The adventure continues... SDguy's 150g upgrade! [Archive]

SDguy

11/07/2009, 10:32 AM

I always said that I would never upgrade my tank unless I moved. I always said I would never move unless it was to buy a place, instead of rent. Well, pop open the bubbly, because SDguy is a home owner :bounce3::bounce2::bounce1:

I decided to take advantage of the move and upgrade the reef. I was very happy with the old 115g setup (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=756593&page=20). But there were a couple things I wanted to change...

1. I no longer wanted to use a closed loop. Back when I first designed that system, internal powerheads left a lot to be desired. Basically, either you were willing to deal with a giant black hairdryer looking thing in your tank, or you weren't. I was not, especially in an 18" wide tank. I loved my CL with the perimeter return manifold. But I hated the electrical consumption (Sequence Hammerhead :eek2: ), and the heat produced by the pump, especially since my apartment had no A/C. It was a vicious cycle... pump heat, warming tank, chiller running, warming the room, warming the tank more, chiller running more... you get the idea. Now, with all sorts of nice "powerhead" options like nanostreams and vortechs, I was ready to convert.

2. I wanted a larger tank. Now believe me, I had plenty of people telling me to go huge... 6, no 8 feet long, etc etc. Look, my philosophy is that I want a living room that happens to have an aquarium in it, not an aquarium room that maybe can squeeze in a sofa. So I decided to keep the tank dimensions the same, except I went 6" wider, ending up with a 48L x 24W x 30H. I know there are tall-tank haters, but I LOVE it. It makes for a stunning display, so I kept the height. And one major plus to this choice in size... I could use all the same equipment, since, let's face it, I'm not exactly rolling in money after a home purchase :crazy1:

3. I wanted a "prettier" tank. My 115g tank, stand, and canopy all came from glasscages. Solid, solid construction. But not the prettiest. This time I wanted the stand/canopy to be more of a furniture piece, and I wanted all the bells and whistles on the tank.

The choice: I went with Leemar. The tank is a 150g with recessed polished eurobrace, horizontal overflow with two 1.5" drains, black silicone, diamond/beveled edges, black background. The stand and canopy are maple. 36" tall stand, and 12" tall canopy. The stand has a rediculous amount of access through the front, and I paid extra to get the small access doors on the canopy as well as the entire front lifting up on a piano hinge.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Leemar%20Stand/IMG_6536_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Leemar%20Stand/IMG_6533_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Leemar%20Stand/IMG_6532_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Leemar%20Stand/IMG_6528_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Leemar%20Stand/IMG_6521_1.jpg

SDguy

11/07/2009, 10:40 AM

The new tank was in a friend's garage for a while, since I had to go through shortsale hell with my home. I'd like one of these :uzi: for the banks that took me through that hell. But that's another thread :D

Finally, the day came to move the tank. Big thanks to all my reef club friends that helped me with all of this!!!!

Here is where it was going to be placed, after floors, paint, baseboards, etc got done. Ouch I'm too old for all that!!

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_6999_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7000_1.jpg

And the moving begins:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7015_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7016_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7017_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7018_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7021_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7022_1.jpg

SDguy

11/07/2009, 10:41 AM

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7025_1.jpg

Proud owner :D :D

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7026_1.jpg

SDguy

11/07/2009, 10:48 AM

The plan for the move of the livestock was this: Take Friday off work. Plumb the drains and anyhtign else "new" on the tank. Remove all the equipment from the old reef, and transfer it to the new tank. Saturday have people help me move the rocks and corals. Sunday move the fish. The old reef can function just fine with only the single vortech providing flow, for at least two days, so no worries there. Well, as they say, the best laid plans....

First of all, plumbing the new tank, including installing the equipment from the old tank, took FOREVER. LOng story short, we did the initial fill test at 5:30am saturday morning :eek2:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_0052_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_0053_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_0055_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_0057_1.jpg

That's am, not pm!!!!!

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_0061_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_0062_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_0064_1.jpg

SDguy

11/07/2009, 10:50 AM

I did use a new sump for the tank, though it was pretty much the same configuration as the old one, just larger. I also added a 7.5" riser to my MRC2 skimmer since the shorter height, with two injectors and the GenX55 was clearly too much, resulting in skimmate forming in the sump :lol:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7238_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7243_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7253_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7248_1.jpg

SDguy

11/07/2009, 11:05 AM

Unfortunately I don't really have any pics of the livestock move, since everyone had wet hands. Basically, we moved 2/3 of the rock, with all coral attached, Saturday afternoon. We went back and moved the last 1/3, and all the fish, that evening, so by Saturday late night, the livestock was fully moved. Memorable events:

"Hey Peter, what's this coral still sitting in a ziplock at the bottom of a trash container?" Oh, that's just my mummy eye chalice colony!

"Hey Peter, what's this one rock that I dropped and had a coral go rolling across the living room floor?" Oh, that's just my pink boobies chalice colony!!

"Hey Peter, when did you transfer that one big yellow coris wrasse into the new tank? Didn't you want to get rid of him?" Oh, he was hidden in that single tiny pile of sand that came with one of the pillars. D'oh!

Some problems: My pillars used thin acrylic rods (3/8") and most leaned against the back of the tank, or the vertical overflow. Well, the new tank is wider, and has no overflow. Oops. Pillars are not quite stable. I fixed them as best I could, and will now just wait until the tank is settled before doing any major reaquascaping. I basically had to turn the center giant pillar 90 degrees and lean it against another pillar. This did create a kind of cool canyon effect though, which I may keep. Some crappy pics of the reef as it is now:

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7130_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7131_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7132_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7133_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7134_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7135_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7136_1.jpg

Kieth71

11/07/2009, 11:20 AM

Wow looks great peter!I bet you are happy the move is done:)

SDguy

11/07/2009, 11:22 AM

Wow looks great peter!I bet you are happy the move is done:)

OMG you have no idea.... definitely took years off my life and added grey hairs!!

Daniel Reef

11/07/2009, 11:31 AM

The tanks looks wonderful. Nice job.

LUVSPS

11/07/2009, 11:37 AM

Wow, looks really good!

adddo

11/07/2009, 11:47 AM

Looks great Peter! Congrats on the new house and tank!

BTW i love your flooring.. what is it?

jbird69

11/07/2009, 11:50 AM

just beautiful!

Loved the way you did the thread...more pictures than words and some good laughs.

Nice job! Nice neighborhood!

SDguy

11/07/2009, 11:55 AM

Thank you all for the kind words!

Bjarne - I went with laminate for a couple reasons. Obviously, it is cheaper than hardwood. But more importantly, it is VERY resilient. My old place had hardwood, and the constant drips of saltwater from the tanks quite frankly ruined it. Drips of saltwater on laminate are no issue whatsoever. I did go with the thickest, most durable type, so it wasn't as inexpensive as it could have been, but it was well worth it!

espocrespo

11/07/2009, 01:05 PM

what are the dimensions of your old tank?

