Leishman's ~250 (65X36x24)

[Leishman]

So I set this thing up a while back and have had varying degrees of success over the years. This ~250 replaced an Oceanic 110g (60"x18"x24") that was ½ overflow boxes and ½ center brace.

This system has had AEFW, red bugs, monti eating nudis, 95 deg temps, no power for 3 ½ days; the list could go on…. So after the ' no power for 3 ½ days' thing (where I lost some sweet corals and fish) I decided to gather some things, recruit a team of 'expert' reefers, and rebuild the display.

It started w/1 Lumenarc and 2 RO IIIs and a pile of rocks

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/DL_03.jpg

then it was 3 Lumenarcs and 2 piles of rock

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/DSCN3136.jpg

At this point things started to look OK, then good and finally awesome

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/DSCN3140.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/DSCN4596.jpg

[Leishman]

and my colors started to pop

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/52189e21.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Teal_Acro.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Far_Right.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Left_Center.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Far_Left.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/OBT2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/DSCN4678.jpg

[Leishman]

Then I had back to back AEFW and an overnight alk spike (~8 to 16) and lost the below:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/BTbl1.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/monti_2-15-02-2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Soli_Efflo.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/P20401051.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/P20401141.jpg

[Leishman]

Then came the power outage in June of '08 were I lost this

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/P3310253.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/6.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/photo-1.jpg

and ½ of this

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/P3310265.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/photo-2.jpg

Both together from below

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/IMG_1346.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/IMG_1345.jpg

And next will be the rebuild:

[Leishman]

Before (complete w/dead red table as frag shelf)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/OLD_FTS.jpg

and the 'expert' reefers at work this past Saturday

Out with corals and rock

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2934.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2935.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2937.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2938.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2964.jpg

[Leishman]

In with the rock (that was just taken out)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2936.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2940.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2942.jpg

And now the new look of my ~250 (wish I could work out the white balance)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2946.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2949.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2943.jpg

[Leishman]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2957.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2959.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2958.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2961.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2962.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2968.jpg

[Leishman]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2969.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2966.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2967.jpg



This is the rock that came out and did not go back in.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2964.jpg

HUGE thanks go out to the 'experts'

Justin: Substrate specialist
Robie (Robz): Artistic Design
Chris (143Gadgets): General Contractor/Photographer
Scott711 (he came to watch)

[anthworks]

Rik-
Looking good. Did you replace the rock or reduce the amount? Bummer on the red table. The frag I got from you is doing well.

[stunreefer]

HOLY SMOKES Leishman, your tank is rockin'! Im an SPS nut, but I LOVE your fish stock and giant chalices peekin' out over there! Do you still have your Blueface angel?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13039607#post13039607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Leishman

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Far_Right.jpg

Whats the coral in the bottom right hand corner?

Reminds me of the ORA Hawkins (A. echinata).

Again, awesome tank, and continued success and better luck!

Mad props to the experts too, new aquascape is bad ace!

[melev]

I know I would have been sick to my stomach losing such gorgeous corals. You guys did a great job rebuilding from those ashes. Quite a few corals hung in there, huh?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Chrisrush]

You are definitely lucky to have those experts around your area. Looks like you guys put a lot of work into the new aquascape. I like it. It's nice to let the tabling acros grow out as nature intended.

[Leishman]

Thanks guys. I was close to baling the hobby but Chris (143Gadgets) talked me off the ledge

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13040513#post13040513 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anthworks
Rik-
Looking good. Did you replace the rock or reduce the amount? Bummer on the red table. The frag I got from you is doing well.

Reduced by 200-300lbs. I had a frag (4"x3") of the red table in the frag tank that made it, it is now in a spot in the display w/room to grow.


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13040577#post13040577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stunreefer
HOLY SMOKES Leishman, your tank is rockin'! Im an SPS nut, but I LOVE your fish stock and giant chalices peekin' out over there! Do you still have your Blueface angel?


Whats the coral in the bottom right hand corner?

Reminds me of the ORA Hawkins (A. echinata).

Again, awesome tank, and continued success and better luck!

Mad props to the experts too, new aquascape is bad ace!

