480gl elos braceless earthquake trap

This thread is in its third year and this is the first time I've seen it. I just read the whole thing and I've got to say, this is an amazing build. Not only is it a stunning reef with unique fish but you obviously have a recipe for success. You survived a full-scale move, and even had full cabinetry build around your running tank. Seriously, that's an accomplishment in itself!

I have a few questions. First, why did you change your lights? Did you not like the fixture? You also mentioned that you use a remote control device to raise/lower your lights. Can you provide some information on that, as I will likely incorporate something similar for my tank.

Congratulations on the success of your beautiful system.
 
I liked the spectra lights, but mostly because of the look. I felt i could add some lumens with a homemade system with full size lumenmax reflectors and some LEDs, and once i decided to box in my setup with cabinet looks didn't matter. One of the reasons i boxed in the system was that with 400 watt mh lights i felt like we were going blind looking at the tank. Much easier to just relax with a drink and observe now that i've abandoned the open top. One other advantage is i'm back to VHO actinics, and i really feel they add something that the T5s supplements didn't quite do.

I copied the light fixture design, with some changes, from someone here at RC. I think i have a few comments earlier regarding that, but when i get a chance I'll try and do a little video clip of it moving up and down. Works well.
 
Erin, long time no see. Tank has been stable and doing well for a while. Thanks so much for the help in my aquarium move, certainly couldn't have done it without you.
 
Erin (Berkeleyaquaman), I still have your Mystery Wrasse, he's just a little camera shy. How old is that guy now?
 
tylor, your tank is off the hook man! Merry Christmas and keep doing what you are doing!!

tim
 
I have to say that it is 6 years old now. I still have that A. fowleri if ever the time comes. I will have to get the name of the cabinet maker. Looks like fine craftsmanship.

Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

can i come get some frags?
 
Erin, Sure, i have frags sitting in the sand where they've fallen. Some at the back where you can't see them and hard to reach are about 8" across. Especially that Idaho Grape, grows like a weed everywhere. Call me after the holidays and come over.

TFP; as you know big part of my corals are from your frags. Turned out very well, all have held color and grown well. I bet you recognize most of the colonies now.
 
Today Marcos and Robert came over from Planet Reef to clean out some of that dreaded Idaho Grape and some other nasties. Now that I have the canopy it's very difficult to access the back of the tank. I put together a make shift scaffold and Marcos (being the lightest of a heavy group) and Robert pulled out some grape plates from the back. Turned out there was three plates around 10" in diameter, and a few smaller ones. They also trimmed back some other grapes and other monty's that were overgrowing torts and such. And for their efforts, a bucket of frags:
IMG_0021.jpg
 
Behind the islands there's now some visible sand, but still a fair bit of coral density. Here's a new picture from the side:
IMG_0022.jpg
 
Thanks, it's getting there. Always a few step backs on the way and every time you have a big trimming it takes a bit to fill the holes. I would just let 'em fight it out and let it evolve but it seems that the Idaho Grape might overtake pretty much everything. Considering I only placed it in one spot it's pretty amazing how it keeps popping up everywhere.
 
I found some of that Caulerpa (I was fighting a year or so ago) just now in my green birdsnest colony and was pulling it out with tweezers. The rabbitfish comes right up and eats it out of the tweezers. Every time i curse that rabbitfish for being so greedy I'll have to remember he probably saved my tank from being overrun by the Caulerpa. If you ever need to get rid of Caulerpa, I'd highly recommend one.
 
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