Tony came over last night and helped me re-do some aquascaping and place my corals. Placing corals certainly is a lot easier when you have a couple dozen colonies to choose from.
I tried to place based on current and expected size, growth patterns, visual effect, and randomization of color. I feel I have too much green in the tank, but I had a couple corals I just didn't want to let go of.
Some of my corals have browned out over the past month or so for various reasons (being moved around and different lights are the main culprits). Hopefully, they'll get some of their former glory back.
I have the lights (Reeflux 12kK bulbs in LumenBright mini reflectors) mounted in my new adjustable platform canopy, and moved them so the bulbs are 16" above the water surface. This still gives around 400 PAR at the corals in the center of the rock work directly under the bulb, so I'll need to shorten the light cycle or raise the lights even more. When I had the light on the tank on just some 2x4's, I was getting 900 and 1100 PAR at the same point - I think I'll be fine with light...
Click for much larger versions:
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Today is pretty busy, so these are just quick pics; sorry for the poor quality (I used f/1.4 and it shows on that last picture- only the ORA green pocillapora is in focus...).
In all, I'm pretty happy with the new rockwork and look. Tony made the comment that the rock was almost too</em> porous and convoluted. I needed the porosity, but I kinda agree now that the corals are in place - the rock is so busy that it almost hides the corals. Oh well... it's not coming out now! :confused2:
Yes, it still needs sand! My gigas clam, scheduled to go on the right hand side, is sick at the moment with a huge infestation of Pyramidellid snails - I'm really hoping it pulls through - I've got him in the frag tank still, meticuously picking off snails each night and nursing him the best I know how...
I tried to place based on current and expected size, growth patterns, visual effect, and randomization of color. I feel I have too much green in the tank, but I had a couple corals I just didn't want to let go of.
Some of my corals have browned out over the past month or so for various reasons (being moved around and different lights are the main culprits). Hopefully, they'll get some of their former glory back.
I have the lights (Reeflux 12kK bulbs in LumenBright mini reflectors) mounted in my new adjustable platform canopy, and moved them so the bulbs are 16" above the water surface. This still gives around 400 PAR at the corals in the center of the rock work directly under the bulb, so I'll need to shorten the light cycle or raise the lights even more. When I had the light on the tank on just some 2x4's, I was getting 900 and 1100 PAR at the same point - I think I'll be fine with light...
Click for much larger versions:
Today is pretty busy, so these are just quick pics; sorry for the poor quality (I used f/1.4 and it shows on that last picture- only the ORA green pocillapora is in focus...).
In all, I'm pretty happy with the new rockwork and look. Tony made the comment that the rock was almost too</em> porous and convoluted. I needed the porosity, but I kinda agree now that the corals are in place - the rock is so busy that it almost hides the corals. Oh well... it's not coming out now! :confused2:
Yes, it still needs sand! My gigas clam, scheduled to go on the right hand side, is sick at the moment with a huge infestation of Pyramidellid snails - I'm really hoping it pulls through - I've got him in the frag tank still, meticuously picking off snails each night and nursing him the best I know how...
