Inwall tank build with corals that "Sway"!
- Thread starter blide
- Start date
vessxpress1
Premium Member
I love what you've done here. Great job! The trim looks awesome, room looks awesome, tank is awesome.
Are you going to try to keep all the glass clean? Wondering if you'll try to keep it looking like brand new or let the coraline take over. Also wondering where you went with the Tunzes. I had a tunze nano on mine and I found that after a couple years, the grill tends to grow algae, collect food, grow more algae, etc.. It seemed to plug up fast. Then when you put it back in, it wouldn't want to re-start because of junk that's in it. Short of a long vinegar bath, it was hard to clean. And taking it in and out caused clips to break over time.
As much as I hate to concede, when/if I start up a new tank, I'm going to bite the bullet and go with Vortecs. I've found that years of being in a marine environment was hard on moving equipment, a.k.a., pumps and power heads. There's just so much working against you. Algae, impossible to access calcium build up, other debris that gets in them. Components wear, things break. Long term I think a vortec or two would be worth every penny. Just my 2 cents.
Congrats on the tank though. Definitely one to be proud of. I really like the location too.
Are you going to try to keep all the glass clean? Wondering if you'll try to keep it looking like brand new or let the coraline take over. Also wondering where you went with the Tunzes. I had a tunze nano on mine and I found that after a couple years, the grill tends to grow algae, collect food, grow more algae, etc.. It seemed to plug up fast. Then when you put it back in, it wouldn't want to re-start because of junk that's in it. Short of a long vinegar bath, it was hard to clean. And taking it in and out caused clips to break over time.
As much as I hate to concede, when/if I start up a new tank, I'm going to bite the bullet and go with Vortecs. I've found that years of being in a marine environment was hard on moving equipment, a.k.a., pumps and power heads. There's just so much working against you. Algae, impossible to access calcium build up, other debris that gets in them. Components wear, things break. Long term I think a vortec or two would be worth every penny. Just my 2 cents.
Congrats on the tank though. Definitely one to be proud of. I really like the location too.
blide
Premium Member
Thanks for your post.
I'm currently using a tunze 6105 on a controller for the main open area of the tank and a 6025 for the cave side of the tank. I've used both tunze and vortech in my previous tanks, but overall I like the tunze equipment. To me it's very dependable and makes less noise when running and I've never really had algae issues with them.
Plus, the way the cabinets are built there's not place for a Vortech due to the larger magnet being on the outside. I acutally thought about using them but there's not enough clearance behind the doors on the back and I didn't want the distraction of putting one on the side viewing window.
reeftanknewbie
New member
Man your tank looks great...I would love to see a video of the swaying action you are getting in this tank.
michael_cb_125
New member
Very Nice Tank!
Also, I love the way you have the tank framed in and accented by the piece of furniture.
The Hand Scraped Hardwoods are gorgeous!
Stunning!!
~Michael
Also, I love the way you have the tank framed in and accented by the piece of furniture.
The Hand Scraped Hardwoods are gorgeous!
Stunning!!
~Michael
joejoe1055
New member
its like a living picture with that frame
your tank looks great and i'm sure it has/will inspire people
your tank looks great and i'm sure it has/will inspire people
zach_24_90
New member
awesome tank!
javajaws
Premium Member
This build thread has everything a build thread requires to be successfull:
1) A hottie wife pic
2) Uh...a tank?
But really, nice build! I'm surprised though that with such a nice build you didn't go with an A.G.E. tank...they are built like 10 minutes away from you!
If you ever come down to Austin/Round Rock let me know and you can come check out my setup.
1) A hottie wife pic
2) Uh...a tank?
But really, nice build! I'm surprised though that with such a nice build you didn't go with an A.G.E. tank...they are built like 10 minutes away from you!
If you ever come down to Austin/Round Rock let me know and you can come check out my setup.
blide
Premium Member
Thanks for the invite! My brother lives in Wells Branch, so I might take you up on that some day.
I did check out AGE, but for a smaller tank (140g) with starphire and a PVC bottom it was going to be $1800+! That was just too much for what I was trying to achieve. I really wanted to keep the build cost to a minimum and I was able to get the AGA tank during one of the at cost sales for less than $350, so I saved a lot. Plus the people that visit my house or buy it in the future won't know the difference between and AGA or an AGE.
blide
Premium Member
Hardware update:
During the original planning of the tank I thought maybe I wouldn't need to maintain the Alk and Calcium as much due to it being soft coral dominat. Well I was wrong! I've had to add Alk and Calcium serveral times each week for the past month and that got old quick. In my plumbing scheme I had a 1/2 line capped off just incase I need to add a filter or something, but now I'm using it for a calcium reactor. I've had this DIY reactor for the last 5yrs and it always worked great, so now it's back online and no more 2-Part. :dance:
During the original planning of the tank I thought maybe I wouldn't need to maintain the Alk and Calcium as much due to it being soft coral dominat. Well I was wrong! I've had to add Alk and Calcium serveral times each week for the past month and that got old quick. In my plumbing scheme I had a 1/2 line capped off just incase I need to add a filter or something, but now I'm using it for a calcium reactor. I've had this DIY reactor for the last 5yrs and it always worked great, so now it's back online and no more 2-Part. :dance:
blide
Premium Member
Well after seeing a couple of tank setups that are utilizing LED for actinics I felt I should join the crowd. :spin1:
Yesterday I received my 48' Reefbrite LED (all blue) and plan to install the unit this weekend, but I did give it a test run and it definetly adds some shimmer and an actinic look to the corals. Although I'm just not sure if it was worth the extra $200+.
Here's some pic's of the unit:
Yesterday I received my 48' Reefbrite LED (all blue) and plan to install the unit this weekend, but I did give it a test run and it definetly adds some shimmer and an actinic look to the corals. Although I'm just not sure if it was worth the extra $200+.
Here's some pic's of the unit:
paola98santana
New member
Awesome design and beautiful tank.... How you keep it so clean?
When you get coralline algae u will be have it on the glass, keep it track..
When you get coralline algae u will be have it on the glass, keep it track..
Railgrinder
New member
wow.....just wow!
trukgirl
<3
I can NOT believe how beautiful this whole build is!!!!!!!!!
The room, the tank, everything!!!!!!
I am using this build as a model for when we upgrade our reef, possibly some time next year!! Concrete, acid, everything. Perfect!! (Have a few major projects such as widening the driveway and building a dining room on to the house, it was built in the 50's)
I myself came from having planted tanks before I went salty. However, our 65 is shaped sort of like a cube, so we set up the rocks to look like an island. It looks good that way, but when we upgrade to a longer tank I want to aquascape with the golden rule. Your tank looks SO GOOD that way....
Seriously, GREAT JOB!!! And congrats on the bun in the oven!! Do you guys already have kids or is it your first?
The room, the tank, everything!!!!!!
I am using this build as a model for when we upgrade our reef, possibly some time next year!! Concrete, acid, everything. Perfect!! (Have a few major projects such as widening the driveway and building a dining room on to the house, it was built in the 50's)
I myself came from having planted tanks before I went salty. However, our 65 is shaped sort of like a cube, so we set up the rocks to look like an island. It looks good that way, but when we upgrade to a longer tank I want to aquascape with the golden rule. Your tank looks SO GOOD that way....
Seriously, GREAT JOB!!! And congrats on the bun in the oven!! Do you guys already have kids or is it your first?