SDguy

11/07/2009, 01:21 PM

The old tank was 48L x 18W x 31H. Basically, I did the same size, except 6" more front to back.

Laddy

11/07/2009, 02:18 PM

Nice upgrade, how many pizzas did you have to buy? :D

What did you do with your old tank?

SDguy

11/07/2009, 02:25 PM

The old tank was sold to my club president :D

underwaterfirefighter

11/07/2009, 02:37 PM

Congrats on being a homeowner! Very nice looking place. The reef is looking very nice as well. Great thread. Thanks for sharing.

Dave

jbird69

11/07/2009, 02:46 PM

hummermaniac88

11/07/2009, 02:59 PM

Nice tank! And nice Land Rovers (A fanatic of Landy's?), I wish they would still sell the Defender here...ah...

roblack

11/07/2009, 03:24 PM

Congratulations on becoming a homeowner Peter! Moving is no fun, I got one coming up soon. The new tank is beautiful.

Znut Reefer

11/07/2009, 04:51 PM

Looks great Peter. Congrates on being a new home owner and the upgrade.

SDguy

11/07/2009, 08:37 PM

Peter

What did you end up using for stair nosing with the laminate? I remembered a thread from the past where you were planning to lay laminate on stairs. BTW I like the dark wood floor look. People are more and more going with a lighter tone of wood/lam. I still like the dark. Looks great!

Thank you! I did end up using the laminate on the stairs. The stairnose trim was not cheap, but looks good. Also, the most common problem I heard about with laminate on stairs was that it is dangerous due to being slippery. But the trim adds a little "edge" to each stair, so it's ok. I was worried how this would look, but it ended up looking quite nice.

SDguy

11/07/2009, 08:40 PM

Nice tank! And nice Land Rovers (A fanatic of Landy's?), I wish they would still sell the Defender here...ah...

:lol: It took me a while to figure out what you were talking about.

The Land Rover is not mine :)

hummermaniac88

11/07/2009, 08:55 PM

:D no worries, beautiful tank either way!

BLKTANG

11/07/2009, 08:57 PM

Awesome

Bonta

11/07/2009, 09:15 PM

Amazing and beautiful tank ! What is that yellowish - blueish fish thats swimming up in the third pic ?

Thanks !

ScooterGuitar

11/07/2009, 09:40 PM

LOooks awesome man!

Ritten

11/07/2009, 09:58 PM

Stunning!

SDguy

11/07/2009, 11:42 PM

Thanks all!

Bonta, that is the female blackspot swallowtail angelfish.
http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/imagehosting/5974a917c82a3a30.jpg

Robertstock

11/08/2009, 12:08 AM

tank looks great, looks like alot of hours went into the move

susan92368

11/08/2009, 12:40 AM

looks great! now we need house pics too!

SDguy

11/09/2009, 08:48 AM

Ack! The place is still SUCH a mess, I don't dare take more pictures yet :lol:

A couple shots of the place when I first found it:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Condo%2010-08-09/IMG_6449.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Condo%2010-08-09/IMG_6452-1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Condo%2010-08-09/IMG_6459.jpg

And after some work:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Condo%2010-08-09/IMG_7011.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Condo%2010-08-09/IMG_7010.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Condo%2010-08-09/IMG_7002.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Condo%2010-08-09/IMG_6995.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Condo%2010-08-09/IMG_6979.jpg

goochesfish

11/09/2009, 09:03 AM

Congrats on the home and new tank. The pillars look cool but how do you keep all those fish from nipping each other?

SDguy

11/09/2009, 09:39 AM

Congrats on the home and new tank. The pillars look cool but how do you keep all those fish from nipping each other?

Thank you. Most of those fish have been together for at least two or three years now. I think keeping multiple plantivores makes things easier. They really don't fight over territory.

SDguy

11/09/2009, 10:58 AM

:lol: Err, planktivores, not plantivores.

SDguy

11/13/2009, 07:11 PM

Thought I'd throw in a little food since they looked a bit hungry :lol:

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0H5e9yXIlv4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0H5e9yXIlv4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

koranAngel

11/13/2009, 08:41 PM

really nice setup pillars r amazing
how deep is the tank?

SDguy

11/13/2009, 09:19 PM

Thank you! But I have to admit, these pillars suck, because they were desinged for my previous tank, and leaned against the back glass. Now I want them free standing, but the rods are only 3/8", so they are very wobbly. Live and learn I guess.

The tank is 30" tall, and 24" front to back

Frogmanx82

11/13/2009, 10:20 PM

That seems like a lot of fish for a reef tank. It looks great though. Any issues keeping parameters in check? What's the biggest challenge?

SDguy

11/13/2009, 10:43 PM

That seems like a lot of fish for a reef tank. It looks great though. Any issues keeping parameters in check? What's the biggest challenge?

It is a lot of fish. Lots of ozone, a BIG skimmer, water changes, and vodka dosing keep all in check. Lots of work, but worth it, IMO.

SkyPapa

11/13/2009, 10:56 PM

Beautifull tank. I love all the anthias.
Does your yellow coris do ok with what looks like just a little sand covering the bottom? I would like one but my tank is barebottom.

Oh, and do you feed mostly flakes?

baldwinaquaman

11/13/2009, 11:13 PM

awesome tank, what did you use to make those rock pillars? and how? Thanks!

LUVSPS

11/14/2009, 02:21 AM

Wow, thanks so much for the video! Is color of your bulbs true to life? I love the sort of dim look to your tank. And it is the perfect amount of blue. What is your lighting? I run 20k XM's 400w and they are too bright for my taste. I'm trying to figure out some alternatives. Great looking tank!

SDguy

11/14/2009, 09:43 AM

Beautiful tank. I love all the anthias.
Does your yellow coris do OK with what looks like just a little sand covering the bottom? I would like one but my tank is barebottom.

Oh, and do you feed mostly flakes?

Thank you. Anthias are my weak spot :o The small amount of sand is temporary, since I need to change a couple of the pillar bases out. And I don't want a bunch of sand in the way when I replace them. There is a small amount still in the back right corner that all the burying wrasses use.

awesome tank, what did you use to make those rock pillars? and how? Thanks!

Thanks! I got all my info from the "Show me your pillars" thread...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=746318

Wow, thanks so much for the video! Is color of your bulbs true to life? I love the sort of dim look to your tank. And it is the perfect amount of blue. What is your lighting? I run 20k XM's 400w and they are too bright for my taste. I'm trying to figure out some alternatives. Great looking tank!

