MegaBite's 180 & Shallow Reef

[Megabite]

Time has flown by. It's been a year since I've started a reef tank and I'd like to thank RC and its members for the tons of info that has helped me successfully get to where I am now in the hobby/ obsession .

I started with a 120. Upgraded to a 180. Had a 12G and a 24G nano as well within that time and now only have the 180 and a 70W frag/ anemone tank. I've replaced about every bit of equipment at least twice (on my 4th skimmer) and have spent countless hours and an enormous amount of money.

One may ask, "is it worth it". YES, every second and dime. It's been like crack! Anyways, thank you all for being able to pick your brains and be inspired by truly fantastic tanks and set ups.

Here are few pictures chronicling this last year.

 

[Megabite]

Continued

Continued

 

[fufu]

WOAAAa...a model spokesman for reef-a-holic out there. I thought I was obsess...I dont even come close. Very nice.

 

[ihopss]

I like your small tank,it all is nice tho.

 

[Boyman]

Wow! I totally dig your small tank as well

What is the volume and dimension of your frag tank?

 

[Brandon M]

Awesome setups, well done!

 

[crvz]

A couple of great setups there, congrats on the full year!

 

[will16]

Very Nice! Love the frag tank!

 

[snorvich]

Yes, the frag tank rocks my boat too! Excellent job.

 

[vetdog]

really nice. I def dig the set up

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Really nice!!

 

[Megabite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14521605#post14521605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fufu
WOAAAa...a model spokesman for reef-a-holic out there. I thought I was obsess...I dont even come close. Very nice.

LOL, it's like I NEED MORE!

Boyman
Wow! I totally dig your small tank as well
What is the volume and dimension of your frag tank?

About 60 gallons - 48" X 24" X 12" and it's looped into my main display which makes it so much easier in keeping the water quality good and eliminating having to double up on a bunch of equipment.

Thanks for the compliments all. Now I'm trying to figure out what else I can do.

 

[spleify]

Sweet setup!!

Keep up the great work!!

Spleify

 

[reefierone]

well done
thats a lot of growth in one years time!!

 

[Megabite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14524428#post14524428 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefierone
well done
thats a lot of growth in one years time!!

No kidding. I didn't realize how fast corals can grow. Here's couple of pictures showing growth. It's all really taken off the last few months.

First picture was taken in October and the second in January. Only 3 months. The bird's nest (top left), the plating monti cap (middle), the SPS (top right), and the purple rimmed green cap has had the fastest growth. Now my Chalices are starting to take off.

I'm guessing that the improved lighting, skimming, and the addition of Kalkwasser is doing the trick.

October:

January:

October:

January:

 

[corbett_n]

I would stack the rocks different so they aren't so uniform across the back, not to take anything away from a great looking tank.

 

[Megabite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14524563#post14524563 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by corbett_n
I would stack the rocks different so they aren't so uniform across the back, not to take anything away from a great looking tank.

I appreciate the critique and I know what you mean by looking at the picture. Looking at the tank live gives you a different perspective. I think that the photograph flatens it out. I'm actually very happy with the rock work though I've considered islands and such.

Here's a couple of top down shots. You can see that it's not as flat as the front shots make it seem.

 

[flower]

Your tank is absolutly awsome! Keep up the great work.

 

[Fig70g]

Very cool tank setup! I believe I have seen pics posted on a few threads, and I remember liking it!
I am doing something similar, but a bit smaller (70g DT, 30g plummed in, and a 30g sump) except my middle tank will be for a bunch of rock and a big peacock mantis. Do you have any pics or a thread on the plumbing and how you set it up? Would def be interested since I am doing that this week! Thanks!

 

[Megabite]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14525112#post14525112 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fig70g
Do you have any pics or a thread on the plumbing and how you set it up? Would def be interested since I am doing that this week! Thanks!

No I don't, but what I did is really simple. Just ran a hose from the overflow to the drain side of my sump and another from the return side back. I went with about 9 times water turnover an hour of total volume to the frag tank and increased flow via controllable Tunze PHs. The only other thing I had to do was add another heater due to increased water volume. I had an oversized skimmer so I didn't' have to worry about that.

At the end of the day just make sure that whatever equipment and means of filtration being used can handle your increased water volume.