Proof that I actually still have a tank;)

[Manoj's Reef]

Bigger!

Size matters

[schminksbro]

I think the goal is to stock with a bunch of small frags and grow them out. With SPS corals it is difficult to rescape after things get grown in. Your rock gets encrusted with coral and now it has a "Top" side. Much different than starting out with a bunch of fresh rock and placing frags. This tank was initially set up with fresh rock and frags but I was forced to move it. The result is the scape you see above. It is ok but I have never been totally happy with it.The other factor is that colonies are less tolerant of being moved. Changing their flow, and light can be a serious problem.
I also enjoy collecting and growing coral. It is quite satisfying to me to grow a 1" frag into a colony. I no longer have the space to add new pieces. Therefore my inclination is to start over. I figure if I am going to do that I might as well go bigger and delay the inevitable which is another "tear down and start over". I have some other things going on so I am currently weighing my options. I could let the tank continue to grow and tear it down when I am ready for the upgrade or I could tear it down now and go tankless until I am ready for the upgrade. I am still undecided on which way I am gonna go.

wow....can that really happen....and im serious....you get your tank as sweet as this and it seems full....so you can lose interest because its sooooo together? Some people tear them down and reset them in a different scape just to break the monotony.... i had a beautiful house one time.....everything was in its perfect place.....i drove every nail in it except the roof...filled it with all the good stuff....and when i was done a year later i was totally bored.....i bought a doublewide that needed fixing....spent the winter sprucing it up....and i am happy...and its never quite finished.

[rmalone]

I too think the fun is in growing into colonies. Once they get big frag em up and start over. But it looks very nice Andy.

[bluwc]

What a tiny little tank you have there.....what is it, a 20g? lol Look@all those little frags in there. What happened to that big monster of a tank you won TOTM with!

[Yogachick]

As your student in the art of all thing saltwater I am glad to hear you want to go bigger! One day I will be as good of a coral keeper as you. Can't wait until next week to get some fishies for my tank that currently has 6 pieces of live rock and 2 hermit crabs. I am pretty sure the crabs are sick of me staring at them.

[Jim Z.]

Bigger might work for you Andy. Tank looks good even with the coralline on the back glass. You may need to use some biocontrol on that large orange cap................................Jim Z.

[schminksbro]

Thanks Jim, I just use the cap as another place to grow acros

Bigger might work for you Andy. Tank looks good even with the coralline on the back glass. You may need to use some biocontrol on that large orange cap................................Jim Z.

[creefer]

I think the goal is to stock with a bunch of small frags and grow them out. With SPS corals it is difficult to rescape after things get grown in. Your rock gets encrusted with coral and now it has a "Top" side. Much different than starting out with a bunch of fresh rock and placing frags. This tank was initially set up with fresh rock and frags but I was forced to move it. The result is the scape you see above. It is ok but I have never been totally happy with it.The other factor is that colonies are less tolerant of being moved. Changing their flow, and light can be a serious problem.
I also enjoy collecting and growing coral. It is quite satisfying to me to grow a 1" frag into a colony. I no longer have the space to add new pieces. Therefore my inclination is to start over. I figure if I am going to do that I might as well go bigger and delay the inevitable which is another "tear down and start over". I have some other things going on so I am currently weighing my options. I could let the tank continue to grow and tear it down when I am ready for the upgrade or I could tear it down now and go tankless until I am ready for the upgrade. I am still undecided on which way I am gonna go.

First, that's still a beautiful tank regardless. Your comments regarding SPS are very true. I'm planning on tearing mine down for a bit of a re-scape yet have found that due to some of the encrusting of my SPS frags, this is going to be challenging.

I also agree that collecting and growing coral is quite satisfying. It's what drove me to the hobby. I'm suffering the same problem as you.....I need to go bigger. I'm just temporarily unable to do so financially.