How to make Swiss Cheese - Krunchy's 275g Closed Loop monster!

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13651749#post13651749 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by badazztealcobra
I knew there was a reason you sold the Evo.... It was to buy all this stuff wasnt it ?!?!? :lol:

Not really but the cheaper insurance and less visits to the gas station sure have been helping with funding this beast!

Things are looking good..... Let me know if you need a hand with anything and Ill help out as much as possible....

Actually, if you know someone reliable who does painting and floor work, I think i'm going to go ahead and repaint the living room as well as change out the floors. I have carpet now and it's definitely seen better days. 2 years of salt water spills haven't been nice to it. :lol: So anyway, if you know someone reliable who does this kind of work, i'll probably start getting quotes in a few weeks and hopefully will be able to do start that in late Nov / early Dec. Oh, and I had some water spill thanks to a crappy washing machine repairman so now I have stains in my ceiling that will have to be covered or cut out and replaced... so i'll have to get a quote for that too.

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13651489#post13651489 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sara B
Looks like an awsome build Ed.

I'm actually waiting on payment for that wavebox before I can get my tank done ... gotta pay the plumber you know ;-)

* Krunchy bows his head in shame. I'll be over soon... I swear! I just have to buy one or two more things first. :lol: (Just kidding, see you this weekend!)

I'll get moving on my build thread as well so you can post that fine photo of my tank!

You better hurry or i'm going to make those pictures the start of your build thread!

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13652530#post13652530 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Helter Skilter
Free chaeto in Lake in the Hills.

Can you hold some for me? I'll be over in 3-4 months to get it.

Oh, you wouldn't happen to have a skimmer, would you?

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13653593#post13653593 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gotfish8
Krunchy, wrong forum buddy. This is the large tank forum

Oh ouch. Now I know the reason why you showed me the 275g and convinced me to get it. (Not that it took all that much convincing) Had I bought that 400g i'd have outdone your tank...

That's okay though, I think i've got you beat in flow and definitely in style. :lol:

Looks like a good start

Thanks for finding this beast. Can't wait to start ... buffing out the scratches.

* Krunchy curses at his big acrylic tank!

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13653720#post13653720 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by badazztealcobra
Thats probably the craziest part, whenever anyone outside of this community hears I have a 180 they are AMAZED.... Then you go to peoples house's like RKC's with a 600 and feel like your tank sucks. :lol:

HAHAHAHAHAHA I know. Funny how perspective changes everything. I suppose that's the same look that people who aren't into cars get when you tell them you want to get up over 500hp!

Speaking of that 180, take some pictures sometime man, that thing ought to be growing out nicely by now! I'm going to need a cup or two of my sand back at some point. I'm starting this tank with dry rock and dry sand.

 

[ekrunch]

We now return you to your regularly scheduled build thread.

I think i've just about got my fish list put together. This isn't final but it's definitely close.

1x Gold Rim Tang (Acanthurus nigricans) - Already got this guy on hold and am picking him up over the weekend.. He's going to live in a friend's 300g fuge for a while.
1x Flame Fin Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis) - My first tang. A friend of mine is holding him now but he's apparently not doing well. I'm going to get him tomorrow and hopefully he'll pull through. Can't lose this guy! He's also the reason that my 125 never had any algae in it.
2x Bicolor Angel (Centropyge bicolor) - This is contingent on being able to find quality specimens of the right sizes. I've got one now that's been great but finding another small one that is as healthy as this one was could be interesting. If these don't work out then i'm going to do a pair of multibarred's instead. I've always liked the bicolor but was hesitant to buy one because of the whole cyanide thing.
4x Black Cap Basslets (Gramma melacara) - I may do Royal Gramms or Dottybacks instead, but I definitely want a harem of them.
2x Yellow Target Mandarins (Synchiropus picturatus) - If I can ever find a female, otherwise I guess my current one will just have to stay a bachelor.
2x African Leopard Wrasses (Macropharyngodon bipartitus) - I had these guys in my old tank and just can't get rid of them, especially considering that they're a pair.
1x Redspotted Blenny (Istiblennius chrysospilos) - I may do a starry blenny or something but I will have at least one. Just haven't decided yet.
2x Clown Fairy Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus solorensis) - Already got one of these as well. Great fish. So colorful and friendly.
3x Lamark Angel (Genicanthus lamarck) - Why have a pair when I can have 3?

