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

[danfeig]

Dan your tank is amazing, im still working on my 400 i just hope mine turns out half as good as yours, i will be happy.

Thanks vel123.

Take your time and enjoy every minute of it. My tank isn't still where I want it to be, but it is slowly getting there. I appreciate your kind words.

 

[Oldude]

Oldude...

I am completely honored to receive your compliments and inquiries. Your tank build was one of the first that I followed when joining the Reef Central Community.

I am assuming that you are responding to my response to Osteoclast last week. Ideally, I like to keep my Alk between 10-11dkh. I am pretty anal and check my Alk with two different solutions. One is always a tiny bit higher or lower than the other. I had made new solution before I left for vacation and it was reported to me that it was around 12. I dialed down my dosing and this morning I am back to 11.

I will be doing a 200 gallon water change tomorrow and it should be back to normal.

Thank you again!

Thanks for following my tank build and believe it or not the thread is still going so don't be afraid to stop by & say hello.

Thanks for your reply. Getting solutions to always be consistant can be tricky and I go through the same scenario at times.

 

[danfeig]

FedEx Friday! World Wide Coral style

FedEx Friday! World Wide Coral style

So one of the deals that I made with my wife and kids last week... I'd take them to all the parks at Disney World and Universal Studios - provided, they would come with me to World Wide Corals and some of the other LFS while in Orlando.

Newbie Aquarist (Wayne, Leroy or Reefing is my middle name) and David00061 were both customers and spoke very highly of them. David00061 introduced me to Victor from World Wide Corals at MACNA this past year.

My experience at World Wide Corals was nothing less than outstanding and exceeded any expectations that I had.

First off, when I walked into the store with my wife and kids, we were immediately greeted by friendly staff. A few minutes later, Victor came out to say hello and assist us. This is the first LFS that I have gone into with my wife where she did not complain about the "fish" smell. There was no odor from skimmers, stale water or fish. The place smelled absolutely fresh and clean.

Before I was through looking at the display tank, the most remarkable thing happened. My son came up to me and said, "You're not going to believe this, mom found a coral she likes!" A minute later my daughter found some fish that she liked and then again, my wife found another coral she liked. What is a man to do? This all took place while I was still looking at the display tanks!

Time was limited as we were flying home that afternoon (Wednesday), so I took a bunch of pictures of corals that I liked and told Victor that I would email him with everything I was interested in. Fortunately or unfortunately I was interested in a lot! Victor had some of the nicest acan colonies that I have ever seen.

I didn't waste anytime. Our flight home had internet available and I emailed Victor. The next morning, yesterday, I had a response from Victor when I got into the office. Needless to say, he was very accommodating and thus todays special FedEx Friday.

The pictures are all from my iPhone so they really don't give the corals justice.

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This is the first coral that my wife really liked. A beautiful Dendrophyllia coral that is about 6"x6". I can't wait for it to open up!

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These are the fish that my daughter loved. A beautiful and unusual pair of Domino Clownfish. Victor has had them for over a year. They are gorgeous!!!

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This picture does not give the following the slightest bit of justice. It is the largest Acan colony I have ever seen! It is "L" shaped and a good 15"x12". It is hard to tell the colors by the photo. It is orange, blue, purple and green.

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The next picture was another coral that my wife loved. It is a pinkish/orange flowerpot or Goniopora coral. It's just starting to open up.

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I fell in love with the attached Symphyllia Coral as soon as I saw it. It is a beautiful green and purple striped coral.

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Lastly, was a beautiful mushroom rock with bright green mushrooms. I am hoping tomorrow that it will all be opened.

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I need to add one last thing about World Wide Corals that was incredibly impressive. I have ordered thousands of dollars worth of corals, fish and equipment online, from several different vendors. Tonight, I received a call from Victor and his partner making sure that my order arrived okay and that I was satisfied with everything. I couldn't believe it! What incredible customer service and gratitude. It has never happened before with any of my other orders.

I hope to be able to have Griffin come out and take some better pictures for you shortly.

