700 gallon tank, or how i spent my daughters inheritance
- Thread starter BlueCorn
- Start date
danreefman
New member
here is a little reef related question. what could have caused my fingernail to grow out like this?
Thats a nail fungus
Reefski's
Active member
no it's not. it was an urchin puncture just above the nail and that picture was a month or so later after the nail had grown out.
MedRed
Active member
Sorry about that... lol. It was a pleasure meeting you as well. Have a great trip!
Reefski's
Active member
Tom-
Thank you for the kind words, I will try to live up to them. For fifteen years I lived across from the bleachers at Venice High School before I moved back to the family home where I grew up, about a mile away.
i have spent the last few days snorkeling on the Kona coast of Hawaii. http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/reefs/hawaii/puako/puako.htm
this was my first time actually on a real reef. Wow? there is not the diversity of other tropical areas from what I have read, but it was still amazing. each fish must have tens or hundreds of thousands of gallons of water. I saw hundreds of black trigger fishes in a school. Also dozens of Butterfly fish hanging at the edge of a vertical face where the water is upwelling and many others. Hawaii is home to over 230 species of fish. I have seen hundreds of yellow tangs as big as a salad plate.
I have a friend that has a very skinny 3.5-4" yellow tang that she has had for 15 years. She is very proud of the fact that she has kept it alive this long. I think it is sad that it is very stunted and anorexic.
It was fun to pick a fish and just follow it around for a while. Many differnt tangs were chasing conspecifics out of their territory. Tangs were trying to defend their territory from the larger group of convict tangs as they came through the area.
I also saw two crown of thorn seastars. They were a dark green. They are not a problem here in Hawaii yet.
I saw full sized tangs, Naso, Sailfin, orange shoulder tangs, and Pink Tail Triggers that were at least 15". it now seems rather cruel to confine these fish in an aquarium, even a 700 gallon aquarium. But what can I do with them now?
I saw a handful of Moorish Idols picking at the rockwork. I couldn't see what they were picking at either.
Then there was the 5" bright yellow Commerson's frogfish sitting atop the reef at about 15 feet depth. I thought it was a sponge at first. Then I noticed the eye. (I can't wear my glasses in the water)
The fish all looked well fed and not skinny like I have seen in many tanks. I could not see anything on the rocks that they were picking at. There didn't appear to be any coralline algae or any algae either although there were many urchins of I think 5 different species.
While the tank is empty I am rethinking what I want to keep in my tank. I put some Phaleanopsis orchids in the tank temporarily until I could take them to a friends greenhouse. Maybe that would be a cool low impact on the environment way to use the tank.
These are the primary species of coral. I understand that there are a few palythoas here but I haven't seen them. Only sps of a couple species.
And no lps or other soft corals.
I was only snorkeling so I am sure I missed a lot of what is here too.
An acquaintance recently told me he had just bought a 4" Vlamingi tang for his 55 gallon tank. After he got it home he read about it and learned that they get 24" long. I told him to take it back and get something MUCH smaller.
Please research the fish and invertebrates you are interested in before you buy it. I wish the store owners/employees would question people about their setups and refuse to sell inappropriate creatures to them. They might miss a sale but make a lifelong customer that will succeed at the hobby. Mea culpa.
Thank you for the kind words, I will try to live up to them. For fifteen years I lived across from the bleachers at Venice High School before I moved back to the family home where I grew up, about a mile away.
i have spent the last few days snorkeling on the Kona coast of Hawaii. http://www.coralreefnetwork.com/reefs/hawaii/puako/puako.htm
this was my first time actually on a real reef. Wow? there is not the diversity of other tropical areas from what I have read, but it was still amazing. each fish must have tens or hundreds of thousands of gallons of water. I saw hundreds of black trigger fishes in a school. Also dozens of Butterfly fish hanging at the edge of a vertical face where the water is upwelling and many others. Hawaii is home to over 230 species of fish. I have seen hundreds of yellow tangs as big as a salad plate.
I have a friend that has a very skinny 3.5-4" yellow tang that she has had for 15 years. She is very proud of the fact that she has kept it alive this long. I think it is sad that it is very stunted and anorexic.
