Dave's 150G Starphire Zeo Reef~

[André Silvestre]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14897682#post14897682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dave's Reef
Why thank you Andre',

I've enjoyed your thread for some time now as well! You've got a very nice set up too, especially for someone just starting out! Can we expect any updates???

As far as the skimmer goes, I'm expecting it in 2 to 3 weeks if all goes well. Thankfully a local reefer was kind enough to grant me use of his H&S A200-1260 so, I'm in good shape until mine arrives!~

Hello Dave,

Yes, thread needs update as I have received the new skimmer yesterday.

Regarding your new hardscape, I must say that was a big improvement. Definitely more natural and eye candy. I would only give it some more tweaking as it looks a bit symmetrical in the base of the islands, IMHO. Perhaps some extensions of rock in " Y" in the major island would kill the symmetry and would give more " bay/canyon effect". The zoanthus also play a big roll in giving the extensions some detail so you are on the right track.

Just my two cents, of course.

Keep us posted my friend. :thumbsup:


Regards,
André

 

[Dave's Reef]

Andre',

Thanks for your input... I appreciate it very much. I am however a bit confused as to what you mean by this: "some extensions of rock in " Y" in the major island"???

Could you tell me a little more plainly what it is you mean? I don't get it... not trying to be insulting either, I just don't know what you mean?

So you know I do plan on adding some more zoa's and Acan Lord's to the base of the rocks and rock area's close to the perimeter of the glass so it doesn't grow out into/onto the glass.

I've got some really exciting plans for the tank that I can't quite explain right now... You'll just have to trust me that I have some more tricks up my sleeves! I plan on doing my best to make it look very natural and not like every other tank we see. I want it to be very original and natural looking!

I will look forward to seeing some updates to your thread/tank when you get time! I really do like your tank very much. I would like to see your new skimmer too!

Thanks,

Dave

 

[André Silvestre]

Hi Dave,

I am sorry, you are right. I should have been more explicit with my suggestions.

I took the liberty of editing your picture ( hope you don´t mind) to try illustrate what I meant with the extensions for canyon/bay effect:

The editing is very raw but I think it does the job right. Notice the base of the big island and the rock extensions I made with smaller rocks to follow the lines of the bigger ones, not leaving big gaps between them. Also, small extensions like these give detail to the bigger rocks and to the sand itself, giving the impression of depth, tridimensionality between the rocks, not to mention the natural effect ( erosion in nature). Zoas in the endings of the extensions and Acans in the begining of them ( where the rock extensions have bigger area) give the final touch. I also extended the right island in the canyon zone to promote depth.

I hope I have expressed myself better this time.
Again, these are my notions of how the layout looks like now. I don´t know what your plans are regarding the hardscape so I´ll trust that the final result will be very impressive.

Btw, my new skimmer is an ATB Econo 840. Gotta love those Austrian small bubble monsters.


Regards,
André

 

[Dave's Reef]

Hey Andre',

I like what you came up with! I like the extra dimension that the "canyon/bay" look gives the tank. I will definitely give it a try

The ATB's are definitely nice skimmers, can't go wrong with one of those! Be sure to post up once you've got it hooked up.

 

[mikid]

BUMP

BUMP

any upates.........

 

[Dave's Reef]

Sorry everyone, I'm out of town on some MUCH needed R&R time!

All I can tell you for now is the tank is doing GREAT! All the rest of my corals are in PLUS a dozen new ones.

Once I get back next week I'll try to post up so new pics. I will tell you they're just frags so don't expect spectacular colonies

The frags are incredible though and should grow up REAL nice!

 

[Dave's Reef]

Time for an update...

Time for an update...

Well,

it's been 5 weeks of Zeovit now! The tank is coming along REAL nicely... I think? Anyhow, there's a new sheriff in town and his name is....

ALPHA 250!

this was taken within seconds of hooking it up yesterday

Stand-pipe is set half way and I'm using the 59mm tube for better air draw

This was how I was greeted this AM by my trusty new friend!

Mmm Mmm, YUMMY! This is with less than 24 hours of operation mind you!

 

[Dave's Reef]

While we're at it....

While we're at it....

I guess you may want to see a few pics of the corals as well, eh?

There coming along pretty good coloring up nicely... I got a few new pieces from Brad here just recently as well!

Here's a few shots I snapped today

 

[Dave's Reef]

a few more...

a few more...

Here's some others

A tighter better shot of the Acan...

Here's another with several little babys shooting out on the sides

Pearl Berry

Cali Tort

An ok shot... of my new Hawkins

Some of everyone swimmin!

Full tank shot

 

[GSMguy]

Sick, gotta love that brown foam in the 250! Tank looks great too, sweet sunset monti.

 

[mnml]

that skimmer is bad@$$! nice frags too!

 

[Dave's Reef]

Thanks Nick and Tran~!

The Alpha is definitely the ALPHA... he, he, he:lol:

I'm getting ready to load up some much nicer pics in about 10-20 minutes or so? My brother brought over his "nicer" camera to see what we could come up with...

I've GOT to get a decent camera soon, or at least invest in a Macro lens for my Brother's Sony 10.0MP SLR!

 

[nebraskareef]

It's been a bit longer than 20 minutes, bud!

Tank is looking good, I just found the thread this evening....can't wait to see what's coming next!

-Daniel

 

[Dave's Reef]

Did I say 10-20 minutes... Oops!

Did I say 10-20 minutes... Oops!

Sorry guys,

got side tracked here at work... then good ol' Mom stopped in. Still here but I'll put these up real quick.

Nothing no ones seen, just BETTER quality shots!

Here ya go!

ORA German blue dig

Ice fire, Orange Bam Bam & Green Dragon Eye Zoa's w/some VERY Purple dig

Blue Milli coloring up nice

One of my Formosa's that got fried in the water loss situation... It's recuperating nicely...

Acan land...

Some groups shots...

 

[Dave's Reef]

Dog pile of crabs and snails on my new Tubbs Silver Bullet Bonsai

Standard Tubbs Bonsai

ORA Bellina or Borreallis... just got both can't remember which this is?

Little better shot of my Sunset Monti

Another very purple piece of Purple dig...

And now some nice CRISPY tank shots....

And the last one... for now!

 

[yeldarbj]

Dave, the frags look great and so does the tank. I like the 2 rock pile look, each with it's own cave/bay. I guess you have a lot of options with 30" to play with. You are going to have things growing into each other in no time.

FYI - that first bonsai picture is the Tub's Bonsai (purple tips), the next one is the Silver Bullet bonsai (silver tips, green polyps). The other one is the Boreallis, not the the Bellina. The Bellina is really nice too but grows incredibly slow.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Thanks Brad!~ And thanks for straitening me out on the corals... I couldn't remember which was which:lol:

Gonna send you PM in just a min!

Your frags are top notch with me!!!

 

[mcliffy2]

Looking very good. If the alpha works like an ATB, you'll get even better performance by raising the skimmer a bit so the water level just covers the output from the skimmer.

 

[minhvu]

Tank is looking really good. Can't wait to see it in a few months. Couple questions about your zeovit system. What are you currently dosing? How soon did u start adding the corals?

 

[GSMguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15022277#post15022277 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
Looking very good. If the alpha works like an ATB, you'll get even better performance by raising the skimmer a bit so the water level just covers the output from the skimmer.

They have a much larger neck so they run better at 10". My ATB works same as you described.