225 gal walk-around starphire from Miracles

[Hartdude]

Ahem... Could you please excuse me while I wipe this puddle of drool from my keyboard.

Honestly, you have a certifiably beautiful, well planned, and executed build. You should be exceedingly proud of your self for having the self control to "do things right." All to often, we reefers get caught up in the moment and "just gotta have it now!" Congratulations. You have something very beautiful to be really proud of!

 

[LUVSPS]

Thank you! Thank you! Your tank looks beautiful! The pictures are wonderful too. Amazing tank!

 

[summer6]

SaraB, LUVSPS, and Hartdude - thank you for the encouragement! I am glad to say that I haven't rushed into buying too much livestock for this tank, due to wanting things as stable as possible before introducing new things.

I lost two fish - one sand sifter took a jump (first time that happened) and my dear bulls eye mandarin got caught between rocks.
Still i'm going to stay away from some "known jumpers" rather than covering my tank - which honestly I don't feel like dealing with taking netting on and off daily for feeding or cleaning the glass.

Although I love sps corals I'm not sure if I have the dedication for them. I will slowly try and add some - but need to make smart choices!

I am happy with the decision to leave off a chiller on this tank. My old tanks were closed (with actual covers!boo) and did hold the heat in. No problem this summer with heat issues - nothing that a simple sump fan couldn't take care of.

 

[paulthomas]

The only other issue I con't to have is sand clumping. Basically I get little clumps of sand that wants to turn into pebbles. Can't figure it out. Doesn't seem to be affecting anything, but my previous tanks never did this. Could it be from the OM's flow? I just don't know...

Were you dosing too much calcium, maybe? I've read in a couple threads that too much will precipitate out and harden clumps of sand.

Your tank is looking great BTW. Keep up the great work!

 

[paulmartin]

Just read the whole thread, what an awesome build! well done.

 

[summer6]

Just read the whole thread, what an awesome build! well done.

Thank you for reading, and sharing.

 

[summer6]

Were you dosing too much calcium, maybe? I've read in a couple threads that too much will precipitate out and harden clumps of sand.

Your tank is looking great BTW. Keep up the great work!

Calcium dosing doesn't seem to be the issue since the level hovers around 400ppm. Very perplexing...

 

[redsea reefer]

very nice tank..

 

[zoohoot]

Amazing tank. I love the way it feels like it belongs in the room/house. Nice job!

 

[summer6]

Thanks a lot - redsea reefer and zoohoot. I am very happy with the way the tank works with the house. It is such a focal point (pretty much in the middle of the first floor) that it was really important that it lend itself to the house style.
It was crucial that the tank be set "just right" because it basically straddles the hallway and great room. When I turn the lights off in the study (where the computer is) and it's pitch black on the way to the master br, I have never run into the tank - or stubbed a toe.
For a 6'x2' footprint the tank has never "been in the way," thank goodness!

 

[gtaylor67]

I just read your whole thread and am very impressed with your tank.. I have in the planning a 300 gallon against the wall but could only wish to have to room you do.. Great build.. Everything fits very nice in your Home... Best of luck with it ...

 

[summer6]

I just read your whole thread and am very impressed with your tank.. I have in the planning a 300 gallon against the wall but could only wish to have to room you do.. Great build.. Everything fits very nice in your Home... Best of luck with it ...

Thanks very much. I am enjoying the tank. The only negative is cleaning 4 panels of glass. Water changes are much easier than in the past.
I also need to be extra careful with the starphire glass, as it's "softer" than my old oceanic's "regular" glass. I'm only using pads and scrapers designated for use on an acrylic tank. I got some small scratches from razor blades that I thought were "clean" but had a tiny nick(s) in the blade - which spells trouble!

 

[lilchris]

Your tank is my dream tank. It is awesome!!!!!!! Please don't be upset in a few years when you see another tank like that one pop up. I will give a shot to you. :fun2: Great build and I will continue to follow.

Your equipment room is a dream room. awesome.

 

[lionfish300]

Keep up the good work

 

[summer6]

Your tank is my dream tank. It is awesome!!!!!!! Please don't be upset in a few years when you see another tank like that one pop up. I will give a shot to you. :fun2: Great build and I will continue to follow.

Your equipment room is a dream room. awesome.

Thank you.:fish1: I love having the space for the equipment as it beats crowded stuff under the tank in my first couple of go-rounds. I would be thrilled to see you create a tank similar to my design!
I got inspiration from Reefkeeper2's amazing tank, stand, and room. Now I need to concentrate on the corals and fish like many on RC do so beautifully.

 

[pterfloth]

Very nicely done! Very elegant.

 

[Tom Foolery]

What an incredibly beautiful tank.

 

[polywise]

great set up you have there!

Have you ever thought of malking a shroud around the light fixture that goes up to the area where your ballast are and hang the light from that - thus hiding the power wires, and the hanging wire that goes up to the ceiling?

 

[summer6]

great set up you have there!

Have you ever thought of malking a shroud around the light fixture that goes up to the area where your ballast are and hang the light from that - thus hiding the power wires, and the hanging wire that goes up to the ceiling?

Originally, I thought of building some sort of a floating canopy (cantilever) off of the relatively small piece of wall above the tank. (3 1/2' ht) I actually purchased 3 large lumen bright fixtures, that I planned on "hiding" along with the various cables, and ballasts.

Once I actually had these big reflectors in hand I decided it wasn't the look I wanted for the space. I didn't want my tank to be overtaken by the light(s) and/or whatever was going to hide the ugly fixtures.

Instead, I chose the Giesemann Spectra because of it's sleekness, and relative ease of working with it over an open aquarium. I did not want the space around the tank to be cluttered - especially with the openness of the surrounding rooms and second story.

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_1635.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_1635.jpg" border="0" alt="view from GR"></a>

This picture shows how small the hangers are holding-up the Spectra. We decided not to hang from the ceiling, and included an extra "safety" device with the longer, white metal screws in case the first ones (Giesemann's) ever failed.

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_1648.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_1648.jpg" border="0" alt="6' Spectra"></a>

 

[mcoomer]

Will you adopt me? I'm housebroken and don't eat much. I just want to stare into your tank.

Seriously, that is beautiful. Need to figure out a way to dress up that cable for the lights but otherwise it is superb. How did I miss this thread before now?

Mike