Ludnix's tropical 120!
- Thread starter ludnix
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ludnix
New member
I've been taking photos with a canon rebel xt, which is a wonderful camera, but unfortunately is not water proof. To remedy this we got a flexible under-water housing for it, it's going to take some time to get used to using it, but here's a top down picture of one the corals I managed to take a photo of.
We replaced the bulb over the refugium with two of the compact fluorescent lights advocated on melev's site. Hopefully we'll get some decent macro algae growth now!
We also have a fluorescent work light over the skimmer to light the sump more evenly while we are working on it. It originally came with a key-hole screw attachment setup, but being over a saltwater tank, this didn't seem like a good idea. We used some metal strapping to screw the light on securely so that it won't have any risk of falling in.
We replaced the bulb over the refugium with two of the compact fluorescent lights advocated on melev's site. Hopefully we'll get some decent macro algae growth now!
We also have a fluorescent work light over the skimmer to light the sump more evenly while we are working on it. It originally came with a key-hole screw attachment setup, but being over a saltwater tank, this didn't seem like a good idea. We used some metal strapping to screw the light on securely so that it won't have any risk of falling in.
espocrespo
New member
Very Nice Tank!
ludnix
New member
We started finishing the canopy doors this weekend, hopefully they will be done soon.
Here's some new pictures I took:
New acro from the LFS. When it came in it was pretty brown but after a while it started turning more blue so we ended up picking it up. Hopefully it will continue to color up.
Here's some new pictures I took:
New acro from the LFS. When it came in it was pretty brown but after a while it started turning more blue so we ended up picking it up. Hopefully it will continue to color up.
ludnix
New member
This week I thought I'd share a little more on what maintenance this tank requires.
Currently each week we do a 15 gallon water change. We mix the salt using a heater, large power head and 24 hours of waiting. The salt mix comes with a ridiculously high Calcium level so I don't do anything to raise it. A fresh batch of saltwater at 1.025 reads about 450 for calcium!
While the salt is mixing I usually will clean the inside of the glass and brush off any detritus I see to get it into the water column and be sucked out by the water change.
We also clean the skimmer at this time, sometimes it's cleaned twice a week, but lately now that things are settling out it's been just once a week.
Once the water has had plenty of time to mix (usually we wait 24 hours) we turn all the pumps and powerheads off and siphon water from the display. We have an identical bucket to pour water in as was used to make the new water. This allows us to easily remove exactly as much as we are planning to replace.
We use a mag 5 pump to get the new water pumped into the sump. Once all the water is back in the sump we turn on the main pumps and all the water levels even out.
About 3 hours later the tank will have had time to let anything that got stirred up get sucked into the filter socks. Because the filter socks could be a potential nitrate problem if left uncleaned we clean them each week by rising them out with the hose and then washing them in the washer with bleach. Our washer has an option for a extra wash cycle, this will usually remove any trace scent of bleach, but if they still smell like bleach we'll just run them again.
This is pretty much the only maintenance required aside from refilling the top-off and feeding the fish, which makes it a pretty easy to maintain aquarium.
Currently each week we do a 15 gallon water change. We mix the salt using a heater, large power head and 24 hours of waiting. The salt mix comes with a ridiculously high Calcium level so I don't do anything to raise it. A fresh batch of saltwater at 1.025 reads about 450 for calcium!
While the salt is mixing I usually will clean the inside of the glass and brush off any detritus I see to get it into the water column and be sucked out by the water change.
We also clean the skimmer at this time, sometimes it's cleaned twice a week, but lately now that things are settling out it's been just once a week.
Once the water has had plenty of time to mix (usually we wait 24 hours) we turn all the pumps and powerheads off and siphon water from the display. We have an identical bucket to pour water in as was used to make the new water. This allows us to easily remove exactly as much as we are planning to replace.
We use a mag 5 pump to get the new water pumped into the sump. Once all the water is back in the sump we turn on the main pumps and all the water levels even out.
About 3 hours later the tank will have had time to let anything that got stirred up get sucked into the filter socks. Because the filter socks could be a potential nitrate problem if left uncleaned we clean them each week by rising them out with the hose and then washing them in the washer with bleach. Our washer has an option for a extra wash cycle, this will usually remove any trace scent of bleach, but if they still smell like bleach we'll just run them again.
This is pretty much the only maintenance required aside from refilling the top-off and feeding the fish, which makes it a pretty easy to maintain aquarium.
ludnix
New member
This past week the sail fin tang had decided that the entire tank was his territory and he was sick of sharing it. He would chase down anyone he could see and nipped the female anthias to death. We decided that the only solution would be to take him back to the LFS and hopefully someone with a larger aquarium with more aggressive tank mates could house him.
Our LFS was extremely helpful with our plight and loaned us some tools to get a working fish trap set. We tried to setup a trap out of a "critter keeper" container, but in end my dad caught him with an "infrared" net.
We decided to just do a straight trade and exchange the sailfin for a Tomini Tang.
So far all the fish seem relieved to not be under attack and the tomini has been a beautiful addition.
I recently read that if a clam is left on it's side in the sand bed it can slowly starve to death from not receiving enough light. I don't know the validity of this statement but the logic is there and it didn't seem to be a worth the risk. We propped the large clam on top of a rock in a way that would allow him to receive the direct light and let himself attach to the rock.
