Not a typical doctor's waiting room... 450 gallon reef

[KingfishJohn]

I appreciate it Marc. Let this thing grow out for a bit and we'll have ya'll down to Austin for a little tank tour. In the meantime, we are having a frag swap (with MAAST and ARC) March 18th and everyone following this thread is invited. More info here:

http://www.austinreefclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=968

 

[KingfishJohn]

Sorry for the lack of updates but we've had a few snags in the grand scheme of the tank.

1. Tank is going through a pretty bad bacterial bloom. The water is very cloudy but will clear in time (I have no idea if this is at all related to the bio activator packets we used that came with the ocean direct sand).

2. A faux cabinet is up, making access to the tank minimal to non-existent. We did take down the panels and installed the remainder of the lighting. Right now, I decided to put a 12k Reeflux on the end of the tank to simulate a deeper water look... I also won't lie, it's UGLY when the bulb lit. I'm hoping the 12k mellows with time but I'll probably sub another 10k.

3. Temperature control was going to be provided by an aquarium specific AC unit and thermostat. Problem is, they don't exist. Currently the tank runs between 80 and 82 and they're installing our AC unit.

So progress since the last update;

Lighting finished
Diatoms started (hehe)
Topoff finished
Electrical finished
Calcium and kalk reactor ready for water

Current livestock includes:

(4) Peppermint shrimp
(4) Cleaner shrimp
(1) Yellow Tang
(1) Royal Gramma
(1) McCoskeri Wrasse Male
(2) Rainfordi Gobies
A bunch of snails

Hopefully we'll have new pictures soon.

John

 

[rppvt]

The best reefers also post the bad stuff--- thank you
I hope this is the worst of the journey for you and this great tank

 

[dark8nge1]

Hey John, you should get some of those drywall stilts to do maintenance with, but you might have to call you insurance guy that there is a chance you can fall and drown in this tank. I must say a very nice build so far. Yet another job well done.

 

[LeeMc]

H-U-G-E ! What are your plans for substrate? Bare bottom? Sand?

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9360420#post9360420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LeeMc
H-U-G-E ! What are your plans for substrate? Bare bottom? Sand?

I guess you didn't even skim over the pages ?? Click the link below... It was stated back on page 7...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9209215#post9209215 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by longhornreefer

 

[LeeMc]

Thx - skimmed to fast..

 

[KingfishJohn]

We're over all bacteria issues and the tank is running great. One "secret" we use when starting new tanks... run rowaphos is a reactor from the beginning. Diatoms are essentially painless if you can get the silicate out of the water.

The tank is looking crystal, the Deltec is rocking socks, and the fish are fat and happy. Today I added the first coral, a beautiful dark green torch, and a Palani tang.

We are having problems with the topoff which resulting in a flood of about 3 gallons. I'd tell you more about the topoff problem if I knew what exactly was happening. When we find out, so will you all.

I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow.

John

 

[KingfishJohn]

Oh and LeeMC,

We used 340 lbs of sand (I think I said earlier) but there is one huge barespot in the tank. I had the middle closed loop jet angled towards the wavebox path and I think they are the culprits. When the faux canopy comes off I'll be able to mess with the direction of the jet and hopefully eliminate the barespot.

John

 

[Mahlhavoc]

yes pictures, this is my tank more or less, so I wanna see closer to finished product =)

I'm selfish like that

 

[BONDQ]

Tank is looking great!

Can't wait to see more photos of your progress.

 

[KingfishJohn]

So I did indeed go look at the tank today and sadly, no pictures. My camera was out of batteries and I had two other tanks in the same building that needed attention.

I'll be going back tomorrow and PROMISE to take pics (my battery is plugged into the wall as we speak).

One thing to note is that the wavebox in this tank is truly amazing. It's quite something when I have to sit back on the low benches in the waiting room and simply watch the fish. The motion created is second to none and I WISH I could get a video for you all.

PS: I think I asked this once before but any fish suggestions?

So far we have:

(1) McCoskeri Wrasse Male
(1) Yellow Tang
(1) Palani Tang
(1) Royal Gramma
(1) Rainford's Goby

Fish on the soon to be acclimated include:

(1) Flame Hawk
(1) Blue Throat Trigger Male
(1) Blue Throat Trigger Female
(3) McCoskeri Wrasse Female
(2) Royal Gramma
(1) Blue Spot Jawfish
(1) Mystery Wrasse
(3-4) Other Flasher Wrasse Males
(3) Juvenile Hippo Tangs
(1) Naso Tang (blonde, naso, or vlamingi)
(2-3) Other acanthurus tangs (powder blue, lineatus (LAST FISH), etc.)
Anthias of some type
(5) Green Chromis
(5) Firefish

 

[DrBegalke]

Nice setup! I'm sure the kids will love this reef.

 

[rppvt]

Forget the kids--- I got a boo-boo-- lemme see that TANK!

 

[KingfishJohn]

Pictures! This tank is a little over three weeks old now. Everything is looking great, we lost both rainfordi gobies (they both dissapeared and the brittlestar now lives in their home), and there is some interesting brown fuzz growing on the rocks.

Full Tank (Tank room side)

Full Tank (Door side)

How the return jets are positioned

Shot looking down the tank

 

[KingfishJohn]

Fish

Blurry Fish

Gramma Fortress (yes he's upside down)

First Coral (Green Torch)

 

[gkarshens]

I love the aquascaping! It looks like a huge Dorsal fin.

 

[clekchau]

i agree, aquascaping is unique but very nice.

 

[mcrist]

I have a setup very similar to yours and I was wondering about your use of the Tunze Wavebox. I considered using a Wavebox too, but I was concerned with it depriving the overflow of water when the wave is sent. It was my understanding that a Wavebox is best used if you have an overflow on both sides of the aquarium so that one overflow always has water. How high is the wave in your setup?

 

[KingfishJohn]

It kind of does look like a high dorsal fin doesn't it haha :bum:

One thing to mention is that this aquascape was created with coral areas in mind. The flow on top of the highest structure is ridiculous and I don't think anything but SPS could survive up there (that's ok by me!). The front area is very very open and will consist of mostly softies and a huge clam bed in the front. I already have a 12-14" gigas and 6" gigas waiting to go up there and I'll probably surround them with croceas and maximas.

LPS will be scattered along the bottom throughout the tank and the area closest to the door and back wall will be for a carpet anemone (have to appease kids and their cry for nemo).

Thanks Gabriel and Clekchau!

Mcrist -

The way the flow works in this particular tank (due to the return jets) the entire surface of the water works towards the back overflow. The most effective way to use an wavebox is to use a single center overflow as the water level in the middle of the tank doesn't really fluctuate.

Our setup seems to be working great as the entire surface of the water is rushed into the overflow every 2 seconds. The open aquascape also really helps the strength of the wave.

Currently the wave is right at about 1 inch (but on purpose). Originally, the plan was to use a wavebox extension and I imagine I could get at least a 3" wave with the extension.

We aren't using one however as the wave would go right out the front of the tank :lol: