Tank of the Month - August 2008 - robertus

[MaidstoneMarine]

If I said that there were in excess of 50 fish in an SPS dominated tank you'd probably think I was exagerating a little although you'd probably question the size of the tank! If I then told you that it was only 4' long you'd probably be screaming about the stocking levels!!!

This tank is full to the brim of everything that you could hold quite comfortably in a nano tank yet this is not a nano tank. The SPS blend into one and other with the colours being vibrant and delightful to look at it. As you peer around it you spot movement, was it a fish, was it an invert? Regardless of what it was in every corner of this tank there is something happening. Robert set out to create a piece of living art and this certainly wouldn't look out of place in a gallery... it's absolutely stunning.

Enjoy reading about this tank and when you get to the bottom of the article check out the latest addition to the UR.com TOTM feature!

Congratulations Robert...

Robert (robertus) August
http://www.ultimatereef.com/TOTM/2008_august/
http://www.ultimatereef.com/TOTM/2008_august/images/topImage.jpg (http://www.ultimatereef.com/TOTM/2008_august/)


Thanks and congratulations to Robert for taking the time to share his stunningly beautiful tank with us. If you have any questions or comments then please post them in this thread.

[steve@ cambridge coral tech]

WOW very very impressive mate:applause: :thumbsup:

[Espocrespo]

That tank deserves it, truly amazing, also one of my fave's cuz it has lots of gobies, I love gobies.

[Halfsleeve]

No questions, just congratulations on such a lovelly stunning tank.

[zoe4eva]

wow, congratulations:D

[Stephen G]

very impressive!!! good read 2

[Philfish]

Lovely tank! Well deserved winner!

[fishmaduds]

:worship:..............:worship:...........FANTAST IC...........I only dream of mine looking like this!..........:worship:.............:worship

[Paul Burton]

Impressed with the relatively low light levels compared with the great colour and growth. I'm also loving the blue, bottle brush acro in the centre - gorgeous tank.


Paul

[Andy]

one of my favourite TOTM. excellent, excellent tank well done.

[Manta]

Holy Toledo! Amazing colours & growth, congratulations.

[disco_dave]

crackin TOTM Robert, well done, love those clams :thumbsup:

:applause:.........:worship:

[tontikki]

finally!:thumbsup: my favourite totm. amazing tank real credit to you robertus:applause::worship::worship:

[marcopolored]

Excellent tank - congrats :applause:

[dxmarinefish]

Beauty :thumbsup:

[designsonline.co.uk]

Such a stunningly beautiful tank.

Congratulations, it is sincerely deserved.
Joe

[gtb]

stunning setup, and loved the slideshow :thumbsup:

[jezmo]

well deserved one of the most stunning tanks i have seen!!!!

[jamiep]

Amazing tank - something to aspire to! Well done!

[swinny]

just WOW really one or sps in there:applause:

[AhmedLFC]

Stunning looking tank.

I have often wondered with tanks that look so well kind of grown into each other, did you start with just frags or fit full colonies together into the tank.

Either way stunning, congrats.

[dunc4000]

That is a Special Tank, congrats:thumbsup:
Maidstonemarine I also enjoyed the new slideshow.

[Reef bloke]

Excellent TOTM!!! How did you rid the tank of AEFW in the end Robertus?

[Dave_P]

What a great tank :applause::applause:

[dan-the-man]

Great write up and format, stunning tank and just shows what you can do with a smaller tank. :thumbsup:

[robertus]

Thank you all for the compliments and kind words.:)
I am very honored to be able to present my system overhere.
I want to thank MaidstoneMarine for his help and for putting everything together and for the very nice slide show.

I hope this TOTM will be well recieved.

To answer some questions:
I started with frags 4 years ago for this tank, AhmedLFC.
Most frags were aqua cultured and very small.
I put them in the tank so that they could grow a little but I wanted to keep them small. I wanted this bonsai reef.
I only used a few small wild colonies at some key points.

