Blue Rim Tenuis — Cream with Blue / Purple Tips (Acropora tenuis)

• Date Added: 08/06/2010
• Tank: Cardiff
• Status: Active
• Purchased at: FAOIS
• Cost: $15.00
• Coloration: Royal blue growth tips on a cream body
• Lighting: 250w MH 14000K Phoenix
• Description: The Blue Rim Tenuis, a Small Polyp Stony (SPS) coral, has Royal blue growth tips on a cream body with moderate polyp extension. It is branching form with smooth texture.
• More Info: Temporary picture from web until my frag gets large enough or I get a better lens to take a good picture.
• Light and Flow: For optimum coloration, it should be given a medium to high light levels such as T5 or metal halide lighting combined with medium to strong intermittent water current within the aquarium.
• Supplements: It will require maintaining stable levels of calcium, magnesium, pH, alkalinity, and other trace elements as you would with other types of SPS corals. It is essential for SPS health to keep nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates near undetectable levels.
• Feeding: While it does not require additional food to maintain its health, it will feed on micro-plankton and foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.

Related posts:

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2. ORA Oregon Blue Tort (Acropora Tortuosa) Oregon Tortuosa is desired for its consistant deep blue coloration....
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Aussie Acan Lord Coral – Acanthastrea lordhowensis

• Date Added: 07/13/2010
• Tank: Cardiff 24 gallon
• Status: Active
• Purchased at: Marine Warehouse
• Cost: $40.00 (4 polyps)
• Coloration: Blue, Purple, and Green
• Lighting: 250w MH 14000K Phoenix

General Information

• Description: The Acanthastrea sp. corals, a Large Polyp Stony (LPS) coral, come in many brilliant color combinations from red, purple, green, orange, blue, rust, brown, gray, and/or tan. They can be easily misidentified with other types of corals. They are both a hermatypic and photosynthetic coral.

  They are competitive and can expel mesenterial filaments for defensive or offensive actions upon neighbor corals. Make sure to give them enough space to protect neighboring corals.

• Light and Flow: Although individual specimens can vary, in general they require moderate water flow and moderate lighting. Like all other corals, properly acclimating them is critical to their health. For optimum coloration, they should be given a moderate light levels such as T5 or lower in aquarium for metal halide lighting. Placing too close to metal halides can cause the polyps to not fully open.
• Supplements: It will require maintaining stable levels of calcium, magnesium, pH, alkalinity, and other trace elements as you would with other types of LPS corals.
• Feeding: While it does not require additional food to maintain its health, it will help their growth. Feed them minced meaty foods such as shrimp, mysis and squid. Turn off the powerheads and use a feeding device such as a turkey baster to slowly release the food over their polyps.

References

“Acanthastrea Coral – Acanthastrea spp.” FishLore.com. http://www.fishlore.com/coral/acanthastrea-coral.htm. Accessed 13 July 2010.

McBirney, Carrie. “Acan Lord.” Animal-World. http://animal-world.com/…/AcanthastreaLordhowensis.php. Accessed 13 July 2010.

Perun, Blane. “Acanthastrea Coral.” Blane Perun’s TheSea.Org. http://www.thesea.org/…coral.htm. Accessed 13 July 2010.

Related posts:

1. Candy Cane Coral (Caulastrea furcata) The Candy Cane Coral is a large polyp stony (LPS)...
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3. Torch Coral – Golden (Euphyllia glabrescens) Euphyllia glabrescens is a Large Polyp Stony Coral (LPS) and...

The Plan

• Mix salt according to directions in 15 gallon batches in Brute container using power head to mix
• Measure components in grams using digital scale
• Mix salt to Salinity of 1.026
• Measure parameters for freshly made salt after hour and utilize with water changes
• Monitor and track coral health and tank water parameters. Using ELOS test kits to measure Ca, KH, Mg, pH and Lamote to measure NO3-, and Hanna Low Range Photometer to measure PO4 unless otherwise noted.

