The Official Asylum Reef Tank Thread

[shilala]

Many of our brothers here keep reef tanks.
I was talking to Dan (hardcz) on the phone tonight about how nice it would be if we had a thread where we could all show off our tanks, talk about what we're doing, share our stock, ask questions, give answers, and enjoy each other's ideas.
So here it is.
I love my reef and it's come along dramatically with the help of all the gentlemen here and at CS. I know you guys love your tanks as much as I do, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what you all have to share.

I'm going to go get some pics of my setup right now to get this thing started. :)
Have fun!!!
Scott

[Wolfgang]

You talked me into it.

Here is my 90 and a video of my Eel eating. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4ZwRQIPDyo
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0001-1.jpg

in it is a maroon clown (Barter) a clown goby (Jaws)and a Zebra moray eel (Leela). Tomorrow im going to be adding either a flame angel, coral beauty or one spot fox face.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0042.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0048-1.jpg
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0405-1.jpg

Here is my former reef tank that is getting a total overhaul now. I lost most of the livestock and corals in a tank crash about 4 months ago and have been really out of the hobby.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0314.jpg

[j-easy]

i am really looking forward to this thread

[elderboy02]

i am really looking forward to this thread

Me too. Just the pictures so far are cool!

[Blueface]

How about those of us with saltwater tanks that are not reefs?
I love Angels.
Angels love reefs.
That would mean they eat my reef.:D

Boy did you spark an interest here. I had a thread like this on "another" site. Glad you did it here.

Here goes:
225 Gallon Fish Only/Bleached Coral

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0009.jpg

[Blueface]

Quite rare Conspic Angel, worth about $3K.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0212.jpg

[Blueface]

Even more rare Clarion Angel, worth around $5K.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0155.jpg

[Blueface]

1.5 foot long New Caledonia Emperor Angel - Quite rare also with streamer.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0167.jpg

[Blueface]

Where my user name comes from.
Blueface Angel

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/CSC_0157.jpg

[Blueface]

Those in the hobby, how rare is to see this?
Black Tang

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0147.jpg

[Blueface]

You have to go diving over 150 deep to catch one of these, hence their hefty price also.
Declavis Butterfly

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/CSC_0237.jpg

[Blueface]

Foot long Red Sea Blonde Naso Tang with streamers.
One of my favorites.
I call it "puta" for all the make up on its face.:D

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0163.jpg

[ucla695]

Wow, there are some great pictures here. I've always been fascinated by the hobby, but never evolved past my 10 gallon pedestrian tank that I had many years ago.

[Genetic Defect]

Those in the hobby, how rare is to see this?
Black Tang

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0147.jpg

If I saw it , it can't be rare.

[Blueface]

If I saw it , it can't be rare.

:r:r:r

You nut job!

Come to think of it, you did get to see these guys in person.

[Genetic Defect]

:r:r:r

You nut job!

Come to think of it, you did get to see these guys in person.

yes I did, I wll have to do that again :)

[Wolfgang]

The Black Tang would be a lot less rare if they shipped well. One onf the main reasons they command such a hefty price is they do not ship well and those that arrive alive wont eat. I am very glad you are not having problems with yours. They are a VERY beautiful fish although probally the most aggressive from the Zebramosa family.

[Blueface]

They are a VERY beautiful fish although probally the most aggressive from the Zebramosa family.

He was the pick of the litter.
My son worked for a major importer at the time and that is where they all came from.
Has been with me over 7 years.
Only thing I dislike is that as they age, they get more grey to them.

There is always a simple fix for aggressive fish that always tames them.
Place them in the tank small and have other, bigger aggressive fish in there with them as well.
My Angels keep him in line.:D
Being in the business for quite some time, designing, installing and maintaining high end tanks, I was lucky to learn lots of tricks on introducing them and compatibility that goes against the norm.

He got aggressive on me years ago and I took care of it.
Stuck him in plastic bottle, with holes in it for water flow and left him in the open overnight.
He was as docile as could be the next day and ever since.;)

[Blueface]

A more rare version of the common Fox Face, the Magnifica.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0026.jpg

[Wolfgang]

haha nice! I have only seen a Clarion Angel once in my time as a reefer. they were demanding 3.5k and the one they had was full grown and its colors were pretty dull. If you are in the mood for another awesome rare addition look for a Gem Tang. They have the ame personality as the Black Tang but they dont lose color as they age.

[Blueface]

The little butthole that beats my hands up royally every time I service the tank.
I have to place him in a container as he will otherwise leave me hurting and with ample bites.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0025.jpg

[Blueface]

My grandson's buddy.
Always greets him.
Lets my grandson stick his hand in the tank and touch him.
Will actually let you scratch his belly.
A Scribbled Angel.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0034.jpg

[md4958]

Only thing I dislike is that as they age, they get more grey to them.



dont we all???

[Blueface]

haha nice! I have only seen a Clarion Angel once in my time as a reefer. they were demanding 3.5k and the one they had was full grown and its colors were pretty dull. If you are in the mood for another awesome rare addition look for a Gem Tang. They have the ame personality as the Black Tang but they dont lose color as they age.

Almost had my hands on a few of them actually.
The importer was scheduled to receive a mass shipment of them and right before that, he went out of business. Long story.
I was getting three for $300 each, landed cost in my hands.
Haven't had the desire to add a fish in over five years since then.
Just not worth losing what I have over diseases.

[Blueface]

Blueline Angel.

Don't recommend them.
They are not hearty although this one is with me around 6-7 years.
They have the tendency to go blind like Harlequins.
He can still get around and eats well but can't see squat.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0205.jpg

[Blueface]

Last one.

No swim bladder.
Cool fish.
Uses fins as we use hands and swims in the tank as we do.
Can't sustain himself in the water column as no bladder to do so as normal fish have.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0204.jpg

[md4958]

Ive always wanted a salt-water tank.

On average how much time do you need to dedicate on a weekly basis to the maintenance of the average sized tank?

How difficult is that maintenance?

[Blueface]

haha nice! I have only seen a Clarion Angel once in my time as a reefer. they were demanding 3.5k and the one they had was full grown and its colors were pretty dull.

I got this guy when he was about the size of a very small Flame Angel.
Have had him for around 5-7 years, guessing but closer to the 7 mark.
He had his juvenile colors and lines.
As he became an adult, the lines left and the solid brown/tan face set in.
Cool to see transform.
I had another Emperor Angel that I raised from juvenile to full adult, that got along just great with the larger Emperor believe it or not.
Decided to sell him to make room for the growing fish.

[Wolfgang]

Just not worth losing what I have over diseases.
I agree 100%!

for those out there thinking "oh its just a fish tank. Whats the big deal."

Many of these tanks ivestments are wekk in the thousands. My 24 gallon tank certainly was. If you dont pay attention or cant take care of them for even a week. This can happen, and did to me.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSC_0314.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSC_0314.jpg)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSCF1341.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSCF1341.jpg)

[Blueface]

Ive always wanted a salt-water tank.

On average how much time do you need to dedicate on a weekly basis to the maintenance of the average sized tank?

How difficult is that maintenance?

That will vary.
For most, early on in the hobby, they either do too much or not enough.

I believe in hands free.
Great equipment, like a massive skimmer, triple to quadruple what the tank would require normally.
Water changes once a month - I do 50%.
Remove the rocks (in my case as I have to bleach them), once a month, when I do my water changes.
My tank takes once a month, but that day takes me about 3-4 hours due to the slow process in bleaching the rocks, to ensure no chlorine back in the tank.
The same regimen is what I did for my customers for years.

[GKitty]

Beautiful tanks and fishies!!

We had a couple of freshwater tanks while I was growing up. Loved to sit and watch them.

Thanks for the pics.

Please, sirs, may I have some more?

[Blueface]

I agree 100%!

for those out there thinking "oh its just a fish tank. Whats the big deal."

Many of these tanks ivestments are wekk in the thousands. My 24 gallon tank certainly was. If you dont pay attention or cant take care of them for even a week. This can happen, and did to me.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSC_0314.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSC_0314.jpg)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSCF1341.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSCF1341.jpg)

That sucks so badly.
We have all been there.
My son lost a 75 gallon reef thanks to a hurricane.
I was lucky mine survived.
He then set it up again and it crashed again due to rust from the UV going in the tank.
Each time, he had the most unreal reef, due to working for the importer.
He got to take home all the frags on a regular basis and they would all grow to nice corals.
Lots of rare stuff and thousands of dollars lost.

I have a generator dedicated to my tank for power failures.
That is how crazy this stuff is.

[md4958]

For a beginner, would you recommend a reef tank, or a fish tank? It is my understanding that you cant have many fish in a reef tank

[Blueface]

For a beginner, would you recommend a reef tank, or a fish tank? It is my understanding that you cant have many fish in a reef tank

You can do either.
Just don't go crazy until you have it down.
Me? I would go fish only, then add corals or modify to a reef as you develop more.
In my case, I never finished developing as I stayed with fish only due to the kind of fish I wanted.
What I do recommend is to go as big as you can and have all the equipment you need before you add a drop of water, let alone fish.
Most don't do it that way and pay dearly.

[GKitty]

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSC_0314.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSC_0314.jpg)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/th_DSCF1341.jpg (http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/?action=view&current=DSCF1341.jpg)

wow... I think I just died a little inside.

[Blueface]

wow... I think I just died a little inside.

Anyone can face that day in this hobby and boy, does it suck.

Here is a sucking story.
I have two mated Conspic Angels.
The larger, male, gets PO'd with the smaller one and goes all over the place chasing it, continuously, for days.
I decide to get the aggressive one out and sell it (that is where I got my money for my Clarion).
As soon as I pull it out and sell it, within a week or so, not having ever been harmed or injured, not showing any signs of stress, a $3K fish is belly up.
I could only imagine it died from heartbreak that I didn't give them a chance to work it out or go to counseling.:r
I guess I can laugh about it now as I was able to soon find another Conspic to replace her.

[md4958]

You can do either.
Just don't go crazy until you have it down.
Me? I would go fish only, then add corals or modify to a reef as you develop more.
In my case, I never finished developing as I stayed with fish only due to the kind of fish I wanted.
What I do recommend is to go as big as you can and have all the equipment you need before you add a drop of water, let alone fish.
Most don't do it that way and pay dearly.

Thanks for the info.

sounds like its a whole 'nuther slope!!!

[Blueface]

Thanks for the info.

sounds like its a whole 'nuther slope!!!

OMG!!!

You have no idea.

That tank of mine has around $12K in fish and another $10K (wholesale and doing it myself) in equipment.

Talk about a slope!!!
I was fortunate to do it as I was in the business, got the equipment wholesale, did my own labor, and bought the fish at wholesale, cheaper than the stores as I got them from the importer directly.
Otherwise, heck if I would have this.

You can imagine how much I look forward to hurricane season and power failures.

[GKitty]

I could only imagine it died from heartbreak that I didn't give them a chance to work it out or go to counseling.

I sense another reality TV show: The Fish Whisperer :r

That does indeed suck, sir.

[j-easy]

this thread has inspired me to look back into the hobby

[shilala]

Ive always wanted a salt-water tank.

On average how much time do you need to dedicate on a weekly basis to the maintenance of the average sized tank?

