My 500 + gallon system. Last 13 years to now. Build, Aquascaping & more. Lots of pics
- Thread starter slief
- Start date
Untamed12
New member
Either way, that vlamingii is amazing. Still doesn't look full-grown though
Not even close to full grown...
Dante_JoseCuerv
New member
Not even close to full grown...
Give it time, I'm fairly certain it'll get there eventually :lmao:
Antonais1391
New member
not fair!! lol looking more like a reef every day :] going with a softy LPS type tank correct?
slief
RC Sponsor
I've never heard of them having that problem. Usually I hear that they stop eating around 1 year into captivity and then waste away. Either way, that vlamingii is amazing. Still doesn't look full-grown though
Most of the cow fish I have had in the past seem to get caught on one of the circultion pump inlet strainers or even the overflow when they are really small. I just think they are kind of dumb and challenged due to their clumbsy shape and lack of propulsion.
I hope my Vlamingi doesnt grow too big to quick. I dont feed 3 times a day but he is always fat and still always hungry..
Softies for the moment. I will likely add SPS down the line but I really like the softies and their wavy motion in the current. I find them very soothing. I have had enough experience with SPS in the past to know that they can be a real pain to keep up with. I am not much of a maintenance person as you might have guessed from all my automation. My hope is that when I do decide to add SPS, the tank will be automated enough to maintain the calcium, Alk and other needed stuff so that I am not baby sitting it daily. Of course, I also need to have full confidence in everything before I start with the SPS as well. Time with the new upgrades will afford me the confidence in it. I also have everything I need to dose the Calcium and Alk as well as Magnesium. I just need to hook up my 2 additional litermeter pumps and calibrate them and add the stuff to the dosing jugs. Just not rushing that as my calcium and alk are ok for the current corals as my water changes are supplementing those enough.
So far the system is working like a dream and is much less work now than it ever was. The moment it becomes too much work will be the moment that I allow it to fall behind.
erics3000
Active member
Right before I left for a business trip I walked by my tank and my Vlamingi got all excited and pooped big time. I need to post some pics I got him about almost 2 years ago and he went from 2 1/2 to about 10 inchs. My nitrates reflect his growth. He could eat all day if I let him. I have been trying to cut back a little but I have spoiled him over the last couple years.
slief
RC Sponsor
Last night was a long night with a potential major disaster avoided.. I went into my water shed and noticed a black line right above the water level in my salt water mixing holding tank. This is also the tank that my auto water changer/litermeter draws from. I removed the lid to see what it was and the water smelled burnt. It turned out that the heater (Marineland) cracked. I had read threads here in the recent past about others having the same issue and I had a new heater ready to replace that one but had procrastinated. Big mistake.
Fortunately, I think only a few gallons of that water was transferred into the tank. I am glad I check the water tanks daily. I drained around 90 gallons of fresh RO/DI mixed saltwater down the drain and rinsed the holding tank with water and bleach. I will mix up a new batch of saltwater tonight.
Fortunately, the fish tank and its inhabitants are fine. I changed out my carbon in my reactor just to be on the safe side.
Fortunately, I think only a few gallons of that water was transferred into the tank. I am glad I check the water tanks daily. I drained around 90 gallons of fresh RO/DI mixed saltwater down the drain and rinsed the holding tank with water and bleach. I will mix up a new batch of saltwater tonight.
Fortunately, the fish tank and its inhabitants are fine. I changed out my carbon in my reactor just to be on the safe side.
As far as I understand is that Marineland merged with Aquarium systems and have even noticed that there Maxi jet powerheads have done the same thing to me. I would smell something burning like an electrical fire and lifted open my brute lid and behold, my powerhead is leaking current into the water. The nice shock I received wasn't much fun and I have gone through three Maxi jets that have all somehow leaked current where water seeped into the epoxy motor. Ridiculas!!!! Marineland used to make decent products and so did Aquarium systems. As soon as I noticed the electrical cord changeout marineland did I knew the new cord would be a problem down the road. Instead of a heavy duty powercord Aquarium systems used to use they now use a thin lamp electrical cord!!! Cheap as hell!!!!
