225 'Reef Shelf' Tank Up And Running

[AgentSPS]

Moorish Idols, ... you are aware how impossible they are to keep long term arent you?

are they freshly wild caught, or has someone had them and they are eatting prepared fish foods???

If they are freshly wild caught, hope you know what your doing!


good luck, though I dont agree with the Moorish Idols, haveing had one myself I can say this...

I love the tank, Rockwork is very very interesting... great tank!!!

Shawnts106-

I appreciate your concern and understand where you are coming from. I have had previous experience and success with Moorish Idols. I would not characterize them as impossible but certainly would agree that they are difficult. I too am concerned about the abundance of Moorish idols imported and sacrificed by inexperienced aquarists who do not know what they are getting into.


These two are pretty large (I feel the larger ones have a higher success rate) and they are eating krill. They were hand picked in Hawaii by the local LFS owner. He was recently there on a trip and went out collecting with a local collector. I would only purchase Hawaiian idols as these fish do not travel well and Hawaii is the least stressful trip. They also have less stressful collecting methods in Hawaii. Basically they setup perimeter nets and chase the fish into them.

As you probably know, the first 6 months are the real hurdle with idols. If you can get past that you have beaten the odds. My fingers are crossed. If these guys don't make it I will probably not try idols again. They are truly majestic fish though!

 

[derrikd]

cool

 

[delv]

Very nice aquascape...wish there was not Starboard, I'd like to see a shot from the bottom. How's the detritous accumulation at this point? Looks excellent!

d.

 

[nbd13]

I see that now thanks.

do you have a strainer on there for the fish or no?

also how did you prime it? did you leave an opening at the top? if you left an opening how did you seal that hole to make sure NO air leaks would happen?

thanks

Nick

 

[AgentSPS]

Very nice aquascape...wish there was not Starboard, I'd like to see a shot from the bottom. How's the detritous accumulation at this point? Looks excellent!

d.

The starboard is quickly being covered by coralline. Detritous buildup is minimal. The high current causes the detritous to gather at the left and right of the tank in neat piles that are easy to suck out.

 

[AgentSPS]

I see that now thanks.

do you have a strainer on there for the fish or no?

also how did you prime it? did you leave an opening at the top? if you left an opening how did you seal that hole to make sure NO air leaks would happen?

thanks

Nick

Nick-

Yes I have a large strainer. Snails still get the life sucked out of them if they wander too close.

As for priming I did not drill a hole at the apex. I had enough water in the line that the pump primed itself. I used an airline tube to suck out as much air as possible from the plumbing.

 

[Silicone]

Hi

That rockwork is great, nice work.

Is that the H&S 200 3xf2001 ???

How do you find it for performance? I'm thinking about getting the 200 2xf2001 for a FO I'm doing in the new year- any problems or comments??

 

[MiddletonMark]

Very, very nice. Love the rockwork ... just the whole setup seems first-class.

Keep posting pics ... should be gorgeous to watch it grow out/fill in.

 

[AgentSPS]

Hi

That rockwork is great, nice work.

Is that the H&S 200 3xf2001 ???

How do you find it for performance? I'm thinking about getting the 200 2xf2001 for a FO I'm doing in the new year- any problems or comments??

Hi Silicone-

Yes you are correct it is the H&S 3XF2001.

The performance is excellent. In fact I have to tune it down as my ORP runs too high when I have the throttle open all the way. As you probably already know the 3 Aquabee model is rated for 500 gals. I would rather have the capability to 'overskim' than not have enough skimming ability.

I am actually thinking about changing over to the 2 Eheim model to try that out. The 2 Eheim model produces a little more air and less water flow than the 3 Aquabee model. Let me know if you are interested in mine.

 

[Fliger]

Man that is really nice. How do you like the H&S stuff? I've had several of their products and am always impressed, I was thinking of the ca reactor since I like how it runs in sump.

Only problem I see is that soon those SPS are gonna be growin outta the tank!

Feel free to post more pix under the tank! ;-)

 

[AgentSPS]

Took some more photos this morning. Will post as soon as I process.

 

[AgentSPS]

Okay here as promised here are a few more tank/equipment shots.


<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853239.jpg>

Here you can see how the canopy addition worked out:
<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853257.jpg>

Shelving was mounted on the wall behind the tank to hold one of the 400W PFO HQI Ballasts, VHO ballast, Nilson Reactor, and Litermeter:

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853267.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853282.jpg>

High flow duct fan with custom DIY intake filter to prevent dust from building up inside the AC Lumenarc III's. I had them ducted on a daisy chain but too much air was leaking from the glass panels so I just removed it altogether for now.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853295.jpg>

Shot of the inside of the canopy through a vent hole. You can see I covered all the plumbing with reflective material to prevent the PVC from melting/burning.


<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853305.jpg>

Plenty of room for the Lumenars with the addition but before that they hung about 2 inches off the water.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853314.jpg>

Variable speed IceCap fan is great! Super quiet too! You can also see where the old canopy ends and the addition starts.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853324.jpg>

 

[AgentSPS]

Some more shots under the stand for those who requested:

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853340.jpg>

I build an enclosure for the Iwaki MD70 as it is way too loud. I am going to try switching it out with a Sequence Dart to cut down on the heat and noise.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853354.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853370.jpg>

 

[AgentSPS]

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853382.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853418.jpg>

Newly acquired Acropora Kosurini! I used to have one a while back but lost it. This is an awesome coral!!

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120859316.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120859316.jpg>
<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853435.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853481.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853501.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853509.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120853525.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120854936.jpg>

 

[AgentSPS]

Oregon Tort... please don't ask for frags I am growing this out for a year. Goal is to have a Steve West size colony.

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120854924.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120854908.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120854887.jpg>

<img src=http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL872/4145337/8808283/120854877.jpg>

 

[eraml]

Can you post your fish stocking list?

 

[polywise]

AgentSPS,
Very interesting layout in the tank. Do you have any fear of the rock collapsing, and crashing into the glass- scratching it- or possibly having a major tank failure ?

 

[AgentSPS]

AgentSPS,
Very interesting layout in the tank. Do you have any fear of the rock collapsing, and crashing into the glass- scratching it- or possibly having a major tank failure ?

Wow Polywise that is a pretty apocolyptic scenario. While a good size earthquake would probably cause a collapse, I am not too worried. The two huge branches were siliconed to the starboard and back glass to secure them. They are solid anchors. Overall this structure is very stable.

 

[skippyreef]

Wow!!

that is pretty sweet and I like everyone else love teh aquascaping idea!! original man just flat out original!!

 

[kwl1763]

Very Unique!!

Question about the venting. What fan is that that you used. I'm looking for something to vent to the outside based on a humistat and that looks like one that would work.