Leishman's ~250 (65X36x24)

[Leishman]

So I set this thing up a while back and have had varying degrees of success over the years. This ~250 replaced an Oceanic 110g (60"x18"x24") that was ½ overflow boxes and ½ center brace.

This system has had AEFW, red bugs, monti eating nudis, 95 deg temps, no power for 3 ½ days; the list could go on…. So after the ' no power for 3 ½ days' thing (where I lost some sweet corals and fish) I decided to gather some things, recruit a team of 'expert' reefers, and rebuild the display.

It started w/1 Lumenarc and 2 RO IIIs and a pile of rocks

then it was 3 Lumenarcs and 2 piles of rock

At this point things started to look OK, then good and finally awesome

 

[Leishman]

and my colors started to pop

 

[Leishman]

Then I had back to back AEFW and an overnight alk spike (~8 to 16) and lost the below:

 

[Leishman]

Then came the power outage in June of '08 were I lost this

and ½ of this

Both together from below

And next will be the rebuild:

 

[Leishman]

Before (complete w/dead red table as frag shelf)

and the 'expert' reefers at work this past Saturday

Out with corals and rock

 

[Leishman]

In with the rock (that was just taken out)

And now the new look of my ~250 (wish I could work out the white balance)

 

[Leishman]

 

[Leishman]

This is the rock that came out and did not go back in.

HUGE thanks go out to the 'experts'

Justin: Substrate specialist
Robie (Robz): Artistic Design
Chris (143Gadgets): General Contractor/Photographer
Scott711 (he came to watch)

 

[anthworks]

Rik-
Looking good. Did you replace the rock or reduce the amount? Bummer on the red table. The frag I got from you is doing well.

 

[stunreefer]

HOLY SMOKES Leishman, your tank is rockin'! Im an SPS nut, but I LOVE your fish stock and giant chalices peekin' out over there! Do you still have your Blueface angel?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13039607#post13039607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Leishman

Whats the coral in the bottom right hand corner?

Reminds me of the ORA Hawkins (A. echinata).

Again, awesome tank, and continued success and better luck!

Mad props to the experts too, new aquascape is bad ace!

 

[melev]

I know I would have been sick to my stomach losing such gorgeous corals. You guys did a great job rebuilding from those ashes. Quite a few corals hung in there, huh?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Chrisrush]

You are definitely lucky to have those experts around your area. Looks like you guys put a lot of work into the new aquascape. I like it. It's nice to let the tabling acros grow out as nature intended.

 

[Leishman]

Thanks guys. I was close to baling the hobby but Chris (143Gadgets) talked me off the ledge

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13040513#post13040513 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by anthworks
Rik-
Looking good. Did you replace the rock or reduce the amount? Bummer on the red table. The frag I got from you is doing well.

Reduced by 200-300lbs. I had a frag (4"x3") of the red table in the frag tank that made it, it is now in a spot in the display w/room to grow.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13040577#post13040577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stunreefer
HOLY SMOKES Leishman, your tank is rockin'! Im an SPS nut, but I LOVE your fish stock and giant chalices peekin' out over there! Do you still have your Blueface angel?


Whats the coral in the bottom right hand corner?

Reminds me of the ORA Hawkins (A. echinata).

Again, awesome tank, and continued success and better luck!

Mad props to the experts too, new aquascape is bad ace!

That was a wild Acropora suharsonoi that got wiped out in the alk spike, in fact I only see one coral in that photo that lived! (the green stylo, top left)

The Blueface was perfect for 18 months, then woke up one day with the taste for SPS. He now lives in a large FOWLR tank in VA.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13043482#post13043482 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I know I would have been sick to my stomach losing such gorgeous corals. You guys did a great job rebuilding from those ashes. Quite a few corals hung in there, huh?

Thanks for sharing your experience.

About 10-12 colonies are a month old, I had to get new stock to fill the voids. Now the only void is in my wallet.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13044117#post13044117 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chrisrush
You are definitely lucky to have those experts around your area. Looks like you guys put a lot of work into the new aquascape. I like it. It's nice to let the tabling acros grow out as nature intended.

That I am! 143Gadgets, Robz, Copps, Geofloors….. are all 10-30 minutes away. There are also some sick reefers/tanks in the area that are not on RC much at all.

 

[mcliffy2]

I really like the new scape. Are you putting the excess rock into your sump?

 

[copps]

Looks sweet Rik! Scrape the coralline and you'll be set!

Disasters suck... but this is the mark of a true hardcore reefer (with the other mark being a wife that hates how much time you put into this hobby... )

 

[zoozilla]

Great recovery and aquascaping, Rik.

I really need to see this in person.

 

[dgasmd]

Good to see it redone. Looks nice. All it needs is a little time to settle in and mature.

 

[Leishman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13058913#post13058913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
I really like the new scape. Are you putting the excess rock into your sump?

Thanks, the excess rock was sold to local reefers.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13062488#post13062488 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by copps
Scrape the coralline and you'll be set!

Had to point out a flaw didn't you

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13068828#post13068828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoozilla
Great recovery and aquascaping, Rik.

I really need to see this in person.

You know where to find me!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13074236#post13074236 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dgasmd
Good to see it redone. Looks nice. All it needs is a little time to settle in and mature.

ALBERTO! Where have you been? Got a tank set up?

 

[Chrisrush]

ALBERTO! Where have you been?

Boy if this isn't the statement of the year.

 

[nauticac4]

I need more detail on the tear down and rebuild as I have been contemplating this for a while now.

Is the rock just stacked?

What did you do with the fish?

Any type of cycle?

Did you loose anything?

How long did it take?

Ill have more later I am sure...