It was fun to pick a fish and just follow it around for a while. Many differnt tangs were chasing conspecifics out of their territory. Tangs were trying to defend their territory from the larger group of convict tangs as they came through the area.
I also saw two crown of thorn seastars. They were a dark green. They are not a problem here in Hawaii yet.
I saw full sized tangs, Naso, Sailfin, orange shoulder tangs, and Pink Tail Triggers that were at least 15". it now seems rather cruel to confine these fish in an aquarium, even a 700 gallon aquarium. But what can I do with them now?
I saw a handful of Moorish Idols picking at the rockwork. I couldn't see what they were picking at either.
Then there was the 5" bright yellow Commerson's frogfish sitting atop the reef at about 15 feet depth. I thought it was a sponge at first. Then I noticed the eye. (I can't wear my glasses in the water)
The fish all looked well fed and not skinny like I have seen in many tanks. I could not see anything on the rocks that they were picking at. There didn't appear to be any coralline algae or any algae either although there were many urchins of I think 5 different species.
While the tank is empty I am rethinking what I want to keep in my tank. I put some Phaleanopsis orchids in the tank temporarily until I could take them to a friends greenhouse. Maybe that would be a cool low impact on the environment way to use the tank.
These are the primary species of coral. I understand that there are a few palythoas here but I haven't seen them. Only sps of a couple species.
And no lps or other soft corals.
I was only snorkeling so I am sure I missed a lot of what is here too.
An acquaintance recently told me he had just bought a 4" Vlamingi tang for his 55 gallon tank. After he got it home he read about it and learned that they get 24" long. I told him to take it back and get something MUCH smaller.
Please research the fish and invertebrates you are interested in before you buy it. I wish the store owners/employees would question people about their setups and refuse to sell inappropriate creatures to them. They might miss a sale but make a lifelong customer that will succeed at the hobby. Mea culpa.
kmu
New member
the closed loop holes were closed off with 5x5x.5" acrylic with #3 weldon and a bead of a thicker Weldon with a catalyst agent. it looks like it will last forever.
video
the finished tank
Carl
Dejavu
Did the same thing with my tank, an went with energy efficient vortechs
GOOD LUCK on the rebuild...
Reefski's
Active member
nothing new yet. the fish et al are all doing fine in their new home in the garage.
it definitely isn't as much fun watching them though.
been too busy with work. my helper is in Guatemala until next year. i may start without him though. we are getting anxious to get the tank set up again.
january 1st will be three years since the tank was filled. hard to believe it has been that long.
i am still rethinking everything. the flow, the lighting, what kind of corals to keep.
we like the anemones a lot but i know they are chemically toxic to many corals. so what to do about that?
Reefski's
Active member
Dejavu
Did the same thing with my tank, an went with energy efficient vortechs
GOOD LUCK on the rebuild...
it is good to see that someone else has done the same. how long have you had water in the tank now that the holes are closed off?
i am still trying to get my carbon footprint to zero. probably never happen but i am working on it.
Carl
Nathan.Titulaer
New member
This is the issue I struggle with every time I plan how to set up my 220 and 240. I think with time and patience it can be done. Just look at how much the technology behind pumps and LED lighting has come in the last year or two to bring power consumption way down. I don't recall if you are doing it but radiant heating saves a lot of electricity on big systems. If all else fails there are some really neat things going on in terms of solar efficiency, and you could just up grade a few panels to those when they come out.
So glad you are still here Carl!I truly get the carbon footprint concept but there is always a higher cost for the newest products and tecnology.Unfortunately,a minimalist approach is not nesessarily the ideal for some systems.I am following you still because of who you are and what you are trying to do with your system.It will be awesome when you find the balance.Best regards and Merry Christmas.
Wolfmann81
New member
Carl -
I picked up this post a few days ago, reading some at a time (in between Christmas shopping, etc!). I have just caught up to real-time now.
All of the lows that you had for the health of the corals and fish and struggles with chemistry/etc, and now for the HIGHS with a new tank to re-discover what brought you into this fantastic hobby/obsession years ago. I'm in! Ready for all the new updates of what is to come next.
