[spanko]

Just thought I would post up the changes in my tank from setup until now. Lost some things along the way, traded some things along the way and added some things along the way.


Jan 07 startup.


March 07


Jul 07


Nov 07


Jan 08


March 08


Jun 08


Sep 08

[WILLIAM1]

It looks great man I like all the update pics we can really see the transformation taking place. Keep it up.

[ianizaguirre]

EVERYTHING LOOKS AMAZING BUT i have a couple questions for you ......

in the 2nd pic what the fuzzy looking coral the right and what happened to it ? why would you go bare bottom and do you like it better then sand? what lights do you have ? and how did you get green coraline on the back its beautiful??? and whats your current fish stock ? and what would you do different if you could do this tank all over again??

[jimw369]

I see the clam is back lol. Looks like hes grown

Nice tank Spanko!

[spanko]

Originally Posted by ianizaguirre

EVERYTHING LOOKS AMAZING BUT i have a couple questions for you ......

in the 2nd pic what the fuzzy looking coral the right and what happened to it ? why would you go bare bottom and do you like it better then sand? what lights do you have ? and how did you get green coraline on the back its beautiful??? and whats your current fish stock ? and what would you do different if you could do this tank all over again??

The fuzzy coral is green star polyps. Took that out to trade back to the LFS because the longer I had it the more it grew and was taking over.

I went bare bottom for a couple of reasons. One because I wanted to keep SPS and needed to increase the flow in the tank. The Cube being the shape it is when I added flow it started a sand storm.
Two because again with the SPS I wanted the water to be as clean as I could keep it parameter wise. The detritus in the tank now accumulates in one area of the tank and is easily removed by siphoning at water change time.
Lighting is a 150 watt Sunpod with a 20k Radium bulb.
The green coralline is a result of the removal of the sand. When I drained the tank to take the sand out the coralline was exposed to air and light for about an hour. It actually bleached white first then as it came back it came back green. There is very little green left now as it has all gone back to purple.
Current fish stock is a Foxface to control an outbreak of Caulerpa. I buy them (this is the third one in the tank now) at about 1.5 inches and trade them in for store credit at about 3-3.5 inches. A Canary blennie, a Talbot's damsel, Two blue\green Chromis and a mystery fish I am trying right now that will be named in the future.
I don't think I would do anything differently looking back. I have enjoyed the changes and the learning that has gone along with it over time. In the future I am sure I will be trying other things but for now I like the way the tank is. Maybe in the future new substrate, an island of rock right in the middle of the tank with a monti cap, a few ricordea and an anemone with a couple of percs. The other thing I saw the other day is an idea for a tank with nothing on the bottom but green star polyps and some pcs. of rock sticking up here and there. On the rocks maybe some monti caps and encrusting montis. For fish mays some nice pipe fish to just cruise around the "grass".


hey Jim thanx. Took kyour advice and got a bigger one this time about 3+". We'll see if I can keep this one alive! So far so good....

[ianizaguirre]

EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT ....do you have link to this green star poylp all over someones bare bottome tank as grass ?

[spanko]

This is not GSP but it is the work of legendary aquarist Takashi Amano. I am not sure if it is fresh or saltwater planted tank but I think it could be done with with GSP. Wouldn't it be cool? A couple of monti's on those rock outcroppings with some pipefish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

[ianizaguirre]

I cant see the pic ???

[spanko]

I hope this works!

[jvbeattie]

The grassy bed I believe is "Riccia fluitans" - freshwater. A beautiful plant that can be anchored down with sceen to the substrate. GSP I'm sure would also be a really nice bottom.

[Bongo Shrimp]

You're right, that is a freshwater tank, as I've seen this picture in a magazine. That would be cool to do it with GSP but that would be A LOT of GSP and A LOT of $$$.