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

[danfeig]

You will always have family time sooner or later. Its all about timing and planning. Just like reefing.

Thanks Wayne. I think that you should write a book. "Reefing Zen. A guide to managing your Reef Tank and Family."

All kidding aside. Today was one of those days that it was definitely more family time when I wished I could also be escaping to the fish room.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Thanks Wayne. I think that you should write a book. "Reefing Zen. A guide to managing your Reef Tank and Family."

All kidding aside. Today was one of those days that it was definitely more family time when I wished I could also be escaping to the fish room.

Then I can have Danday like you. :dance::dance::dance:

 

[SUPPOReefer]

Dan I would advise against having a seahorse tank plumbed into your main system. The chilling needs are significant. We kept our seahorse tank at 72. If you purchased captive bred seahorses, they would be exposed to all sort of new pathogen from your fish (if plumbed to the main display). If you procure wild caught seahorses, the life expectancy is much lower. The flow restriction for seahorses would make all of the rock you want to use as added filtration moot. Seahorses are a lot of fun to keep, but only in a separate system.
My wife gave up on seahorses after we took in one from a friend who was breaking down her tank. We were assured that the seahorse was captive bred, but within a month of introducing her to the tank, all the other seahorses were dead.

 

[danfeig]

Dan I would advise against having a seahorse tank plumbed into your main system. The chilling needs are significant. We kept our seahorse tank at 72. If you purchased captive bred seahorses, they would be exposed to all sort of new pathogen from your fish (if plumbed to the main display). If you procure wild caught seahorses, the life expectancy is much lower. The flow restriction for seahorses would make all of the rock you want to use as added filtration moot. Seahorses are a lot of fun to keep, but only in a separate system.
My wife gave up on seahorses after we took in one from a friend who was breaking down her tank. We were assured that the seahorse was captive bred, but within a month of introducing her to the tank, all the other seahorses were dead.

Thanks SUPPOReefer. I am spending a lot of time researching the issue. I have been going through all the threads in the Seahorse and Pipefish forums.
I would definitely have to hook my chiller back up. I am considering an "inline" heater going back to the main display and have some thoughts about how to keep the tank cool without effecting my main system.

Nothing is set in stone yet and I appreciate your advice.

 

[danfeig]

How's this for customer service???

How's this for customer service???

I can not say enough about Justin and the customer service that he delivers at Avast Marine.

So last week, I noticed my Skimmer cup was dirty and checked out my Avast Marine Swabbie. I turned on my Apex outlet to "ON" and noticed that the cleaning mechanism was barely moving.

I emailed Justing and told him about the issue. What does he do? He replies to me that they just changed motors on the new models to a lower speed, higher torque model. He would send one right out.

So today, 5 days later, I received a new Swabbie with a return UPS sticker to send my old one back.

How is that for great customer service and warranty?

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[danfeig]

Should I change my forum to "A Reef Tang in the Desert?"

Should I change my forum to "A Reef Tang in the Desert?"

So this evening when my wife and I were sitting in the living room watching the fish, she asked me how many fish we have. I have no clue, but we decided to add up all the Tangs. Not all are in the main display yet. Some are still in QT's or my other tanks waiting to be transferred. They are as follows:

4 Yellow Tangs
4 Blue Hippo Tangs
2 Blonde Naso's
2 Blue Caribbean Tangs
2 Chocolate Tangs
2 Chevron Tangs
2 Yellow Eye Kole Tangs
2 Sailfin Tangs
2 Desdardini Sailfin Tangs
2 Powder Blue Tangs
2 Flamefin Tangs
2 Convict Tangs
2 Lopezi Tangs
2 Orangeshoulder Tangs
2 Vlamingii Tangs
1 Purple Tang
1 Clown Tang

Still waiting on:
2 Mustard Gutattus Tangs
2 Sohal Tangs (small)
2 Achilles Tangs

I also will be adding another Clown Tang (one had unfortunately jumped out of the tank) and another Purple Tang that died shortly after my sump overflowing incident. I need to be able to catch these two first to place in one of my QT's. I want them to be able to get accustomed to any new tangs of the same species and be placed back into the display simultaneously with each other. It will take a while to catch them!

 

[pgaudreau]

Dan, we need a fed ex Friday with a couple of black tangs !!!!
I added a second purple in my main tank a while back after a 4 week qt, and even though they had a couple rough days giving each other hair cuts it all worked out and now they hang out together. Purple tangs are pretty tough fish.
Catching your purple out of your main tank should be entertaining and we look forward to the you tube video. you may need a diver for that capture.