How difficult is that maintenance?
Hey Moe-sy,
I keep a reef tank, and it's super low-end. Despite that it's gorgeous and there are so many awesome critters living in there that you can see something new every day. :)
I spend maybe an hour a week doing maintainence. That consists of scrubbing the inside of the glass every other day with a magnet thingie (takes 2 minutes) and cleaning the glass with windex because a lunare wrasse I have splashes water out of the tank every time it eats.
The best thing I ever did that made this so much easier on me is:
1.) Added plants
2.) Bought an RO unit (makes 100% pure water).
My tank has been 15 years in the making and has frozen twice due to power outages while I was away.
Despite that, not everything died.
I do a lot of things that guys say that you should never do, but it's because I've wanted to create a self-sustaining biosphere, or a symbiosis.
Withh fresh water tanks it's very easy to do. With reef tanks it's taken me 15 years to get it right.
Carlos' tank is the extreme polar opposite of mine. His is like a hospital while mine is like a swamp. :D
His costs a fortune, and while mine isn't by any means cheap, it's definately affordable.
It takes a few years to cycle your tank, or at least it has mine.
If you get a good light, a good filter, and a good skimmer, and an RO unit you're on your way. Then you use a lot of live sand, coral, live rock, critters (crabs and snails), and some little fish and watch it like a hawk and do lots of water changes.
Add some razorwire chaeta (a plant) and it will come with all the "bugs" you need. Little shrimp and worms and stuff. They clean the bottom and process all the waste. In turn that processed waste feeds the plants. The plants clean the water. The baby bugs feed the live rock.
When it's time to add corals, everything is there that they need.
While my tank isn't a striking art statement like Carlos', it's beautiful in it's own right because of all the colors and activity. Much like cigars, it's one's taste that dictates what they want.
What you want will dictate what you have to do and how much work you have to do.
Carlos has to know a LOT to keep the environment he's created. He has to be right on top of it, too.
Mine is a lot less delicate, and it takes care of itself for the most part.
I still have to pay attention to it though. I'd say I do as much work on my tank as I do on my cat. Maybe less.
Nothing is "hard" either.

You should try a little nano tank. They're little tiny desktop environments and you can put a couple little fish in there, some live rock and some corals. They're inexpensive and a real bang for the buck. Easy to care for, too.
That way you could see if you like it before going crazy and spending millions. Plus you could just move your stock to a bigger tank.
I bet you'd love it. :)

[shilala]

Here's a start on the pics.
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef1.jpg

[goalie204]

Never owned a fish tank, but thanks for this thread. Really enjoyed the pictures. I love all animals, and fish are so beautiful and majestic, this is awesome.

[Blueface]

Here's a start on the pics.
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef1.jpg

Beautiful Coraline.
First sign of a very healthy environment.

[Blueface]

Carlos has to know a LOT to keep the environment he's created. He has to be right on top of it, too.
Mine is a lot less delicate, and it takes care of itself for the most part.
I still have to pay attention to it though.

That is the beauty of a reef system v. a fish only.
The reef is truly very self sustaining other than water changes.
The critters, the live rock, the fish themselves all maintain it for you.
In a fish only system, more labor involved in cleaning the corals.

Knowledge wise, not really hard. I feed them when I remember. I change the water once a month, the month I remember. Once in a while, I may even remember to change the dirty, nasty old pad on the wet dry.:D

Do you have a refugium? Wet dry? or combination of both?

[Wolfgang]

My 90 has been really low maint. Its been up for about 6 months now and I haent needed to do a WC yet. 5 of those months the only fish in there was a maroon clown. nitrates are still only at 5ppm I love large water volumes.

I went to the LFS (local fish store) today and placed a hold on a 4" Hippo tang. I would have bought him but i let with $60 in coral instead. I will be picking him up next week sometime.

Pictures of my coral later tonight maybe.

[shilala]

That is the beauty of a reef system v. a fish only.
The reef is truly very self sustaining other than water changes.
The critters, the live rock, the fish themselves all maintain it for you.
In a fish only system, more labor involved in cleaning the corals.

Knowledge wise, not really hard. I feed them when I remember. I change the water once a month, the month I remember. Once in a while, I may even remember to change the dirty, nasty old pad on the wet dry.:D

Do you have a refugium? Wet dry? or combination of both?
Nope, Carlos, no refugium.
Actually I do, though. It's a giant wad of Chaeta that's jammed behind the mountain of rock. :D
I just cut it back when it grows out too far. I have to cut it back or tuck it back in about once a week. I tear about half of it out every few months and throw it in the garbage. I always look in the bucket and I'm amazed at how many shrimp and worms are flopping around. :)

[shilala]

That's my starfish Henrietta on the bottom. The fish is Little Yellow. He's Kerri's fish. He's the replacement for Big Yellow who perished in the Great Freeze of 2006. :D
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef2.jpg

[shilala]

I used to have a colony of fans that covered half the floor of my tank. They've been recolonizing the last couple years and are starting to spread out into the light. The piece of dead coral on the left is covered on the back and the fans you see are new, they've started spreading around the front. Pretty soon that whole corner of the tank will be covered.
The fans really spread when hatches come off. The whole tank will be swimming with tiny baby shrimp that eventually all get ate by the fans and coral and other critters growing in the live rock. It's cool. :)
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef3.jpg

[shilala]

This pic shows the great big yellow sponge that grew over the last 2 years. It was literally a yellow speck when it started.
Anybody know what the orange thing is that's growing on the left of the sponge?
I'll try to get a closeup in the next pic...
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef4.jpg

[shilala]

Here's a closeup of the yellow thing and orange thing.
I just assume the yellow thing is a sponge because he looks like Sponge Bob.
Anyone know what they really are?

http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef5.jpg

[Wolfgang]

Both look like species of Tunicates. The lighter one for sure. Nothing to be worried about. Theya re just filter feeders like feather dusters and what not.

[shilala]

Both look like species of Tunicates. The lighter one for sure. Nothing to be worried about. Theya re just filter feeders like feather dusters and what not.
The yellow one kinda looks like it'll turn into one of those tube/slipper sponges. It grows really fast. The orange one is a very slow grower.
I noticed the orange ones when I was diving before. I haven't seen the yellow ones. That's why I figured it was a juvie and maybe it'd get a shape later.

[Wolfgang]

If it has been growing for two years I dont think there is much more to grow shape wise. Now it will just grow as a matt. Let me get a site for you that is VERY helpful for critter IDs

[Wolfgang]

It wont let me edit my post bet here is a site that I have used from the very beginning.

http://www.xtalworld.com/Aquarium/hitchfaq.htm

Turns out to be very helpful with most things.

[MTB996]

WOW, just WOW. You all have some impressive fish tanks. Makes me think about firing up the old hobby. I've been seriously considering getting back into aquariums lately as my kids really love em, but at 3years old, I'm scared they are a year too young (think cool hard toy flying through the air into the tank).

Beautiful tanks & fish guys!

[Wolfgang]

No pictures of the new corals tonight..... ligths went out. But I just ordered soem wicked awesome zoanthids from a friend. Check them out. Devils Armor Palys. This is the mother colony Im only getting 4 polyps. Man I love these!

[Wolfgang]

Ok mods sorry for the consecutive posts but this is my forte :-)

First my Ring of fire (R) and watermelon eagle eyes (L)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0005.jpg

Yellow colony polyps
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0027-1.jpg

Purple Ricordea
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0030-1.jpg

Hulk Zoanthids
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0034.jpg

A orange-er morph of my Ring of Fire zoanthids.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0037-1.jpg

[Wolfgang]

Dragon Eyes (R) and Green Meanies (L)
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0038-2.jpg

Kiwi Stars
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0041.jpg

Some actinic pictures.

Morph of the Ring of Fire
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0043.jpg

Nuclear Pallys.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0044.jpg

[shilala]

Beautiful Coraline.
First sign of a very healthy environment.
Thanks Carlos. :)
I can grow coraline like a wildman. I just got a whole bunch of base rock and it's getting taken over. I'm thrilled about it. (Doesn't take much to get me excited.)
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef6.jpg

[md4958]

You should try a little nano tank. They're little tiny desktop environments and you can put a couple little fish in there, some live rock and some corals. They're inexpensive and a real bang for the buck. Easy to care for, too.
That way you could see if you like it before going crazy and spending millions. Plus you could just move your stock to a bigger tank.
I bet you'd love it. :)

Thanks for the info Mr. Shilala!!!

[shilala]

This is Kerri's shrimp.
What you see is pretty much actual size. It's tentacles are huge. They stretch all the way across the tank. He usually lives upside down under one of the ledges, I always figure he must be confused from living his life upside-down.
He sheds every couple months, I always thought that was amazing.
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef7.jpg

[shilala]

Just a couple more before I give up...
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef8.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~shilala/reef9.jpg

[RGD.]

While I think that the tank Carlos has set up is just freaking awesome - I really like Shilia's tank in the natural habitat thing and if ever was to set one up, that's the route I'd try. Love that look!

I'm just totally impressed by them all.

Please, please keep the pictures coming!!!


Ron

[shilala]

While I think that the tank Carlos has set up is just freaking awesome - I really like Shilia's tank in the natural habitat thing and if ever was to set one up, that's the route I'd try. Love that look!

I'm just totally impressed by them all.

Please, please keep the pictures coming!!!

Ron

My goal is to dress it up just like the real thing, and make it work like the real thing. The pics don't do it justice cause you can't see all the holes and ledges and tunnels. It really does look like the real thing.
Once the coralline grows over everything it'll be perfect.
I can get some fans and stuff that truly does naturally occur down off the Keys, and get rid of some of the stuff that doesn't exist.
Then I'll get a whole shoal of little fish and voila. :tu

[hotreds]

http://www.montgomeryaviationphotography.com/photos/Newport%20Aquarium%2012_08/Resized_IMG_9782.jpg

j/k

[Blueface]

http://www.montgomeryaviationphotography.com/photos/Newport%20Aquarium%2012_08/Resized_IMG_9782.jpg

j/k

Never had one of those but did have a nurse one time.
My angels took its eyes out in an attempt to take it out before it took them out.

[Blueface]

While I think that the tank Carlos has set up is just freaking awesome - I really like Shilia's tank in the natural habitat thing and if ever was to set one up, that's the route I'd try. Love that look!

I'm just totally impressed by them all.

Please, please keep the pictures coming!!!


Ron

Ron,
Both are beautiful indeed.

All a matter of preference as to what you want to keep.
That is the beauty of the hobby that it allows so many variations.
If you want my angels, you can't have a reef. In a reef, one can never, ever keep the fish I have as most of them would enjoy it as a wonderful treat and would eat all the corals/sponges.
So we each have our shortcomings but it is that variation that makes it so neat.
My non reef world is about sustaining very rare fish that are known in the hobby as not lasting very long. I love that challenge.

I benefited from both worlds for quite some time. I had the fish only system with the massive, large fish, while my son had the 75 gallon reef only system, with all the corals and the fish that reefs can sustain.
He has since torn his down and left the house so I stayed with my fish only.

At times I am tempted to set up a second tank as a reef system in my living room (I keep my tank currently in my family room). I have ample space for them. I just don't think the divorce attorney is worth it. Wife will clean me out totally if I dare set up another.

[Wolfgang]

Picked up a new addition today. A nice size Kole tang. One of the most peaceful from the zebramosa family. Her name is Debbie :-D

I also saw a Blue face angel at my LFS about 5" they wanted $230 for it.

Pictures after acclimation.

[shilala]

Picked up a new addition today. A nice size Kole tang. One of the most peaceful from the zebramosa family. Her name is Debbie :-D

I also saw a Blue face angel at my LFS about 5" they wanted $230 for it.

Pictures after acclimation.

Hehehehehehehe. Debbie. :r
You ain't right, brother.

[shilala]

Ron,
Both are beautiful indeed.

