Another "my tank" thread: 55g reef

theatrus · 08/26/2006, 11:15 PM

Almost done with my "upgrades" to my 55g reef tank, and thought I'd snap some pictures of whats in it right now. The fish were mostly camera shy so no pictures of them. I'll have to get out the EOS 300D for them tomorrow.

Size: 55g (the impossible-to-aquascape model)
Lighting: 2x 250W Hamilton 14k MH. Some random blue LEDs moonlight. Currently have 2x96W PC lights mounted in the suspended canopy which I'm not using.
Return: PanWorld 40PX through a 36" spraybar on the bottom of the tank.
Chiller: 1/5HP JBJ Artica (don't usually run central AC, inside temps hit 85+)
Sump: 10g rubbermade bin
Refuge: 16g rubbermade bin, lit by 2x15W NO 6500k fluorescents.
Powerheads: 2x MJ 1200, 1x Seio 620
Skimmer: Octopus Recirc 150 (replaced AquaC Urchin).
Live rock: 40lbs from www.liverocks.com (company/site now dead or in hibernation - it was nice rock), 30lbs dead rock from HIRocks
Other: ATO now run by AC Jr. since I'm toping off with Kalk water from a DIY reactor
History: Tank is two and a half years old, turned reef at about the 8 month in period (from FOWLR). Acted as a xenia propagation system (unintentionaly) for about a year, just sold and traded about 80% of it off (if you see how much is in the pictures, 80% is a ton

). Recently added the fuge and replaced the sump (cracked 10g aquarium by torquing drilled bulkhead). Been acquiring some LPS pieces to de-Xenia the tank a bit. Looking at adding some SPS to the higher flow region to the right.

Pictures below here:

Full tank shot:

Crocea (its attached to a buried rock)

Pearly meandering bubble (and bicolor pseudochromis

):

Favites (or Favia... not 100% sure)

Hairy mushroom:

Oxypora (tiny recessed region hasn't worsened in several months and was there at the time of purchase, and its been slowly growing, so all is good), also Xenia in this picture

Not shown: Colt leather in center, Xenia, various mushrooms, some zoas, GSP to the right, fish, etc

reefD · 08/26/2006, 11:37 PM

adding light wattage of pc's will be advantagous! think it over>.....

reefD · 08/26/2006, 11:38 PM

reduce halides with distance also or wattage if possible

theatrus · 08/26/2006, 11:39 PM

Halides are a good 11" up. I knew 250W would be too much for some items

. I'll have to consider the PCs.

theatrus · 08/27/2006, 12:23 PM

I think I'll leave the PCs off for now until I get my bigger tank one day. They just don't do too much with the 250W halides there and their less than ideal mounting position. There isn't much space over a 55g.

hiero4life · 08/27/2006, 02:00 PM

Looks good.

theatrus · 10/11/2006, 09:48 PM

Ok, lot has changed

- Rearranged some stuff, added a bit of rubble in to get some more ledges.
- Added a bunch of SPS
- My Crocea came down with pinched mantle after about a year of having it (

)
- Replaced the 96W PCs with 2 54W T5s (1 UVL Super Actinic and 1 ATI Blue Plus on a Workhorse 7)

Some updated pictures (excuse the changing white balance):

Whole tank shot:

SPS "corner":

Pocillopora

Pink stylo with blueish polyps:

theatrus · 10/11/2006, 09:52 PM

Blastomussa Merletti

Karl's Candlelight Acropora (new frag):

(un-whitebalanced: http://www.stackworks.net/aq082006/1...6/IMG_2099.jpg)

Acropora Millepora:

Not pictured: Green Monti Cap, pink pocillopora, green slimer, some other green acro, various LPS, fish, etc.

theatrus · 10/12/2006, 12:57 AM

Almost forgot the zoas!

Under T5s only

Whitebalanced orange and blue

theatrus · 10/23/2006, 10:26 PM

Well, since my Crocea clam came down with pinched mantle a few months back, I've been looking for a new clam.

And here it is, this really nice Derasa. I'm so going to need that 180 gallon...

NJReefGeek · 10/25/2006, 08:10 AM

Just a quick observation.
If you cut away the recessed part of the oxypora, all the way to and including some of the new flesh, it will regenerate faster in that are. They have a tough time growing over themselves.

Trigeek · 10/25/2006, 08:19 AM

Looks great!! The new frags are beautiful. Did you change over to T5s from MH? I really like your new aquascape.

theatrus · 10/25/2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NJReefGeek
Just a quick observation.
If you cut away the recessed part of the oxypora, all the way to and including some of the new flesh, it will regenerate faster in that are. They have a tough time growing over themselves.

