Blackthunda77's 80 Gal to 195 Gal upgrade!

[blackthunda77]

No LOVE? Sheesh. LOL.

In any event, Does anyone have any links to builds they like in regards to a nice equipment rack or closet? Im planning out my build and am about to set up my apex, lights, etc and would like some ideas on equipment organization. Something similar to server racks and such. I have a patch panel and network switch coming in soon as i have a homerun of coax and network cables terminating in a closet close to where my tank is and am throwing around the idea of setting up all the equipment in there. I did something similar in my previous setup but the space was smaller. In the new house i have more room. Ill be able to hook up my apex unit directly to the new switch and not have wires all over the place now or under the stand.

 

[blackthunda77]

Oh Yea...tank has officially been brought up to proper salinity levels (was waiting on a shipment of salt). Cycle has officially BEGUN! I put in some sand in the fuge section of my sump and about 2 pieces of live rock. Also added in a half dozen small frozen krill to help start the cycle. Livestock stocking will commence in 3...2...1....

 

[blackthunda77]

....on a sad note....

....on a sad note....

....i lost quite a few of my corals since the move. Kinda bummed about that. Alot of them were single pieces that i no longer have. I should have kept multiple pieces before selling/fragging. Pieces i lost like all my bridsnest (ponape, pink, green, bird of paradise) Lost my superman monti, x-factor. Lost most of my acros like my tricolor that i had for a while from a frag from Rogger, red planet, garf purple bonsai. :headwalls:

I think what attributed to it was mainly a salinity swing. I was always used to my ATO and since the move i never set it back up. I was still added ro to the tank but obviously not enough. When i noticed the issue i checked my salinity and it was almost at 50ppt. That coupled with the stress of the move i guess did most of them in. Lost some Zoas as well. UGH. Sucks because i gave alot of frags from most of those colonies away basically for free, now im left with none. :headwallblue:

 

[Bandomo]

Sucks to hear that John! FMAS definitely has some cool peeps, I'm sure once those frags grow large enough, hopefully they'll repay back the favor.

Good luck organizing the equipment, that's one of my least favor parts!!

 

[AquamanE]

I hope you didnt loose that awesome favia you got at Dallas MACNA!!!:uzi:

I dont have much to offer, but you know where i live.

 

[rovster]

I hope you didnt loose that awesome favia you got at Dallas MACNA!!!:uzi:

I dont have much to offer, but you know where i live.

Hey, I called dibs. You can refer to the other thread to refresh your memory, LOL!

Looks good John. Like the scape. Was it difficult working with the PVC? Was thinking of doing something similar with mine......

Lots of those corals you mentioned are pretty easy to come by at least. Most of us locals have them, so let us know when you need some

 

[AquamanE]

Hey, I called dibs. You can refer to the other thread to refresh your memory, LOL!

Looks good John. Like the scape. Was it difficult working with the PVC? Was thinking of doing something similar with mine......

Lots of those corals you mentioned are pretty easy to come by at least. Most of us locals have them, so let us know when you need some

Rovster- if i recall correctly i was the one that offered the saw cause John didnt have one!!!!!!

 

[rovster]

Rovster- if i recall correctly i was the one that offered the saw cause John didnt have one!!!!!!

I have a hacksaw, and I asked first:deadhorse:

 

[AquamanE]

I have a hacksaw, and I asked first:deadhorse:

:debi: okey doky

 

[Biggar]

John, If you come this way again. I can hook you back up with tri-color, red planet, green bird, ponape, yellow bird, orange and green bird, and maybe even couple brown flowers. No charge

Get your tank cycled and stop killin stuff! ( :

 

[blackthunda77]

John, If you come this way again. I can hook you back up with tri-color, red planet, green bird, ponape, yellow bird, orange and green bird, and maybe even couple brown flowers. No charge

Get your tank cycled and stop killin stuff! ( :

That, ladies and gents is what FMAS is about!

Thanks Mike, i appreciate it. I would like to take you up on that offer, that would help me jump start my stocking list again. Probably in about 2 weeks or so when my cycle is finished.

Thanks again!

