oxx155 Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 I bought a new tank specifically for filtration. 48"x24"x18" - 90 Gallons (20 gallons bigger than the one I have currently). The biggest reason for this is because it comes with filtration trays where I can put my carbon, phosphate, and other filtering pads. The water is directed right onto these and filters straight down. Below the trays (and in the rest of the tank) I will have about 100 pounds of live rock. The tank comes with three trays. This will bring up the total system volume to 900+ Gallons. Another change - I have switched all of my salt over to Instant Ocean. I was happy with my previous salt (no name brand), but I have heard so many good things about Instant Ocean (and its the same price as the other stuff) that I decided to switch over. I will probably start using it next month. The tank also has a bulkhead for my overflow drain. Since this tank will be the lowest point of the entire system I will plumb a line to my storm drain so that the system can't overflow ever again, it justs drains out. Anyway, this isn't exactly good for the system (no overflow is) but it does provide peace of mind that at least I will not have to mop up the floor while trying to figure out what went wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted August 29, 2009 Author Share Posted August 29, 2009 More updated pics of my tank. Things are growing real well and I have added a few clams here or there, but not much else. Full tank shot Finally got a pic of one of my acropora crabs Brain I got a few weeks ago Anemone is getting pretty big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThePremiumAquarium Posted August 29, 2009 Share Posted August 29, 2009 WOW! What a difference? I am really liking the progression of the tank. The new bulbs/configuration give it a nice white/blue color and your coral colors are starting to pop. Good stuff. I like the new sump aswell! Garrett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smann Posted August 30, 2009 Share Posted August 30, 2009 I like the sump, I'm looking building one for my prop tanks or using one of the big tubs. I could build some trays over it also, I use a small tray now with just blue filter pad. I've used IO for a few years now and am very happy with it i have been paying 40 for a 5 gal bucket here local. Upscales was out last time I was in so I ordered a box (200g mix) for 46.00. I actually made a mistake, when it arrived it was "Instant Ocean--Reef crystals" which I guess is better. When I went back on the site the IO was even less, I bought a few other things and shipping was only about $10 total Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 WOW! What a difference? I am really liking the progression of the tank. The new bulbs/configuration give it a nice white/blue color and your coral colors are starting to pop. Good stuff. I like the new sump aswell! Garrett Thanks. I do like the new bulbs quite a bit and everything seems to be very happy. I wish I could learn this camera better because it definitely does not do the colors justice. The tank just looks amazing, I will have to keep playing with the camera. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted August 30, 2009 Author Share Posted August 30, 2009 I like the sump, I'm looking building one for my prop tanks or using one of the big tubs. I could build some trays over it also, I use a small tray now with just blue filter pad. I've used IO for a few years now and am very happy with it i have been paying 40 for a 5 gal bucket here local. Upscales was out last time I was in so I ordered a box (200g mix) for 46.00. I actually made a mistake, when it arrived it was "Instant Ocean--Reef crystals" which I guess is better. When I went back on the site the IO was even less, I bought a few other things and shipping was only about $10 total I have heard mixed reviews about regular IO vs. crystals. I have heard more good things about regular IO though, so I am sticking with that. I am sure by the new year I will have a review to post about it (good or bad). You can't beat the price out right now though. I don't know if its the economy or if they are trying to drive out competition, but Instant Ocean seems to be the best price everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 Two unfortunate things happened lately to the tank 1. I found an outright infestation (dozens) of Nudibranchs in my tank pretty much surrounding my Green Star Polyps. For a day or two I thought something was up with the tank and the polyps had just turned white, but then realized they were moving onto other rocks and looked up on the internet what it could be. I am 90% sure they are Berghia Nudibranchs (from looking at pictures) and I have read they can be good, but in 2 days they munched down a large area of GSP. I sucked them all out (at least the ones I could find) and threw them in my refugium for the time being (to clear up some aiptasia). 