All a matter of preference as to what you want to keep.
That is the beauty of the hobby that it allows so many variations.
If you want my angels, you can't have a reef. In a reef, one can never, ever keep the fish I have as most of them would enjoy it as a wonderful treat and would eat all the corals/sponges.
So we each have our shortcomings but it is that variation that makes it so neat.
My non reef world is about sustaining very rare fish that are known in the hobby as not lasting very long. I love that challenge.

I benefited from both worlds for quite some time. I had the fish only system with the massive, large fish, while my son had the 75 gallon reef only system, with all the corals and the fish that reefs can sustain.
He has since torn his down and left the house so I stayed with my fish only.

At times I am tempted to set up a second tank as a reef system in my living room (I keep my tank currently in my family room). I have ample space for them. I just don't think the divorce attorney is worth it. Wife will clean me out totally if I dare set up another.

Carlos, have you ever seen one of those great big jellyfish exhibits that's just a six foot wide tube that goes from floor to ceiling with nothing in it but water and jellyfish?
I think that's you, my brother. :D

One day I'm going to build a tank and keep an octopus.
Wish me luck. :)

[Wolfgang]

Lol My aunt got me a gift card so i named it after her :-)

Here is a fun bit of info for you to look though Scott. Octopus Info. (http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/indepth-topics-disscussion/41290-has-anyone-tried-keep-octopus.html)

[Mark]

I am loving this thread! I got my first tank about a year ago and quickly upgraded to a 30 gallon with tropical fish. Eventually I would LOVE to have a reef tank, but the set up cost is a bit steep while I'm still in school.

I will have to enjoy vicariously through all your pictures. Thanks for sharing!

[Blueface]

Carlos, have you ever seen one of those great big jellyfish exhibits that's just a six foot wide tube that goes from floor to ceiling with nothing in it but water and jellyfish?
I think that's you, my brother. :D

One day I'm going to build a tank and keep an octopus.
Wish me luck. :)

No way.
I could never stand that.
Would bore me to death.
I would probably want to jump in the tank like Steve O or something.
Wouldn't be prudent.

I need fun/activity.
That is why I love angels so much.
They are acrobats.
Constantly doing things other fish don't do.
They will go sideways, upside down, all over.
Very curious.
They let you pet them/scratch them.
If I can't have large angels, I just can't see having a tank.
I also love "Mr. Eel" that I have not pictured as he is always hiding in his rock.
He is my Zebra Moray that I have had for many years and hand feed him.
Once in a while, if I am eating doo doo as I feed him, I accidentally have him bite my finger and hang on. Feels like a vice grip. Fortunately, he doesn't have teeth that can hurt me. Just crushing power.
Now imagine me with those jelly fish again.

[Wolfgang]

You have a zebra moray too? I just got one her name is Leela and she is about 10"

Here is a short video of her. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4ZwRQIPDyo

[shilala]

No way.
I could never stand that.
Would bore me to death.
I would probably want to jump in the tank like Steve O or something.
Wouldn't be prudent.

I need fun/activity.
That is why I love angels so much.
They are acrobats.
Constantly doing things other fish don't do.
They will go sideways, upside down, all over.
Very curious.
They let you pet them/scratch them.
If I can't have large angels, I just can't see having a tank.
I also love "Mr. Eel" that I have not pictured as he is always hiding in his rock.
He is my Zebra Moray that I have had for many years and hand feed him.
Once in a while, if I am eating doo doo as I feed him, I accidentally have him bite my finger and hang on. Feels like a vice grip. Fortunately, he doesn't have teeth that can hurt me. Just crushing power.
Now imagine me with those jelly fish again.

It should be obvious that you're gonna have to post a pic. :D
I'd like to see some wide shots of your fish in action, too. That or a video would be cool.
I love it. That tank is gorgeous, brother. :tu

[shilala]

Is anyone else having trouble seeing pics?
I can't see most of the pics hosted on photobucket. Sometimes some show up, sometimes none.
I had to lift the url for each one and copy and paste it in another browser window to view them.

[fissure]

Pics are showing up Scott. Beautiful tanks everyone. Love the angels Carlos!! I'll have to get off my lazy azz and get some of mine. Used to have a 120 with all sps and lost most of them to acro eating flatworms. Broke that whole tank down and now have just a 50 breeder with a sump in the basement. All lps and softies, but am yearning to go back to sps.

[Blueface]

I almost lost my head a few minutes ago.

I mentioned to the wife that I will gladly go ahead and get her the matching range, microwave and dishwasher to match the new stainless fridge.

After I said that and she smiled with joy over it, I suggested we put a reef tank in the living room thanks to this thread and a new boost of energy for more tanks again.

I am still trying to get her foot out of my butt and darn nearly lost my head with the other shoe that flew at me.

[Blueface]

If I can find them, will post some cool shots of the installations I have done for customers.
I have done some pretty cool plumbing for the entire system, all with PVC and Spaflex.
Lets see if I can capture Mr. Eel.
Next time I feed him and he goes nuts all over the tank.

[shilala]

If I can find them, will post some cool shots of the installations I have done for customers.
I have done some pretty cool plumbing for the entire system, all with PVC and Spaflex.
Lets see if I can capture Mr. Eel.
Next time I feed him and he goes nuts all over the tank.
That'll be awesome. :)

[Wolfgang]

Most Definitely.

[j-easy]

we'll im going to be making some DIY "agrocrete rocks" today for my future 120 gallon reef

[G G]

I had never heard of reef tanks til now, awesome pics.

[Starchild]

This is the inspiration I need right now. Blueface, your setup is gorgeous :dr, and Shilala's is exactly what I want to do.

I've got a 29 gal setup that is down right now. I got behind with maintenance with the baby in the house and it crashed. I've been debating setting it back up as a fresh water just to make things easy, bu this thread has me wanting to get it back up and running as a salt.

I'll need to work on the filter setup and you guys seem to know your stuff.

Right now it's setup with crushed coral and an undergravel system with a powerhead. I've also got an over-the-side filter. I was running a dual bulb fixture with full spectrum bulbs.

I'd like to go with something like Shilala has. I have a combination of some cave rock, live rock (that's not so live anymore) and bleached coral. I'd like to have 3 or so nice fish and a low maintenance system.

Any suggestions?

Andre

[Blueface]

This is the inspiration I need right now. Blueface, your setup is gorgeous :dr, and Shilala's is exactly what I want to do.

I've got a 29 gal setup that is down right now. I got behind with maintenance with the baby in the house and it crashed. I've been debating setting it back up as a fresh water just to make things easy, bu this thread has me wanting to get it back up and running as a salt.

I'll need to work on the filter setup and you guys seem to know your stuff.

Right now it's setup with crushed coral and an undergravel system with a powerhead. I've also got an over-the-side filter. I was running a dual bulb fixture with full spectrum bulbs.

I'd like to go with something like Shilala has. I have a combination of some cave rock, live rock (that's not so live anymore) and bleached coral. I'd like to have 3 or so nice fish and a low maintenance system.

Any suggestions?

Andre

For a reef, suggestion number 1.
Get rid of the undergravel filter.
That stuff will come back to haunt you.

Suggestion 2.
Use the crush coral as you base.
Add live sand to that.
Only do this is you can stand not to stir things around.
The crushed coral below will become a denitrator for you.
If you can't keep from stirring, go live sand all the way.

[av8tor152d]

Beautiful tanks gentlemen. I once upon a time had a 95 gallon saltwater tank. That is also when I lived in Hawaii and could walk down to the beach for my water changes, and oh yeah caught my own fish too. I will have to look I know somewhere I have some pics.

[Wolfgang]

Sick Jason!

I knew a guy with I think a 300 gallon surge tank down in Key West. He was on a canal and a pump would fill up a 300 gallon barrel then when it was full a valve would open and the barrel would completely replace the tank water. And the tank water wouled drain back into the canal.

Think free easy water changes awesome!

[Blueface]

Beautiful tanks gentlemen. I once upon a time had a 95 gallon saltwater tank. That is also when I lived in Hawaii and could walk down to the beach for my water changes, and oh yeah caught my own fish too. I will have to look I know somewhere I have some pics.

Sick Jason!

I knew a guy with I think a 300 gallon surge tank down in Key West. He was on a canal and a pump would fill up a 300 gallon barrel then when it was full a valve would open and the barrel would completely replace the tank water. And the tank water wouled drain back into the canal.

Think free easy water changes awesome!

Guys,
While it certainly is convenient, not something I would do with my tank and the value of the fish I have.
In the business, I did it for a while. Lots of folks in Florida that specialize in delivering ocean water also.
Eventually, I set up 200 gallon per day RO units, a trailer with a 100 gallon tank and mixed my own salt.
I no longer have the trailer but have two 45 gallon containers in my garage with the same RO unit. I pump the water out of my tank and pump back in from the containers where I just throw the salt in.

The reason to refrain from sea water is it contains pathogens and parasites. Unless you treat that water in a recirculating system with heavy duty UV's, before introducing it to your tank, you are seriously risking introducing lots of junk that is free floating in the ocean, into a very confined system that can crash it. After a few fatal episodes that arose as result of sea water, never did it again.

[Wolfgang]

The fellow in Key West has a monster commercial UV sterilizer before and after the holding tank. This is something I personally would NEVER do. However When i get around to rebuilding my 24 gallon tank i will be swiping 25 lbs of sand from siesta key one of the top 10 beaches in the world. It is pure white sugar sand. Ill just have to be all Ninja like.

[Blueface]

The fellow in Key West has a monster commercial UV sterilizer before and after the holding tank. This is something I personally would NEVER do. However When i get around to rebuilding my 24 gallon tank i will be swiping 25 lbs of sand from siesta key one of the top 10 beaches in the world. It is pure white sugar sand. Ill just have to be all Ninja like.

Sounds like he did it right with the massive UVs.
The trick is to recirculate it often, and slowly for maximum kill.
Most folks that sell sea water collected and treated just don't treat it long enough to have maximum kill.
The place my son ran had different holding tanks to ensure the water was treated long enough. Once it met the required time, the tank was allowed to run into the system to sell.

[Wolfgang]

Also quick question about Mr. Eel. How big was he when you got him? And since then has his pattern changed? I have read that as Zebra morays age and mature their White stripes get thinner. Can you confirm or deny this?

[Blueface]

Also quick question about Mr. Eel. How big was he when you got him? And since then has his pattern changed? I have read that as Zebra morays age and mature their White stripes get thinner. Can you confirm or deny this?

Never heard of that.
Mine has the stripes the same as when I got him, or at least it seems to me.
I do recall seeing some with thinner stripes but has had nothing to do with size. just a natural variation.
There is even differences in the black. Some are more brown.
Mine is not as large as one would think given it has been with me for as long as it has.
I don't feed him as often and that is key in growth.
Frankly, wouldn't know its length but you have now made me curious.
They are quite docile and entertaining.
Blind as heck.
Can't see crap unless it practically smacks them.
However, as far as ability to smell, amazing.
I can place a drop of water in the tanks from a container that holds shrimp and that darn thing is out in a heartbeat.

BTW, I want to say I have had it for about 8-9 years now.

[Wolfgang]

Same with mine You put 5ml of shrimp water in a 90 gallon tank and she goes nuts swimming all out in the open. Mine had pretty good eyesight though im not brave enough to hand feed her (yet). She is small so therefore her food is small and I wont want my finger to be mistaken.

[Blueface]

Same with mine You put 5ml of shrimp water in a 90 gallon tank and she goes nuts swimming all out in the open. Mine had pretty good eyesight though im not brave enough to hand feed her (yet). She is small so therefore her food is small and I wont want my finger to be mistaken.