I've considered that, but never gotten around to it. I've noticed a few new polyps around some of the edges... just not that one.

theatrus · 10/25/2006, 01:48 PM

Nope, I tossed out the out PC actinics and replaced them with one T5 ATI Blue+ and one UVL Super Actinic. I am still using the 250W Hamilton 14ks.

My re-aquascaping rubble rocks are starting to really blend in now (finally, no more white stuff

). I broke down and bought an EF 100mm macro lens so I can nab some better up-to-date pictures. I've had some growth on my pocillopora, and some new frags

theatrus · 11/19/2006, 09:47 PM

Was procastinating doing any real work tonight so I've updated my picture collection.

Figure I'd start off with a short tour:

This is what I started off with:

(PS: Yes, I still have my DIY uncovered everything visible construction wood stand... I guess I should have finished it before putting water in the tank

)

After adding some base rock:

(RIP firefish, he jumped

)

My happy clown couple and my first coral: xenia.

Current picture snapped today (have done some more re-aquascaping):

Never mind the yet again unfinished light fixture... I'm real bad at finishing wood projects beyond the structural stage

theatrus · 11/19/2006, 09:52 PM

Also playing with my EF 100mm macro (I've taken lots of outdoor pictures, not as much in tank - its harder to focus in tank it seems because lots of my pictures have a bad DoF and focus

)

sloshesv · 11/19/2006, 09:57 PM

Beautiful tank, great pictures and an always nice to see tankologue. It's good to see all the 55g pic threads lately.

theatrus · 11/19/2006, 10:54 PM

Another cute picture from the archives...

Miniclown!

mg426 · 11/19/2006, 11:48 PM

very nice looking job!!

2fishy · 11/20/2006, 12:11 AM

Looks awesome!

Great colors on the corals!

CPT. MURPHY · 11/20/2006, 01:06 AM

Very cool I love the before and after thread pics

CPT.

08/26/2006, 11:15 PM	#1
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Another "my tank" thread: 55g reef Almost done with my "upgrades" to my 55g reef tank, and thought I'd snap some pictures of whats in it right now. The fish were mostly camera shy so no pictures of them. I'll have to get out the EOS 300D for them tomorrow. Size: 55g (the impossible-to-aquascape model) Lighting: 2x 250W Hamilton 14k MH. Some random blue LEDs moonlight. Currently have 2x96W PC lights mounted in the suspended canopy which I'm not using. Return: PanWorld 40PX through a 36" spraybar on the bottom of the tank. Chiller: 1/5HP JBJ Artica (don't usually run central AC, inside temps hit 85+) Sump: 10g rubbermade bin Refuge: 16g rubbermade bin, lit by 2x15W NO 6500k fluorescents. Powerheads: 2x MJ 1200, 1x Seio 620 Skimmer: Octopus Recirc 150 (replaced AquaC Urchin). Live rock: 40lbs from www.liverocks.com (company/site now dead or in hibernation - it was nice rock), 30lbs dead rock from HIRocks Other: ATO now run by AC Jr. since I'm toping off with Kalk water from a DIY reactor History: Tank is two and a half years old, turned reef at about the 8 month in period (from FOWLR). Acted as a xenia propagation system (unintentionaly) for about a year, just sold and traded about 80% of it off (if you see how much is in the pictures, 80% is a ton ). Recently added the fuge and replaced the sump (cracked 10g aquarium by torquing drilled bulkhead). Been acquiring some LPS pieces to de-Xenia the tank a bit. Looking at adding some SPS to the higher flow region to the right. Pictures below here: Full tank shot: Crocea (its attached to a buried rock) Pearly meandering bubble (and bicolor pseudochromis ): Favites (or Favia... not 100% sure) Hairy mushroom: Oxypora (tiny recessed region hasn't worsened in several months and was there at the time of purchase, and its been slowly growing, so all is good), also Xenia in this picture Not shown: Colt leather in center, Xenia, various mushrooms, some zoas, GSP to the right, fish, etc

08/26/2006, 11:37 PM	#2
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	adding light wattage of pc's will be advantagous! think it over>..... __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

08/26/2006, 11:38 PM	#3
reefD Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Schenectady,New York Posts: 4,968	reduce halides with distance also or wattage if possible __________________ DAVID Current Tank Info: it has four sides and a bottom...oh yeah and it has water in it. lol

08/26/2006, 11:39 PM	#4
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Halides are a good 11" up. I knew 250W would be too much for some items . I'll have to consider the PCs. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

08/27/2006, 12:23 PM	#5
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	I think I'll leave the PCs off for now until I get my bigger tank one day. They just don't do too much with the 250W halides there and their less than ideal mounting position. There isn't much space over a 55g. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

08/27/2006, 02:00 PM	#6
hiero4life Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, CA Posts: 203	Looks good.

