Jacob's 360 Gallon Build

[bbl_nk]

When I got my tank for Christmas in 2006 i figured I'd "take my time" and be up and running in 2-3 months. A year later, I still was working on the stand since I blew through the budget really quickly and would spend $20 here or there on wood, paint or polyurethane, etc., plus saving up for a light and a skimmer. I finally decided to power through and get the stand done and in the house to at least hold the tank.

Finally got it done and filled it up with water on May 1, 2008. Slowly adding to it: sump, light, return, skimmer before I added anything besides snails or crabs in October/November.

Am I glad it took so long? No but I did things differently that were beneficial in the long run.

The moral of the story? I feel ya brother

 

[Jacob D]

Updated the blog today with some numbers on the air exchange system. It's like having a 1/5 HP chiller running on my tank 24/7 without any of the heat or noise and at a fraction of the energy use

linky on my red house

 

[plankton]

Yeah, two years may seen like a long time but you started with quite the diamond in the rough tank. I mean that acrylic tank was pretty scratched up to start with. So, you did pretty good just getting to a clear tank on a stand! Good job.

Scott

 

[Bamm Bamm]

Jacob I'm really sorry to hear about that fish I know how it feels...
Now for setting up the tank..If only I had that patience.. It is definately a virtue that I don not posess.. My tank was up about 4-5days after I bought it and had SPS in it from day one...that piece is amazingly still alive even=).. When i get my big tank I want to take my time you did though and really plan everything out.. if I was in a ghouse and apt I would have more options but since I'm in an apt. I couldn;t make anything permanent..although I think I'll leave the GFCI I installed..

 

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15024143#post15024143 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by plankton
Yeah, two years may seen like a long time but you started with quite the diamond in the rough tank. I mean that acrylic tank was pretty scratched up to start with. So, you did pretty good just getting to a clear tank on a stand! Good job.

Scott

Thanks but that is something I will NEVER do again. Too much work.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15024713#post15024713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bamm Bamm
Jacob I'm really sorry to hear about that fish I know how it feels...
Now for setting up the tank..If only I had that patience.. It is definately a virtue that I don not posess.. My tank was up about 4-5days after I bought it and had SPS in it from day one...that piece is amazingly still alive even=).. When i get my big tank I want to take my time you did though and really plan everything out.. if I was in a ghouse and apt I would have more options but since I'm in an apt. I couldn;t make anything permanent..although I think I'll leave the GFCI I installed..

Thanks Dan. I wasn't attached to the fish, but I was bummed out to lose him. They are so tough to find I don't know if I'll find another this year, and I don't know if I'll be able to afford him if I do I used my credit on a couple of fairy wrasses... so my fish budget is blown at this point.

You should start planning your next tank now, so when you're ready to pull the trigger you've got it all figured out

 

[reefgeek31]

Jacob I have to see a pic of your new wrasse and where did you find it at. naokoae Wrasse that is. That is one awesome looking fish

 

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15047217#post15047217 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefgeek31
Jacob I have to see a pic of your new wrasse and where did you find it at. naokoae Wrasse that is. That is one awesome looking fish

I got him from Blue Zoo Aquatics. I'll try to get a pic, I need to clean the QT I can barely see through the coralline and other stuff on the glass. I'm pretty sure my fish are in there somewhere

The Naoko is pretty neat as fairy wrasses go. There are a few look alikes but they're not quite as striking with the yellow stripe and black fins.

 

[reefgeek31]

So is it as beautiful in person as the picture. I plan to have a wrasse tank instead of a fish tank!!

 

[Jacob D]

They always look better in person

Fairy wrasses are fun, I just tested the NVR blog by posting about a few that I've owned: http://nvreefers.org/blogs/blog/2009/05/20/fairy-wrasses-a-few-under-appreciated-species/

 

[Bamm Bamm]

Yeah I've was hoping to buold something like a 450 but I doubt it I wouldn't want to ever move it so I'm thinking 350 for me.. probably starfire..I've been collecting stuff I'll be able to use for it very slowly still working on my 92g corner also=). all i really have for the big tank so far is a 150g rubbermaid that I'll proably use as a refugium or something for it=)

 

[Paul B]

I could put my entire tank in Jacobs tank and it would just look like an old corner filter

 

[Jacob D]

Dan, I don't think anyone who builds a big tank plans or wants to ever move it, and moving a 350g vs. 450g isn't going to be much difference so you might as well build it as big as you can

Paul, you're funny. When I look in the large tank forum I feel like my tank is small


You guys don't even want to know what I'm thinking about for my next tank

 

[Bamm Bamm]

Yeah I orginally wanted a 450 cus I though it would be huge but you know an indoor pond would be pretty sweeet.. Unfortunately i don't think I could afford it anytime soon=)

 

[Paul B]

When I look in the large tank forum I feel like my tank is small

Jacob, give it a few years. When I got my 100 gallon tank, it was considered huge

 

[Jacob D]

So for the last week I have had a massive diatom bloom (thanks to running the lights finally). Before this the tank had been spotless and the skimmer was pulling out almost nothing.

This is after about a week. Apparently the diatoms are funking up the water! Mmmm smells so good...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/30740619@N08/3554899869/" title="Not Starbucks by Dinardi Family, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3585/3554899869_ac5c203fe1_o.jpg" width="600" height="900" alt="Not Starbucks" style="border:4px #000 solid;"/></a>

 

[moondoggy4]

JacobD what is a diatom bloom? thanks in advance.

 

[Jacob D]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15072747#post15072747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moondoggy4
JacobD what is a diatom bloom? thanks in advance.

Here ya go, google is your friend
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/algaecontrol/a/aa091100.htm

 

[moondoggy4]

Thanks Jacob, it is a good read. I have noticed a rust color around my rocks in the sand, I have never noticed it before. do you think it could be diatom bloom. Thanks again.

 

[Jacob D]

Probably diatoms or algae of some sort. Do you have and snails or a cucumber to clean the sand?

 

[Fern68]

That's pretty nasty stuff. I have been noticing some sort of green algae forming on the sand daily but cant figure out what it is. could this be the same just lime green?