You're welcome, and thanks! The camera setting had to be pretty low exposure, otherwise the anthias would look like white streaks :D So the tank is brighter. But not 400W bright. They are 250W phoenix 14K bulbs on Icecaps in PFO pendants. I've been using these bulbs for years now. I've tried others and always go back to phoenix. Love 'em!

SDguy

11/14/2009, 10:50 AM

It is a lot of fish. Lots of ozone, a BIG skimmer, water changes, and vodka dosing keep all in check. Lots of work, but worth it, IMO.

Oh, and I forgot... lots of carbon, changed frequently. It's a great compliment to the ozone. Makes a huge difference!

LUVSPS

11/14/2009, 01:54 PM

Thanks for the answer! I didn't realize you had your lighting description in your signiture. :lol:

Another question, how often do you change your carbon? Do you run it in a reactor?

SDguy

11/14/2009, 05:22 PM

Another question, how often do you change your carbon? Do you run it in a reactor?

I run it in a TLF phosban reactor, without the sponge piece on the lower part. I'm not a huge fan of it, but you get what you pay for. I recently picked up a Warner Marine reactor for the FOWLR. Very slick, easy to work with/change out.

I change it about once a week to once every 4 weeks, depending on my laziness factor :)

I use the cheaper stuff from BRS, BTW.

Sardaukar

11/15/2009, 03:09 PM

Amazing! Really is something special about taller tanks.

bradleyj

11/15/2009, 04:28 PM

It is a lot of fish. Lots of ozone, a BIG skimmer, water changes, and vodka dosing keep all in check. Lots of work, but worth it, IMO.

I'm happy to see I'm not alone when it comes to alot of fish.
I agree, its alot of work but well worth it haveing so much life and colors swimming around.
Your house looks great Peter but you need Tile in there. LOL

SDguy

11/16/2009, 09:09 AM

I'm happy to see I'm not alone when it comes to alot of fish.
I agree, its alot of work but well worth it haveing so much life and colors swimming around.
Your house looks great Peter but you need Tile in there. LOL

Thanks Brad. Actually, there is tile throughout the kitchen, breakfast nook, both bathrooms, and the entry. I seriously considered tiling the area where the tank is, but ended up going with laminate throughout, instead.

bradleyj

11/16/2009, 06:28 PM

I was just giving you a hard time because that's what I do for a living. I've done tile for over 28 years now and I'm a co-owner of a tile company here in Salt Lake.
We tile alot of the LDS churches and travel throughout the States. I'm in Albuquerque NM
right now doing one. Sooner or later I will end up down your way again and I would love to get over to your house and see your tanks.

SDguy

11/16/2009, 06:31 PM

Most definitely! Hopefully I will actually have the place presentable by then :o :lol:

salali

11/16/2009, 07:01 PM

Nice tank. What kind of fish do you have?

SDguy

11/16/2009, 08:23 PM

Mostly anthias and wrasses. A few tangs, couple angels, and some clowns. Other odds and ends too.

stagcrazy

11/16/2009, 08:46 PM

SDguy

11/17/2009, 07:23 AM

i have the same tank and i love the height the only drawback is what i call "no mans land zone" whatever fall toward the back middle part is a goner, btw love all your fish and nice expensive collection of coral lol enjoy.

Thanks, yeah, the height is dramatic, albeit somewhat annoying to work with. Previously, anything placed lower than I could reach ended up as "drop and hope" aquascaping :lol: Now I actually have a friend that can touch the bottom on the tank with his fingers, so guess who's in charge of gluing things near the bottom :D

SDguy

11/17/2009, 07:26 AM

Dp.

lordofthereef

11/17/2009, 10:41 AM

Looks great. Exact same size and shape as my new tank. Gives me inspiration fo what it can become once I finally get it running!

SDguy

11/17/2009, 11:32 AM

Thanks, just be sure to roll up your sleeves :D

SDguy

11/21/2009, 10:33 AM

Some updates:

1. Adding leopard wrasses was a disaster, they all died within days.

2. The flame wrasses, on the other hand, are doing GREAT! Even the persnickety male :lol:

3. I lost a few corals. A couple chalice frags got toasted when they moved against my Agent Orange Acan echinata. D'oh! And I lost a really nice unknown acro ... of course, it's always the unknown, irreplaceable ones!
RIP:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/REfrag_1.jpg

RIP:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2009-19-09/17_1.jpg

RIP:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2009-07-09/11_1.jpg

adddo

11/21/2009, 10:53 AM

Bah that sucks Peter..

SDguy

11/21/2009, 01:04 PM

Yeah, but I guess things could always be worse. Gotta go with "glass half full" during these times :D

Dejavu

11/21/2009, 08:56 PM

Very nice Peter!

mdemuth

11/22/2009, 12:22 AM

nice setup

SDguy

11/22/2009, 09:51 AM

Well today is gonna be a big day. I'm going to rework the right side pillars and the left most pillar, to make them more stable, kill any remaining majonos :mad: and to make room for a bunch of corals that a friend has gaciously been holding for me for a while now... such as:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Favia_1.jpg

SDguy

12/04/2009, 07:32 AM

I added powerbrites to my system. So cool with just them on!! Totally fake looking, but cool nonetheless I think I'd get sick of my corals looking like this all the time, but for an hour each night, I'm happy with it! Sorry for image quality, best I could do with my point and shoot camera :o
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/PowerBrites1_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/Powerbrites7_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/Powerbrites5_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/Powerbrites4_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/Powerbrites3_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/P15_1.jpg

SDguy

12/04/2009, 07:32 AM

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/PowerBrites11_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/P13_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/PowerBrites9_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/P14_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/PowerBrites8_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Powerbrites/P12_1.jpg

Jeremy Blaze

12/04/2009, 08:46 AM

Congrats on the new home purchase and tank upgrade!

About to do the same myself soon.

SDguy

12/04/2009, 09:12 AM

Congrats on the new home purchase and tank upgrade!

About to do the same myself soon.

Nice!!

All I can say is plan, plan, plan!

SDguy

12/27/2009, 08:14 PM

Nothing beats having reefing friends that not only care for my tank while I am on vacation, but are nice enough to clean the glass, and take a video, for me since I am "home sick" :D :D

<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5_oR0WfjQrE&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5_oR0WfjQrE&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

SDguy

12/27/2009, 08:15 PM

And, oh, merry christmas to me, since I left, I now have TWO male flame wrasses :eek2:

mnml

12/27/2009, 08:57 PM

Pretty sweet tank and video. That was pretty cool how the shrimp got caught in the vortech and was dispersed in the flow.

SDguy

12/28/2009, 06:59 AM

Thanks! I keep very low flow through the sump, so food doesn't get into the overflow very easily. It just ends up being circulated by the vortech until the fish eat it all.