Hand feeding is half the fun of owning them.
Hold the shrimp by a hair.:r
Regardless, eventually, you will get caught.

In anticipation, go to the garage and get a vice grip.
Practice catching your finger in it.
Squeeze.
Lock it.
Shake your hand all over the place without it falling off.
Now you will be prepared for when you get caught by the eel.:r

One time, I shook that bastage all over.
Pulled him literally out of the tank caught on my finger.
Wouldn't let go.
Eventually decided the water was better than my finger.

[Wolfgang]

Way to convince me to start trying. Video later hahaha

[j-easy]

planning on setting up a 120 gallon, 48x24x24

lighting suggestions?

[Wolfgang]

What are youinterested in? Coral or Just fish?

If Just fish I reccomend a "Tek Light 4X54"

If coral and fish a "Tek Light 8X 54"

This fixture has the best reflectorsI have ever encountered. As far as T-5 ho fixtures go the fixture is only as good as the reflector. Also They are Very Reliable, dot consue a whole lot of energy, and give of very little heat.

[shilala]

For a reef, suggestion number 1.
Get rid of the undergravel filter.
That stuff will come back to haunt you.

Suggestion 2.
Use the crush coral as you base.
Add live sand to that.
Only do this is you can stand not to stir things around.
The crushed coral below will become a denitrator for you.
If you can't keep from stirring, go live sand all the way.

Andre, I agree with Carlos 100% (for what that's worth, hehe).
I used an undergravel filter in my reef tank for a lot of years and could never keep my water stable. I have no idea why, but it'd just go wild and stuff would die for no apparent reason. I could never keep anything alive.
Getting rid of that undergravel filter marked a turning point and everything has just gotten better since.
I know it doesn't make sense based on what I know from keeping freshwater since I was a kid, but salt is different, obviously. :)

I use crushed coral, and LOTS of it. I also use tons of shells of all different sizes. It's a nice look, I like it. :tu
All told I bet there's at least 2 pounds per gallon between crushed coral and shells. A good 3-4" in the bottom of my tank.
Those couple things Carlos mentioned have made huge difference for me along the way. Consider yourself fortunate that he brought it up, it'll save you a lot of trouble that I went through if you choose to take his suggestions. :tu

[darb85]

can anyone guide me to a 20+ gallon nano reef, set-up that wont break the bank? something in the 150-200 buck range for the tank? and then possibly a list of stuff to get to make it run right. Looking to set up a reef using Fuji live rock. Is this decent live rock? colorful?

set up reccomendations? website so I dont have to bug you?:r


Brad

[shilala]

planning on setting up a 120 gallon, 48x24x24

lighting suggestions?
I have the 24" Nova T5 from right here (https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12772&prodid=25121&catid=3).
The bulbs cost about 60 bucks a year to replace (and it's very important to replace them every year).
You should probably check the bulb replacement cost of any light you choose. They're super expensive.
My light doesn't get real hot and it's in excellent shape after almost three years sitting on top of my tank.
I'd never have guessed it'd last half that long, as nothing for salt water ever does if it has metal involved. The only thing that's ever happened is that the fan started making noise. It was full of crud (salt, dust, etc.) and I had to wash it out. I dried it carefully and lubricated it very lightly and it's back to being silent and works great.
I'd happily suggest the Nova T5's to any of my friends. I could not be more pleased with it and it had came highly recommended to me.
I don't think you could possibly go wrong. :tu

[Blueface]

OK guys.
Made me go back and dig up some old photos.
Loading up to Photobucket right now.
I have some shots I am very proud of involving tanks I designed/built for customers.
Will post soon.

[Blueface]

First one.
Believe it or not, this is a 225 gallon tank that is six feet wide.
That is how huge this furniture is that the tank looks tiny within it.
This is a $40K wall unit/tank.
The tank is custom acrylic, made to customer specs, with a built in fiberglass, handmade artificial reef with very neat looking (as close as you can get) to live coral.
After three months of having, and me having told him not to do it as he wouldn't be happy long term, the customer paid me to do a whole new tank to mimic mine with bleached corals.

This customer later moved and we built the same system but with twin tanks with a large screen TV in the middle.
My son has those shots somewhere. Need to see if we can find them.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0048_2.jpg

[Blueface]

Left side of tank filtration.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0032_2.jpg

[Blueface]

Right side.

All the equipment leads outside of the house to a chiller and then comes back in.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0037_2.jpg

[Blueface]

Another view.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0042_2.jpg

[Blueface]

This photo brought tears.
I loved this Banana Eel.
They are so rare and so expensive.
I was afraid he would attack my Clarion when I got him, as he was so, so small, that I got rid of it and sold it.
How I regret it now.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/IMG_0079.jpg

[Blueface]

This was a cool system to build and one I am most proud of.
Took me three days to do this plumbing.
325 custom acrylic tank with chiller to the side, covered in the same wood as the furniture.
Lights are Power Compacts.
This is when it was first set up with only a handful of fish in it.
Can you spot where my banana eel ended up?

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/IMG_0109.jpg

[Blueface]

Left side filtration.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0063.jpg

[Wolfgang]

Beautiful Eel. Somehow, I have a soft spot for eels. That is a huge system.

[Blueface]

Right side filtration.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0064.jpg

[Blueface]

Full view of filtration.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0065.jpg

[Blueface]

1/3 HP Chiller.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/100_0069.jpg

[Blueface]

Beautiful Eel. Somehow, I have a soft spot for eels. That is a huge system.

I panicked on that eel as I assumed it would dine on my small Clarion.
He ended up being quite docile in that customer's tank.
He ended up dying in a power failure at that home.
Have tried to get another one since then but they are way overpriced when available.

[Wolfgang]

My LFS has a 1500 gallon DT with 4 eels in it. all of them are between 3 and 5 feet lond and as thick as my arm. They are sooo awesome! A green Moray, Jeweled Moray, Tesselata Moray, and a Zebra Moray. Also in the tank is a huge queen angel, a panther grouper, and a minatus grouper. I love looking at that tank.

[Ahbroody]

Will take some pics of mine. Have not been keeping it up as I should but recently started making an effort to restore it to its OMFG status it used to have.

I am more of a clownfish anemone guy.

Have a pair of spawning Nigripes clowns in the 70 reef with two rose bubble nems and a 3 foot pink atlantic carpet nem.

Just started a second tank for a pair of chrysogaster clowns my buddy was able to secure me through questionable methods :ss Currently at his shop for the past month to make sure they are safe.

[Blueface]

Will take some pics of mine. Have not been keeping it up as I should but recently started making an effort to restore it to its OMFG status it used to have.

I am more of a clownfish anemone guy.

Have a pair of spawning Nigripes clowns in the 70 reef with two rose bubble nems and a 3 foot pink atlantic carpet nem.

Just started a second tank for a pair of chrysogaster clowns my buddy was able to secure me through questionable methods :ss Currently at his shop for the past month to make sure they are safe.

Clowns are so cool.
I have a mated pair in my tank.
One is normal orange/white and the other is the black one pictured in this thread.
Amazing that I don't have a reef and they regularly lay eggs on the bleached coral.
None will ever make it as they are delicacies for the other fish but cool that in spite of not having anenomes, they still spawn.

[j-easy]

What are youinterested in? Coral or Just fish?

If Just fish I reccomend a "Tek Light 4X54"

If coral and fish a "Tek Light 8X 54"

This fixture has the best reflectorsI have ever encountered. As far as T-5 ho fixtures go the fixture is only as good as the reflector. Also They are Very Reliable, dot consue a whole lot of energy, and give of very little heat.

I want to do a reef with different types of coral, I am worried about getting lights that can penetrate all 24" of water with the full spectrum

[Blueface]

I want to do a reef with different types of coral, I am worried about getting lights that can penetrate all 24" of water with the full spectrum

24" is not deep for today's bulbs.
You can go with VHO's and if still a concern, go with metal halides in addition but expect to generate a whole lot of heat.
In the store my son worked, all corals were maintained in metal halides.
My son had a combination of VHO and metal halides in his 75 reef, which is 24 deep and worked fine.
You will need a chiller to go along with that.

[md4958]

Im assuming the point of a chiller is to cool the water, but do the lamps generate THAT much heat that they actually heat the water that much?? So Im assuming that in a saltwater tank a heater isnt necessary??

[Blueface]

Im assuming the point of a chiller is to cool the water, but do the lamps generate THAT much heat that they actually heat the water that much?? So Im assuming that in a saltwater tank a heater isnt necessary??

Does it heat up the water that much?
Sure.
Especially the smaller the tank is or the lower in height.
My 225 fish only is lit by four 4 - 36" Power Compact Units (96 W each).
That generates some heat but not much as Power Compacts run quite cool.
However, VHOs run hot.
Metal Halides run incredibly hot.
You can and should use fans to get some of that heat out of there (you can see that in the design of the last tank I pictured) but when you throw in the heat generated by recirculating pumps, UV, etc, it does raise your temperature quite a few degrees. Enough to make corals quite uncomfortable.

As for the heater, depends.
In South Florida, don't use them. Don't need them.
We will never have a low temperature concern.
The opposite is true. Just about everyone should have a chiller.
In the NE as an example, yeah, you would still need a heater for the cold winters.

I keep my house temperature at 75. Without my chiller, with cool Power Compacts but three pumps and a UV running the system, my temperature will rise to around 82-84.
The chiller maintains it at 77.

Many folks get away with reefs in some parts of the country without a chiller.
Most have one.
Depends on where you are and the temperature your water goes to.

[md4958]

so, I would need a chiller AND a heater?

[Blueface]

so, I would need a chiller AND a heater?

Where you are in CT? I would say absolutely.
I say that as I spent 30 yrs in NJ.
You cannot risk your house temperature dropping to the 20's, 30's if your heater unit goes out on your home.
Well worth the investment.
If you have hot lamps, then yes to a chiller also due to the hot NE summers.
You can use one programmer (dual controller) and plug the heater in the that controller also that runs the chiller.
This way, you set the temperature where the chiller should go on (heater will not fight it and stay off) and then you set the low point where the heater goes on (chiller will now remain off).
That is the best route to go.
If you do a refugium or wet dry filter, you can drop your heater in there and it is out of sight and not cluttering the inside of the tank.
If the tank has no internal overflow to do bottom filtration, then you do the conventional heater in the tank.
I would invest in a tank with an internal overflow box. Best route to provide ample alternatives for under tank filtration.
You can always do a "hang on" overflow box but it doesn't look as nice or allow you as much flow generally.

[md4958]

Thanks for the info Carlos! :tu

[fissure]

A chiller also depends on your setup. I had 600 watts of halides running over a 120 with no heat issues due to the fact I had 200 more gallons of water in the basement connected into the system. There are lots of ways to get around having a chiller, but there are some times that having one is the easiest. Although they are power hungry and expensive to run.

[Blueface]

Although they are power hungry and expensive to run.

That they are.
Mine is a 1/3 HP.
I estimate it costs me about $35 a month to run it.
Cost me $600 "wholesale". Runs closer to $1K retail.

However, plenty of newer chillers in the market for smaller set ups (mine is 225 G) that are not as expensive and don't cost as much to run.
The run costs are more related to the temperature drop required.

One thing I have learned from my years in the business/hobby, always go bigger than you need.
Bigger on everything.
Bigger lighting.
Bigger heater.
Bigger UV.
Bigger Protein Skimmer.
Bigger chiller.
Bigger wet dry/filter.
Bigger all.
Bigger, is and will always be better.