 

[Spyderturbo007]

This thread is awesome and your tank looks incredible!


Do you have a like to where you purchased these brackets and float switches? I've been looking for nice ones like this, but can't find them

 

[danfeig]

Dan, we need a fed ex Friday with a couple of black tangs !!!!
I added a second purple in my main tank a while back after a 4 week qt, and even though they had a couple rough days giving each other hair cuts it all worked out and now they hang out together. Purple tangs are pretty tough fish.
Catching your purple out of your main tank should be entertaining and we look forward to the you tube video. you may need a diver for that capture.

Thanks pgaudreau. Black Tangs are gorgeous and I may consider a pair. My dream buy will be a pair of Gem Tangs once my tank has been up and established for a long while. Next up though will be the Achilles and Sohals.

I will try to capture my Purple Tang over the next couple of weeks. If I capture him before I leave for our winter vacation, I will put him in the 150. If I can't capture him, I will add the other Purple Tang to a breeding net or egg-crate cage and will leave him in the tank for a while. All after going through a lengthy acclimation process in my QT.

 

[danfeig]

This thread is awesome and your tank looks incredible!


Do you have a like to where you purchased these brackets and float switches? I've been looking for nice ones like this, but can't find them

Thank you Spyderturbo007!

I purchased all of my float switches from BRS. They are made by Digital Aquatics for their ReefKeeper.

I use an Apex by Neptune Systems and just strip the wires to add to a break out box on my system. All told, I am running 8 different float switches. I have a float switch on every tank that will kill various pumps in the event of a possible flood and one low water float/alarm.

 

[Pushwood]

SOOOO excited for you to get the achilles tangs!!!

 

[Spyderturbo007]

Thank you Spyderturbo007!

I purchased all of my float switches from BRS. They are made by Digital Aquatics for their ReefKeeper.

I use an Apex by Neptune Systems and just strip the wires to add to a break out box on my system. All told, I am running 8 different float switches. I have a float switch on every tank that will kill various pumps in the event of a possible flood and one low water float/alarm.

Awesome. Thank you very much. I have an Apex as well, so it's good to know that it will work properly.

Keep up the great work on your tank. From what I've read, your water changes are 4 times the volume of my entire system. I'm so jealous! :lmao:

 

[kmu]

Dan,

How has the maintenance been on a 48" tall tank? Im thinking about having an inwall set up similar to what you have but in acrylic.

THX

 

[Made2Rock]

There is a saying

Go west young man

With a day to Dan day should Wayne and I hop in a car and come intercept the fedex guy?

Joe

 

[danfeig]

Dan,

How has the maintenance been on a 48" tall tank? Im thinking about having an inwall set up similar to what you have but in acrylic.

THX

Hi kmu. Not bad at all. I have had to make some of my own cleaning equipment, but other than having to use a 7' ladder it is no different than any other tank I have owned. I use a spa/pool brush-side cleaner with a long PVC handle. I have been able to purchase 48" gravel vacuums, 48" tongs and 48" scrapers. The fact that I am running 2 MP60's and 2 MP40's, plus having 10 pieces of lock-line plumbed, help keep the water circulating and clean. With the LED lights, I find myself only having to wipe the glass down a few times each week.

Go for the large tank. The aesthetics are amazing!

 

[danfeig]

There is a saying

Go west young man

With a day to Dan day should Wayne and I hop in a car and come intercept the fedex guy?

Joe

Come on down! I only have a couple of boxes arriving tomorrow, but I'll be plenty busy!

Michael and Justin from Simply Elegant Aquatics will be here in the morning bringing over and helping me instal a few new products that I had fabricated to make my life a little easier.

As my wife will tell you, two rather large Hanukah presents!

There are a few corals that I picked out from Exotic Reef Imports that should be arriving at SEA in the morning too!

The boxes I have being delivered are strictly to support my new...

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

There is a saying

Go west young man

With a day to Dan day should Wayne and I hop in a car and come intercept the fedex guy?

Joe

I will be performing a package and tank inspection. That is all.

 

[danfeig]

I will be performing a package and tank inspection. That is all.

As long as you are doing that, I am going to put you to work cleaning my sump and skimmer!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

As long as you are doing that, I am going to put you to work cleaning my sump and skimmer!

I hate to say this but that will be my honor.

 

[jt48]

The Reef looks great, congratulations and thanks for sharing. I have a confession to make though: I only skimmed through all 45 pages and read certain posts of interest. I had a Moorish Idol for two years back in 1987 in a 55 gallon fish only tank run by a Magnum 350. Was your pair ever introduced to the display tank? I only saw them in quarantine.