A ~19,000 Gallon Aquarium

Sweet.. there should be led lights under each ledge of the "stairs" seating areas.. Would be really cool to have long mood light strips out of sight for an awesome ambiance.
 
Diving Trip

Diving Trip

We went diving today. It is the first time I go with a camera and I was looking forward to taking photos underwater. The water wasn't as clear as the several dives before but it should do. So out of the ~80 photos I took, here are the ones I chose to share :):

diving1-2010-06-12.jpg


diving2-2010-06-12.jpg


diving3-2010-06-12.jpg


diving4-2010-06-12.jpg


diving5-2010-06-12.jpg


diving6-2010-06-12.jpg


diving7-2010-06-12.jpg
 
Hello Nanham,

I am really liking your photos of the reef! Would you be able to tell me if that is an Asfur angel in the photo, and the photo with the diadema urchin I assume its an Arabian Bluelined Dottyback?

Patrick
 
I did not collect anything for the tank yet. It was a pretty nice diving trip though. We are making preparations for collecting the next time we are out.
 
The well water looks good judging from the values I am familiar with. How much water does it yield per day or week? Is it affected by seasons or weather? Is it possible to pump sea water into the sand above the well and allow it to percolate down and feed it if the volume is too low for your water change requirements? The obvious benefit is the water should be free of contaminants and parasitic marine organisms. It should also be free of variation caused by tide, temperature and algae blooms. Is the water colder than the sea? If it is a few degrees cooler it will cancel out the few degrees you gain in your comparatively (compared to the thermal mass of the ocean) shallow aquarium.

Some of the numbers like calcium and carbonate hardness are a little high, but I suspect that is because the salinity is also high. "Just add water" and these will be corrected. Once again, here are the "average" levels in natural sea water (NSW). The salinity and other levels are elevated in shallow harbors where water evaporates readily, especially with hot desert wind blowing across it.
 
From Wikipedia,

The climate of the Red Sea is the result of two distinct monsoon seasons; a northeasterly monsoon and a southwesterly monsoon. Monsoon winds occur because of the differential heating between the land surface and sea. Very high surface temperatures coupled with high salinities makes this one of the hottest and saltiest bodies of seawater in the world. The average surface water temperature of the Red Sea during the summer is about 26 °C (79 °F) in the north and 30 °C (86 °F) in the south, with only about 2 °C (3.6 °F) variation during the winter months. The overall average water temperature is 22 °C (72 °F). The rainfall over the Red Sea and its coasts is extremely low averaging 0.06 m (2.36 in) per year; the rain is mostly in the form of showers of short spells often associated with thunderstorms and occasionally with dust storms. The scarcity of rainfall and no major source of fresh water to the Red Sea result in the excess evaporation as high as 205 cm (81 in) per year and high salinity with minimal seasonal variation. A recent underwater expedition to the Red Sea offshore from Sudan and Eritrea[11] found surface water temperatures 28°C in winter and up to 34°C in the summer, but despite that extreme heat the coral was healthy with much fish life with very little sign of coral bleaching, and there were plans to use samples of these corals' apparently heat-adapted commensal algae to salvage bleached coral elsewhere.

Salinity
The Red Sea is one of the most saline bodies of water in the world, due to high evaporation. Salinity ranges from between ~36 (ppt) in the southern part due to the effect of the Gulf of Aden water and reaches 41 (ppt) in the northern part, due mainly to the Gulf of Suez water and the high evaporation. The average salinity is 40 (ppt). (Average salinity for the world's seawater is ~35 (ppt).)

Tidal range
In general tide ranges between 0.6 m (2.0 ft) in the north, near the mouth of the Gulf of Suez and 0.9 m (3.0 ft) in the south near the Gulf of Aden but it fluctuates between 0.20 m (0.66 ft) and 0.30 m (0.98 ft) away from the nodal point. The central Red Sea (Jeddah area) is therefore almost tideless, and as such the annual water level changes are more significant. Because of the small tidal range the water during high tide inundates the coastal sabkhas as a thin sheet of water up to a few hundred metres rather than inundating the sabkhas through a network of channels. However, south of Jeddah in the Shoiaba area the water from the lagoon may cover the adjoining sabkhas as far as 3 km (2 mi) whereas, north of Jeddah in the Al-kharrar area the sabkhas are covered by a thin sheet of water as far as 2 km (1.2 mi). The prevailing north and northeastern winds influence the movement of water in the coastal inlets to the adjacent sabkhas, especially during storms. Winter mean sea level is 0.5 m (1.6 ft) higher than in summer. Tidal velocities passing through constrictions caused by reefs, sand bars and low islands commonly exceed 1–2 m/s (3–6.5 ft/s). Coral reefs in the Red Sea are near Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Sudan.

