180 Gallon Florida Coral Reef Aquarium Build at the Ocean Discovery Visitors Center

[Brandon McHenry]

A cool close-up of our Florida Rock Flower anemone. Pretty neat!

 

[fishybizzness]

How's the tank coming along? Haven't seen any updates in awhile!!

 

[siggy]

Since we are lucky enough to have ORA located right here on our campus

Lucky Dog. Brandon Great job! I stopped getting updates in july and to see all the live stock and the health of the tank is amazing. I myself am getting a education about Florida reefs. I had no idea it could produce such vibrant specimens. BTW I seen the cabinet co. shout out.. If I remember YOU built the cabinet and top

 

[Brandon McHenry]

How's the tank coming along? Haven't seen any updates in awhile!!

You read my mind! I had just thought the same thing today. I apologize for the delay; things got very hectic around Christmas and now we are in busy season at the Visitors Center and I’m always on the floor giving tours. I’m also trying to graduate with my Masters this semester so I’m going at about 150% LOL. Anyways I snapped a few quick pictures today so here they are!

Some new growth on the staghorn. 7 new branches at about 2 inches tall.

And my first frag. This branch was about 1/8 inch away from my magnet lol.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Lucky Dog. Brandon Great job! I stopped getting updates in july and to see all the live stock and the health of the tank is amazing. I myself am getting a education about Florida reefs. I had no idea it could produce such vibrant specimens. BTW I seen the cabinet co. shout out.. If I remember YOU built the cabinet and top

Thank you very much! This has been a labor of love for me and I’m glad people are getting to enjoy it as well. Where are you studying?

 

[siggy]

Where are you studying?

180 Gallon Florida Coral Reef Aquarium Build at the Ocean Discovery Visitors Center
Professor Brandon McHenry

 

[Brandon McHenry]

W

180 Gallon Florida Coral Reef Aquarium Build at the Ocean Discovery Visitors Center
Professor Brandon McHenry

Was definitely not expecting that! LOL! I’m really glad people have the opportunity to learn about our research while enjoying the beauty of keeping reef tanks ;Bookworm

 

[fishybizzness]

Coming along beautifully!

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Coming along beautifully!

Thank you! I am loving watching this reef grow before my eyes.

 

[samnaz]

I'm so glad to finally have discovered this incredible tank! Very important work and research being done here. Myself and the wild reefs thank you very much for your contributions. I look forward to following the progress.

 

[Brandon McHenry]

I'm so glad to finally have discovered this incredible tank! Very important work and research being done here. Myself and the wild reefs thank you very much for your contributions. I look forward to following the progress.

Thank you for the kind words! I’m glad you are enjoying the thread. I agree that the research being done at Harbor Branch is truly amazing. I look forward to keeping everybody updated as things progress!

 

[fishybizzness]

Some of my cup corals enjoying a nighttime stroll! Some of these might make a great addition to the tank!

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Some of my cup corals enjoying a nighttime stroll! Some of these might make a great addition to the tank!View attachment 953467View attachment 953468View attachment 953469

You know I hadn’t thought of them but they would actually make a nice addition to the underside of the archway. Are those the Atlantic or Pacific version that you have?

 

[fishybizzness]

Atlantic. I love them because when everything else is closed up at night is when they feed. It gives me something to look at when the lights go out!

 

[fishybizzness]

Even when mostly closed in the daytime they're still pretty! If u put them under an overhang out of direct light they should open up in the daytime!

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Atlantic. I love them because when everything else is closed up at night is when they feed. It gives me something to look at when the lights go out!

That’s great! I’ll need to find someone who sells them.

Even when mostly closed in the daytime they're still pretty! If u put them under an overhang out of direct light they should open up in the daytime!View attachment 953785

That would be ideal!

 

[Brandon McHenry]

Finally managed to grab a somewhat decent picture of our surgeonfish

 

[fishybizzness]

My Caribbean doctorfish and my slippery dick wrasse! Both very happy fish!

 

[Brandon McHenry]

My Caribbean doctorfish and my slippery dick wrasse! Both very happy fish!View attachment 1004507View attachment 1004508

Nice fish! Have you have any issues with your wrasse going after CUC?

 

[fishybizzness]

Nice fish! Have you have any issues with your wrasse going after CUC?

I've had them for almost 2 years and haven't really had a problem so far. I have a bonded pair of banded coral shrimp and they've never bothered them. I add ghost shrimp whenever the sargassum comes through and they do a number on those but they're usually really small.