AUSTRLALIAN r0cksteady's attempted 8ft (500G'ish) Angelfish compatible REEF display [Archive]

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r0cksteady

10/06/2008, 10:27 PM

Hi All,

Am currently setting up an 8ft x 2.5ft x 2.5ft starfire reef tank to replace my current 5ft x 2ft x 2ft setup. Am planning to have the tank setup and 'wet' by FEB 09. The main time restraint is the fact that I have to setup temp 6ft tank seperately so that I can safely break down the 5ft without any mishaps and as I have two very fat and healthy mandarins I want to cycle the 6ft for as long as possible.

The only items left to buy is the actual Tank and am waiting for the controllable Tunze Turbelle Stream 2 to come out (DEC 08). I will purchase the display after I have the placement area 100% completed so that I dont have it sitting out in a shed or something begging to be scratched\damaged.

I have found much inspiration and direction in Anthony Calfo's "Book Of Coral Propagation", his advice is well balanced and respected.

Im trying to reduce maintenance and areas of failure to a minimum. Im trying to automate as much as possible not from a laziness point of view or going for wank features but just to also help reduce myself from being a point of failure in its operating as I am very much an elephant in a china store with these big sausage fingers of mine :)

LOCATION \ LAYOUT:

Heres a basic idea of the house layout and where Im planning on placing the tank. It will be replacing my current 5ft display and in order for me to have a smooth transition I will be setting up a 6ftx2ftx2ft at the other end of the lounge on the same wall. The wife is going to freak when im in the transitional phase of have both the 6ft setup and then the newly purchased 8ft side by side. lol.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=HousePlan.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/HousePlan.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I will also be using our current cupboard which stores our hotwater service and ducted heating by gutting the lot and putting in such things as a sink\shelves\chiller etc.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=Walltank1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/Walltank1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=Walltank4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/Walltank4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=WallTank2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/WallTank2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Heres some basic designs of what im planning.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=TankStand-TopView-Layout.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/TankStand-TopView-Layout.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=TankStand-SideView-Layout.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/TankStand-SideView-Layout.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

r0cksteady

10/06/2008, 10:27 PM

HARDWARE SETUP:

________________________________________

DISPLAY TANK SPECS - TO BE PURCHASE LAST
________________________________________

*8ft (96") x 2.5ft (30") x 2.5ft (30") - 1416 Litres / 374 Gallons

*Starphire Glass \ Low-Iron (front, sides and top ie bracing, wier)

*Polished Edges

*Black Silicone - Will pay extra for extra clean\neat silicone

*Silent\Fail-Safe Siphon - BeanAnimal Design (http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx)

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=front-wide.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/front-wide.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=back-wide.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/back-wide.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

*Horizontal Wier\Overflow (Calfo Style) - See above \ combined with BeanAnimal Siphon.

*Bracing spaced out to maximize light placement

*DIY - Non Intrusive background from foam\liverock\egg crate incorporating hiding overflow, eel tunnel entrance & return pipe rather than painting glass blue\black. EG:
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb188/tmulcrone/PICT0153.jpg

*Acrylic Eel tube against the side glass under DSB in rear left hand corner (large enough to fit magnetic glass cleaner)

*Copepod Haven's - I am going to make 3-4 containers out of gutter guard stuffed with coarse coral rubble.

_________________________________________

TANK STAND - CURRENTLY BEING CUSTOM MADE
_________________________________________

MATERIAL: Pine Base

FINISH: Painted gloss white

FRAME HEIGHT: 1050cm high

FEATURES:
*1 end door with switch board attached for easy access
*4 front doors (no door handles, concealed hinges)
*bottom skirting
*top skirting\fascia ontop of display tank
*water proofed
*doors sealed against light
*hard backing
*water channel routered into floor slowing spillage
*dual fan vents to assist with oxygen & reducing humidity
*built-in switch board with independent safety switches & power points for every device (approximately 30)

__________________________

EQUIPMENT
__________________________

SUMP:

5ft (60") x 2ft (24") x 2ft (24") Sump - 566.3 / 149.6 Gallons - PURCHASED - BAFFLE DESIGN TO BE FINALISED - Currently planned to have 5 sections divided into 1ft segments. From left to right it will be:

*Miracle Mud (8" DSB) & Macro Algae (One of two outlet split from wier\overflow return from display)
*Fine Coral Sand (8" DSB) & Live Rock
*Coarse Coral Rubble - 8" DSB
*Return Section
*Split Wier\Overflow Return & Equipment\Treatment Section. ie. Heaters, Skimmer, Carbon, Reactors etc.

FLOW:

4 x Tunze Turbelle Stream 2 (approx 12,000 l/h each) - ON HOLD UNTIL CONTROLLABLE TURBELLE STREAM 2 RELEASED.

Wavebox & Wavebox Extension - ON HOLD UNTIL CONTROLLABLE TURBELLE STREAM 2 RELEASED.

FILTRATION:

Ozonizer\Redox Controller (AquaZone Ozone Generator 200 Deluxe w/built-in controller & air dryer) + Single Air Pump- PURCHASED

Twin Air Pump w/two air stones for back in case of oxygen issues - PURCHASED

Skimmer (Reef Octopus Hurricane 4000 4X) - PURCHASED
Return Pump (SUNSUN Pentair Quite One Copy 10000L) - PURCHASED

Phosphate Reactor (MARINE SOURCES Calcium Reactor CR-150-6520) - PURCHASED

PH Controller (YongCheng Wier Pro) - PURCHASED

MISC:

c02 bottle - TO BE PURCHASED CLOSER TO TANK OPERATIONAL DATE

Chiller (Supreme Aqua 1.5 HP) + (SUNSUN Pentair Quite One copy 4000L Pump) - PURCHASED

Generator (GEN4500ES ie 4.5Kva) - PURCHASED

Heater 500W + Digital Controller (Mercury Aqua) x 2 - PURCHASED

Calcium Reactor (MARINE SOURCES Calcium Reactor CR-150-6520) - PURCHASED

JBJ Auto Top Off Controller - PURCHASED

JBJ C02 Solenoid Regulator inc Bubble Counter & Check Valve - PURCHASED

PAR Light Meter - PURCHASED

RO/DI - PSI-019B-DI - PURCHASED

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) - 3x Sola 320 UPS (Im using the UPS's just to help against power fluctuations and also just as an extra safety measure. Each ups Will last approx 2 hours with either the return pump or two of the power heads plugged in). - PURCHASED

LIGHTING:

4 x CLB DE Pendant (Coralvue Lumen Bright Double Ended Pendant Reflection) - PURCHASED

Sump Light - 4FT Double T5 54W High Output - PURCHASED

PREPARATION WORK REQUIRED BEFORE SETUP:

*Upgrade home switchboard to safety switches - PURCHASED

*Get dedicated electrical phase installed just for marine setup - PURCHASED

*Install Baileys 3300 Litre (726G) Water Tank for storage of natural salt water - PURCHASED

*Seal salt water storage tank to ensure no light (stop algae) nor rain water can enter\ contaminate tank - PURCHASED

*Relocated Hot Water Service from planned equipment cupboard to outside laundry - PURCHASED

*Remove Ducted Heating Unit from planned equipment - Waiting for cold weather to disappear to gain wife approval

*Build Shelves\Cupboards\Sink\Plumbing in equipment cupboards. - PENDING ducted heating removal

*Install Chiller with vent into roof space \ outside - PENDING ducted heating removal

*Install RO\DI, Auto Top Off & Auto Water Changer - PENDING ducted heating removal

*Install & Configure Generator to automatically detect power failure and auto start. - PENDING EQUIPMENT CUPBOARD SETUP

*Setup 6ft x 2ft x 2ft as a temporary (approx 6 months) display for current 5ft x 2ft x 2ft live stock. - ARRIVES OCTOBER

*Break down 5ft x 2ft x 2ft display to make way for new 8ft setup. - PLANNED FOR JANUARY\FEBUARY

TO BE DONE AT MUCH LATER STAGE WHEN OUTDOOR RENOVATIONS COMMENCE:

*Setup current tin garden shed to incorporate a fish tank shed for the purposes of QT, frags and general fiddling.

PLANNED OPERATIONS:

*Water Parameters: Other than the obvious zero Ammonia, Nitrite, Phosphate and Nitrate I will be aiming for Salinity/Specific Gravity - 35ppt/1.026,

Temperature - 25-26ÂºC, Alkalinity - 10dKH, pH - 8.2 and Calcium - 450 mg/L.

STOCK:

Live Rock - Using the guide of 1.5lb per gallon which empty, the tank is approx 785.4 pounds = 356.251447 kilograms of live rock. I will only be using this as a rough guide and more going by a 'visual' process. I think its safe to say though that I would be going for at least 250Kg of live rock.

Substrate - Fine coral sand. Am intending to do a full 8" DSB in display

INTENDED FISH:

ANGELFISH
1 x Blue-Ring Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Potter's Angelfish (Centropyge potteri) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1 x Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus)
1 x Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)

BASSLETS
1 x Blackcap Basslet (Gramma melcara) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

BATFISH (Would get a second one if I could source one that also ate prepared foods)
1 x Pinnate Batfish (Platax pinnatus) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

BLENNIES
1 x Jewelled Rockskipper (Salarias fasciatus)
1 x Ember Blenny (Cirripectes stigmaticus) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Bi-Colour Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK (Would love to find a M/F pair)

BUTTERFLY FISH
1 x Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)

CARDINALS
2 x Bangaii Cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

CLOWNFISH
1 x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris var) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
2 x Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

COWFISH
1 x Longhorn Cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

DRAGONETS
2 x Male/Female Pair of Green Mandarinfish (Pterosynchiropus/Synchiropus splendidus) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

EELS
1 x Zebra Moray Eel (Gymnomuraena zebra)

GOBIES
2 x Green Clown Goby (Gobiodon atrangulatus) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
2 x Yellow Clown Goby (Gobiodon citrinus)

HAWKFISH
1 x Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)

PSEUDOCHROMIS - DOTTYBACKS
2 x Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)

TANGS
1 x Blonde Naso Tang (Naso lituratus) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal)

WRASSE
1 x Harlequin Tusk (Lienardella fasciata) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

ZANCLIDAE (Would consider adding an extra 2 but am suss on too many variable that could go wrong)
1 x Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus - canescens) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

IN MY WILDEST DREAMS - WISH LIST

These are either listed here because they are too hard to source, too hard to keep or not compatible with the above listed stock\setup. But they deserve an honorable mention for just being some of my favourite pictures :)

1 x Japanese Pygmy Angelfish (Centropyge interruptus)
1 x Clarion Angel (Holacanthus clarionensis)
2 x Blue Spot Jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti)
1 x Pineapple Fish (Monocentris japonica)
1 x Thorny-back Cowfish (lactoria fornasini)
2 x Spotted Garden Eel (Heteroconger hassi)
1 x Niger Triggerfish (Odonus niger)
1 x Blue Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena Quaestia)
2 x Catalina Goby (Lythrypnus dalli)
1 x Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus sp) - Paired with Goby
1 x Crocea Clam (Tridacna crocea)

CORALS:

Currently I have the following but I am intending to base all future coral choices around potential angel nippers like the one I already have so will be relying on people like yourselves to offer suggested 'low risk' coral choices to attempt.

HARD CORALS
1 x Favia sp - Not sure if its got a common name
1 x Red Lobed brain coral (Lobophyllia spp)
1 x Hammer Coral (Euphylla ancora)

SOFT CORALS
1 x Green Star Polyps (Pachyclavularia sp)
1 x White Striped Star Polyps (Pachyclavularia sp)
1 x Finger Leather Corals (Sinularia spp)
1 x Leather Coral (Sarcophyton spp)
1 x Finger Leather Coral (Cladiella sp)
2 x Pink Carnation Coral (Scleronephthya sp.)
1 x Red Carnation Coral (Dendronephthya spp.)
1 x Purple\Liquorice Carnation Coral (Dendronephthya spp.)
2 x Spiny Sea Rod (Muricea elongata)
2 x Obese Sea Pen(Cavernularia obesa)

NON-CORALS
10 x Green Corallimorphs \ Mushroom Polyps (Discosoma sp.)
7 x Red Corallimorphs \ Mushroom Polyps (Discosoma sp.)
3 x Blue Corallimorphs \ Mushroom Polyps (Discosoma sp.)
1 x Rock of Green Zoanthids (Protopalythoa spp)

INVERTERBRATES:

STAR FISH \ SEA STAR - Most of these were offloaded onto me (not by choice) from a fellow reefer who took down his tank.
1 x Large Blue Sea Star (Linckia laevigata) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Large Spotted Sea Star (Nardoa SP) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Small Red Sea Star Starfish (Linckia laevigata) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Small Purple Sea Star (Linckia laevigata) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Med Purple Sea Star (Linckia laevigata) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 X Med Black Brittle Star (Ophiocomina nigra) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

SHRIMP
4 x Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
2 x Coral Banded Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) - (Mated pair, rare variant of yellow bellies with blue legs) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

CRABS
2 x Anemone Crab (Neopetrolisthes spp) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Dwarf Hermit Crabs - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

ABALONE
2 x Abalone (Haliotis spp) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

SEA CUCUMBERS
1 x Sand Sifting Sea Cucumber (Holothuria hilla, Thymiosycia hilla) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

SNAILS - Will be using the rough guide of 1 snail per 25 gal = 15 in display, 7 in sump
6 x Banded Trochus Snail (Trochus sp) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
6 x Turbo Snails (Turbo sp) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Tiger Cowrie (Cypraea tigris) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Evil Black Nocturnal???? Cowrie - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
Zounds x Large Stomatella Snails (Stomatella varia) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

ANEMONES
2 x Med Green Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Large Rose Bubble Tip Anemone (Entacmaea quadricolor) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

CLAMS
1 x Squamossa Clam (Tridacna squamossa) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK
1 x Bright Blue Squamosa (Tridacna squamossa) - TRANSFER FROM 5ft TANK

Wow that was an epic first post. Please feel free to critique, offer advice, thoughts, concerns etc especially as this is before Ive physically implemented any irriversible decisions.
Im looking at no expense spare when it comes to hardware etc so if there are other devices that you would suggest please let me know.

