Reef Spotlight - June 2012 - "Darryl_V"

swannyson7

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REEF SPOTLIGHT - June 2012
The Reef Aquarium of:
Darryl Vanacker aka "Darryl_V"
You can also check out Darryl’s tank build here on R2R:
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/large-aquariums-180g/87557-darryl_vs-200gallon-goodies.html

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Introduction
My R2R TOTM nomination was a pleasant surprise to say the least. Thank you for allowing me to share my 200g SPS dominant reef tank.
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been in the hobby since 2005.
Who or what was responsible for getting you into the hobby?
Much like some of you this hobby started out quite simply as an urge to keep the more colourful and vibrant saltwater fish I was seeing at the local fish store.
Who or what in the hobby most influences/inspires you?
When I first started keeping saltwater fish in 2005 I had no idea that a colorful reef tank was even possible, having never seen one. My online research took me farther and deeper into this fascinating hobby than I ever realized possible. That FOWLR would soon be turned into a reef but what really caught my attention at the time was seeing a local reefer’s mature and colorful SPS tank. I was mesmerized by the colors and shapes of his SPS and even drawn in by the complexity and challenge to keep such organisms thriving. So with less than a year into the hobby I knew my goal was now to have a mature, colorful SPS tank.
What are your future plans for improvement/upgrade of the tank?
I have been thinking about setting up an LPS dominant tank. I have recently been getting into some nice LPS and after some experience I can see that they really would do better with a tank more geared towards them. i.e. Lower light, flow, more food etc. I’m just waiting for the right time to ask the wife for another tank…yikes.

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System Profile
Display tank: 200 gallon (54”x36”x24”) eurobraced tank with a starphire front
Glass or Acrylic: Glass
Stand: DIY stand, skirted in tile & stone.
Sump: Three 40g tanks in the basement.
Protein Skimmer: Modified SWC250 Extreme
Carbon/phosphate filtration: A small amount of BRS GFO and ROX 0.8 Carbon in a dual BRS reactor.
Return Pump: Gen-X MAK 4
Water circulation: (2) Tunze 6100 and a Tunze wavebox.
Lighting: (2) 400w 20K XM Metal Halides, (2) 110w Super Actinic VHO, and (20) 3w Cree Royal Blue diodes
Calcium/alkalinity/magnesium dosing: BRS dry product introduced via dosing pumps.
Auto top-off: DIY using float valves with a solenoid and timer.
Heating/cooling: (3) 250w Ebo Jager Heaters run through a Ranco Temp Controller
System control: None

Water Circulation and Flow Summary and Objectives
I really believe in strong random flow for SPS. I’m also a big fan of the Tunze wavebox and don’t think I would run a tank without one.

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Water Parameters
* Temp: UNK
* pH: UNK
* Specific gravity: UNK
* NO3: 0 – 0.02ppm via Salifert
* Ca: 400ppm
* Alk: 8 dKH
* Mg: 1200
* PO4: UNK
* Ammonia and nitrites: Undetectable

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Lighting Photoperiod
The actinics run for 12 hours and the metal halides run for 6 hours.

swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30336-actinic.jpg
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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Filtration and Water Quality Summary and Objectives
I believe my personal method and philosophy in keeping difficult SPS corals to be quite simple yet still consists of a few very important factors. Strong lighting with lots of light in the blue and actinic spectrum. Turbulent, random and high flow. Stable parameters, most importantly alkalinity which will affect pH and has the most impact on coral health in my experience. I believe in high import of good quality foods as well as strong organic waste, PO4 and NO3 removal methods. Experience and logic has shown me that our captive reef tanks are a small closed system and there is a nutrient balancing act that is taking place. It is easy for this nutrient balance to get skewed, mostly in the direction of nutrient rich but also can be turned nutrient poor. In order to allow a good amount of food to enter the system I make sure I have a large skimmer, waterchange routine, and subsequently use biopellets as a biological means of processing nutrients. I also incorporate the use of GFO(1.5cups) and ROX carbon(2cups), which is changed monthly.

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Tank Inhabitants—Fish
Naso Tang ( Naso lituratus)
Sailfin Tang ( Zebrasoma veliferum)
Powder Blue Tang ( Acanthurus leucosternon)
Regal Blue Tang ( Paracanthurus hepatus)
Yellow Tang ( Zebrasoma flavescens)
Green Mandarin Dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus)
Harlequin Tusk Wrasse ( Choerodon fasciatus)
Flame Hawkfish ( Neocirrhitus armatus)
(2) Black Ice Clownfish ( Amphiprion percula)
Blue Green Chromis ( Chromis atripectoralis)

swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30385-pc261208.jpg


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swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30348-naso.jpg


Tank Inhabitants—Other Invertebrates
Maxima Clam ( Tridacna maxima)
swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30353-p4051531.jpg

Tank Inhabitants—Corals
SPS

swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30338-bubblegum.jpg


swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30339-buffalotort.jpg


swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30340-cobalttort.jpg


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swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30342-granulosa.jpg


swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30343-group.jpg


swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30344-hawkins.jpg


swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30345-highlighter2.jpg
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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Tank Maintenance & Feeding
Maintenance consists of bi-weekly 40G water changes using Instant Ocean Salt. I find this salt economical and sufficient. Like previously mentioned, one 40g breeder tank is used as a water change vessel. This tank is taken off and on the system with the turn of one two inch valve. During the two weeks between water changes the W/C tank is allowed to collect detritus which I clean and siphon at the time of the next water change. During this process I also run the RO/DI (bi-weekly) to fill the 40g tank as well as the 40g storage barrel which will supply the fresh water top up that is needed due to evaporation.
The fish are feed a small amount of omega one flake daily on an eheim fish feeder. In conjunction with that they are feed once more each day consisting of either PE mysis, ¼ nori sheet, or NewLifeSpectrum pellet on rotation. I also take the time to blast the rocks with a turkey baster at least once per week. At this time I also use WM ultimate snow which I feel helps with cyano. I feel this process cleans the rock surface of organic detritus which will break down and feed algae waiting to get a foot hold on the rock. All the equipment is cleaned and inspected at least once or twice a year.

swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30358-p5183322.jpg


Conclusion
A special thanks to R2R for the honor of TOTM. If it weren’t for great resources such as this site, I would not have come this far in the hobby/obsession. Also, a big thank you to my wife and kids for supporting me and my fellow reefers, who share my passion.

swannyson7-albums-darryl_v-s-spotlight-picture30372-p5265530.jpg
 
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swannyson7

swannyson7

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Congrats Darryl, beautiful tank! 1smile1
 

Reefltx

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Wow, this tank is amazing! The color in those sps is superb. Totm is more than deserved, congrats!


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Aquaph8

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Darryl, Ive told you a bunch of times already but your colors are some of the best Ive ever seen. I really look up to you as a hobbiest and SPS keeper and Im a big fan. Thanks so much for sharing your tank with us, it was a real pleasure to read. Congrats on being Spotlighted.
 

secretreefer

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yeah he says in his other thread it's a cyphastrea fully encrusting over a baby bottle. LOL!
 
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cparka23

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That is some INSANE polyp extension in those SPS! What is the blue table w/ green polyps in the photo after the birdsnest?!?!
 

BarbH

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Congrats Darryl on TOTM definitly well deserved, very beautiful and vibrant colors on your SPS.
 

wysiwyg

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omg that is probally the most amazing tank i have ever seen man. congrats
 

Mike&Terry

Wrasses, Angels, & Tangs, Oh My!
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Darryl, Well-deserved Spotlight. You have a beautiful tank and gorgeous SPS colonies. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us!
 
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