 

[blackthunda77]

First new Additions! - Ruby Red Dragonetes

First new Additions! - Ruby Red Dragonetes

Came across these guys earlier this week and couldnt pass them up. It was hard for me to not buy half a dozen of them! I settled for 2 females and one male. Right now i have them in quarantine with some life rock from the current tank so they have some established rock and pods to graze on. They will be in there for atleast 2 weeks till the main tank is done cycling, then i plan on putting them in the refugium section of the sump which houses about 30 lbs of established live rock from my previous tank which is helping with the cycling of the main tank. Once im confident there is a large enough pod population in the main tank i will release them in the main display.

 

[AquamanE]

Came across these guys earlier this week and couldnt pass them up. It was hard for me to not buy half a dozen of them! I settled for 2 females and one male. Right now i have them in quarantine with some life rock from the current tank so they have some established rock and pods to graze on. They will be in there for atleast 2 weeks till the main tank is done cycling, then i plan on putting them in the refugium section of the sump which houses about 30 lbs of established live rock from my previous tank which is helping with the cycling of the main tank. Once im confident there is a large enough pod population in the main tank i will release them in the main display.

Ide love me some of those, but terrified of not being able to keep up with their feeding needs. Same with mandarins (never last more than a few months for me). I wish i had the guts.

 

[blackthunda77]

On a not so Reef Related update...

On a not so Reef Related update...

Well kind of reef related....

Just got in my patch panel and my networking switch from monoprice. The house i bought came prewired with cat5 cable in all the ports but only hooked up 2 pair for phone. Im taking al the jacks off and rewiring them for cat5 and will be installing the patch panel and switch so i can make all jacks functional. One of the ports is right behind my tank and will be used for my APEX of course.

 

[Bandomo]

School me a little, why do you need such a huge switch board?
I'm a total rookie when it comes to these things.

 

[mlivvy]

School me a little, why do you need such a huge switch board?
I'm a total rookie when it comes to these things.

Each port on the switch goes out to the jacks around the house.

 

[rps3]

Lucky, my house sucks!

 

[blackthunda77]

Each port on the switch goes out to the jacks around the house.

Correct. The switch will distribute internet to all the ports in the house. This way i dont have to rely soley on WiFi for internet around the house, IE. The Office computer, newer internet enabled TVs, ect. Gives a faster connection and more secure. In any event, i didnt HAVE to do it, but when i opened up the jacks and the panel and saw it was wired with cat5 i figured "Why Not". And since the switch and router cost me only like $30 i figured what the heck. I dont have phone service anyways and if i do decide to get a home phone i can just get a magic jack or ooma or whatever VoIp services they have now.

Ill be honest though. It was mainly done for the APEX though, lol. The closet where the panel is located is where ill be installing all my wiring, APEX, ballasts, etc. for the tank. That closet sits adjacent to the wall my tank backs up to. Im planning to take off some of the shelves on the other side of the closet and install a table top for a QT system/water testing area and beneath to have a water storage tank for when i decide to install my automated water change system.

 

[Bandomo]

Correct. The switch will distribute internet to all the ports in the house. This way i dont have to rely soley on WiFi for internet around the house, IE. The Office computer, newer internet enabled TVs, ect. Gives a faster connection and more secure. In any event, i didnt HAVE to do it, but when i opened up the jacks and the panel and saw it was wired with cat5 i figured "Why Not". And since the switch and router cost me only like $30 i figured what the heck. I dont have phone service anyways and if i do decide to get a home phone i can just get a magic jack or ooma or whatever VoIp services they have now.

Ill be honest though. It was mainly done for the APEX though, lol. The closet where the panel is located is where ill be installing all my wiring, APEX, ballasts, etc. for the tank. That closet sits adjacent to the wall my tank backs up to. Im planning to take off some of the shelves on the other side of the closet and install a table top for a QT system/water testing area and beneath to have a water storage tank for when i decide to install my automated water change system.

Ahh, got ya. Good to know.

 

[blackthunda77]

Sneak peak of some of the new transplants, Got finished last night so only atinics were on to minimize stress. But i think this was a cool shot. The centerpiece Anemone atop his throne!