I got rid of the AEFW by doing a lot of work.
They are a real problem.

I dipped the affected corals in pro coral cure.
I blew the affected colonies off each day with tank water.
I removed the magnet corals like A. valida, A. solitariensis etc.
I bought crabs for the acropora's that didn't have one in them.
I fed the acropora's to give them the best condition possible.
I used some wrasses. The biochoeres cosmetes is a real specialist in eating and searching for the AEFW. Better than all the others!


Grt,

Robertus.

[AlanM]

To think that the display tank on that system is exactly the size of the sump I had on my Trigon. Getting something that small to look so large, full without being stuffed is a major achievement. Approaching a layout as living artwork is an interesting approach - something Takashi Amano has been doing in the freshwater world for a while now. Doing it on a reef tank takes considerable longer time and effort, robertus should be applauded for this achievement.

[benb]

That is absolutely amazing.

[zoney]

WOW FANTASTIC tank a really credit to you

[laus]

simply amazing thats all i can say im speachless, its just amazing:applause:

[robertus]

Thanks AlanM,
You said exactly what I was trying to do.
I have read all those Amano's books, and they really have influenced me


To think that the display tank on that system is exactly the size of the sump I had on my Trigon. Getting something that small to look so large, full without being stuffed is a major achievement. Approaching a layout as living artwork is an interesting approach - something Takashi Amano has been doing in the freshwater world for a while now. Doing it on a reef tank takes considerable longer time and effort, robertus should be applauded for this achievement.

Thanks ibex_57,
Hope you enjoyed it
That is absolutely amazing.

Thank you zoney,
Thanks for your kind words.
WOW FANTASTIC tank a really credit to you

Thank you laus,
for reading this TOTM article.
simply amazing thats all i can say im speachless, its just amazing:applause:

[Tanne]

Very stunning, a well deserved TOTM!

Congratulations!

Tanne

[hammy7387]

mazing looking tank. Wish my four footer looked like that

[robertus]

Hello Tanne,

How nice to hear from you on this forum.
A compliment coming from you means a lot to me!
Thanks for taking the effort of looking at this month's TOTM.

Grt,

Robertus.

Very stunning, a well deserved TOTM!

Congratulations!

Tanne

Thank you hammy7387,

Maby in the future it will look like it.
I also had to learn a lot and it took a lot of time and I made many mistakes.

mazing looking tank. Wish my four footer looked like that

Grt,

Robertus.

[Lost Boys]

Stunning SPs corals you have there and stunning colours.

:thumbsup:

[robertus]

Thanks Lost Boys, for your reaktion.

Grt,

robertus.

Stunning SPs corals you have there and stunning colours.

:thumbsup:

[jon h]

Wow:wub: that cetainly is some TOTM well done:thumbsup:

[dab]

well done robertus amazing:wub::wub::wub::wub::wub::wub::wub::applaus e::applause::applause::applause:

[robertus]

Thanks jon h and dab,:)
TOTM means to me : inspiring and giving a new possibillities and directions.
Hope you enjoyed this TOTM.

By the way:
At the growth rate I have at this moment I will have a new job: cutting the acropora's to keep everything apart.:rolleyes:
So small also means I lot of work.

Wow:wub: that cetainly is some TOTM well done:thumbsup:


well done robertus amazing:wub::wub::wub::wub::wub::wub::wub::applaus e::applause::applause::applause:

[scottishreefer]

Absolutely stunning!! :worship::worship:

[Oranchu]

What an awesome and inspiring tank! :wub:

[robertus]

Thanks scottishreefer and Oranchu :) :)

Absolutely stunning!! :worship::worship:

What an awesome and inspiring tank! :wub:


Grt,

Robertus.

[Ross1]

AWESOME. and only 150's too. its great to see someone overcome the dreaded AEFW and still end up with a great looking tank full of acros. :applause:

[robertus]

Thanks Ross1,

And yes there is hope after AEFW.:dance:
Also 150 w is enough light if all parameterrs are in line and you have nutrient poor water.