Thank-you to everyone for taking the time to read and respond. :thumbsup

conorwynne

10/07/2008, 03:26 AM

Amazing planning. Well done. I am intrigued by your idea for the horizontal weir / overflow.
Where did you get that idea from?

The reason I ask is I am ordering my tank this week (hopefully) and have not yet decided on hole sizes / placement for overflow / returns.

Do you have any link to docs about this? pro's and cons compared to common or garden overflows?

Regards,
Conor.

r0cksteady

10/07/2008, 04:48 AM

Hi Conor,

If you look at the DIY section there's a few threads on the 'Horizontal Overflow \ Calfo Overflow'. Try here for starters: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=473152&highlight=calfo

The basic concept\benefit is that your focusing your weir to capture\export the thinnest part of the water thats more highly concentrated in nutrients. I highly recommend investing in Anthony Calfo's "Book Of Coral Propagation" its perfect for both beginners and experts and covers a lot of the various techniques\concepts people are attempting their tank builds to date explaining in very simple to understand language.

Also the BeanAnimal link is useful as it incorporates both the wier and a well designed durso.

waynem

10/14/2008, 10:04 AM

Looks like will be a great setup.

You like to plan well in advance > the only I see missing might be RO unit.

r0cksteady

10/14/2008, 04:05 PM

Thanks Wayne, actually no I do have R/O, its up there as:

RO/DI - PSI-019B-DI - PURCHASED

In Australia we all buy from this guy (psifilters.com.au )as he offers all MASA members (Marine Aquarium Societies of Australia - www.masa.asn.au)

Thanks for taking the time to read my journal. Im excited and ready to go just waiting on these Tunze Streams to come in and im ready to go. Ive also purchased the temp 6ft Tank and am waiting for my cabinet maker to finish the cabinet.

So hopefully I will have a decent update soon.

REEF-n-Chicago

10/14/2008, 05:51 PM

Great start, I am not even sure what to say... :)
I really enjoyed reading your plan! Should be a phenominal tank. Do you have any pics of your current setup?

One question though, Where do you get your figures of "one snail per 25 gallons"

r0cksteady

10/14/2008, 07:09 PM

Thanks Jordan I certainly hope so I really dont want to have to feel like I want to start again like I did when I made all the mistakes I made on my 5ft.

I have a link to my old tank (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1318595) but as you can see from the pics I even failed to understand good live rock structure and coral placements.

Im not 100% sure on where I noted the snail rule it may have been the Calfo book I keep referring too but I was just really using it as a rough guide rather than a specific measure. Better to underabuse than overabuse.

mortis13

10/14/2008, 07:42 PM

rocksteady, i love it, im building the same size but not sure about the starphire yet it may be too $$$! im gonna follow this one for sure. break your build down coz i want all the details

cheers
kev

mortis13

10/14/2008, 07:59 PM

your in melbourne to, nice, im in coburg. i had a look at the link to MASOV but there seem too be no events comin up? i didnt know there was so many reefers in melb. i`ll PM u soon. kev.

r0cksteady

10/14/2008, 08:23 PM

G'day Kev loosley I believe in Australia Starfire\Low-Iron glass is about double. I was quoted a standard 8ftx2.5ftx2.ft approx $2300 where as starphire was $3500. In my opinion and obviously it depends on your $$$ situation I would rather pay an extra $1200 for something that you cant upgrade easily later on if you decided too, like you could if it was a skimmer. Plus Im planning on having this long term and if it means I had to wait another 6 months even, I would wait just to get it to all be perfect. Whats months of saving compared too a tank established for years.

mortis13

10/15/2008, 03:37 AM

hey rocksteady,
why is the overflow not on the outside of the tank? at first i thought it was to save space behind the tank, but the bulkheads, 90`s etc would stickout close to the same distance. its a fair amount of tank volume you could save. what have i missed?

r0cksteady

10/15/2008, 03:54 AM

Well due to the tank placement being against a main wall my wife would slay me if I allowed the tank to intrude more than the 2.5ft into the lounge room. I could have an external one if I dropped down to a 2ft deep (front to back) and have the wier externally but Im pretty confident with making my custom background I will be able to hide the whole lot completely.
The other problem over here is we seem to have very cautious tank builders and none of them seem willing to 'router\shave' a lip into the back top of the glass meaning unless you were going to drill lots of holes in the back glass to the overflow (forgetting that this would undo a lot of the calfo overflow concept) you would need to look at acrylic which over hear costs a truck load.

mortis13

10/15/2008, 04:15 AM

ok, that extra 6" front to back is a must. cant wait to see your background, there are so many good jobs on this site to follow. my overflow will most likely will be 3xboxes on the backwall of different sizes i hope to make look like pillars

r0cksteady

12/17/2008, 03:10 PM

Hi All,

I thought it was time for an update.

Ok so firstly, I have now setup the temp 6ft x 2ft x 2ft tank which is currently cycling (with two and a half boxes of fresh live rock) next to the 5ft. Everything worked out well in the end but a lot of stuff happened along the way too now change my mind on a few things. Rather than waste money on buying equipment for the 6ft (like i was going to) I decided to use a lot of the equipment from my intended 8ft setup.

As such my first issue was using the 10,000 l/h return pump vs the 25mm bulk heads. All I can say is it is lucky I went with the bean animal design as im having to use 2/3 bulk heads as a siphon. This has made me realise that for the 8ft I either need to have 6 holes drilled in the wier ie two sets of the 3 pipes OR get 32mm holes drilled which is probably what I will do. The tank is completely silent all the same but I dont have the extra failsafe option as was the original intention.

Second plan to change was the intended DIY background after speaking with some other reefers they pointed out that theirs the potential for dead pockets of air\water to form potentially causing major issues if they were ever to escape over the years. Plus as they pointed out 'why not just use live rock against the background, you could just use lots of small pieces and even fix them to the glass if required'.
Im not sure what others think of this or if theres a way you could help develop the idea but either way I would like to test them out on the 6ft while its cycling so feel free to throw in your 2 cents worth.

Third plan change was the eel tube, I really thought it would look great having say half an 75mm acrylic pip siliconed against the glass under the DSB for the intended zebra eel to live in but what I noticed was:

*It looked crappy\unnatural
*It raised the DSB by a LOT
*Potential issues with dead pockets \ water flow (if I was doing closed loop it would help)
*Could be a pain cleaning with algae growing against the glass due to house lights even though I intended the pipe to be large enough to fit a magnet glass cleaner down
*Acrylic isnt that easy to bend\shape meaning I would be limited in the bends to set degrees ie 90.
*The eel might not even like the idea

So I would love to hear from anyone else who has noticed personality\habit of their zebra in where it enjoys hanging out in addition to anyone thats added pipe to their display for the eel to stay.

When I first picked up the 6ft I thought 'oh know what the hell have I done, looking at the horizontal wier'. I thought it was quite intrusive and stood out like a sore thumb. All my mates who were with me thought I was a turkey for 'ruining' my tank. I thought 'oh well ill just see how it goes and then make up my mind on the 8ft'. Well what I can tell you is after painting the back glass black and with the combination of the black silicone used its almost completely invisible. And what I mean is that its much more subtle than a vertical wier where you cant actually see the wier at all when looking at the front. What I decided I would also do is get the wier tinted black on the 8ft just to add an extra layer of cover.

The other strange thing is when looking at the tank its actually quite cool just watching the wier have this constant thin waterfall effect going on from the side. Its completely silent and you cannot hear the water falling into the wier at all even with your ear near the water because its such a fine film of water going over the edge that its a smooth stream of water rather than a tumbling waterfall. It didnt take long for my non-fish nerd mates too see Calfo's point about it being a better way to export the nutrients as it only captures a fine film of water which is where the nutrients float too.

One thing I really like is that I had my return plumbing come through the floor of the display towards the back but only allowed it to potrude about 5 inches (which was covered after adding the DSB). What this means is that ive now got strong flow behind all my live rock pushing all detrish upwards rather than the normal 'powerhead' scenario having dead spots that actually put a lot of the food behind your rock to settle. This did mean that I had to plumb two 'one-way flat valves aka poppa valves' underneath the display to stop 'all' the water dumping into the display if the return its switched off but I think it will actually pay off in the end.

At the moment im just using spare lights, power heads, heaters etc as im only cycling the tank and not too concerned about the 'appearance' but next year when I get back from hols in Jan ill proceed to setup most of my intended 8ft equipment onto the 6ft.

I have plumbed one of the siphons directly into the skimmer which is working FANTASTIC not only am I saving power because its one less pump I need to buy but in addition I like the fact that I dont have to chew up any refugium critters by having to go through more than one pump (skimmer > return).

The skimmer is an absolute beast and im really looking forward to seeing how well it does when the rock peaks in its die off.

The guy I purchase my NSW in 3000L batches has been slowly putting his prices up even though fuel prices have been dropping so its inspired me to buy my own NSW collecting setup. Ive now got 2 black (not clear) IBC's that stored iodine on a farm and been well used for grey water the last 12 months, a 6.5 HP petrol fire pump and a dual axel tandem trailer on its way rated for 2 tonne. So this will give me a LOT of breathing space as I can now do regular water changes as much as I like and all its only going to cost me is a tank of fuel plus if I really really needed the money I could probably rent the setup out to others but will avoid this for the time being just to avoid any issues with whole legal side of stuff.

As far as the cupboard goes it has now been say 70% finished. Its tiled, water proofed, has a laundry trough, r/o unit in it, switch box and 40 power points. The only thing left for the cupboard now is a stand made for the 3ft frag tank to go above the laundry trough and some small shelves\cupboard\hooks etc to put my maintenance equipment. Other than that a fresh coat of paint to help seal it when im done.

This has also prompted me to review\change my intention for the SUMP as now I have found I actually dont need any of my equipment under the tank as I can have them all plugged into the equipment cupboard and plumb them straight into the sump through the wall.

My mate who is an airconditioner installer has made me a sheet metal insulated cover \ duct for my chiller and is coming over tonight to help me install it on the roof so over the next few days I should have this also plumbed down into the cupboard ready to go.

Ive also purchased two 240v solenoid which will be hooked up to my r/o unit and cold water tap in the cupboard enabling my auto top off to work automatically eliminating the need for a seperate container to auto top off from. Im going to have two solenoids with two seperate flot valves to give me extra safety at different heights that way if one float valve or solendoid gets stuck 'on' the other one will still be 'off'.

My brother in law the electrician has finished my generator and it is very very impressive. Basically if the power turns off to the tank the generator waits 2 seconds and then automatically switches and then once the mains power comes back on the generator switches back off.

Ive already popped the generators cherry last week when a car his a power pole outside our house and the power was down for 12 hours. I managed to run most of the house for the full 12 hours on one tank of fuel. VERY impressive.

Other than that im now just waiting for xmas to pass so I can purchase the last remaining products required to go.

HERES AN UPDATED SUMMARY OF THE HARDWARE SETUP:

HARDWARE SETUP:

________________________________________

DISPLAY TANK SPECS - PENDING - WILL BE LAST ITEM TO BE PURCHASED
________________________________________

*8ft (96") x 2.5ft (30") x 2.5ft (30") - 1416 Litres / 374 Gallons

*Starphire Glass \ Low-Iron (front, sides and top ie bracing)

*Polished Edges

*Black Silicone - Will pay extra for extra clean\neat silicone

*Silent\Fail-Safe Siphon - BeanAnimal Design (http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx)

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=front-wide.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/front-wide.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=back-wide.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/back-wide.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

*Horizontal Wier\Overflow (Calfo Style) - See above \ combined with BeanAnimal Siphon. Tinted Black

*Bracing spaced out to maximize light placement

*Copepod Haven's - I am going to make 3-4 containers out of gutter guard stuffed with coarse coral rubble.

_________________________________________

TANK STAND - PENDING BREAK DOWN OF 5FT DISPLAY
_________________________________________

MATERIAL: Pine Base

FINISH: Painted gloss white

FRAME HEIGHT: 1050cm high

FEATURES:
*1 end door (no door knob, concealed hinge)
*4 front doors (door knobs, concealed hinges)
*bottom skirting
*top pelmet ontop of display tank
*water proofed
*doors sealed against light
*hard backing
*water channel routered into floor slowing spillage
*dual fan vents to assist with oxygen & reducing humidity

__________________________

EQUIPMENT
__________________________

SUMP:

7ft (84") x 2ft (24") x 2ft (24") Sump - 566.3 / 149.6 Gallons - PENDING BREAK DOWN OF 5FT DISPLAY - BAFFLE DESIGN TO BE FINALISED - Currently planned to have 5 sections divided into 1ft segments. From left to right it will be:

*Miracle Mud (8" DSB) & Macro Algae (One of two outlet split from wier\overflow return from display)
*Fine Coral Sand (8" DSB) & Live Rock
*Coarse Coral Rubble - 8" DSB
*Return Section
*Split Wier\Overflow Return & Equipment\Treatment Section. ie. Heaters, Skimmer, Carbon, Reactors etc.