10/11/2006, 09:48 PM	#7
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Ok, lot has changed - Rearranged some stuff, added a bit of rubble in to get some more ledges. - Added a bunch of SPS - My Crocea came down with pinched mantle after about a year of having it () - Replaced the 96W PCs with 2 54W T5s (1 UVL Super Actinic and 1 ATI Blue Plus on a Workhorse 7) Some updated pictures (excuse the changing white balance): Whole tank shot: SPS "corner": Pocillopora Pink stylo with blueish polyps: __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

10/11/2006, 09:52 PM	#8
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Blastomussa Merletti Karl's Candlelight Acropora (new frag): (un-whitebalanced: http://www.stackworks.net/aq082006/1...6/IMG_2099.jpg) Acropora Millepora: Not pictured: Green Monti Cap, pink pocillopora, green slimer, some other green acro, various LPS, fish, etc. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

10/12/2006, 12:57 AM	#9
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Almost forgot the zoas! Under T5s only Whitebalanced orange and blue __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

10/23/2006, 10:26 PM	#10
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Well, since my Crocea clam came down with pinched mantle a few months back, I've been looking for a new clam. And here it is, this really nice Derasa. I'm so going to need that 180 gallon... __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

10/25/2006, 08:10 AM	#11
NJReefGeek Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Whiting, NJ Posts: 304	Just a quick observation. If you cut away the recessed part of the oxypora, all the way to and including some of the new flesh, it will regenerate faster in that are. They have a tough time growing over themselves. __________________ O&A - Spread the Virus..XM Radio 202 Click little red house to see my Slideshow.... www.njreefgeek.com "To be sure of hitting your target, Shoot first and call whatever you hit the target." Current Tank Info: 150g High mixed reef SPS LPS Softy, ETSS 1000 skimmer, 2 x 400 watt MH, T5 atinics

10/25/2006, 08:19 AM	#12
Trigeek Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Broward County, FL Posts: 638	Looks great!! The new frags are beautiful. Did you change over to T5s from MH? I really like your new aquascape.

10/25/2006, 01:48 PM	#14
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Nope, I tossed out the out PC actinics and replaced them with one T5 ATI Blue+ and one UVL Super Actinic. I am still using the 250W Hamilton 14ks. My re-aquascaping rubble rocks are starting to really blend in now (finally, no more white stuff ). I broke down and bought an EF 100mm macro lens so I can nab some better up-to-date pictures. I've had some growth on my pocillopora, and some new frags __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

11/19/2006, 09:47 PM	#15
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Was procastinating doing any real work tonight so I've updated my picture collection. Figure I'd start off with a short tour: This is what I started off with: (PS: Yes, I still have my DIY uncovered everything visible construction wood stand... I guess I should have finished it before putting water in the tank ) After adding some base rock: (RIP firefish, he jumped ) My happy clown couple and my first coral: xenia. Current picture snapped today (have done some more re-aquascaping): Never mind the yet again unfinished light fixture... I'm real bad at finishing wood projects beyond the structural stage __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

11/19/2006, 09:52 PM	#16
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Also playing with my EF 100mm macro (I've taken lots of outdoor pictures, not as much in tank - its harder to focus in tank it seems because lots of my pictures have a bad DoF and focus ) __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

11/19/2006, 09:57 PM	#17
sloshesv Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ft myers, fl Posts: 723	Beautiful tank, great pictures and an always nice to see tankologue. It's good to see all the 55g pic threads lately. __________________ It's just sloshesv, your Honor Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef, 20 gal seahorse and leaf fish

11/19/2006, 10:54 PM	#18
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Another cute picture from the archives... Miniclown! __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

11/19/2006, 11:48 PM	#19
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	very nice looking job!! __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

11/20/2006, 12:11 AM	#20
2fishy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 918	Looks awesome! Great colors on the corals! __________________ Carole Current Tank Info: 55 gal

11/20/2006, 01:06 AM	#21
CPT. MURPHY Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,148	Very cool I love the before and after thread pics CPT.