sorry about that, not updated for ages.

Have made some masive changes to the tank, basically sold off 95% of my corals and went Fish Only.

Still kept all my sun corals though and they are doing great.

I will endevour to update the site ASAP.

I have updated the Fulltank Shot area for a start.  not sure why my Blog wont work either.

The changes all occured around Jan09 / Feb 09 so things are settling down, I have around 40 suns now including a couple of Black Suns.  The Suns are budding as well with a few new colonies cropping up.

I'm not 100% happy with it though in fact probably only around 60%, I predict a full strip down and redesign of the Rock work in the next few months.

I have also been able top remove all 4 of my 400 watt halides and now have around 300 watts of t5 (not enough yet but I have some SPS frags doing well that were left when the SPS got sold off).

Its yet again a work in progress.!!!!please watch this space....for details of my Butterflies and Angels etc

 

30 Screen shots of all my settings for the GHL Profilux now uploaded the the GHL Blog in Reeftank / 7.5ft Tank.

These should be used ONLY to crib from as obviously you will have things in different sockets etc.

Gives you an idea on the settings anyway.

 

Before:-

 

 

Stripped out:-

 

 

Rig:-

 

 

Rig with Lumenarcs refitted but not yet wired up:-

 

T5 Dimmable fitted along with 1 Weather Strip, all wires secured:-

 

Complete:-

 

More purchases

Acropora

 

Angel

 

Well yesterday I visited TAC to leatrn about the GHL computer system that they are now selling.  I will be the main point of contact for customers and I will be setting up a full system on the new 4 by 4 cube that Mark is setting up as a display tank.

Of course I came away with some fish this time.

A stunning Sargassum Trigger

 

 Today I have finally started adding phyto over a 12 hour period during the night.  This will be 2 litres per night.

Here is a picture of my factory.

 

Orange Zoa Rock

 

Orange Zoa Rock

 

Green Zoa Rock

 

Acropora Millipora

 

Acropora Millipora

 

(Pics to follow)

Massive Wild Deep Water Acro

 

Red Lobo Brain

 

Encrusting Montipora

 

Sailfin Tang

 

Potters Angel

 

Fairy Wrasse

 

 

 

And the biggest chuck of Sun Coral you are ever likely to set your beedy eyes on found its way in my car for the journey home.

Along with a Small Green Trachy

And a Red Head Jawfish

(Pic to follow)

 

Acro - Large

Montipora

 

Favia of some sort.

Clam

 

 

 

True Scolly

 

Challis

 

Blasto

 

 

Acropora

Acropora

Montipora

Montipora

My first Blasto (not that I even remotely like it, just hoping it "glows" under Actinic)

ACAN Echinata

 

 

 

Pink Hystix

 

Brain

 

Acropora

 

Acropora Millipora

 

Acropora Millipora

 

Acropora

 

Brain

 

Trachpyllia Formally known as Wellsiphyllia

 

Acropora

Acropora

 

Trachy (yep another one but I like them)

Acropora (Deep Water)

Hydnophora

Sun Corals on sticks

 

TBC

 

TBC

 

Multi-Colour Trac 1

 

Multi Colour Trac 2

 

Very Large and simply Stunning Yellow Tailed Purple Tang

 

4 Additional Yellow Tangs

 

 

 

Finally the centre section of the tank currently looks like this:-

 

Tank cleaned and pics taken.

 

Red Trac

 

Green Elephant Eye

 

Red Elephant Eye

 

Purple Sand Anemone

 

Large Aussie Copperband

(pic to follow)

 

 Acan

Sand Anemone

 

Diadema Urchins * 2

 

 

This time 3 more Sun Corals that were returned from a customers tank, all 3 not in the best of health so I'm going to have to put some effort in to try to bring them back.

 

 

 

7 More Sun Corals due them now being effectivily banned, well got 8 actually but one has gone into the Wife Nano (which I havent added a section for yet)

 

Long Tenticled Plate

Green / Purple Acan

and a Large Manderin Fish

all will also be added to the suitable sections.

Thanks for looking.

 

A quick update made.

 

Purchase the following for the 7ft tank plus some items for Mary's NANO but then I don't document that on here, that's her baby.

Also took well over 200 pictures for Mark at TAC and published on their site , follow these links for some RARE,  incredible  and vast stocking levels.

My purchases are below the links and will be added to the site in their correct areas when I get some proper names etc. The tank is beginning to look absolutely amazing....even though I do say it myself.