Oh, and last but not least, bigger tank. (remember what happens to us all in the cigar hobby with humidors - we always end up with a bigger one and then want yet a bigger one - well, same thing in the fish hobby)

I have now been dreaming of a 400 gallon for a while but my wife wakes me up in the middle of it and hits me over the head.:r

[Wolfgang]

I dont have or need a chiller on my reef. Lights on ll day and its a constant 78 degrees winter and summer.

[Blueface]

I dont have or need a chiller on my reef. Lights on ll day and its a constant 78 degrees winter and summer.

Wow. In Florida?
What do you keep your house setting at?

[Wolfgang]

House currently has the heat on at 70 and in the summer the Air is on at 75. I dont have a canopy on my tank and instead of glass lids I have the entire top covered in egg crate. I lose about a gallon of water/day to evap.

[Blueface]

House currently has the heat on at 70 and in the summer the Air is on at 75. I dont have a canopy on my tank and instead of glass lids I have the entire top covered in egg crate. I lose about a gallon of water/day to evap.

Ahhhh........

Yup.
I use to keep my tank at 78-79 with no chiller either with the house at 75 but man did I go through water.
It took fans blowing at the top and fans on the wet dry to stop the moisture from wrecking the wood.
I would go through one gallon of water a day v. about 2 a week with the chiller.
Good thing you don't have a canopy as it would warp from the moisture.

[j-easy]

back to my lighting thing, im thinking about this

http://www.marineandreef.com/Outer_Orbit_T5_48_inch_250W_Current_USA_p/rcu01077.htm

i want to be able to keep clams and any type of corals

[Wolfgang]

Its a good light but I still say avoid Halides unless you are planning for a chiller as well. They are very expensive to buy, expensive to run, and are very hot. You Can keep clams and most any kind of coral under T-5s now a days. Even anemones do well under t-5s.

T5s are cheaper to buy, use less energy, put out less heat, and bulbs are much much cheaper. Trust me. I have used halides before and also gotten an electric bill for $600 as a result. Think of all the cigars you could buy for $600

[Blueface]

Its a good light but I still say avoid Halides unless you are planning for a chiller as well. They are very expensive to buy, expensive to run, and are very hot. You Can keep clams and most any kind of coral under T-5s now a days. Even anemones do well under t-5s.

T5s are cheaper to buy, use less energy, put out less heat, and bulbs are much much cheaper. Trust me. I have used halides before and also gotten an electric bill for $600 as a result. Think of all the cigars you could buy for $600

:tpd:

Totally agree.
If I were not to do T5's for whatever reason(s), would do standard VHOs.
Last thing would be Halides for thanks to living in Florida.
When my son had them, my electric bill was about $100 per month more, minimum (of course chiller involved also).

[fissure]

T5's all the way. Depending on tank depth (24" or greater), you can overdrive T5's with an icecap VHO ballast and get great performance. T5's will keep anything you want. SPS, clams...ect. I ran halides and with all my uncovered sumps in the basement I used to evap 2.5 gallons a day. Didn't want to invest the money into a ventilation/heat exchanger, so took down all the sumps and big tank.

[darb85]

Just ordered my aquapod 24G. Now im shopping live sand and rock, Im thinking a mixture of Fuji and Carribiean. also theres a type that has a shelf look to it. cant remeber the name of it, but probably get some of that too.

thinking about 30 pounds total, probably a bit much but then I have it.

sweet! Thanks for the ispration and well hey here goes another slope. Between my cars, motorcycles, Boats, And cigars, Im freaking screwed! :D

anyways, Here goes nothin!

Oh any reccomendations on sand?

[Blueface]

Oh any reccomendations on sand?

Go with live sand.
It is neat.
Clean.
Has bio for you to help establish the tank.

BTW,
Don't believe it takes weeks to cycle a tank.
I have cycled many, many tanks and thrown in thousands of dollars of fish, with no problems.
The trick is three days use of a product called Bacter Vital.
Works like a charm.
I also use it quite often to set up hospital tanks asap when needed.

[darb85]

Go with live sand.
It is neat.
Clean.
Has bio for you to help establish the tank.

BTW,
Don't believe it takes weeks to cycle a tank.
I have cycled many, many tanks and thrown in thousands of dollars of fish, with no problems.
The trick is three days use of a product called Bacter Vital.
Works like a charm.
I also use it quite often to set up hospital tanks asap when needed.


Good to know.

I was planning on live sand but is there a brand thats good or is it kind of a generic buy in bulk kind of thing?

[Blueface]

Good to know.

I was planning on live sand but is there a brand thats good or is it kind of a generic buy in bulk kind of thing?

There are not too many companies doing that from what I recall, unless more have popped up.
Any will be good.
It is not cheap as compared to regular sand but well worth the difference in price.
What I love about it is that you don't clean it. Just drop it in the tank and in no time, it all settles down and the tank is clear as can be.

[shilala]

If you're not in a huge hurry, you can use 1/2 live sand and 1/2 whatever sand and give it a couple weeks. You don't even need 1/2 live sand, just a good amount to seed the tank.
I guess my point is that the base needs to be deep and thick. If the cost of the sand causes you to order less than the optimal amount, that's okay, but add enough other sand to get a good base.
Most folks skrimp on base material and it's the heart of a system. The deeper the base the more biological action and the healthier the tank. It's huge.

[ucubed]

This is the tank my father keeps at home. The pictures are a few months old so it probably looks different now and probably cleaner, but here it is.
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2283-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2284-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2285-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2286-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2287-1.jpg

[ucubed]

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2290-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2290-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2291-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2292-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2293-1.jpg

[ucubed]

http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2294-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2295-1.jpg
http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn119/ucubed/IMG_2296-1.jpg

[shilala]

All this fish tank talk made me go get my diatom filter out of the shed.
I gotta polish that tank up a bit. :)

[BC-Axeman]

Cool thread! I have a 120 gal. and a 10 gal. nano. Six or seven years old. My wife kept the nano at work at her previous job. I'll have to clean them enough to take pics.

[darb85]

Ugg, The place I orderd my tank from said that there was a price change and they arent honoring my order! bastards. Theyll sell me one for 220 now instead of the 176 I ordered mine for. that should be illegal! in fact think it might be but oh well. Dont buy from aloha aquariums!

Oh well, it may be good that it happened. Im starting to debate starting a 50 gallon tank with a remote sump:hm I dont know which way to go! only thing ive ever had a hand it was my dads old fish only tank. had a 15inch Lion fish in it. Was the coolest thing ever. sold that sucker for almost 2000 bucks to a private collector, apperently its rare that they are that big for very long. Went into a 2000 gallon tank, still there too.

anyways. Off to my search. IM still thinking nano though, but ill be using the mini skimmer i saw too. who knows, well see gah, so many options!

Im so screwed.

[shilala]

Ugg, The place I orderd my tank from said that there was a price change and they arent honoring my order! bastards. Theyll sell me one for 220 now instead of the 176 I ordered mine for. that should be illegal! in fact think it might be but oh well. Dont buy from aloha aquariums!

Oh well, it may be good that it happened. Im starting to debate starting a 50 gallon tank with a remote sump:hm I dont know which way to go! only thing ive ever had a hand it was my dads old fish only tank. had a 15inch Lion fish in it. Was the coolest thing ever. sold that sucker for almost 2000 bucks to a private collector, apperently its rare that they are that big for very long. Went into a 2000 gallon tank, still there too.

anyways. Off to my search. IM still thinking nano though, but ill be using the mini skimmer i saw too. who knows, well see gah, so many options!

Im so screwed.
Check Doctor's Foster and Smith. (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=10677)
They're a class outfit with top notch stuff at very fair prices. You won't take an Aloha-style screwing, either. :tu

[md4958]

an Aloha-style screwing, either. :tu

that CAN be fun, but it really depends on the size of her coconuts!!

[shilala]

that CAN be fun, but it really depends on the size of her coconuts!!
Good job pointing that out, my perverted little buddy. :tu

[md4958]

Good job pointing that out, my perverted little buddy. :tu

I figured since I have nothing of value to add to this discussion I would help in ANY way possible!!!
http://www.geocities.com/giarc_79_rm/boobies.jpg

[Blueface]

Check Doctor's Foster and Smith. (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=10677)
They're a class outfit with top notch stuff at very fair prices. You won't take an Aloha-style screwing, either. :tu

That was my place to go to for years, even going back to when they were called Pet Warehouse.
Used them extensively until I eventually got my wholesale tax license for the business.
Their prices are quite close to that of wholesale, or at least as close as one can get. Much, much cheaper than local shops and very reputable.
Another very reputable mail order one that is out of PA is "That Fish Place".
Just as good. Also ordered quite a bit from them.

[shilala]

That was my place to go to for years, even going back to when they were called Pet Warehouse.
Used them extensively until I eventually got my wholesale tax license for the business.
Their prices are quite close to that of wholesale, or at least as close as one can get. Much, much cheaper than local shops and very reputable.
Another very reputable mail order one that is out of PA is "That Fish Place".
Just as good. Also ordered quite a bit from them.
That's amazing. They're the only other ones I've ever used. :D
I just ordered parts for my Diatom filter from them a few weeks ago cause they're the only ones that carry them.
The only thing I can say negative about That Fish Place/ That Pet Place is that I've called them for a couple things and talked to everyone in the store and no one knows anything about what they're selling.
One time I just gave up.
I've always wanted to visit their store but it's about 4 hours away. I'm not that excited about it. :)
My all-time favorite store is Elmer's in Monroeville, PA. It's a smelly little store but at a time they had the best selection of fish anywhere. Good and healthy, too. They've slipped in recent years but sometimes they're good and sometimes not. I still stop every time I go by. :)

[BC-Axeman]

In the San Jose area, this store is incredible. A little high priced but very good. Dr. Le is the best adviser I have ever found. He sets up and maintains commercial aquariums. Tiny little hole-in-the-wall store that is jamb packed with some of the most beautiful aquariums.
http://www.aquatic-gallery.com/

[Blueface]

That's amazing. They're the only other ones I've ever used. :D
I just ordered parts for my Diatom filter from them a few weeks ago cause they're the only ones that carry them.
The only thing I can say negative about That Fish Place/ That Pet Place is that I've called them for a couple things and talked to everyone in the store and no one knows anything about what they're selling.
One time I just gave up.
I've always wanted to visit their store but it's about 4 hours away. I'm not that excited about it. :)
My all-time favorite store is Elmer's in Monroeville, PA. It's a smelly little store but at a time they had the best selection of fish anywhere. Good and healthy, too. They've slipped in recent years but sometimes they're good and sometimes not. I still stop every time I go by. :)

My brother in law actually went out there from NJ.
He liked driving to it.

Another one I just thought of that although I never bought as much from as the other two I mentioned, I did buy from them and they do have a massive, massive location about a half hour from me is BigAl's.

[UPHOTO]

Boy......

I stayed away from this thread as long as I could.

It breaks my heart that I don't have a tank anymore. I'll start one up again one day for sure but here are some pictures of the one I used to have about 4 years ago.

90 gallon corner unit

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3375/3199075681_a166c1ed5b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3528/3199082253_7c325040f5_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3199927850_d64f0d7a98_o.jpg

By far my favorite in the tank was this blue carpet and it's buddies
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3199081351_4378227fbb_o.jpg

[UPHOTO]

Really miss it.....:(


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3199926614_2528d01a1f_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/3199078901_b85c187889_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3199920680_8b7e1a9e9f_o.jpg

[UPHOTO]

Wish I had some close ups of the Ricordia in that first picture on the right side of the tank.

They were gorgeous!!!

[shilala]

Wish I had some close ups of the Ricordia in that first picture on the right side of the tank.

They were gorgeous!!!
The very top tank pic is the best. It's like a snapshot of a real reef.
I'm excited about the coralline spreading over the rest of the new rock I have in my tank. It'll do so much for "the look".
It's kind of neat how age and patience play into reefkeeping maybe even moreso than cigarkeeping. :)
I think cigars may be more work, though. :D

[darb85]

LFS got me going here. 25lbs fuji, 29G BioCube enough sand for 3 inch base, 400GPH Power head with wave thingamabob rotator thingy. Some Cheato(free:rolleyes:) a small light to put above chamber for cheato. Stealth heater. I think thats it... Rock comes in tomarrow, I get first pick, but i have to cure in :( Kinda nervous for this. and the smell:pu.

Thanks for enspiring me to spend more money! :D:salute:

[shilala]

LFS got me going here. 25lbs fuji, 29G BioCube enough sand for 3 inch base, 400GPH Power head with wave thingamabob rotator thingy. Some Cheato(free) a small light to put above chamber for cheato. Stealth heater. I think thats it... Rock comes in tomarrow, I get first pick, but i have to cure in Kinda nervous for this. and the smell

Thanks for enspiring me to spend more money! :D:salute:
You got no animals, you can cure it right in the tank.
Everything saltwater smells. If it doesn't I'd be concerned. :)
You learn to love it. :tu

[Blueface]

I shouldn't have asked.
I should have just gone ahead, dragged the 55 out of the garage, set it up in the office room in the house, bought all the crap I need on the business card so she won't see it and I would have had a reef running already as a second tank again, at WHOLESALE!!!
Instead, I ask if I could.
Am I a child?
Did I need to be excused in class to go to the bathroom?
Did I forget my hall pass or something?

Crap!!!
Man I fear that woman.:r

[shilala]

I shouldn't have asked.
I should have just gone ahead, dragged the 55 out of the garage, set it up in the office room in the house, bought all the crap I need on the business card so she won't see it and I would have had a reef running already as a second tank again, at WHOLESALE!!!
Instead, I ask if I could.
Am I a child?
Did I need to be excused in class to go to the bathroom?
Did I forget my hall pass or something?

Crap!!!
Man I fear that woman.:r
Put drugs in her drink.
Problem solved. :tu

[BC-Axeman]

OK, here goes:
Flash on, tank setup. The cooler with the skimmer on top is off to the right side.
http://130.94.224.229/share/reef-full.jpg
No flash, left side. There are five fish in this shot. The clowns are in pulsing Xenia, the polyps close and open suddenly about once a second. The pineapple looking coral started out as a dead chunk of rock.
http://130.94.224.229/share/reeftank1.jpg
No flash, right side. Pseudochromis fish, 6 year old maximus clam, porites coral that appeared from dead rock and then grew huge, hammer coral that was a LFS dieing castoff deal, cool red mushrooms, etc.
http://130.94.224.229/share/reeftank2.jpg
Along the bottom are a lot of small brown anemones called majano that are major pests. Nothing eats them that wouldn't eat the rest of the tank. They have to be picked out by hand. A good way to find bristle worms.

No flash, Sailfin Tang. This fish was an inch long triangle when we got it. It has amazing control of it's pattern, like contrast and tint controls.
http://130.94.224.229/share/reeftank3.jpg

Last picture, with flash. Under the tank.
Calcium reactor, chiller controller, 2x400w HID ballast with timer on the wall, the other side is a 25 gal refugium divided into three parts. The left side (can't see) has the main recirc pump and the reactor pump, the center is the part with live rock and the heaters, also live sand, the right side has the skimmer pump. The light for it doesn't show in the flash.
http://130.94.224.229/share/reef-under.jpg

[Wolfgang]

Looks like you have a small Aptasia problem. If it dosent bother you cool but if you get some lemon juice in a syringe you can zap em. Just make sure to ruin carbon for a week after.

Other than that beautiful tank. I love the Sailfin tangs but they get too darn big. I will stick with my Kole tang and add a hippo tank later on.

I wish I could get mushrooms to grow and spread like that.

[Wolfgang]

I shouldn't have asked.
I should have just gone ahead, dragged the 55 out of the garage, set it up in the office room in the house, bought all the crap I need on the business card so she won't see it and I would have had a reef running already as a second tank again, at WHOLESALE!!!
Instead, I ask if I could.
Am I a child?
Did I need to be excused in class to go to the bathroom?
Did I forget my hall pass or something?

Crap!!!
Man I fear that woman.:rPlease set it up! I wanna see what you can do!

[King James]

I have a 40 gallon tank w/ stand that is currently not in use but used to be a freshwater tank. I have always wanted to start a saltwater one...but know how expensive/time consuming it is and just don't know if it is the right decision at this point in my life.... maybe just get it back running as a freshwater tank for a couple years before I try anything more involved.

[Wolfgang]

I have a 40 gallon tank w/ stand that is currently not in use but used to be a freshwater tank. I have always wanted to start a saltwater one...but know how expensive/time consuming it is and just don't know if it is the right decision at this point in my life.... maybe just get it back running as a freshwater tank for a couple years before I try anything more involved.

40 gallons is a good size for a sw tank. Even though after you get corals up and growing you will wan to upgrade to that 300gallon built in at the foot of your bed lol.

Saltwater tanks depending on what your planning need weekly if not daily maintenance. Initial setup cost is much more than a FW tank becaus eoyu have to take into account the salt, better lighting, live rock, and the live stock. In the Saltwater world there really are NO $3 fish. Same for corals. I pay between $15-$50 for a coral that is 1 square inch. Fish can get even more expensive, ask blue face.

[Blueface]

Fish can get even more expensive, ask blue face.

Jim,
What he just said.
Just make sure you don't ask my wife.
Same nonsense she gives me with her sale items she buys, I gave her with the fish.:r

[BC-Axeman]

Aiptasia are easy, those are majanos. Huge problem. All the injection techniques have a 60% kill ratio. If I could get them down to less than one hundred in there I would keep them that way by injecting them. Aiptasia has about a 98% injection kill rate and peppermint shrimp keep them controlled.
Lots of light and well balanced water makes things grow well. I have the two 400w 20K HIDs and two 80w daylight CFs in the hood. Also my setup is in a SW window corner. The lights are off in the middle of the day.
I only do water changes two or three times a year but I have the calcium reactor adding traces and the refugium and skimmer removing stuff so there is a cross flow of nutrients and waste. There is a big sack of charcoal in the refuguim.

[Blueface]

Aiptasia are easy, those are majanos. Huge problem. All the injection techniques have a 60% kill ratio. If I could get them down to less than one hundred in there I would keep them that way by injecting them. Aiptasia has about a 98% injection kill rate and peppermint shrimp keep them controlled.

While not the hardiest, Longnose Butterflies are really good for this.

[BC-Axeman]

While not the hardiest, Longnose Butterflies are really good for this.
But will they eat everything else? Why would they mess with these stinging little bastards if they could just chomp on a nice mushroom or xinia?

[Andyman]

My tank isn't nearly as nice as some of the ones on here but I like my little puffer..

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n64/andyman1974/puff.jpg

[Hardcz]

Oh you guys...silly reefer botls.... scaring the newbies away from the hobby... It's not as hard as these bullies make it out to be...

[BC-Axeman]

It can be easy.
My first tank was a 7.5 gal with a behind tank filter and three pieces of live rock wedged in it. It took a while for it to stabilize but it finally did, enough for some coral, shrimp, crabs, damsel fish, critters, etc.
It evolved into the 10 gal nano I still have. I have to clean it before I can post a picture. It takes a lot of cleaning to keep them clear. Stuff grows vigorously in a marine environment.

[BC-Axeman]

My tank isn't nearly as nice as some of the ones on here but I like my little puffer..

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n64/andyman1974/puff.jpg
What, no monocle? I like it.

[Andyman]

I know I forgot the Monocle.. okay if one eyeglass is called a monocle how cow a pair isn't called a bicycle??? :rolleyes:

[BC-Axeman]

I know I forgot the Monocle.. okay if one eyeglass is called a monocle how cow a pair isn't called a bicycle??? :rolleyes:
biocle
where you wear two monocles, stylin'

[Blueface]

Please set it up! I wanna see what you can do!

You want to help out? With my funeral arrangements that is?:r

But will they eat everything else? Why would they mess with these stinging little bastards if they could just chomp on a nice mushroom or xinia?

They are specialized feeders for nooks and crannies. They generally don't bother anything else. Might take out small feather dusters though.

[Blueface]

FYI on the Longnose:
This is a fish that can be more of a challenge when it comes to feeding because its tiny mouth limits the size of foods it can consume. Its diet consists primarily of living marine organisms, such as amphipods and copepods, and therefore it is best kept in a reef tank or fish-only aquarium that is partially filled with live rock that has an ample population of natural prey organisms present to feed on.

[BC-Axeman]

FYI on the Longnose:
This is a fish that can be more of a challenge when it comes to feeding because its tiny mouth limits the size of foods it can consume. Its diet consists primarily of living marine organisms, such as amphipods and copepods, and therefore it is best kept in a reef tank or fish-only aquarium that is partially filled with live rock that has an ample population of natural prey organisms present to feed on.
Dragonettes (Mandarinfish) are like this. Sounds like if eats 'pods that it wants crunchy stuff.

[darb85]

Curing the rock. scrubbed it, was kinda nasty, but some sweet color came out of it. Doing a high sality dip 1.030-1.040 to try to chase out the badies that may be hiding inside tomarrow and then ill let it soak for a week, rinse and repeat! :D

29G Biocube is here too with Koralia 400GPH power head and 75w Stealth heater.:D


http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/32715/2211791060084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2211791060084512725LIAvtK)

http://inlinethumb47.webshots.com/42606/2240732190084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2240732190084512725KQVKOU)



http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/35443/2194843620084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2194843620084512725rLoWBW)

[BC-Axeman]

Looks like really good rock there. Great start. I hope you can avoid all the algae blooms and cyanobacteria I had to endure at the start. Seems like one thing would go away and another would take over. For a while it was these tiny snails, smaller than a BB.

[shilala]

29G Biocube is here too with Koralia 400GPH power head and 75w Stealth heater.:D

Where's the pics??? :)

[darb85]

Where's the pics??? :)

Tanks empty! :(

I can take pics of the empty tank if you want, but I figured id unveil it when i start its cycle!

:tu

[shilala]

Tanks empty! :(

I can take pics of the empty tank if you want, but I figured id unveil it when i start its cycle!

:tu
I can't wait that long. :)

[darb85]

I can't wait that long. :)

actually with todays readings, it probably wont be to long. 1 ammonia 2 nitrites 3 nitrates. though just might not have started to spike the ammonia Cant remeber which one can be above 0 but still those are promising. evacuated a matis shrimp today, saw the little fugger diggin and dunked him in some fresh water, bastard came out and put the rock back in the tank. suprisingly big, probably 3/4 of an inch. flushed the bastard did the same with the rest of the live rock. chased out a couple of crabs. checked them, are good guys, put em back good news is no aptasia or whatever. at least as far as ive found so far. inspecting them with a magnifying glass. rock is suprisingly good quality. Just orderd 10 LBS more from a store down state, who gave me a much better deal than the local guy and the pics of the stuff they pulled for me is amazing! Also gonna send me some established livesand for me to start up the tank with

Shilia ill try to get pics of the tank soon for your impatient self!

[shilala]

actually with todays readings, it probably wont be to long. 1 ammonia 2 nitrites 3 nitrates. though just might not have started to spike the ammonia Cant remeber which one can be above 0 but still those are promising. evacuated a matis shrimp today, saw the little fugger diggin and dunked him in some fresh water, bastard came out and put the rock back in the tank. suprisingly big, probably 3/4 of an inch. flushed the bastard did the same with the rest of the live rock. chased out a couple of crabs. checked them, are good guys, put em back good news is no aptasia or whatever. at least as far as ive found so far. inspecting them with a magnifying glass. rock is suprisingly good quality. Just orderd 10 LBS more from a store down state, who gave me a much better deal than the local guy and the pics of the stuff they pulled for me is amazing! Also gonna send me some established livesand for me to start up the tank with

Shilia ill try to get pics of the tank soon for your impatient self!

w00t!!! :D

[darb85]

Tank:
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/18192/2013793060084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2013793060084512725kliSjq)

Night lights on:
http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/44620/2042396530084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2042396530084512725MzBOdu)

Day Lights on:
http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/42483/2750835310084512725S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2750835310084512725YZPpDl)

only thing I dont like is that there is no switch for the night lights, always on, but i can kill either one or the other main lights, well both if need be by a switch. so thats kinda annoying but not really.

enjoy the empty tank:rolleyes:

oh, new live rock on its way!!

[shilala]

Thanks for the pics!!!
Those nanocubes are awesome. If I didn't already have my tank I'd love to have one.
A little 12 gallon with a great big anemone and a pair of clowns would be incredibly cool.

[Wolfgang]

Awesome Tank. I have the same one. I think... 24 gallon aquapod? Thats what I have. Definitely wait on the anemone they are tricky critters. Awesome tank though! Im getting ready to tear mine down and start over. New sand new LR then it will be a FOWLR tank. With a small Snowflake eel, and my maroon clown.

[darb85]

Awesome Tank. I have the same one. I think... 24 gallon aquapod? Thats what I have. Definitely wait on the anemone they are tricky critters. Awesome tank though! Im getting ready to tear mine down and start over. New sand new LR then it will be a FOWLR tank. With a small Snowflake eel, and my maroon clown.

29G Biocube from Oceanis. local guys gave me an awesome price. 250... couldnt beat it, even online!

My dads boss was saying he will give me a breeding pair of black clown fishonce iget it going. SWEET!! Dont know if ill actually breed them but from what i hear, I should because they are quite rare?
anyways,

This is fun!

[nozero]

An absolutely awsome thread! Thanks so, so much for the pictures!
:tu

[markk96]

I am new here.

Here is one of mine.

http://webpages.charter.net/kingeryreef/Full.jpg

[shilala]

One?
Don't hold out on us!!! :)
Welcome to the Asylum!
I am new here.

Here is one of mine.

http://webpages.charter.net/kingeryreef/Full.jpg

[darb85]

One?
Don't hold out on us!!! :)
Welcome to the Asylum!

you really get off on tank pics..:chr

[markk96]

LOL guys yeah that one is a 75 gallon.


This is a 120


http://webpages.charter.net/kingeryreef/08212005.jpg


And then a 210 that was just setup.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/Markk96/200%20Gallon/DSC01299.jpg

[shilala]

you really get off on tank pics..:chr
I sure do. :tu

[darb85]

anybody need some live rock cheap? I found a place thats getting rid of a ton of it for .99. Its been in an established tank for 2 years. Its not premium rock, but its not bad either. was 4.00 a pound but they hav a ton of it and need to get it out. so let me know and Ill get some. GROUP BUY! :D

[BC-Axeman]

The nano. I sits it the corner of our main bathroom.
http://130.94.224.229/share/nanoreef.jpg

[sikk50]

That nano is awesome with all that mush! How big is it?

Depending on how bored I get I'll try and post some pics of my 55 later

[shilala]

I've been running my diatom filter in my tank for the last couple days. The water is crystal. Some day I'll spend the 1000 bucks to keep it that way all the time. :)

[BC-Axeman]

That nano is awesome with all that mush! How big is it?

Depending on how bored I get I'll try and post some pics of my 55 later
I just looked it up on the awful Tenecor website. It is a twelve gal. hexagon with a "Backpack" skimmer. No filter, really. I do an exchange of half the water with the big tank every month or so. It is underlit with 2x dual 9watt CFs. There are two ocillaris clowns in there. One is just a blur in the pic. The big one is called "Killer". It especially doesn't like rings.

[darb85]

.5 ammonia
5 Nitrates
1 Nitrites
1.022 Salinity

in the cure tank. Got my live sand today. Gonna buy my RO tomarrow. Should I wait till its completly at 0 ammonia before i set up the display tank?

[fissure]

IMO, yes. Let it fully cycle and you'll have less issues in the long run. Ammonia and nitrites should be 0. Also, if you are going to be keeping corals move the salinity to 1.025 I tried corals with the salinity in the low 20's and in the mid 20's. They seem much happier (growth and color) with the higher salinity. Also use a refractometer, or if you are using a swing arm or floating hydrometer get it calibrated from someone that has a refractometer.

[darb85]

IMO, yes. Let it fully cycle and you'll have less issues in the long run. Ammonia and nitrites should be 0. Also, if you are going to be keeping corals move the salinity to 1.025 I tried corals with the salinity in the low 20's and in the mid 20's. They seem much happier (growth and color) with the higher salinity. Also use a refractometer, or if you are using a swing arm or floating hydrometer get it calibrated from someone that has a refractometer.

Got it. Just ordered a refractometer today along with a bunch o other stuff from Dr. Foster smith today. The Guy at the LFS calibrated my swing arm hydrometer with his refractometer.

Its hard to look at this empty tank and not want to fill it up. but I figure the more patient I am and take the time to do it right, the better results ill end up with but man its hard...

Thanks for being patient with me and all my questions. Im pretty sure im buggin everybody, but hey more knowledge is a good thing! :D

michigan Reefers has been a treasure trove of info too.

[Wolfgang]

The black clowns are very cool. I will be adding a pair to my 90 after I get that Maroon out. Hes one mean MFER! Other than that If they are in fact breading you would have to ahve a major breeding rig to successfully raise them.

[shilala]

Thanks for being patient with me and all my questions. Im pretty sure im buggin everybody, but hey more knowledge is a good thing! :D

You're not bugging anyone at all. Not by any means. :)
Thank YOU for allowing everyone to help. That's what this thread is for. :tu
I'm excited to see how everything goes. Keep us posted and keep the pictures coming!!!

[shilala]

IMO, yes. Let it fully cycle and you'll have less issues in the long run. Ammonia and nitrites should be 0. Also, if you are going to be keeping corals move the salinity to 1.025 I tried corals with the salinity in the low 20's and in the mid 20's. They seem much happier (growth and color) with the higher salinity. Also use a refractometer, or if you are using a swing arm or floating hydrometer get it calibrated from someone that has a refractometer.
Hey Steve, when do we get some pics? :D
I should say thanks for costing me money. Now I have to get a refractometer and I don't even know what one is. :r
On my way to ebay right now...

[Wolfgang]

Here is a growth shot of my maroon clown over 5 months.

5 months ago
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0347.jpg


NOW
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0031-3.jpg

[Blueface]

IMO, yes. Let it fully cycle and you'll have less issues in the long run. Ammonia and nitrites should be 0. Also, if you are going to be keeping corals move the salinity to 1.025 I tried corals with the salinity in the low 20's and in the mid 20's. They seem much happier (growth and color) with the higher salinity. Also use a refractometer, or if you are using a swing arm or floating hydrometer get it calibrated from someone that has a refractometer.

I agree the corals will do much better with the higher salinity.

Flipside on high salinity is the impact to the fish.
Not many know that fish, although they live in salt water, have their system designed to filter out the salt water via their organs and their slime coat, in essence processing final water as non salt water or very limited salt water.
The higher the salinity, the tougher it is for them to combat parasites and diseases.
Also, parasites thrive on higher salinity so pests lik ick, flukes and other nasty ones will be tough to combat (folks - always use a hospital tank and quarantine and you minimize concerns).

I actually experimented on low salinity and while the corals didn't do well, the fish only system that was maintained at 1.12 for 12 months did quite well. In fact, they lived quite care free as they seemed less "stressed" for a better word. I now keep my fish only system pictured in this thread at 1.016-1.019 on average (when I remember to take a reading). Wouldn't do that for a reef system though.

[BC-Axeman]

A few months ago I had a power failure which caused a crash due to high nitrates. I lost my shrimp and two fish. I did an emergency water change but the salinity ended up much lower because the indicator in my floating hygrometer had slipped, causing bad readings. The remaining fish recovered quickly. The coral got stressed but are doing all right now. I keep the tank at 1.023. You can check your hygrometer quickly using pure water = 1.000.

[Blueface]

A few months ago I had a power failure which caused a crash due to high nitrates. I lost my shrimp and two fish. I did an emergency water change but the salinity ended up much lower because the indicator in my floating hygrometer had slipped, causing bad readings. The remaining fish recovered quickly. The coral got stressed but are doing all right now. I keep the tank at 1.023. You can check your hygrometer quickly using pure water = 1.000.

Short term power failures generally can be survived well via air stones.
Use many of them, not just one.
Oxygen, or better yet the lack thereof, is the biggest killer, not the chemistry.
In Florida, that is a regular occurrence for us.
I now have a generator that is dedicated to my tank and my tank only.

Something I learned that worked well prior to having the generator is the "manual" filtration method. You basically manually circulate water from the tank, via the filtration system. I would pull water from the wet dry sump and dump back it in the tank, causing water from the tank to flow back down to the wet dry, where the bacteria was, mainly to keep that bacteria from crashing. When power was restored, the tank would clear up within hours.

[BC-Axeman]

The power went out in the middle of the night. It could have been the O2 levels but only the shrimp and two small fish died and the big tang was stunned but recovered quickly. The clowns and damsels were unaffected. I have a whole house generator but it needs to be manually switched over and started. Our power can be out for days here, too. I have bought an automatic backup generator but a major rewiring has to be done to hook it up. $$$

[Blueface]

The power went out in the middle of the night. It could have been the O2 levels but only the shrimp and two small fish died and the big tang was stunned but recovered quickly. The clowns and damsels were unaffected. I have a whole house generator but it needs to be manually switched over and started. Our power can be out for days here, too. I have bought an automatic backup generator but a major rewiring has to be done to hook it up. $$$

You can do it all for $10 each.
Buy yourself the battery operated air pumps that have a plug into the AC. You turn them on and as long as they sense power, they don't work. The second the power goes out, they turn on.
I keep them in my tank at all times.

Here is the info:
Penn-Plax
Silent-Air
B11

[Blueface]

The black clowns are very cool. I will be adding a pair to my 90 after I get that Maroon out. Hes one mean MFER! Other than that If they are in fact breading you would have to ahve a major breeding rig to successfully raise them.

I think they are cool also but he is the terrorist in my tank whenever I put my hands in there.


http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0025.jpg[/QUOTE]

[Wolfgang]

I used to have one too. Unfortunately When my small tank crashed I lost my mated pair. It was a black occy and a normal occy. RIP little guys.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0367.jpg

[fissure]

Hey Steve, when do we get some pics? :D
I should say thanks for costing me money. Now I have to get a refractometer and I don't even know what one is. :r
On my way to ebay right now...

Just make sure the refractometer is calibrated also. Some calibrate with RO water (should read 0) or you can calibrate with NaCl solution that is 35%.

Pictures will come in due time. I miss my sps and am switching my 50 back to sps. I guess I should take pics of the way it is now:rolleyes:

[Blueface]

I used to have one too. Unfortunately When my small tank crashed I lost my mated pair. It was a black occy and a normal occy. RIP little guys.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/wolfgang8810/DSC_0367.jpg

Wow!
Your pair looks just like mine.
My other one is a standard clown.

