Orion's 30 gal reef

[Orion]

Well the jawfish decided to go carpet surfing last night.  RIP!  He decided to move to the other side of the tank the other day where there was a weak point in the live rock (The rock was only being supported by sand - my fault), and it was starting to shift.  So I fixed it, but it in the process disturbed his den. 

Can't believe he fit through this tiny gap between the screen top and the glass...

I'll get something to cover this before I try another one.

 

Some of the corals and live rock were rearranged slightly with yesterdays live rock "fix".

I also added a barnacle cluster from reefcleaners for the Jawfish hoping he would make a den out of it.  Maybe the next one will.

 

FTS

 

 

Innovative Marine's "Minimax" Reactor with GFO -

 

 

Gorgonian added over a week ago.  Seems to be doing well with polyps out all the time.

 

Edited June 29, 2013 by Orion

[Mattiejay6]

Sorry to hear about your jaw fish... That's crazy to be able to get through such a small gap! Your tank looks amazing!

 

Btw where did you get your live rock?

Edited June 29, 2013 by Mattiejay6

[Orion]

Thanks!

The live rock was purchased from House of Tropicals in Glen Burnie, MD.  There is approx 30-35lbs worth in there.

[sachabballi reef]

Gorgonian and jaw fish.....I guess you like the advanced and difficult stuff! Lol

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[Orion]

Updates -

 

I moved some of the corals around since June. (FTS coming later, I'm currently on the road) All the livestock is doing well, including the corals.  Starting to frag the birdsnest coral so if anyone wants a frag, let me know.  The other SPS in the tank hasn't grown enough just yet.

I noticed a small area of cyano algae starting to develop on one of the live rocks, quickly removed it, and haven't seen it since.  I wasn't being as diligent as I was a couple months ago with water changes, keeping the GFO/carbon fresh, and feeding a bit too much.  Those three combined definitely lead to problems with water quality.  This was quickly corrected!

 

Took out a media basket back in early July, and added a CAD Lights Nano skimmer.  This skimmer is great, easy to clean, dial-in, and quiet.  Right now I have no filter pad or filter sock on that overflow so I have to clean the skimmer and reactor pumps often because they get full of junk easily.  Still looking around for something that will fit between the skimmer and the overflow.  Will probably try one of these -

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-felt-filter-sock-with-draw-string.html

I think I can just use the string to tie it around the overflow.

 

Pods... I have a ton of them, especially in the sump.  They are like a swarm of bees when the fuge light comes on.  The tiny scooter dragonet is constantly grazing, scooting along the live rock / sand eating all that he can.  He is growing, and is fat!

 

Current livestock -

2 Ocellaris Clownfish

Diamond Goby

Yellowhead Jawfish

Red Scooter Dragonet

Candy stripe pistol (living in sump)

 

Latest readings...

Temp 79F

Nitrates Undetectable

Phosphates Undetectable

pH 8.00 - 8.30

Calcium 450

Alk 9.2

Mag 1350

Salinity 1.025

Red Sea Coral Pro Salt

4 gallon water change once a week.

Kalkwasser mixed with top off water keeps Calcium and Alk where I want it during the week.

 

Jawfish is happy... Used a piece of barnacle, and dug underneath the green star polyps to create a den.  Right in front of the tank for easy viewing.  

 

[smallreef]

Good call with the barnacles! I'm going to have to steal that for my upgrade so I can find my jawfish and her husband the shrimp goby a home up front!

[Coral Hind]

Nice tank and love the jawfish picture.

[surf&turf]

Looks awesome, an updated FTS would be great!!

[Orion]

FTS

 

 

Clowns, Jawfish den, and Scooter Dragonet...

 

[surf&turf]

Looks great, nice job!!

[sachabballi reef]

Holy smokes!!! Looks fantastic! Great job

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 4

 

 

[Orion]

Female Sexy Shrimp with eggs hosting in Green Sinularia

 

[YHSublime]

Great shot! Tank is looking really good!

[Orion]

Some top down shots of the corals growing from today...

 

Purple Acro colony with Neon tips

 

 

Oregon blue tort frag encrusting onto rock

 

 

Green Acro branching out now and Acro with blue tips (Not sure what the names are, someone chime in)

 

 

Acan colony, ignore the Favia.. it's looking a little beat up only because a hermit flipped it while I was gone.

 

 

Clam growing ever so slowly..

 

[londonloco]

I love this tank!  How big of a sump do you have on it?

[smallreef]

Looking good!

All your corals are looking really nice....

[Orion]

I love this tank!  How big of a sump do you have on it?

It's an All-In-One (AIO) tank.  The back of the tank is the sump.  I believe it holds 8 gallons of water, and the display holds 22 gallons. 

 

http://innovative-marine.com/nuvo-aquarium/micro30-white-stands.html

[londonloco]

I'm sorry, you clearly have stated that.  I have looked at several AIO's several times, wasn't sure about working within the sump.  Do you find it cumbersome?  Very pretty tank...

[Orion]

I'm sorry, you clearly have stated that.  I have looked at several AIO's several times, wasn't sure about working within the sump.  Do you find it cumbersome?  Very pretty tank...

 

 

The only time I find it cumbersome is when I need to take out the main pump to clean it.  I replaced the stock pump with a slightly larger one, and it can be a pain to grab it out of there.  Especially when the suction cups are stuck to the bottom of the sump.  Otherwise, the tank is very easy to do maintenance on.  The one thing I really like about AIO's is the fact that you will never have to worry about the tank overflowing or leaking if there is a power outage.  Also, plumbing is never an issue!   The downside is that I lose space in the display area due to the sump on the back, but I'm fine with that.

 

Innovative Marine is coming out with a larger AIO tank lineup, 60 gallons, 80, and 120 gallon systems.  Down the road I will most likely upgrade to one of those.  Need a bigger house first though!

[Mattiejay6]

Tank looks awesome! Good work!

[Orion]

Updates -

October TOTM! Thanks for the nominations everyone. Must mean I am doing something right.

 

Currently building up funds to upgrade this tank to a 57 gallon rimless. Some corals will stay, and some will be sold.

 

Bubble algae is still a battle. I am always scraping it off the rocks. It even got on the clam's shell.

The new tank will have all new rock, and hopefully no BA will carry over to the new tank when I transfer corals. Will just keep removing the BA by hand for now.

[Orion]

Birdsnest coral growth

 

March 2013

 

 

Today - November 2013

 

 

I accidentally knocked it off from its original spot, and just epoxied it to a different rock for the time being until the new tank is ready.

[YHSublime]

Good stuff. You never notice how much stuff grows until you take a look at what it was like when you got it. Looking good!

[sachabballi reef]

wow that really colored up! it looks pink in the first pic and then green in the next lol

[Orion]

wow that really colored up! it looks pink in the first pic and then green in the next lol

It definitely did change color a little bit. Since that first picture I have changed the color scheme of the Radion. So that also changes the appearance of it.

The first pic was probably taken under more actinic lighting. Tonight's photo was taken under "Natural Mode - Shallow reef" with the Radion.