900 from afar
- Thread starter madweazl
- Start date
madweazl
Member
Think I'm gonna grab another 20g to work on some baffles to help with the control of bubbles and place to drop carbon should I feel the need. Once that is done, I'll use this one as a QT (no idea where I'm gonna put it but I'll figure something out). Need to figure out what I'm gonna do for the final lighting for the ATS as well; there is a rib supporting the to of the stand that runs right across the tank so I'll probably go with some clip-ons with PCs.
The suction cups on the GEX heater are terrible but the heater is working very well so I cant complain too much I guess (temp stays 26.3-26.5° 24 hours/day). Never did get around to the wire management as I'm still fiddling with things.
sump3 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
The suction cups on the GEX heater are terrible but the heater is working very well so I cant complain too much I guess (temp stays 26.3-26.5° 24 hours/day). Never did get around to the wire management as I'm still fiddling with things.
sump3 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
madweazl
Member
Finally clear enough for a pic with the sand in it. This was taken with 2 of the 4 daylight/blue combos and 2 of the blue/magentas on. One of the mantis moved from the live rock top right and down to the large rock bottom right. Now it's right up in front facing the center of the tank in full view and I'm hoping it stays there. There are quite a few tiny hermits running around the tank, I suspect those will be come dinner for the mantis soon enough 
sand by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
sand by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
Last edited:
madweazl
Member
Much to my surprise the quick disconnect unions came in so I was able to add those to the plumbing today. The Quiet One 2200 was waiting for me at the post office but I ran out of elbows to get it plumbed and installed so it will have to wait until later this week. Got the wall mounts installed so I can get around to hanging the lights. I need to get a piece of laminate cut and stained black to install up there; hopefully I can get this done this week.
Still need to get working on the framing for the Panorama Pros so I can actually get them hung (they're being supported by curtain rods and paint ball pods that I cut down to test out different heights). Ordering a Reef Breeders Photon24 to replace these but dont expect it to arrive until around mid January (part of the current group buy they have going on; great deals!). The mounts are .5mm out of level over 24", I was close :lol:
Might get around to making the baffles for the sump this week, we'll see.
mount by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
Still need to get working on the framing for the Panorama Pros so I can actually get them hung (they're being supported by curtain rods and paint ball pods that I cut down to test out different heights). Ordering a Reef Breeders Photon24 to replace these but dont expect it to arrive until around mid January (part of the current group buy they have going on; great deals!). The mounts are .5mm out of level over 24", I was close :lol:
Might get around to making the baffles for the sump this week, we'll see.
mount by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
madweazl
Member
Oh, dropped a peppermint shrimp in there hoping to get rid of the 5 or 6 aiptasias that came in on a piece of live rock too. If they dont get knocked down in the next week or so, I'll remove the piece of rock (which pretty much completely buried in sand for the upcoming goby and pistol to mess with if they so desire).
madweazl
Member
Cut the aluminum frame and mounted the LEDs (spaced for the Photon24 that's going on order). The stuff that I found locally to mount them worked out really well too Next on the list will be painting the shelf and aluminum frame. I still need to clean up the hooks at the top too. After that will be to install the baffles in the sump and should be set for a while.
hanginglight by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
Next on the list will be painting the shelf and aluminum frame. I still need to clean up the hooks at the top too. After that will be to install the baffles in the sump and should be set for a while. hanginglight by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
madweazl
Member
Starting to look more like a finished product. Plenty more to do but I'm getting there.
black by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
Started installing the baffles into the sump; this is the first time I've tried bonding acrylic and the process really isnt that bad. I wasnt able to find a quality router while I was out today and resorted to scoring/cracking the acrylic for the initial cut, using a sanding drum on the Dremel for the rough fit, and completing the final fit with sand paper on a block. I'm getting the hang of it and the seam I just finished came out quite well (I'll get some pics tomorrow when I get the last baffle installed).
black by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
Started installing the baffles into the sump; this is the first time I've tried bonding acrylic and the process really isnt that bad. I wasnt able to find a quality router while I was out today and resorted to scoring/cracking the acrylic for the initial cut, using a sanding drum on the Dremel for the rough fit, and completing the final fit with sand paper on a block. I'm getting the hang of it and the seam I just finished came out quite well (I'll get some pics tomorrow when I get the last baffle installed).
madweazl
Member
I dont know who gets the original credit for the gurglebuster but whomever it was, thank you! I couldnt find the exact parts here in Okinawa but figured this would be pretty similar and it worked perfectly!
