UK based 400 gallon UK gallon Tank

[reefislife]

Thought I would post pics of my new tank from start to now:-

The tank shortaly after construction. Constructed in situ by a good friend.

Tank dimensions are:- 7.5ft by 3ft wide by 2.5ft high.

With 4ft by 2ft by 15inch sump useable plus 2ft by 2ft section for salt mixes etc.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife.jpg

Left hand weir with inner overflow.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife2.JPG

Right Hand weir.
http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife3.JPG

Tank on Steal box section frame and sump.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife4.JPG

Lighting rig, holding 4 * spiderlights with remote ballasts and mix of 14k and 20k 400 watt lamps.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife5.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife6.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife7.JPG

[reefislife]

Pipe work

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife8.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife9.JPG

This is my master plan, both weirs to each hold 4 * 6100 streams. 3 as main flow into tank and 1 for my crazy coral rubble substrate, basically the idea is that the streams will flow through the base and up through the egg crate and rubble, thus keeping rubbish in suspension

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife10.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife11.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife12.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife13.JPG

[reefislife]

Old tank meeting its demise.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife14.JPG

Frame under construction, this is to give the built in look.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife15.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife16.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife17.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife18.JPG

[reefislife]

Contruction complete, tank RO'd up, salted and my weired experimentation with rock work begins.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife19.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife20.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife21.JPG

left, middle and right hand side of sump.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife22.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife23.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife24.JPG

[reefislife]

One of my Tunze 3140 skimmers, second in use on by holding tank at present.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife25.JPG

2 * Fluidised Phosphate reactors.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife26.JPG

Hope you like, more pics can be seen on my web site [img]http://www.craiggoffin.com

Thanks.

Craig

[scarletknight06]

very cool, i like the stream blowing under the egg crate idea. I guess the substrate is heavy enough not to get blown around?

what are the slots at the bottom of the overflow boxes for?

[reefislife]

hi,

The slots at the bottom let more water into the false weir, the main weir is the glass bit inside which does not have slots at the bottom.

Also the slots allow the water to flow through from stream number 4.

[mike660r]

I like how you closed off the area around the tank. It has a nice clean amd modern look to it. Keep up the good work.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

nice handy work, awesome beginning!

[juice me man]

it looks very good. keep up with the pictures. cant wait till its finished

[reefislife]

Completed the transfer of my live rock and one remaining fish today.

All streams online, both skimmers running, lights on, bit of algea in sump.

All that remains is dialing in my Kalk and Calcium reactors.

oh and the long long restock process.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife27.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife28.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife29.JPG

Craig

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

IMHO-awesome set-up, but maybe a little more lr?
either way....NICE!

[reefislife]

thanks.

nope no more rock, I want a very open structure this time.

Dont want the chance of any dead spots.

[Martin's Reef]

Nice Tank M8! Is that a cleaner wrasse I see?

Chers,
Martin

[orangekush4]

very sick, great idea on the egg crat flo combo.

[reefislife]

hi, yes it is a cleaner wrasse but please dont flame me, bare in mind that I did have a 7ft tank before this one. After selling most of my stock and then a few losses in my holding tank, the cleaner was all that have left.

I would NOT buy a cleaner as a first fish. EVER.

[juice me man]

so what other fish are you planning on getting

[reefislife]

Not sure.

I do have a pair of Scribbled Angels reserved at my LFS.
but other than that not sure.

I'm not a fan of Tangs other than Powder Blues so they are out.

I'd like a huge shoal of various anthias as well, and some percs.

Going to try for less fish this time but probably wont succeed as the fish are the important bit to me.

[juice me man]

i would gor for a small shoal od butterflies.

what about a queen angelfish. they are beautiful. maybe a mappa puffer

[Martin's Reef]

No flame M8! I just wish they survived better than they do!

Martin

[NexDog]

Nice inventive idea on the raised eggcrates. I'll be interested to see how this progresses.

[Tanglover]

What are your thoughts behind choosing such a substrate, instead of sand?

[reefislife]

Hi,

A few reasons mainly.

1) I had a dsb in my old tank that was not DSB enough so I think it went bad, so I didnt want to have an in tank dsb this time.
2) I use a lot of streams so a shallow sand bed would have been impossible.
3) I really dont like the bare tank bottom look so couldnt go this way.
4) Coral rubble would have got messy with detritus etc very quickly so I needed to find a way of preventing this.

Thus the reverse undergravel style of idea.

Finally I like to try things differently rather than always assuming the old methods are the only way to go.

This so far works but the flow isnt quite as much as I was hoping for.

CRaig

[NexDog]

What problems are you having with the flow?

[reefislife]

The flow of the tank is fine (Impossible not to be with 6 * 6100 streams blasting water around), its the flow through the substrate that isnt what I expected.

