Finally have a large tank... 280g Deltec Custom Reef Tank
- Thread starter ReefingBuddha
- Start date
if you kept them.
reefsociety101
New member
Wow 36 height tank. Looking forward to this one.
ReefingBuddha
New member
haha that's right Bart. Except with my luck not one of those clowns will host a anemone. I have kept 2 but am planning on selling just 1 off. The 26 I sold to the store have already split and last time I was there it was somewhere around 32 and 4 more were splitting while I was there, its ridiculous. Also 2 of the 5 I had kept split as well so now I have some more to sell.
I'm assuming its because they had limited space to split before and now that they have the chance they are splitting like crazy.
So an update:
- Aquascaping 90% complete. Ended up with a canyon design with two mounds on each side, not what I was originally going for but what I ended up with. Originally I wanted rock in the left 60% of the tank and nothing else but as I have a wide brace in the center of the tank lighting would not have worked out for my corals). The rock is very open and the tangs are having fun dashing from one end to the other through the different channels open to them. Also the tank is about 50% open water (between the front panel and canyon alone) so that should keep the fish happy and I think looks pretty good.
- Tangs are in the tank along with the clownfish pair, the majestic angel, the pajama cardinal pair and an old sand sifter all happily cruising around in their new environment. Unfortunately the Majestic got chewed on a little bit but he's doing great now. Damsels are being sold to LFS
- Setup the lights
- Cleaned out the sump and started re-plumbing the system, not sure if it was Deltec's design but there are a number of improvements I plan to make to the plumbing. The concept is great but the execution needs a little bit of work to be more convenient.
- Skimmer is kicking but and pulling out a cup a day of fairly dark skimmate.
- All levels are holding solid at perfect much to my enjoyment.
- Still making and adding water with my little RO/DI unit. About 5% tank volume to go. Will get there tonight for sure.
- Put first test coral (encrusting monti) into the tank this morning and it is still doing very well. If it does well until tomorrow evening I will transfer some more corals.
Next step
- Finish plumbing
- Re-setup equipment
- Reprogram Aquatronica controller
Pictures to follow shortly
I'm assuming its because they had limited space to split before and now that they have the chance they are splitting like crazy.
So an update:
- Aquascaping 90% complete. Ended up with a canyon design with two mounds on each side, not what I was originally going for but what I ended up with. Originally I wanted rock in the left 60% of the tank and nothing else but as I have a wide brace in the center of the tank lighting would not have worked out for my corals). The rock is very open and the tangs are having fun dashing from one end to the other through the different channels open to them. Also the tank is about 50% open water (between the front panel and canyon alone) so that should keep the fish happy and I think looks pretty good.
- Tangs are in the tank along with the clownfish pair, the majestic angel, the pajama cardinal pair and an old sand sifter all happily cruising around in their new environment. Unfortunately the Majestic got chewed on a little bit but he's doing great now. Damsels are being sold to LFS
- Setup the lights
- Cleaned out the sump and started re-plumbing the system, not sure if it was Deltec's design but there are a number of improvements I plan to make to the plumbing. The concept is great but the execution needs a little bit of work to be more convenient.
- Skimmer is kicking but and pulling out a cup a day of fairly dark skimmate.
- All levels are holding solid at perfect much to my enjoyment.
- Still making and adding water with my little RO/DI unit. About 5% tank volume to go. Will get there tonight for sure.
- Put first test coral (encrusting monti) into the tank this morning and it is still doing very well. If it does well until tomorrow evening I will transfer some more corals.
Next step
- Finish plumbing
- Re-setup equipment
- Reprogram Aquatronica controller
Pictures to follow shortly
ReefingBuddha
New member
The Spoiled Clownfish
Extra "stuff" the guy had in his garage I could have
Right before the left back corner was dropped and yes the hat does make me stronger.
Tank safe out the back porch, wrapped up, and into the truck 3 hours after the previous picture and about 300 ft of progress :furious:
Warning: not for the faint of heart. Had to lever up the tank as 2 of the 3 delivery guys were OLD and not strong.
