600 Gallons System - i2ik's Journal

[i2ik]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12044032#post12044032 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ITR534
Very nice tank! Im looking forward to set one up!


ps: 96x36x28 = 442 gallons

Thanks! I am looking foward to see your thread

442 gallons for the main tank + 150G for the sump = 600G system

I am going to add a frag tank really soon! i am waiting for it to be build.

 

[i2ik]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12044058#post12044058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by patmack
Yea flex-tubing is what I was talking about. I thought thats what it was called.
Thanks

I never tried a durso with flex-tubing but with the hard PVC, i find it really easy and effective, give it a try!

 

[patmack]

Why do people use spa-flex tubing instead of hard pvc

 

[i2ik]

If you mean by plumbing in general for the tank, i think the reason why most people used spa-flex is to minimize the head lost due to all the elbows and it as also easier to play with, no need to have the exact size in lenght like hard PVC.

 

[cbui2]

also help reduce noise cause by vibrating. much easy to work with and less fitting needed to buy when going to HD.

 

[Teejo]

sweet tank.

 

[i2ik]

Thanks Teejo

Here a small update: I am getting discouraged by the grape caulerpa algea problem that i have been having for a few months and seem to be more and more. I have tried pruning it, getting a yellow tang, striatus tang and the foxface. I am also trying out a long spine urchin that a friend of mine lend him to me. Up to now, nothing seem to stop the propagation of the algea. I have a bunch of frags waiting to be glued on, but i am keeping them on the sand bed for now. I am afraid of glueing them and ended up having some grape caulerpa growing on them.

Tomorrow, i will be having 2 more urchin getting in the tank and i hope they will take care of the algea! Once they will eat it, i will probably keep a tuxedo urchin since i dont think they will knock over the corals.

 

[Green Thumb]

My Advice is, add a refugium with strong lighting in which you can put an other algea (cheato). This will compete with the algea in your tank for nutrients. Eventualy the problem algea will slow down and you or your fish will finish it off. Providing they dont have much other algea in the tank to eat, they will concentrate on whats available.. HTH

 

[i2ik]

Thanks for your advice! I am having a refugium with cheato right now. I only have 1/3 full, i will throw in some if htat could help competing with the caulerpa.

 

[Green Thumb]

What lights are you having over your cheato? If the algea in your main tank has better lighting than your fuge, it makes the competition eazier for the algea in your tank. In the past Ive used clear acrylic hang on baskets to grow macroalgeas in my main tank. This way my cheato had great lighting and grew VERY rapidly.

When you say you only have it 1/3 full do you mean theres more space for your cheato to grow in your fuge? If so let it grow bigger as to occupy most of the space (providing there is intense light over it) This will help it outcompete other algeas. When it gets to the point where its too big and is stuffing your fuge, harvest about 1/3 of it, leaving it fairly large still, keeping it AHEAD of the game in nutrient absorbtion. Hope that helps and your not too tired of reading about all the "fine tuning" sugestions.

 

[i2ik]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12106996#post12106996 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Green Thumb
What lights are you having over your cheato? If the algea in your main tank has better lighting than your fuge, it makes the competition eazier for the algea in your tank. In the past Ive used clear acrylic hang on baskets to grow macroalgeas in my main tank. This way my cheato had great lighting and grew VERY rapidly.

When you say you only have it 1/3 full do you mean theres more space for your cheato to grow in your fuge? If so let it grow bigger as to occupy most of the space (providing there is intense light over it) This will help it outcompete other algeas. When it gets to the point where its too big and is stuffing your fuge, harvest about 1/3 of it, leaving it fairly large still, keeping it AHEAD of the game in nutrient absorbtion. Hope that helps and your not too tired of reading about all the "fine tuning" sugestions.

Thanks! I will try you trick putting an acrylic box with cheato in the main tank to make it growth. My T5 under the fuge are not enough, i will add another light next time i go to Lowes.

I have been getting some urchin from a friend of mine and they are eating it, but quite slowly even if they are huge! Also add a foxface that is eating them from time to time and a naso that is also doing the same thing. The naso will probably be the only "big" fish i will be adding in this tank.

 

[i2ik]

Some new additions to the tank over a few weeks:

 

[Jar*Head]

Very impressive set up Richard. Love the open aquascape....

 

[JCTewks]

what is that tang in th third from last picture?

 

[oxbeard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12162035#post12162035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCTewks
what is that tang in th third from last picture?

Looks like it might be a white cheek tang. Just ordered one myself. Very beautiful tang.

 

[adammreef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12162035#post12162035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JCTewks
what is that tang in th third from last picture?

its an achilles tang

 

[kidney514]

Acanthurus achilles aka Achilles Tang

 

[oxbeard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12162139#post12162139 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by adammreef
its an achilles tang

Cool. Hadn't paid attention to the difference with the orange coloration.

 

[tbone28]

very nice fish list, Richard. I just posted my wish list on my thread, and we want pretty much the same fish. lol They were also just talking about that anthias, too! I think it's pretty cool, but pricey!

Is your copperband eating prepared food?

 

[i2ik]

Thank you everyone

jarhead: I also love the open look for the aquascape. I have been pulling some grape algea caulerpa in my tank and accidentaly knock one island. I will change it a bit and try with 1/2" PVC pipe to see if it could be more stable, something like Fudge did with his tank.

the 3 picture from last is an achilles tang. I never realised that they had a bump on their head once "adult"

Terry: Indeed we are having some similar taste! Up to now, the powder brown tang did nothing to the achilles. I seperated the tank in 2 with eggcrate but he manage to go on the other side. He is actually afraid of the !

The anthias is pricey, but with the deal i got, it was a really good price! Nice pattern which is quite different from other fishes, and lots of altitude. The anthias tried to bully him with no success! Eating already and always in the open.

The copperband is not eating prepared food yet, he is nipping on the rocks, its been 3 weeks that i have him, never saw him eat, but he is also always out in the open scavenging for food on the rocks. I still hope he will get some interest in prepared food