out well.
My banner fish occasionaly has white spot problem in my tank aswell but doesnt seem to effect him or the other fish.

Cheers Matt

[jordan]

December update.

Those of you that read Axeman's trade request with mushroom thread may recall that he mentioned that we did a trade. He traded me some really nice frags. They've been in the tank for about 2 weeks now and appear to be doing quite well considering that they have gone from 250W to 150W halides.

This was a very blue frag (in axeman's tank) that has gone a bit brown in my tank. It's bluer on the other side but I was unable to get a photo.


Purple one...again lost some of the deep purple colouration.


Two really nice bright yellow/green montipora




And a piece of that very famous Dallas Warren


Here is a full tank shot as of 14/12/05