JStraz4991
New member
thats a nice tank =]
My new 400 G tank
- Thread starter Crusty Old Shellback
- Start date
Things are somewhat back to normal. My pink tail is now out and acting normal again and eating like he use to. Funny thing is, now when he grabs the sheet of nori, he dosen't have two large tangs pulling it out of his mouth so now he has to fight to tear it up so he can eat it.
My Majestic Angle is staying out in the open more than he used to. Don't know if he was intimadeted by the tangs or not?
I'm looking at tearing everything down and starting over. Going to be selling off all the fish and starfish, try and find someone with a tank big enough to keep my corals and maybe the trigger and angle. Going to soak all my rocks in fresh water to get rid of the ton of bristile worms. Replace all of the sand and just basically start over. I'm looking at ading another 400W MH and some either PC or T5 atinics. Going to at least change out my skimmer pumps. maybe make one a recirc pump to help out some.
Then it's time to start over with reseeding the tank and getting stuff to grow. I'm going to focus more on corals this time around and either keep to a certian region for my animals or to a certian species of fish. I'm thinking Anthias or Wrasses. Something that stays small.
My Majestic Angle is staying out in the open more than he used to. Don't know if he was intimadeted by the tangs or not?
I'm looking at tearing everything down and starting over. Going to be selling off all the fish and starfish, try and find someone with a tank big enough to keep my corals and maybe the trigger and angle. Going to soak all my rocks in fresh water to get rid of the ton of bristile worms. Replace all of the sand and just basically start over. I'm looking at ading another 400W MH and some either PC or T5 atinics. Going to at least change out my skimmer pumps. maybe make one a recirc pump to help out some.
Then it's time to start over with reseeding the tank and getting stuff to grow. I'm going to focus more on corals this time around and either keep to a certian region for my animals or to a certian species of fish. I'm thinking Anthias or Wrasses. Something that stays small.
What? You mean go back to what I knew as a kid? Well at least it worked back then.
I'll do it but only if the master comes out and helps me set it up.
I'll do it but only if the master comes out and helps me set it up.
reefcrazydude
New member
sorry for your fishs lot, i love naso and mi
Well I haven't been on here in some time. I didn't realise I haven't updated this thread in over a year. I guess it was the morning of my loss and lack of intrest in the tank for some time. But I didn't give up.
The tank is still up and running. I slowly took out my rocks and soaked them in fresh water for a week then let them dry out for at least a week. This was so that I could get rid of my bristtle worm problem. I know a lot of people say they are not a problem but I thought they were becoming one. So I took the easy way out. While I was doing this, I also got rid of some of my fish.
The tank is now back up and running. I had moved my fish and stuff from the tank into the sump while I cleaned the rocks and rebuild the dispaly. I know have two large islands on either sid eof teh tank. One of which reaches to about 6" or less below the water line. The other is about 3/4 of the way up from the bottom. I'll find some pic's and post them.
As for fish, I kept my Pink Tail trigger and majestic Angle. Both are doing great. I also kept a pair of Ocalliras clowns I had as well as moved a second pair from my small tank into the big one since I took the small tank down. Funny part is that the larger clown of each pair decided to pair up and have started breeding. The smaller two from each pair are not sure what to do now that they lost their mate. We'll see how it goes as I have two RBTA's in the tank to host both pairs.
Other fish in the tank now are a pair of green cromis. I had bought a 9 fish shola and this is all that has survived. I have also added in a pair of yellow head sleeper gobies that i think are trying to breed as well. I still have my royal gramma and have added a red stripped wrasse. Nice looking colors on the wrasse and some of his stripes glimmer gold instead of red. I also havd a Ebili pygmy angle that is doing good and have gotten another Copper Banded Butterfly that ha sbeen in the tank going on a year now.
I'm still not sure which way I'm going as far as fish are concerned but I am looking for another Moorish Idol. Maybe even try a pair of them. Other than that, maybe some more pygmy angles and or wrasses or anthias. Something small.
I now am able to grow corals in the tank. As you may have read or know, I always seemed to have a problem growing corals in this tank. I don't know if it was the big fish or the worms or something in the rocks or what. But I know have some Monti caps growing in the tank, if I can just keep from fragging them by accident. I've also got a nice size branching hammer.
I'm not using NSW at this time becaus emy source at UCSB has dried up. They are doing construction so there's no access. It's supposed to be ready by Nov of this year. I'm not sure if I'll switch back or not. I'm also not sure if that is the reason for my coral growth. I had corals growing in my small tank using NSW so I don't think that was it. We'll see what happens. I'm also now dosing alk and calc which I wasn't before but was trying to use a calc reactor. I guess it's liek they say, stick with what you know.
AS for the tank equipment, I'm looking at swaping out my Closed Loop pumps for soem Korillia pumps mounte din the tank. I figure 10 of them in the tank will give me more than enought flow and cut way back on the electrical usage. The other step in cutting back is going to be going to LED lights and get rid of the MH. Againg, we'll see how that pans out. I also lost my OM 4 way. It finaly wore a hole in the main bodt and starte dleaking. After replacing the flooring once again, I just took out the innards of the OM and made a cove for it. So now it's being used just to split the water flow from a single in to 4 outs at the same time. So much for my wave action I used to have across the top of the tank.