Current
In the Red Sea detailed current data is lacking, partially because they are weak and variable both spatially and temporally. Temporal and spatial currents variation is as low as 0.5 m (1.6 ft) and are governed all by wind. In summer NW winds drive surface water south for about four months at a velocity of 15–20 cm/s (6–8 in/s)., whereas in winter the flow is reversed resulting in the inflow of water from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea. The net value of the latter predominates, resulting in an overall drift to the northern end of the Red Sea. Generally the velocity of the tidal current is between 50–60 cm/s (20–23.6 in/s) with a maximum of 1 m/s (3.3 ft). at the mouth of the al-Kharrar Lagoon. However, the range of north-northeast current along the Saudi coast is 8–29 cm/s (3–11.4 in/s).

Wind regime
With the exception of the northern part of the Red Sea, which is dominated by persistent north-west winds, with speeds ranging between 7 km/h (4.3 mph) and 12 km/h (7.5 mph)., the rest of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are subjected to the influence of regular and seasonally reversible winds. The wind regime is characterized by both seasonal and regional variations in speed and direction with average speed generally increasing northward.

Wind is the driving force in the Red Sea for transporting the material either as suspension or as bedload. Wind induced currents play an important role in the Red Sea in initiating the process of resuspension of bottom sediments and transfer of materials from sites of dumping to sites of burial in quiescent environment of deposition. Wind generated current measurement is therefore important in order to determine the sediment dispersal pattern and its role in the erosion and accretion of the coastal rock exposure and the submerged coral beds.
 
Everything looks pretty good. I would be happy with those Alk levels myself. The only concern is see is the PO4 levels. 0.16mg/L (or .1602 ppm) may result in some algae/cloudy water.
 
I would worry more about the nitrite reading of 2.0?
What does the LT next to it mean?
was the tank filled by water from the well and turn out to be not clear? if not how does water taken straight out of the well look? is it the same if you allow it to settle for more time in the well?
 
From Wikipedia,

The climate of the Red Sea is the result of two distinct monsoon seasons; a northeasterly monsoon and a southwesterly monsoon. Monsoon winds occur because of the differential heating between the land surface and sea. Very high surface temperatures coupled with high salinities makes this one of the hottest and saltiest bodies of seawater in the world. The average surface water temperature of the Red Sea during the summer is about 26 °C (79 °F) in the north and 30 °C (86 °F) in the south, with only about 2 °C (3.6 °F) variation during the winter months. The overall average water temperature is 22 °C (72 °F). The rainfall over the Red Sea and its coasts is extremely low averaging 0.06 m (2.36 in) per year; the rain is mostly in the form of showers of short spells often associated with thunderstorms and occasionally with dust storms. The scarcity of rainfall and no major source of fresh water to the Red Sea result in the excess evaporation as high as 205 cm (81 in) per year and high salinity with minimal seasonal variation. A recent underwater expedition to the Red Sea offshore from Sudan and Eritrea[11] found surface water temperatures 28°C in winter and up to 34°C in the summer, but despite that extreme heat the coral was healthy with much fish life with very little sign of coral bleaching, and there were plans to use samples of these corals' apparently heat-adapted commensal algae to salvage bleached coral elsewhere.

Salinity
The Red Sea is one of the most saline bodies of water in the world, due to high evaporation. Salinity ranges from between ~36 (ppt) in the southern part due to the effect of the Gulf of Aden water and reaches 41 (ppt) in the northern part, due mainly to the Gulf of Suez water and the high evaporation. The average salinity is 40 (ppt). (Average salinity for the world's seawater is ~35 (ppt).)

