Dustin's RSM 130!!!!

dmyers557

dmyers557

Member
So, for my wife and I's 1 year wedding anniversary, we decided to get a fish tank. We had no prior knowledge or experience about anything in this hobby. I have been reading and researching alot while my tank went through its first cycle. Used tap water to cycle because I did not know any better. Well, that was back in late May. Wish I had taken photo's of everything. Here is the earliest photo I found:

Beginning:
IMG_0157.jpg


1 Month later:
DSC03816.jpg


2 months ago:
DSC03984.jpg


I will try and get a recent photo. Tell me what you guys think and any help or critism is much appreciated.
 
Reefmack

Reefmack

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Great job Dustin! Thanks for starting your tank thread - now we have another tank to watch!
 
Mavjoy

Mavjoy

Active Member
Welcome and don't hesitate to ask any questions here. All of the guys are very helpful and take your time:) .
 
dmyers557

dmyers557

Member
Thanx for the comments. Any ideas on a good lighting system? I have been looking at the Current USA 24" Orbit with the MH. Any suggestions?
 
Reefmack

Reefmack

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To be honest I wouldn't rush to replace the lights. The RSM lights are much better than non-owners give them credit for. I've seen a lot of RSMs that are successful with even SPS corals.
 
dmyers557

dmyers557

Member
Ok, I just saw how nice your tanked looked and wanted one. I want to keep clams. Do you think they can survive with the stock lighting? I had an sps at the top of the tank, but it did not make it.
 
S

steveh

Member
Clams and many species of sps will grow successfully in a Max with the std lighting. Obviously any corals has many requirements and I would be surprised if the demise of the sps was due to inadequate lighting. We have successfully grown Monti's, Acro's etc in standard M130's
 
dmyers557

dmyers557

Member
It lived for 2 months, but just got browner and browner very slowly. You can actually see it in the top center(left side) of my tank in the picture. I have a close up of it in my gallery. When I bought it, the local reeefer told me it needed very good lighting, so I was not surprised. On a good note, I have the Incredible hulk still alive. Not as bright green as it was when I got him, but definately healthy.
 
Reefmack

Reefmack

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Hi Dustin. Is the SPS you had this one?

DSC03976.JPG


Any idea what type SPS it was? It looks like it may be one of the tougher ones to keep, but I'm certainly not an SPS expert. I've lost a few SPS even under my metal halides, so I wouldn't blame the RSM lights. SPS are a very demanding coral for more than just light energy - it's usually recommended that they go into a mature tank with no ammonia, no nitrites, and low or no nitrates, proper Calcium and Magnesium levels, as well as proper alkalinity, as well as maintaining those levels. And some SPS are tougher than others. Some like high flow, some less flow. I lost some when running a cannister filter, most likely as my nitrates got too high. Since you set up the tank last May I'd think it's mature enough, but I'd recommend running tests for the above parameters to see where you're at, and possibly adjusting if necessary, and then maintaining Ca and Alk with a 2-part additive.
 
MatthewJ

MatthewJ

Member
dmyers557 said:
Ok, I just saw how nice your tanked looked and wanted one.
Click to expand...

LOL. Don't we all. reefmack has already promised to give up one day and bequeath his tank to me. :contract:

Welcome to the club and keep us updated. I think your tank looks sweet. I like how you have the low table rock buried in the substrate. I'd like to do that. I'm having good luck with some easier SPS and the stock lighting. They're probably not going to grow as fast, but mine ARE growing. Hopefully I get these right:

acropora yongei (green slimer)
montipora spongodes (can't find common name or much on care. mine looks like a hat so it is now officially called Montipora "green hat")
Seriatopora sp. (this is my favorite, orangish/pink with green tips)
montipora hispada (just starting to see growth)
montipora capricornis (grows fast. I have green and red and both do well).

Here is a site that lists some by care level:
Aquatic Art, Inc. :: Aquarium Design and Maintenance Specialists (Denver, Colorado) :: Acros
Aquatic Art, Inc. :: Aquarium Design and Maintenance Specialists (Denver, Colorado) :: Other SPS Corals

Anybody know of a better site that lists SPS by care level?
 
dmyers557

dmyers557

Member
It definately was a tough one to keep. I was warned by the local reefer I got it from. Thanx guys. This site really has tons of helpful people. Especially with RSM tanks. I will be here a long time.
 
Reefmack

Reefmack

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MatthewJ - thanks for the links. I hadn't seen those pages before. Easier than looking up a lot of these things one by one.

Dustin - it sounds like the local reefer was correct - a difficult SPS.
 
dmyers557

dmyers557

Member
Sure was difficult SPS. On a good note, I just got a flame angel today. I will post pics of my flame and updated tank pics.
 
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