Chasdb Starfire 225g economic stimulis build

I got the tank up 8/17. I used most of the Marco rock, about 25 lbs of Tonga branch and 180 lbs of crushed coral. I'm just using a small sump and my Bubble Master 250 until I can move livestock. Aquascaping is tough. I wanted a more open look but felt I didn't have enough rock to place fags on so this is what I settled for. I added a clam on the half shell and never saw an ammonia spike. My current readings are Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 5, Phosphate .05. I'm going to start QT my fish and treating them in Cupramimine. I doubt I can keep the tank 100% ich free but I will try. No water or rock has been transferred to the new tank from the old. All fish will be treated and corals will be in a tank without fish for a month before being moved.

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I saw this tank in person over the weekend. Its one killer tank. I'm jealous! The 120 thats housing all the fish is very impressive as well.

All I have to say is CHASDB is one hell of a guy. Thanks helping me out with everything! Hopefully once you see my tank you can help me plan it out haha.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13269998#post13269998 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Eels&Lions
I saw this tank in person over the weekend. Its one killer tank. I'm jealous! The 120 thats housing all the fish is very impressive as well.

All I have to say is CHASDB is one hell of a guy. Thanks helping me out with everything! Hopefully once you see my tank you can help me plan it out haha.

Thanks J-
It was nice to meet you too. I'll give you a call later this week to meet up. What did you all pick up at Tom's? BK skimmer, Galaxy 400 and Luminarcs and Tunze/ Vortech . Your tanks gonna be awesome. That 42" depth is going to give you some serious space!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13272163#post13272163 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JOSE CASAS
Keeps us updated and lmk when you are rady to start on my stand lol!:)

Ok Jose, I will have a couple for you to check out.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13273611#post13273611 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tcmfish
Any reason for the crushed coral instead of sand?

Yes, I saw it in Jose's tank so it has to be good:D I love the look of white substrate like CarabSea's Bahama Oolite, but when you have large amount of flow it's so hard to keep from having sand storms and burying frags on the sand bed. In my 120 I had 2 Vortechs, a CL Dart with an OM 4-way returning thru the bottom 4 corners of the tank. I had to rake the sand often to keep mounds from forming or from seeing a bare bottom. The crushed coral has the same white color and has a neat rounded texture, similar to CarabSea's course reactor media but with shells. Over time coraline will cover some but they'll get mixed up when I vacuum the bottom to pull out detritus. Pods also do very well in between the larger substrate a big plus since I plan not to have a fuge/ chaeto for them to populate. hth
 
Charles haha you are very evil for showing me your set up.
I of course had to copy you and I ended up buying BK SM250, Geo 618 Calcium Reactor, Geo Kalk Reactor, 4 400watt Galaxy Ballast with new wiring, & refractometer. Tom was out of Lumenarc 3 reflectors so I pre-ordered 4 of them.

I still havent decided whether to go tunze's or vortech. LOL this is the most confusing part. Tom tells me go Vortech and others tell me go Tunze. As far as other equipment of course I'll have to get your advice on that too haha.

Anyways this is your thread! Can't wait till your big tank is all stocked up and the lights are on it.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13268992#post13268992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CHASDB
Any time Mario, I'm a pretty good DITYer, Jack of all trades. Here is a pic of my garage when I was living in Anaheim a couple years ago, I was doing kitchens/ cabinets full time. I bought our starter home in Fullerton and I'm still trying to get organized. The garage is a few feet smaller and the machines tend to get in each others way. This is why I can't have my sump/ tanks in the garage, between getting saw dust/acrylic in the water and tools rusting there just isn't the room.

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WOW:eek1: you got some heavy duty machinery there MR. Wish I had the space to have that kind of tools. But I have to settle for the smaller stuff. Haha. Any ways your tank is starting to take off. Nice choices on the aquascape
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13305450#post13305450 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by s.erel
I read all of your posts and i really like your eqaipment. You choose realll good ones :)

Thanks, I know good equipment is no guarantee for success, but I hope my planning and choices will help due to my busy schedule/ varying hours. Sometimes I'm unable to see my tank with lights on for several days and might miss the signs of an alkalinity drop or spike.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13311486#post13311486 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thechad21
I like you aquascape, it will allow for some really nice frag placement.
Crap, I meant your.

Chad, I like you too:rollface: I'm really happy with the Marco rock, in my last tank I had shelf rock placed on larger rocks and it didn't look natural. I lost too many frags as they were knocked over and lost in between rocks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13315598#post13315598 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rsmall175
be thankful you got stimulus I made too much money and was taxed to pay for that package

wish I had gotten it especially after Gustav

I am thankful for the $$. The smart thing would have been to pay down my debts or replace tires on my truck which are still shot but this will be more enjoyable. Sorry for your losses, I know it has been tough in New Orleans.
 
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