Goals

• On demand salt mixing with little lead time
• Mix clear and eliminate the white-yellow film build up which occurs from many other salt mixes after mixing
• Maintain water parameters in acceptable ranges
• Minimal to zero increase in active time mixing salt
• Stable to improved coral health

Hypothesis

Their claims also indicate unnecessary heavy metals included in larger amounts in many other specialty salt mixes and are questionable for long term coral health are limited. This will lead to better long term tank inhabitant health as these elements do not build up over time.

Observations and Information

• 2010/05/23 — Began using salt mix as primary salt mix. LFS provided 25g system kit to use.
• 2010/05/23 — Made 20 gal batch at 1.026 specific gravity.
• 2010/05/23 — Notes and Observations for initial batch:
  • Mixed clear in 10 minutes as claimed.
  • Relatively speaking, it did not take any more active time to mix the components together as conducted my normal water parameters measurements while waiting for each component to mix properly before adding next.
  • Salinity measured at 1.024 specific gravity (34 ppt) which attribute to not take the time to accurately measure the RO/DI water. To correct, made small hyper salinity batch to get to the desired 1.026. Their instructions do indicate mixes to 1.0235 specific gravity and to use 8% less RO/DI water to achieve higher salinity in range of 37 ppt.
  • After mixing for a hour to aerate, measured parameters: Temp 80 F, KH 10 dKH, Ca 550 ppm, Mg 1450 ppm, NA2 1.026.
  • Completed major water change (20 gal of 24 gal): Polyps of all corals seen extending polyps within 10 minutes with no sliming or stress for predominately SPS / LPS tank..
• 2010/06/09 — Salt residue ring around top of tank is different. It is a clear salt ring versus white ring which I have always had in past.
• 2010/06/09 — Purchased 200 gal System Kit from LFS.
• 2010/06/09 — Made 15 gal batch at 1.026 specific gravity.
• 2010/06/09 — Notes and Observations for batch:
  • Mixed clear with no problems
  • After mixing for a 24 hours, measured parameters: Temp 85 F (pumps heated it), pH 8.2, KH 10 dKH, Ca 550 ppm, Mg 1450 ppm, NA2 1.026, Ammonia/Nitrates 0.0, PO4 0.05 ppm*.
  • Completed water change (10 gal of 24 gal): Polyps of all corals seen extending polyps within 10 minutes with no sliming or stress for predominately SPS / LPS tank.
  • Completed water change (5 gal of 5 gal): No sliming or stress for Zoa tank.
• 2010/07/03 — Made 20 gal batch at 1.027 specific gravity.
• 2010/07/05 — Notes and Observations for batch:
  • Mixed clear with no problems
  • Parameters: Temp 80 F, KH 9.5 dKH, Ca 550 ppm, Mg 1300 ppm, NA2 1.027, PO4 0.11 ppm, K 400 ppm*.
  • Completed water change (8 gal of 24 gal): Polyps of all corals seen extending polyps within 10 minutes with no sliming or stress for predominately SPS / LPS tank.
  • Completed water change (5 gal of 5 gal): No sliming or stress for Zoa tank.

*Using ELOS Alk, Ca, and Mg test kits along with Lamotte Nitrate test kit, Hanna Low Resolution Phosphate Photometer (accuracy ±0.04 mg/L, ±4% of reading), and Korallen Zucht Potassium test kit unless otherwise noted.

Conclusions

DISCLAIMER: Your results may very as each system is very different from another. For my tank parameters and environment, this was my observations and conclusion. This was not a controlled experiment so there is a potential for a very large margin of error.

References

The N/P reducing bio pellets are a solid based carbon source which does not dissolve in salt water which then limits the carbon dispersal to other parts of aquarium. Instead it forms a medium for beneficial bacteria to grow in one controlled location which then will consume available nitrates and phosphates in the water column. The theory is it eliminates the limiting of available carbon therefor nitrates and phosphates would become limiting when an adequate bacterial colony forms to consume all available nitrates and phosphates. The great part about this system, the pellets only need to be replenished every six to twelve months as needed instead of daily dosing which the other carbon based systems require.

