225 gal walk-around starphire from Miracles

[dcook]

Any updates :bounce2::bounce1::crazy1::hmm5:

 

[summer6]

I'll update tomorrow..... with info and pic's.

 

[dperez6811]

Look forward to seeing it with all the stuff from your other aquarium... You did a great job.

 

[dperez6811]

Alright, my bad... I have no clue how the picture with all your stuff in it did not show up 3 seconds ago... Tank looks great!

 

[dperez6811]

Now I see... I missed 6 pages of POSTS! My bad... This is why you should not post while putting kids to bed.

 

[ALH]

Beautiful tank and house! I haven't read all the posts, but I don't think the wires detract from the beauty of your tank.

 

[summer6]

Beautiful tank and house! I haven't read all the posts, but I don't think the wires detract from the beauty of your tank.

That makes me feel better.:fish2:

So far I have done nothing about the gray loom. I know my options are limited. I need to be able to raise/lower the light - so I need the extra "S" in the curve for that.

When I get around to it I will buy a white loom to see if it looks any better.
IMO the biggest detraction of the wires is the couple of inches where the 3 power cords are showing. That's where the problem lies. I should try and neaten it up a bit. I could possibly spray paint the cords silver - but am hesitant I may screw it up. I could also get a smaller gauge loom for the 3 wires and see if that looks ok.

I admit that I don't see it as a big issue - when you're in the house your eye is not zooming-in on the wire.

 

[summer6]

225 walk-around update

225 walk-around update

My tank has been up and running for 16 months, and things are going ok. I recently purchased a new skimmer to replace my old BM250 - that I could no longer stand to deal with the two sicce pumps and their re-starting issues.
Will soon put the new SRO XP-3000int into my sump, I just want to be home those first days to keep an eye on it.

XP-3000
<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_0307.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_0307.jpg" border="0" alt="SRO XP-3000int"></a>

bubble blaster pump
<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_0309.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_0309.jpg" border="0" alt="bubble blaster pump"></a>

After about 9 years, my peace-loving Sailfin passed on. It was such a nice fish to have. I got a second dwarf angel (coral beauty) that i was hoping would not get beaten-up my the flame angel. They are co-existing fine. No new corals to report on.

I am thinking of getting a dosing pump for adding Mg since I don't always remember to dose consistently. My tank is more stable with using the dosing pumps for the Ca and Alk.

Here's some pic's I took of the tank last night with the Spectra fired up:

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=updated4-2010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/updated4-2010.jpg" border="0" alt="updated 4-2010"></a>

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_0363.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_0363.jpg" border="0" alt="4-20-10"></a>

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_0362.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_0362.jpg" border="0" alt="4-20-10"></a>

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_0360.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_0360.jpg" border="0" alt="4-20-10"></a>

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_0359.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_0359.jpg" border="0" alt="4-20-10"></a>

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_0357.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_0357.jpg" border="0" alt="4-20-10"></a>

<a href="http://s49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/?action=view&current=IMG_0356.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f278/summerofmyyouth/IMG_0356.jpg" border="0" alt="4-20-10"></a>

 

[cdeboard]

Wow beautuful tank. Love that fixture as well. Will be looking for more updates.
Sorry to hear about the sailfin. Wonderful fish. Great personality. Mine would follow me around the tank and would hide from other people.

 

[travismcgee]

i would consider painting the wires the same color as the walls and it will help and have less contrast. nice tank. it looks as if the geismann lights are working well. i am looking at the spectra as well with my new build

 

[summer6]

i would consider painting the wires the same color as the walls and it will help and have less contrast. nice tank. it looks as if the geismann lights are working well. i am looking at the spectra as well with my new build

That is probably the way to go with the little bit of black that shows with the wiring. Is there a chance that spray paint would get "tacky" with the heat dispersion?
I think to be safe I would first try a white loom to see if it's an improvement over the present silver loom.
I chose the silver because of the silver fixture. There's the chance that the lower portion of the wiring will show up more with the white vs. silver.

 

[rholguin]

Awsome tank :bounce3:. IMO I dont think the wires are that noticable. Your amazing tank quickly catches your attention, and if they dont bother you then thats all that really matters. Keep up the good work.

 

[MentalNote]

Your tank is really amazing. A real show piece. I like how it captures the attention when entering the home and the look from the balcony.

Did you find that the starphire glass scratches easy? I am looking at this option for an upgrade and you have had this tank set up for quite a while.

Thanks.

 

[Andrew Henry]

Just wanted to say that your tank is beautiful and that Giesemann Spectra fixture is as well, I always like their stuff, now if I could just afford any of it!

 

[Bax]

Sorry about your sailfin, it's always a real bummer to loose along time fish ... or coral.

I agree that visually, the beauty of your tank over takes the loom and wires by far.

While the white loom might do the trick to diminish it further, a nice wooded encasement on the wall aboove the tank to soften the appearance of the loom and vent would be very nice. That would leave only the section of the loom that moves with the light exposed. I know just the carpenter/reefer, whose very active in our NJ club, for that job (and although I;d love to see this tank in person, it's not me).

If you want to try paint, get the Krylon spray paint and test a piece to see how it coats and how flexible it is. I use it on my daughter's tap shoes, it's amazing how flexible it is in that application. Once dry, it won't be sticky or tacky at all. HD & Lowes used to both stock it, but you may need to go to a real paint store now. I may be wrong on this, but I think they both carry only their own brands now?

I m very intereted to see how you like the Octo SRO 3000. These cones skimmer really have my attention. The shape just makes so much sence in terms of efficiency.

Did I mention how awesome this tank is?

 

[mseepman]

You have a beautiful tank! I spend far more time looking at the pictures of the tank and barely notice the wires so I wouldn't worry about them.

I am really interested in seeing how your new XP-3000 skimmer turns out. I am planning on getting an XP-5000 for my new 290G build and the more skimmer reviews on these I see, the better I feel about my pending decision.

 

[weirze]

HOLY cow 9 years for a fish that sounds like a long time. how long was he when he died. and the tank looks beautiful

 

[gooyferret]

I run the xp-3000 on my 180gal you wont be disappointed! Great tank!

 

[summer6]

Your tank is really amazing. A real show piece. I like how it captures the attention when entering the home and the look from the balcony.

Did you find that the starphire glass scratches easy? I am looking at this option for an upgrade and you have had this tank set up for quite a while.

Thanks.

Thanks for the compliment on the tank's location.....appreciated.

IMO starphire glass does scratch easier than regular glass. I have a few scratches here and there (at least they're not big) and even a few "graze" type marks that seem to be more like the glass has a slight abrasion rather than a scratch.

I try and stay away from razor blades, as I've learned the hard way, that if the edges are not perfectly "clean" it can easily scratch. Also I need to be really careful that the blade does not hit the glass from an angle, but rather only straight against the starphire.
I stick with the plastic Kent blades, acrylic brush pad, and resort to blades only with stubborn coralline.

Would I have still chosen the starphire glass? YES. The clarity is fantastic!

 

[summer6]

HOLY cow 9 years for a fish that sounds like a long time. how long was he when he died. and the tank looks beautiful

My Sailfin was a wide-body guy, and I'd say about 8" long.