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Gablett's Gorgeous Reef


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  1. #1
    CR Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Farwell, MI
    Posts
    94
    Awards Tank of the Month - July 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default Gablett's Gorgeous Reef

    Introduction

    First of all, thanks to everyone involved for this honor. There are so many beautiful reef aquariums out there. For my reef to be considered is quite an honor. My love of all things saltwater started when I was young and my parents bought a 180 gallon saltwater tank. My job was helping with water changes and testing all the levels
    weekly. Back then we had VHO bulbs, under gravel filters, wet dry filters, and coral that didn't last a week. Things have come a long ways since then.

    I started off as many did with a second hand 50-gallon breeder loaded with bubble algae. I learned a lot of things the hard way but overall it was fun and a great way to get started. When I had the chance to move up to a 220 I jumped on it. I got it up and running, made a few upgrades along the way. The major jump being from 150 watt halides to a nice 3x 250 watt pendant set up. I had lots of LPS and zoas. I got bored quickly with them and wanted to take the plunge into SPS. I got my lighting set up, more flow, a bigger skimmer and bought about 20 types of SPS from a local reefer and never looked back. I expected it to be a rough start and lose some things, but I never lost a single frag I bought. I added those frags in April of 2011. I've sort of let it just coast along and maintain it since then. I'm pretty pleased with where it is right now.





    Equipment

    Tank: 220 gallon starphire Marineland
    Sump: 90 gallon custom acrylic sump with 3 chambers. First chamber is 2 filter socks, second is refugium, third is return, reactors, and skimmer.
    Skimmer: NWB-250
    Return: Eheim 1262
    Flow: 4 - 3200 gph powerheads and 1 MP-40. Im going to upgrade to 2 MP-60s in addition to the MP-40.
    Lighting: 3 Lumenarc minis with 250 watt DE Radium 20k. Run on 2 galaxy dual ballasts. Also 4 36" UVL pure actinic T5s run on a IceCap 660.
    Controller: Reefkeeper lite Level 2.
    Reactor: 1 BRS reactor alternating between ROX .08 carbon and BRS phosphate remover.





    Maintenance

    When the tank was first started I religiously changed 15% water every two weeks. However, now I go about a month between water changes. Tank is so stable I see no difference.

    I started dosing vodka to keep the nitrates at zero. However, I would have an occasional cyano outbreak. So at the advice of some others, I switched to vinegar and have had great results with no cyano since making the change.

    I feed small and medium sized Ocean Nutrition Formula 2 pellets once in evening daily. I also feed a sheet of nori daily. On Wednesday, I feed a mixture of mysis, oyster feast, cyclops. Everyone seems happy and fat.





    Target water parameters:
    Calcium: 450-475 ppm
    Alk: 8.5-9 dkH
    Mag: 1300 ppm
    Nitrate: zero
    Phosphate: As close to undetectable with a hanna meter as possible.
    Salinity: 1.025
    Temp: 78-degrees F
    pH: 8.1


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    Livestock

    Conclusion

    Thanks again to everyone for the opportunity to be Tank of the Month. It's been quite a journey. I never thought my tank would be anywhere near TOTM quality. I hope you enjoyed my slice of the ocean. I know I sure do. And to everyone just starting out, don't forget to step back and enjoy your tank. You can get so caught up in the details, you miss the big picture. This truly is a unique hobby enjoyed by the minority!
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    Last edited by jimsflies; 07-03-2012 at 09:51 AM.
    Likes tcp316 liked this post

  2. #2
    jimsflies - Reefkeeper
    Admin/Founder

    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    11,467
    First Name
    Jim

    Default

    Great job Gardner!

  3. #3
    CR Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    kokomo, in, usa
    Posts
    48
    First Name
    tony

    Default

    very nice..hope to have something like this one day

  4. #4
    Rabidgoose - Reefkeeper Moderator

    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Thumb MI
    Posts
    2,211
    Awards Yugo Award Photo of the Month

    Default

    Very nice tank......congrats

  5. #5
    larryandlaura - Reefkeeper
    Team CR

    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Houghton Lake
    Posts
    5,338
    First Name
    Larry
    Awards Monthly Giveaway Winner Fantasy Football Champion Referral Award Monthly Giveaway Winner

    Default

    Congratulations ive seen this tank in person its impressive.
    Hi my name is Larry and I'm a coral addict!

  6. #6
    MizTanks - Reefkeeper
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    U.P. of Michigan.
    Posts
    8,444
    First Name
    Jamie
    Awards Photo of the Month - October 2012 Photo of the Month Post and Reply Award - Winner of the first PAR Contest. Monthly Giveaway Winner

    Default

    Now that's a TOTM!! Congratulations, very much deserved
    There's nothing like being a Reefer! www.upmmas.com

  7. #7
    CR Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Farwell, MI
    Posts
    94
    Awards Tank of the Month - July 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default

    You guys are too kind. Thanks so much everybody!

  8. #8
    estanoche - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Spokane, WA
    Posts
    52
    First Name
    Joanne
    Awards Tank of the Month - March 2012 Tank of the Month

    Default

    so much red!! great setup congrats!!!
    SAY NO TO FISH STICKS - Put screened and vented lids on your tanks, and save your wrasse

    Current tank: 80 Gal XXL Reef & 25 Gal Cube QT

    Friend me up on FB too!
    50201061558882069332143 - Gablett's Gorgeous Reef

  9. #9
    tcp316 - Reefkeeper CR Member
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Swartz Creek
    Posts
    484
    First Name
    Vicki

    Default

    Thanks again to everyone for the opportunity to be Tank of the Month. It's been quite a journey. I never thought my tank would be anywhere near TOTM quality. I hope you enjoyed my slice of the ocean. I know I sure do. And to everyone just starting out, don't forget to step back and enjoy your tank. You can get so caught up in the details, you miss the big picture. This truly is a unique hobby enjoyed by the minority!

    Read more: http://www.captivereefs.com/forum/ta...#ixzz2IzaDoTmx
    Your tank is stunning. Absolutely beautiful. Impressive

    Always learning, loving this hobby.

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