Grt,

Robertus.

AWESOME. and only 150's too. its great to see someone overcome the dreaded AEFW and still end up with a great looking tank full of acros. :applause:

[hscherry]

Absolutely amazing tank... Definitely something to aspire to.. :wub:

Maybe one day my 4ft tank will look half as good as that! :thumbsup:

Well done mate & keep up the good work! :)

[julou]

amazing colours, wow :worship:

[robertus]

Thanks hscherry and julou for reading. :)

Absolutely amazing tank... Definitely something to aspire to.. :wub:

Maybe one day my 4ft tank will look half as good as that! :thumbsup:

Well done mate & keep up the good work! :)


amazing colours, wow :worship:

[pjos11]

A truly amazing set up and I hope mine can look like that one day. :rolleyes:

Well done!!

[robertus]

Thanks pjos11,:)

Grt,

Robertus.

A truly amazing set up and I hope mine can look like that one day. :rolleyes:

Well done!!

[willjay]

Robert, thanks for your time (away from caring for you amazing reef)! to wright this article and photograph the life you have nurtured to such a great state. I love the nano and micro life and the enjoyment of not being able to see everything in one evening, every view is different, a living painting indeed.

Thanks as always to Chris for bringing this to us

[robertus]

Thanks willjay,

I had great pleasure in writing this article and sharing the life present in my tank. Glad you enjoyed it.

Grt,

Robertus.

Robert, thanks for your time (away from caring for you amazing reef)! to wright this article and photograph the life you have nurtured to such a great state. I love the nano and micro life and the enjoyment of not being able to see everything in one evening, every view is different, a living painting indeed.

Thanks as always to Chris for bringing this to us

[pmhawkey]

Great to see another example of a beautiful Zeovit tank.

[chrissyboy]

What can I say, it's amazing. You must be proud of it!!:applause:

[robertus]

Thanks pmhawkey and chrissyboy.

There are many ways to regulate the nutrient level, zeo is one of them.

Grt,

Robertus.


Great to see another example of a beautiful Zeovit tank.


What can I say, it's amazing. You must be proud of it!!:applause:

[little fish big tank]

:dribble::dribble: I Like it, I like it a lot, what a fine bit of work to support all that life in a relatively small tank. Well done

[robertus]

Thanks :),
I always have something to look at with all that life inside this tank..

Grt,

Robertus.

:dribble::dribble: I Like it, I like it a lot, what a fine bit of work to support all that life in a relatively small tank. Well done

[pjos11]

Robert I have been reading on the use of the Zeovit system and wanted to ask you, How dificult is it to use? It seems like there is alot to do everyday?

Paul

O Can you come round to my house and get my tank looking like yours? LOl

[robertus]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the compliment:)

Zeo is just one way to reduce the amount of nutrients in a tank.
This gave me the extra brilliant colors I wanted.
There are many other ways to get these colors.

Starting with the basics zeo is simple.
It is important that you learn to read the coral reactions,
and that you measure all the water parameters every week and fit these two (coral reaktions and water parameters) together to understand what is happening. And then reakt accordingly to perfect the dosages.

After some time you can start using the other supplements.
These are used to polish the colors in the wanted direction.

Learning the correct dosages takes a lot of time.
Giving the supplements takes 5 minutes a day.
Enjoying the colors takes all day long!!


Grt,

Robertus.


Robert I have been reading on the use of the Zeovit system and wanted to ask you, How dificult is it to use? It seems like there is alot to do everyday?

Paul

O Can you come round to my house and get my tank looking like yours? LOl

[pjos11]

Thanks I will keep on reading for awhile. I only have about 6 SPS but thats going to change!

[Owain]

That is one amazing and inspiring aquarium. Surely one of the greatest nanos of all time! :wub:

Thanks for sharing!

