150 Gallon Build Thread

[inktomi]

Bah.. so I reinstalled my OS (nice fresh install of OS X 10.6), but can't find my iPhoto install disc.. so no photos.

And I had lots to share!

News today is that my 40g is officially taken down. It's out back soaking in vinegar water so that I can scrape it down and clean it up over the next week.

I have also had a causality of the great move of 2009. I came downstairs yesterday morning to find that my Green Bubble Tip Anemone had shredded itself in a vortech. I'm not really sure how it got up there, as it had been settled in the rocks - so I'm guessing that it let go and got sucked into the pump. That - or it just exploded in the rocks and the pieces parts got sucked into the pump.

I knew it was risky putting a BTA in a tank that had only been up for a few months =\

 

[Daniel Reef]

Any new pictures?

 

[inktomi]

I'm missing my iLife disk, so I can't get to the photos which are on my camera. Once I find it though - look out!

In other news, does anyone have any experience with Adobe Lightroom? Maybe I should just buy that rather than ransaking for my iLife disk.

 

[goochesfish]

upload it directly to photobucket instead.

 

[spleify]

This is a sweet looking tank, can't wait to see more pics.

 

[inktomi]

Photos (of fish stuff)!

Photos (of fish stuff)!

You wanted photos.. here you go!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4126705767/" title="DSC_0001 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4126705767_17c30740ee.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0001" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4126701551/" title="DSC_0022 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2608/4126701551_60c9712845.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0022" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4127470372/" title="DSC_0044 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4127470372_8bb05a0efe.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0044" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4127468326/" title="DSC_0051 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2692/4127468326_81c0389fb8.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0051" /></a>

I'm still battling with the tail end of the "new tank algae". I hope to have it gone within another couple weeks. It's getting cleaner and cleaner every day!

 

[inktomi]

..and photos (of frog stuff!)

..and photos (of frog stuff!)

I also received my trio of R. imitaor 'varadero' this week. So far they're doing well!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4126692129/" title="DSC_0058 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2633/4126692129_69cb2ec322.jpg" width="500" height="428" alt="DSC_0058" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4126596885/" title="DSC_0074 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4126596885_6c0fc6f161.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0074" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4127458208/" title="DSC_0068 by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2656/4127458208_2dca1f7b00.jpg" width="500" height="359" alt="DSC_0068" /></a>

 

[goochesfish]

Sorry about your anemone. Mine came very close to the intake for my closed loop so I made a protective cone using gutter gaurd and zip ties.

It can be seen in this underexposed photo. Don't know how it can be done for a vortech. There is an inch all around between the intake and the guttergaurd

 

[temperatepuffer]

Your tank is definitely cool. I like your frogs to.

 

[Daniel Reef]

That's a beautiful Coral Beauty.

 

[inktomi]

Thank you!

I've had my Coral Beauty for about 5 years now. He/she has been through a lot of tank moves - but honestly.. I've never seen it out and about more than it is now that it has all that space in my 150.

I hope to have the fish for years to come, it's got a great personality.

 

[inktomi]

I've officially bit the bullet and purchased a chiller. I picked up a 1/4 HP Tradewinds drop in chiller from Premium Aquatics yesterday, taking advantage of their 10% off and free shipping promotion to save some money.

I went with a drop in model because I didn't want to deal with plumbing it in, since I still need to save some room under the stand for a Calcium reactor at some point. I plan on having it sitting on the floor next to the tank near the wall.

The room I keep my tank in is the living room in the house - it's next to the TV, so noise is an issue. I hope that the chiller will be quieter than the fan I'm currently using - or, at least, that the chiller will run less than the fan runs.

I also need to have an electrician come out to my house and upgrade the circuit the tank is on to a 20 amp circuit. For now, I'll be plugging in my 5 amp chiller via a heavy duty extension cord to the bathroom circuit to avoid any issues till I can get the house upgraded. I hope that job doesn't cost me an arm and a leg....

Aside from the noise issues, the chiller was purchased to open up my stocking options. Right now, I have the following fish:

- 3 Evansi Anthias (2 female, one changing to male)
- 2 Black onyx perc clowns
- 1 coral beauty angelfish

I'd like to add one or two Tinkeri Butterflyfish next spring/summer. To do this, rather than having the tank 75 -> 80 it needs to be 70 -> 75, hence the chiller. I keep the room in the mid to upper 70s in the summer and the lower 70s in the winter, so the pulldown the chiller needs to do is less than 10 degrees throughout the year.