That should do it for this tank and I may actually do a bit less. I've got some favorites out of the list that will definitely get added so i'm just going to play it by ear.

 

[SaraB]

Looks like a nice fish list, but I have 2 suggestions.

For your Blenny choice, what about a Gold Midas Blenny? They have an awesome personality, they look pretty and mine would always swim out in the water column. One of the most entertaining fish I have owned and I'll be getting another for one of the new tanks.

Lastly, the Lamark Angels. I had one once and he turned completely mean and will beat the crap out of any new additions (Royal Gramma's). I finally caught him and promptly gave him away to a LFS. There are also much more beautiful Genicanthus family angels out there. I have a pair of Bellus, but the Swallowtails are also beautiful. Just my 2 cents is all.

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13655388#post13655388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sara B
Looks like a nice fish list, but I have 2 suggestions.

For your Blenny choice, what about a Gold Midas Blenny? They have an awesome personality, they look pretty and mine would always swim out in the water column. One of the most entertaining fish I have owned and I'll be getting another for one of the new tanks.

Do they sit on the rocks and such? My favorite thing that my old blenny did was sit on the rocks and stare at me. It was always funny to watch his eye brows wave back and forth when the wave box went off. Also, are they jumpers? I really liked my old blenny but apparently he didn't like living in the stock tub.

Lastly, the Lamark Angels. I had one once and he turned completely mean and will beat the crap out of any new additions (Royal Gramma's). I finally caught him and promptly gave him away to a LFS. There are also much more beautiful Genicanthus family angels out there. I have a pair of Bellus, but the Swallowtails are also beautiful. Just my 2 cents is all.

Interesting, I didn't know the Lamarks got mean. I mostly wanted that one because the other tank has Watanabes in it and I wanted something different. I've also heard dismal stories about the survival rates of Bellus in captivity, so I was avoiding those. You're right about the swallowtails though, they were one of my alternates. They're really nice looking and I like the fact that the male and female have very distinct markings.

 

[SaraB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13655877#post13655877 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ekrunch
Do they sit on the rocks and such? My favorite thing that my old blenny did was sit on the rocks and stare at me. It was always funny to watch his eye brows wave back and forth when the wave box went off. Also, are they jumpers? I really liked my old blenny but apparently he didn't like living in the stock tub.

Yes, the Midas Blenny will find a favorite hole or two in the rocks and dive in and then stare out at you. They have what I called long eyelashes too ... maybe you had a male with eyebrows :lol: Yes they can be jumpers!

Also, I've had my Bellus for just over a year now with no issues.

OK, back to my thoughts on my own new thread ...

 

[TandN]

Good luck you are the 3rd owner of this tank

 

[Helter Skilter]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13653891#post13653891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ekrunch
Can you hold some for me? I'll be over in 3-4 months to get it.

Oh, you wouldn't happen to have a skimmer, would you?

Dan's taking half of it Sunday, but I'll grow you some LE Jolly Green Giant Fro Chaeto... it'll cost you but it's nice.

I do have a skimmer. Someone's supposed to be lending me his Jetskim too, but that guy is lame.

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13657979#post13657979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tanya72806
Good luck you are the 3rd owner of this tank

heh, yeah. First nbd13, then stunreefer, and now me. Hopefully I can make a good showing, it's an awesome tank.

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13657979#post13657979 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tanya72806
Good luck you are the 3rd owner of this tank

And seeing as everyone should remember their history, I did a little digging and found some of the previous build threads for my tank.

nbd13 (First Owner) - Makeover thread -
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1058429

stunreefer (Second Owner) - Build thread -
http://www.michiganreefers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59530

 

[ekrunch]

T5 Bulb Combinations

T5 Bulb Combinations

After doing a little research and with help from the Grim Reefer on the T5 Q&A Thread, i've decided to start with the following bulb combination for my T5 setup.

