marinecurious- the state of our tank

[marinecurious]

<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hi everyone!</span></span>

<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It's been a while since I have posted on this site, although I use it as a resource REGULARLY. I "teach" a marine biology/ water conservation class at my middle school. Here is a link to my first post if you are interested in my background: http://atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=52783">http://atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=52783</a>. You will notice in the pictures that we were in significant need of help. This forum was a LIFE SAVER!!!! It has been over a year, and here is what our tank looks like now...</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> [IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/738695=35286-photo (2).JPG">[IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/738695=35286-photo (2).JPG" class="gc-images" title="photo (2).JPG" style="max-width:400px" /></a> </span></span>

<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> [IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/738695=35287-photo (8).JPG">[IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/738695=35287-photo (8).JPG" class="gc-images" title="photo (8).JPG" style="max-width:400px" /></a> </span></span>

<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> [IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/738695=35288-photo (6).JPG">[IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/738695=35288-photo (6).JPG" class="gc-images" title="photo (6).JPG" style="max-width:400px" /></a> </span></span>

<span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> [IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/738695=35289-photo.JPG">[IMG]http://atlantareefclub.org/boards/data/uploads/attachments/738695=35289-photo.JPG" class="gc-images" title="photo.JPG" style="max-width:400px" /></a> -not sure what the transluscent white growth is. ideas?</span></span>


<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">In our 72 gallon bowfront, we have 2 clownfish, one yellow tailed damsel, a lawnmower blenny, a kole tang, 2 engineer gobies, and a bicolor dotyback (which is in permanent timeout in our refugium for bad behavior), a peppermint shrimp, some various snails and hermit crabs, and a multitude of flat worms (not on purpose:). Not a show piece by any means, but if you compare it to the first pictures, it is HUGE progress. If you see any glaring issues, please let me know.</span></span>

<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">If it is ok, I’d like to bring my students (approximately 10 middle school kids) to the Frag Meeting next Saturday. We came last year and it really fired up my kids. I have a new group this year and would love for them to experience the same thing.</span></span>

 

[rtirado]

Translucent white growth in picture 4 looks like sponge to me.
Tank looks a lot better than in the previous pictures!

 

[marinecurious]

Thanks! It still has a ways to go, but the tank has improved and I have learned so much since the beginning. I have thought of naming my tank "i don't know" because I am always saying that when a student or fellow teacher asks something about the tank. Sometimes I am afraid to find out because I worry that it will be a bad issue. (Avoidance is my MO ). Good to hear that the white growth might be a sponge.

Anyway, I forgot to mention my corals. I have some palys and zoas, green star polyp, a frogspawn, a kenya tree, and mushrooms. They seem to be doing well. I am concerned about the age of my lights (over 1 yo). I'm interested to hear what the forum thinks about the necessity of changing lights. I think the color of my corals isn't optimal, but they seem to be flourishing/ growing/ reproducing otherwise.

 

[rtirado]

Yea those bulbs definitely should get replaced. For T5's it's usually the 9-10 month range when you should swap them out. I'm hoping some others will chime in here and might be able to help like in the original post, some people have more bulbs than they know what to do with.

 

[patrick]

Great improvement! The bulbs could use replacing. Just about all bulbs except LEDs need at least annual replacement as they begin to shift and/or lose their spectrum you bought them for.......sometimes to levels that are not useful by the corals. Hope things keep going well with the tank.

 

[marinecurious]

Thank you Barbara! I've had some FRUSTRATIONS and nightmares from this insane hobby. I am definitely learning right along side my kiddos. I am amazed at how much more I know now compared to a year ago, but that's scary considering how clueless I feel often. :wow2: