A Reef Tank in the Desert - +/- 1,400 gallon system

[danfeig]

Sweet convict tangs! Are they eating well for you?

They are and are doing very well together. One of the convicts came from my previous tank and I have had her +/- 18 months. The other was introduced a few weeks ago. No fighting whatsoever and they swim close to one another at all times.

 

[danfeig]

I love a well populated and busy tank! Incase I missed it, whats your limit on fish going to be? Love it, Love it, Love it!!!

Thank you Commandoe! I haven't decided yet What my limit will be.

It really will depend on how everyone gets along together. There is still another 18 or so fish on my desired list, including a pair of Achilles and Black Longnose Tangs. I am also looking for some real small, colorful schooling fish.

 

[plyr58]

Have you thought about ventralis anthias for schooling fish? They are gorgeous though difficult to keep. You could probably get a away with several males and a whole harem of females in a tank that large if you wanted.

 

[danfeig]

how long did you leave the PBT's together before removing one of them?

I have a 2nd PBT, but it is in another tank.

Hi geaux xman. I had the two together for about a week. I have had my one Powder Blue for over a year and it has become a bit of a bully. The one I purchased was in QT for a month before going into my display. It is a little smaller so I figured I should fatten it up a bit. It was also getting harassed by a Powder Brown in my main display.

It is being very finicky back in my QT. I will try again in a few weeks. When I put him back in my display, I am going to put him in one of those "in-tank" refugium/QT's so that the other PBT can get used to him.

 

[SPotter]

Hey Dan,
have you noticed any negative changes to your tank...specifically your sps since bringing the UV online?

 

[danfeig]

Hey Dan,
have you noticed any negative changes to your tank...specifically your sps since bringing the UV online?

None whatsoever. It is too early for me to document any growth, however, I have noticed polyp extension on my SPS throughout the day. It also isn't affecting my pod population. I changed my filter socks yesterday and they were filled with pods. Are you experiencing any issues?

 

[SPotter]

yeah a little. turns out my flow wasnt 100% dialed in and was slower than I thought. I was over sterilizer the water not to mention the heat. Corals that were in the path of the return line have stn'd. My water is crystal clear but a little too clean now. I've since corrected the flow issue and will wait a little while before turning the uv back on. I will probably only run 8-12 hrs a day to start.

 

[danfeig]

yeah a little. turns out my flow wasnt 100% dialed in and was slower than I thought. I was over sterilizer the water not to mention the heat. Corals that were in the path of the return line have stn'd. My water is crystal clear but a little too clean now. I've since corrected the flow issue and will wait a little while before turning the uv back on. I will probably only run 8-12 hrs a day to start.

That is too bad, awful. They really need to do a better job informing the public about flow and UV Systems. I am still running mine with a full water flow and won't consider dialing it down for a while.

My primary purpose at this time is to control some of the green algae building up on the sides. I have been getting it from my latest bloom. I will give it another week (3 weeks total) before I turn it down.

Good luck!

 

[danfeig]

danfeig this is one hell of a tank. Man the tangs your adding is absolutely amazing! I love it! Got a question for you about your setup.. Do both of your overflows just stricly drain into your sump and then you just have one pump on either end bringing the water back in or are both of the pumps on both sides of your sump putting water back in the tank. I am gathering ideas for my dream tank one day i am only 19 so i have plenty of time to plan! Once again this tank is going to be amazing!

Thank you Reeftanks6. Both overflows drain into the sump. I have two Reeflo Dart Golds (4,300 GPH) on both ends of the sump. I have a closed loop system. On one end, a dart helps feed my two 75 gallon and 90 gallon tanks. I am using Mag Drives to distribute water from the sump to my refugium, the skimmer and UV.

I will be setting up shortly another 150 gallon tank (my old display) with another Reeflo dart that will also dump back into my sump or 90 gallon "live rock" tank. Haven't quite figured that out yet.

Hope this helps!

 

[Prochef176]

Looks like a wall at Seaworld here in FL!!! Awesome!

 

[Draven451]

WOW what an incredible tank! Such an enormous build and very well done! It took awhile to get thru all 23 pages but it was well worth it. It must be like having seaworld in your living room

 

[danfeig]

Have you thought about ventralis anthias for schooling fish? They are gorgeous though difficult to keep. You could probably get a away with several males and a whole harem of females in a tank that large if you wanted.

I have Plyr58. They are beautiful fish! The problem I have... with the size of my tank, I would need many. Too many. There are plenty of places to hide and the smaller fish seem to get lost in my tank. They only seem to come out at feeding time. At +/- $100+ per fish, I rather use the money on Gem Tangs or something larger and unusual. Great suggestion though!

 

[Reef_Knight]

Dan let me tell you, give thanks to whatever/whomever you believe in because you sure are very lucky and fortunate. I always visualize myself doing something of this sort in my future. But I have time I'm still young. But yes awesome build, it took me a while to read it all but after I did I was glad. Mind saying what you do for a living?

 

[danfeig]

Kudos...

Kudos...

I have to give Kudos to the customer service departments of Avast Marine and Emperor Aquatics.

First Avast Marine... my swabbie (the self cleaning head) for my Deltec Skimmer, wasn't working properly. The cleaning mechanism kept getting stuck and the motor housing unit was very warm. Avast Marine express mailed a new unit that arrived today. They didn't ask me to send my unit back for repair nor did they ask for a new credit card. They simply asked me to return the unit in the new box with an enclosed packaging slip.

Similar story with Emperor Aquatics. When I went to turn on my new UV system, the light wasn't working. It turns out the ballast wasn't working correctly. The ballast for my 50 watt unit worked and fired up my new system immediately. I called Emperor Aquatics and what did they do? They immediately sent out a new ballast and a package to send back the faulty UV ballast.

Thank you Avast Marine and Emperor Aquatics!!!

[/IMG]

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Customer service will either make you or break you as a company. Their people and products are proof.

 

[Reef_Knight]

Customer service will either make you or break you as a company. Their people and products are proof.

Definitely agree with this. No matter what business field your in customer service goes way higher that was your providing.

 

[john1979]

What an inspiring build. Thanks for sharing this with us!

 

[orangegoby]

AS ... I ended up putting one of my Powder Blues back into QT to fatten him up a bit.

Hi danfeig, this is one amazing tank. how do u manage to catch your pbt from a tank this size and putting him back to the qt???

 

[saltyjarhead]

Wow what a build you have. I had to leave AZ way to hot down there. Be watching this build for sure.

 

[sail33]

I'm not a "Trekey" but the words "To boldly go where no man has gone before" come to mind.
In the last two days I have read the details of your adventure. It's been eye opening. Technology has come a long was in marine reef keeping. Things I hadn't imagined are just a ( rather large) wallet away.
Thanks for sharing.