Best wishes, excited to see how this comes together.:fish1:
I picked up this post a few days ago, reading some at a time (in between Christmas shopping, etc!). I have just caught up to real-time now.
All of the lows that you had for the health of the corals and fish and struggles with chemistry/etc, and now for the HIGHS with a new tank to re-discover what brought you into this fantastic hobby/obsession years ago. I'm in! Ready for all the new updates of what is to come next.
Best wishes, excited to see how this comes together.:fish1:
NewMariner
Reef Tank Aficionado
Carl,
I have spent almost a full day scanning through your thread. I didnt read every post, but most of them. Your tank and house is very impressive. I compliment you on well thought out plan. Ive been out of the hobby for many years. And currently have no tanks. But yours has given me the bug again and wanting to set one up. Now I just got to talk with the wifey and get the ok....
I look forward to reading about the next chapter in your tank's life. The first chapter was a very good read. Good Luck on the rebuild.
I have spent almost a full day scanning through your thread. I didnt read every post, but most of them. Your tank and house is very impressive. I compliment you on well thought out plan. Ive been out of the hobby for many years. And currently have no tanks. But yours has given me the bug again and wanting to set one up. Now I just got to talk with the wifey and get the ok....
I look forward to reading about the next chapter in your tank's life. The first chapter was a very good read. Good Luck on the rebuild.
"I saw full sized tangs, Naso, Sailfin, orange shoulder tangs, and Pink Tail Triggers that were at least 15”. it now seems rather cruel to confine these fish in an aquarium, even a 700 gallon aquarium. But what can I do with them now?"
I am starting to see this more and more in reading threads on this site, and I feel exactly the same way. I always state, I don't mind that people keep the fish......I'm not going to be an activist against keeping tangs. However, I think the more that people in this hobby go snorkeling or diving and really think about what they are seeing out there, it doesn't make sense to keep fish like that confined in such a small space. They really do cover a lot of area on a reef. Tangs and wrasses remind me of birds, just underwater.
I am starting to see this more and more in reading threads on this site, and I feel exactly the same way. I always state, I don't mind that people keep the fish......I'm not going to be an activist against keeping tangs. However, I think the more that people in this hobby go snorkeling or diving and really think about what they are seeing out there, it doesn't make sense to keep fish like that confined in such a small space. They really do cover a lot of area on a reef. Tangs and wrasses remind me of birds, just underwater.
kmu
New member
One month now... the tank its actually cycling right now...
I also want to reduce the carbon footprint on my tanks... going to all LEDs on my home reef tank and will do with this one once I get the funds to do it...
Reefski's
Active member
the DT tank has been empty for over three months now. all the livestock is doing fine in the garage sump tanks.
my tank already has an external overflow along one 4' side with 3" teeth so i have decided to eliminate the unsightly center overflow which is not needed anymore as i have decided not to use the surge tanks anymore. i loved them for many reasons but there were some disadvantages too. disadvantages include salt creep from all the bubbles popping, and pumping water from the garage sump to the second floor where the surge tanks were. lots of condensation and humidity in the closed closet too. they have been removed and the closet will house lighting and Tunze pump electrical stuff.
as you can see in the photos below i have taken out the center overflow and patched the holes.
the guy that buffed out the tank and patched the other holes wanted $300 to cut off the overflow and patch the holes. i thought that was too much so i decided to risk doing it myself. what could go wrong. i went to the local plastic store and they recommended Weldon 40 which is a two part mix.
after the week curing time i put water in the tank and went underneath to check for leaks and saw this-
yikes- until i realized it was the Weldon from the repair.
it does hold water. hooray!
the freshwater test is over and soon, maybe even this weekend i will put saltwater in the tank.
to summarize a bit-
closed loops eliminated replaced with six Tunzes of various sizes in the tank on the Tunze electronic controller. i am going to stop using the light rails and have different lighting zones in the tank. the brightest part of the tank will have one 400 watt light to be used as needed to supplement the natural light as well as the middle area of the tank will have the other 400 watt light over anemones, the darkest area neat the overflow will only have sunlight and lower light corals. suggestions for these are welcome.
no surges
i will be using a 4" DSB of #1 aragonite.
Carl