Here she is.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0033.jpg

[shilala]

Just make sure the refractometer is calibrated also. Some calibrate with RO water (should read 0) or you can calibrate with NaCl solution that is 35%.

Pictures will come in due time. I miss my sps and am switching my 50 back to sps. I guess I should take pics of the way it is now:rolleyes:
I have an RO unit and a tester for the RO water, so that'd be good.
Yes, you should take pics. Now. :D

[BC-Axeman]

You can do it all for $10 each.
Buy yourself the battery operated air pumps that have a plug into the AC. You turn them on and as long as they sense power, they don't work. The second the power goes out, they turn on.
I keep them in my tank at all times.

Here is the info:
Penn-Plax
Silent-Air
B11
Good info, thanks.:tu I've never heard of these. Either way, O2 or nitrates, these will help.

[Blueface]

Good info, thanks.:tu I've never heard of these. Either way, O2 or nitrates, these will help.

The nitrates will go up as waste produces and no method to eliminate it (no power to run filtration) but in a reef, with live sand and rock, that should really help dramatically in buying you time as it is a self sustained system for the most part. Oxygen would be the biggest concern and something rapidly depleted, which causes death, which in turn then raises your amonia, then nitrites and nitrates. I have experimented and found that high nitrates won't affect your fish. They can tolerate that. However, will impact the corals. Amonia and Nitrites? Different all together and definitely will impact everything in the system, including the fish.

In the future, I genuinely would recommend you do constant water changes in between it that persists as a problem to reduce build up until the power returns.

In addition to the B-11 pumps, you can also put a siren/alarm that chimes when power goes out to wake you up.

[Wolfgang]

Just returned from Tampa with a new critter.

First person to guess it gets a 5er.

[MedicCook]

Just returned from Tampa with a new critter.

First person to guess it gets a 5er.

Shark.

[MTB996]

Just returned from Tampa with a new critter.

First person to guess it gets a 5er.

lobster?

[BC-Axeman]

Cleaner shrimp?

[MedicCook]

I did a little browsing in this thread you you guys have some amazing tanks and fish. One of my dreams was to have a salt-water wall tank seperating two rooms.

[BC-Axeman]

I did a little browsing in this thread you you guys have some amazing tanks and fish. One of my dreams was to have a salt-water wall tank seperating two rooms.
My neighbor, who I got most of my reef stuff from, built part of his house to hold a 3000 gallon tank separating two rooms. He sold the house before he ever built that so it was turned into an entertainment center. You would have needed scuba gear to clean it.

[Wolfgang]

Nope Nope and Nope. It is a fish. Crustaceans wouldn't last a day with my eel.

[Blueface]

Nope Nope and Nope. It is a fish. Crustaceans wouldn't last a day with my eel.

How about a hint.
Price range?
I am betting on a wrasse.

[MTB996]

Nope Nope and Nope. It is a fish. Crustaceans wouldn't last a day with my eel.

Cuda?

[MTB996]

My neighbor, who I got most of my reef stuff from, built part of his house to hold a 3000 gallon tank separating two rooms. He sold the house before he ever built that so it was turned into an entertainment center. You would have needed scuba gear to clean it.

That's always been a dream of mine, to have a huge reef tank. Either long separating rooms or the large column tanks that you can walk around. Go powerball!

[darb85]

purple tang

[MedicCook]

I always think of Lethal Weapon II when I see a large tank.

[Wolfgang]

None right so far.

price range $49-$69 & not part of the Tang family.

My kole tang is being very territorial twards it though.

[Blueface]

None right so far.

price range $49-$69 & not part of the Tang family.

My kole tang is being very territorial twards it though.

Flame Angel.

[Wolfgang]

Pm me your addy please Carlos :-D you have WON!

Any ideas what to do about my kole tang being a bully or will they all get along once boundries are set?

[darb85]

Ammonia 0.5
Nitrites 5
Nitrates 20:(
pH 8.4
Salinity 1.021


Water change?

[fissure]

Those nitrates aren't super high. I know of people who have run reef tanks with nitrates in the 60's. While not ideal, it can be done. You'll get both sides on water changes during the cycle. I wouldn't, let the cycle fully complete. If nitrates jump into the 40's then do water changes. Also, if you are going to raise the salinity now is the time to do it. That way there won't be any corals in there if you are making swings.

[darb85]

Those nitrates aren't super high. I know of people who have run reef tanks with nitrates in the 60's. While not ideal, it can be done. You'll get both sides on water changes during the cycle. I wouldn't, let the cycle fully complete. If nitrates jump into the 40's then do water changes. Also, if you are going to raise the salinity now is the time to do it. That way there won't be any corals in there if you are making swings.

got ya, this is still the cure tank, was waiting on levels. I am raising the salinity right now.

[shilala]

Guys, I ordered a battery air pump and shopped refractometers.
I found this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Salinity-Refractometer-0-10-Aquarium-Salt-Water-d_W0QQitemZ230319290817QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item230319290817&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318) at ebay and was going to pull the trigger, but there were lots to choose from.
The one I picked ships from Hong Kong, but I'm in no big hurry. It looked like the nicest of all of them I looked at.
Let me know what you think, will ya?

[Wolfgang]

Hey there Scott. I have that Exact same refractometer in your link and it works awesome! I am sure you will be pleased with it.

[Don Fernando]

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s167/cmach_photo/DSC_0167.jpg

It looks cranky, what is his name? Al?

[Blueface]

Pm me your addy please Carlos :-D you have WON!

Any ideas what to do about my kole tang being a bully or will they all get along once boundries are set?

Don't worry about the prize. Pass it on to a newb on my behalf. I had an unfair advantage once you gave me the price range and knew it wasn't a tang or a wrasse. I kept in mind you have a reef and that limits the fish vastly. If you would have said the $20-30 range, I would have gone with a Coral Beauty as I had already figured it to be an Angel.

There is a trick I always used that worked very well for my customers and for me when I acclimated fish and the other tank mates were aggressive towards it. Can you catch either of them?
If you can, get a plastic 1/2 gallon container at Walmart, with a lid, sort of like a juice container with a somewhat wide opening. Drill holes all over it to allow water flow. Stick the aggressor in there as he is the most acclimated and hardiest at this point. Place him behind a rock or around a rock so he can feel some comfort. Leave him there for a day or two. He will be the most docile pup ever when he gets out. That will have given the flame ample opportunity to get around the tank, find a home and let the tang see him and not be able to bully him.
In the future, if you can't catch the bully, place the new on in the container and place him against a rock for comfort. All others will come around the container and try to rough it up. In time (a day or so, or more if needed), they will get use to the new fish and leave it alone. You can then release with no problems.
Some may say this stresses the fish. I say it stresses them more to be roughed up and chased all over a new environment.

[Blueface]

Guys, I ordered a battery air pump and shopped refractometers.
I found this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Salinity-Refractometer-0-10-Aquarium-Salt-Water-d_W0QQitemZ230319290817QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defau ltDomain_0?hash=item230319290817&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A15%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318) at ebay and was going to pull the trigger, but there were lots to choose from.
The one I picked ships from Hong Kong, but I'm in no big hurry. It looked like the nicest of all of them I looked at.
Let me know what you think, will ya?

I would pay a bit more and go to Drs. Foster and Smith.
Any issues, quick return and shipment to you is quite fast.
You don't know what you are going to get from Hong Kong.

[Blueface]

Don't worry about the prize. Pass it on to a newb on my behalf. I had an unfair advantage once you gave me the price range and knew it wasn't a tang or a wrasse. I kept in mind you have a reef and that limits the fish vastly. If you would have said the $20-30 range, I would have gone with a Coral Beauty as I had already figured it to be an Angel.

There is a trick I always used that worked very well for my customers and for me when I acclimated fish and the other tank mates were aggressive towards it. Can you catch either of them?
If you can, get a plastic 1/2 gallon container at Walmart, with a lid, sort of like a juice container with a somewhat wide opening. Drill holes all over it to allow water flow. Stick the aggressor in there as he is the most acclimated and hardiest at this point. Place him behind a rock or around a rock so he can feel some comfort. Leave him there for a day or two. He will be the most docile pup ever when he gets out. That will have given the flame ample opportunity to get around the tank, find a home and let the tang see him and not be able to bully him.
In the future, if you can't catch the bully, place the new on in the container and place him against a rock for comfort. All others will come around the container and try to rough it up. In time (a day or so, or more if needed), they will get use to the new fish and leave it alone. You can then release with no problems.
Some may say this stresses the fish. I say it stresses them more to be roughed up and chased all over a new environment.

BTW,
Trick to catching a fish in a reef.

Go to Home Depot and buy a large piece of plexiglass that is tall enough to stick outside of your tank for you to grasp onto it.
Get it wide enough to cover at least 1/3 of the tank going across the front.
Either clamp it to the side wall of the tank or hold it with your hands and try to stay away so the fish don't get scared.
You place it in front of the rocks, leaving ample room between it and the front panel of the tank, creating an area, with the reef closed off/partioned behind it.
Wait a bit for the tank to settle and all to get use to it.
Best to not have fed for a day but go ahead and feed them, letting the food concentrate and stay in that area created by the plexiglass.
Best to drop it right down the front corner of the tank.
They will go in there as they are dumb and hungry.
If a tang, even easier as you just clip some veggie onto the glass and they will go nuts for it.
When the one you want is in there, even if others are in there too, close off the part of the panel that is in the middle of the tank towards the front wall, creating a triangle housing your fish.
Grab a net with the other hand and scoop him out.
Works like a charm as long as they are hungry.

[Wolfgang]

I doubt I will be able to catch either of them. On a good note. The Angel is poking in and out of rocks this morning. Looks happy and healthy. I have had this problem before with a kole tang and they are supposed to be the most peaceful (hah).

I will pass your winnings on to the troops. Thanks for playing. Next contest you cant play :-P

[Blueface]

I doubt I will be able to catch either of them. On a good note. The Angel is poking in and out of rocks this morning. Looks happy and healthy. I have had this problem before with a kole tang and they are supposed to be the most peaceful (hah).

I will pass your winnings on to the troops. Thanks for playing. Next contest you cant play :-P

Note what I just posted on catching them in a reef.

[Wolfgang]

So noted. From what I can tell The tang was just establishing its territory. They seem OK now but maybe its just the angel Is smaller and faster. Oh well. I should have pictures tonight. I gave them lights out early to calm everyone down.

[BC-Axeman]

Ammonia 0.5
Nitrites 5
Nitrates 20:(
pH 8.4
Salinity 1.021


Water change?
I guess I'm used to seeing undetectable. These numbers look off the chart to me. Probably good, though, for a curing tank. I would freak out if I saw any nitrite or ammonia in my tanks.

[Blueface]

I guess I'm used to seeing undetectable. These numbers look off the chart to me. Probably good, though, for a curing tank. I would freak out if I saw any nitrite or ammonia in my tanks.

Everything is going to be way off in that curing tank.
Evidence of that is the Amonia and Nitrites both showing significant numbers.
You should see Amonia spike, then go down as Nitrites spike, then go down as Nitrates build.
Once established, I always say to throw the kits away as they will just serve to drive you nuts.
I always told my customers to disregard readings after that and only concern themselves with Nitrates, which can be addressed via a good denitrator or best yet with regular water changes.

[BC-Axeman]

What are "denitrators"? I use algae removal from the refugium, I think. Does the skimmer remove nitrates? I know they get metabolized into plants. I never have seen significant (or even barely detectable) levels in my tanks unless something bad happens.