hi everyone. well, its almost mid July and water first hit my main display tank about a year ago. i still haven't updated my build thread, and really, my tank build hasn't been finished. however the main lighting and filtration was ready a year ago, and since then i have been enjoying the husbandry side too much to finish up the cosmetic and automation related components.
that said, i deemed the tank ready for coral last august, and since then have been adding new specimens at a pretty high rate. one thing i discovered early on is that it can be hard to tell from day to day if a particular specimen is thriving or just surviving. i started taking detailed photos and notes last November, so next year i can do a much better growth record - but for now, here are a few that i did have at least marginally acceptable photos of from last august and today.
note: these aren't the corals that have grown best, or prettiest, or rarest that i have - just a somewhat random selection of 12 corals that i had photographed back last august and again this week. a few of the colonies (like the zoanthids and cyphastrea) have been fragged a few times. also, there has been a month here and there where tank health was less than optimum, and growth reduced or receded. i welcome comments on the rates visible here, and hope it may give newcomers some idea what to expect (or not to - again, let us know in comments).
[attachment=0]7-7-2014 growth_low.JPG[/attachment]
that said, i deemed the tank ready for coral last august, and since then have been adding new specimens at a pretty high rate. one thing i discovered early on is that it can be hard to tell from day to day if a particular specimen is thriving or just surviving. i started taking detailed photos and notes last November, so next year i can do a much better growth record - but for now, here are a few that i did have at least marginally acceptable photos of from last august and today.
note: these aren't the corals that have grown best, or prettiest, or rarest that i have - just a somewhat random selection of 12 corals that i had photographed back last august and again this week. a few of the colonies (like the zoanthids and cyphastrea) have been fragged a few times. also, there has been a month here and there where tank health was less than optimum, and growth reduced or receded. i welcome comments on the rates visible here, and hope it may give newcomers some idea what to expect (or not to - again, let us know in comments).
[attachment=0]7-7-2014 growth_low.JPG[/attachment]
. i added 4x3w 660nm red LED's to the left fixture awhile back, and i dont recommend it. it does look more natural, but it also grows more algae and emphasizes the brown colors (which, i guess IS natural) - however on the plus side it is a lot easier to photograph. in my planted tank the 660nm reds are awesome, but not so much in the reef tank. i also added 6x3w 395nm UV leds about 6 months ago, and i really cant see any difference in growth or algae or color or anything.