Dont know what I expected really as I've never seen it done before, it definately lifts particals out from the substrate (and thus is keeping it clean) but kind of slow rather than rapid.

[Rastaman]

Who do you support?

[reefislife]

"Who do you support?"

Sorry you've lost me there!

[simon garratt]

Looking good Craig.

And well done for rethinking old ideas instead of going with the flow. Ill be watching this one with interest.:D



ATB.

Si.

[The Escaped Ape]

Originally posted by reefislife
"Who do you support?"

Sorry you've lost me there!

I think this was a football question...

[reefislife]

ahh in that case that would be Tottenham Hotspurs (spurs) for my sins.

[reefislife]

thanks si,

I must visit some time, I'm sure you've got something I can scrounge.....got any algea.!!

Craig

[simon garratt]

Your welcom anytime Craig, you know that. (bring the cutters).:D


As for the football. pahhhhh, girls game.

why not follow something that you can die doing. its alot more exillerating..........:D :D :D



ATB

Si.

[bjmycroft]

Hey - looks good :-)
Where in the UK are you then? - im based up in North Yorkshire.
Im just in the process of plannnig my 7x2.5x2.5 so yours is almost the same size that im going for:- gonna be watching this thread like a hawk!

Where did you get the live rock from - they look lke nice open pieces.

-Bob

[reefislife]

Hi Bob,

I'm based in the midlands.

My rock came from 2 places. The main rock is fijian is out of my old system, origionally came from Taunton Aquarium Centre and the amazing branch rock, I brought in from Germany via the Internet, I can let you know the link later if your interested.

Craig

[Rastaman]

Football yes. Mother and family are from Northampton. United supporter.

Tank looks great. From you pictures it looks like you laid rock rubble on the egg crate, is this the case.

Rick

[reefislife]

yep, smatched up some perfectly good live rock.

[reefislife]

Also I currently live 8 miles from northampton

[Rastaman]

I lived in Nether Heyford. Did work for the FA in Leicester. You live Milton Keynes way?

Rick

[reefislife]

Daventry, about 20 miles from MK.

[Rastaman]

I'll look you up for a pint next time I'm over.

[reefislife]

hey that would be cool

[JC Pollman]

I was thinking about how you have your "substrata" set up. As an alternative to the glass supports, I think for my tank (after removing the current DSB) I will run PVC around the bottom (obviously inside the tank) - with a fair number of connected PVC cross pieces. Then drill holes in all the PVC - some holes pointing up and some horizontal. Finally completing it as you did with the egg crate on top. On your tank it might not look as good, but I have a 3 inch lip covering the front bottom on my tank, so no one will even see the PVC. Your thoughts?

[reefislife]

sounds good to me, I hasve tried to (with some success) cover my egg crate from view using my "picture frame", it does show in places though and seems to staying clean, I'm hoping that in time I will find a substrate that is big enough not to fall through but is small enough to mayke the front more asphetic (sp?). I have tried rowalith c with some success about 70% stayed where I wanted it but the remaining 30% fell through, but since its the front it really doesnt cause any issues with the flow or concept.

[majesticangelfish]

how thick is that glass?? 10mm? Looks great mate!!

[reefislife]

12 mm with double base.

thanks for the compliment

[Gerard Alba]

inspirational

[reefislife]

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife30.JPG

[reefislife]

Thanks Gerard

http://www.craiggoffin.com/images/forumpics/reefislife31.JPG

[reefislife]

Update, sorry about all my other pics, I recently upgraded my web site and forgot I needed my forum storage area! doh!

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/tank221105.jpg

Craig

[reefislife]

links to previous photos sorted, hate lose ends.

CRaig

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

very nice reefislife.

[mmd]

very very nice

[cutsupremetrib]

nifty different and cool

[reefislife]

Hi,

Here is as update, tank was set up around August 2005, so is no about 6 months old.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/february2006.jpg

Thanks.

Craig

I also have a video here >>



Craigs Tank (http://www.craiggoffin.com/Default.aspx?tabid=275)

Please feel to browse my site

[reefislife]

Hi,

Another update, been adding some more huge peices of branch rock, a hair aglae problem also now seems to be improving since I've been able to complet 6 *150 gallon water changes over the last 4 weeks.

Thanks for looking.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_6178.JPG

Craig

[reefislife]

Vids of my tank.

Sorry the file is big (22 meg) but can be watched direct on my site

ie:

www.craiggoffin.com
reeftank
new 7.5ft tank
video
07 May 2006 Full Lighting

There is also a much smaller antinic lit video in the same location

Hope you like, comments welcome

Craig

[c. dawg]

Awesome tank! I like the shelf look.

