Coral Tank from Canada (1350gal Display Tank)

[SaraB]

otherwise I would have liked to know the name of the fish from the 2nd photo?

That fish is a bluespotted jawfish or blue dot jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti) . Here's a link for information on the fish: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1637+748&pcatid=748

 

[Namor_Mckinzie]

Wow!

Wow!

That is a truly beautiful tank, and inspirational fish room. Thanks for sharing!

 

[kimberlyhmn]

Following along, this is quite the inspiration!

 

[Greif11]

A great project.
Took a long while until I translated it right and got so I could understand it, but now I can only say one thing. Great, great, great, I'm seriously impressed and wish you all the best for your reef.

Sven

 

[scubasteve06]

Peter I think you should try to incorporate a lot of pairs and trio's of fish. I think a school of maybe 10 yellow tangs, 3 purples, 3 powder blues & browns 3 achilles, so on and so on would be awesome. You have all the room in the world to do it. Like chingchai has 6 achilles I think his tank is awesome but yours is much longer and has so much swimming room you could have the end all of tang tanks. Something like this would be appropriate I'd think....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLRubZGWXiY

 

[huskerreef]

The most impressive build on Reef Central by far. ChingChai's discipline, focus and imagination puts his build on another level altogether. It is NOT the size, nor is it the expense. It is a perfect marriage of science and art in the marine aquarium world. The decision to bring the fish room into the display experience was and remains his genius.

From my perspective I am relieved he is such a gentleman to boot because I know I have stolen many of his build principles and blatantly incorporated them into my own ........ yet he still talks to me.

This hobby is a much better place because of him and we are all beneficiaries of his continuing legacy.

Thank you ChingChai from all of us...................

Peter

ChingChai definetly set the bar not only for thread format, build practices and technology but in fellowship. He was key in putting me in conact with the right person to get my Earlei Wrasses, quickly providing me with emails and contact info to help realize my dream. I'm located on the other side of the world from him, but he took the time to help my out without ever meeting me or talking to me. Of course your thread and Chingchi's make me feel as if we are friends that have known each other for years, I know both of your systems as well as my own thanks to the time you guys have taken to share your journey.

 

[the[K]id]

Wow, just wow. After reading the whole thread I have to break my streak of lurking on RC to congratulate you on an amazing result. Your ability to take on board both compliments and criticism and willingness to make changes, sometimes massive and time consuming, is a credit to you. I look forward to seeing how you and your team further develop this tank and its inhabitants, and can only hope one day I can build one as well planned and thought out.

Speaking of which.....earlier today I bought some fish from a local retailer (no names) to test out the mars bars for water quality etc. When I left the store I asked the clerk who looked after the fish what temperature and salt content had the fish been living in. He said, confidently, 78 F and 1.021. When I got back to the mars bars I decided to open my brand new water quality testing kit and verify the target water quality in the Mars bars. At the same time I decided to test the fish store water with some of the tests and........temp was 78.....(I live very close by the LFS). The other parameters were 1.003 salinity and 7.7PH and the salinity isn't a misprint of 1.030. I couldn't believe what I saw so I used two different measuring devices to verify what I was seeing. 1.003. These were clown fish so there's no possibility that there was any confusion with the fresh water fish in the store. I can't believe a mistake of that order of magnitude. You may recall I made a big deal earlier in the thread about getting no strong consensus about ideal salt content or even temperature ranges. I'm beginning to think that one of the few good things that I may be able to achieve with this large audience is a general agreement on a few basic principles that most of us in this hobby can rely on. 1.003 is just plain wrong.

I think the consumer should be entitled to see a daily update on the water parameters used in the care of fish and corals. This should be a minimum standard in this industry. No wonder I keep reading about disasters happening in tanks on this forum when even the basics are no better than a crap shoot.

Then I had to figure out how much of a shock the poor fish were going to take when I introduced them to the target environment. I took a couple of hours to 'introduce' the fish to their new environment and I hope they can adapt but I'm pretty sure where I am NOT going to buy any more fish in the future.

Pics to follow.......

Peter

I think this is almost a perfect definition of your concept of "best practice". Good practice would be to ask the store clerk what the water parameters were, but best practice is to test yourself. In this case it is almost certain the difference between good and best was the difference between life and death for your new arrivals. It also shows best doesn't have to be more expensive, in the long run it may actually save time and money, it just needs a little thought and care.

-Kid

 

[nineball]

Wow, just wow. After reading the whole thread I have to break my streak of lurking on RC to congratulate you on an amazing result. Your ability to take on board both compliments and criticism and willingness to make changes, sometimes massive and time consuming, is a credit to you. I look forward to seeing how you and your team further develop this tank and its inhabitants, and can only hope one day I can build one as well planned and thought out.




I think this is almost a perfect definition of your concept of "best practice". Good practice would be to ask the store clerk what the water parameters were, but best practice is to test yourself. In this case it is almost certain the difference between good and best was the difference between life and death for your new arrivals. It also shows best doesn't have to be more expensive, in the long run it may actually save time and money, it just needs a little thought and care.

-Kid

I just wish I could have made my point as succinctly as you just did. Thank you very much and welcome to the light.........