 

[dca22anderson]

Great additions Dan! ;-) Your tank is rockin'!!!

 

[dotcommer]

Those additions look amazing. Its great to have the wife pick out something she likes. Makes them feel more involved.

If you are ever down in Phoenix, there is a guy that sells corals out of his house. He imports them from Thailand and Australia and he gets some gorgeous pieces. The best thing is NO FRAGS. They are all large pieces at some amazing prices.

He can also email you pics of his stuff. If you want his number let me know.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Those guys at WWC are on their game. In the beginning I thought just the Large Reef Tank viewers only knew of my build. After being greeted when I entered the store a couple of the employees were like ,"Aren't you that guy with that large tank build, something like 8 feet long and around 500 gallons?" I was totally in awe. It was even better when they didn't try to push product on me towards my build. I still ended up spending a few bills there but I was shocked and impressed. I wish I knew what time you were going and I would have driven up and met you. Guess I'll see you at MACNA.

 

[pgaudreau]

Dan Nice big pieces, one of the guys that wholesales directly to them is local here in fort lauderdale, he is getting a large shipment of Australian in the next couple weeks. His pieces are just like that large and beautiful and he wholesales them to lfs that usually frag them. When he gets his shipment in I will go pick up some pieces and and send you pictures of anything of size for your aquarium condo. If you like them you can contact him and he will be happy to get in line on the Dan day fed ex Friday

 

[danfeig]

Great additions Dan! ;-) Your tank is rockin'!!!

Thanks Dave!

They are really beautiful. Everything has opened up except the mushrooms are still a little so-so.

I can't wait to have my friend come over with his macro lens and shoot some good pics.

What kind of camera do you use? You always have great photos!

 

[danfeig]

Those additions look amazing. Its great to have the wife pick out something she likes. Makes them feel more involved.

If you are ever down in Phoenix, there is a guy that sells corals out of his house. He imports them from Thailand and Australia and he gets some gorgeous pieces. The best thing is NO FRAGS. They are all large pieces at some amazing prices.

He can also email you pics of his stuff. If you want his number let me know.

Thanks dotcommer!

There's a first time for everything! I was shocked when not only did she find one thing that she liked, but two!!!!!

I'd be very interested in seeing what your friend sells in Phoenix. I am always looking for great pieces especially at good prices. Please have him PM me or if you want, I can always message you my contact information.

 

[o2manyfish]

The clown looks great!

I also got a red metallic goni this past week... lets see whose grows faster

Dave B

 

[danfeig]

Those guys at WWC are on their game. In the beginning I thought just the Large Reef Tank viewers only knew of my build. After being greeted when I entered the store a couple of the employees were like ,"Aren't you that guy with that large tank build, something like 8 feet long and around 500 gallons?" I was totally in awe. It was even better when they didn't try to push product on me towards my build. I still ended up spending a few bills there but I was shocked and impressed. I wish I knew what time you were going and I would have driven up and met you. Guess I'll see you at MACNA.

Thanks "Reefing is my middle name." I definitely will be ordering from them again. Just their followup alone was outstanding! Had I known a specific time I would have been going, I certainly would have let you know. We go to Florida once a year to see my in laws and I will most certainly be going to MACNA.

 

[danfeig]

Dan Nice big pieces, one of the guys that wholesales directly to them is local here in fort lauderdale, he is getting a large shipment of Australian in the next couple weeks. His pieces are just like that large and beautiful and he wholesales them to lfs that usually frag them. When he gets his shipment in I will go pick up some pieces and and send you pictures of anything of size for your aquarium condo. If you like them you can contact him and he will be happy to get in line on the Dan day fed ex Friday

Thanks pgudreau! That would be awesome!

I am still looking for some nice pieces and there is always plenty of room. Let me know when he gets them in!

 

[danfeig]

The clown looks great!

I also got a red metallic goni this past week... lets see whose grows faster

Dave B

Thanks Dave!

I was going to email you earlier this weekend and got a little side tracked..