I have a question about the fish. Do you have much territorial trouble with all the gobies and other bottom dwellers? Did you introduce them all at around the same time? Or do you find you've enough mini-territories with all those acros etc to keep them all happy (like with african cichlids, i wonder, where they crowd them to keep them all in check.

Anyway, congrats on a brilliant tank. :applause:

[robertus]

Hello Owain,

Thanks for your compliments,

I introduced the nano fish very slowly. It took nearly half a year.
Each time I waited until these new fish had found there own place.
This takes quite some time. Some live in the corals, some in the caves, some in the rocks,on the floor and some in the open spaces.
I always bought pairs and groups to get the most natural start.
And I stopped when I saw it was enough.

I devellopped this tank for these animals with lots of mini territories.
This is the key factor. These mini-territories also give a nice rockscape.

These fish are very small but also very territorial.
They will fight just like their big brothers.
But with all the corals, caves and open spaces they, and I, are happy.

Grt,

Robertus.






That is one amazing and inspiring aquarium. Surely one of the greatest nanos of all time! :wub:

Thanks for sharing!

I have a question about the fish. Do you have much territorial trouble with all the gobies and other bottom dwellers? Did you introduce them all at around the same time? Or do you find you've enough mini-territories with all those acros etc to keep them all happy (like with african cichlids, i wonder, where they crowd them to keep them all in check.

Anyway, congrats on a brilliant tank. :applause:

[redben31]

Happy, I bet you are. Your tank looks amazing

[langy]

Only just seen this but when you consider its 47" x 15" x 15" its absolutely amazing. Very well done.

[Suk]

Very well done Robertus. Top tank with amazing colours & a great selection of fish. I enjoyed reading the write-up & your dedication certainly shows in the health of your stock. Do you need to replace the t5's every 3 months? I didn't realise their lifespan was so short!
:applause:

[robertus]

Thanks Suk, Langy and Redben31. for the compliments.
Glad to hear you like this tank.:) :) :)

@Suk:
I change the t5"s when I see the colors slightly fading.
This is after 3 months. The t5's are still ok but I don't like the colors fading.


Very well done Robertus. Top tank with amazing colours & a great selection of fish. I enjoyed reading the write-up & your dedication certainly shows in the health of your stock. Do you need to replace the t5's every 3 months? I didn't realise their lifespan was so short!
:applause:


Only just seen this but when you consider its 47" x 15" x 15" its absolutely amazing. Very well done.

Happy, I bet you are. Your tank looks amazing

[juls]

Wow gorgeous tank :thumbsup: looks stunning :cool:

[ringo]

Just superb colours and density, congratulations

[robertus]

Thanks juls and ringo,

Grt,

Robertus.

Wow gorgeous tank :thumbsup: looks stunning :cool:

Just superb colours and density, congratulations

[little_squirt]

Cool tank,
hope mine will look like that when i eventualy get mine!:(

Little_squirt :)

[robertus]

Thanks little_squirt.

Grt,

Robertus.

Cool tank,
hope mine will look like that when i eventualy get mine!:(

Little_squirt :)

[chrisreefs]

Great Tank a lot of hard work gone in there I see, looking brilliant well done

[robertus]

Thanks, chrisreefs for your reaktion. :)

Today is almost the end of my TOTM period at Ultimatereef.com.
I would like to thank all the reefers and readers at ultimatereef.com for their positive reaktions. It was an honor being TOTM here. :wave:

Arrived at this finish I post some final pictures made this week.
Mij tank is still thriving, and the corals are growing very fast.

Ofcourse I will continue to update my normal sps robertus thread at this forum.
I always appriciate your reaktions, questions and remarks.


http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q3/aquarium Robertus 20-08-2008 022 (Large).jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q3/aquarium Robertus 20-08-2008 029.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q3/aquarium Robertus 20-08-2008 012 (Large).jpg

Grt,

Robertus.





Great Tank a lot of hard work gone in there I see, looking brilliant well done

[spartan300]

Hi Robertus,

as a beginner, do your corals sting each other at all? You have so many very closely together?