The Plan

• Utilize a TLF Reactor to place 300 ml of N/P Reducing Bio Pellets and a Maxi Jet 900 to tumble the pellets
• Place the output hose for the reactor in front of the skimmer to help export the sloughed bacteria
• Increase or decrease quantity of N/P Reducing Bio Pellets based on results
• Supplement ZEObac or other bacteria source – add 0.1 ml/week
• Weekly water changes (3 – 5 gal) using Reef Crystals Salt
• Replace Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) every 15 – 30 days
• NOTE: Dosages are based on 25 gallon total system.

Goals

• Reduce and maintain nitrate levels near zero
• Reduce and maintain phosphate levels at 0.03 ppm or lower without the use of GFO
• Improve coral health and colors

Hypothesis

Observations and Information

• 2009/11/23 — Began using 300 ml N/P Reducing Pellets in a TLF Reactor for my nano.
• 2009/11/23 — Began phasing out ZEOvit Basic System.
• 2009/11/23 — Nitrates 17.6 ppm, Phosphates 0.09 ppm.
• 2009/11/29 — Nitrates 17.6 ppm, Phosphates 0.03 ppm.
• 2009/12/05 — Nitrates 17.6 ppm, Phosphates 0.06 ppm.
• 2009/12/12 — Nitrates 17.6 ppm, Phosphates 0.04 ppm.
• 2009/12/30 — Nitrates 17.6 ppm, Phosphates 0.03 ppm.
• 2010/01/03 — Stopped using ZEOvit Basic System.
• 2010/01/17 — Nitrates 17.6 ppm, Phosphates 0.07 ppm.
• 2010/03/07 — Nitrates 8.8 ppm, Phosphates 0 ppm (Elos PO4 Test Kit).
• 2010/03/07 — NOTES: Up to 1/17, was performing 5% weekly water changes. Did not make water change until after today’s water tests to determine if impacted results. Not conclusive, but interesting. If it were not for starfish dying and decomposing on my week long trip last week, I would assume my nitrates may have been even closer to zero.
• 2010/06/09 — Nitrates 0.0 ppm, Phosphates 0.27 ppm.
• 2010/06/20 — Reinstalled GFO Reactor.
• 2010/07/03 — NOTES: The pellet tumbling has become a problem as slowed to non existent tumbling of the pellets. Rinsing pellets has helped but not near tumbling when first installed. Ordered the Algae Free Sure Flow 1600 Max-Jet upgrade kit to upgrade the flow in the Maxi-Jet 900 to 1600 gph. Hoping this does the trick as not a fan of the Maxi-Jet 1200 power draw versus performance increase. Not sure if it will do the trick as appears may require the shroud and will not work with stock attachment. Update 2010-07-12: I should have went with my instincts on this. The shaft is too long and can not be modified.
• 2010/07/05 — Nitrates 0.0 ppm, Phosphates 0.05 ppm.
• 2010/08/04 — NOTES: I have still been working on my problem where the pellet tumbling has become a problem as slowed to non existent tumbling of the pellets. It appears the pellets are very efficient at growing the beneficial bacterial colonies as my nitrates have dropped to zero. I believe they are what is causing the pellets to start sticking or “gluing” together. I can rinse the pellets so the brown film is almost off and they will tumble good for a couple days. Then they slowly build up this film and stop tumbling. I am out of options for putting a larger pump because I have limited space. I did upgrade from Maxi-Jet 900 to a Maxi-Jet 1200 but did not solve the problem.

  My LFS recommended trying one of the newer pellet brands as they are smaller in size and are suppose to tumble more and eliminate the problem I am having. They also recommend I replace my TLF Phosban 150 with the NextReef BioReactor which is designed for them and do much better job tumbling them. Will proceed trying different alternatives starting with easiest and cheapest first.

  First, start by chopping my current Bio Pellets into smaller pieces, observing, and then making determination on what to try next if it did not solve problem. Options after this still available, try cramming the Tunze 1073.020 pump in sump area (Cardiff, Salona sister, nano tank), NextReef BioReactor, or drilling tank to equip with a real sump and upgrade all equipment which may include the tank.