2. Yesterday my Pink Birdnest Coral was looking fine and I was amazed at the growth. This morning I find almost the entire thing white and a large crab in the middle of it picking at the remaining polyps! This is one of the crabs I have recently purchased as "Acropora Crabs" which are supposed to be good for the corals. I pulled the crab out and threw him in the refugium (my refugium is becoming pergatorium for the bad animals). So, I am now out a nice Pink Birdsnest and Green Star Polyps colony. I will replace them, but learned some good lessons this week. Always keep an eye on your tank daily if you can (if not multiple times a day), the sooner you can catch a problem the better off your tank will be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 Picture of some of the nudibranchs I got out (I removed the GSP rock also that had them all over it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newfisher Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Great looking tank, thanks for the thread ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef165 Posted September 22, 2009 Share Posted September 22, 2009 Picture of some of the nudibranchs I got out (I removed the GSP rock also that had them all over it) thats crazy! you have them breeding in your tank and I've never had any luck keeping any alive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 thats crazy! you have them breeding in your tank and I've never had any luck keeping any alive! I have a crap load and would be happy to give some away to anyone who wants to come by and get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 Great looking tank' date=' thanks for the thread ![/quote'] You are very welcome. I hope to one day have a really great look tank like some others in this society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 I have added a Precision Marine Kalk-Reactor to up my PH a little. I finally got the new Filter-Tank plumbed in and running and its doing awesome! Some new pics Acropora Crab in my Pink Birdsnest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason7504 Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 what is that really blue acro in that last pic? its so sweet! i'd love some of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 what is that really blue acro in that last pic? its so sweet! i'd love some of that Couldn't tell you for sure, I am horrible with names of corals, I know it as an acropora, LOL. Sorry When it grows out I am sure I will have frags for the club to give away. I might sell frags at some point, but it will be rare if it happens. But, keep up with this thread, if I am going to start fragging I will mention it here. I most likely will have some real nice Metallic Green Birdsnest to frag first, its growing the fastest (or maybe some Pink Zooanthids). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason7504 Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 where did you get it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Amazing tank....why do the pictures of the full tank look like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 like in the last one it looks wierd...how did you take that pic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 like in the last one it looks wierd...how did you take that pic? It's 3 different pictures pasted together to make a landscape of the whole tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 ah . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 like in the last one it looks wierd...how did you take that pic? I have a Panorama feature on my camera, it takes three pics and automatically stitches them together. Its the easiest way to take a full tank shot. I am going to try this weekend to take some more pics and make a better full tank shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted October 15, 2009 Author Share Posted October 15, 2009 where did you get it? I believe LiveAquaria.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgf86123 Posted December 27, 2009 Share Posted December 27, 2009 wow, this is a beautiful system, im quite impressed, and like jason, i really like that blue acro, im definitely going to have to keep an eye on this so i can find out when you have frags of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oxx155 Posted January 1, 2010 Author Share Posted January 1, 2010 Tank is going well, I am making a couple of changes to make things just a little better and more automated. I added a Dart Gold pump w/ Venturi to feed both of my protein skimmers. The skimmers now pull so much crap that I have to clean them out every 3-4 days or so. I also added an air pump to the Reeflo Orca Skimmer and it kicks butt. I purchased a Neptune Apex. I really wanted the continuous monitoring, access from my Iphone, and full control over everything about my aquarium (lighting, pumps, calcium reactor, etc.) I finally got my probes in the overflow pipe and everything is hooked up to the Apex for monitoring. I have PH, Temp, Conductivity, and soon ORP. I don't currently like the light-spread I am getting over my tank, so I decided to build a whole new lighting setup that should provide the max spread and reflection of light. I will be running 5 - 250w 14k Pheonix MH's, 6 - 24" T5 Giesemann Midday Lamps, 6 - 24" T5 Giesemann Actinic+ Lamps, and 6 - 48" Giesemann Actinic+ Lamps. I have always liked running MH's and Fluorescents together, but I usually start and end the Fluorescents before the MH's for a dawn/dusk effect. I also am adding a 5 Moonlight LunarDimmer that is run by the Apex to mimic the phases of the moon. Tank shots to come later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undrtkr_00 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Nice... That light setup looks like quite a project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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