Marc
dun2run
New member
I had one of the Stealth heaters I believe. Awhile back it decided to come on and never go off. Temp was hitting like 84 I think. Straight to the "spare parts, things I'll probably never use again but think I might have a use for someday so I keep it for some stupid reason, junk box.":spin1: Now I am running a Jager on a controller.
Controller = PRICELESS!!
Controller = PRICELESS!!
Hey Scott,
I saw episode 10 and all I can say is, YOU THE MAN!!! You are definelty the man... Awesome!!! By far your system has impressed me more times than any other system I have seen on reefcentral.com. You need to write a book because your setup is so high tech and low maintnance. All the gadgets gets me too excited. LOL!!! Did you change out the sand bed yet?
Marc
I saw episode 10 and all I can say is, YOU THE MAN!!! You are definelty the man... Awesome!!! By far your system has impressed me more times than any other system I have seen on reefcentral.com. You need to write a book because your setup is so high tech and low maintnance. All the gadgets gets me too excited. LOL!!! Did you change out the sand bed yet?
Marc
slief
RC Sponsor
Marc,
Thanks as always. We removed about 100 pounds so far. I suspect I have another 300 or more to go. The plan is to do it over the course of a couple months by doing 50 gallon water changes while siphoning out the gravel with a 1.5" diameter hose. The first effort worked pretty well.
Episode 11 just went up and I think that one covers some of the crushed coral removal that we did 2 weeks ago.
The tank is doing really well now. No signs of ich at all. Lots of new fish have been added and the original fish are thriving as well. Even the flower pot I added a month or so ago is thriving which is a bit of a surprise to me have never had success with them before. \
Overall, I couldnt be happier with the system and the automation.
Antonais1391
New member
very cool. i enjoyed the new videos 
.good thing that the ich is gone. what where the new fishes you added? the tank is as always beautiful
.good thing that the ich is gone. what where the new fishes you added? the tank is as always beautiful
slief
RC Sponsor
4 Bicolor Psuedochromis, 2 flame angels (one didnt make it), cow fish, 3 lawn mower gobys, four juvenile oscillaris clown fish, 5 juvenile pajama cardinals, 3 bangai cardinals and I think thats it... This was over the last month and a half or so. I also have 4 cromis in my QT which I am tempted to put into this tank. I have had them for a month and a half or so and were used to cycle the QT.very cool. i enjoyed the new videos
:thumbsup: Thank you very much! Its working great too!More great videos Scott. Keep it up, things are looking great.
Hmmm, that QT skimmer looks familiar.
Antonais1391
New member
very cool should be interesting to see if you get 2 pairs of clowns. That's two bad about the angel. i wish i could keep one but i don't want to risk anything pestering my clams or SPS. i think your QT is as big as my display lol. what are you going to replace the sand with?? or are you going to go bear bottom?? where the Nems effected by any of the whole Ich ordeal?? keep at it :]
slief
RC Sponsor
I will either go bare bottom or a very light coat of fine sand. My recirc pump dumps out through a drilled PVC pipe that runs around the center overflow at its base. It keeps all the sand pushed away from the middle of the tank anyway. If I had a light layer or sand, it would accumulate into small dunes or sound outcroppings surrounded by bare bottom. It would certainly be much more managable and sanitary than the hundreds of pounds of sand + crushed coral that I have now while not being completely bare. Last time I was 'bare bottom' I had the bottom of the tank completely covered in coraline. A little strontium = a lot of coraline.
Antonais1391
New member
thats pretty crazy about the coralline huh strontium, im guessing a 380-450 cal level is also required?? if you went the small grain way you could employ quite a few sand sifting fish as well as jawfish and the regular snails. when i was at Sarasota last year the sand was almost powder like would that be to fine??
slief
RC Sponsor
I have a pair of diamond goby's, a scooter blenny that I have had for a year, several snails as well as some blue legged hermit crabs.
karnivorous
New member
that is one freakin monster skimmer. i think my whole tank could be put inside
