A major OLD TANK SYNDROME of my 11yrs old Reef Tank :)

fishcraze2002 · 04/18/2015, 11:54 PM

My 220 gal SPS dominated tank has been having this annoying 'old tank syndrome' for a while now: NO MORE SPACE for new corals!! LOL. There are a lot of sps that I want to add to my collection but couldn't find the space for them, and having to keep some of the new frags in the frag tank now. As you see in this video, I have tried to place/grow corals all the way to the side glasses, from the back glass to about ~2" away from the front glass in this 30" wide and 6ft long tank and still run out of space

I used my iphone 6plus to record this, not the best quality but still not bad imo. Hope you like the view

https://youtu.be/pOawZ_ULXAg

dymaxiun · 04/19/2015, 12:37 AM

Amazing tank... 11years is quite an accomplishment. Im sure there are local hobbyists that help with a major trim.

alessandro · 04/19/2015, 02:23 AM

Just incredible, Quoe!!
I remember very well your well deserved TOTM of 2007 and I am excited to see this marvellous tank is still in its full splendor after 8 years!
Moreover is full of marvellous fishes, I love angels, including a Queen!!
And i still see PE in your SPS!
I need to know ALL about your current conduction:
light, photoperiod, your value of PO4,NO3, alk, etc, filtration method....
GREAT!

Elton Wng · 04/19/2015, 05:11 AM

11 years!
How do you maintain it ?

DiscusHeckel · 04/19/2015, 06:05 AM

Amazing tank. I love the video and its sound track. Thanks for sharing it with us. I would like to know how you maintained your sand bed. How deep is it?

coral102 · 04/19/2015, 06:15 AM

Awesome!

Would love to see more pics and details of your spectacular tank!

plyle02 · 04/19/2015, 06:35 AM

Wow,
I remember fishcraze2002's totm from back in the day, nice to see you are still going strong, a great example of commitment. How has your tank evolved in terms of lighting, filtration method, and over all husbandry, or like me, do you still stick to some of the basics? I personally tried to evolve too much to industry, only to find my way back to what allowed success in the past, just curious to hear about this 11 year adventure

Thanks for posting, great to see that beautiful tank, still looks as amazing as before...

Joe Kelley · 04/19/2015, 07:55 AM

Fantastic!!

Piper27 · 04/19/2015, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plyle02

Wow,
I remember fishcraze2002's totm from back in the day, nice to see you are still going strong, a great example of commitment. How has your tank evolved in terms of lighting, filtration method, and over all husbandry, or like me, do you still stick to some of the basics? I personally tried to evolve too much to industry, only to find my way back to what allowed success in the past, just curious to hear about this 11 year adventure

Thanks for posting, great to see that beautiful tank, still looks as amazing as before...

+1

I would love to get updates on any changes you have made. How did you deal with flow since stuff has grown?

Also maybe you could remove some of the faster growing to make room for new stuff. Might be hard since its all grown together though. Or you could just build on top of colonies with new frags. Although this would really pack your tank and block flow.

fishcraze2002 · 04/20/2015, 08:25 PM

Thanks for all the compliments guys!

fishcraze2002 · 04/20/2015, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elton Wng

11 years!
How do you maintain it ?

Thanks. it does take some effort to keep a tank that long.. the main thing is being 'patient', not giving up. Just like most sps keepers, at some period, I was very frustrated with the tank and this hobby, and thought about quitting... but I hang on

fishcraze2002 · 04/20/2015, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiscusHeckel

Amazing tank. I love the video and its sound track. Thanks for sharing it with us. I would like to know how you maintained your sand bed. How deep is it?

I didn't maintain my sand bed.. My cucumbers do

. The sandbed in the tank used to be ~1-2"... but overtime a large portion in the front was blown to the back behind the rock.. only a thin layer left in the front.
The refugium has a 6" DSB.

fishcraze2002 · 04/20/2015, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coral102

Awesome!

Would love to see more pics and details of your spectacular tank!

I will try to post some more pics soon

fishcraze2002 · 04/20/2015, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piper27

+1

I would love to get updates on any changes you have made. How did you deal with flow since stuff has grown?

Also maybe you could remove some of the faster growing to make room for new stuff. Might be hard since its all grown together though. Or you could just build on top of colonies with new frags. Although this would really pack your tank and block flow.

Yeah, flow is an issue with corals grown out like this. That's why I have a Tunze/Vortech on left side, Vortech/Gyre on right, and 3 nano tuze, 1 maxijet on the back side

jayball · 04/20/2015, 08:48 PM

I see your problem, I'll be over in the morning with bone cutters and a half dozen 5 gallon buckets

rfgonzo · 04/20/2015, 09:07 PM

They do say things grow bigger in Texas!!!! Thanks for sharing, tank looks fantastic.