Also rigged up a 20 gallon auto water change system due to my VATS being disconnected for the time being.  More to follow later in the week.

www.tauntonaquariumcentre.com/HOTNewstock/tabid/269/Default.aspx


www.tauntonaquariumcentre.com/CurrentStock/tabid/350/Default.aspx

 

Cyphastrea

 

Blue Throat Trigger - Male

Maldives Anemonefish (pair)

Bubble Coral

Deep Water Acropora

 

Umm 14 more corals to be procise.

7 - Goniporas

1 - Alvapora

1 - Elegance

2 - Sun Corals

1 - Monitpora

And 2 that I dont know the names of yet.

 

 

 

Cyphastrea sp. 

 

 

 

A second Cyphastrea sp.

 

 

 

 

and this is how the tank currently looks:-

 

Came away with the following:-

 Purple Gonipora:-

Red Gonipora:-

Duncan:-

Another Duncan:-

Pink Centred Zoa's

 

Enchinophyllia

Enchinophyllia

 

 

2 Lion fish (1 * Radiata and 1 * Antennata)



2nd pair of Clowns



Red Bubble Tip anemone


Purple Montipora Digitata

 

And came away with the following Corals (yeah I know but hey it can only stay coral free for so long)

At last I am the owner of a stunning Elegance Coral



These 2 massive Sun Corals



Large Purple Encrusting Montipora



So Far I'm well chuffed, The Sun Corals I have experimented with and actually stuck to the weir.

I'm also slowly positioning and milliputing the frags in place, working Right to left..

Also Today I have started the "Balling" method and more should soon be added in the Fauna Marin Blog area. To start with the idea is to work out quatities required.  But all is well, levels are increasing and Dosing pumps working great.

Please keep checking back. 

Well today took a trip to Portsmouth and visited a fellow reefer on UR (SPS Hoover) and purchased all the frags in this picture.

I will obviously add details in the relavant sections over the next few days and will also update on a regular basis to show growth of these corals.

 

Tank running well, skimmer pulling out loads of rubbish.

Extra plug bars / redox probe and 2 Dosing Pumps added to system

Level controllers setup and active.

Dosing pumps calibrated and connected to tank ./ supply bottles etc.

5 Bangaii's all now doing well in main display tank.

All Acans and Favia removed due to Angel munching.  2 Acans now in Wifes Nano Tank other 3 in sump and will be returned to LFS this weekend and swapped for something else, such as Sun corals and Elegance Coral.

Also visiting fellow reefer on Saturday to pick some SPS Frags.

Pics will be posted on Sat / Sun.  In meantime please check out other blogs for pics of Dosing pumps etc. 

Well I have fitted the Coralview t5 Actinics that I purchased from Rob @ Marine Lighting and connected them upto my Aquatronica

Also I am currently test filling my "Balling" method tanks.  Pictures will be added in the Fauna Marin blog area.

All stock doing well, however I have had to move all my Acans and Favia back into the sump as my Junior Blue Face, MultiBar Angel and Regal have decided they make a great snack. 

I will therefore be forced to sell the Acans or swap them at TAC for something else. 

Ok here is an update. Tank replaced under insurance.

New super weirs, same idea but refined. Basically the streams are still inthe weirs (4 in each) but using milliput has allowed me to fix the "clamp" in situ, resulting in no effective lengthening of the stream barrel, thus zero loss of flow.







Aquamedic Twin 5000 with adapted pump positioning which I have been reliably informed (and witnessed) increases air bubbles massively over standard.

Oh and the red rack to the right with 2 ft tanks is my "balling" method setup that I am creating.







Visited Taunton Aquarium Centre - 29 April 2007 - Thursday, September 09, 2010

Well today I visited TAC again and purchased the following:-

1 * Aquamedic 5000 Twin (modified)
1 * Aquamedic Oceanrunner 3500 to supply water to the skimmer
1 * Sander Certizan 200 Ozoniser
1 * RENA 100watt Heater for the wifes nano tank.
Small tube of Silicon Sealant for dividing 2 2ft tanks in two
1 * Ultra Marine Magazine
1 * Filter Bag
2 metres of 12-16mm eheim pipe for supplying skimmer
2 metres RO tubing
6 * RO taps
5 * RO T-pieces
Various pieces of 1.5inch pipe fittings for skimmer
1 metre 1.5inch pipe
1 * 8inch Net
1 * 6inch Net
1 * Extra Large Interpet Net
2 * Large bags of Course Sand
1 * Large bag of Fine Sand

Fitment and pictures of skimmer to follow over the next few days. 

