Photo diary of my 450

[jjcrim]

I don't post here much but I figured I'd throw my tank on here and get some thoughts. I got this tank in March of 2008. My fish were transferred in by September.

Let me know your thoughts... Thanks.

The tank is 96" x 36" x 30".

Here was the setup with the previous owner...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/PICT4955.jpg


This is how the tank looked just after I picked it up... coraline completely covered the sides and back...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newtank003.jpg


Making progress...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/6-7-08005.jpg


Still more algae scraping...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/6-11-2008012.jpg

[jjcrim]

Here's a shot after I got it all cleaned up and brought inside...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics003.jpg


Extra support in the basement under the tank...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics005.jpg


Water!!! (only took me about 5 days to make enough RO water.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics8-8-08001.jpg


Minor sandstorm when I added the sandbed.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics8-31-08002.jpg

[jjcrim]

Here are shots of the sump and fuge...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics8-31-08007.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics8-31-08010.jpg


Had to stain the canopy to match the rest of the tank...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics8-31-08014.jpg


Tank, canopy, lights and plumbing are all done!!!

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics9-1-08003.jpg

[jjcrim]

Next I aquascape and move my stock over from my previous tank. Fish that were in my previous tank were a yellow ray, blond naso tang, 2 yellow tangs, purple tang, hippo, miniatus grouper and black volitan lion.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics9-8-08001.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/PICT5996.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/newsetuppics9-8-08010.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/PICT6253.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/10-27-08076.jpg

[jjcrim]

My new additions have been a copperband butterfly and a blue dot ray...

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/11-17-08007_edited.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/PICT6743.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/DSCN0012.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/DSCN0008.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/DSCN0015.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/DSCN0057.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/DSCN0071.jpg


Thanks for looking. Let me know your thoughts.

[Grouperhead]

Awesome tank. How long have you had the yellow ray? The naso and miniatus are both gorgeous. How are the cbb and blue dot doing?

[danorth]

Sweet tank!

[LisaD]

That's a gorgeous tank. Keep us updated with progress and pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[jjcrim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13989286#post13989286 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
Awesome tank. How long have you had the yellow ray? The naso and miniatus are both gorgeous. How are the cbb and blue dot doing?

Thanks everyone.

In about a month I'll have had the yellow ray for 5 years. The CBB and blue dot are doing great. There is very little aggression in my tank and I feed a variety of foods for the CB... I even add aptasia at least once per week. It loves the stuff. The blue dot is doing very well but it is not quite that the aggressive eater that I'd like. My yellow ray eats so aggressively that I have to handfeed the blue dot most days to make sure it gets enough food. But I'm sure that as it gets more comfortable, it will start to go after the food more aggressively.

[LisaD]

I notice you reinforced your joists. where do you keep the sump? is it in the basement or near the tank?

very nice system for some beautiful specimens. how long have you had the lion?

[jjcrim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13989680#post13989680 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LisaD
I notice you reinforced your joists. where do you keep the sump? is it in the basement or near the tank?

very nice system for some beautiful specimens. how long have you had the lion?

Thanks. The filtration is all plumbed into the basement. I've had the lion for about 3 years now.

[Grouperhead]

I knew yellow rays were pretty hardy, and its great to hear the blue spot is doing well also. How big is that miniatus, he looks spectacular. I assume you mostly feed your rays fresh seafood?

[Recty]

Very nice :) I'd like to see a good picture of your grouper if you have one.

I'm surprised your CBB hasnt ended up in the lion's mouth yet.

[reefergeorge]

Very nice!!
Could you please describe the filtration, flow, lighting, ect.?

[clekchau]

wow very nice makes me want to do the same

[clekchau]

wow very nice makes me want to do the same

[kirkaz]

Hmmm, nice tank.....Go Lions




Hi Crimzy:wave:

[ccampbell57]

LOL...hi Crimzy!

[jjcrim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13989907#post13989907 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
I knew yellow rays were pretty hardy, and its great to hear the blue spot is doing well also. How big is that miniatus, he looks spectacular. I assume you mostly feed your rays fresh seafood?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13989909#post13989909 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Recty
Very nice :) I'd like to see a good picture of your grouper if you have one.

I'm surprised your CBB hasnt ended up in the lion's mouth yet.

The miniatus is about 7" long. I have attached a pic below.

I don't feed my rays fresh seafood. They get silversides, krill, shark formula, angel formula and mazuri shark vitamins. My yellow also eats LOTS of nori.

Recty, I know what you're saying about the lion and the CBB. I misjudged the butterfly's size a bit at the LFS. But this lion is very well fed and has never shown any tendency towards eating any of my fish. At this size, his growth has slowed and I think the CBB will grow quicker than the lion at this age.


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f247/jcrim/fish/10-27-08046.jpg

[jjcrim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13990581#post13990581 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefergeorge
Very nice!!
Could you please describe the filtration, flow, lighting, ect.?