ShrimpChipGal

12/29/2009, 01:39 PM

Goodness your chalices glow... :)

SDguy

12/29/2009, 04:51 PM

I need to really clean the glass thoroughly, and take some pics. Maybe I can even capture the red on the ECC hybrid watermelon! :D

ShrimpChipGal

12/29/2009, 04:52 PM

Let me know if you want me to come over with the camera and tripod.

SDguy

12/30/2009, 07:20 AM

Ooo, that would be nice!

Some pics of the flame wrasses. One female has turned male as well.

Original male:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Male1c_1.jpg

Both males:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Flames2.jpg

Both males and a female (lower right) :
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Flames.jpg

Male #2:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Male2.jpg

SunnyX

12/30/2009, 08:47 AM

Great looking setup and video!
One of the nicest setups I have ever seen! :thumbsup:

The selection of fish, corals, and aquascaping is something to envy. Great job! :D

SDguy

12/30/2009, 09:04 AM

Hey thanks Sonny!! That means a lot coming from you, I love your setup!!

SDguy

01/08/2010, 07:10 PM

I am so surprised that this seafan has been doing well for so long. I always thought they were delicate!

4-16-07
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Seafanopen.jpg

Now:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Seafan_1.jpg

jbird69

01/08/2010, 07:19 PM

WOW! Thats a great shot. Your acros are looking really nice as well!

SDguy

01/08/2010, 08:13 PM

Thanks, yeah, the acros are really pulling it together since the move :) .

It's too bad that the flow/location of the seafan changed so much during its time in my care, thus giving it the rather "bushy" look. I'm sure it would have grown in one plane had the flow remained constant.

adddo

01/09/2010, 06:30 AM

Very nice! Its not common to see them actually grow and prosper in captivity.

SDguy

01/09/2010, 09:36 AM

In case anyone is interested, it came from LiveAquaria's Diver's Den.

SDguy

01/09/2010, 09:46 AM

OK, last night was the big night. A couple friends came over and we FINALLY rethreaded the last 2/3 of the live rock pillars!!!! It's finally done, DONE I tell you. I've been having to look at those leaning and falling over pillars every day since I moved, and it was driving me NUTS! But I needed to wait, since the move really caused a serious ich outbreak in the tank, and I didn't want to stress the fish any more. Well, it has finally cleared up, so I figured they could handle a bit of stress again :)

Basically, what needed to be done was to rethread the rock onto pillars with larger bases. As I probably already mentioned in the thread, the main problem with the old pillars was that the bases they had were small 5-6" acrylic discs, with the rod coming out of it dead center. This was fine in my old tank where everything leaned against the back of the tank or the overflow. Well, the new tank is now 24" front to back, not 18", AND there is no full length vertical overflow! So, nothing to lean against + tiny bases = falling pillars :(

As soon as the lights come on I will shoot some pics!

jbird69

01/09/2010, 10:58 AM

Peter,

did you drill new holes in the rock or use the old ones? Did you actually remove and replace ALL those corals you had so beautifully placed on your reef?

SDguy

01/09/2010, 11:07 AM

I didn't want to risk drilling the rocks wih corals on them, since, IME, this will cause the crals to shatter off of the rock. Any rocks that didn't have corals got redrilled with the same size bit, just to make sure the holes were smooth and clear. Some rocks were also rearranged, switched out, or removed completely. My corals are all very well glued/encrusted, so no much fell off.

Some highlights:

1. The left pillar was the first I worked on. So I have all the rocks of that pillar out, sitting in dry buckets. I thread the very first rock onto the new pillar, and SNAP goes the rod. Great, so this is how the project is going to go.... :rolleyes2:

2. Who needs a dremel or bone cutters when you can just accidentally drop a 10 lb rock into the tank and shatter half your mille :D

SDguy

01/09/2010, 11:31 AM

OK< shot some pics. Hmmm, the difference isn't so noticeable in pictures, but anyways...

Here it was before. Note the left pillar actually leaning into the back left corner of the tank. Also, it's hard to tell, but the center wide flat pillar is simply leaning, at quite an angle, against the pillar behind it, making it one giant "mound"
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/150g%20Upgrade/IMG_7135_1.jpg

Now, the left pillar is straight, and compleetly free standing, with room all around for the cleaning magnet to clear :) The new pillar base is long and extends forward, creating a counter balance since the very top rock with all the acros on it makes the whole thing lean slightly forward.

The center is now straight, creating an nice channel between it and the pillar in the back. The fish have even more swimming room. I also managed to create a nice shelf extending out of the center pillar, under the mille...

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7806_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7807_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7808_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7809_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7810_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7812_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7813_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7814_1.jpg

SDguy

01/09/2010, 11:33 AM

And some FTS:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7815_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7818_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Reef%20redone%20live%20rock/IMG_7820_1.jpg

SDguy

01/09/2010, 06:54 PM

Random shots of the collateral damage still sitting on the floor of the tank :lol:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/RED_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Zoas_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/coco1_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/coco_1.jpg

SDguy

01/09/2010, 10:26 PM

I also FINALLY :o changed my bulbs. Brand new 14K phoenix bulbs plus constant vodka dosing is getting me some really nice colors!
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2001-09-10/Tenuiscolony.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2001-09-10/Abros.jpg

SDguy

01/09/2010, 11:52 PM

Sunset monti:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2001-09-10/Sunset.jpg

Crazy seafan:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2001-09-10/Seafan.jpg

Oregon tort is really getting big!
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2001-09-10/OT.jpg

Lokani and hawkins echinata:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2001-09-10/Acros.jpg

A brand new baby :)
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2001-09-10/04.jpg

And an old favorite, that I finally mounted to the rocks! No more "hockey pucking" around the floor of my tank!
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2001-09-10/BBWFmounted.jpg

CeeGee

01/10/2010, 12:00 AM

Nice tank!

I thought I was getting pretty high on my fish load (9 fish in a 75). After seeing your tank I am not gonna worry about it :p

jbird69

01/10/2010, 12:41 AM

Where, may I ask, do you get your corals?

chefmike

01/10/2010, 12:42 AM

Amazing stuff, SDGuy...beautiful system...

Thanks for posting all the pics...gave me some great ideas and opened my eyes to some possibilities I hadn't thought of.

eaglesrx

01/10/2010, 08:05 AM

Great coral pics peter! Keep up the good work! Love the oregon blue tort growth!

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

SDguy

01/10/2010, 09:19 AM

Nice tank!
I thought I was getting pretty high on my fish load (9 fish in a 75). After seeing your tank I am not gonna worry about it :p

I think they key is to choose your fish carefully. Most of my fish are small plantivores (anthias, wrasses, blennies) or other non territorial fish that are used to swimming around with other fish. With only the tangs being rock pickers (IMO these types of fish are the issue) I have no aggression in my tank.