Front
ATI Blue+
UVL Super Actinic
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue Special
UVL Aquasun
ATI Blue+
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue+
UVL Aquasun
ATI Aquablue Special
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue+
Back

All of the UVL stuff is here already and the ATI stuff will be here soon. I've also ordered a few extras of everything so I can play around a bit and get the color right. Nothing like the joy of getting the desired color out of 14 bulbs. I'm also going to pick up some UVL 75/25's to toss into the mix if need be. Worst case i'll use them as refugium lighting or something. I'm not 100% sure what i'm going to do yet.

 

[ekrunch]

Moonlights?

Moonlights?

I'm looking for any opinions out there on moonlights. Some friends showed me the new Finnex 23" LED strip light this morning. It looks amazing but i'm looking for any other ideas as well. I've used the R2 Extreme's in the past and have been really mostly with them, but the idea of dimmable moon light is nice considering that all of my T5's are dimmable as well.

Here's the item on Finnex's page but there is little/no detail about the product.
http://www.finnex.net/itemdetail.php?id=166

And here's another link from one of my favorite vendors who has more information. I may have to take a ride over to his place and see this thing in person.
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=2399

 

[khanb31]

YAY KRUNCHY!!!! Its good to see that youve been working on this. I was a little afraid that you were gonna let it sit and not do anything with it for a while (so maybe I could buy that sucker off you?!?!?!).

I wish I could post my build thread here in this forum but alas, its only a 75 gallon. Ill have to post it in the nano forums.....BAH!

I cant wait to post it though (when I find some time), theres gonna be a LOT of DIY work pictures on it and everyone will really gain some respect for peninsula tanks. hehehehe....

If you need any help ed, let me know. I know im a little bit of a drive but I can really fix a problem if you run into one. Im a big fan of making it easy to work on your tank. If you want some ideas on the canopy, let me know and we can sit down and discuss it.

Slim Jim

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13695616#post13695616 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by khanb31
YAY KRUNCHY!!!! Its good to see that youve been working on this. I was a little afraid that you were gonna let it sit and not do anything with it for a while (so maybe I could buy that sucker off you?!?!?!).

No chance! I love this tank. Can't wait to see it up and running. I'm just about to order the salt and the rest of the bulbs. The second OM is on it's way as well as the moonlights.

I wish I could post my build thread here in this forum but alas, its only a 75 gallon. Ill have to post it in the nano forums.....BAH!

I cant wait to post it though (when I find some time), theres gonna be a LOT of DIY work pictures on it and everyone will really gain some respect for peninsula tanks. hehehehe....

Most definitely dude. Make sure to take lots of pictures throughout the process. From all of the questions in the CMAS forums it sounds like you're going nuts over there with custom work.

If you need any help ed, let me know. I know im a little bit of a drive but I can really fix a problem if you run into one. Im a big fan of making it easy to work on your tank. If you want some ideas on the canopy, let me know and we can sit down and discuss it.

Slim Jim

Absolutely man. It's definitely going to be a little bit longer. I'm almost done with the equipment gathering phase of the build, then it's on to the stand and canopy, then the fun part... plumbing! I'm sure my fish will be glad to move out of their stock tub. :lol:

 

[ekrunch]

Speaking of fish, here are some pictures of my new guys waiting for me in RKC's 300g fuge.

My new gold rim. Scored this guy at Sho Tank the other day. (Thanks to Matt for holding him while I found him a temporary home.)

The mystery Ctenochaetus tang. He's a little guy so it's going to be a while before we can really ID him.

And here's the Mac (Acanthurus Maculiceps)... he's TINY right now. He seems to be doing well though.

 

[SaraB]

Nice looking fish! Can't wait to see them in their new home!

 

[erics3000]

Nice.Does RKC have a thread, that is a pretty sweet fuge too.