Well now you are up to date. I'll look for some pictures of the tank now and post them up.
The tank is still up and running. I slowly took out my rocks and soaked them in fresh water for a week then let them dry out for at least a week. This was so that I could get rid of my bristtle worm problem. I know a lot of people say they are not a problem but I thought they were becoming one. So I took the easy way out. While I was doing this, I also got rid of some of my fish.
The tank is now back up and running. I had moved my fish and stuff from the tank into the sump while I cleaned the rocks and rebuild the dispaly. I know have two large islands on either sid eof teh tank. One of which reaches to about 6" or less below the water line. The other is about 3/4 of the way up from the bottom. I'll find some pic's and post them.
As for fish, I kept my Pink Tail trigger and majestic Angle. Both are doing great. I also kept a pair of Ocalliras clowns I had as well as moved a second pair from my small tank into the big one since I took the small tank down. Funny part is that the larger clown of each pair decided to pair up and have started breeding. The smaller two from each pair are not sure what to do now that they lost their mate. We'll see how it goes as I have two RBTA's in the tank to host both pairs.
Other fish in the tank now are a pair of green cromis. I had bought a 9 fish shola and this is all that has survived. I have also added in a pair of yellow head sleeper gobies that i think are trying to breed as well. I still have my royal gramma and have added a red stripped wrasse. Nice looking colors on the wrasse and some of his stripes glimmer gold instead of red. I also havd a Ebili pygmy angle that is doing good and have gotten another Copper Banded Butterfly that ha sbeen in the tank going on a year now.
I'm still not sure which way I'm going as far as fish are concerned but I am looking for another Moorish Idol. Maybe even try a pair of them. Other than that, maybe some more pygmy angles and or wrasses or anthias. Something small.
I now am able to grow corals in the tank. As you may have read or know, I always seemed to have a problem growing corals in this tank. I don't know if it was the big fish or the worms or something in the rocks or what. But I know have some Monti caps growing in the tank, if I can just keep from fragging them by accident. I've also got a nice size branching hammer.
I'm not using NSW at this time becaus emy source at UCSB has dried up. They are doing construction so there's no access. It's supposed to be ready by Nov of this year. I'm not sure if I'll switch back or not. I'm also not sure if that is the reason for my coral growth. I had corals growing in my small tank using NSW so I don't think that was it. We'll see what happens. I'm also now dosing alk and calc which I wasn't before but was trying to use a calc reactor. I guess it's liek they say, stick with what you know.
AS for the tank equipment, I'm looking at swaping out my Closed Loop pumps for soem Korillia pumps mounte din the tank. I figure 10 of them in the tank will give me more than enought flow and cut way back on the electrical usage. The other step in cutting back is going to be going to LED lights and get rid of the MH. Againg, we'll see how that pans out. I also lost my OM 4 way. It finaly wore a hole in the main bodt and starte dleaking. After replacing the flooring once again, I just took out the innards of the OM and made a cove for it. So now it's being used just to split the water flow from a single in to 4 outs at the same time. So much for my wave action I used to have across the top of the tank.
Well now you are up to date. I'll look for some pictures of the tank now and post them up.
OK I found some pics from Aug of 2010. This is after my recent rebuild. I'll get some updated ones later.
First is the 40g bow front I had but took down.
The tank.
Right side of the tank. This rocks goes up to about 6" from the water.
Left side of the tank. I've changed it just a little from this pic.
Center
First is the 40g bow front I had but took down.
The tank.
Right side of the tank. This rocks goes up to about 6" from the water.
Left side of the tank. I've changed it just a little from this pic.
Center
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Another pic of the center. Unfortunatly I lost the toadstool you see in the pic.
Another pic of the left side. There is now a orange monti cap groing on the top of this mound.
Another pic of the left side. There is now a orange monti cap groing on the top of this mound.
OK, I've got some updated pic's I took this weekend. My corals are starting to grow out some. I'm now in the process of trying to make the tank more efficent power wise so as to cut back on my electric bill. Curentlt it cost me about $300 a month total to run the tank. That includes food, supliments and salt. I should be able to cut that back to about $100 a month after I'm done. looking at going LED lights, changing my big C/L pumps out with Korilia water movers and replacing my monster skimmer with something smaller. The last step will be trying to find a more efficent return pump than my Dart. Anyways, here are my pics.
Full tank shot. Viewing area is 7 foot long by 3 feet tall.
Right side of tank
Right middle
Left middle
Left side
Full tank shot. Viewing area is 7 foot long by 3 feet tall.
Right side of tank
Right middle
Left middle
Left side
Looking down the tank from the left end viewing area.
My Orange Monti cap on left side. It's starting to plate out now after a inadvertant fragging. Big rock fell over.
