Reef Tank... I collect Live Corals

[relicgrubber]

I collect live corals for my Reef Tank... Anyone else?

[drdave514]

I knew some people had live corals in their saltwater tanks but I wasn't aware that the collecting of corals themselves was something people did. Very cool. Do you buy them on those wood button looking things?

[relicgrubber]

Sure People collect Corals. I have some from Japan, Australia, Hawaii and Indonesia. A lot from Florida, the Caribbean and California.

The frag plugs (wood button looking things) are made from crushed/pulverized coral skeletons and then cast into those plugs. You just Super glue the Polyps/heads to them. It’s not an easy hobby but very rewarding, at least I think so. Believe it or not a reef tank is more expensive than buying some Artifacts.

Thanks for asking Dr.Dave!

[ghost recon]

Cool tank, those corals look like some alien world, really colorful.

[eddies]

very cool looking tank. very nice job. is that like alot of work to keep up>>?

[relicgrubber]

Thanks Ghost!

Originally Posted by eddies

very cool looking tank. very nice job. is that like alot of work to keep up>>?

Thanks eddies...

Well. Sure it is. Mixing salt, water changes, cleaning filters, cleaning glass. spot feeding, trouble shooting controller problems. Its all good though if you're into it.
I guess you could say it is like growing gardening (prized roses or orchids, etc...)

[Mud Hawk]

HECK YEAH! Beautiful tank relicgrubber, how many gallons? Is that an overflow for a refugium built in?

In 2005, I built and ran a custom nano-reef with an oak base/hood. Just invertebrates...
No filtration, just live rock, live sand, and weekly water changes. The cleaning crew was blue leg hermits and nassarius snails. Bristle worms helped too .

I still have it, but haven't had the energy to start it back up (lots of upkeep). Here were the only pics I could find from an old forum I used to be on (nano-reef.com/user: king_martini). It was empty as I was still letting it cycle for a month:









Specifications
===============
• 5 Gallon Perfecto tank (4 gallons of water w/rock and sand)
• Custom Cut Lexan Cover
• Custom Red Oak Base and Hood
• 8 LB Live Sand
• 6 LB Tonga Deepwater live rock
• 25 Watt Visitherm Stealth Heater
• Digital Thermometer (Internal and External Temps)
• Microjet Powerhead
• 40 Watts of Lighting (2x 20W coralife 50/50)
• 2 Blue Led Moonlights
• Cooling Fan (From CPU heatsink)
• Penn-Plax Silent Air B11 for power outages

[Mud Hawk]

Darn you. (joking)

Now I have the bug to start it up again and do a Yuma Ricordea species tank which I have always wanted to do. I'll have to rewire for more 50/50 lights though.



EDIT:
No, seriously relicgrubber, thank you. I have been doing maintenance and cleaning all my old equipment tonight. I do plan on rewiring in another 20w 50/50 CPF to bring it up to 60 watts which should bump it to 15 watts per gallon. Now... how to work it into a conversation after the wife gets home. Maybe i'll leave my copy of "Marine Invertebrates" by Ronald L. Shimek on my nightstand .

[MidlandMan]

Nice softie tank RG! How do you like the Vortex? I'm more of a Tunze Wave Box man myself. Its amazing how the new LED actinics make everything glow. Cute Tail Spot Blenny. We have a great reef section at AquaTek where I work. Well done!

[texasarrowhead]

All I do is arrowhead hunt in the day and reefing at night.I have been collecting corals for 6 years now.I have a 8gal,29gal Biocube and a 75gal reef tank.I am going with a bigger tank in the future.I got into chalices and acans big time but sold most due to some kind of pest that came in on a acan that almost wiped me out.I am now starting to build up my corals again.Let me know if you want to do any trading. Here is some of my pictures of my tank awhile back and some now.