FLOW:

4 x Tunze Turbelle Stream 2 (6205's 5,000 - 22,000 l/h each) - ON HOLD UNTIL CONTROLLABLE TURBELLE STREAM 2 RELEASED.

Tunze Turbelle Stream 2 - 7096 Multicontroller ON HOLD UNTIL CONTROLLABLE TURBELLE STREAM 2 RELEASED.

Wavebox & Wavebox Extension - PURCHASED

FILTRATION:

Ozonizer\Redox Controller (AquaZone Ozone Generator 200 Deluxe w/built-in controller & air dryer) + Single Air Pump- PURCHASED

Twin Air Pump w/two air stones for back in case of oxygen issues - PURCHASED

Skimmer (Reef Octopus Hurricane 4000 4X) - PURCHASED

Return Pump (SUNSUN Pentair Quite One Copy 10000L) - PURCHASED

Phosphate Reactor (MARINE SOURCES Calcium Reactor CR-150-6520) - PURCHASED

Denitrator (MARINE SOURCES Nitrate Reactor CR-150-6520) - PURCHASED

PH Controller (YongCheng Wier Pro) - PURCHASED

MISC:

c02 bottle - TO BE PURCHASED CLOSER TO TANK OPERATIONAL DATE

Chiller (Supreme Aqua 1.5 HP) + (SUNSUN Pentair Quite One copy 4000L Pump) - PURCHASED

Generator (GEN4500ES ie 4.5Kva) - PURCHASED

Heater 500W + Digital Controller (Mercury Aqua) x 2 - PURCHASED

Calcium Reactor (MARINE SOURCES Calcium Reactor CR-150-6520) - PURCHASED

Phosphate Reactor (Reef Octopus PhosFusion 1500) - PENDING DELIVERY

JBJ Auto Top Off Controller - PURCHASED

JBJ C02 Solenoid Regulator inc Bubble Counter & Check Valve - PURCHASED

PAR Light Meter - Apogee Instruments Quantum Meter Dual Calibration PURCHASED

RO/DI - PSI-019B-DI - PURCHASED

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) - 3x Sola 320 UPS (Im using the UPS's just to help against power fluctuations and also just as an extra safety measure. Each ups Will last approx 2 hours with either the return pump or two of the power heads plugged in). - PURCHASED

FOR NSW COLLECTION:

2 X 1000L IBC Containers for NSW collection PURCHASED

1 x Water Pump 6.5HP 1000 L /Min Petrol 4 Stroke Cara PURCHASED

1 x Dual Axel Tandem Trailers rated for 2 tonne PURCHASED

LIGHTING:

4 x CLB DE Pendant (Coralvue Lumen Bright Double Ended Pendant Reflection) - PURCHASED

4 x IceCap 250-MH Ballast PENDING AUSFRAGS GETTING BACK FROM XMAS HOLIDAYS.

4 x Phoenix 14,000K DE MH PENDING AUSFRAGS GETTING BACK FROM XMAS HOLIDAYS.

Sump Light - 4FT Double T5 54W High Output - PURCHASED

PREPARATION WORK REQUIRED BEFORE SETUP:

*Upgrade home switchboard to safety switches - DONE

*Get dedicated electrical fuse\line installed just for marine setup - DONE

*Install Baileys 3300 Litre (726G) Water Tank for storage of natural salt water - DONE

*Seal salt water storage tank to ensure no light (stop algae) nor rain water can enter\ contaminate tank - DONE

*Relocated Hot Water Service from planned equipment cupboard to outside laundry - DONE

*Remove Ducted Heating Unit from planned equipment - DONE

*Build Shelves\Cupboards\Sink\Plumbing in equipment cupboards. - DONE

*Install Chiller on top of roof \ outside - CURRENTLY BEING DONE

*Install RO\DI, Auto Top Off & Auto Water Changer - CURRENTLY BEING DONE

*Install & Configure Generator to automatically detect power failure and auto start. - DONE

*Setup 6ft x 2ft x 2ft as a temporary (approx 6 months) display for current 5ft x 2ft x 2ft live stock. - DONE

*Break down 5ft x 2ft x 2ft display to make way for new 8ft setup. - PLANNED FOR JANUARY\FEBUARY

*Setup 3ft Frag Tank in cupboard connected inline with display

TO BE DONE AT MUCH LATER STAGE WHEN OUTDOOR RENOVATIONS COMMENCE:

*Setup current tin garden shed to incorporate a fish tank shed for the purposes of QT, frags and general fiddling.

PLANNED OPERATIONS:

*Water Parameters: Other than the obvious zero Ammonia, Nitrite, Phosphate and Nitrate I will be aiming for Salinity/Specific Gravity - 35ppt/1.026,

Temperature - 25-26ÂºC, Alkalinity - 10dKH, pH - 8.2 and Calcium - 450 mg/L.

STOCK:

Live Rock - Using the guide of 1.5lb per gallon which empty, the tank is approx 785.4 pounds = 356.251447 kilograms of live rock. I will only be using this as a rough guide and more going by a 'visual' process. I think its safe to say though that I would be going for at least 250Kg of live rock.

Substrate - Fine coral sand. Am intending to do a 6" DSB in display

CURRENT 6FT SETUP CYCLING WITH LIVEROCK:

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3326.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3326.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3328.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3328.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3330.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3330.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3334.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3334.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3336.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3336.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3337.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3337.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

SIDE VIEW OF HORIZONTAL WEIR:

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3340.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3340.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

r0cksteady

12/17/2008, 03:11 PM

CHILLER AND THE INTENDED BOX CURRENTLY BEING SETUP ON THE ROOF:

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP2937.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2937.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3349.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3349.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

ONE OF MY TRIAL 'POD HAVEN'S' MADE OUT OF GUTTER GUARD AND CORAL RUBBLE:

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3350.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3350.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

MY BEAST OF A SKIMMER - LOVE IT!

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3332.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3332.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

THE GENERATOR HOOKED UP TO AUTO KICK IN IF POWER GOES OUT AND TURN OFF WHEN POWER COMES BACK ON:

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3347.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3347.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

THE 3300L STORAGE TANK USED TO STORE NSW FOR WATER CHANGES:

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3345.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3345.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

CURRENT CUPBOARD SETUP AWAITING A FEW MORE ADDITIONS:

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3356.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3356.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3353.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3353.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

conorwynne

12/17/2008, 04:28 PM

Amazing. Great detail and cool pics.

Conor.

BigTuna321

12/17/2008, 06:23 PM

yeah this tanks is gonna be off the hook

NCSUsalt

12/17/2008, 10:20 PM

I can help you make some room if you send that street fighter cabinet to me...

r0cksteady

12/17/2008, 10:41 PM

Lol thanks mate.

Its actually a MAME machine ie. I ripped the guts out and chucked in a pc with DOS and MAME. It runs identical to an arcade machine but has a menu with 4500 games to choose from. Its like pool tables and ping pong tables, you never play them when its at your house unless guest come over wanting to have a game.

erics3000

12/21/2008, 12:53 AM

Wow looking forward to your updates

r0cksteady

01/19/2009, 06:21 PM

Just a minor update.

Collected sea water for the first time in my new trailer setup. Lets say it was semi-sucessfull. The good things were that my water pump filled both IBC containers (2000L) in 3 minutes and 45 seconds which was very impressive. The downside was that the springs and tires didnt enjoy 2 ton on top so I had to empty one of the IBC and only collect 1000L. Im now working on upgrading the springs and more likely go to light truck tires but at the moment 1000L is enough to get me by for about 5 weeks.

Ive have now paid for my 4x 250w ice cap ballasts and my 4x Phoenix 14,000K DE MH globes on their way thanks to ausfrags.

Im slowly migrating the rock and corals from the 5ft accross to the 6ft.

I have now installed the chiller on top of my roof and ran the pipes + electronic module in the equipment cupboard.

I am getting a quote this week on the glass for the 8ft and im sorting out the finer details of my stand with my friend the cabinet maker.

Everything is on schedule for having the 8ft web by march. Just waiting on these Tunze Stream 2's to hurry up and come out in Australia.

I was going to take photos but im not sure that my half empty display tanks and a chiller sitting on the roof was much to show off at the moment. I will certianly upload a pic of the chiller etc once its actively working which probably wont be until the 8ft is wet and cycling.

Thanks for taking the time to read my tank JNL. Its certainly exciting to finally be near the finish line.

r0cksteady

02/03/2009, 09:55 PM

Ok got some good news and bad news.

The bad news is that my tank is going to be another 6+ weeks away (due to $$$) but the good news is because I managed to score a 'Small Blue Haddoni Carpet Anemone'. Unfortunately it was insanely overpriced and I do mean overpriced, so im dark at the person for charging me so much. It has always been something I wanted to source and unfortunately due to their rarity its not something you get to choose when they are available. He is eating we and has only moved an inch or so since putting him into the tank.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3650.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3650.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I had an outbreak of a type of bryopsis but without me even touching the stuff its totally vanished after a few weeks it helps that I didnt have many nutrients going on being that there are only 4 fish and i was doing small feeds plus my skimmer is rated for approx 6 times the system volume I have so im happy about that.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3592.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3592.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Heres a photo of the chiller box on the roof just need to add the vents too it which I will be doing next week when my mates work calms down (he an aircon tech)

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3668.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3668.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A few updates: Due to the whole finance thing going on at the moment and our dollar basically crashing vs USD I realised I needed to fast track a lot of option extras that I wasnt initially planning on getting until the tank was established but now that ive realised everything was about to double in price and quite possibly for more than 12 months I decided to get everything now and just wait a bit longer before I go for the Tunze Stream 2 which still arent in Aus yet anyway.

I have purchased a Super Feeder - Automatic fish feeder which will allow me with a simple mod to feed two types of dry foods ie. two grades of pellet sizes about 5 times a day and it also thankfully allows me to do very small servings which means I can finally actually feed as our books advise rather than just one serving a day.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3689.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3689.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I purchased the following American marine pinpoint monitors and have modified them to use a 12V adaptor meaning they can be operated 24/7 if required:

Salinity Monitor
Wireless Thermometer + 2 remote sensors
Dissolved Oxygen Monitor
Calcium Monitor

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3707.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3707.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I purchased a Tunze Osmolator, I already have an ATO auto top off but I want it to power a 24V solenoid hooked up to my R/O unit which I was having a hard time figuring out how to do whereas the Tunze Osmolator has an additional addon you can purchase which will do exactly that.

Ive purchased a Stingray Filters Salinity Refractometer, 21.8Kg Miracle Mud and 17.2Kg Aragonite (for the sump partitions).

Other than that I forgot to mention a few things Ive previously purchased around xmas. Ive gotten a tank depth monitor which tells me how much water is left in my 3300L NSW storage tank

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3697.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3697.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

An apogee par meter.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3703.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3703.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A fire extinguisher (a present\joke from my dad at xmas because ive mixed water and electricity a few times).

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3699.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3699.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

A kill-a-watt meter which measures how much power each device is drawing so I can calculate how much money devices are costing me even when they are allegedly powered off.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3695.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3695.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

And finally a red led torch which was surprisingly hard to source because most people just sell a normal torch with a shaded lens vs actual red leds. This is handy because I find that fish a less likely to notice me watching them at night (they still notice if you move the light around enough to cast shadows) and the major advantage I noticed is that inverts dont seem to be bothered by it so ive got a heap of flame scallops I got as hitchhikers who don't realise im there where as if I change the torch to be white light they disappear within an instant.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=_IGP3700.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3700.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

I have been slowly moving all the corals & inverts across. I managed to catch my bicolour blenny with the help of a friend and also moved the two tomato clowns accross with their bubble tips. This time I decided to sit them all together rather than opposite ends as I was finding the tomatoes would try and host in all of them which was annoying for my pair of occ clowfish who were in the middle of the tank. I actually think having the two different contrasting colours makes them look awesome.

r0cksteady

02/03/2009, 09:56 PM

Novacaine

02/04/2009, 02:51 AM

Awesome build! how's the super feeder working out for you?

r0cksteady

02/04/2009, 05:43 PM

waynem

02/04/2009, 09:42 PM

Its looking really good.

btw

Do you circulate the stored water? 5 weeks is a long time.

Do you heat it before adding it to your tank?

JoeTSI

02/05/2009, 09:39 AM

How long have you had the batfish?

BILLYO382

02/05/2009, 11:15 AM

Let me just say I love the tanks you have setup. I am a big fan of Moorish Idol's :rollface: . How long have you had the specimen? Was he hard to get to eat, he looks like the king of that tank with only a clownfish & batfish tank mates it looks like. I also love your Batfish, very interesting looking fish, great tank setup their in though. I hope my 450 will look as nice as yours or nicer, lol. :D

Bax

02/05/2009, 01:04 PM

Great work!