• 2010/08/05 — NOTES: Used the food processor to reduce my current Bio Pellets to half the original size, reinstalled reactor, and saw no significant improvement. Did do a much better job cleaning pellets which are shinny white again.

  Going to try the Tunze Recirculation Pump/Powerhead Silence 1073.020 which will produce up to 634 GPH at 30 watts with dimensions of 4 1/2″ x 2 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ which is similar to the Maxi-Jet 1200 up to 295 gph at 20 watts and dimensions of 3.5″ L x 2″ W x 3.25″ H. Based on measurements, should fit in compartment two where currently have the Maxi-Jet installed. Current selling price is $81.75 but out of stock or limited quantity at all the major online retailers. Going to be a few weeks/months before purchasing.

Using Lamotte Nitrate test kit and Hanna Low Resolution Phosphate Photometer (accuracy ±0.04 mg/L, ±4% of reading) unless otherwise noted.

Conclusions

DISCLAIMER: Your results may very as each system is very different from another. For my tank parameters and environment, this was my observations and conclusion. This was not a controlled experiment so there is a potential for a very large margin of error. I would like to see some good scientific experiments on the subject.

References

Waterman Zoanthid Coral – Zoanthid sp

• Date Added: 01/07/2010
• Tank: Pico 3 gallon
• Status: Active
• Purchased at: FAIOS
• Cost: $3.00 (3 polyps)
• Coloration: Light green skirt, gray mouth, orange plate, and dark ring around plate.
• Lighting: 2 x 40w PC
• More Info: They are easy to maintain, making them a good choice for the beginner reef aquarists. They will reproduce easily in the reef aquarium by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), which will increase the size of their colony.

Related posts:

1. Blue Ice Zoanthid (Zoanthid sp) Light green skirt with light blue center and small yellow...
2. Fire and Ice Zoanthid (Zoanthids sp) Bright Long Orange Lashes with Large Blue Center and Small...
3. Tubbs Blue Zoanthids (Zoanthids sp) Zoanthid coral with dark lashes with bright blue center...

(Temporary Picture from Web until and purchase some better photo optics)

Orange Montipora Digitata Coral – Aquacultured, ORA™ (Montipora digitata)

• Date Added: 01/08/2010
• Tank: Cardiff
• Status: Active
• Purchased at: Coral Corral
• Cost: $30.00
• Coloration: Orange polyps with lighter growth tips and turns to more pink color in high intensity lights
• Lighting: 250w MH 14000K Phoenix

General Information

• Description: Digitata corals will generally grow upright branches, but this growth is highly variable depending on its environmental conditions.
• Common Names: Velvet Branch, Velvet Finger Coral
• Light and Flow: For optimum coloration, it should be given a medium to high light levels such as T5 or metal halide lighting combined with medium to strong intermittent water current within the aquarium.
• Supplements: It will require maintaining stable levels of calcium, magnesium, pH, alkalinity, and other trace elements as you would with other types of SPS corals. It is essential for SPS health to keep nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates near undetectable levels.
• Feeding: While it does not require additional food to maintain its health, it will feed on micro-plankton and foods designed for filter feeding invertebrates.
• More Information: ORA has taken the time to collect, identify and culture some of the fastest growing and finest strains of various stony coral genera. They culture the most colorful examples of these genera, and have developed some of the most popular corals ever available. The advanced quality control methods used at ORA ensure only problem-free specimens are sold.

  ORA corals are grown in their greenhouse culture facilities in Florida and the Marshall Islands. They are under shaded sunlight, complemented by 250 Watt, 10,000K double-ended HQI Metal Halide lights. They are fully ready to be acclimated to aquarium light, water and flow conditions. They are grown in natural seawater so proper acclimation to artificial saltwater is recommended.

  ORA frags grown on plastic plugs can be mounted in a number of different ways. Many hobbyists just place the plug between pieces of live rock. Another method is to drill a 1/2″ diameter hole in the rock and simply place the plug in the hole. This method can be used to mount the coral at different angles. Some aquarists simply snap the coral off the plug and use epoxy to mount it to the rock.