HPark · 04/20/2015, 09:13 PM

Wow - thanks for sharing - how long have the Queen and Emperor Angel been together?

fishcraze2002 · 04/20/2015, 09:14 PM

Alessandro, Perry and others,
My tank specs and maintenance routine haven't changed much since you've seen in my TOTM article in August 2007. Tried to stick to the basics and the principles 'if things ain't broke, don't fix it"

For filtration, still have the DSB in the sum, the same old/basic beckett style skimmer. It's too old that its parts start broken down so I thave to use some metal clams to hold the air injection cup to its neck.
Still use Calc reactor for calc supplement, but add another chamber to increase the capacity. The effluent flow is maxed out (a continuous flow), and the bubble rate is really fast.. to meet the demand. So I don't need the pH controllers anymore. I got rid off the kalk rxtr, and does kalk manually by just dumping a spoon of kalk powder to the overflow box every other day and long w/ a spoon of baking soda (from walmart).

fishcraze2002 · 04/20/2015, 09:16 PM

I will post more about my current maintenance and some pics later... about to go to sleep now

fishcraze2002 · 04/20/2015, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HPark

Wow - thanks for sharing - how long have the Queen and Emperor Angel been together?

The Queen was added about 3 yrs ago (small size).. the emperor was early last year as a juvenile. so they are about a little more than a yr together

Myka · 04/20/2015, 09:36 PM

Lovely tank! Love the Angels!

tfp · 04/21/2015, 07:57 AM

well done Fishcraze2002! LOVE that queen and emperor! if you started from frags...it looks like you've NEVER experienced any set backs!!!!

ThaNgBOm321 · 04/21/2015, 08:51 AM

OMG an Quoc!! Your tank is still a beast! I tried to look you up on MARSH but didn't fun anything. Anyhoo, I might have to start reefing again. Your tank is so nice! Well, it has always been nice actually. Thanks for sharing!

Thien

rovster · 04/21/2015, 09:20 AM

I'm not a fish person but that queen is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!

Tank is very nice too. How many cucumbers? How do they maintain the sand? My sand is in need of a lot of maintenance, LOL! Thanks for sharing

icy1155 · 04/21/2015, 12:06 PM

How has the queen been about nipping? I have always wanted to try one, but I have heard horror stories about them eating everything, including clams, anemones, lps and softies.

04/18/2015, 11:54 PM	#1
fishcraze2002 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 733	A major OLD TANK SYNDROME of my 11yrs old Reef Tank :) My 220 gal SPS dominated tank has been having this annoying 'old tank syndrome' for a while now: NO MORE SPACE for new corals!! LOL. There are a lot of sps that I want to add to my collection but couldn't find the space for them, and having to keep some of the new frags in the frag tank now. As you see in this video, I have tried to place/grow corals all the way to the side glasses, from the back glass to about ~2" away from the front glass in this 30" wide and 6ft long tank and still run out of space I used my iphone 6plus to record this, not the best quality but still not bad imo. Hope you like the view https://youtu.be/pOawZ_ULXAg __________________ August 2007 TOTM http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-08/totm/index.php Current Tank Info: Check out my tank specs in the August 2007 TOTM article by clicking the homepage link on my name on the left.

04/19/2015, 12:37 AM	#2
dymaxiun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 2,245	Amazing tank... 11years is quite an accomplishment. Im sure there are local hobbyists that help with a major trim. __________________ 180g DT - Now.. Wet w/ Frags.... Back in the hobby after 6 years void of saltwater....

04/19/2015, 05:11 AM	#4
Elton Wng Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Taiwan Posts: 374	11 years! How do you maintain it ? __________________ Deep ocean, mother of life. Current Tank Info: SPS/LSP/Fish

04/19/2015, 06:05 AM	#5
DiscusHeckel Acropora Gardener Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 2,780	Amazing tank. I love the video and its sound track. Thanks for sharing it with us. I would like to know how you maintained your sand bed. How deep is it? __________________ Featured Tank OCT 2016 \| "Reef Hobbyist Magazine" TOTM OCT 2016 \| "Ultimate Reef", UK FB \| "/troutsReefTank/" 65G SPS Reef- ATI 8 X 39W PM; TM [Bacto-Balance A-; Reef Actif; Nitribiotic; Iodine]

04/19/2015, 06:35 AM	#7
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	Wow, I remember fishcraze2002's totm from back in the day, nice to see you are still going strong, a great example of commitment. How has your tank evolved in terms of lighting, filtration method, and over all husbandry, or like me, do you still stick to some of the basics? I personally tried to evolve too much to industry, only to find my way back to what allowed success in the past, just curious to hear about this 11 year adventure Thanks for posting, great to see that beautiful tank, still looks as amazing as before... __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

04/19/2015, 02:23 AM	#3
alessandro Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Italy Posts: 294	Just incredible, Quoe!! I remember very well your well deserved TOTM of 2007 and I am excited to see this marvellous tank is still in its full splendor after 8 years! Moreover is full of marvellous fishes, I love angels, including a Queen!! And i still see PE in your SPS! I need to know ALL about your current conduction: light, photoperiod, your value of PO4,NO3, alk, etc, filtration method.... GREAT!