[robertus]

Yes they try to, in various ways, but I cut them before they can!

Grt,

Robertus.

Hi Robertus,

as a beginner, do your corals sting each other at all? You have so many very closely together?

[Snappy]

Congratulations on being selected as TOTM. Impressive as always.:D

[robertus]

Thanks Greg :),

I expect to see your name again very soon in some TOTM/Q context!

Grt,

robertus.

Congratulations on being selected as TOTM. Impressive as always.:D

[ifranky]

I have seen this tanks months ago on a Dutch site (and forum) and it's a real stunner. An inspiration to everyone and a display tank for reefing.

Robertus' tank amazes me every time I see pictures of it.

[ace45]

what a wicked tank

[robertus]

Thanks for your compliment, ifranky.

I have seen this tanks months ago on a Dutch site (and forum) and it's a real stunner. An inspiration to everyone and a display tank for reefing.

Robertus' tank amazes me every time I see pictures of it.


I don't know exactly what you mean with the word wicked, ace45

Grt,

Robertus.

what a wicked tank

[MaidstoneMarine]

Robert,

Wicked means awesome! Top draw! Superb! Blindin! Fantastic! Brilliant!

It's a compliment! And a worthy one might I say - your tank is stunning. Thank you for sharing it and thank you for answering the questions as this thread has progressed. Very much appreciated

Chris

[robertus]

Thanks Chris. :)

Grt,

Robertus.

Robert,

Wicked means awesome! Top draw! Superb! Blindin! Fantastic! Brilliant!

It's a compliment! And a worthy one might I say - your tank is stunning. Thank you for sharing it and thank you for answering the questions as this thread has progressed. Very much appreciated

Chris

[Viv]

Goedemiddag Robertus

Amazing tank! Very well done!

Tot straks....

MVG,

[craigybaby37]

Amazing tank you have there.

Just qurious what brand is your metal halide lighting as ime after a compact unit like that for my current 50G tank???

[heneee1]

Fantastic tank, well done.

[robertus]

Goedemiddag Robertus

Amazing tank! Very well done!

Tot straks....

MVG,

Thanks Viv, en goedenavond.


Amazing tank you have there.

Just qurious what brand is your metal halide lighting as ime after a compact unit like that for my current 50G tank???

Thanks craigybaby37,
I have an aqua medic aquastarlight with 2 X 150W.


Fantastic tank, well done.

Thank you heneee1,

Grt,

Robertus.

[cepp1873]

wow stunning tank robert colours are fantastic and a great way to prove to the "can't do that brigade" that they are wrong again

keep up the good work

[IMAPILOT_AGAIN]

wow! amazing

[robertus]

Thanks, cepp1873 and IMAPILOT_AGAIN for your positive reaktions.:)

Grt,

Robertus

wow stunning tank robert colours are fantastic and a great way to prove to the "can't do that brigade" that they are wrong again

keep up the good work


wow! amazing

[darrenmarine]

The tank looks absolutly awesome - congrats on such an amazing system.

[robertus]

Thanks darrenmarine, for your kind words.

Grt,

Robertus.

The tank looks absolutly awesome - congrats on such an amazing system.

[darrenmarine]

Fantastic setup - the best tank of the month for a long time - I wish mine was just 10% as good as this setup -

[seahorse king]

Fantastic one of the best tanks i've seen:thumbsup:

[Chrismueller1000]

whats the running cost on something like that?

[robertus]

Thanks for the compliments guys!!

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q3/aquarium Robertus 24-09-2008 009 (Large).jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q3/aquarium Robertus 24-09-2008 018 (Large).jpg

Grt,

Robertus.

[darrenmarine]

amazing setup - an inspiration to us all !!

[DC110770]

This is the best aray of colours I have ever seen!

Truely fantastic!:thumbsup:

[robertus]

Thank you, DC110770 and darrenmarine.
I am glad you like this tank.