Hi,

Tank now full, sand added but not nearly enough so off to get more tomorrow, and salted up to 1.026.

Today I sold my Aquamedic 5000 Shorty 2, tomorrow I pick up my modified Aquamedic 5000 Twin, along with some more sand etc.

Currently not circulating through the sump but I am ready, just not rushing things is all.

More tomorrow!! 

Visited Taunton Aquarium Centre yesteday and returned with:-

2 * 18lb bags of CaribSea Argonite Sugar sized Coral sand

2 * 30lb bags of Aragamax Sugar Sized Sand

1 * 25kg Bucket of Tropic Marin Reef Salt

1 * 25kg bucket of Reef Crystals salt

1 * New Tunze 6100 Stream to replace broken stream.

 

Further to this on my return home I have fitted the new stream and poured the sand straight into the tank (I know I should rinse the the sand but do you realise how long this would take!! Especially since 100lbs of sand has so far only covered about 30% of the tank.  I will get another 4-6 bags next weekend along with my AM 5000 Twin skimmer.

The tank is now as of 0900am 23rd April about 1//3rd full of RO all be it extremely "milky" due to the non rinsed sand!!!

Further updates later, but I hope to start "Salting" the water up this evening.

The plan is to have the tank full and circulating through the sump end of this weekend coming.

 

 

Tank now 95% full of tap water.

5 Streams refitted and tested to be ok.  1 knackered and needs replacing.  Other 2 been working fine in VATS for last 3 months.

Therefore current plan of action:-
Purchase 1 new replacement 6100 Stream
Purchase 3 new 6045 Nano Streams
Pick up and install 1 Aquamedic 5000 Twin Skimmer

Empty Tap Water
Refill with RO water.
Bring up to temperature
Salt up
Put sand in.

Transfer all rock and stock back.

Setup and install Balling method tanks, dosers etc.

Lots to do.

Updates to keep following here on in. 

Tank now 1/3rd full of TAP water to test!!!!!

Looking ok at moment, will fill more tomorrow 

Well today is 3 weeks since the tank was replaced.  Therefore in theory I could now test fill.  However I think I've waited this long and will therefore wait until the weekend.

However:-

I have today replaced ALL the filters and membrane in my RO filter and have also upgraded the whole unit to double the capacity by adding an RO-MAN upgrade kit.  This will mean that the unit is now rated at 200 gallons, which with my pump hopefully I can acheive.

Its all fitted and working and flow is much improved.  It should actually cut down on waste water by 50% so good for the environment as well as my water bill.

Over the last week I have also refitted 6 of the streams, and have adapted the method they are fitted into the weirs, 3 of the lights are also fitted and are fully tested and working.

All looking good and looking forward to the future.

Much much more to follow over the coming month and on. 

Well the tank is still empty, I'm still awaiting the new front glass pain to be delivered at which point the old can be removed and the new fitted and left to cure for 3-4 weeks.

All my stock is still with me, ie Fish, Rock and SPS in my 2 vats which are linked to one another and my LPS is in my Sump.

The LPS is fine, doing very well actually under very low flow and T5, certainly has livened up since I stopped the Zeo method, which possibly was stripping out to much nutrients.

Fish are ALL fine, no losses, touch wood.

My SPS however is a bit of a disaster zone, I guess I've lost about 50% so far.  Mainly Monti's but some acros as well.

I have not been adding any Calcium, Kalk, etc all I have been doing is adding RO water daily due to high evapouration.  Oh and food, I have continued to feed all tanks.

I'm going to use the time as a chance to tidy the whole setup, but will not be making an dramitic design changes.

Where the changes will occur is in the rock structure, that hopefully is going to be well apart from the norm.

 

Another visit to TAC

2 * Clams

1 * Sun Coral

 

4 Acroporas

 

Stunning White-spotted Surgeon Fish (Acanthurus Guttatus)

 

Came home with a couple of Corals this week:-

Montipora Digitata

Unknown

 

Acans

 

Oxipora

 

Couple of Alveporas

 

Montiporas

 

Hystix

 

Bottle Brush Acropora - Deep Water

 

Cream / Blue Tip Cultered Acropora

 

Large Alvepora

 

Candy Cane - Nucleur Green

 

Large Gorgonian

 

Pics added to Monthly full Tank Section and a few random shots added to the Random reef pics section.

 

Sadely I have to report some losses as well.

My very large Niger Trigger decided to jump and when I found him he was a gonner, absolutely gutted by this loss.

