Rockstacker's 120g Build
- Thread starter RockStacker
- Start date
RockStacker
Reefing newb
I took the video with an iPhone 4. It can't get the colors right but it will do for now - everything looks so blue.
I used the mortar kit from MarcoRocks.com, I bought it the same time I got the rocks from them.
You can check my older posts in this thread to see how I built the rock structures.
Amba
Ol' Salty
How is the pod experiment coming along?
RockStacker
Reefing newb
It's too soon to tell, but it seems to be going pretty well so far.
I still do not have a high enough population density to regularly feed the display tank. However, I do see a significant population gain with different stages of growth. There are definitely more pods in there now than what came from the bottle.
There's also a lot of pod-porn going on :)
I switched pod food to live cultures of phytoplankton (nannochloropsis and tetraselmis). With the live phyto, any uneaten stuff continues to live in the pod tank and do not pollute the water. They also do not end up stinking up my garage.
I was told that nannochloropsis might be too large or too thick for tigger pod nauplii, but is still good to have in the pod tank because they can eat up the pods' waste byproducts. So it is still a good complement to the tetraselmis strain.
I'll try to get some pictures when I get a chance.
Amba
Ol' Salty
Would be really neat to have a steady supply of pods growing, then you could just use a doser and dose them to the main tank. Let us know what you come up with!
RockStacker
Reefing newb
Here are some photos of the pod culture setup.
Some folks suggested that I wrap the tank with either a thick towel or bubble wrap. Somehow the pods like it better this way. I am not sure if it is due to the additional insulation, or if they just appreciate the privacy.
Top view:
It is hard to see the details of the pods, but almost every speck in the picture is a pod.
Phyto cultures progressing nicely. The darker water contains more mature cultures.
Some folks suggested that I wrap the tank with either a thick towel or bubble wrap. Somehow the pods like it better this way. I am not sure if it is due to the additional insulation, or if they just appreciate the privacy.
Top view:
It is hard to see the details of the pods, but almost every speck in the picture is a pod.
Phyto cultures progressing nicely. The darker water contains more mature cultures.
Amba
Ol' Salty
That is sweet, so you're culturing the phyto too huh?
RockStacker
Reefing newb
Yeah, or at least I'm trying :)
The cheapest source of live phyto I could find was $5.00 per 8 ounce bag, and with the pods consuming them and having to change the water regularly, the phyto costs adds up.
The only thing with my current setup is that the phyto and pod cultures are near each other.
Some growers recommend setting them up far away from each other so that no pods make it into the phyto culture containers.
I am still at the experimental stages at this time so I'm not too worried about that issue just yet.
RockStacker
Reefing newb
Tank update 12-12-12
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwAH8Jh_q-M&feature=g-crec-u"]100 Gallon Update 12-12-12 - YouTube[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwAH8Jh_q-M&feature=g-crec-u"]100 Gallon Update 12-12-12 - YouTube[/ame]
Ted
Living one day at a time
nice vid even better tank
chichimom79
reef junkie
Your tank is amazing!! I can't believe I had missed this thread up until today. Wow!! Great work!
RockStacker
Reefing newb
Here are some photo updates.
I just wanted to show the progress of the coralline algae colonization of the rocks.
I see different strains duking it out all over the tank which creates a nice variety of colors.
Although the intention is to show the coralline algae, I can't avoid getting photo-bombed by the corals too :)
I turned off the blue LEDs while taking pictures so that it does not create an artificial tint to the rocks.
FTS with Blue LEDs turned back on (Whites 20% / Blues 40%)
The most obvious color strain is the bright purple and appears to be dominant at this time.
There are also several color strains which might not be visible on the pictures. There are spots of dark purple, red and green which appear to be easily overtaken by the bright purple ones.
There are also very dark maroon strains encrusting on the surface of the overflows which make them look like swiss cheese at this point.
Here's a picture of the rocks when they were brand new.
I just wanted to show the progress of the coralline algae colonization of the rocks.
I see different strains duking it out all over the tank which creates a nice variety of colors.
Although the intention is to show the coralline algae, I can't avoid getting photo-bombed by the corals too :)
I turned off the blue LEDs while taking pictures so that it does not create an artificial tint to the rocks.
FTS with Blue LEDs turned back on (Whites 20% / Blues 40%)
The most obvious color strain is the bright purple and appears to be dominant at this time.
There are also several color strains which might not be visible on the pictures. There are spots of dark purple, red and green which appear to be easily overtaken by the bright purple ones.
There are also very dark maroon strains encrusting on the surface of the overflows which make them look like swiss cheese at this point.
Here's a picture of the rocks when they were brand new.
chichimom79
reef junkie
Looks great! Those rocks don't look new anymore, congrats!
LoveJC03
Reef Enthusiast
Looking good, keep up the good work!!
Ted
Living one day at a time
Nice....
RockStacker
Reefing newb
Some photo updates.
FTS
Left side (The Grove)
Middle (The Pier)
Right side (The Cove)
The tank does not look this bright in person. I guess it is just how the camera works with the LEDs.
LEDs are set to the following intensities (white: approx 20%, blues approx 40%)
FTS
Left side (The Grove)
Middle (The Pier)
Right side (The Cove)
The tank does not look this bright in person. I guess it is just how the camera works with the LEDs.
LEDs are set to the following intensities (white: approx 20%, blues approx 40%)
RockStacker
Reefing newb
More photos:
This is what the above chalice looked like back in October-2012.
The same duncan back in October-2012
This is what the above chalice looked like back in October-2012.
The same duncan back in October-2012
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