[reefislife]

Craigg's Reefs 1st Birthday


http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/1yearold/IMG_6952.JPG

Details of TANK and ideas / principles behind it

90 * 36 * 30 = 327 UK Gallons
72 * 24 * 15 sump = 95 UK Gallons

This was how the tank looked exactly 1 year ago:-

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/IMG_4043.JPG

Tank was built due to the failure of the stand on my previous tank, so I went slightly larger, paid extra for a steel stand and added a sump (previous tank was sumpless)

I also liked the principle of my previous tank in hiding 8 * 6100 streams in the weirs, so I continued with this, partly because I already had the kit but also cause I dont like the idea of making the back pain of glass into a teabag with loads of holes for a closed loop setup. Besides I can get alot more flow with streams.

I also took the chance to have a reef clean type system with streams pumping water up through the substrate.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/1yearold/IMG_6954.JPGhttp://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/1yearold/IMG_6955.JPG
http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/1yearold/IMG_6956.JPGhttp://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/1yearold/IMG_6957.JPG
http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/1yearold/IMG_6958.JPGhttp://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/1yearold/IMG_6959.JPG

Changes made from the origional design and reasons

Changed skimmer - Picked up a mega cheap Aquamedic 5000 baby from a friend, so took the chance to dump the next to useless Tunze comlines that I was using, besides I ripped out the pumps and converted them to 2 more streams, so I now have 10 * 6100 streams.

added coral gravel - Hated the smashed up live rock substrate that I created slightly less than the bare base look so I added Coral Gravel to the front 5-6 inches.

then added sand - Hated the coral gravel as well so I have now covered this with Sugar sized sand. This is only for the front 5 inches and has the desired effect, remaining 30 inch or so is either rubble or egg crate (which is not visible).

reduced lighting period - Read somewhere that corals can only absord so much light and due to cost off electric I have successfully now reduced my Halide Lighting to 5 hours per day, I have also changed the ballasts to 4 * 400 watt Electronic Coralviews.

converted top up tank to miracle mud refugium - My sump used to to have a division with a section for 50 gallon water changes but due to changes I have now been able to convert this area to a Refugium running Mineral Mud (shed loads cheaper the Miracle Mud) this has various Algae's growing.

Added 2 * 150 gallon vats in garage for water changes - this is hard pipe linked to my chiller loop, so with the turn of a few taps I can complete a 150 gallon water change in 40 minutes, dumping the waste at the same time. I could in theory complete a 300 gallon water change but have not yet felt the need. I could also make the VATS "Part"of the system thus increasing tank water gallonage to 700 gallons, but dont feel the need as of yet, even with my high fish load.

Played around with rock structure to a minor degree - Added some more branch rock here and there.

Currently filling origional dsb / refugium with about 6kg of good live rock each month, and have stopped lighting this section, this is because I bought a load of dry branch rock from Germany and in my opinion it has the filtering ability of snow, The algae problem I had with this rock was shocking, with proper live rock being uneffected. Therefore I will eventually when complete have about 120kg of top quality live rock in my sump. I recon I'm upto about 50kg at present in the sump.


Current Fish stock list

I'm a bit mad on the fish.......and I havent finished yet..

1 * Cleaner Wrasse (had him for a few years, not sure what all this non hardy talk is about)
1 * Pajama Cardinalfish
1 * Yellow Tang (not mine, had 4 and so far managed to catch 3, this is going to a new home once finally caught)
1 * Algae Blenny
2 * Bartlett's Anthias (Xmas Island)
5 * Squamipinnis Anthias
2 * Coopers Anthias
3 * Pink Anthias
8 * Marcia’s Anthias
2 * Scribbled Anthias
2 * Pictillis Anthias
2 * Bi-colour Anthias
Therefore = 26 Anthias (7 different species)
1 * Niger Trigger
1 * Atlantic Blue Tang
2 * Wild Percula Clowns
1 * Copperband
1 * Regal Angel
3 * Alleni Damsels

Any mistakes? or regrets?
Yes a few but the most notable being:-

Losing Scribble Angel fish (pair) to oodinium + 50% of other fish stock in a mini-wipeout.
Losing moorish idol to attack from atlantic blue tang

Future?

The tank is doing great, so there is litle that I want to change, although I may replace the spiderlight reflectors with Luminarcs's.

Otherwise who knows, while I have the tank I will continue to add fish and corals that I like when I see them.

However whether its a mid-life crisis (slightly early) or what, I have this dream of building a monster Mk1/2 Escort for Hillclimbs and track days and see the tank as a barrior to that (due to the funds that it eats up).

That said no doubt in a years time the tank will be being written about as being 2 years old and I'll still have the dream of building the monster Escort.

Finally

My web site is regularly updated and has way more detail and photos.

http://www.craiggoffin.com
[b]
Thanks.

[alien9168]

Nice tank Craig! :)

I really like your list of fish/inhabitants as well.

Your rockwork is also very different and I think it really makes the tank.

:)

Way to go!

[reefislife]

Thanks.

