"Thirteen years without any water change!"

NatuReef® Featured Tank #2...

Click here to see last months featured tank

This time it's the Corporate test tank.

This 55 gallon tank had its 11 year anniversary on the 6th of May. It was set up as a dead reef with a fairly thick stagnant calcareous substrate. The rocky reef structure was cemented in place to create a permanent non-tumblable base for the colonies of organisms that were to be added. The filtration system, lets call it life support instead, is fully automatic. It consists of a NatuReef® aerobic filter with a dual function as an evaporative cooling system. (No chillers) The temperature only varies from 73.9 to 74.1 degrees F. Incorporated is a NatuReef® biological denitrification system with phosphate removal (Nitrates and Phosphates are only present in trace concentrations) and the NatuReef® automatic freshwater (input 2 gallons per day) and kalkwasser (50% of the freshwater) supply. The major ions, Calcium and Magnesium along with the corresponding alkalinity are provided under pH control on demand and trace elements are provided on a cyclic daily basis, both by a NatuReef® dosing system. Surfactants are removed via a quad air powered NatuReef® foam fractionator.

Circulation is provided by a 900 gph pump and simulated wave motion (NatuReef TRUE WAVE) is generated by an alternate displacement of water that creates a curl wave across the entire tank.

Lighting is a mixed spectrum consisting of fluorescent, halogens and metal halide all timed to produce a peak photo period.

This tank has been the major contributor in evaluating our line of chemical supplements and filtration equipment. We have never performed a water change since the time the tank was set up.

 

Aquarium inhabitants - The organisms reflect a broad spectrum of invertebrates:
5 Colonies of Acroporas (Age 1 to 3 years)
6 Colonies of porities (Encrusting and finger) (Age 1 to 6 years)
1 Plerogyra sp. (Age 8 years)
1 Turbinaria sp. (Age 5 years)
1 Euphyllia divas (Age 9 years)
1 Goniastrea sp. ( Age 11 years)
2 Caulastrea sp. (Age 4 and 7 years)
1 Lobophyllia (Age 2 years)
1 Blastomussa sp. (Age 3 years)
1 Colony of millepora (Age 4 years)
1 Large colony of Caribbean encrusting colonial zooanthids (Age 11 years)
1 Large colony of solitary Caribbean brown zooanthids (Age 11 years)
2 colonies of Caribbean green zooanthids (Age 11 years)
1 Large colony of Caribbbean encrusting gorgonian (Age 11 years)
1 Large colony of encrusting xenia (Age 3 years)
1 Colony of green encrusting gorgonian (1 year)
3 Species of leather corals (Age 2 to 5 years)
9 Multicolored Caribbean rock anemones (Crucifer sp.?) 5 are offsprings age 4 to 11 years)
1 Very large green Stoichactis Sp. (Age 16 years) (Green Carpet)
1 Bubble tip anemone Heteractis Sp. (Age 9 years divided twice during that time)
1 T. maxima (5 years)
A number of echinoderms, snails, hermit crabs, chitons, limpits.
2 Large colonies of brown encrusting chicken liver sponges, a number of orange ball sponges and 5 or six other unidentified sponges.

 

Fish
The current vertebrate density is at is lowest point due to the size of the Stoichactis anemone. Two mated pairs of clowns. Tomato and Sebae, one mated pair of blue devils (these pairs spawn) one green chromis, one snowflake eel and one yellow tang. At times the tank has contained as many as 25 frish.

Caribbean zooanthids

This colonial zooanthid measures 6" x 9". It has grown from a colony only 2" in diameter.
More Caribbean zooanthids

Anemone surrounded by individual zooanthids. The anemone recently spawned "live young" the large Seabee clown and the male blue devil had a feast.
Tomato Clown keeping watch.

This is the male of the mated pair of tomato clowns. Their nest is located under the ledge by the foot of the heteractis anemone.
Euphillia sp.

This specimen (frogspawn) has grown upward three inches since it was placed in the tank.
Mom and Pop together.
A view from the top. Most of the animals in this tank can not be seen from the front of the aquarium.
Another top view. Can you see the large xenia colony on the left? The xenia and zooanthids are right at the surface.
Momma fish. She's the boss of the tank. She bites hard!
Note the water level in the tank. All the way to the top! Soon we will have to put extensions on the top. The water level is now 1/4" from the top.
SPS's corals fighting for space. The acropora in the foreground has grown sufficientlly to touch a porities. The porities is loosing the battle.
One of the breeding pairs with eggs near the front of the aquarium.
The NatuReef® life support system. Features: Built in denitrification and phosphate removal, water level sensor and air cooler.

updated 04/19/04 06:29:03 PM