That blue hadoni is fantastic!

I just picked up a used tank in the same dims, I'll be watching your progress with great interest!

r0cksteady

02/05/2009, 06:16 PM

RE: Waynem
No I dont circulate the water stored. I use NSW and from everything ive been told \ read, you can keep the stuff for months with no issues so I just keep it in an air tight \ light proof water tank. When im planning a water change I will fill a 200L drum that I sit next to the tank and then throw a heater in and an air stone overnight to get the paramaters similar. Mind you I have been known to not bother with the heater or airstone when the weather outside has got the water at the same temp ie 25-28 degrees celcius. What I found is that even if you put freezing cold water in the sump so to speak its only going to drop the overall volume by a degree or two as long as your only to a minor water change so its a bit of trial and error but just be conservative with the errors :)

RE: JoeTSI
I have had the batfish for about 2 years now. He's my favourite fish I reckon out of the bunch. He has a great personality and will always nudge my hand if its in the tank begging me for food and if I stand infront of the tank he will come over to where I am and just swim back and forwards non stop until he either realises he's not getting anything or I throw some food it. I know they are incredibly hard to get eating but I was lucky enough to witness mine eating at the shop to made a calculated risk.
One thing ive noticed with compatibility issues is that some of the faster fish like lawnmower blennies and the moorish idol tend to nip his fins occasionally as they tend not to notice him until last minute and you can actually see them bump into eachother and freak out. Happens even more at night because he changed from the light grey to pitch black with just the neon orange outline showing his location.

RE: BILLYO382
The Moorish Idol like the batfish was eating in the LFS before I purchased it thats why I jumped on it at the time. He literally eats everything and was the king of the tank until I purchased my Sohal Tang which im very glad I did because he needed to be put in his place. He was starting to get slightly aggressive (not attacking but chasing) towards smaller fish and I think its because I had about 3 large sized fish and due to the live rock structure he didnt really have a defined territory so I found doing a restructure of the rock helped. Now with the Sohal if he even shows any sign of aggression even during feeding the Sohal chases him away. I made the mistake of adding a second Moorish Idol into the tank thinking that because they school in the wild and because there wasnt anything mentioned in any books that they would get along fine but my Moorish Idol essentially killed it within hours even with me turning the lights off, moving the rocks around etc. I desperately tried to get him out but they are so hard to catch and he was stressed enough that he died the next day at the LFS.

If I was to attempt it again with my guy I would add them to the tank at the same time OR add the new fish first before adding mine. It would be a lot easier if you could sex them to make sure im not adding two males etc.

Re:Bax
Thanks Mate, appreciate the feedback. Im looking forward to getting ideas and inspiration for everyone here as well as in Aus. Hopefully we might learn a few things off each other :)

conorwynne

02/06/2009, 06:08 AM

That batfish is just incredible, loving it.

It's behaviour remind me of the oscar's (astronotus ocellatus) I used to keep years back. They would go mental when I walked into the room, and would sometimes open the lid and a wave would come over the top. One time they hit my 2year old's face, a big fish slap. Hillarious, although not for himself.

Such a pity they destroyed the decor on a daily basis, and plants were out of the question. Would love a batfish, but the tank is not big enough at 468liters. Any other fish which have similar characters?

Your tank should be TOTM. Loving it.

Elliott

02/06/2009, 08:32 AM

super plan, great ideas, looking forward to seeing it all come together, thanks for sharing

r0cksteady

03/25/2009, 08:29 PM

Ok Im getting a few PM's as to the status of my setup. First the good stuff:

*Display paid for and on its way (estimated April)

*Stand is finished and at the cabinet makers place pending disaster recover (see below)

*Purchased 20 x 20kg bags of 2mm Coral Sand

*Purchased approx 28kg of CaribSea Aragonite\Aragamax Select for SUMP

*Purchased 1.2Kg of PhosBan

*Purchased Deltec Rowa \ Lithc+ Calcium Media

*Purchased 5L Aqua Medic Sulphur Beads

*Purchased 11Kg of CaribSea Mineral Mud

*Tunze Stream 2's paid for and on their way

*Got a paired Pistol Shrimp and Goby of which the Goby instantly freaked out in a major way and jumped down the weir and is not living or not living in the sump somewhere (shattered) but at least Ive not got a Pistol Shrimp and if I can find the little guy and I can try and pair another Watchman Goby with him later on.

So everything is looking like Ill be going live in April.

Now the bad news, 2 weeks ago I thought I was lucky in finding another Pinnate Batfish who was eating prepared foods. Unfortunately due to some packaging mishap's he arrived from interstate on his side in the box and severely stressed\disorientated. Now rather than put him through the stress of QT.....you see where this is going.....I placed him into my 6ft temp display where the other Batfish has been happily in hopes that it may assist in the new Batfishes recovery. And in truth it actually did to an extent as I was quite amazed by how protective my existing Batfish instantly became of the new addition by encouraging him to swim in his territory and eat with my older resident. The problem was that the new batfish obviously had a bad case of whitespot that appeared due to the shipping stress and it with a combination of him being very unwell lead him to essentially die within 24 hours.

I quickly removed the deceased batfish fish and then two days later my original batfish fell very ill with whitespot and so fast tracking the story now all my fish have a very severe and aggressive case of whitespot. Half my fish have died within a very short period of time (as you can imagine the RAGE is more than caps can tell).
Thankfully I hadn't packed up my 5ft tank yet, even though all the stock was now moved across to the 6ft at this stage. I caught as many fish as I could (which wasnt many due to their evasiveness) and initiated a copper treatment. I have thankfully saved my Batfish, Sohal, Six Line Wrasse and Ember Blenny. I immediately lost one of my Bangaii Cardinals, Potters Angel, Bi-Colour Blenny, Black Cap Basslet and Royal Gramma.

My Moorish Idol, 2 Green Coral Goby's, 2 Mandarins and the remaining Bangaii seem totally unaffected and eating normally. The Blue Ring is really sick and not eating but I cannot catch the guy and I dont want to stress him past the point of being helpful. The Blond Naso is covered all over with whitespot but thankfully is still eating. The Harlequin Tusk fish is on deaths door lying on the sand bed just breathing but I got him into the QT so theres a small chance he may recover but I doubt it. Both sets of clowns are effected but if I put them in the QT they are going to kill eachother so ive been umming and aaring about leaving them in their hosts and just hope their immune system kicks the illness.

Im running both tanks now at Salinty 1.020 and have kept the temperature at 25 degrees. Not really sure the best way to proceed but all the fish in the 5ft are fully recovered except for the Harlequin so these are my options as far as I see:

1. Essentially do nothing - Wait until any fish in the 6ft look like they are sick enough they will let me catch them in hopes that their immune system will fight it off.

2. Pull down the 6ft completely move all the fish into the 5ft QT with the dilemma of the pairs of clowns fighting and most likely my Sohal going nuts with territorial disputes because he was there (in the 5ft) first.

3. Wait and watch essentially doing option 1. but once the new 8ft tank arrives in april move the 5ft QT to a different area so that way it wont interfere with the 8ft being setup but I can then remove all fish from the 6ft and leave it host free for as long as required.

So there you go, it never rains, it pours.

Beaun

03/26/2009, 10:28 AM

How will you get your NSW from the source to the huge container? Do you have a set up with a truck or what?

r0cksteady

03/26/2009, 03:58 PM

FOR NSW COLLECTION:

2 X 1000L IBC Containers

1 x Water Pump 6.5HP 1000 L /Min Petrol 4 Stroke Cara

1 x Dual Axel Tandem Trailers rated for 2 tonne

r0cksteady

04/23/2009, 09:56 PM

Hi All,

Ok ive been busy and done a bit of hard decision making. Spoke to my electrician who told me not to have the tanks inside my equipment cupboard too close to power (makes sense) plus I still need room to put all my controllers, monitors, ballasts etc so as such I basically went as big as I could without effecting me slotting my skimmer in as I needed to add an extra support beam to the front.

I decided to get rid of the sink all together as I can use the laundry for cleaning and only need the water and drain for RO, unfortunately I cant really drop the taps any further due to studs in the way etc. As such im quite limited in height.

Ive got 18mm marine ply to be a base ontop of the frames which limits me to 22" of space for the hospital tank but needs to include room to obviously put a fish in with a net.

And 20" for the frag tank but needs to include room for the T5 reflector an a bit of clearance. NOT IDEAL!

But I can only work with what ive got so heres the frame:

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=EquipmentCupboard-Update.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/EquipmentCupboard-Update.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This essentially means that if I allow 6" clearance above each tank (not a lot I know) the hospital tank could be 16" high and the frag tank 14" high.

Im picking up the hospital tank and the frag tanks tomorrow as well as my 7ft x 2ft x 2ft sump.

Im still finishing final treatment for the whitespot (approx 2 weeks to go). I then need to spend a week raising the salinity back to normal which skewers plans slightly.

I reckon the first two weeks of May are going to be insane weeks of work and my mates are going to be hating the multiple phone calls to move heavy items back and forward.

Either way I would say all is going well. The whitespot has completely gone from the fish and no more have died. Dropping the salinity in my old established tank did cause a significant die off causing everything to spike but thankfully I was very observant with testing the water each day and with a bit of 'prime' and a few water changes the fish weren't noticeably effected and now the bacteria\dsb has kicked back in to take everything back to 0 including nitrate.

My bday is coming up soon and I asked the family to buy me a few marine books selected from amazon. Two of these are meant to be the bees knees in cultivating live foods as ive decided to try my luck with getting the tank to be able to feed itself (in a general sense) where possible though just early days at the moment and not currently a priority.

So my two goals after everything is running and stable is to somehow do automatic water changes on a daily basis hooked directly up to my 3300L storage tank and cultivate live foods for the purposes of eventually keeping some harder corals in a more specialised tank.

On another note:

Im really liking the idea of having two hobby tanks in addition way down the track:

1. To successfully have a small cube focused on filter feeders eg. xmas tree worms, dendro's, goni's etc.

2. To breed pinnate batfish

Big calls I know but something to enjoy reading up on and researching whilst im waiting for all this hardware to arrive etc etc. Im fairly confident on the filter feeders to a certain extent ie. wet skimming, nutrient rich, live cultivated foods etc BUT breeding batfish I havent actually found any evidence of anyone having done it before. Theres no published book I can find either focused on even keeping batfish.

Thought considering ive still got about 2 weeks for everything to be finished id at least take some pics of my 6ft DT. Even though its fishless at the moment with all the fish currently been treated for whitespot the corals seems to be going well and ive been picking up the odd addition along the way that takes my fancy.

Some of the corals are still settling in and are yet to pic up their full colour but you will get the jist. Hope you enjoy.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4962.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4954.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4952.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4944.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4942.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4940.jpg

r0cksteady

04/23/2009, 09:57 PM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4930.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4918.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4910.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4903.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4900.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4889.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4881.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/Untitled-1.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP4964.jpg

TandN

04/23/2009, 11:19 PM

Very nice set up

DamnPepShrimp

04/24/2009, 12:04 PM

You have a gorgeous setup! Sorry to hear about the fish loss. How are all the other fish doing? Looking forward to see all the angels and corals in the same tank! I am working on adding corals to my 210g with angels.

r0cksteady

04/26/2009, 07:24 AM

Thanks, all the other fish are doing great. Will be moving them all slowly back in the next 1-2 weeks.

Yeah it will be interesting to see how sucessful my reef goes with angels. Im setting up the frag tank with the primary goal of being able quickly rescue and corals being nipped.

I will be putting in a lot of effort into feeding my fish small amounts of food frequently also offering a wide of foods frozen, live and dry. Im hoping this will greatly assist in the angels resisting the need for corals in their diet.

Ian

05/30/2009, 05:54 PM

Any updates on this tank?

r0cksteady

12/07/2009, 07:55 PM

Hi Everyone,
Sorry for the major delays in updates. The reason for this is I've had some major disasters in the process.

My first issue was that essentially style 'Euro Brace' and especially 'Laser Cut Euro Brace' is essentially unheard of here in Australia and as such the person who marketed himself as a leading edge tank builder had no idea what he was doing and jumped in head first essentially building me a tank which instantly crack, split and bowed as soon as it was filled for its fresh water test.

This caused major problems and long story short I got my money back, found a more reputable builder who actually got engineer reports on the design including paying insurance to cover the laser cutting etc if it broke (which it did...twice). But at the end of the day I now have my new tank setup and ready to go. Just finishing the plumbing and a few tweaks in preparation for a fresh water test.

The only thing left with the display tank is a final clean up of the silicone and he is also going to drill a small hole in the back top of my bracing and glue some acrylic tubes onto the bottom of my bracing so that I can cut the leads to all my power heads etc and thread them through essentially hiding all of the leads giving it a more professional\polished look.

Because of my pelmet that sits on top of the tank hiding the water line, this will actually hide the cables running along the top including the acrylic tubing.
I have sound proofed my equipment cupboard and covered all the plumbing pipes in foam sleeves to assist with temperature stability and primarily noise\vibration diffusion.

I have purchased a few new fish in keeping my eye out for special \ harder to source guys and now have the following additions:

1 x Yellow Bellied Regal Angel who eats like a pig and is the boss of the Angelfish (Flame & Blue Ring) which is surprising as I took her for a placid\shy fish compared to my last one

1 x Seaweed Blenny - I actually find the Seaweed Blenny to be a much more placid guy than the devils I have had previously (lawnmower & ember blenny) who attacked each other and killed my long horn cow fish.