Frankly, the purple tang has to go. He grew from a tiny quater sized baby to the largest of the three in only a year, and now he's causing problems. My 3.5 year old tomini and 3 year old PBT do not appreciate him stirring the pot!

Where, may I ask, do you get your corals?

Everywhere... online, LFS, other hobbyists.

Amazing stuff, SDGuy...beautiful system...
Thanks for posting all the pics...gave me some great ideas and opened my eyes to some possibilities I hadn't thought of.

Thanks, glad the pillar idea helped you out. Lkek I mentioned in this thread, take into account the size of the base you use, just as much as the thickness of the rod. Both can be crucial.

Great coral pics peter! Keep up the good work! Love the oregon blue tort growth!

Thanks! Yeah, the OT is amazing. It's ALWAYS blue, even though...

Things that have happened to that coral over its lifetime in my care. I use the term "care" losely :lolspin: :

dropped into euphyllia
dropped into sinularia
red bugs X 2
AEFW X 1
QT with horrid water quality
levimasol, TMPCC, revive X a million :lol:
2 year old MH bulbs
hidden the the corner with almost no light.

CeeGee

01/10/2010, 09:31 AM

I think they key is to choose your fish carefully. Most of my fish are small plantivores (anthias, wrasses, blennies) or other non territorial fish that are used to swimming around with other fish. With only the tangs being rock pickers (IMO these types of fish are the issue) I have no aggression in my tank.

I have a pair of SA Onyx clowns, 1 fang tooth blenny (from SA great fish!), royal gramma, solar wrasse, 1 male and 1 female lyretail anthias (the male is a ***hole but beautiful) and I just added a male and a female flame wrasse last night :smokin: (one of my holy grails of fish)

no tangs and the only fish that causes any problems is that male lyretail.

SDguy

01/10/2010, 09:42 AM

My male lyretail is a whimp! And he's HUGE! Well, maybe that's why he isn't aggressive...he is just so much bigger than any other anthias in the tank.

Flame wrasses are so nice. I wasn't really into them until I got some. Wow, those colors!

frankpayne32

01/10/2010, 10:02 AM

SDguy, beautiful tank. I see you use Phoenix 14k bulbs, do you use any fluorescent supplementation? Also, could you tell me about your photoperiod with those bulbs? Thanks!

Frank

SDguy

01/10/2010, 10:08 AM

frankpayne32

01/10/2010, 11:48 AM

Thank you Frank.

I gotta say, I have been using 14K phoenix bulbs on Icecaps for almost 6 years now (give or take). A year or so ago I tried various other bulbs, thinking I was sick of the phoenix. After trying everything from super yellow and very bright 6500K to SUPER blue stripper club 20K, I went back to phoenix.

I do not use supplementation. I recently did add powerbrite actinic LED's, but those are only on 1 hr before and after MH lights out. I run the MH for 8 hrs each day.

Thanks for the quick reply. I have previously run only T5's on my tank but wanted to give halides a try. Based on what I've read about lamp PAR data and what pictures I've seen Phoenix seemed like the best bulb for my tastes/requirements. I figured a shorter photoperiod would be best. I think I will add just two t5's spanning the length of my tank so I can view the tank for more than 8 hours though but I will primarily rely upon the phoenix bulbs for light requirements.

SDguy

01/10/2010, 12:49 PM

You might find this interesting:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1152673

maroun.c

01/10/2010, 12:52 PM

eaglesrx

01/10/2010, 04:16 PM

Does the purple tang bother any of your other fish, other than your tangs? Does he bother any fish introduced after him?

Love that powder blue. Does he ever get aggressive with your other fish?

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

SDguy

01/10/2010, 04:49 PM

Congrats on the new home. Can't wait to have our appartment ready (Around Aug) to upgrade.
does your Oregon Blue tort grow fast. got an ORA Blue Oregon tort in Apr and till around Nov I saw no signs of growth excpet encrusting the plug, after it started encrusting on the rocks I am seeing some growth but it doesn't look like a fast grower?
Love the pillars.

It took a while o finally get going, but once it gains some size, it is a good grower, IMO. FWIW, mine is not the ORA... I'm not sure if that makes a difference?

Does the purple tang bother any of your other fish, other than your tangs? Does he bother any fish introduced after him?

Love that powder blue. Does he ever get aggressive with your other fish?

The purple is aggressive with the other two tangs. He does not bother any other fish. I have not introduced anyhting except a couple small wrasses or anthias since adding him, and he didn't even notice them. I doubt he would be so mellow, though, with a larger fish.

The PBT is a model fish. Doesn't bother anyone, but HATES the magnavore :lol:

SDguy

01/11/2010, 10:49 AM

Froggy

01/11/2010, 11:04 AM

I am sorry to report that I found my beautiful, GIANT male lyretail dead last night, wedged under a rock. Not sure what happened. He was over three years old in my care, and changed to male almost immediately. You can see the change here (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8548052#post8548052) .

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/MaleLyretailanthias10-3-07.jpg

Peter, sorry to hear about the loss of your male anthias. I wonder what happened. It is really too bad. Time to watch another change. I wonder how quick this one will happen. Keep us posted please.

eaglesrx

01/11/2010, 12:01 PM

I am sorry to report that I found my beautiful, GIANT male lyretail dead last night, wedged under a rock. Not sure what happened. He was over three years old in my care, and changed to male almost immediately. You can see the change here (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8548052#post8548052) .

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/MaleLyretailanthias10-3-07.jpg

Wow, sorry to hear that he passed away! Great fish! I wonder what happened to him as they're usually so resilient.

SDguy

01/11/2010, 01:38 PM

Honestly, I think he was just old. He looked old. Large. Colors maybe not as vibrant as they were a couple years ago. Not really interested in the females any more.

Sugar Magnolia

01/11/2010, 01:41 PM

Sorry about the loss Peter. :( I lost my 3 year old yasha haze goby a couple of weeks back. It's tough losing a fish you really like.

SDguy

01/11/2010, 02:00 PM

Yeah, who knew I'd get so attached to a single anthias :(

Dejavu

01/11/2010, 02:35 PM

Sorry to hear about the loss Peter :(. On the bright side their are not many that can say they have kept and anthias that long:)>

SkyPapa

01/11/2010, 02:53 PM

I feel for ya man. I lost my 8 year old royal gramma during my upgrade.
Just a cheap little fish but I miss it every time I look at the aquariums.

chefmike

01/12/2010, 02:01 PM

Sorry about your loss...it will always amaze me how attached we get to our fish...I recently lost a banggai cardinal that I had for over 8 years...that guy was tough...