Gurglebuster Oki by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
Gurglebuster Oki by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
madweazl
Member
madweazl
Member
Wow, rough day. Woke up this morning and noticed that sand was falling into the silicon on the front panel. There was literally less than 1/8" left in that area and in another a few inches to the right as well.
IMAG0444 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
Was really disheartening to find this but I'm glad it was noticed before the contents were on my floor. I was able to find a replacement pretty quickly though the dimensions arent as nice (90x40x50cm vice the 90x45x45 it was replacing) but that is what is common out here so I didnt have much of a choice (besides the fact that it was the first glass aquarium I've seen here that didnt have colored sides).
swap by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
The extra height of the new aquarium required some plumbing changes to the sump that were pretty tough to retrofit without ordering a new bulkhead for the overflow box from the states but I figured out an acceptable solution. After a couple trips to the hardware store, sore back and feet, and 11 hours later, it is back up and running.
Decided to use window tint on the back of the aquarium vice paint in case there were issues with the tank and I needed to return it. The tint is a piece of cake to work with but I didnt wait long enough for it to set up (didnt have much of a choice) so it got messed up while I was moving the tank around. So cloudy in there right now I dont know how it looks but we'll see in the morning I guess.
IMAG0444 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
Was really disheartening to find this but I'm glad it was noticed before the contents were on my floor. I was able to find a replacement pretty quickly though the dimensions arent as nice (90x40x50cm vice the 90x45x45 it was replacing) but that is what is common out here so I didnt have much of a choice (besides the fact that it was the first glass aquarium I've seen here that didnt have colored sides).
swap by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr
The extra height of the new aquarium required some plumbing changes to the sump that were pretty tough to retrofit without ordering a new bulkhead for the overflow box from the states but I figured out an acceptable solution. After a couple trips to the hardware store, sore back and feet, and 11 hours later, it is back up and running.
Decided to use window tint on the back of the aquarium vice paint in case there were issues with the tank and I needed to return it. The tint is a piece of cake to work with but I didnt wait long enough for it to set up (didnt have much of a choice) so it got messed up while I was moving the tank around. So cloudy in there right now I dont know how it looks but we'll see in the morning I guess.
madweazl
Member
OK, so the newer lol tank is back up and running. I do like the extra height (gives more room for the powerhead) of the new tank but the loss of width was a bit of a bummer but I was able to keep the aquascape pretty similar so I was happy about that. Instead of paint for the back, I used automotive window tint. At roughly $7, it was cheaper than paint and was a piece of cake to apply (dont think I'll ever paint a tank again) and should I have a problem with this tank (dont even want to think about it), it can easily be removed. On the downside, it casts a reflection when photographed but after a couple of months, this wont be an issue. Not sure how but some of the base rock already has coraline growing (roughly two weeks after adding light).
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11081735996/" title="tank2 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/11081735996_0ca1b326bc_b.jpg" width="637" height="960" alt="tank2"></a>
With the tanks swapped out, I was able to focus attention to the sump where I added three, 3mm baffles. This allows me to run some poly/sponge and carbon. I keep saying I'm going to clean up the wires but keep running into more important things.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11081653295/" title="sump3 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/11081653295_b3baca0bda_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="sump3"></a>
On the way home from work I picked up a fire shrimp, randalli shrimp, and Randall's goby. It took three hours for the pistol and goby to shake hands and for now, have taken up residence under a rock right next to my desk which makes me oh so happy! Not holding my breath but hopefully they stay there!