References

Riddle, Dana. “Montipora digitata: A Stony Coral for All Hobbyists.” Advanced Aquarist’s Online Magazine. Jan 2008. Reefs.org Publication. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/1/aafeature2. Accessed 08 Jan 2010.

Additional Photos:

Related posts:

1. Orange Montipora Plate Coral (Montipora capricornus) Orange body with orange polyps and white growth edge which...
2. ORA Purple Montipora Plate Coral (Montipora capricornus) Montipora capricornus is a turbinate coral which is described as...
3. Green Montipora Plate Coral (Montipora capricornus) Florescent green with light green growth edge...

The Plan

• Parts List:

  • 16 Gallon 6.5 HP Shop Vac (Catalog Number: 931-17-11)
  • 48″ Airline Tube – Flexible
  • 2 1/2″ to 1 1/4″ Reducing Couple
  • 1-1/4″ Micro Cleaning Kit (Straight Wand, Curved Wand, Crevice Tool, Round Brush, Oval Brush, 1-1/4″ to Micro Reducing couple)

• Instructions:

  1. Using the 2 1/2″ lock-on hose supplied with the Shop Vac, remove fitting that is not the lock-on end from the flexible hose.
  2. Cut 2 1/2″ flexible hose supplied to 2 1/2″ sticking out of lock-on fitting or 4 1/2″ total length if were removed from lock-on fitting.
  3. Reattach the fitting removed in first step to the freshly cut end of the 2 1/2″ flexible hose
     
     

     Shortened Hose to Size

  4. Attach accessories to Shop Vac in following order: 2 1/2″ lock-on hose, 2 1/2″ to 1 1/4″ reducing couple, 1 1/4″ to micro couple, 1/4″ flexible airline tube, micro straight wand, micro curved wand, and final micro attachment (Crevice Tool, Round Brush, or Oval Brush).
     
     

     Attachements

     
     
     

     Attachments

  5. Once everything hooked up, pinch the flexible airline tube to control the suction flow.

The Goal

The Hypothesis

Observations & Notes

2009-11-28: Modified Instructions to cut the 2 1/2″ lock-on tube to shorter length as water was backing up in dangling tube

2009-11-29: It is working great.

2009-12-26: Filled five gallon bucket with water, dumped into empty shop vacuum tank, marked five gallon level, and repeated for 10 gallon level. Any higher, the shop vacuum starts to spit out water through the filter system and performance decreases. Using this to help measure amount of water removed.

Conclusions

For me, I will never use a siphon vacuum again unless I have a gravel bottom I need to clean.

DISCLAIMER: Your results may very as each system is very different from another. For my tank parameters and environment, this was my observations and conclusion. This was not a controlled experiment so there is a potential for a very large margin of error.

References

The following are unpacking pictures:

Shipping Box

Unpacking

Mesh Wheel

Complete

Installation:

I set up a five gallon bucket with water and vinegar mix to run the skimmer in for the first 24 hours to ensure I get any manufacturing residue removed and to speed up the break in time.

Breaking It In - Vinegar Solution

Observations & Notes

2009-11-28: Installed
Installed today and all seems well

2009-12-15: Status Update on Performance
So far I am very happy with the skimmer. Skimming great and it is very quiet!

2009-12-27: Mesh Wheel Issue
I notice a decrease in performance so I took it out to clean. I notice the airline was kinked so I replaced with a more rigid version. When I got to cleaning the mesh wheel, I realized most of the mesh had disintegrated from the wheel. I have emailed Sapphire Aquatic’s technical support to see if this was a known issue or just an issue with mine as I have only had it installed for a month.

Mesh Wheel Issue - Mesh Disintegrated

2009-12-28: Mesh Wheel Issue – New Wheel Finished Development
Just finished reading a thread over at Nano-Reef.com about a few others having same issue with a new and improved impeller in works as we speak. Hope the improved version with an epoxy covering does the trick.

Before I had found the thread over at Nano-Reef.com, I emailed Sapphire Aquatics asking about this last night. Kyle from Sapphire Aquatics had already emailed me by 10am after a long holiday. Impressive! I ordered replacement today.