1 x Midas Blenny great characters as to be expected from this family of fish.

1 x Arabian Dottyback - Most actively swimming fish I have to date.

2 x Orchid Dottyback's

1 x Flame Angel

1 x Blue Ring Angel

Ok finally some pictures. I should have some better ones next week once the sump replacement arrives and I can push the stand back against the wall. STAY TUNED!

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000648.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000648.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000644.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000644.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000652.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000652.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000707.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000707.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000708.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000708.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The equipment cupboard. Not finished yet and missing half the gadgets but getting there. Just finished off the sound proofing.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000703.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000703.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000749.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000749.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Heres just a few updated live stock photos from my current 6ft. Both my Anemone's have doubled in size.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000710.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000710.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000714.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000714.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/?action=view&current=P1000721.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/P1000721.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

r0cksteady

12/07/2009, 07:56 PM

gtaylor67

12/07/2009, 09:30 PM

This set up Rocks... You have lots of room to house these fish . All I can say is Envy... Best of luck with those angels..

dahenley

12/08/2009, 01:56 AM

I was browsing, and was wondering what the big deal about laser cut euro brace is? (im curious) i know that i most certainly looks better then a bunch of flat straight pieces of glass silicon-ed together.

also, what was causing the bracing to break? to thin of glass, too thing of a center brace?

and lastly, how much room is in between the top of the tank and the overflow box? it looks close to me, but appearances can be deceiving.

nikon187

12/08/2009, 02:31 AM

Nice anemone. Just so you know it isn't a haddoni, its a gigantea. The tenticles are too long to be haddoni

Bob60070

12/08/2009, 03:18 AM

You have an awesume set-up.
How do your clowns get along. I am uprgading from a 75 and two 30s to a 225 6 foot tank. I have a mated pair of GSMs and a pair of Occelaris I want to try to put in the new tank.

r0cksteady

12/08/2009, 05:59 AM

Thanks everyone for the replies..

The main benefits of the euro-brace for me personally was:
1. Flat bracing enabling me to have maximize water levels, where in comparison to my current 6ft I was loosing literally a full 55mm compared with now only 20mm.
2. Appearances, now because of the flat single piece you no longer see my water line at all (the pelmet covers it) and it gives it that little bit more of a 'picture frame' look.
3. Because the euro brace has been put through the structural engineers computer to crunch the numbers (cost $500 just to have the design insured\backed by the engineer) it confirmed that this specific design (with the extra bracing in the middle and to certain thickness\width etc) gave it maximum structural integrity whilst reducing stress points around the bracing.
4. Its also made out of starfire to improve light penetration even if just slightly.

You need to remember that though my tank setup does have a lot of what we aussies call 'wank features', this is my ultimate tank setup and not one I plan on repeating so I would rather spend a few extra thousands at the end of it and have exactly what I always wanted than looking at it going 'I wish I had waited a bit longer and got the next model up etc'.

The previous tank broke due to a mix of reasons:

1. Glass was only 10mm where this new one is 16mm
2. Eurobracing was not laser cut and instead four pieces siliconed together but in a eurobrace style with no cross brace in the middle
3. The guy rush built it due to already excessive delays in the glass arriving and so siliconed the tank on a saturday and delivered it on a sunday with a little foot heater inside to speed up the drying process rather than allowing it to cure naturally at room temp for 10 days.
4. Because the tank hadnt cured properly in the transport one of the end panels had slightly (2-3mm) twisted inwards so that it was still held together but it was obvious it had been moved too early.

Ultimately though it was because the bracing and the front panels needed to be thicker.

Hi Nikon187 - Yeah I did know it was a Gigantica but failed to realise my mistake until after I had pressed submit. But 10 points for picking up on it.

As far as the spacing goes between the wier\combs and the top of the bracing there is absolutely minimal unfortunately. The only real design\build flaw that wasnt realised by the tank builder until he had put it all together. Thankfully he was able to set the combs down lower so that if needed the actual combs can be removed but even still theres no chance of getting my hand in there....mind you theres also no chance of a fish or even normal sized snail going in their either. The 90 degree elbows are only hand tightened but still loose enough so that if there was to be an issue I can rotate them upwards.
I cant really see how this could go wrong as I haven't had to touch my 6ft horizontal wier in the last year or so but I have had multiple snails and fish go down my durso causing blocks which had to be back flushed. Mind you as always in this hobby it has a special way of making all things variable.

Hi Bob60070 - The clowns get along fine as long as they dont see eachother :) Essentially the Tomato Clowns would easily take the Occ out and are much more defensive attacking other similarly shaped fish that swim past where as the occ even when they are laying eggs seem pretty easy going the whole time. I have both clowns at each end and have never had any issues. I even had them at one stage within visual range of eachother and there still wasnt any issues but they did still have their own territories and it wasnt a risk I was willing to toy with for too long especially if their hosts decided to shuffle closer to eachother. The key other than territories is to make sure they have their own host each so that they dont try to kick eachother out.

elias123

12/08/2009, 06:49 AM

wow mad set up and planing! do u mind if i ask were ur geting ur tunze from because i want some for my tank, and live in melbourne....thanks

stunreefer

12/08/2009, 08:43 AM

Tank looks great, very glad to see you're moving along! :thumbsup:

r0cksteady

12/08/2009, 03:04 PM

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback.

Elias123 - I purchase the majority of my gear from www.thereefshop.com.au or ausfrags.com.au thanks.

J.P.Silva

12/08/2009, 09:27 PM

Hi Rocksteady

Your Tank build is coming along nicely.Something I would like you to know is When it comes to Acros from your side of the world, in Canada there rated #1. When LFS in my area get aussie shipments, everyone here goes nuts. I find sps to be the nicest corals out there.
Do you get full access to any type of corals from your LFS, or do you help yourself to them? The price range for aussie acros in Canada start from $120.00 and up, because of the high shipping cost and labor. Any way, Keep up the amazing work with you build.

r0cksteady

12/08/2009, 09:59 PM

Hi JP,
Im not sure what you mean mate. Its illegal for people to grab stuff off the reef without a collectors permit which are in limited supply. We get access to everything off our own reef but its illegal to import all inverts like anemones, crabs, snails etc and even corals are illegal to bring in. Our problem is you guys pay premium prices for corals and because of this you get priority on all the good stuff and we have to beg collectors for the occasional special shipment. For a standard acro stag your looking at $40 - $80 depending on size and colour if that helps put it into perspective.

Hope this helps

d-man

12/08/2009, 10:33 PM

great set up, i'm glad the moorish has done so well. That blue carpet is really nice as well.

r0cksteady

12/09/2009, 09:40 PM

Thanks D-Man.

Yeah had the Moorish Idol for over two years now and he's actually quite a hardy specimen. He will eat anything I feed him from pellets, flake food, diy frozen food mix to nori on a clip. He's also live through multiple tank moves and two crashes where ammonia spiked to 0.5, so I feel very privileged to have him equally as much as my Pinnate Batfish.

Elliott

12/09/2009, 09:45 PM

how long have you had your pinnate batfish? that's a very difficult species to keep, whats the secret? great job! :)

Hollywood1

12/09/2009, 09:55 PM

great setup!

Melbourne is the best city in the WORLD!!!!! beats Sydney! hah JK

Just moved back to the US a couple months ago
Great tank!

outcastjra

12/10/2009, 12:22 AM

I really like how this project is coming together! I find it interesting that you cant get the best of the best corals there for cheap... I would start diving and rescue some corals for my tank! But thats me....lol... Great build, keep up the good work!

r0cksteady

12/10/2009, 05:40 AM

Thanks everyone.

Hi Elliot,

I have had the Pinnate for over 2 years now and he is my favourite out of the bunch. He is a gentle giant and quite the character. He loves very meaty foods and though isnt as fast as other fish is happy to rip the food out of other fishes mouths or my anemones if he gets close enough.

He is notorious for getting fin nipped by any territorial fish or even my tomato clowns when they have just laid eggs.

The 'trick' I guess is more just based on 'luck' for me on having a species who was eating in the shop when I purchased him and then placing him into a tank with very very placid tank mates. I have learnt many tricks to getting them to eat from helping others, strategies like using ordinary garden worms cut in half (the wriggling in the water as they are dying entices their interest enough to have a taste) to using extra fresh smelly sea food which they find hard not to at least consider (i have had the most success in helping others with recommending baby octopus). Ultimately though from what ive seen it comes down to their age (the older they are the easier they seem to acclimatise to tank life) and their handling in being shipped to the shop. If they are looking white as a ghost they are distressed. I wouldn't buy another one unless I could witness it eating either pellets or frozen solid foods (brine shrimp don't count!).

r0cksteady

12/13/2009, 03:42 AM

Hi All,

Had a productive weekend and the tank is all ready for its fresh water test once the sump has had its 10 days to dry. Which will be in about a weeks time.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=IMG_1475.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/IMG_1475.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Cleaning the residue finger prints and glue from the tape holding the tank together when it was drying.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=P1010004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/P1010004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I ended up cutting 3 holes in the wall. The first in the bottom left hand corner is for my ventilation fans to blow the air into the wall cavity rather than just getting blown into the face of a wall 1 inch away. The 2nd hole up the top middle is for my overflow bulk heads to fit into so I could push the tank near flush against the wall I have also ensured that on the other side of the wall (our toilet) if ever a disaster was to occur I know exactly where I can cut into and there is no longer any studs in the way as I relocated them. 3rd hole in the bottom right hand corner is where the equipment cupboard will have all the filtration etc and its outlets protruding.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=P1010005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/P1010005.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Ive glued sound proofing foam between where the cupboard will have the equipment and where it will connect into the sump as im going to have a lot of noise and equipment going back and forward. This way I have just cut slits into the foam and shoved the pipes etc through, without risk of having vibrations and pump\water noises spilling into our living area.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=P1010012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/P1010012.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
My new 7ft x 2ft (wide) x 18" (high) sump which replaced the recently smash and poorly designed 7ft x 2ft x 2ft. This clearly gives me much more room to place sand\rock etc and also has now enabled me to no longer need bracing due to the low pressure placed on the shorter sump. I also took advantage of the time without the sump in stand to sound proof the whole cabinet.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=P1010013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/P1010013.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I cut foam around my fan to limit noise and light spilling into the living area and in addition this will form a primitive vent into the wall cavity.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=P1010031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/P1010031.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
My first full tank shot (FTS) against the wall ready to be filled. As you can see the cupboard is hiding all the equipment as if there was nothing there.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=P1010032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/P1010032.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Just a shot showing the awesome bracing.

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=P1010040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/P1010040.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Sump with lights on

<a href="http://s212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/?action=view&current=P1010042.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/P1010042.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Sump plumbed in and ready to go.

So there you have it im finally starting to actually get excited again, something I haven't felt for 6-8 months. I would love to get the tank cycling with a few boxes of fresh liverock before xmas but im not going to rush it on only going to do it if everything works perfectly beforehand.

THANKS FOR LOOKING!

outcastjra

12/13/2009, 05:52 AM

Looking very good! I like the sump layout! I hope all that sound proofing wont raise your temps too high...

r0cksteady

12/13/2009, 08:45 PM

Hi outcastjra,

The temp should be file as I had a 1.5HP chiller on the roof and a 6HP Daikin Aircon infront of it. Plus in Melbourne we tend to only have about 15 or so days a year where the temp is in the extremes of heat.

Jared J

12/13/2009, 09:09 PM

Hey, how does that foam work? Thats a good idea.

pheromo

12/13/2009, 09:28 PM

your annularis didn't nip at the softies?

Bax

12/13/2009, 09:33 PM

Great looking build!

You have some sweet livestock in your existing tank too!!!

Mikep503

12/13/2009, 10:53 PM

Great thread. Thanks for sharing all the build details. We all learn a ton from other peoples fortunes and misfortunes. I love the Bat fish!!

r0cksteady

12/13/2009, 10:57 PM

Hi Jarod,
The foam is the same egg crate stuff they use in music studios to dampening noise. This way the only noise im hoping you will hear is a trickle of my horizontal overflow but nothing else.

Pheromo,
THe Annularis hasnt nipped a thing yet though it could just be a matter of time, only time will tell. I am striving to have Angels and a Reef Tank at the same time so if they start eating certain corals then I will find more noxious ones until I get the desired result. I have a frag tank plumbed in-line with the display which will act as a hospital tank for any of my corals being nipped. So far though I feed my fish 'very well' and as such they are fat and their colors are quite bright.

Bas,
Thanks mate, Im really looking forward to seeing it all come together now. Hoping to get it cycling next week after a successful freshwater test.

pheromo

12/14/2009, 03:37 PM

what corals do u feel they would nip at?

BlueSeaDevil

12/14/2009, 03:44 PM

Wow .. what an awesome build

Sardaukar

12/14/2009, 05:12 PM

I would think that a well insulated sump would get a very high humidity and break that foam down. Thoughts?

r0cksteady

12/14/2009, 07:46 PM

Hi Pheromo,
I am predominately going for a hard coral theme so monti's, acro's etc. I have witnessed dwarf angels especially nip at acro polyps etc. My understanding of adult angels also is that as a juv they may be a model citizen but once transformed into their adult coloration they can get much more hungry for a variety in their diet. Thats why I have found the DIY seafood mix the best option as you can make sure there is a large variety of fresh smelly foods available and you also get an idea of what certain fish like eating and what they do not.

