I'm having big fun now...390 display +

[ReefArtist]

Hey Mike - thanks for posting all this it has really given me great ideas about my build.

I couldn't find where you purchased your reflective material - could you post that again - Please?

I received my OR/DI system - little mixup with the order and will have the other items tomorrow . I'm going ahead and mounting my like you did - very nice job and nice unit.

Thanks for everything,

 

[reefman13]

Wow.............thats really all I can say. I can't inagine what all this is costing you, but it is awesome, and it is going to be an awesome tank. Keep us posted.

 

[mflamb]

Carol, I bought the spectral aluminum from Innovative Lighting Solutions. I bought their last pieces. They don't carry it anymore.
You can also get it here: (Check the bottom of the page.)
http://www.aquatictech.com/aquarium_lighting.html

reefman13...a lot less than you would think...I'm a DIY to the max.

 

[Acolin]

totally awesome, out of this world, can't wait to see more

saltwater mixed?
make your own base rock?
live rock ready yet?
what will be your showpiece coral and fish?

 

[mflamb]

Colin, I have made over 400 lbs of DIY GARF style rock. I have about 125 lbs of dry ocean rock, of which about 30 lbs are in my 50 QT with 9 gallons of live sand from Greg (Ah64av8tor). I have 700 lbs of dry aragonite also. No saltwater mixed yet. I'll run the 100 gpd RO/DI for about 5 days straight to fill the tank and sump and mix the salt in the tank. The dry sand and dry rock will go in before the water. Fish will be lots of Anthias, Flasher and Fairy Wrasses,some Chromis, a Vlamingi Tang, a Red Sea Regal Angel, a Copperband Butterfly, and hopefully a mated pair of Crosshatch Triggers. Corals will be mostly SPS, (Montiporas are my favorite), with some LPS (my wife likes Bubble coral), and a variety of zoo, leather, and whatever grabs my interest.

 

[Ah64av8tor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9787902#post9787902 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
Fish will be lots of Anthias, Flasher and Fairy Wrasses,some Chromis, a Vlamingi Tang, a Red Sea Regal Angel, a Copperband Butterfly, and hopefully a mated pair of Crosshatch Triggers. Corals will be mostly SPS, (Montiporas are my favorite), with some LPS (my wife likes Bubble coral), and a variety of zoo, leather, and whatever grabs my interest.

Mike,

Thats funny I was in Aquarium Architecture yesterday and Chris had the most magnificent crosshatch, and 2 of the fattest Copperbands that I have ever seen, if any one can get you the a mated pair of crosshatches it will be Chris. I made Chris feed the copperbands so I could see for my self, he said that they had already eaten and the minced clam he was feeding the others was too big for them, but he tossed some in anyway. It was unbelievable those two fish were pigs.

I realy would like a copperband but I just got a porities and christmass tree worm rock and I'm sure that a copperband would make a meal out of them.

When are you getting that thing running on salt?

 

[mflamb]

John had a beautiful pair of Crosshatch Triggers a couple weeks ago for a great price. I drooled all over the floor in front of their tank.
Saltwater sometime next month....maybe....
I ordered the aluminum for the light rack yesterday. I have seven 8' pieces of 1"x1"x0.125" angle aluminum coming. I still have to buy the T-5 retrofits and make the MH reflectors.
Patience grasshopper....patience.

 

[ReefArtist]

You couldn't get the aluminum locally? 8' long - shipment is crazy isn't it?

 

[mflamb]

Locally was twice as much. Shipping is only $13.00, which is less than the price of one piece of aluminum at HD or Lowes.

 

[Ah64av8tor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9788284#post9788284 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
Patience grasshopper....patience.

Are you telling me patience? I know what it is like, my build is 17 months so far and still a long way to go.

 

[mflamb]

Greg, Your's looks great!!!

 

[chainsaw5vent]

[

 

[chainsaw5vent]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8536545#post8536545 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mflamb
I wrecked one in LA in 1980 while in the USAF at March AFB. Got cut off on the hwy. It's better here, other than the senior citizens who don't see you.
Mike

hey. you probably saw me crash my moped at alessandro and graham in the dirt field back in 1980. i grew up in moval and my dad was assigned to march.:lol: :lol: :wavehand: :clown: feel so silly!

 

[mflamb]

I know where you're talking about. I spent a lot of time on Alessandro.

 

[mflamb]

Here's my 50 QT with live sand and tons of snails from Ah64av8tor, chaetomorpha from ReefArtist, rock from GreyHawk1968, tons of crabs from Adam 82.
All of this will go into the refugium in early June.

 

[ReefArtist]

If I'm going into a QT - that's the one I want to be in! Very nice Mike - what will be your first fish - or is it to early?

 

[mflamb]

The first fish will be 7 Chromis. They will go into the QT this week, and into the 390 in June, when everything else goes into the fuge. After that, the only thing in the QT will be some 4" and 5" PVC fittings for the fish to "hide" in. At that point I will start with some Anthias. I like Bartlett's, Lyretail, and Disbar Anthias. I really like the Lyretail. And then, my favorite Tang...Vlamingi!!!

 

[alden168]

Its looking great, cant wait to see everything is running and filled up with goodies..

 

[poknsnok]

looks good Mike.. heading down the home stretch. Have you started the lighting yet??

 

[mflamb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9843128#post9843128 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by poknsnok
looks good Mike.. heading down the home stretch. Have you started the lighting yet??

Not yet. I'm going to assemble my first reflector today, and the aluminum should arrive today, so I can begin work on the light rack.