SDguy

01/14/2010, 07:39 AM

Wow, 8 years is a nice run!

SDguy

01/17/2010, 09:43 AM

Trying out my new Sony DSC W290 since my beloved Canon died :(

Pics are still coming out too blue, so I've needed to add some red and remove some blue. That's a PITA, so I need to find the sweetspot settings still...

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00047_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00046_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00057_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00050_1.jpg

attml

01/17/2010, 09:55 AM

Very nice! I love your 3 island aquascaping!

SDguy

01/17/2010, 10:01 AM

Very nice! I love your 3 island aquascaping!

Thank you. I recently had a development on that :mad: Came home Friday night to a leaning backward center pillar.... AGAIN!!! Ugh, stop the insanity already! I'm soooo sick of redoing my rock! :lol:

Well, easy fix. Turns out I just needed a small (4-5") rock placed behind the top of the center pillar to brace it against the back pillar. Of course, I used an acro colony to do this, not a rock :D I figure the acro colony will grow and fuse the "bridge" eventually....

SDguy

01/17/2010, 11:11 AM

FINALLY picked up my acans that my friends Anthony and Diana have been so graciously holding for me. I won them on ebay, and didn't want to deal with them during the move, so they kept them in their display for several months now.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00072_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00073_1.jpg

SDguy

01/17/2010, 11:12 AM

Oh, and follow the developments of my lyretails here:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=972936

jbird69

01/17/2010, 11:21 AM

finally picked up my acans that my friends anthony and diana have been so graciously holding for me. I won them on ebay, and didn't want to deal with them during the move, so they kept them in their display for several months now.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/sdreefguy/dsc00072_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/sdreefguy/dsc00073_1.jpg

wow!!!!!!!

SDguy

01/17/2010, 11:25 AM

Wow is right! They were not nearly as colorful when I bought them. But they were kept under very BLUE t5's for quite some time. I'm hoping, even shaded in my tank, they retain this color. Time will tell....

Dave Harms

01/17/2010, 12:02 PM

Awesome tank!

SDguy

01/17/2010, 12:50 PM

Thank you!

SDguy

01/19/2010, 08:52 PM

As for the lyretail anthias, the next in line was either going to be an Indo female, or another Maldive female (both around the same size, except that the male only exhibited spawning behavior with the Indo female). Well, it's Indo FTW... it'll be nice to have a different colored male for the next several years....

She is already getting the dark ends on the dorsal and pelvic fins, anf the spots on the pectoral fins are already faintly visible...

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00094_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00099_1.jpg

With a smaller Maldive female. The Indo one was alwasy darker.
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00096_1.jpg

SDguy

01/19/2010, 08:53 PM

A couple days later...

I forgot how ugly they get during the change :lol:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202010/MaleLyretail1-19-10_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202010/MaleLyretaila1-19-10_1.jpg

Luckily I have other things to look at :D
All is well to date with the flames. The big male courts a female every night after feeding. The two males don't fight. The large male makes a very rare swipe at the small male. Clearly no aggression from the smaller one.

Some updated pics...

Big male:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202010/MaleFlamewrasse1_1.jpg

Small male:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202010/DSC00208_1.jpg

Yawning big male :)
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202010/DSC00205_1.jpg

And I tried to catch the big male flashing...ugh, sorry the pics are crappy
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202010/DSC001631.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Fish%20Pics%202010/DSC001641.jpg

adddo

01/20/2010, 02:39 AM

Great Pics Peter!

SDguy

01/20/2010, 07:53 AM

Meh, not really, but thank you :lol: I'm still trying to get the hang of the new camera....

SDguy

01/23/2010, 11:38 AM

Update pic of the changing anthias:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Malelyretail_1.jpg

Gratuitous chalice shot :D
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00340cropped.jpg

SDguy

01/24/2010, 07:02 PM

Some random new pics...

Ectoplasm chalice:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Ectoplasm_1.jpg

Ron Burgundy watermelon chalice:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/RonBurgundy_1.jpg

Raptor's Peace Favia:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Raptors1_1.jpg

Finally mounted the ECC Hybrid watermelon chalice:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/RBandECC_1.jpg

Purple tang.... don't think I've ever really posted a picture of him before :o
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00273_1.jpg

My percs have yet to start breeding again after the move, but are otherwise doing well...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00289_1.jpg

Male swallowtail angel getting frisky for his gal :)
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/DSC00326_1.jpg

The changing lyretail anthias is relaly starting to look nice!
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Malelyretail1-24-10_1.jpg

rigleautomotive

01/24/2010, 07:13 PM

nice tank,good luck with it peter

SDguy

01/25/2010, 09:20 AM

Thanks Dan, I am almost at the point where I can just sit back, relax, and watch the tank grow... almost :)

rigleautomotive

01/25/2010, 09:25 AM

Thanks Dan, I am almost at the point where I can just sit back, relax, and watch the tank grow... almost :)

Ha,I really hope that day comes for you,for me after 18 years that day never showed up ,lol,always trying to make it better,always one acro thats not happy that i frivously frag and remount that ultimately dies anyway. :) and always the maintenence that needs attention.It is a nice thought though.

At least we get to enjoy the minutes in between.

SDguy

01/25/2010, 10:00 AM

:lol: That's what I am talking about...I haven't even had those "minutes in between".... so I look forward to them now :D

I was proud to have finally glued almost everything to the rocks... frags no longer litter the floor of the tank.

rigleautomotive

01/25/2010, 10:12 AM

SDguy

01/25/2010, 10:15 AM

Thanks. I wasn't much into all the various LPS either, until the AEFW nightmare happened. After that, I had a new appreciation for hardy, beautiful, and parasite free corals ;)

I still love my acros though :o

SDguy

01/28/2010, 07:56 AM

I think my male flame wrasse may be my new favorite fish! :)
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/MaleFlameWrasse_1.jpg

rigleautomotive

01/28/2010, 08:42 AM

Wow ,the color on that thing is unreal,i didnt think fish could be that colorful.I see why its becoming your favorite

lotsoftats

01/28/2010, 08:50 AM

SDguy....WOW!!! What a tank...I hope to be getting the same size tank here in the next week or so....It needs the bottom put back in it but the guy already has it...so no big deal......I was gonna use it as a freshwater tank but not since I have seen yours......This will be a long process but I will Be doing DIY rock and want something similar to yours....WOW is still all I can say.

BEAUTIFUL....keep the pics coming.

SDguy

01/28/2010, 09:02 AM

Wow ,the color on that thing is unreal,i didnt think fish could be that colorful.I see why its becoming your favorite

I didn't either until I got a male flame wrasse!! I mean it's nuts, he looks like a red glowstick swimming around the tank....makes my poor anthias look dull :o

SDguy

01/28/2010, 09:03 AM

lotsoftats

01/28/2010, 12:54 PM

Is your tank the same dimensions? You are going to love it! After the first 30" tall tank I owned, I could never go shorter again!

