Tank Journal Archive

[Franklin Dattein]

At the end of 2017 I sold all my corals, except Zoas and Acans in preparation to moving from Sydney to Gold Coast.

This time I wanted to try something different from my previous Wild Colonies Mixed Reef with and decided I was going to do a SPS dominated, with aquaculture animals as much as possible.
Coincidently, I couldn't have moved to a better place to meet that style of reefing. There are 2 sources of high quality SPS frags around helped a lot, Frankie's Frags and Reef Secrets. Also, Reef Secrets has a nice variety of Aquacultured fish and inverts.
Speaking of shops, it has been a interesting contrast from Sydney shops. I miss the wider range of products and staff at Aquaristic and also, the high grade corals and amazing tanks at Eastwood.
Reef Secrets is the only option nearby, but I couldn't be more satisfied. Darren is a passionate reefer, which reflects in his shop, with frags from his own tanks and a focus on sustainable reefing practices.

I also had a chance to visit Frankie's house a couple of times and it is hard to leave. His 10y old SPS tank and his selection of frags are like nothing I had ever seen.

Enough chatting, there are the photos from my phone when the tank was 3 months old:

 

[Sam Parker]

The famous frankies frags!

 

[Savage Henry]

Looking good, but I take it that isn't a biscuit starfish?

 

[Franklin Dattein]

Hi @Savage Henry yes, it is. What caught your attention on that?

 

[Savage Henry]

Only that I was of the understanding they had a poor survival rate in tropical tanks, let alone any tank at all.

Perhaps yours is different from the ones I know of. If it is one that can survive in tropical tanks, I want one!

I have come across them many times in Sydney, even took one home, but released it once I'd done my research.

I should add they are something special to come across in the wild due to their startling colour and appear in the murky depths.

 

[Franklin Dattein]

I was well aware of the requirements when I purchased it, but it is with me for only 2 months which is too early to come to any conclusions.
My tank runs on 24hs Vinegar + Amino Acids dosing, which is well known for promoting bacterial films and lots of sponges. I am suspicious this is why I successful in keeping a healthy and growing Blue Lickia starfish, for 3 years before I sold it.

I wanted to try a different species, to check if it was just luck or it is the method I use in my tank.

I also lowered the temperature to 25C in my tank since I got it and the plan is to raise it slowly to 26C, as part of the mini experiment.

Did you release yours to the ocean?

 

[Savage Henry]

Yes, I did release mine to the ocean, pretty much in the exact spot it came from.

Mine was from temperate water. Obviously, i don't know if yours was, hence my interest.

 

[Franklin Dattein]

@Savage Henry

once you put an animal in the aquarium, it is safer for the environment to throw it in the bin, rather than release it to the ocean.

It sounds cruel, but in fact it prevents a much worse problem, because it could be carrying a foreign, like bacteria and micro algae, from your tank to the ocean.

I think it is important to share this information in a public forum, to avoid others form making the same mistake.

 

[jart]

Looking great Franklin. Did you keep the same tank/equipment also, or upgrade/downgrade/sidegrade after the move?

Glad you found some excellent new local sources of corals and animals. Hope you are settling into the GC as well as your tank seems to be. :)

 

[Franklin Dattein]

Hey @jart ,
I've added a sand bed, because I got tired of the purple look of the bare bottom. I am also keeping Alk at 8.6dKh as opposed to 7dKH, to increase growth now that the focus is on SPS frags.