My large Lipstick was found dead, no outward sign of disease and was looking very healthy up to his sad demise.

Cleaner Wrasse finally disappeared.  Again gutted as I'd had this fish for many many years.

 

 

All other fish doing very well, as are my corals.  Some of the Sun Corals are struggling, but that can be the way with Sun Corals, the majority however are growing very well.  The ones that are struggling never really open enough to feed properly.  I will keep trying though, as some that had issues in the past are now coming back strong.

 

 

 

Another visit to TAC

Lobo Hemprichii

 

Fairy Wrasse

 

 

Acropora

Acropora

Niger Trigger (small)

 

 

 

Check out this amazing Gorgonian.

 

Acro

 

Acro

 

Trac for the garden

 

Another Trac to complete the garden (well for now!)

Hope you enjoy....I do...lol

Craig

 

 

All fish

(pics to follow)

 

Clown Tang

 

 

Acropora Millipora

 

Acropora Millipora

 

Acan Lord Howi

 

Montipora

 

 

Of course all from TAC.

Anyway, I am currently fighting a battle with Manjanos, and since I dont really follow the reefing rules, it was either strip my tank down and give up or find a preditor.

So I've added to Butterfly's....yes butterfly's in a SPS / LPS dominated tank, but right now I'll be honest with you and say I dont care.

Manjanos do no harm bar multiply at plague levels and attach to corals and thus BUG me big time.

so I purchased firstly a Burgess Butterfly, which to be fair is already munching the damned Manjano's, but early days and I'm not scared report back my findings over time.

Burgess.

 

I also added  a Saddleback, as this was from a tank strip down (Still from TAC though), and was reported as being a Manjano eater....not so sure now though as its picking at one particular Brown Acro (not one I'm worried about though). Stunning fish none the less!!!

Saddleback

 

Also added a Flame Angel (not good pic but its and update).

Like I said, given up caring.

Flame Angel.

 

Pale Purple Stag Acro

 

Blue'ish Millipora

 

Well thats it, update over.  Hope you like.

Bar the Manjanos I'm happy with how its panning out also.

 

Final Note, please check out the http://www.tauntonaquariumcentre.com web site and check out the Current Stock section to see where I get all my stock.

I do their web site, hence the frree advert lol.

 

All the best to my readers.

 

Craig.

 

Latest Full Tank picture for January 2008 added.

 

Smaller number of purchases this time:-

Red Gonipora.

 

Orange Zoanthids

 

And I went mad and added to my 2 dwarf Lionfish with a Small (at present) Volitan Lionfish).  Well? What do you expect, I never could be accused of being a sheep and followong the crowd.

 

We seem to have lost some fish recently, quite a lot really, not sure why but its definately some sort of disease.

Fish that appear missing are:-

Juvenile Blue Face
1 Male Perc clown
2 new addition Clowns
2 * Scribbled Anthias
3 * Alleni Damsels (these were in the sump)
It can be a seriously naff hobby at times.  I wont add any more fish until the Cyano has gone and the disease has also gone.
All else looking good, corals growing well, balling method seems ok.

Just a mess of Cyano and fish losses to keep my feet firmly on the ground. 

I have for the last week completed 4 Water changes of 20 gallons each (about 5%), this would be more but for now I still do not have my 150 gallon VATS setup.  I have completed these water changes due to discovering that my Nitrates are very high 100+ppm, I have also stopped using the FM Min and MinS and returned to having Cheato and Calerpa in the sump with the Sump being lit 24/7.  I will see if that helps.  For the time being I am still going to add FM Bak and also use the FM Lith reactor.

Also see a graph below produced by an amazing programmer that uses reefcentral (link attached), he has tapped into the Aquatronica Ethernet module. This tiny application allows for graphing, and basic control of the Aquatronica...To be honest its BRIILIANT and just makes the Aquatroinca so much more day to day friendly.  Highly recommended.

Link to the download site:-  reef.gamma.za.net/home/aquatronica_data_logger.dot

And also the link to the thread on RC about the Datalogger:- reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php

 

Just a small update to keep you avid readers up to date.

Well the tank has been replaced thanks to the Insurance company and is currently curing (sylicon), as the tank was replaced 2 weeks ago, ideally I have another week before I can test it with tap water.

I have started refitting all  my streams that I have cleaned and have ordered a big Aquamedic Turboflotor 5000 twin skimmer, which when it arrives I will plumb in prior to the tank being refilled.

