Derek's Custom 180G SPS Reef Tank

[Salty Cracker]

Hopefully I split it up okay, this is where it got complex and interesting   I moved the rest to the general discussion board.

I didn't know photobucket could get overloaded like that.  Dang I had just started using it too. 

 

[spyd]

Pics are back! Enjoy them while they last. Lol

 

[spyd]

Hopefully I can get some more pics up tonight. My colours have been off the hook lately. Not sure what is spurring them on but my Convexa is the deepest red I have ever seen it. Absolutely unreal to be honest.

I also made a trip to RR a couple weekends ago. Braved the crap shoot that was the 401 Sunday morning... Icy as can be between Kitchener and Milton. I think I saw over 10 accidents on my way back home. Thank goodness for 4x4 on my truck!!

I picked up 3 wild colonies. All of which are doing well so far. The one with the most potential is still bleached but is slowly showing its colours. Light blue base at the moment, yellow corralites and red polyps... Who knows what it will look like for sure. Only time will tell.

Also picked up the following RR frags: Orange Planet, Cannibus, Pretty in Pink (Awesome coral!! Like the Matrix only green base), Orange Passion, Purple Passion, Avatar, Original Peacock and one I forget the name of right now.... All are looking great! Also, on the short list for 2 of his new corals that are off the hook. Saw them in person and couldn't believe the colours on them.

I was able to modify my rockwork last night as well and get my new Tonga shelf piece in the tank. I have been soaking it for over a month in RO/DI water with constant water changes to strip the PO4 out of it. Fingers crossed it will not cause too many issues. I know there will probably be some diatoms in the tank but that is really not an issue.

I also removed my Tunze 6105 and replaced it with the WP60. This thing has some serious power!!!! I have it on wave mode and am only running it a 75% power. It is just too crazy at 100%. I would have to modify my stand pipes and lower the water level in my tank some to run it at full power. Can easily make a 2" wave in my 6ft tank!! Thank goodness for the eurobracing or I would have made quite the mess!  : Right now, it is a good 1" wave and my few LPS pieces and Flame BTAs are loving it. I am hoping it will tighten up my SPS growth as well.

 

[teebone110]

Sounds like you added some sick pieces to your collection, did you arrange an appointment with RR or did you just test your luck that they would let you in?

Interesting that you pulled out the Tunze 6105, in favour of the WP60. It must outperform it in every aspect and probably takes up the same amount of space.

 

[curiousphil]

Sounds like exciting stuff looking forward to more pictures!

 

[spyd]

I pre-arranged my visit with Jay to correspond with a new shipment he got in. He even worked around my schedule. I had a playoff hockey game at 11am and he opened the store for me at 9am which was very nice of him! Getting first pick of the shipment was awesome and I think I just may be rewarded with this one wild colony if it stays healthy.

I pulled the 6105 because I just wanted to try a standing wave in my tank and this was the best option as I cannot fit a Wavebox in my tank properly without it being a complete eye sore. I am going to keep the 6105 in case I ever decide I need even more flow (which would be nuts) or if one of my 6101s craps out eventually.

 

[spyd]

Here are some of the frags I picked up. Some need to colour up a touch still. Colours are better in person as well though. I am still trying to work on my photography skills:

Pretty In Pink - Green base, blue tips and the polyps are actually hot pink.

RR Cannibus - Orange base with green polyps. It is a new release. All most like a Sunset Milli, except it's not a milli.

RR Red Bull Nice deep purple / red with red polyps.

RR Orange Planet - Nice bright orange base with red / orange polyps.

RR Avatar - Nice pale blue base with red polyps.

RR Purple Passion - It is like a deep greenish base with purple tips and deep purple polyps

RR Orange Passion and RR Original Peacock - Orange passion still needs more light to get those polyps nice and orange. Right now, they are more green / orange. I have it very high in my tank so the polyps will turn soon enough. Peacock is behind it. Light blue base, dark blue tips and reddish polyps.