That was a wild Acropora suharsonoi that got wiped out in the alk spike, in fact I only see one coral in that photo that lived! (the green stylo, top left)

The Blueface was perfect for 18 months, then woke up one day with the taste for SPS. He now lives in a large FOWLR tank in VA.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043482#post13043482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I know I would have been sick to my stomach losing such gorgeous corals. You guys did a great job rebuilding from those ashes. Quite a few corals hung in there, huh?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

About 10-12 colonies are a month old, I had to get new stock to fill the voids. Now the only void is in my wallet.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13044117#post13044117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
You are definitely lucky to have those experts around your area. Looks like you guys put a lot of work into the new aquascape. I like it. It's nice to let the tabling acros grow out as nature intended.

That I am! 143Gadgets, Robz, Copps, Geofloors….. are all 10-30 minutes away. There are also some sick reefers/tanks in the area that are not on RC much at all.

[mcliffy2]

I really like the new scape. Are you putting the excess rock into your sump?

[copps]

Looks sweet Rik! Scrape the coralline and you'll be set! :p

Disasters suck... but this is the mark of a true hardcore reefer (with the other mark being a wife that hates how much time you put into this hobby... :D)

[zoozilla]

Great recovery and aquascaping, Rik.

I really need to see this in person.

[dgasmd]

Good to see it redone. Looks nice. All it needs is a little time to settle in and mature.

[Leishman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13058913#post13058913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
I really like the new scape. Are you putting the excess rock into your sump?

Thanks, the excess rock was sold to local reefers.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13062488#post13062488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by copps
Scrape the coralline and you'll be set! :p



Had to point out a flaw didn't you ;)

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13068828#post13068828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoozilla
Great recovery and aquascaping, Rik.

I really need to see this in person.

You know where to find me!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13074236#post13074236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dgasmd
Good to see it redone. Looks nice. All it needs is a little time to settle in and mature.

ALBERTO! Where have you been? Got a tank set up?

[Chrisrush]

ALBERTO! Where have you been?

Boy if this isn't the statement of the year.

[nauticac4]

I need more detail on the tear down and rebuild as I have been contemplating this for a while now.

Is the rock just stacked?

What did you do with the fish?

Any type of cycle?

Did you loose anything?

How long did it take?

Ill have more later I am sure...

[dgasmd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13093670#post13093670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Leishman
ALBERTO! Where have you been? Got a tank set up?

Rik:

I've been around, just not as much as I used to. Very busy life these days between work, family, etc. Lots have happened in the last couple of years. My tank is dry in storage for now. It has been for about 16 months now. I do miss having it, but I don't miss some of these things that comes with it like high electric bills ($700-800/month), high expenses (filters, carbon, salt, foods, corals ,fish, bulbs, etc.), and the constant worrying that there is some major disaster headed my way at any moment (electrical failure, coral deaths, diseases, etc). I do miss the tank thought, but live through others these days for the time being. I still browse through the CMAS site about once per week. Same here, but hardly ever post anymore.

[Leishman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13094436#post13094436 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nauticac4
I need more detail on the tear down and rebuild as I have been contemplating this for a while now.

Is the rock just stacked? Yes

What did you do with the fish? Left them in the tank

Any type of cycle? None (and I added 80-90 lbs of sand)

Did you loose anything? ] No

How long did it take? 8am to midnight. Had help from 8am to 3pm and took a 2 hour break between 3 and 5 pm)

Ill have more later I am sure...

[Leishman]

Here are a few more pics of the rebuild:

Holding tanks.......

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Rik/LIV_6469web.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Rik/LIV_6468web.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Rik/LIV_6470web.jpg

143gadgets trying to steal my Purple Monster colony.......

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a290/143gadgets/Rik/LIV_6492web.jpg

The tank is doing well after the shuffle

[nauticac4]

Thanks... I suppose my major concern is the possibility of killing something and triggering some sort of mini cycle but I figure it would be better to get everything the way I want it now instead of when my colonies grow out

[Leishman]

It has been quite a while since my last update.

Things still need to be added, moved around or removed, plus a little growth will make this glass box look much better. Since the last update I have added 2x140w Actinic VHOs to go with the 2x80w T-5 Actinics that supplement the 3x400w 20k Radiums. I still can't seem to be able to take decent pics under this lighting combo, I'll get 143Gadgets to swing by with his million dollar camera set up and see what he can do.

