Werdlone's 150

[Werdlone]

Well I think it is time for me to post my reef. I had humble beginnings with a 50 gallon breeder when I started in 2004 with soft corals. The obsession did not take long to set in, and the soft corals turned into sps and...well, most of you know the rest. This tank has been set up since Jan of 2008. Here is a somewhat current shot...July 2009

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/DSC_0410.jpg

here is when it was first set up...jan 08'
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/150FTS.jpg

[Mike]

Vwery nice looking tank!

[Werdlone]

I built the stand and a fish room behind the tank. The tank is in the basement and the furnace is in the room behind it with the water softener, etc. Perfect place to keep the sump and equipment.

http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/standconstruction1.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/standconstruction4.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/hoodnodoors1.jpg

my first inhabitant...
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/firsttankinhabitant1.jpg

[Werdlone]

The tank is a 150 gallon wide 72"x24"x20"high. I like the dimensions for an sps setup...not too deep so I can use 250 watters and easily reach the bottom and there is plenty of depth for aquascape. The tank is 3 sided starphire built by Great Lakes Aquarium. They did a great job and had great pricing.

Lighting is supplied by 3 250watt phoenix bulbs run on blue wave magnetic hqi ballasts to overdrive them to about 300watts. I also run 2 60" VHO actinics on an icecap 660. (I still don't think you can get the same pop from the t5 actinic that you do with the vho...we can argue later....)

I run a Geo 618 calcium reactor as of last month, but had successfully been using a DIY reactor. I changed because the probe holder was leaking. I may fix it and go back to it. It is more efficient than my Geo!!

I use a MSX 250 skimmer and love it. Had some startup issues in the beginning but once broken in, runs great.

[Werdlone]

Vwery nice looking tank!

thanks Mike!

[graphixx]

gorgeous tank!!!

matured and beautiful

[ReeferRob]

Awesome awesome awesome lets see some close up pics!!

[schminksbro]

Even better in person than it is in the pics. Looks great Andy!

[Rabidgoose]

Very nice! Oh, and more pics please:D

[ReeferRob]

Cute kid by the way, its always nice to include the family!

[igot2gats]

I agree, those dimensions are very cool. A wide & shallow tank: perfect. How about some close up shots?

[Werdlone]

thanks everybody!! I need to get some updated shots and will post as soon as I can. I recently changed my in-tank flow from the tunze streams to 2 vortech mp40's about 6 weeks ago. I definitely get wider flow and I see polyps moving on everything, so I know there is decent flow everywhere.

my fish list:
Naso tang
Hippo tang
Orange shoulder tang (juevenile-yellow)
Tomini tang
Vlamingi tang
false percula clown
royal gramma
6 line wrasse
spotted mandarin
3 orange anthias
cleaner goby
harlequin shrimp..I think (I see him every week or so)

[jimsflies]

Awesome tank. Someone has an sps addiction!

[ReeferRob]

Need more pics!!!!

[Werdlone]

more to come soon!! I have a little cleaning/maintenance to do and then I'll do an update.....

[Werdlone]

here's a little update on the tank. I have started clearing some larger corals that were taking up too much real estate. I hated to do it, but I sold my giant deresa clam. It just outgrew the tank. I'm getting rid of my caps...purple is gone..next up is the orange and the seasons greatings. I may cut back my flower petal as well.

here are some close ups of a few favorites....

pink with blue polyp poccilapora
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/bluepolyppinkpocci11-09.jpg

blue tort
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/bluetort11-09.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/bluetort211-09.jpg

red cyphastrea decadia
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/cyphastreadecadia11-09.jpg

[Werdlone]

flower petal cap on right, yellow tort left, superman in the middle
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/flowerpetalcap11-09.jpg

ORA hawkins echinata
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/hawkinsechinata.jpg

ORA pearlberry
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/pearlberry211-09.jpg
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/pearlberry11-09.jpg

true undata montipora
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/montitrueundata11-09.jpg

[ReeferRob]

Very nice update! Are you going to be doing any "trimming" for the swap?!?

[Sir Patrick]

Was great finally getting to see this awsome tank in person! Pics dont do it justice- but go ahead and post more anyways!!

Very nice tank!

[Werdlone]

Sir Patrick
Was great finally getting to see this awsome tank in person! Pics dont do it justice- but go ahead and post more anyways!!

Very nice tank!

Thanks and it was nice to meet you!!

It's been a little while and I think I need to post some new pictures.

purple milli (one of my favs!)
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/april%202010/DSC_0239.jpg
shades of fall nasuta
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/mmmc%20swap%20sale%20items/turakiandshadesoffall-1.jpg
ATL appleberry monti...sorry bad pic. had to crop it and zoom in.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/april%202010/DSC_0243-1.jpg
pink lemonade
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/april%202010/DSC_0237.jpg
Montipora Confusa
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/april%202010/DSC_0241.jpg

[Werdlone]

Full tank shot from April 2010
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p148/werdlone/april%202010/DSC_0230.jpg

[demonclownfish]

awesome setup, im pretty sure it was you who had the starburst rainbow encrusting montipora that made reg. rainbows go to shame? would love to see a pic of that if you do!

[Werdlone]

The frag of the sunburst rainbow has just recently started to take off. Took a while. I'm waiting for the base to get more colors in it...then the pictures will follow:)

[demonclownfish]

cant wait! saw pics of a colony of this and fell in LOVE! best colors ive ever seen on an sps coral :highfive3:

[Sir Patrick]

Sunburst rainbow??? Think I missed that peice!!

Lookin forward to pics- when they are ready!!

[MizTanks]

I love the colors!!

[Manoj's Reef]

Andy thats a very beautiful tank and nice colors...Keep the pictures coming....

Also if you can give some tips on what things you do to keep the colors nice that would be great.

[kgood1]

Andy thats a very beautiful tank and nice colors...Keep the pictures coming....

Also if you can give some tips on what things you do to keep the colors nice that would be great.

+1 keep the pics comming please!:hypnotized:

[ReefPeddler]

Very nice setup, and tastefully done!

I'd love some more pics as well (specially the starbust)

[Werdlone]

Manoj's Reef :
Andy thats a very beautiful tank and nice colors...Keep the pictures coming....

Also if you can give some tips on what things you do to keep the colors nice that would be great.

thanks to everyone for the nice comments...here is my maintenance schedule:

Water changes every 2-3 weeks, sometimes 4 weeks
I use reef Crystals
I run GFO and Carbon in 2 little fish reactors change monthly
I add Brightwells Microbacter 7 every third day...I used to do weekly, but changed recently and like the results... I put 3 capfulls in. Total volume is 250 gallons
I dose vodka/vinegar, recipe from glassboxdesign.com, on days I don't add microbacter, 2.5 ml. I skip the sugar from the recipe.
Lugol's 3 drops every 3rd day
I also mix a capful of seachem reefplus to fish food and feed once daily.

Most importantly, I think stable parameters are the key to keeping things happy. My Geo Ca reactor does a great job for me. I test params weekly and use Randy's 2 part recipe to adjust if needed.