lol tank is back up and running. I do like the extra height (gives more room for the powerhead) of the new tank but the loss of width was a bit of a bummer but I was able to keep the aquascape pretty similar so I was happy about that. Instead of paint for the back, I used automotive window tint. At roughly $7, it was cheaper than paint and was a piece of cake to apply (dont think I'll ever paint a tank again) and should I have a problem with this tank (dont even want to think about it), it can easily be removed. On the downside, it casts a reflection when photographed but after a couple of months, this wont be an issue. Not sure how but some of the base rock already has coraline growing (roughly two weeks after adding light).<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11081735996/" title="tank2 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/11081735996_0ca1b326bc_b.jpg" width="637" height="960" alt="tank2"></a>
With the tanks swapped out, I was able to focus attention to the sump where I added three, 3mm baffles. This allows me to run some poly/sponge and carbon. I keep saying I'm going to clean up the wires but keep running into more important things.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11081653295/" title="sump3 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/11081653295_b3baca0bda_b.jpg" width="1024" height="680" alt="sump3"></a>
On the way home from work I picked up a fire shrimp, randalli shrimp, and Randall's goby. It took three hours for the pistol and goby to shake hands and for now, have taken up residence under a rock right next to my desk which makes me oh so happy! Not holding my breath but hopefully they stay there!
madweazl
Member
Found an urchin (more like impaled myself) while I was doing the tank swap the other day. The mantis shrimp have figured out the feeding regime and are always propped up and ready to snag a brine as it goes floating by (they're unbelievably fast!). I'm so glad they're in the tank, very cool to see the diversity and so far there havent been any issues between them, the humpback, fire shrimp, and red banded pistol.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11110662533/" title="IMAG0453 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/11110662533_4fdef9911f_b.jpg" width="714" height="1024" alt="IMAG0453"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11110662533/" title="IMAG0453 by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/11110662533_4fdef9911f_b.jpg" width="714" height="1024" alt="IMAG0453"></a>
madweazl
Member
Goby came right up front but I still havent been able to get a good pic of it with the pistol shrimp.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11110678696/" title="goby by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/11110678696_20683fcce3_b.jpg" width="1024" height="685" alt="goby"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11110678696/" title="goby by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/11110678696_20683fcce3_b.jpg" width="1024" height="685" alt="goby"></a>
madweazl
Member
Picked up a purple firefish today but didnt realize we got one that had been gnawed on until we got home. Poor thing, other than the pectoral fins, everything else had been nipped at. He's in a much better place now and sure eats like a pig!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11113203516/" title="firefish by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/11113203516_4a0420b614_b.jpg" width="1024" height="747" alt="firefish"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11113203516/" title="firefish by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/11113203516_4a0420b614_b.jpg" width="1024" height="747" alt="firefish"></a>
madweazl
Member
Tank is doing great and things are maturing a lot quicker than anticipated.
This was a hitch hiker on a green mushroom rock that I picked up yesterday.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11379913813/" title="featherduster by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/11379913813_e1574aa4ef_b.jpg" width="1024" height="695" alt="featherduster"></a>
This lil guy (about 1.5" long) popped me yesterday when I placed something near its home (didnt notice it move in). Didnt leave a mark but got my attention :lol: That is a piece of dry rock that was placed in the tank at initial setup. Impressed with how much coraline it already has.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11379922093/" title="mantis by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/11379922093_081f837b64_b.jpg" width="715" height="1024" alt="mantis"></a>
And of course, the clean up crew
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11379916673/" title="hermit by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/11379916673_973593531a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="751" alt="hermit"></a>
This was a hitch hiker on a green mushroom rock that I picked up yesterday.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11379913813/" title="featherduster by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7367/11379913813_e1574aa4ef_b.jpg" width="1024" height="695" alt="featherduster"></a>
This lil guy (about 1.5" long) popped me yesterday when I placed something near its home (didnt notice it move in). Didnt leave a mark but got my attention :lol: That is a piece of dry rock that was placed in the tank at initial setup. Impressed with how much coraline it already has.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11379922093/" title="mantis by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5533/11379922093_081f837b64_b.jpg" width="715" height="1024" alt="mantis"></a>
And of course, the clean up crew
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11379916673/" title="hermit by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3718/11379916673_973593531a_b.jpg" width="1024" height="751" alt="hermit"></a>
madweazl
Member
And a cool pair of porcelain anemone crabs too (I'll work on getting a picture of them together).
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11380182045/" title="anemone crab by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/11380182045_2aae76e596_b.jpg" width="1024" height="823" alt="anemone crab"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tarantula_foto/11380182045/" title="anemone crab by Tarantula Foto, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7336/11380182045_2aae76e596_b.jpg" width="1024" height="823" alt="anemone crab"></a>