Yes it is the same dimensions....I like the shorter tanks too....I have a 40 breeder now....but I have another 40 breeder to use as a sump fuge for the 150.

I need to look up ozone and figure out what it does and how to use it...only thing I know is that if you mess it up it will kill a tank quick.

IridescentLily

01/28/2010, 02:01 PM

Everything is just Gorgeous!

SDguy

01/28/2010, 04:17 PM

I need to look up ozone and figure out what it does and how to use it...only thing I know is that if you mess it up it will kill a tank quick.

Well, ozone isn't that dangerous. Just have to use it properly. Many other things we use on our tanks are dangerous. Our health and safety person here at work freaked when she heard I had multiple pounds of calcium hydroxide delivered to my office :lol:

Randy has a great series of articles on ozone which can be found in the archives...

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/rhf/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-04/rhf/index.php

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-05/rhf/index.php

SDguy

01/29/2010, 08:10 AM

Everything is just Gorgeous!

Thank you!

Genetics

01/29/2010, 12:43 PM

You definitely have an eye for beauty. Those acans look amazing!

SDguy

01/29/2010, 01:58 PM

You definitely have an eye for beauty. Those acans look amazing!

Thanks, they are still adjusting to the new tank conditions. Hopefully they will brighten up even more, so I won't need the PowerBrites on them :)

SDguy

02/05/2010, 10:22 PM

Woohoo, looks like I finally found the proper settings for my new Sony camera :D

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/21_1.jpg

jbird69

02/05/2010, 11:34 PM

WOW! What a photo! and what gorgeous zoa!

SDguy

02/06/2010, 09:24 AM

Thanks!

A few more taken with the underwater housing :)

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/20_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/17_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/18_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/16_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/07_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/05_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/02_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/13_1.jpg

SDguy

02/06/2010, 09:25 AM

My 3 year old hermit crab likes to sleep in this acro during the day (that's his pink coraline covered shell :lol: )
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/06_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/09_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/15_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/08_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/01_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/12_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/10_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/19_1.jpg

SDguy

02/06/2010, 09:26 AM

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/04_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/14_1.jpg

fstar25

02/07/2010, 10:49 PM

ive just found your thread and i think you have some of the most amazing looking chalices i have ever seen....

goochesfish

02/08/2010, 12:59 AM

I didn't know corals can be packed in so tightly. The colors look great. What camera do you have in the underwater housing?

SDguy

02/08/2010, 09:40 AM

ive just found your thread and i think you have some of the most amazing looking chalices i have ever seen....

Thank you very much! There are some people out there with WAY nicer colelctions though :)

I didn't know corals can be packed in so tightly. The colors look great. What camera do you have in the underwater housing?

Acros can somewhat, but will eventually need to be thinned out as they grow. It's a Sony DSC W290.

SDguy

02/08/2010, 10:19 PM

Favorite new "deepwater"
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/21_1-1.jpg

Incredible "prostrata" or similar...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/23_1.jpg

Red Planet which refuses to branch :-/
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/24_1.jpg

Better pic of my new Raptors:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/26_1.jpg

adddo

02/09/2010, 02:04 AM

Wow Peter that are some amazing shots!!

SDguy

02/09/2010, 07:42 AM

Thanks! I'm finally enjoying having a new camera, instead of hating it :lol:

eaglesrx

02/09/2010, 08:03 AM

wow, great pics!! You've got a great collection of corals and fish! Keep up the good work!!

nivram

02/09/2010, 08:15 AM

Great pics and corals. What kind of chalice is in this pic? Both seem to be the same.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2002-05-10/12_1.jpg

SDguy

02/09/2010, 08:45 AM

They are the same. That's the monster mash.

SDguy

03/10/2010, 07:50 AM

Update: Overall, the tank is running pretty smoothly. I still haven't found a good way to hide/place my ATO reservoir, and I plan to install a much larger filter sock system in the sump, since I'm sick of seeing tiny particulates in the water :(. I also lowered my water level in my sump return section slightly. This reduced micro bubbles significantly since it actually made ALL the water go through the baffles :o I also reduced the flow through the baffles.

I'm still HATING the way my GAC clumps up from vodka dosing. I think I'm going to have to go with the larger, more expensive pellets from BRS, that can handle more tumbling.

I am very happy to say ALL my chalice frags are finally placed/glued on the rock-work. Two new larger colonies remain to be glued once they've adjusted fully to the tank. It's nice to not have a slew of corals littering the floor of my tank :D

Anyways, on to some fun new pics:

Blue mille is really taking off:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/01.jpg

Red table is FINALLY recovering after the move, and showing new growth tips:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/10.jpg

Hawkins grows super dense in my tank, I assume due to the flow?
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/06.jpg

cultured mille... was gorgeous pink body with ppurple ends when I got it. We'll see if I can get it back to that in my tank:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/23.jpg

SDguy

03/10/2010, 07:53 AM

A few random pieces. The purple one is the same "type" of coral as the "ultimate blue stag"... I'm having a hard time getting the brighly colored coralite tips though.
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/04.jpg

Love the little one in the middle too... nasuta?
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/32.jpg

Forgot the name of this one...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/12.jpg

SDguy

03/10/2010, 07:55 AM

LPS anyone? :D
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/17.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/18.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/19.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/02.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/07.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/11.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/14.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/16.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/20.jpg

SDguy

03/10/2010, 07:57 AM

New group shots...
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/05.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/26.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/27.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/29.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/30.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/31.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/22.jpg

SDguy

03/10/2010, 07:58 AM

My little gobies are going on 3.5 years now :D
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/25.jpg

Friends make fun of me for still having mushrooms in my tank :lol:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/33.jpg

rigleautomotive

03/10/2010, 08:06 AM

looks awesome dude.your chalices are crazy. GL

sanababit

03/10/2010, 09:08 AM

i still say that your tank looks like megan fox, if she where an aquarium, saludos

sana

SDguy

03/10/2010, 09:08 AM

looks awesome dude.your chalices are crazy. GL

Thanks Dan. BTW, did you notice how tightly my Hawkins grows? Do you think it's a flow issue?

maroun.c

03/10/2010, 09:18 AM

Love the milleporas. Chalices are also very very nice.
Any ID on that deep water Acro? I have a very similar one but not able to find an ID.

SDguy

03/10/2010, 09:19 AM

Thank you! I think it's A. elegans

frankpayne32

03/10/2010, 12:55 PM

Beautiful tank as always. Thanks for sharing.

rigleautomotive

03/10/2010, 01:37 PM

Thanks Dan. BTW, did you notice how tightly my Hawkins grows? Do you think it's a flow issue?