So far he's only been opening up a bit more than pictured, never quite as much as the smaller clam in the tank or any others I see in photos. Hopefully with time he'll begin to open more fully.
Our Pink-and-Blue-Spotted Goby has become much more friendly since the sailfin has gone and even lets me take his picture now!
While the goby is not new, these acros are!
My LFS had these labeled as Bali Cultured Acros, I take that to mean these guys enjoy the finer aspects of high society such as art and other scholarly interests. Or maybe they mean maricultured or aquacultured...
Regardless of their intellectual pursuits the tuxedo urchin happily greeted them and gave them their introductory cleaning.
That's it for this week, here's some glare covered full tanks shots!
Our LFS was extremely helpful with our plight and loaned us some tools to get a working fish trap set. We tried to setup a trap out of a "critter keeper" container, but in end my dad caught him with an "infrared" net.
We decided to just do a straight trade and exchange the sailfin for a Tomini Tang.
So far all the fish seem relieved to not be under attack and the tomini has been a beautiful addition.
I recently read that if a clam is left on it's side in the sand bed it can slowly starve to death from not receiving enough light. I don't know the validity of this statement but the logic is there and it didn't seem to be a worth the risk. We propped the large clam on top of a rock in a way that would allow him to receive the direct light and let himself attach to the rock.
So far he's only been opening up a bit more than pictured, never quite as much as the smaller clam in the tank or any others I see in photos. Hopefully with time he'll begin to open more fully.
Our Pink-and-Blue-Spotted Goby has become much more friendly since the sailfin has gone and even lets me take his picture now!
While the goby is not new, these acros are!
My LFS had these labeled as Bali Cultured Acros, I take that to mean these guys enjoy the finer aspects of high society such as art and other scholarly interests. Or maybe they mean maricultured or aquacultured...
Regardless of their intellectual pursuits the tuxedo urchin happily greeted them and gave them their introductory cleaning.
That's it for this week, here's some glare covered full tanks shots!
I love your tank.
ludnix
New member
Yeah I think it really will be. My LFS seems to get it's tangs in packs though, at the time we got the sail fin all they had were sail fins and when I went to trade him in all they had were tomini tangs, which was very lucky because I was considering a tomini while I watched the sail fin tear around the tank but noticed how infrequently I see them at my LFS.
Does anyone have a picture of what the Tomini look like mature? I've seen one around here somewhere but can't find it for the life me now that I actually have one.
Thanks! Did you end up moving your koralias around or did you decide to keep them on the bottom?
I moved the big ones up top and kept the smaller ones at the bottom and it worked out rather nicely.
ludnix
New member
I took a video today, nothing spectacular but I think it helps better build an image of how the rock work really is structured since you can see the fish swimming in and out of it.
http://someawe.com/uploads/120gallon/video/videoplayer.html
Youtube was under maintenance when I was ready to upload the video so I have it hosted on my own site for now.
http://someawe.com/uploads/120gallon/video/videoplayer.html
Youtube was under maintenance when I was ready to upload the video so I have it hosted on my own site for now.
ludnix
New member
I thought I'd share some new additions.
Pipe Organ-
Red Pin Cushion Urchin-
The pin cushion was a new addition to my LFS so we were the first to try this species out. Hopefully we'll be able to report back good news!
Here's some shots of the tank and corals:
Acropora, I can't identify the acros past that point but if anyone knows any specifics I'd love to hear them.
Condylactis anemone
Interestingly enough, my parents found the tail end of the male anthias sticking out of the anemone this morning. I can't say whether it was the anemone's predation that killed the anthias or if he happened to catch him after he was dead, but it made quick work of the body.
Brown Button Polyps
Female Clownfish in her Hammer coral.
Hawaiian Feather Duster
This feather duster is a year and a half old now. It was my first saltwater animal and proved to be a very lovely one. It lost it's crown at one point during a spawning event and even endured my clownfish trying to host in it.
"Strawberries and Cream"- The Goby.
montipora capricornus
This past week this particular colony has really improved it's color and is showing a lot of new growth.
Pipe Organ-
Red Pin Cushion Urchin-
The pin cushion was a new addition to my LFS so we were the first to try this species out. Hopefully we'll be able to report back good news!
Here's some shots of the tank and corals:
Acropora, I can't identify the acros past that point but if anyone knows any specifics I'd love to hear them.
Condylactis anemone
Interestingly enough, my parents found the tail end of the male anthias sticking out of the anemone this morning. I can't say whether it was the anemone's predation that killed the anthias or if he happened to catch him after he was dead, but it made quick work of the body.
Brown Button Polyps
Female Clownfish in her Hammer coral.
Hawaiian Feather Duster
This feather duster is a year and a half old now. It was my first saltwater animal and proved to be a very lovely one. It lost it's crown at one point during a spawning event and even endured my clownfish trying to host in it.
"Strawberries and Cream"- The Goby.
montipora capricornus
This past week this particular colony has really improved it's color and is showing a lot of new growth.
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Really enjoyed reading your tank build and you have a beautiful tank! I also LOVE your Hawaiian room... I am hoping to live near the ocean someday!