Coral is about 12" across at this point.
My branching hammer.
Idaho grape that is starting to do good.
One of two RLTA's that is doing good. Underit in the hole are my clown's eggs. The kind of yellow spot.
In this pic you can see the purple and green tube anoneme that I've had forever it seems. Also one of my pair of yellow headed gobies and one of 4 clowns.
Another pic of the area that shows my pink goniporia and purple mushrooms.
My Orange Monti cap on left side. It's starting to plate out now after a inadvertant fragging. Big rock fell over.
Coral is about 12" across at this point.
My branching hammer.
Idaho grape that is starting to do good.
One of two RLTA's that is doing good. Underit in the hole are my clown's eggs. The kind of yellow spot.
In this pic you can see the purple and green tube anoneme that I've had forever it seems. Also one of my pair of yellow headed gobies and one of 4 clowns.
Another pic of the area that shows my pink goniporia and purple mushrooms.
My Majestic Angle. He is about 6" long now and is doing great. I've had him for several years.
My Copper Banded Butterfly that I've also had for over a year.
The Pink Tail trigger in the other post is my oldest fish at about 8 years. He is pushing 8" at this time and is about 2 inches fat. Other fish is a Harem of 4 ocelaris clowns, two of which are breeding, a pair of yellow headed sleeper gobies who have been side by side since I got them, my Coral Beauty angle and Ebeli angle. A Royal Gramma, two Green Chromis and a Red Lined Wrasse. I'm not sure what other fish I may add in the future other than I know I want at least one Moorish Idol, maybe a pair, to replace the 4 year old one I lost. Coral wise, I'm looking for more colors of Monti Caps to fill in the two islands and some more LPS. I'd also like to try and cover the large rock that sticks up on the right with different Zoa's. Only time will tell what i actually put in there.
My Copper Banded Butterfly that I've also had for over a year.
The Pink Tail trigger in the other post is my oldest fish at about 8 years. He is pushing 8" at this time and is about 2 inches fat. Other fish is a Harem of 4 ocelaris clowns, two of which are breeding, a pair of yellow headed sleeper gobies who have been side by side since I got them, my Coral Beauty angle and Ebeli angle. A Royal Gramma, two Green Chromis and a Red Lined Wrasse. I'm not sure what other fish I may add in the future other than I know I want at least one Moorish Idol, maybe a pair, to replace the 4 year old one I lost. Coral wise, I'm looking for more colors of Monti Caps to fill in the two islands and some more LPS. I'd also like to try and cover the large rock that sticks up on the right with different Zoa's. Only time will tell what i actually put in there.
Thanks Paul. Hope everything is going good for you and the Missus.
I just picked up about 15 Zoa frags last night to add to the tank. My plan is to try and cover the large rock on the right with them. WE'll see what happens.
Also I may try and go with natural sun light thru a sun light or solar tube and suplement with blue LED strip lights. Gotta do something to lower this monster electric bill.
Take car.
I just picked up about 15 Zoa frags last night to add to the tank. My plan is to try and cover the large rock on the right with them. WE'll see what happens.
Also I may try and go with natural sun light thru a sun light or solar tube and suplement with blue LED strip lights. Gotta do something to lower this monster electric bill.
Take car.
Well this past weekend, I started phase one of my project to lower my electric bill. The first phase was to install solar light tubes over the tank.
I removed my old light system which consisted of 2 X 400W DE MH bulbs in Luminarc III reflectors that were mounted about 30" apart and were on a light rail mover. I was running 12K bulbs and had a photo period of 12 hours. So the light system was using almost 10 Kwh a day.
The new system consist of three ODL 10" tubes that I picked up at Home Depot. The install was fairly straight forward. Since I have a unique roof, 3" of foam clad in alunimum, I though it was going to be harder than it was. The total project time from start to finish was about 6 hours. That included removing the old light system, laying out for the new system, making a quick trip to Ace Hardware to get some extra supplies, and finally installing and sealing the system. So here's the step by step and pictures.
Marking and drilling a center hole.
I removed my old light system which consisted of 2 X 400W DE MH bulbs in Luminarc III reflectors that were mounted about 30" apart and were on a light rail mover. I was running 12K bulbs and had a photo period of 12 hours. So the light system was using almost 10 Kwh a day.
The new system consist of three ODL 10" tubes that I picked up at Home Depot. The install was fairly straight forward. Since I have a unique roof, 3" of foam clad in alunimum, I though it was going to be harder than it was. The total project time from start to finish was about 6 hours. That included removing the old light system, laying out for the new system, making a quick trip to Ace Hardware to get some extra supplies, and finally installing and sealing the system. So here's the step by step and pictures.
Marking and drilling a center hole.
Cutting the hole from the roof. Oh and yes, that red stuff is my blood. You got to spill a little blood, sweat and tears to make the project worth while.
Hole cut from the inside and test fitting the tube.
Setting up tube and flashing to mark for length cut.
Setting up tube and flashing to mark for length cut.
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