Tank with the water I saved being skimmer. Pretty ambitious for the little tunze skimmer so I hooked up the Deltec
Extra "stuff" the guy had in his garage I could have
Right before the left back corner was dropped and yes the hat does make me stronger.
Tank safe out the back porch, wrapped up, and into the truck 3 hours after the previous picture and about 300 ft of progress :furious:
Warning: not for the faint of heart. Had to lever up the tank as 2 of the 3 delivery guys were OLD and not strong.
Tank with the water I saved being skimmer. Pretty ambitious for the little tunze skimmer so I hooked up the Deltec
Last edited:
ReefingBuddha
New member
Rock back in the tank with Skimmer Running
Another shot with the tank clearing up
Rock work done and fish are in. As always its hard to tell but its very open
A quick shot of the Majestic and his battle wounds. Beautiful fish
Another shot with the tank clearing up
Rock work done and fish are in. As always its hard to tell but its very open
A quick shot of the Majestic and his battle wounds. Beautiful fish
ReefingBuddha
New member
btw I have some pretty bad bites on both my arms that I can only attribute to the pile of dead bristle worms that came out of the live rock. Anyone have a cure for the hellish burns on my arm?
ReefingBuddha
New member
So I'm 4 days in with still no signs of a cycle. Is the general opinion that I jumped the cycle? The test coral in the tank is looking very good with no signs of stress. Fish are also doing very well.
Note of the rock work in previous picture. Some of the rock in the pic will be removed and put in the sump so it will look a little less crowded.
Note of the rock work in previous picture. Some of the rock in the pic will be removed and put in the sump so it will look a little less crowded.
ReefingBuddha
New member
Thanks eric, do you have a link to that thread?
I'm having fun even though one of the arcadia fixtures fell into the tank today and crapped out so I'm replacing my lighting, so that blows. Gives me a excuse to upgrade though.
Update:
- I'm removing all rock from the top 1/3 of the tank tomorrow and sticking it in the sump. That will be give plenty of open room for coral growth.
- Getting 2 large luminarc reflectors on tuesday with 400w electronic ballasts and 14k bulbs. I was really not happy with the light spread of the arcadia fixtures and I know the luminarcs will take care of that.
- Got a wavebox for free today (SWEET SCORE) and I can get a 1 1/4" wave across the tank and I like it so far, waiting to see what I can make it do once the closed loops kick in.
- 6 Diamond Head Anthias were but in yesterday and all but 1 made it to today and they are schooling together happily.
- Levels are still solid and all corals look good. Fish are feeding furiously and also happy.
I'm having fun even though one of the arcadia fixtures fell into the tank today and crapped out so I'm replacing my lighting, so that blows. Gives me a excuse to upgrade though.
Update:
- I'm removing all rock from the top 1/3 of the tank tomorrow and sticking it in the sump. That will be give plenty of open room for coral growth.
- Getting 2 large luminarc reflectors on tuesday with 400w electronic ballasts and 14k bulbs. I was really not happy with the light spread of the arcadia fixtures and I know the luminarcs will take care of that.
- Got a wavebox for free today (SWEET SCORE) and I can get a 1 1/4" wave across the tank and I like it so far, waiting to see what I can make it do once the closed loops kick in.
- 6 Diamond Head Anthias were but in yesterday and all but 1 made it to today and they are schooling together happily.
- Levels are still solid and all corals look good. Fish are feeding furiously and also happy.
ReefingBuddha
New member
sorry, pics are coming... haven't gotten anything worth posting so far as I'm waiting for my new lights. As soon as they are on I will be taking plenty of pictures and they you will be fed up with it. I did rescape today as planned and got the return pump and sump running. I'm pretty have with the way the rock work turned out. Will post pictures as soon as possible, lights "should" be here tomorrow morning.