Thanks BlueSeaDevil

Hi Sardaukar, as I have essentially 'overkill' exhaust fans inside the cabinet vented into my wall cavity I should not actually have any humidity as these will be running 24/7. In talking with the foam\rubber experts they informed me that they should be able to cope quite well with a moist enviroment though I guess ultimately only time will tell. Worst case scenario I have to replace it as it begins to deteriorate though this would take many years so im not too concerned. Eitherway ill be sure to keep everyone updated if it does look like it was a bad idea.

r0cksteady

01/08/2010, 06:40 AM

Hi Everyone,

Overdue for an update. Tank is cycled (nitrite\ammonia 0). I was avoiding pics due to my shameful spaghetti cupboard but I may as well do a before and after show, as my mate who is an AV tech is going to come around in the next few weeks and give it the professional finish with conduit etc. Should look great when its done.

Everything is setup and working. Ive had a few minor problems like the cheap crappy Marine Sources Calcium Reactor and De-Nitrator leaking from every possible join\fitting so I cracked it completely and decided to make the change now to Reef Octopus instead of having it all running and needing to change it later. I ended up with a Octopus CalFusion 2500:CR-140 AND Reef Octopus SNF-200.

Officially I reckon im becoming the poster child for Tunze and Reef Octopus. lol. One day though I would love to qualify for Deltec poster child. But that will be a few years yet.

I also underestimated the ammount of miracle mud I needed by half so have to wait a month or more for it to be imported.

One disadvantage to purchasing all your equipment 12 months before cycling is you find all the faulty equipment and DOA all at the same time. One of my Tunze Waveboxes and one of the Tunze Stream 2 were dead so Im sending them back under warranty hence the wavebox missing from the right hand side.

My favourite techno feature of the tank is the auto top off. What a great invention. I have my RO\DI hooked up the the main water supply which in turn has a 12VDC Solenoid attached to the Tunze Osmolator which has 3 levels of fail safe so there is near impossible chance for it to fail on. No more buckets or water spillage for me!

I have loosely structured my rock to get an indication of how much more I need. I was originally intending to get at least two more boxes but now Im thinking maybe only one more box in the top right hand corner.

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5218.jpg">

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5226.jpg">

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5239.jpg">

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5244.jpg">

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5246.jpg">

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5250.jpg">

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5252.jpg">

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5252.jpg">

r0cksteady

01/08/2010, 06:41 AM

I also picked up this amazingly bright red carpet to go with the blue one. Only and bright green and purple to go and all the bright colours are complete :)

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5261.jpg">

<img src="http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5260.jpg">

welldigger

01/08/2010, 06:57 AM

I love the signature Jason! So here goes...
Why did you choose to not use bracing on your sump? If it were a display tank, I'm sure it would have it. It just seems there's a lot of flow down there and the sump looks to be as long as the display itself. Are the legs on the stand holding the sump together? They look like they touch the glass in some photos.

drpo21

01/08/2010, 11:44 AM

wow. this tank is a great setup. great job. one question would be is why do you have your lights on while it cycled? i can see you have a lot of algae, when i cycled my tank I only had the lights on for a couple hours a day to minimize the algae bloom. congrats in getting the thing started, looking forward for future updates

stunreefer

01/08/2010, 01:55 PM

Looks awesome, great job! Can' wait to see some angels in there :thumbsup:

welldigger, bracing is put in place to prevent bowing of tanks, which could potentially lead to a "blow-out". Jasons new sump is only 18" high, which doesn't produce as much pressure as the previous 24" high sump. The glass is thick enough on it's own to prevent bowing, therefore bracing is unecessary.

r0cksteady

01/08/2010, 03:58 PM

Hi Welldigger,

Stunreefer is correct and in addition to the sump being only 18" high and 10mm glass, the tank builder placed the 7 baffles of 8mm glass during the construction process rather than afterward like most of us do, the opinion was that it was not required.

The sump touching the frame was not designed\planned to hold it though certainly it would to a limited extent if the sump ever split at the seams. Was there a reason for your concern? Thanks for asking by the way :)

Hi Aaron,
For me personally I dont see algae as a bad thing and if anything it speeds up the cycling process by taking away all the nutrients. This is my 3rd tank now and last time I had a large amount of Bryopsis appear all over the tank during the cycling process, but because I didnt panic and just waited for it all to disappear before adding any inhabitants it just starved itself away and as such I never really have issues with algae.

Having the lights on for the full period have also allowed me to retain a lot of the hitchhiker corals that came with the live rock. Im more inclined to do water changes during the cycling process than messing with the lights. But thats just my experience.

Thanks for the feedback Austin, Im really looking forward to seeing it all complete over 2010. Now that I can see it all coming together Im quite excited as you can imagine.

r0cksteady

01/27/2010, 05:51 PM

HI All,

Ok finally got around to taking some pics. Now be aware this is just after I have moved all inverts and corals across from the 6ft display so not everything is happy and flourishing yet but in a few weeks everything should look great. Im having trouble with the red carpet anemone wanting to go walk abouts so we will see how well I can convince him to stay.

I purchased a Fluro Green Sticky Pizza Anemone. I intend to put multiple porcelain anemone crabs in the red carpet and some anemone shrimp in the pizza anemone. Live rock structure wise I have manage to make a vast amount of caves including two large caves (one on the right at the rear) and one on the left in the middle of the rock work.

I have also purchase a pair of blood shrimp but of course they aren't the photogenic kind being nocturnal and all.

I have my A/V tech mate coming over next Friday to neaten up all the cables with a professional finish so I won't be posting pics of the cupboard until that's done.

I have moved the Occ Clownfish with the Blue Gigantica Anemone as they would have been left with no host and the potential of the Tomato Clowns attacking them. The Tomato Clowns are still in the existing 6ft as they are able to stay in the half a dozen green BTA's.

RE: Miracle Mud - Still waiting for the next shipment from thereefshop.com.au but the current mud I have seems to be working great.
I haven't had any luck tightening my fish list but haven't given up yet, maybe sourcing and prices may dictate the end result but currently this is the intended stock list in the order they will be added:

1 x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) [ALREADY ADDED INTO 8FT DISPLAY]

1 x Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris var) [ALREADY ADDED INTO 8FT DISPLAY]

2 x Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

2 x Pinnate Batfish (Platax pinnatus) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Longhorn Cowfish (Lactoria cornuta)

Paired Pistol Shrimp & Goby

1 x Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)

Paired Bangaii Cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni)

Paired Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)

Paired Blackcap Basslet (Gramma melcara)

Paired Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)

6 x Yellow Coral Goby (Gobiodon okinawae)

1 x SeaWeed Blenny (Parablennius marmoreus) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Harlequin Tusk (Lienardella fasciata)

Paired Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus - canescens) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Bi-Colour Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Potter's Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)

1 x Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Blue-Ring Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus japonica)

1 x Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Blonde Naso Tang (Naso lituratus) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

1 x Achillies Tang (Acanthurus achilles)

1 x Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)

2 x Male/Female Pair of Green Mandarinfish (Pterosynchiropus/Synchiropus splendidus)

1 x Zebra Moray Eel (Gymnomuraena zebra)

1 x Blue Ribbon Eel (Rhinomuraena Quaestia)

1 x Sohal Tang (Acanthurus sohal) - [CURRENTLY HOUSE IN OLD 6FT SETUP]

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5431.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5410.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5403.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5426.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5415.jpg

r0cksteady

01/27/2010, 06:09 PM

Ive never posted a movie before by one of my mates misses took this vid whilst we were lifting the 8ft onto the stand. I must say after the disasters i have had I was extra nervous about this move.

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/MOV06157.flv">

DJ_drew

01/28/2010, 01:35 AM

what lighting combination are u running if u dont mind my asking?
im in the process of buidling an 8ft tank right now :)
mines plywood though
lol

Drew

JasonYu

01/28/2010, 02:57 AM

so detail description and pictures

i love that

elias123

01/28/2010, 03:51 AM

looks awsum. was this tank sitting in any shop in melb? because it looks farmiliar

r0cksteady

01/28/2010, 04:43 AM

Hi DJ_drew,

My lighting as per page 1 is:

4 x CLB DE Pendant (Coralvue Lumen Bright Double Ended Pendant Reflection)

4 x IceCap 250-MH Ballast

4 x Phoenix 14,000K DE MH

Hi JasonYu,

Thanks mate I have only learnt patients the hard way unfortunately but as I intend on this being my ultimate and final setup I really wanted to get everything right. Nothing worse than setting up your tank only to realise there is something irreversible that you no longer have the chance to change.

Hi Elias123,

No this tank was built onsite at my house. As far as Im aware Im the first person to get laser cut bracing in Australia (first person crazy enough to pay the cost). I do have this same tank journal at our Australian equivalent of ReefCentral so perhaps you have seen it here?

http://www.masa.asn.au/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=194205&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

Thanks everyone for all the positive feedback feel free to ask questions or critique stuff as you see things pop up.

r0cksteady

02/02/2010, 09:17 PM

Hi All,
I had my father-in-law over the other day who asked me how much I thought the tank setup cost to run from an electricity perspective. As is the case with most of us we don't actually want to know this answer but with guilt looming I decided I would humor it and nut out exactly the daily cost of running the full setup.

8FT DT
Power Heads (4 x Tunze Stream 2 6205) = 55w each x 4 = 220w
Waveboxe's (2 x Tunze 6212) = 30w each x 2 = 60w
Ozonizer\Redox Controller (AquaZone Ozone Generator 200 Deluxe w/built-in controller & air dryer) + Single Air Pump- PURCHASED = 5.4w + 2.5w = 7.9w
Skimmer (Reef Octopus Hurricane 4000 4X) = 65w each x 4 = 260w
MH Lights (IceCap 250-MH Ballast) = 250w each x 4 = 1000w (NOTE: Only used for 8 hours a day during PEAK period)
Return Pump (Reeflo Hammerhead Pump) = 340w
Calcium Reactor (Reef Octopus SNF-200) = 38w
Denitrator (Octopus CalFusion 2500:CR-140) = 38w
Sump Light (6ft Double T5 54w HO) - 216w (NOTE: Only used for 8 hours a day during OFF-PEAK period)

FRAG TANK
Tunze Nano Wavebox - 10w
Lights (Solarmax T5 AQUARIUM LIGHT 4x39W H/O) = 156w (NOTE: Only used for 8 hours a day during OFF-PEAK period)

Chiller & Heaters = N/A not including as these are rarely on and if so usually for maybe an hour a day as water volume takes so long to change.

COSTINGS:
Peak (12 hours 7am - 7pm) = $0.315864 per kw
Off Peak (12 hours 7pm - 7am) = $0.1136484 per kw

CALCULATIONS:
973.9w x 12 hours x peak rate = $3.691439 per day
973.9w x 12 hours x off peak rate = $1.328186 per day
1000w x 8 hours x peak rate = $2.526912 per day
372w x 8 hours x off peak rate = $0.338218 per day
TOTAL: $7.90 ($7.884755) per day

OUCH!

StripestheEel

02/05/2010, 07:56 PM

How the hell do you have time to maintain two journals Jason? Hahaha. Might get mine on here!

slief

02/05/2010, 08:30 PM

Very impressive! Your tank looks great. I see your algae dissapeared as you indicted it would. Clearly you know your tanks! That sump is incredible. I wish I could get my new sumps in as one piece like that. They again, hindsite it 20/20 and if I knew then what I know now, I would have gone broke with this hobby long ago! Congrats on a very nice tank!

r0cksteady

02/11/2010, 05:04 PM

Lol thanks Stripes aka Matty. I find managing two journals easy enough I just update them at the same time. Its great to get the two different varieties in questions \ feedback. It also shows me what we take for granted in AUS and what the rest of the world takes for granted that we will never get to see due to our strict import laws etc.

Hi Slief,
Yeah mate, just like last time the Bryopsis disappeared within a short span of time its now disappeared 100%. Didnt even get a burst of cyno which is great. On newly setup tanks Bryopsis isn't nearly as disastrous if your happy to have the patiences to wait for it to starve itself off. Literally if theres no nutrients in the water then its slowly going to die off. Plus once I added my macro algae into the sump it had another competitor. The ozonizer was also a nice way of speeding up the die off by limiting the concentration of nutrients.

I havent uploaded pics for a while by my Dallas Acro's (bright green acro stags) are growing at an astronomical rate and now the corraline alge is starting to bridge across pieces of rock and onto the wier. Its great not having any predators (known predators that is) in the tank as im seeing a lot more life and hitchhikers appear that I didnt see initially after it first cycled.

My current plan is to fully stock the tank as a reef with just corals and inverts before introducing any fish (other than the clowns hosting in the anemones). That way it should hopefully keep me patient enough not to jump the gun on the original plan which is to allow the tank to cycle as long as possible (6 months) without having any fish to strip the rock bare before all the micro fauna and critters get time to get established and cement their long term survival. Regardless im going to suffer from old tank syndrome but this will hopefully buy me a few years extra before having to refresh my rock again.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

r0cksteady

03/13/2010, 07:14 PM

Hi Everyone,

Im well overdue for an update so ill make up for it with many pics. Everything is going along perfectly. Ive near fully stocked my tank with coral though im still going to hunt down extra nice pieces and slowly remove\trade\frag older ones that im not so happy with depending on how they colour up. Ive been amazed\impressed with my hardware setup, I was assuming I would have tuning problems etc but ive had nothing, all is working fine. My de-nitrator daisy chained to the calcium reactor is working so well that my PH controller never needs to turn on and use C02. Anyway please enjoy the pics and feel free as always to provide any feedback.