Here are some new tank shots:

FTS
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130497.jpg

Left
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130500.jpg

Right
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130510.jpg

Right (at an angle)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130501.jpg

Some coral shots:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/2-6.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130477.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130490.jpg

[Leishman]

More:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130492.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PA180328.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130550.jpg

PM frags from when the colony started to RTN - sad sad day. I need to mount these all together to make a second colony,

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130548.jpg

[melev]

Wow, yours are actually purple! Mine aren't.

I really like the stag in the center of this image. What is it?
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130510.jpg

[Leishman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13746390#post13746390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
[B]

I really like the stag in the center of this image. What is it?


It was sold to me as an A. Exquister (by Ming @ Atlantis) almost 3 years ago. It was a 2.5" mini clony and is now well over 14" wide and 10" high, and it has been fragged many times.

It is imposible to get a good pic of it!

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r172/WAMAS_TOTM/Leishman/CRL_0853.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/IMG_1323.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/LIV_6468web.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Tank_Overhaul/IMG_2957.jpg

[melev]

That is a stunning piece. I kind of recognize the branch structure, but don't recall the name. Seems almost like an echinata, but that is probably wrong. Keep up the good work. :thumbsup:

Pictures of blue corals are always tough. And that one is spread out so picking a spot to focus is hard. You'd need a wide DOF, and aim at some part of the front third so the rest is in focus.

Or do it from above. Top downs of that kind of coral can be incredible.

Here's one I like, also unknown at this time.

http://melevsreef.com/pics/08/09/td_blue_tipped_acro_0920.jpg

[dgasmd]

Dude, you are outdoing yourself as always. Very very nice. I might just have to take a quick trip up to MD/DC one of these days and bring back a couple of hundred frags of the gems half a dozen of you are holding up there. You simply don't see 10% of what is seen up there all the time in these parts.

[mpoletti]

Great update and thanks for sharing. I have always enjoyed your pictures and your older avatars ;)

[Leishman]

A quick video from tonight...



http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/th_P1040629.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/?action=view&current=P1040629.flv)

[Leishman]

I have decided to make myself ineligible for owning a thread in this forum.

The 250g must go.

I have decided to 'upgrade' to a smaller tank. My in-wall 250 Euro braced glasscages will be replaced with a much smaller, nicer, rimless tank from AGE, Miracles or Aquarium Obsessed. I will be going from MH to T5 for a trial basis (bulbs strapped to a plywood sheet) to see how it goes before dropping over a G on the 10 bulb ATI Powermodule.

I am starting the planning tonight with 143Gadgets (owner of "The poor mans ELOS" thread in the SPS forum) so I can get this move done right. **removed**

[volcom69]

Nice i think you will like the T5. I switched from Mh to T5 on my new tank, and im on less then 2 months with this new tank and growth is great for that time and color is amazing. Good luck on the new tank.

[Oldude]

Awesome tank you have so I think you'll miss it but I'm sure your small reef will be cool & pimped out. Good luck.:)

[Leishman]

Well I did some planning last night, which walls to move, stand height, equipment list etc... I just need a good time to review the plans with the wife, choose a tank builder and things should get rolling.

[Leishman]

making room by moving wall back 3.5'

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Frags%20For%20Sale/1.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Frags%20For%20Sale/2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/Frags%20For%20Sale/3.jpg

[hunter220reef]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/p96531/PB130492.jpg

what is this?

[Leishman]

The original Miyagi tort

[Ian]

Rik, anything to update? :D

[Leishman]

Just got the new tank in the house. Took 2 of us 20 minutes to get in and down stairs. No pics yet, I'm on my iPhone right now.......

[elias123]

sweet as tank! its coming along so nice

[BrooksReef]

I LOVE your tank. I'm sorry you lost those huge beautiful colonies, too. :'(

[elijaher]

That was a such a beautiful colonies. I glad thing's bouncing back nicely.

[Leishman]

Seeing that I will son be expelled from this forum for dipping below the 180g, I have started a new thread to document my new 135g. It can be seen here (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1652106)