I really cant help myself with the fish list. I've now added a blue Face Angel as well.

Oh and 6 baby Bangaii's in the sump.

Think thats it now for fish..................

[alien9168]

That is alot of fish :)

But the more the merier i suppose :)

[reefislife]

yep I guess so.

but it works for me, tank is taking off now.

It is a joy to watch with all the movement of the fish and LPS.

I may eventually have to remove some fish but bare in mind total volume is 450 UK gallons and I can change 300 gallons per week if I really needed too.


Craig

[alien9168]

Dont get me wrong craig. I LOVE the fish that you have in that tank. I only imagine how much fun you have watching this tank :)

[Steven Pro]

Changed skimmer - Picked up a mega cheap Aquamedic 5000 baby from a friend How do you like the performance of the T-5000 Baby?

[reefislife]

Hi Steven,

Thanks for the reply, its certainly better than the 2 Tunze Comlines I was previously running, however I feel it is still not big enough for my tank and think a future purchase will involve a Aquamedic 5000 twin.


The shorty is however a great peice of hardware and I think in a 200 gallon system it would shine.

Craig

[reefislife]

http://www.craiggoffin.com/DesktopModules/Orizonti.MediaGallery/getThumbNail.aspx?imgID=1572&p=0

[reefislife]

Sorry I'll try this way:-

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_1075.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_4924.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_4928.jpg

Craig

[asnatlas]

That side with all the sun corals is insane, I have never seen anything like that, it's awesome...

[reefislife]

thanks, thats only the start mind, I plan to add a further 30 or so to complete the end fully ie cover the glass end panel.

[reefislife]

Some more tank shots, I had a day of re-organising some small areas, which ended up with rock collapses etc.....why do we insist on meddling?

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5542.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5543.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5545.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5546.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5547.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5548.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5549.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5551.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5554.JPG

http://www.craiggoffin.com/forumpics/IMG_5555.JPG

Craig

[Shekki]

Great tank. How's that monster?

[reefislife]

monster?

[reefislife]

Hi

Here is some more recent shots, its coming along now, still pleased with it. Sun corals area seems ok'ish, looks rubbish during the day due the skeleton going white but all the polyps come out great at night, mind my feeding method is quite extreme, I have a video of feeding on my web site....also being creating a Trachy area. and have some nice acans etc.

<img src="http://www.craiggoffin.com/DesktopModules/Orizonti.MediaGallery/getThumbNail.aspx?imgID=1622&p=0" alt="" border="0"><br>

<img src="http://www.craiggoffin.com/DesktopModules/Orizonti.MediaGallery/getImage.aspx?imgID=1615&p=0" alt="" border="0"><br>

<img src="http://www.craiggoffin.com/DesktopModules/Orizonti.MediaGallery/getImage.aspx?imgID=1620&p=0" alt="" border="0"><br>

<img src="http://www.craiggoffin.com/DesktopModules/Orizonti.MediaGallery/getImage.aspx?imgID=1621&p=0" alt="" border="0"><br>

[TandN]

love the new aquascaping looks awesome

[tbone28]

The new aquascaping is very nice! It looks like you have sand covering your entire floor now. How are the Tunzes pushing water up and through the sand?

[reefislife]

Thanks, the undergravel using the streams was given up on...why?..............

Cause I missed the sand to much!!!!

All my Streams are now pointing out the wers into the tank....4 in each weir.

Craig

[tbone28]

Craig - that makes sense now! There's no way you can have sand and use the undergravel streams. I agree that the sand looks much better!

[reefislife]

Thanks, agree Sand is best, somehow more pleasing to the eye, plus of couse light bounces off it better, thus making the 4 * 400 halides even more effective.

[reefislife]

A few pics taken today:-

Cat

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_7488.jpg

Acan

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_7489.jpg

Acan

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_7490.jpg

Gorgonian

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_7491.jpg

Duncans

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_7492.jpg

Trachy Garden

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_7493.jpg

Lionfish

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_7495.jpg

[jacob30]

Nice Gorgonian! How long have you had it? What do you feed it? What kind is it?

Thanks!

[reefislife]

Hi

Not sure of the name, I've had it about 2 weeks. Its "out" for pretty much the entire day.

I feed my tank heavily with a mix of flake and pallets, Cyclopse, Phyto, Rotifiers, Zooplankton etc etc and loads of various Frozen.

Makes for a hard time with Nitrates and Phosphates but the corals seem to like it.


Craig

[reefislife]

Hi,

Here is some more up to date shots of my tank and some of my LPS, we are getting some great pieces over here in the UK these days.

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8660.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8659.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8658.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8696.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8697.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8699.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8700.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8701.jpg



Craig

[reefislife]

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8703.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8705.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8706.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8707.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8709.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8710.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8711.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8713.jpg

http://www.craiggoffin.com/Portals/0/forumpictures/IMG_8714.jpg