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Featured Tank, Fourth Quarter, 2010


Brooks's 34 Gallon Reef Tank


Full Tank Shot      Full Tank Shot

- Before I begin, I'd like to go ahead and thank my ARC family. Without the help and support of everyone involved with our local club, I would not have been able to get very far in this hobby at all. I'm excited to get a chance to show what our club's youngest member has got!


System Profile
» 34g Rimless Current USA Solana - (All-In-One).
» 1 x 150w metal halide on a SunPark electronic ballast, with a brushed aluminum pendant.
» Solana stock skimmer
» EcoTech Marine VorTech MP10


SPS Colonies 1       SPS Colonies 2

How did you get into the hobby?

I started out winning a goldfish at a county fair in Laurel, Mississippi. From there, I moved on to Beta fish. I LOVED having Betas. I had about 6 at one point, all in different bowls around my room. My parents must have thought I was crazy. From there, I asked Santa for my saltwater aquarium. I had it down to the color of the sand that I wanted in! I mainly kept Damsel fish, which I found out were vicious little demons. I wasn't able to keep my tank stable long enough to get a "Nemo." At that time, it was only a 21g tank, so the salesman (still a good family friend) told me that Dori would be too big! I was a little upset about that, but I quickly got over it. Unfortunately, complications came up and we were forced to move from Mississippi and start again here in Austin.

I bought my second tank, a 75g RR, from Austin Aquariums. I was beyond thrilled to have a 'big' tank! I started out doing fish only, until my mother brought home something she described as "flowery," which happened to be Xenia. What we didn't know, was that Angelfish love to eat corals... it was gone within 2 days. My first SPS I bought was a Green Bird's Nest from River City Aquatics. From then on, I never looked back. I kept increasing my collection until I ran out of live rock to glue these things to!


After about a year of keeping corals in my 75g, we moved across Austin into my current house. My parents told me the tank had to go upstairs, and that I had to downsize. I downsized to my current tank, a 34g Solana, and I LOVE it! However, moving was the first time I ever faced water quality issues. If I had to go back and relearn one thing, it would be how to maintain my parameters. Small tanks can have huge swings in water quality!


Chalice

What does your parents think of the tank?

They absolutely love me having an aquarium. To quote them, "We believe that Brooks having this tank has benefited him in numerous ways. Not only has he grown intellectually, he has also grown in his compassion for animals and their care. The future looks bright for him, and we can't wait to see what he does next with this never-ending work in progress."


More on the tank:
Fish:
» Yellow Tang
» Blue Devil Damsel
» 2 x False Percula Clownfish
» Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish


Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish

Clown Fish      Fuzzy Dwarf Lionfish

Blue Devil Damsel      Yellow Tang

A few of the SPS:
» Red Planet
» Sunset Millipora
» Blue Tinuis
» Pearlberry
» Superman Montipora
» Cali Tort
» Pink Lemonade
» Polletta Lovelli
» Fuzzy Pink Milli
» Idaho Grape Monti

Superman Montipora      SPS Colonies 3

SPS Colonies 4      SPS Colonies 5

Pink Birdsnest

Some of the LPS:
» Mixed Acanthastrea
» Miami Hurricane Chalice
» Big PinkThingy Chalice
» Frogspawn

Acanthastrea 1      Chalice 1

Frogspawn      Acanthastrea 2

Chalice 2

Lighting:

Lighting is one of the key factors in the success of a reef tank. It took me a while to realize what effect the light actually had on the corals, but eventually it did hit me! I use a 150w metal halide with a 14k Current USA brand bulb. I enjoy a bluer bulb that also is good for growth. As far as supplemental light goes, I have some Stunner LED Strips that I've mounted on some glass that I use for viewing in the evening. It is phenomenal to see the colors of your corals POP right out of the tank!


Filtration/Skimming:

For filtration, I mostly stuck with the stock skimmer and have used bioballs. I have not yet had any bad experiences with keeping it simple. Simplicity can factor in a major role in a small tank, as more equipment can lead to more things going wrong! Aside from bioballs, I use carbon in a filter sock for water polishing, and to reduce Nitrates, I've found that SeaChem's Purigen works wonders!


Mushroom      Chalice 3

Top Off and RO/DI:

I do not use an automated top off system. Many believe that this is a necessity, but I've not found it to be. Granted, it would make life easier for me! As for RO/DI, we had a unit in our previous home that we were not able to take with us. So until I can get one for myself, I don't mind making a 5 minute drive to RiverCity Aquatics to pick some up! It gives me time to look at the pretty inventory!


Temperature and Tank Control:

I use a Stealth Heater (glass can SHATTER)! This, as well as the heat from my lighting, keeps the tank at a nice 79-80. As for tank control, getting a controller is definitely on my list of things to do. They will make life SO much easier! As for now, I'm my own control panel.


SPS Colonies 6

Water Changes and Testing:

Water changes are one of the most IMPORTANT thing in keeping your parameters in check. I do 10% water changes on a weekly basis. This keeps everything nice and healthy. As for testing, I test my water weekly and then take it to be retested at River City to confirm results!


» Calcium 410-430
» Magnesium 1250-1300
» KH 7.5-10.0
» Salinity 1.025-1.026

SPS Colonies 7      SPS Colonies 8

Feeding:

I feed my tank half of a cube of frozen mysis twice daily. I feed my LPS 3 times a week with frozen mysis as well.


If I had to do it over:

I would definitely get my aquascape the way I wanted it the FIRST time!
Start a ultra low nutrient system from day one.
Test my water more often.
Get the best lighting setup available for me.
Get a chiller!


Whats next?

Well, next on my list is to do a complete overhaul on the current set up. I will be changing to T5 lighting, getting a new skimmer, adding a refugium, starting ZeoVit or NeoZeo, and will DEFINITELY get a controller and an ATO!



Last thoughts:

I have loved getting to know each of you over the past years. Each and every one of you is different, and each of you have helped me in some way. I greatly attribute all of my success to those I have surrounded myself with that are also in this hobby with me. I couldn't have done it without y'all!

Thank you all,
Brooks


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