Im on the hunt for a bright purple carpet and a bright green one. The stick anemone turned out to be a pain because it didnt like being at the front of the tank, in the end I just let him go where he wanted and it's at least picked a spot that I can see him.

I had my mate finally come round who does cabling for a living and he managed to neaten everything up to a workable state. It no longer looks like someone has shot a party popper of cables into the cupboard.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5472.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5467.jpg

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http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5734.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5756.jpg

r0cksteady

03/13/2010, 07:16 PM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5755.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5743.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5740.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5739.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5737.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5733.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5720.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5719.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5718.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5698.jpg

r0cksteady

03/13/2010, 07:16 PM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5693.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5692.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5689.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5676.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5724.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5674.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5667.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5665.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5661.jpg

r0cksteady

03/13/2010, 07:17 PM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5649.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5635.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP5559.jpg

Bax

03/13/2010, 08:01 PM

The tank looks great!

The wiring is pretty organized!

r0cksteady

03/14/2010, 05:54 PM

Thanks Bax

r0cksteady

10/11/2010, 05:20 AM

Sorry for the lack of presence\updates. Ive had a bit of a disaster with the tank which has set me back significantly considering my disposable income has been hit living off one wage.

Basically I had all my fish list complete with the final addition of an Achilles Tang which I had been watching for illness etc put it in the DT (he was eating nori like a pig), only then a day later he showed signs of Marine Velvet. He died not long after and the same day ALL of the fish had the disease. Due to the volume of infected fish I couldn't QT them all let alone catch them all and within a very quick period of time they all died (including my juv batfish I had successfully move onto pellet\flake after months and months of hard work - still gives me rage) bar a few I have had for the last 3 or so year who's immune system fought off the disease.

I haven't introduced any new fish since then (approx 2 months) and now am trying to scrape together the coin to replace the losses. Im on the hunt for an eating Achilles (any size) and this time I will add him before the smaller fish ie. dotty backs, potter angels etc.

I keep playing the scenario over in my head and im not even sure what I could have done if when QT he didnt show any signs of disease.

Anyway moving on, ive had to restructure my rock as my RBTA caused an avalanche so ive tried to build a more solid structure. As always it never looks as good as your previous attempt so thats why I havent put any pics up because im gunna givie it one last shot.

Hardware wise everything is running a treat other than having every single tunze stream 2 and wavebox product blow up including their power supply due to a faulty batch from the supplier who then in turn sent me replacements from the same batch which obviously then blew up again a second time and $300 later on postage at my expense they are finally running again.

Corals are growing well though because of the recent restructure they have stopped temporarily while they adjust to their new placements.

Feel free to ask any questions, I should be more active after this point

Heres a pic of our favorite new addition about 3 months old.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/38235_447440585085_603575085_6550487_8256032_n.jpg

r0cksteady

10/11/2010, 05:22 AM

I have however purchase more shrimp. I now have 4 x Red Line Cleaner Shrimps and 4 x Blood (Scarlett) Shrimp. All of which have pared up and are easy to view even during the daylight period. Ive removed 2 mantis shrimps so far but still have 3-4 left that don't seem to be scared of me at all anymore.

Anyway hope you like the tank :) :cheers:

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7386.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7333.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7334.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7344.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7345.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7349.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7353.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7360.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7363.jpg

r0cksteady

10/11/2010, 05:22 AM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7367.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7380.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7328.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7393.jpg

twintrades

10/11/2010, 06:06 AM

I just wanted to say your baby is so adorable !! Ours is 14 months old allready. Man time flys.

Oh and congrats on the tank it looks sweet ! Wish i could have one also. love the nems

adddo

10/11/2010, 06:24 AM

Your tank is gorgeous and your daughter is cute. Good job on both :)

prop-frags

10/11/2010, 06:50 AM

We've been following along Jason - such a skillful job in planning and execution! You've had some trials with your build! So sorry to hear about the velvet outbreak; that had to be really difficult to deal with. The good news is that the reef is looking very nice - great selection of corals and very natural looking! Keep up the good work and the updates.

NexDog

10/11/2010, 07:20 AM

Just read the whole thread for the first time, quite the journey!

You said all the fish died but I see the Moorish Idol still in there so some must have made it?

I have always QT'd all fish with hypo even if I didn't see Ich. But I now QT everything with Copper as Copper kills Velvet as well as Ich. Good luck with the continued adventure. :)

tahiriqbal

10/11/2010, 07:50 AM

Beautiful......................... that's all......

Elliott

10/11/2010, 08:13 AM

very nice tank! sorry to hear about your fish loss, I went through the same thing 6 months ago, nothing you can do but watch :(

I just purchased a captive bred Platax Pinnatus but he arrived with velvet and died. Has your batfish picked on any corals? how did you get him to acclimate to captivity?

Have your angels picked on any corals?

Great job, thanks for sharing :thumbsup:

r0cksteady

10/11/2010, 02:28 PM

RE: twintrades, adddo, prop-frags & tahiriqbal:
Wow thank you everyone for the lovely feedback and encouragement.

RE: NexDog
Yes sorry I might not have been clear (typed it late at night) any fish ive had for 4+ years all survived so my Adult Pinnate Platax, Emperor Angel, Moorish Idol, Purple Tang, Yellow Tang, Blue Tang, Seaweed Blenny, Flame Angel all survived though they were heavily infected and its only due to the testament of their own immune system, healthy eating (DIY mix) and stress free environment that helped them recover. Some of the fish were laying on the sand bed and still managed to survive without being picked on by the other fish etc. I am very greatfull. My Adulty Batfish is getting uglier as the days go on but I love him all the same as he represents 'hope' for me :)

RE: Elliott
Thanks mate, as juveniles they tend to only show interest in browsing on the rock looking for live foods. As an adult I have had mine nibble lots of stuff including my red carpet anemone but never to an extent of causing major or persistent damage. Its more like he wants to taste everything once but because he is such a fatty and eats as much of the meat I put in the tank each day he more just swims along the glass begging me to feed him now :)

No my Angels havent picked on any corals. I planned out the coral selection to avoid the more fleshy corals which I have seen my Angels previously eat. Ive also avoided some of the notorious coral eaters like the 'lemon peel'. I am still planning on getting my pair of Potters angels and Regal angel ASAP. Not sure on the Blue Ring now, only if I can find a tiny specimen as I believe the Emperor will hassle and adult one too much.

REEF-n-Chicago

10/11/2010, 02:40 PM

Curious if you could post your recipe (or a link) for your fish food recipe....

Would love to have it!

Sorry for your losses :(

r0cksteady

10/11/2010, 03:51 PM

Thanks REEF-n-Chicago,

Heres a basic run down, let me know if you have any specific questions:

1 x Bag of Mussels (Local fish monger)
300g of Fish Roe (Local fish monger)
12 Prawns (Local fish monger)
10 x Baby Octopus (Local fish monger)
4 x Packs of Nori (Died seaweed from an Asian Greengrocer)
1 x Pack of frozen brine (LFS)
1 x Pack of frozen mysis (LFS)
2 x Large containers of Cyclopeeze Flakes (LFS)
1 x Large container of Large Pellets (LFS)
1 x Med container of Med Sized Pellets (LFS)
60g of Spirulina (6 crushed tablets by mortal & pestle. Available in any Chemist\Drug store)
80ml Red Sea Vita (any fish vitamin additive really will do)
40ml Red Sea Coralgro (any coral health additive really will do)
1 Litre RO/DI fresh water

Before throwing it all in together I thoroughly rinse all of the fresh seafood and frozen foods in separate containers with RO/DI water to remove as much phosphate as I can (frozen food is notorious for MASSIVE amounts of phosphate). I then finely chop all the seafood to thumb nail size (will depend on the type\size of fish you have) throw the same seafood and frozen foods (now defrosted) into the same pot with a fresh batch of RO/DI and let it all sit overnight in my fridge just to try and get more of the phosphate to leach into the RO/DI.
The next day I fish out all the food with a net and then mix everything together in a new pot. After its all mixed together I use a soup ladle to scoop them into Plastic Freezer packs which I make sure are no more than 1cm in thickness so that they are easy to snap apart when making appropriate portions at feeding times. Then chuck it in the freezer and all done.

Let me know if there's anything specific you want to know or any of my reasoning behind it all. This general recipe if off the top of my head and is a variation of Eric Bornemans 'Aquarium Corals' book and then evolved over 4 or so years as new products became available and my fish changed in size. Ive found great benefits in using Cyclopeeze in the mix as it helps with the colour of the fish though this is more about the ingredient
Astaxanthin rather than the product.

Thanks - Jase

StripestheEel

10/11/2010, 09:51 PM

This tank rocks my socks!!

Crabber

10/12/2010, 05:29 AM

Very nice tank, but that emperor is gorgeous! Love the streamer!

Phoenix912

10/12/2010, 07:08 AM

Hello

Bravo for your tank, installation and superb!

quick question, are that you are happy with the soundproofing foam?

es that is effective for noise?

are that it does not rot with humidity in the cabinet?

sorry I translated with google ;-)

Best regards

r0cksteady

10/12/2010, 07:40 PM

Thanks guys appreciate it

Phoenix912 - Yes I highly recommend the foam egg crate and no it doesnt rot. I have found that since adding the foam all noise is reduced by 90% and as long as the water doesnt splash on the foam it doesnt rot. I have found that the salt creep does attach in certain areas of the cabinet inside but it has no negative effect and if I brush the salt creep away the foam is still perfectly intact.
I have no humidity in my cabinet as I have a fan which extracts the air from outside the cabinet into a wall cavity behind my stand.

Hope this helps.
:thumbsup:

slattery

10/12/2010, 08:06 PM

nice set up

erics3000

10/12/2010, 11:44 PM

Just caught up with your thread..CONGRATS your daughter is too cute...

r0cksteady

12/18/2010, 05:15 PM

Had a mate over today to take pics just waiting for him to drop them off to me to upload. In the mean time ill do a text update.

Im happy to say Ive found my passion again for the hobby primarily due to having no dramas for many months, its funny that. Mind you I did loose my Moorish Idol to a bacteria disease which was devastating especially after having him for so many years but thats life and we have to move on. My fish taste has changed ever so slightly which means ive gotten some extra fish that werent on my original want list and gotten rid of some others that I fell out of love with ie. Sohal Tang (not as nice as I thought they would look in person), Blue Ring Angel (when he started eating my clams)

I have some new additions now which brings my current stock list to the following:

ANGELFISH
1 x Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
1 x Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)

BATFISHES
1 x Pinnate Batfish (Platax pinnatus)

BLENNIES
1 x Seaweed Blenny (Parablennius marmoreus)

BUTTERFLY FISHES
1 x Copperband Butterflyfish (Chelmon rostratus)

CARDINALS
2 x Bangaii Cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni) - My Bangaii Cardinals have spawned two lots of babies now and the babies seem to manage surviving in the display by going in groups of 5 near the 3 Anemones I have. I then attempt to catch most of them and put them in my frag tank. I then feed them with frozen baby brine and now have quite a few sub-adults (not sure what im going to do with them yet but still cool)

COWFISH
1 x Longhorn Cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) - sitting in QT, needs to grow a lot more before I stick him in the DT. They still think he's food :)

DAMSEL FISHES
1 x Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) paired with 1 x Black & White Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris var) regularly spawning
2 x Tomato Clownfish (Amphiprion frenatus) - regularly spawning

DRAGONETTES
2 x Male/Female Pair of Green Mandarinfish (Pterosynchiropus/Synchiropus splendidus)

EELS
1 x Zebra Moray Eel (Gymnomuraena zebra)

GOBIES
4 x Yellow Clown Goby (Gobiodon citrinus) - 2 of which have paired up

GRAMMAS
2 x Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto)

TANGS
1 x Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
1 x Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum)
1 x Blue Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus)
1 x Achillies Tang (Acanthurus achilles) - (only eating nori and flake at the moment but survived the bashing for the first few days he got from all the other fish and is still taking food happily and now is left alone to explore the tank)
1 x Blonde Naso Tang (Naso lituratus)
1 x Kole Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus) - Hawaiian Species

WRASSE
1 x Six-line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia)
2 x Canary Wrasse (Halichoeres Chrysus) - paired up straight away

SHRIMP
20 x Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) - 10 in DT, 10 in SUMP\REFUGIUM
2 x Coral Banded Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) - (Mated pair, Yellow bellied\Blue legged variant)
4 x Red Line Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
4 x Blood Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)

WANT LIST: (Awaiting these to appear of peoples stock lists)
2 x Potter's Angelfish (Centropyge potteri)
1 x Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) - Must be the yellow bellied variant
2 x Blackcap Basslet (Gramma melcara)
1 x Pinnate Batfish (Platax pinnatus)
2 x Bi-Colour Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
2 x Midas Belnny (Ecsenius midas)
2 x Yellow Watchman Goby (Cryptocentrus cinctus)
2 x Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhites armatus)
4 x Orchid Dottyback (Pseudochromis fridmani)
1 x Harlequin Tusk (Lienardella fasciata)
1 x Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus - canescens)
1 x Japanese Pygmy Angelfish (Centropyge interruptus)
1 x Clarion Angel (Holacanthus clarionensis)

Im pretty happy with my Corals now and will only get smaller, extra special stuff.