04/19/2015, 06:15 AM	#6
coral102 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 368	Awesome! Would love to see more pics and details of your spectacular tank!

04/19/2015, 07:55 AM	#8
Joe Kelley Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: North Hollywood, CA Posts: 1,022	Fantastic!!

04/20/2015, 08:25 PM	#10
fishcraze2002 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 733	Thanks for all the compliments guys! __________________ August 2007 TOTM http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-08/totm/index.php Current Tank Info: Check out my tank specs in the August 2007 TOTM article by clicking the homepage link on my name on the left.

04/20/2015, 08:48 PM	#15
jayball Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,671	I see your problem, I'll be over in the morning with bone cutters and a half dozen 5 gallon buckets

04/20/2015, 09:07 PM	#16
rfgonzo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,280	They do say things grow bigger in Texas!!!! Thanks for sharing, tank looks fantastic. __________________ 210 gal reef, 75 gal Refuge with 55 Gal sump mixed reef 100 gal Reef, 75 gal Refuge with 55 gal sump. SPS/LPS & 100 gal Japanese Dragon Moray eel tank with 40 gal sump 75 gal Brazilian Dragon Mor

04/20/2015, 09:13 PM	#17
HPark Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 325	Wow - thanks for sharing - how long have the Queen and Emperor Angel been together? __________________ Happy Reefing

04/20/2015, 09:14 PM	#18
fishcraze2002 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 733	Alessandro, Perry and others, My tank specs and maintenance routine haven't changed much since you've seen in my TOTM article in August 2007. Tried to stick to the basics and the principles 'if things ain't broke, don't fix it" For filtration, still have the DSB in the sum, the same old/basic beckett style skimmer. It's too old that its parts start broken down so I thave to use some metal clams to hold the air injection cup to its neck. Still use Calc reactor for calc supplement, but add another chamber to increase the capacity. The effluent flow is maxed out (a continuous flow), and the bubble rate is really fast.. to meet the demand. So I don't need the pH controllers anymore. I got rid off the kalk rxtr, and does kalk manually by just dumping a spoon of kalk powder to the overflow box every other day and long w/ a spoon of baking soda (from walmart). __________________ August 2007 TOTM http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-08/totm/index.php Current Tank Info: Check out my tank specs in the August 2007 TOTM article by clicking the homepage link on my name on the left.

04/20/2015, 09:16 PM	#19
fishcraze2002 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 733	I will post more about my current maintenance and some pics later... about to go to sleep now __________________ August 2007 TOTM http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-08/totm/index.php Current Tank Info: Check out my tank specs in the August 2007 TOTM article by clicking the homepage link on my name on the left.

04/20/2015, 09:36 PM	#21
Myka Reefing since '93 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SK, Canada Posts: 2,436	Lovely tank! Love the Angels! __________________ ~ Mindy, SPS addict. Current Tank Info: 69 SPS (73 gal net) established July 1/15. (HBD Canada!) ATB 840, ATI 6-bulb dimmable. Fauna Marin balling lite method.

04/21/2015, 07:57 AM	#22
tfp Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 3,225	well done Fishcraze2002! LOVE that queen and emperor! if you started from frags...it looks like you've NEVER experienced any set backs!!!! __________________ Go with what works for you. Current Tank Info: Envisions 400g (96x32x30) online January 2012. 4-72" VHOs,7-OceanRevive T247,Aquamaxx Cone 6 Skimmer, Aquamaxx S3 CR,Aquariumplants CO2 regulator, Jebao SOW20's, 80w Emperor UV, tang dominated with anthias and longspine cards

04/21/2015, 08:51 AM	#23
ThaNgBOm321 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Tx, houston Posts: 792	OMG an Quoc!! Your tank is still a beast! I tried to look you up on MARSH but didn't fun anything. Anyhoo, I might have to start reefing again. Your tank is so nice! Well, it has always been nice actually. Thanks for sharing! Thien __________________ YzGyz = Wise Guys ohhh and cows go MOOO!!! 2nd best way is to learn from ones own mistakes but the best way to learn is from others... thx to Randy and so many other for making reefing that much easier

04/21/2015, 09:20 AM	#24
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	I'm not a fish person but that queen is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!! Tank is very nice too. How many cucumbers? How do they maintain the sand? My sand is in need of a lot of maintenance, LOL! Thanks for sharing

04/21/2015, 12:06 PM	#25
icy1155 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 747	How has the queen been about nipping? I have always wanted to try one, but I have heard horror stories about them eating everything, including clams, anemones, lps and softies.