I actually got a pair of the Clownfish, just couldn't get a picture of them together. Victor indicated that he had the pair for over a year. They appear to be doing well. They are a little trippy... When I go by the tank at night, all you see are these little white markings floating around the tank. Kinda alien like!

The goniopora is really super tiny so yours will probably grow much faster. I still have it sitting in one of my QT's why I look for a place in my display. I found a small ledge. I am just not sure if it will get enough light.

 

[CHSUB]

great reef!!! question, how are you going to keep the orange cup coral alive, being that it is so larger and your tank is so massive, it seems like an impossible task?

 

[acabgd]

Thank you acabgd!!!

I am sorry that the music with my first video wouldn't work outside of the states. I am glad that Sam was able to change the music so you could enjoy it. Happy New Year!

Just to let you know it was not just the music that wasn't working - the whole video was blocked "... due to copyrighted soundtrack..." or something along these lines. I was not able to even start the video.

 

[danfeig]

great reef!!! question, how are you going to keep the orange cup coral alive, being that it is so larger and your tank is so massive, it seems like an impossible task?

Thank you CHSUB!

It's actually not an Orange Cup coral but rather a Dendrophyllia. I am a big feeder and where it is located, it will get brine and mysis shrimp. I do have some long feeding tubes and a couple times per week I will feed it directly.

 

[danfeig]

Just to let you know it was not just the music that wasn't working - the whole video was blocked "... due to copyrighted soundtrack..." or something along these lines. I was not able to even start the video.

acabgd,

I feel bad that the video doesn't work for you. I will talk to Sam and see if there is another way to post it or if we can post it on some other video service.

 

[danfeig]

My Reef Lobster

My Reef Lobster

So I wasn't sure that my lobster was still alive. It always hides in a cave under one of my towers and I haven't seen it since before I went to Florida.

Tonight when I was feeding, he came out. He's really cool. Never seems to bother any of my corals or fish. I'll come out with my flashlight when the lights are out and never seem to see him.

He's about 5" long. Sorry for the crappy iPhone pics.

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[CHSUB]

Thank you CHSUB!

It's actually not an Orange Cup coral but rather a Dendrophyllia. I am a big feeder and where it is located, it will get brine and mysis shrimp. I do have some long feeding tubes and a couple times per week I will feed it directly.

excellent to see you understand the requirements for keeping this coral. i had one years ago, orange cup that is, but believe requirements are the same? i found it a giant PITA. i have thought about trying again when my tank is a little more stable. during feeding, i thought i would place a 2 liter soda bottle over it and add food through the top, but first going to see how you do...also interested in the goni, i have found it impossible to keep beyond 1 year or so.

 

[danfeig]

FedEx Friday

FedEx Friday

So yesterday was rather a slow delivery day. I spent the afternoon working on my 150 gallon rock/frag tank and on my refugium.

I added 50lbs of live sand to my 150 and as soon as the water clears up, I will be moving all of my chaeto to it. The flow from my 150 into my system is much greater than that of my refugium. Tomorrow morning I will be adding two Ecotech Radions above the 150. One over the frag/rock section and one over the chaeto/macro algae section. I may order a 3rd Radion for above the macro algae section.

My 45 gallon bow-front refugium will be turned into a seahorse/pipefish tank. I will be connecting chiller to this tank to maintain a 74 degrees temperature. It will have a slow turnover rate with my system. I am thinking perhaps it will turnover 2-3 times per day, so I should not have an issue maintaining the temperature without cooling my entire system. Summertime I might increase the turnover rate to help cool things.

My pod/baby mysis population of my refugium has exploded. I am hoping to add tomorrow a few large rocks to the system and my delivery Friday consisted of a ton of macroalgae from Inland Aquatics in Indiana for both my refugium and for my 150.

My order consisted of several varieties of macroalgae, including Caulerpa prolifera, Halimeda opuntia, Turtle Grass, Halimeda clump, Caulerpa mexicana, Udotea flabellum and many others.

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