ReefingBuddha
New member
ReefingBuddha
New member
coral placement is not even started yet and some of the rocks on the left side bottom are coming out still. Still have some work to do but I'm definitely happy with the light I have now.
13threefmaniac
New member
You move pretty fast Tom. Your previous thread was awesome, due mainly to your sketchup skills. Pleasse do finish that tank when you get the chance to. I feel unfulfilled. lol.
The rockwork has lotsa potential and i love those lights. Scaping must be a real PITA with its 3' depth. You should invest in some snorkeling gear.
P.S : That pic with your hat on cracked me up. Especially after reading that it makes you stronger.
The rockwork has lotsa potential and i love those lights. Scaping must be a real PITA with its 3' depth. You should invest in some snorkeling gear.
P.S : That pic with your hat on cracked me up. Especially after reading that it makes you stronger.
stunreefer
Reef Hugger
Awesome tank man! I love the 36" depth...cant wait to see what you do with it!
ReefingBuddha
New member
Thanks Chris. I still have big plans for that other tank but maybe a year or 2 down the road, depends on how things work out.
Scaping was a PITA but a claw did most of the deep work and it worked out well. LOL, I was actually thinking of buying scuba gear anyways but I'm sure I would be institutionalized if anyone saw me in the tank with a respirator on. And I love the lights as well.
Stunreefer... I definitely like the look of a 3' depth but its a PITA to setup. I'll see how it does with maintenance but hopefully it won't be that bad.
Update:
- Got a .5" to 1.5" SSB in the tank and I really like the way it looks.
- Got the 2 closed loops going and they add a hell of a lot of flow, very happy with that. They work buy turning on for a set period of time and then turning off for the same period. During the on period it switches between a slow or medium setting to maximum output on a steady interval.
- Calcium reactor and kalkwasser stirrer in place and waiting to be plumbed up.
- 2 Shuran fluidized reactors topped up with carbon and rowaphos and running.
- Glued some animals to rocks today and I'm pretty happy with the coral placement. Plenty of room around each coral to grow out and a lot of free space for future goodies.
- Also tried a 10k Ushio bulb today but the color was to yellow for me. I'm happy with the 14k coralvue bulbs for now.
- Corals are looking great despite the nitrate levels and clams seem very happy with the new lights. Nitrate levels dropping slowly by wet skimming and small water changes.
Will post pictures soon.
Scaping was a PITA but a claw did most of the deep work and it worked out well. LOL, I was actually thinking of buying scuba gear anyways but I'm sure I would be institutionalized if anyone saw me in the tank with a respirator on. And I love the lights as well.
Stunreefer... I definitely like the look of a 3' depth but its a PITA to setup. I'll see how it does with maintenance but hopefully it won't be that bad.
Update:
- Got a .5" to 1.5" SSB in the tank and I really like the way it looks.
- Got the 2 closed loops going and they add a hell of a lot of flow, very happy with that. They work buy turning on for a set period of time and then turning off for the same period. During the on period it switches between a slow or medium setting to maximum output on a steady interval.
- Calcium reactor and kalkwasser stirrer in place and waiting to be plumbed up.
- 2 Shuran fluidized reactors topped up with carbon and rowaphos and running.
- Glued some animals to rocks today and I'm pretty happy with the coral placement. Plenty of room around each coral to grow out and a lot of free space for future goodies.
- Also tried a 10k Ushio bulb today but the color was to yellow for me. I'm happy with the 14k coralvue bulbs for now.
- Corals are looking great despite the nitrate levels and clams seem very happy with the new lights. Nitrate levels dropping slowly by wet skimming and small water changes.
Will post pictures soon.
ReefingBuddha
New member
Full tank shot
Full tank shot w/o lights
Left Side
Right Side
Long End
Full tank shot w/o lights
Left Side
Right Side
Long End
ReefingBuddha
New member
No canopy and I have a 5ft t5 bulb up there at is my sunrise and sunset lighting to ease me in and out of the MH. What I will add soon are some night lights as I hate the way a tank looks without them.