Yea,strong light and strong random flow seems to make them short and stubby on bottle brush type acroporas like the hawkins .It looks perfectly happy

jbird69

03/10/2010, 03:00 PM

Peter your corals make me hungry ;)

SDguy

03/10/2010, 04:52 PM

:lol: For what, Skittles? :jester:

SDguy

03/10/2010, 07:00 PM

So check this out. I figured since sponges and tunicate hitchhikers do so well in my tank, I'd try some on purpose :eek:

http://www.sdreefs.com/forums/imagehosting/5974b98352221359.jpg

jbird69

03/10/2010, 07:49 PM

Wow that thing is a cool kinda weird! Also looks like a nice sps hitchhiker on the left.

SDguy

03/11/2010, 08:17 AM

I think it's a porites. Unfortunately the plan is to glue this rock, upside down in a cave, so the sps will probably be collateral damage :o

CBehr

03/11/2010, 09:41 AM

Tank is AWESOME, one of my favorites!!

Where the powerbrites the Current LED's? How many did you add to the tank and were they the stripes or individual ones?

SDguy

03/11/2010, 10:01 AM

Tank is AWESOME, one of my favorites!!

Where the powerbrites the Current LED's? How many did you add to the tank and were they the stripes or individual ones?

Thanks!

The powerbrites were given to me by a friend, not purchased. He called them powerbrites. They are the silver colored bars with 4 individual LED's per bar. I have 7 bars over the tank.

CBehr

03/11/2010, 10:39 AM

Thanks!

The powerbrites were given to me by a friend, not purchased. He called them powerbrites. They are the silver colored bars with 4 individual LED's per bar. I have 7 bars over the tank.

Wow, nice friend :) They are like $45-$60 each from Dr Foster & Smith!!

SDguy

03/11/2010, 02:46 PM

I wouldn't need so many if they had better spread :(

MAYHEM_AUDIO

03/11/2010, 04:57 PM

i like it

Sheol

03/11/2010, 06:34 PM

Man, those Sea Squirts look almost like the eggs the crew of THE Nostromo" find in Alien. A bit creepy.. LOL

Matthew

SDguy

03/11/2010, 08:02 PM

Man, those Sea Squirts look almost like the eggs the crew of THE Nostromo" find in Alien. A bit creepy.. LOL

Matthew

I use the term "unique". It's less offensive to the seasquirt community :rollface:

SDguy

03/14/2010, 11:17 AM

I really, really do love my vortechs, but the problems can get to me. My original one, fine, Gen1, I get it... issues. I've sent that one in like 3 times already. But my newer one, only 4 months old, and this. Yup, that's the impeller, snapped off, on its own, inside the unit. Ugh...

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Equipment/0002.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Equipment/0001.jpg

Froggy

03/14/2010, 12:01 PM

Yikes !!

Lotta $$ for so many problems. How is the customer service ?

SDguy

03/14/2010, 01:46 PM

The customer service has always been great.

maroun.c

03/14/2010, 02:50 PM

Oups.
Sorry for yor trouble. This reminds me that I shjould have a backup for my vortech.

reefermad619

03/14/2010, 04:02 PM

Hey SDguy. Have you tired to log on to sdreefs lately? It's seems something is wrong. Have you had the same problems? I think you're on there too with the same name, right?

SDguy

03/17/2010, 06:09 AM

OK, I sent in the vortech yesterday. On a possibly related topic, my chalices all look incredibly good (filled out, larger than normal "rims"). I wonder if it's the lower flow?

Sheol

03/17/2010, 05:27 PM

Really? I didn"t know they were that sensitive! Everybody is too PC these days. LOL

Matt

SDguy

03/17/2010, 06:33 PM

It's the side effect of going to a UC school :lol:

SDguy

03/20/2010, 07:05 PM

Here they are, finally mounted on the reef:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/Aftershedding.jpg

rigleautomotive

03/20/2010, 07:52 PM

that thing is ugly and pretty at the same time,lol

SDguy

03/20/2010, 11:37 PM

And they're so "reefy" :)

melev

03/21/2010, 12:45 AM

Peter, your tank is really looking great. I just checked out all your pictures over the past two pages. Those adorably gobies are still hanging out, eh? Keep up the great husbandry. :thumbsup:

SDguy

03/28/2010, 09:01 AM

Hey thanks Marc! Yeha, I can't believe the goby pair is still going strong... it's been like three and a half years!

Not sure when I last got a FTS:
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/Fulltankcropped.jpg

Znut Reefer

03/28/2010, 09:33 AM

The tank is looking really great Peter. How are your male flames getting along? lol I had a Super male and got 2 females a few weeks ago and looks like one is turning into a submale.

SDguy

03/28/2010, 09:46 AM

Thanks Fonda. The male flames actually get along without issue. Even after *something* happened to the larger one, it it got pretty beaten up, it still held its dominance without any fighting. So all four fish get along just fine (knock on wood)!

BTW, did you see the size of your hybrid WM frag? :D
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/Underwater%2003-09-10/14.jpg

SDguy

04/03/2010, 08:01 AM

A couple new pieces I picked up :D
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/For%20sale/Unknownchalice_1.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p5/SDreefguy/For%20sale/Newchalice2.jpg

SDguy

04/12/2010, 06:48 AM

Took some videos last night. Still working with the settings on the camera...

YouTube - SDguy's anthias (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Peous2-nI)

YouTube - SDguy's reef fish (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3mmdaz_PEQ)

YouTube - SDguy's PBT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIktMEzvf10)

rigleautomotive

04/12/2010, 07:06 AM

SDguy

04/12/2010, 07:45 AM

Thanks! Please ignore the white red table acro skeleton http://www.sdmas.com/forums/images/smilies/hissyfit.gif

SkyPapa

04/12/2010, 08:50 AM

Very nice.
Does the flame wrasse flash like that all the time?
I missed the female if you have one.

SDguy

04/12/2010, 09:03 AM

Very nice.
Does the flame wrasse flash like that all the time?
I missed the female if you have one.

He flashes usually after the tank gets fed. I originally started with one large male and three small females. I now have a submale, and the two remaining females are also quite large (you can see them in the anthias video clip).

Znut Reefer

04/12/2010, 09:48 AM

Videos look great! Thanks for sharing with us.

SDguy

04/14/2010, 06:28 AM

Thanks Fonda. Here are a few more, including some using the underwater housing on the camera :)

Feeding time:
YouTube - Feeding reef fish (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYqX3rv-xBU)

Using the underwater camera:
YouTube - Anthias underwater (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQWdOsBcLgw)

YouTube - SDguy's reef tour (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObAkGdTuZAk)

Znut Reefer

04/14/2010, 07:22 AM