Other than the Tinkeri (possibly a pair, if I can save up...), I'd like to add also a powder brown tang (or similar), as well as a few small gobies (sand sifting, and a goby/shrimp pair).

Do you think that's too much load on the system?

 

[inktomi]

Here's an updated full tank shot.

You can see the "Isle of Algae" on the right side there...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4139044325/" title="DSC_0006.jpg by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2685/4139044325_ecfbb14e13.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0006.jpg" /></a>

I ordered an arrow crab from Live Aquaria along with some more snails. I've noticed a few flatworms, and I'd love to get those nipped in the bud before they turn into a problem. I have both the clear white ones and the common redish ones so far =\

The algae is slowly but surely going away. This last patch has been stubborn though...

In other news, one of my Evansi Anthias is turning into a male:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4139805192/" title="DSC_0017.jpg by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4139805192_5215779fff.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0017.jpg" /></a>

You can see what the "others" (female) look like here:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4139043663/" title="DSC_0027.jpg by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2776/4139043663_eefc46d0c9.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0027.jpg" /></a>

Note the clear dorsal fin, and yellow top of the "root of the tail" on the females, which the one that's changing to male lacks.

Also, I've got some horny snails in the tank. I always like snail eggs - free coral food!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30998766@N03/4139805012/" title="DSC_0018.jpg by inktomi, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2707/4139805012_1c634f63bc.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="DSC_0018.jpg" /></a>

 

[spleify]

Man its looking awesome

 

[inktomi]

Thank you very much!

I appreciate all and any feedback. I'm sure it'll look much nicer once the algae really dies back. It's going away slow but steadily.

I'd like some feedback on thoughts related to stocking.

If I get a pair of Tinkeri Butterflyfish - should that be it for "large fish"? Or am I safe to add something akin to a powder brown tang as well? Mostly just for future planning. I'm not adding anything else till this algae is under control and the tank has really settled for a few months

In addition to the Tinkeri/Tang, I'd like to add a goby or two - but these are so small I'm not worried about them.

My long term plans for this tank, once the algae is gone, is to start adding SPS. That's what the frags are for all over the sand - trading stock.

 

[inktomi]

I'm going to need to need to have an electrician come out and install a 20 amp circuit for my living room..

ATI Fixture - 6 amps
PanWorld 50px - 90 Watts
VorTech MP40w - 28 Watts (x 2 pumps = 56 Watts)
Skimmer - 21 Watts
--- 7.39 Amps ----

Television Stuff
Tivo - 34 Watts
TV - 226 Watts
PS3 Slim - 100 Watts
--- 3 Amps ---

--- 10.39 Amps Total ---
--- 15.00 Amp Circuit ---
--- 4.61 Amps Extra ---

The chiller I ordered is listed to use 4.9 Amps, so I'll for sure need the larger breaker if I'm going to be able to use my PS 3 or Tivo at the same time as having the chiller running =\

I'm really crossing my fingers that I can just have the breaker swapped out and that I don't need to have new wires ran. That'd really be a PITA. I'd probably have to move the tank to give the guy access to the wall outlet behind the tank...

Moral of the story: Calculate your wattage BEFORE you set up your tank and put it right in front of an outlet!


--- EDIT! ---

I've double checked my breaker, and it's actually a Type C120 breaker - which means it's a 20 amp breaker. Woot! I have amps to spare even with my chiller going full blast!

 

[goochesfish]

How much live rock do you have in there? Is there rock in your sump?

 

[inktomi]

I have 118 pounds of Bali Alor live rock, with the little bits of rubble in my sump with my chaeto. I think that this amount of rock gives me a lot of room for coral to grow upwards - I also like the open look of it.

 

[zoohoot]

inktomi...I just wanted to jump in here to say that I really like your aquascaping. Nice job!

 

[inktomi]

Thank you!

I just tested my water after a couple weeks of letting things slide - not good!

NH4 - 0.25 (!!!!!)
NO2 - 0.1 (!)
NO3 - 0.1 (this is less than the last reading at .25)
PO4 - 0
PH - 7.8 - low, I've been working on getting this up.

I think the NH4, and subsequent NO2, are from the frequent feedings of Cyclops for my Anthias. I'm going to cut that back, since they don't seem all that interested in the Cyclops anymore anyway.

As long as my Anthias are active, colorful, and "plump" then they're getting enough food - right?