The filtration is a 100 gallon fuge with LR, chaeto and caulerpa, and a 150 gallon sump that is about 3/4 of the way full. I use a MSX 300 skimmer.

My return pump is an Iwaki high powered pump, (forgot the model number). It is rated at about 2000 gph. I also have a Mag 18 on one of the closed loops and a Sequence 3500 on the other.

As for lighting, the tank does have 5 x 400 watt MH fixtures. I currently only use 2 of them but will be adding 2 more pretty soon. I also have a vho and T5 fixture.

I think that's everything.

[jjcrim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13991017#post13991017 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kirkaz
Hmmm, nice tank.....Go Lions




Hi Crimzy:wave:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13991617#post13991617 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ccampbell57
LOL...hi Crimzy!

Who is this "Crimzy" guy you are talking about? LMAO, what's up guys?:bum:

[DamnPepShrimp]

Wow gorgeous tank! I love the dimensions! Have any new plans/stocking additions?

[jjcrim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13992674#post13992674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamnPepShrimp
Wow gorgeous tank! I love the dimensions! Have any new plans/stocking additions?

I don't know... I go back and forth on stocking this tank. A part of me is completely satisfied with what I have and wants to keep these fish healthy long term. But on the other hand, if I found a nice Dussimier tang, or a large, healthy Pinnatus bat, I'm not sure I could resist. One thing is for sure, though... I'm not throwing just any fish in there just to get the most possible fish.

[DamnPepShrimp]

Thats good, I always go back and forth too. I try to get a stock list and stick with it, but it's hard when you go to the store and find many temptations. A duss tang would be nice, as adults they are gorgeous, but aggressive. Good luck with it, it's a beautiful setup. I guess no shark is in the plans?

[Jerry W]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13992785#post13992785 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jjcrim
I don't know... I go back and forth on stocking this tank. A part of me is completely satisfied with what I have and wants to keep these fish healthy long term. But on the other hand, if I found a nice Dussimier tang, or a large, healthy Pinnatus bat, I'm not sure I could resist. One thing is for sure, though... I'm not throwing just any fish in there just to get the most possible fish.

Sensible. So many systems are thrown into disarray after adding just "one more fish". Your stock is nice. Maybe leave it as is for awhile. I'm a big fan of conservative stocking. You have some nice specimens so let them grow out in the tank and see how they do.
Nice set-up!

[jjcrim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13992827#post13992827 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DamnPepShrimp
Thats good, I always go back and forth too. I try to get a stock list and stick with it, but it's hard when you go to the store and find many temptations. A duss tang would be nice, as adults they are gorgeous, but aggressive. Good luck with it, it's a beautiful setup. I guess no shark is in the plans?

Nope on the shark. I had an epp for about 3 years in my previous tank. It was cool but I decided to go with just 2 bottom dwellers and I had to have a blue dot ray. I find rays more interesting an aquariums anyway.

My original stock list would have been about 13 or so fish in this tank. But every new fish disturbs the balance. Since I've got some delicates, I want to stay on the conservative side.

[elecbzerk]

That tank is beautiful!!! All of your hard work cleaning it up has really paid off. I love the lion!!

[Grouperhead]

Do you have any vids of your tank, you know at feeding time?

:D

[yukonblizzard]

Awesome tank!!

I am in the planning stage of tank centered around a stingray, mostlikely a round ray. If you dont mind me asking, did you get your ray localy or online?

[LisaD]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by jjcrim
I don't know... I go back and forth on stocking this tank. A part of me is completely satisfied with what I have and wants to keep these fish healthy long term. But on the other hand, if I found a nice Dussimier tang, or a large, healthy Pinnatus bat, I'm not sure I could resist. One thing is for sure, though... I'm not throwing just any fish in there just to get the most possible fish.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Sensible. So many systems are thrown into disarray after adding just "one more fish". Your stock is nice. Maybe leave it as is for awhile. I'm a big fan of conservative stocking. You have some nice specimens so let them grow out in the tank and see how they do.
Nice set-up!

jjcrim, you're smart! your tank looks beautiful as it is.

so true about "just one more"! this is where I've probably made the majority of my mistakes. and this is the one area where I've had the most trouble learning from my mistakes. I've dealt with it by adding more tanks, but now I have promised to scale back. I'm very happy with my tanks right now, planning to leave them alone. :)

[jjcrim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13993079#post13993079 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grouperhead
Do you have any vids of your tank, you know at feeding time?

:D


Sorry, no videos right now. Maybe I'll take one and add it here.


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13993893#post13993893 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yukonblizzard
Awesome tank!!

I am in the planning stage of tank centered around a stingray, mostlikely a round ray. If you dont mind me asking, did you get your ray localy or online?

I got both of my rays locally from LFS. Good luck with yours.