Peter

 

[nineball]

ChingChai definetly set the bar not only for thread format, build practices and technology but in fellowship. He was key in putting me in conact with the right person to get my Earlei Wrasses, quickly providing me with emails and contact info to help realize my dream. I'm located on the other side of the world from him, but he took the time to help my out without ever meeting me or talking to me. Of course your thread and Chingchai's make me feel as if we are friends that have known each other for years, I know both of your systems as well as my own thanks to the time you guys have taken to share your journey.

Jim, the notion of feeling a sense of family in this and Chingchai's thread is something I know was important from the outset. The really neat thing was meeting the faces behind the avatars in Orlando. I can honestly say that familiarity did not breed contempt. The hobbyists in this discipline are generally extremely nice folks who really care about this activity.

Peter

 

[scubasteve06]

Jim, the notion of feeling a sense of family in this and Chingchai's thread is something I know was important from the outset. The really neat thing was meeting the faces behind the avatars in Orlando. I can honestly say that familiarity did not breed contempt. The hobbyists in this discipline are generally extremely nice folks who really care about this activity.

Peter

Your notion of family in keeping your tank healthy and building it is apparent as your profilux not only sends text alerts to yourself and Mr. Wilson, but also to the brother's grimm and shimoda. You sir are a true hobbyist, as a true hobbyist always shares his knowledge and toys with those who are just as endeared in the same hobby.

 

[nineball]

A great project.
Took a long while until I translated it right and got so I could understand it, but now I can only say one thing. Great, great, great, I'm seriously impressed and wish you all the best for your reef.

Sven

I am amased and overwhelmed that you would make the effort to translate the thread. Thank you for your generous praise but the real thank you is to the entire thread community who have continued to stay and support the evolution of this build. I will do my best to honour that support by making a continuing effort to build best practices with every phase of the build to come.

Thank You Sven and welcome to our community.

Peter

 

[nineball]

Your notion of family in keeping your tank healthy and building it is apparent as your profilux not only sends text alerts to yourself and Mr. Wilson, but also to the brother's grimm and shimoda. You sir are a true hobbyist, as a true hobbyist always shares his knowledge and toys with those who are just as endeared in the same hobby.

I hate to break it to you Steve but I am planning to have the whole forum added to the distribution list. Everybody except ChingChai because he needs his sleep!!!

Peter

 

[nineball]

Following along, this is quite the inspiration!

Thank you Kimberlyhmn and welcome to the group.

Peter

 

[nineball]

That is a truly beautiful tank, and inspirational fish room. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you Namor for your support. Hang in, there is some really neat stuff in the near future. Everything seems to take forever in this hobby except disaster, that seems to travel at light speed!!!!


Peter

 

[nineball]

That fish is a bluespotted jawfish or blue dot jawfish (Opistognathus rosenblatti) . Here's a link for information on the fish: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1637+748&pcatid=748

I think Sara that an unexpected discovery in the initial wildlife introduced to the tank were the two Bluespotted Gobies. They are truly remarkable and have a depth of character you would never expect from a fish!!! They are clearly my favourites so far.

Peter

 

[scubasteve06]

I hate to break it to you Steve but I am planning to have the whole forum added to the distribution list. Everybody except ChingChai because he needs his sleep!!!

Peter

And to make sure he can't get a leg up on you, we've already seen what he can do with some salt, water, and a tank!:lmao:

 

[kareem33]

Hello Peter,

I am a silent reader of your threat. I am following this for quiete a while but your build made me register at Reff central. Generally I am not a forum guy espacially as I am located in Germany so English is not my natural language. But your tank is so impressive and the detailed build and explenation is so fantastic tha I'd like to thank you for the insperation you have given me for my own tank which is much smaller.

So please keep the informations comming I am always waiting for some new pictures or news from your tank.

By the way your house and your hobby room is a dream.

CU Ralph

 

[nineball]

Hello Peter,

I am a silent reader of your threat. I am following this for quiete a while but your build made me register at Reff central. Generally I am not a forum guy espacially as I am located in Germany so English is not my natural language. But your tank is so impressive and the detailed build and explenation is so fantastic tha I'd like to thank you for the insperation you have given me for my own tank which is much smaller.

So please keep the informations comming I am always waiting for some new pictures or news from your tank.

By the way your house and your hobby room is a dream.

CU Ralph

Ralph, I am always honoured to have a new member join the group. Mr. Wilson says your english is great and you are welcome here anytime. Thank you very much for your support. I encourage you to think about starting a thread to share your build on this forum. There are alot of very helpful people here...........

Peter

 

[swissgaurd]

peter/mr wilson
maybe i missed it,how did you get the cycle going,did you use amonia to start the cycle or did you go natural.

good job on the setup, looks very professional

vic

 

[RGibson]

Mr Wilson a good co2 regulator is the Harris two stage 9200-15 that i use with a Geo 624 calcium reactor,and need only 5 psi output.The media i used is half Korallith 6.0-10.0 grain size on the lower half,Gen-x media on top half.Useing this mix no other additives need to be added to the tank and that include magnesium.the Harris regulator cost more but it will out lest the rest by many years +being 2 stage and the rest are not.