aquavista99

My guess is no...which explains why no one in my area has them

Very nice sea fans, Jervis! No one in my area has them and yours look great!

Yes, most of the corals are turning brighter colors (to blue, green, purple and yellow) and most are showing increased growth rates as well. Of course, my Geo 624 calcium reactor is probably responsible for the increased growth and added color. BTW, I still add kalkwasser to my daily top off off water to help maintain proper pH and alk levels. My reef is starting off well.....still very young with potential and room for improvements. Here is another picture of my calcuim reactor. It has been in use for about 6 weeks now and I am very pleased with the results to date.

Here are a few more updated pictures ....lots of cheato, a cleaner shrimp, and sea cucumber pictures. Mangroves and existing coral seem to be doing great as well.

I removed my new SPS frags I purchased at the Cleveland frag swap from QT and recently placed them in my reef. Here are a few pictures of the new frags.

All the pictures are from the Big Island of Hawaii (Kealakekua Bay for the reef pictures). Would like to visit Maui next.

Very nice reef, Iceman. Enjoyed the entire thread!

Very nice...love the nano!

One brute container is filled with RO/DI water, the other with new saltwater.

I suppose my basement does look like a small-scale LFS. If you are ever in the area, please stop by for 50% off all LFS items....just kidding....if you are in the area, free frags for you! Here is the rest of the tour of my basement (IE, the drystock area).

Funny ... It's my underwater bunker.

What's a chiller? Just kidding!

For best results, make sure your entire SPS colony is exposed to intense light and random flow. It parts of your coral are bleaching, something is wrong. Usually the bottom/base of healthy corals get less light, but should otherwise be healthy with extended polyps, etc.

Thanks! I love my new skimmer as well. I just returned from a frag swap in Cleveland last weekend and picked up 10 new acro frags and some monti caps. I placed the new corals in QT for a few weeks to make sure everything is healthy (no flatworms, red bugs or monti eating nudis). Aquavista99's 30g SPS QT tank (400 watt MH w/ 10 k lamp; 4 maxi jet pumps, small skimmer and heater)

I found a few more reef pics from Hawaii.

Thanks for the compliment, Sapp! You could create the same system with less space, but the macro algae sump would have to go under the stand and chillers would need to be added to keep the reef cooler. I am fortunate I have a caring and understanding spouse who allowed me to take over our basement for my addiction (saltwater reef aquarium)

I figured you would like the updated pictures. The total power consumption for my skimmer is about 165 watts. Each Eheim recirculating pump draws 40 watts (three pumps total) plus I am using a Mag 5 pump (another 45 watts) to feed the skimmer. Excluding feed, 120 watts total.

And my water is cleaner than ever before as well

I am happy so far...the break in period is over and this skimmer is pulling lots of waste out of my reef now. I am cleaning the collection cup every other day now.

I think my new skimmer is working pretty well so far.

Jervismun, most of my live rock is mature (several years old). I have about 250 pounds of live rock and most of it is Tampa Bay aquacultured live rock straight from the ocean floor shipped in water to keep everything alive. If interested, check out the link below about Tampa Bay (Gulf of Mexico/ Atlantic Ocean) aquacultured live rock). http://www.tampabaysaltwater.com/

Thanks for the compliment, Terry Z. I take as much pride in my macro aglae/mangrove system as my SPS display aquarium. My fish, corals and macro algae seem to like the new system. Here are a few pics of my old 75 gallon and 90 gallon reefs....one was about 1.5 years old and the other reef was about 8 months old. 75 gallon reef 40g Sump for 75 gallon reef 90 gallon reef 30 g sump for 90 g reef

Skimmer has been up and running for less than two days. Here is the close-up you requested Another close up of my mangroves and cheato

Update:My macro algae sump is almost finished

I will post pics of the skimmer in operation soon. Here is a link to my skimmer's specs: http://www.euro-reef.com/rc500specs.shtml Model RC500 Technical Specifications **This model can be used in sump or externally** Rated for aquarium systems of +/- 500 gallons with a medium bioload Footprint/ sump space required for skimmer: 17" x 24" Height: 30" Reaction chamber diameter: 12" Reaction chamber volume: 8.38 gallons Inlet sizes: 1" Outlet size: 1.5" Pumps (included): (3) SPE5 Euro-Reef modified EHEIM 1262 pumps Pump power consumption: 120 watts (3X40w) @ 115/120 VAC 60hz Air intake: 2400 lph