2010-01-17: Mesh Wheel Issue – New Wheel Update
After receiving a second mesh wheel as the first had an issue with the mesh falling off as it was not glued down properly to replace the original mesh wheel which disintegrated, my observations after installation is the wheel is more efficient than the original mesh wheel. This has been a bit of a problem as I have dropped the gate all the way to lowest setting but still filling cup in about 30 minutes. I am going to assume I am experiencing another break in period so I will give it a week before trying to raise the skimmer until proper skimming occurs.

2010-01-22: Mesh Wheel Issue – New Wheel Efficiency Solution
When I replaced the mesh wheel with the new and improved version which became available at the beginning January, the mesh wheel was too efficient causing skimmer to overproduce bubbles causing skimmer cup to fill instantly. A solution has been identified and installed which appears to have resolved the issue. By placing an airline 2-way valve inline of the pump’s air intake and before the air silencer, fine tuning is possible correcting problem.

New issue people may have is it appears Sapphire Aquatics has stopped production as their direct purchasing link from their website is no longer available so replacement parts are not available. Reports are also indicating the skimmers are no longer available at many of the retail channels indicating possible short term or long term production shut down. Final details are pending but does not look good by these initial reports. Hopes are this is only temporary or another explanation.

2010-02-06: Final Word
With the new mesh wheel and the 2-way valve to fine tune, this skims excellent! Bad news, Sapphire Aquatics has officially went out of business which is a huge loss to the nano market.

2010-08-04: Update
Still going strong and skimming great. This continues to demonstrated by assisting the system keeping the nutrients at or near undetectable levels. With the new mesh wheel and the 2-way valve modification, I would have recommended this skimmer to everyone. The mesh wheel is still going strong but realize one day I will need to find solution when it needs replaced. I am not fond of having to do my own mod by using fish line and Enkamat Mesh as you then have to deal with the balance, fouling, and durability issues.

As time passes, my dream of someone stepping in to take over Sapphire Aquatics is becoming more and more a pipe dream.

Conclusions

DISCLAIMER: Your results may very as each system is very different from another. For my tank parameters and environment, this was my observations and conclusion. This was not a controlled experiment so there is a potential for a very large margin of error.

References

Blue Ice Zoanthid Coral – Zoanthid sp

• Date Added: 11/27/2009
• Tank: Pico 3 gallon
• Status: Active
• Purchased at: Coral Corral
• Cost: $20.00 (20 polyps)
• Coloration: Light green skirt with light blue center and small yellow eye
• Lighting: 250w MH 14000K Phoenix
• More Info: They are easy to maintain, making them a good choice for the beginner reef aquarists. They will reproduce easily in the reef aquarium by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), which will increase the size of their colony.

Related posts:

1. Waterman Zoanthid Coral (Zoanthid sp) Zoanthid Coral with Light green skirt, gray mouth, orange plate,...
2. Fire and Ice Zoanthid (Zoanthids sp) Bright Long Orange Lashes with Large Blue Center and Small...
3. Tubbs Blue Zoanthids (Zoanthids sp) Zoanthid coral with dark lashes with bright blue center...

Fire and Ice Zoanthid Coral – Zoanthid sp

• Date Added: 11/27/2009
• Tank: Pico 3 gallon
• Status: Active
• Purchased at: Coral Corral
• Cost: $20.00 (4 polyps)
• Coloration: Bright Long Orange Lashes with Large Blue Center and Small Green eye.
• Lighting: 250w MH 14000K Phoenix
• More Info: They are easy to maintain, making them a good choice for the beginner reef aquarists. They will reproduce easily in the reef aquarium by budding (splitting off a portion of their base or mouth), which will increase the size of their colony.

Related posts:

1. Blue Ice Zoanthid (Zoanthid sp) Light green skirt with light blue center and small yellow...
2. Tubbs Blue Zoanthids (Zoanthids sp) Zoanthid coral with dark lashes with bright blue center...
3. Waterman Zoanthid Coral (Zoanthid sp) Zoanthid Coral with Light green skirt, gray mouth, orange plate,...