Paul's 40 Gallon Reef

[paul87]

 

[bribo12]

Hope the bonsai comes around man! Otherwise that psammacora is really nice looking!


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[Autumnsky]

As for the deep sand bed, was told in our CAS meeting about SW last night that deep sand bed is about 10 inches. Also that a Plenum system is more reliable and you don't get an accidental release of toxic gas.
Feature Article: Jaubert's Method, The 'Monaco System,' Defined And Refined — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

 

[paul87]

My 35 had a pretty deep bed and I remember having so much visable life in it. It was probably 4-5".

 

[Autumnsky]

About 2-3". I originally wanted a deep sandbed. Ive seem them 4'+. Once i add this new bag i will have 50lbs of sand in my tank.

My 35 had a pretty deep bed and I remember having so much visable life in it. It was probably 4-5".

The comments being that the deeper part gave a better separation for the anerobic nitrate conversion, without disturbing the upper 4-5" where the critters move and rocks are lodged in, so if you bump it, it doesn't gas the tank.

More of a relating from the 30 year "expert". I'm still learning, lol. Not an argument for or against or how deep for the DSB, so much as an interesting part about the plenum working similarly but differently. Julian Sprung's name came up, he was at MACNA 2014 (probably 2015 too but I wasn't there )

If you're adding 50 pounds how many inches will that make?

 

[paul87]

I meant 50 lbs total. I only added 15 lbs. It raised it an inch or so because the rock displace alot of area. Would need a big tank for a 10" sandbed! ?

 

[Autumnsky]

Ahhh - thanks for the clarification, that makes sense.

 

[paul87]

Ahhh - thanks for the clarification, that makes sense.

50 lbs would have got it alot closer to that 10" mark! The plenum system is pretty neat in the article though, thanks for sharing.

 

[paul87]

Im pretty sure this is the exact coral I have. Couldnt really find a whole lot on it.

https://reefbuilders.com/2011/03/22/orange-psammocora/

 

[paul87]

Separated the green monti cap rock from the main rock work a little more. Basically tweeked the far right side the tank. I also reinstalled the smartwave controller for the powerheads.

 

[Autumnsky]

That's good you can do that, they are really growing. I love Montis.

 

[paul87]

Took these tonight. My gel sheet is getting hazy from micro scratches, which really messes with my camera. Need to order me some.

 

[Bdonaldson]

Took these tonight. My gel sheet is getting hazy from micro scratches, which really messes with my camera. Need to order me some.

Beautiful pictures Paul. I really love all that color in your Zoas.

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[Autumnsky]

Those are beautiful, micro scratches or not.

 

[paul87]

Thanks! I picked up some really colorful zoas yesterday. I'll get some photos up tomorrow.

 

[fish wrangler]

What is the average growth rate of zoa's? A head or two per month? My bam bam zoa seems tl have added a few heads and my orange zoa has 3 new heads since adding it

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[paul87]

What is the average growth rate of zoa's? A head or two per month? My bam bam zoa seems tl have added a few heads and my orange zoa has 3 new heads since adding it

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They are all different, its really hard to say.

 

[paul87]

Here is the zoa rock I picked up the other day.

 

[Bdonaldson]

Here is the zoa rock I picked up the other day.

Beautiful addition to your zoa garden. Is that a dragons eye?

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[paul87]

Beautiful addition to your zoa garden. Is that a dragons eye?

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Thanks! Nope, not dragon's eye. I have a big patch of that. These are alot nicer. The skirt is almost yellow on these and some centers are red, orange, and yellowish.