Englishrebel's 260 Gallon System Build

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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14982345#post14982345 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by icedgxe
"Yes but I wish they hadn't put them in the tank with zoo frags (they have now removed the frags). The black "burn marks" are fading (faster on the female). AC of NC does run a good store though. I was at Pet & Hobby on Reynolda this week and they have a new guy there (at least I think he's new as I hadn't seen him there before) and he seems quite knowledgeable."

Yeah it sucks that they had them in that tank. I was there yesterday and the two left still have a significant amount of black spots. They are a great store though. I go to pet and hobby every once in a while. From what I have heard the store used to be amazing and the display was gorgeous years ago. I am pretty sure there is a new guy there as well and he seems to be trying to turn things around which is always good.
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icedgxe
I used to go to Pet & Hobby a lot to pick up Koi food and their tanks were great and well stocked. That was when Patrick was running the fish side. I hope this new guy can turn it around. The burns on my clowns have almost faded. The female is almost clear.
 
wow... just caught up on the thread after about 4 months absence....

excellent tank, especially the "stand." can you come build a stand for me????
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14985982#post14985982 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nmbeg
wow... just caught up on the thread after about 4 months absence....

excellent tank, especially the "stand." can you come build a stand for me????
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nmbeg
Welcome back. I think after the effort that went into it (and I'm still working on the surround at the top of the tank to hide the lights) I'm taking a tank-stand-building break for a while. :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14992308#post14992308 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
And that will also let the water and rock have a peaceful honeymoon. :D
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Tom
I think I'm having a mini cycle (sort of like a mid-life crisis :p ). The brown algae (I assume diatoms but looks like brown hair algae) on the sand and rocks is abating and I now see green hair algae in some places. Ammonia is still near zero though. I have thousands of tiny tiny pods on the glass -- presumably feeding on the brown algae that is starting to cover it (even though I'm cleaning every other day) and there are dozens of larger (1mm) pods crawling over the rocks. I also have dozens of mini brittle stars in the rock crevices (they hitchhiked in on a large rock I got from a friend). They are funny to see as they wave their little legs out of the openings in the rock saying "Hi look at me". :D
 
Yo Alan, hows it going?
Your tank is definatley cycling, it will pass. and maybe do a samll water change in a week or so. And go easy on adding livestock, especially fish. May be best to just add a few more hardy corals right now and wait on adding more fish for a couple months...I always lean on the side of waiting for a while, my last tank I did not add any corals or fish for 3 months ( just had the live rock in the tank ). This new tank of mine , as you know, is everything transfered over from the other tank which started up Feb 23, so Im going on 3 months now with just a handful of corals..I will probably get a couple fish in the next couple weeks..

Just my 2 pence...!! :eek:

I will get with you Thursday the usual time and give you my house key...and thanks in advanced !!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14993029#post14993029 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRF
Yo Alan, hows it going?
Your tank is definatley cycling, it will pass. and maybe do a samll water change in a week or so. And go easy on adding livestock, especially fish. May be best to just add a few more hardy corals right now and wait on adding more fish for a couple months...I always lean on the side of waiting for a while, my last tank I did not add any corals or fish for 3 months ( just had the live rock in the tank ). This new tank of mine , as you know, is everything transfered over from the other tank which started up Feb 23, so Im going on 3 months now with just a handful of corals..I will probably get a couple fish in the next couple weeks..

Just my 2 pence...!! :eek:

I will get with you Thursday the usual time and give you my house key...and thanks in advanced !!
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Jeff
Also don't forget that a lot of the rock and water were in the 55 and 30 fuge and sump for two months. All I've added is the rest of the Eco Rox and 160 gallons of NSW.
 
Oh yeah thats true, I forgot about that....but still go slowly since we can see another cycle taking place..
Any word on those mogul LED's ?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14996448#post14996448 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JRF
Any word on those mogul LED's ?
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Jeff
No, I keep sending him emails but still haven't heard. I may just go with a single 150W MH like Franks tank.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14997755#post14997755 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WaterKeeper
Everything sounds good Alan. Do you have any snails in there?
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Tom
Yes I have about a dozen Nassarius and 15 small blue leg hermits. I think the pods are eating as much algae off the glass as the snails (or my cleaning). There must be thousands of them.
 
No, I keep sending him emails but still haven't heard. I may just go with a single 150W MH like Franks tank.


Alan, Just for clarification, I have a 250 watt. It is a 20K Radium. You will need something with the 30" wide reef, been there, done that.
 
I agree Frank, you need a 250W Alan with a good reflector..( LumenMAx II or something similar )...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15003228#post15003228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by teesquare
Definetly a 250 watt Alan. Tank height is geater than the recommendations for a 150 watt bulb.
T
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Okay Tim but I'm going to give him another week to see if he comes up with them.
 
So.. he is introducing a 250 watt equivelant? That would be great.
Or I suppose you could install 2- 150 size...

What about color of the bulb Alan? When I saw these at MACNA - they looked like a 5K bulb. I did not like them at all - by themselves. With enough actinic I think you could "balance them out" (color-wise) where ever you like.
T
 
You will probably be happier with the versatility of 2@150watt vs the 1@250 Alan. Placed side by side in the the center of the tank, you can stage them on and off if you like.
T
 
Well I finally got the top surround finished. I was going to just lift it off if I needed to gain access but decided to hinge it off the back wall. It's not that it's heavy -- just awkward to handle. I now need to get the side doors done so it will be totally enclosed on three sides.

I did make one little error. I had gutter guard (the type with the diamond pattern plastic and plastic mesh attached to it) against the egg crate overflow. I measured for the surround to be hide the water line by 1/4". Well I noticed a few days ago that there was a lot of gunk floating on the surface. It was not getting skimmed sufficiently. I pulled the gutter guard and removed the plastic mesh and immediately the surface started to get skimmed. The mesh was putting too much resistance and raising the water level.

Well guess what -- when I put the surround on the water line is now about 3/16" below the bottom edge of the surround -- you can just see the waterline in the photo.
I can either live with it, or add another piece of trim on the bottom. We'll see.
I do need to do something to hide those hinges though. I may attach a piece of mahogany on the back wall to cover them.

IMG_0380.jpg
 
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