Other than the FISH im on the hunt for a Purple Carpet Anemone (any type) and a few extra nice clams.

Actually its funny I said i havent had dramas and I just remembered that I copped a plague of flat worms but rather than freak out I decided to buy the Wrasses and Dragonettes which have eaten about 95% so now I hope they can breed enough that they keep my fish happy :)

My only other minor drama was making the mistake of replacing my Phoenix 14K 250w DE Globes with BLV 250W DE 14K what an absolute rubbish globe. I went from having a lovely balance of light blue light to a washed out yellow. What a shame you cannot try before you buy and now im stuck with them for 12 months. Ive decided to change over the Coral Vues new 15K globes when they come out as they sound like they are still developing\improving on MH lighting when most companies are on the LED band wagon. eg RIP IceCap.

Being the overfeeder that I am and encouraging my Angels not to eat my reef ive has slightly increasing phosphate problems. This was kept in check by using 1000ml of Rowaphos every 2 weeks but as you can imagine spending $400 every two months wasnt very appealing so Ive now gotten onto 'Tones' method of dealing with Phosphate which is dosing 5ml per day of Lanthanum Chloride into my skimmer which has a filter sock on the skimmer outlet. I clean this sock on a gentle cycle in the washing machine with no washing powder every week and it has shown amazing results. I went from 0.20 down to 0.16 in one dose. Very impressive. There are risks of doing it this way but as im a tinkerer it suits me fine and is saving me a heap of $$$. For $15 I got 1L of HY-CLOR Phosphate Remover (Lanthanun Chloride).

Thats it for now still waiting for the pics off my mate. Ill put them up as soon as I get em. Feel free to ask me any questions.

r0cksteady

12/19/2010, 01:41 AM

OK heres the pics. DISCLAIMER\NOTE: The Corals are going through a bit of a colour shift 1. due to changing of globes but more importantly 2. The sudden drop on Phosphate due to the new dosing method so its probably going to take a few weeks for them to colour up again but I put them up anyway just to stop giving myself excuses

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4475.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4424.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4392.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4389.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4382.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4360.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4359.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4324.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4318.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4285.jpg

r0cksteady

12/19/2010, 01:42 AM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7723.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7721.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7716.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4278.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7707.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7699.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7689.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP7685.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4269.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4216.jpg

r0cksteady

12/19/2010, 01:42 AM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4211.jpg

This is one of my Rics that keeps spawning every two weeks, shame its not one of the more colourful ones :)
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4210.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4208.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4172.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4123.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4117.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4057.jpg

This one has grown heaps as it started off as a small frag
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/IMG_4052.jpg

canyousee

12/19/2010, 09:47 AM

Tank looks incredible great selection of fish and corals,really like the angle. Thanks for sharing Mike

Pallobi

12/19/2010, 10:48 AM

that batfish is unreal... awesome

Elliott

12/19/2010, 12:58 PM

WOW :thumbsup: :D

you have many of my favorites, awesome !

a true reef with all the livestock diversity: eel, angel, anemones, batfish, inverts, SPS, LPS, you name it!

r0cksteady

12/20/2010, 06:57 PM

Thanks guys appreciate the feedback.

Hexagon Mop

06/08/2011, 07:25 PM

Any updates? Have you got any fish from the waiting list?

adbf

06/11/2011, 05:31 PM

great setup. Do your angels pick at the corals ?

nemokeeper

06/11/2011, 05:34 PM

WOW! That is an awesome setup!! Wish i had a house to put one of these bad boys in!

uny2bld

10/06/2012, 10:12 PM

Feeder seems good but havent got it going in full swing as I only recieved it this week. Im trying to make a partition in the hoppers so that I can have two types of pellets at the same time rather than mixing them together otherwise im at risk of all the smaller pellets sinking too the bottom.

I didn't see anything further on this product (forgive me if I missed it)

Did it work well after all thi stime or did you have to go an entirely new route?

fishmanstan

12/20/2012, 06:33 PM

Update?

rosko23

12/20/2012, 10:08 PM

update?

+1

Tangman193

01/13/2014, 02:48 PM

+1

+1

r0cksteady

02/15/2014, 09:29 PM

Hi All,

Apologies for not keeping my tank journal current. I had to break down my tank because I added biopellets (to assiste with phosphate\nitrate) to my mature system which caused a massive outbreak of byropsis I didnt even know I had. In the end I spent 3+ months trying to fight it off and lost. So I decided to start again, gave away the stock, cleaned the sand, soaked the rock in bleach and boiling water.

I was quite liberating in the end to have a fresh start as there were many things I wished I had done differently that I could now do.

The main changes I wanted was less rock, less sand, more space, more water volume. Less gadgets and back to basics.

As such I would only have about 150kg of base rock in the display cable tied together into 4 distinct archways which has a much more natural appearance and means that the live stock I purchase can no longer hide at the back of the tank.

Ive got from 5" sand in my display to 1", removed the miracle mud, coral rubble from my sump. Change my sump into being more focused towards a refugium with the appropriate lighting and no live rock other than to initially seed the sand.

I removed my calcium reactor, ozonizer and Lanthanum Chloride doser.

As such im only left with the biopellets (which I do believe in), dosing zeobak and coral snow, a de-nitrator which I only turn on if the biopellets need the balance between p04 and n03 is out. Im using Randys Recipe and my dosing pumps to accomodate. Ive converted my hospital tank into a reserve for ALK.

Ive kept my 250w MH as I still believe these are the best lighting setup you can get (not a fan of LED's on deep tanks).

Ive actually got too much flow at the moment as I have upgraded two of my powerheads to the Turbelle® stream 6255 and the other two to Turbelle® stream 6155. Which is causing my sand to blow everywhere so im sticking with just two power heads for the time being until my tank is re-stocked with hard corals. Ive still got my waveboxes which have served me well.

Now after all that the ironic thing is that when my tank started cycling the first thing to appear was Byropsis. Thankfully I didnt have any livestock and so was able to allow it to starve itself off whilst raising the magnesium levels to 2000 for several weeks. Its not completely gone but its all brown and dying now so I have started stocking the tank up with corals\inverts.

My aim is to have a full mixed reef, focused on filter feeding inverts and corals and minimal fish which should mean minimal problems. I plan on having a lot of small fish (gobys, dragonets, dottybacks etc) and then just a few feature fish (achillies tang). I want my tank to be truly 'reef safe' so this time Im not taking any risks with any fish that may or may not complement my setup.

Enough talking heres some pics, please note the lights were only just turned on and the corals are not yet extended\expanded.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2406.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2406.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2409.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2409.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2417.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2417.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2412.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2412.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2397.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2397.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2411.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2411.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2419.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2419.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2421.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/My%208ft%20Marine%20Aquarium/_IGP2421.jpg.html)

Newbie Aquarist

02/16/2014, 01:14 AM

I'd have to say welcome back and thank you for the update and the problems you experienced and fixed. A big fan of the new aquascape. Congrats.

canyousee

02/16/2014, 09:54 PM

I'd have to say welcome back and thank you for the update and the problems you experienced and fixed. A big fan of the new aquascape. Congrats.

What he said...

aquaenthusiast

02/19/2014, 09:54 PM

quite an awesome bounceback, the new scape looks awesome !

r0cksteady

03/15/2014, 03:06 AM

Hi All,

I've started re-stocking my tank. Slowly introducing some small fish just to keep the bacteria going and something to cope with the macro-algae.

Current fish:
Hawaiian Kole Tang
Bi-Color Blenny
2 x Flame Hawks
2 x Yellow Watchman Gobies paired with Shrimp
2 x Occ Clownfish

Have started re-stocking coral, majority of hard corals are browned out ones from my LFS to see how they come back and also a few SPS frags\colonies from a fellow reefer (shoutout to Jason Angel)

Test scores have been near perfect consistently with the lack of live stock. Phos 0.04-0.08 Nitrate 0.025 - 0.75. The reason for the fluctuations is due to dosing of liquid coral foods: Continuum Phyto-Blast (5ml per day, random time), Continuum Micro-Blast (5ml every 3 days at night).

This is with the intention of focusing on filter feeders (X-Mas Tree Worms, Feather Dusters, Dendros, Gonis, Gorgonians etc)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/b9aaed2b-a411-4635-bcac-b995dd7fd21a.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/b9aaed2b-a411-4635-bcac-b995dd7fd21a.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/228fa13c-8ba0-4d71-b973-ef40d84eb681.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/228fa13c-8ba0-4d71-b973-ef40d84eb681.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2642.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2642.jpg.html)

r0cksteady

03/15/2014, 03:07 AM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2673.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2673.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2675.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2675.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2650.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2650.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2651.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2651.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2660.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2660.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2641.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2641.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2647.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2647.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2630.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2630.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2637.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2637.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2632.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2632.jpg.html)

r0cksteady

03/15/2014, 03:07 AM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2583.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2583.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2608.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2608.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2581.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2581.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2621.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2621.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2586.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2586.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2599.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP2599.jpg.html)

dave.m

03/15/2014, 08:42 AM

Newbie Aquarist

03/16/2014, 02:56 AM

Nice Christmas tree rock garden you have. Nice chalices also. Great great update.

r0cksteady

03/16/2014, 05:40 AM

Wow! What an update! I have to ask about the Xmas tree worms. Were they already in all of those rocks when you got them or did they spread after you had established them in your tank? What steps are you using to keep them alive? They are lovely, but don't tend to last very long here.

Thx

Dave.M

Hi Dave,

I know some Aussie's who've had them for a while but not sure how long is long enough to declare success. Im focusing at the moment on filter feeders so hoping by dosing reef foods regularly as mentioned above will help. Also adding reef roids and a DIY seafood mix to feed the few fish I have. That should provice most micro particle sizes. Will keep you updated on their progress.

r0cksteady

09/25/2014, 07:45 AM

Hi All,

Sorry I've neglected my tank journal. So heres a big pic dump. Unfortunately my tank got his with Flukes and I've treated with praziquantel. Because Ive had to turn off my skimmer during this time Ive had water quality issues which has lead to all my hard corals and my nem to brown out but hopefully I can post an update at the end of the year and you can see them all in their full glory.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3435.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3435.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3433.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3433.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3423.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3423.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3422.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3422.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3417.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3417.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3412.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3412.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3409.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3409.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3407.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3407.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3406-1.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3406-1.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3394.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3394.jpg.html)

r0cksteady

09/25/2014, 07:45 AM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3393.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3393.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3392.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3392.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3388.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3388.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3384.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3384.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3383.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3383.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3382-1.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3382-1.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3380.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3380.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3370.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3370.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3362.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3362.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3360.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3360.jpg.html)

r0cksteady

09/25/2014, 07:46 AM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3359.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3359.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3354.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3354.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3344.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3344.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3341.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3341.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3338.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3338.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3335.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3335.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3324.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3324.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3319.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3319.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3314.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3314.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3312.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3312.jpg.html)

r0cksteady

09/25/2014, 07:46 AM

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3300.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3300.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3291.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3291.jpg.html)

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP3288.jpg (http://s212.photobucket.com/user/r0cksteady_scarlett/media/_IGP3288.jpg.html)

dave.m

09/25/2014, 10:01 AM

Wow! What a photo bomb! It is so great to see that you are successful keeping all these various azoos with hard corals. The colours they bring to your tank (and movement, I imagine) make your aquarium dazzling.

There was one azoo in the left centre of this previous image, the orangey one growing laterally in this image (whose name I can't now recall) that doesn't appear in your newer images. What was it's fate and what was it like to keep while you had it?
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc108/r0cksteady_scarlett/_IGP2637.jpg

Thx,

Dave.M

scubadan206

09/25/2014, 11:19 AM

Bummer about the big tank-crash, but mad props on the re-boot. Strange about the bio pellets causing an outbreak like that, but not unheard of. Miracle Mud can have the same effect on a mature system. It's against many companies recommendations to do so. I've told several reefers about following the directions, but they just hate on the products instead.

Your new corals are beautiful. Even though you say they haven't colored up they are still remarkable. I love to see tanks where people have pushed the established boundaries on what fish and corals can successfully be kept. On that subject, have you seen Ching Chai's NPS tank. He has a small tank separate from the large DT where he can keep very sensitive filter-feeders. Once a day he just isolates it from the system and dumps in a huge amount of food for the corals. The corals get to pig out for an hour, and then he turns a valve and the huge amount of food gets quickly diluted in his system's vast water volume.

We're looking forward to seeing your tank mature with these wonderful specimens.
Could you shoot a video of your tank. Nothing special. Just five minutes or so panning back and forth. Your pics are excellent, and I would really look forward to adding another great video to my Youtube fav's.

Daniel.

benhowardbath

09/26/2014, 01:43 PM

Hi Jason,
Awesome journal!! Just wanting to know what you thought of your chiller (quality/function)?
I have a large system I'm about to set up and I'm looking for a chiller.
Thanks Jason
Ben