SnowMan's shallow SPS tank

[snowmansnow]

So this tank is about a year old now, and has been through all sorts of changes: from beating AEFW and monti devouring nudis to changing lights 5 times, and waging war on dinos.
At any rate things are starting to get stabilized, and boy is that a relief.
My sps colors are still off from the trauma, but things are starting to really recover to my liking!

Lighting is an ATI 8 lamp sunpower fixture that hangs about 10" from the surface.

Skimmer is a basic octopus 110 int.

I also run a mrc dual ca RX in conjunction with an Avast Marine kalk stirrer fed by the Tunze Ismolator.

Sump is an Emerald sump made by Trigger Systems.

I'm also doing a brs dual reactor w carbon and a bit of gfo.

In tank flow is provided by an MP40 and a Gyre 150.

So...
Here are some pics

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Questions and helpful advise is appreciated
B




So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[bcavalli]

I love the rock scape. I can't wait to see it fill in.

 

[snowmansnow]

Bcavalli;1086717 wrote: I love the rock scape. I can't wait to see it fill in.

Thanks I'm looking forward to the same


So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[bcavalli]

I'll bet.

 

[picoreefguy]

looking really good Brandon! i love that tiered island on the right.

 

[genesis]

:doh:Turn the tv off when it's picture time lol. Besides that I really like floating SPS islands

 

[jimmystephens]

Wow looks great Brandon.
Love the aqua scape.

 

[genesis]

Removing the sand seems like a good decision. You going to cover it with encrusting corals?

 

[snowmansnow]

Picoreefguy;1086732 wrote: looking really good Brandon! i love that tiered island on the right.

Thanks man. Both sides started out as giant Pukani Rocks... I just took a tool to it and cut and shaped them.. the reasoning was ... no rock falls since everything is just one piece. Being shallow helps too.. it doesn't look too weird.

The birdsnests on the left island ... haha... the first one is actually attached with an acrylic rod that just goes through the coral.. the other one is just locked onto it w gravity.... sps bridge

 

[snowmansnow]

Genesis;1086735 wrote: Removing the sand seems like a good decision. You going to cover it with encrusting corals?

I'm not sure how all that will pan out yet.. but.... chances are it will get covered haha

 

[kirkwood]

Looking good as a BB. I bet u can really crank the flow. What kind of CUC are you using? With my 60g shallow I pulled all the hermits early on because they would get blown all over the glass bottom. Took a year + to build up enough coraline and encrustation on the glass for them to grip.

Your "less is more" aquascaping looks great. You feel you have enough bio filtration or will u just keep a low bioload?

 

[tbub1221]

Looks pretty good Brandon I really like the scape

 

[1mbrews8]

Nice! Love that minimalist rock work!!

 

[gacolt]

tank looks very nice.keep up th good work.

 

[snowmansnow]

thanks guys.

as far east eh CUC goes.. right now there are only 3 big margarita snails and a few crabs haha..

I'll probably need a few more snails in the near future.

Right now my bio load is pretty light, but Im feeding heavier lately and trying to get SOME kind of food in the system for the corals..

I do have a bit of sump space where I could use rubble.

I also have 4 lbs of matrix that has been in storage I COULD use in a reactor....

But like i say.. for now its fine.

Hopefully over the next year it will fill in the gaps with coral growth. it won't look "minimalist " very long

 

[snowmansnow]

Tbub1221;1087106 wrote: Looks pretty good Brandon I really like the scape

thanks man, Its a very young tank, but it will come around soon I hope.

I'm seeing one of those growth spurts in some of my corals as of late

lets see if I can maintain it.

 

[snowmansnow]

Just an update pic to look back on

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So long, and thanks for all the fish.

 

[danh]

Those corals look great!

 

[snowmansnow]

Danh;1088126 wrote: Those corals look great!

thanks,
they are looking a lot better for sure. Still a bit washed out.. BUT I think what I'm seeing as washed out is in a state of recovery (hopefully).
Growth is really fast right now
I can wedge a sps in a crag and in 2 days it has attached and starts visibly encrusting....
Not sure how long I can maintain that ha

 

[danh]

That crazy. I'd love to see that kind of growth.