I want to wish the next TOTM good luck and a good time here on Ultimatereef.com.

Grt,

Robertus.



This is the best aray of colours I have ever seen!

Truely fantastic!:thumbsup:

amazing setup - an inspiration to us all !!

[Orca_Nano]

Holy...... Man thats an awesome tank! :O ;)

[robertus]

Thanks Orca_Nano! :)

Grt,

Robertus.

Holy...... Man thats an awesome tank! :O ;)

[fishie]

I want to wish the next TOTM good luck and a good time here on Ultimatereef.com.




Robertus.[/QUOTE]


hmm whens that!!???:thumbsup:

[robertus]

Hi fishie,

There is a lot of work involved to present a new TOTM.
Please be patient, and in the meantime enjoy all the other beautiful tanks.

Grt,

Robertus.

I want to wish the next TOTM good luck and a good time here on Ultimatereef.com.




Robertus.


hmm whens that!!???:thumbsup:[/QUOTE]

[Ecrasez]

Robertus, please talk about your lighting, more epecific please. What type of bulbs (T5 HO and HQI brand, a the color temperature)

Congratulations for this beutiful piece of sea

[Matt O'D]

Great achievement Robertus, thanks for sharing your tank with us. Always amazed at how quickly the hobby progresses and its inspiring to see someone like yourself breaking new ground. It seems the possibilities are endless.

I am interested in how you run your Ca Reactor. Is this set at a constant PH and run 24hrs, or is CO2 restricted to daylight hours? Is there any method of 'degassing' used?

[Matt O'D]

Great achievement Robertus, thanks for sharing your tank with us. Always amazed at how quickly the hobby progresses and its inspiring to see someone like yourself breaking new ground. It seems the possibilities are endless.

I am interested in how you run your Ca Reactor. Is this set at a constant PH and run 24hrs, or is CO2 restricted to daylight hours? Is there any method of 'degassing' used?

[robertus]

Hy Matt,

Thanks for the compliment.
About the ca reaktor output: I do not use the pH but the kH.
My Ca reaktor runs at constant output 25-30 kH, 24 hours a day.
One day no good reaktor function would mean a 2-3 kH drop.
I use the new big and very dense KZ coral gravel. This gives good flow in my ca reaktor and gives this stable output.
With this output my pH is between 7.8 and 8.1.
And my kH is about 8 every day...


Grt,

Robertus.


Great achievement Robertus, thanks for sharing your tank with us. Always amazed at how quickly the hobby progresses and its inspiring to see someone like yourself breaking new ground. It seems the possibilities are endless.

I am interested in how you run your Ca Reactor. Is this set at a constant PH and run 24hrs, or is CO2 restricted to daylight hours? Is there any method of 'degassing' used?

[jon h]

just wondering but 25/30 kh output on a reactor is really bad in my books,i would aim for uping that and then u would only need on in daylight hours and that would prob incresae ur ph as well.
Not to say ur tank doesn't look great anyway but unless reactor hitting 40 kh it ain't doing much!

[robertus]

Thank you for your reaktion jon h.
If you like: You won the kH contest.:applause:

Just kidding, I haven't tried it your way.
Maby your way even works better!

Matt O'D just asked me how I operate my ca reaktor.
It is all a matter of tuning and this is my result.
This way my reaktor works in a stable reliable manner and I like it.


Grt,

Robertus.


just wondering but 25/30 kh output on a reactor is really bad in my books,i would aim for uping that and then u would only need on in daylight hours and that would prob incresae ur ph as well.
Not to say ur tank doesn't look great anyway but unless reactor hitting 40 kh it ain't doing much!

[leslie hempel]

wow...

[ladyfish]

Hi
I was wondering if you could give me some advice with a spikefin goby for my nano.
Thanks

[Rockyreef]

WOW:applause:

[ian74947]

Where are the fish?

[marknmouse]

very nice setup indeed:)