RR Jaw Dropper - Still is colouring up. Goes from a green base to orange with nice blue polyps. Its small because I fragged a piece off all ready as a back up... You never know and with a high price tag, I don't like to take chances. I just moved it to higher light now and will keep showing how it progresses.

The others I got were all wild colonies that just need time and some love to colour up. Here are some starter photos so I can show the progress as they colour up for me:

This one is going to be off the hook IF it stays good and healthy for me... Right now, it is showing a yellow body with light blue tips and the polyps are definitely red. I am sure the base colours will change but you never really know at this stage:

This one is more purple with yellow corralites. I don't think it will change much at all. Maybe lighten up a bit in the base but that is it.

This one looks like a red stag at the moment. We will see how it colours up. It is mounted beside my RR Diablo for comparison.

 

[Poseidon]

looking good man!
really hope those explode for you so i can buy some frags in the future

 

[davesolo29]

Sweet.  Be by soon to see them. 


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[curiousphil]

:drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

 

[Duke]

holy score!! way to go, cant wait to see what a few months in your tank does for all those frags.>!!

 

[Thanh]

those are some nice sticks you got there D !

 

[Reef Hero]

:drool:
Pretty in Pink is kickass looking!!! I smell some RR for RR trades in the future.....
You JD is looking very healthy as well!!!
Very nice acro frags Derek! RR is high end for a reason..... Collectors only!


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[spyd]

I added my Tonga shelf piece to my display and moved things around to accomodate it. Definitely allows more space for SPS while still maintaining enough sandbed for all my existing LPS, clam and palys.

I also have a new toy. Picked up an Apogee par meter and sensor. I will take some readings tonight and chart them on a FTS to get an idea of what par values are around my tank currently.

FTS:

 

[nexusnight]

Looks awesome!!! What bulb combo Are u running?


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[jroovers]

Some amazing looking stuff! I don't even want to know how much all that cost you lol.  Will be super nice when it all grows out though. 

 

[Reef Hero]

My eye is still drawn to the my crazy chalice even in your FTS.... Why am I so drawn to chalice lately?!? Lol I think I got chalice fever and your tank thread isn't helping lol
You got a recent pic of your rainbow Derek?

 

[spyd]

Looks awesome!!! What bulb combo Are u running?

I am running 5 x ATI Blue Plus, 2 x ATI Coral Plus and 1 x ATI Purple Plus.

Some amazing looking stuff! I don't even want to know how much all that cost you lol.  Will be super nice when it all grows out though. 

Thanks Jordan! I don't even want to know what I spent. lol. My wife is well aware and is quick to remind me.

My eye is still drawn to the my crazy chalice even in your FTS.... Why am I so drawn to chalice lately?!? Lol I think I got chalice fever and your tank thread isn't helping lol
You got a recent pic of your rainbow Derek?

I will get a pic of that rainbow tonight. It is growing really well and I am thinking I may have to move it back into the main display soon to show it off. My frag tank is great for chalice growth though. Just the right amount of light and flow. I love that crazy chalice as well! It is even better in person. On top of that, it is actually a very decent grower for a chalice!

You may like this pic of the DV My Crazy chalice. It is under straight RB LED in the pic:

And here is one under full spectrum:

 

[jroovers]

My wife is well aware and is quick to remind me.

Funny how that works, isn't it? 

 

[spyd]

The dry Tonga Shelf rock I picked up finally showed 0 PO4 so I was able to aquascape my LPS / Frag tank. I think it came out excellent and was pretty close to what I had imagined it to look like. I added a 1" SSB to the tank and the rockwork. I fully expect a diatom bloom within a week or so but that doesn't bother me whatsoever. It will clear itself up in time. All pics are with XHO strips only so they came out a little too purple.

FTS

Close up of the rockwork. Don't mind the coral placements. I just kind of threw them all in there for now.

Here is a shot of some of the star studded chalice line-up that will be the highlights of the tank. There are more in there but just have to finish placing everything yet.