Tidal range
In general tide ranges between 0.6 m (2.0 ft) in the north, near the mouth of the Gulf of Suez and 0.9 m (3.0 ft) in the south near the Gulf of Aden but it fluctuates between 0.20 m (0.66 ft) and 0.30 m (0.98 ft) away from the nodal point. The central Red Sea (Jeddah area) is therefore almost tideless, and as such the annual water level changes are more significant. Because of the small tidal range the water during high tide inundates the coastal sabkhas as a thin sheet of water up to a few hundred metres rather than inundating the sabkhas through a network of channels. However, south of Jeddah in the Shoiaba area the water from the lagoon may cover the adjoining sabkhas as far as 3 km (2 mi) whereas, north of Jeddah in the Al-kharrar area the sabkhas are covered by a thin sheet of water as far as 2 km (1.2 mi). The prevailing north and northeastern winds influence the movement of water in the coastal inlets to the adjacent sabkhas, especially during storms. Winter mean sea level is 0.5 m (1.6 ft) higher than in summer. Tidal velocities passing through constrictions caused by reefs, sand bars and low islands commonly exceed 1"“2 m/s (3"“6.5 ft/s). Coral reefs in the Red Sea are near Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Sudan.

Current
In the Red Sea detailed current data is lacking, partially because they are weak and variable both spatially and temporally. Temporal and spatial currents variation is as low as 0.5 m (1.6 ft) and are governed all by wind. In summer NW winds drive surface water south for about four months at a velocity of 15"“20 cm/s (6"“8 in/s)., whereas in winter the flow is reversed resulting in the inflow of water from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea. The net value of the latter predominates, resulting in an overall drift to the northern end of the Red Sea. Generally the velocity of the tidal current is between 50"“60 cm/s (20"“23.6 in/s) with a maximum of 1 m/s (3.3 ft). at the mouth of the al-Kharrar Lagoon. However, the range of north-northeast current along the Saudi coast is 8"“29 cm/s (3"“11.4 in/s).

Wind regime
With the exception of the northern part of the Red Sea, which is dominated by persistent north-west winds, with speeds ranging between 7 km/h (4.3 mph) and 12 km/h (7.5 mph)., the rest of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are subjected to the influence of regular and seasonally reversible winds. The wind regime is characterized by both seasonal and regional variations in speed and direction with average speed generally increasing northward.

Wind is the driving force in the Red Sea for transporting the material either as suspension or as bedload. Wind induced currents play an important role in the Red Sea in initiating the process of resuspension of bottom sediments and transfer of materials from sites of dumping to sites of burial in quiescent environment of deposition. Wind generated current measurement is therefore important in order to determine the sediment dispersal pattern and its role in the erosion and accretion of the coastal rock exposure and the submerged coral beds.

Keep in mind Nahham is in the Sea of Oman, not the Red Sea.
 
Everything looks pretty good. I would be happy with those Alk levels myself. The only concern is see is the PO4 levels. 0.16mg/L (or .1602 ppm) may result in some algae/cloudy water.

I don't think the phosphate level is a problem. Take a look at table #1 in this article. The sea water average is half that of Nahham's result, but typical aquarium values are exponentially higher. If it proves to be a problem, the water can be processed by a refugium first. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-12/rs/feature/index.php

Be careful of what you add to the tank as macro algae can proliferate to the point where it is virtually impossible to eradicate.
 
Nahham, Ive been following along pretty closely watching this its looking great. As a tank builder myself I think this is a very impressive project. cheers
-clay
 
Ok, sorry wrong sea, but think of it the red sea is bigger, the Arabian Gulf is half the size. So is twice the ranges?

I wasn't much closer :) I went snorkeling in the Red Sea last year at the blue hole in Dahab. It was March and the water was freezing cold. The reef was absolutely amazing. It was the most breathtaking experience in my life, so the adrenalin cancelled out the cold. A rich garden of SPS and every Red Sea fish you would expect to see all in one location. I was really surprised by the diversity and lack of soft corals, at least where I was. I didn't see dendronephthya though.

Nahham: Does dendronephthya occur in the Arabian Gulf? You would have a distinct advantage in live food availability to keep this beautiful coral that is so challenging for captive systems. http://www.oceanwideimages.com/search.asp?s=dendronephthya&p=1
 
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