WAMAS Tank of the Month
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I am so honored to be selected to be the TOTM of this month. Thanks for the nomination even - wow. Since I am still trying to make the fish and corals happy, this will boost my passion and interest. I have been keeping saltwater tanks since 2001.
I just choose a 29 gallon to begin with, and 55 G to 72 G to the current 93 Cube tank. Going through all the trials and errors, I just happened to keep the fish, and coral survives and grows in my tank.
Currently, I have a 93 Marineland cube tank (30x30x24) which fits my dining room space perfectly (well, I removed the handrails). It doesn't have a sump below. I had a bad experience with the sump, due to my lack of knowledge and research, and my main level was flooded. My boss wants to have a tank without a sump - whether I got it or not - so I kept all the equipment attached to the tank, more or less. I have a Vortech MP40 for the movement. I am using Reef Crest or Wave mode (I change between these two modes whenever I see something on the surface and the sandbed). I just blow them away with it and my corals and fish seem to adapt to that environment. My lighting system is GHL Mirtras 6200HV. I had great success with ATI 24x8 bulbs, and I just wanted to change. So I changed to GHL Mirtras lighting that has programing capabilities from your computer. Lighting starts around 11AM with actinic full on for 6 hours, getting reduced till 9PM, then goes to moon lighting mode. At first corals and fish didn't do well but as time has progressed, they seem to be doing great. I even have some growth and coloring on SPS. For the filteration, I have a skimmer running 24 hours, 100 lbs of live rock and 3 inch sandbed. I don't have much choice since I don't have a sump. I use Aquamaxx Cones HOB hang-on skimmer. I would say it's the best on the market. I had about 20 different hang-on skimmers (trust me, I have been there and done that). This skimmer simply out performs every skimmer that I had in the past. To be honest with you members, I don't know what my tank's vitals are. I have never checked anything other than salinity and manage my parameters with water changes. I can just see how the corals and fish doing, and if there is no polyp extension (it's rare these days). I do water changes. I did dose some 2 parts, but since I have lots of coralline algae, I assume it's ok to keep the SPS or LPS. I have 4 fish in my tank: A Purple tang, a pair of maroon clowns, and a blue devil damsel that I've had since 2003.) SPS (Red Dragon, Purple Bonsai, Rainbow monti, Ponape birdsnest, 500 dollar Efflo, Oregon Tort, Echinata) LPS(Frogspawns,Torch) Soft coral (Toad stool, Tyree Green Leather) 4-5 RBTA (it keeps splitting) I just feed big chunks of shrimp for LPS and RBTAs weekly, seaweed for tang, and brine shrimp 3 times a week for the fish. So far, I'm pleased that the corals have made it past the initial survival challenges. Now I am even more excited to see them grow. I trim and sell or trade the big corals from time to time. The reason is that I want the coral to start from the frag and flourish in my tank. The growth patterns, shapes and colors are all different each time. I have been a member of WAMAS since 2004. I've seen many old members have pass through and new members come in. This hobby takes a lot of time, effort and money. The best bet is to have some sort of mentor from the members - that's what I did. I have couple great guys to talk to and get advice. |
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