I have also decided to add at least 4 Tunze Stream 6045 non-controlleable Nano's to the back pain, to aid circulation and avoid dead spots, this I can increase due to the magnet system but will initially try just 4, this is ofcourse to supplement my 8 * 6100  Streams which will continue to be hidden  in my weirs, these are being heavily  disguised at the front with the  use of Deltec milliput as well.

All electrics will be housed in proper electric conduit.

I am also building a stack of 4 * 2ft tanks beside the tank for the purpose of Topup and the "Balling method" which I will discuss later, to complete this method I will also be adding 2 * Aquatronica dosing pumps each with 3 pumps.  As stated more details and pictures to follow.

I'm quite looking forward to things now and although I have now lost 90% of my corals, my fish all survive and I'm looking forward to the future.

Please keep checking back as updates will follow more regularly from now on.

Craig 

I have today replaced my 4 * 400 watt Lamps with Marine Lux 14k items supplied by Rob @ Marine Lighting.  Even though they are 14k and not the 10k I had previously I definately think they look brighter and slightly bluer...I love the look.

I have also purchased 2 * Coralview T5 units with Actinic which I have not yet fitted but they certainly look nice units.

Sadly I have to report losing my Copperband yesteday, not sure why but one minute he was fine the next he was suffering, so I think something stung it or something like that.  Its such a shame that he servived being in VATS for 4 months but died shortly after going back into his real home.  I dont think I will purchase another Copperband as they although stunning are very delicate.

Other than that and the fact that the tank is very noisy as the moment all is looking great. 

Well today was very important day in the life of my tank...the fish have been transfered from the VATS.

I have therefore returned the following fish to their rebuilt home:-

Niger Trigger - 1
Atlantic Blue Tang - 1
Regal Angel - 1
Juv Blue Face Angel - 1
Multi Bar Angel - 1
Yellow Tang - 1
Copperband - 1
Wild Percula Clowns - 2
Anthias - 15
Cleaner Wrasse - 1
Algae Blennie - 1
Pijama Cardinal - 1
Cleaner Wrasse - 1
Bubble Tip Anemone - 1

And the following are now in the sump:-

Bangai Cardinals - 5
Alleni Damsels - 2

Here are some pics:-







 

Few more puchases lol....just cant help myself...stock is out of this world.

 

Thanks for looking.

 

 

 

Plus 35 * Turbo snails and 5 * Huge Snails

2 * Spikey Urchins

1 * Torch Coral (not out enough to take a pic yet though)

 

Came away with, for my tank:-

Harlequin Tuskfish

Pink Tail Trigger

 

Reg Encrusting Gonipora Rock

 

 

And for Mary's 12 gallon D&D Nano

Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish

Flame Hawkfish

Red Mushies

2 * Feather Dusters

Rare Zenia Rock

Green Plate Coral

 

 

Well today I have started dosing 15ml of Vodka using my Aquatronica Dosing pumps.

I will be adding 15ml daily for a few weeks and once confident it is not doing any harm will increase to 20ml per day (1ml per 100litres).

The theory is that Vodka is Carbon based and will thus help lower Nitrates.

Hopefully it will work hand in hand with Cheato in the sump.

I will not be returning to dosing FM MinS / Min or any of the FM foods,

I will however continue to use Lith in my Reactor and also 5ml of Baks per day (well until it runs out anyway).

I will try to remember to add BIO once per week.

 

 

 

 

Came away with the following items, however the pictures will be added later in the week.

3 * Sun Corals

1 * Lipstick Tang (Large)

1 * Scolymia (Elephant Eye)

 

I have also so far performed 3 * 20 gallon water changes over the last week or so.  Not sure that I have seen any benefit but I feel good about doing them again at long last.

 Also August Full tank picture added, coral pics will be added during the week hopefully.

 

Monthly full tank shot added and various shots in Random shots area.

 

Well I've now finished my rock work structures, and I'm 100% happy with it.  So here it is!!



And here is one of my 2 "Balling" method Tanks.  Each side holds 5 gallons and will be linked to my RO unit, but only filled as and when required.



 

More additions...busy week!!!!!!

 

Latest additions

 

Most from TAC but some from friends.

Relavant spots on the web site also updated.

 

Further updates:-

I have removed the divider that seperated the main section of my sump from the 2ft Miracle Mud section, thus creating a much bigger area for return pumps / skimmer pumps / Zeo Reactor etc.

Started dividing my 2ft tanks into 2, using perspex and adding 2 float valves per tank for the "balling" method.