Oldude's new 400 gal tank build

[Oldude]

Shot a few random fish yesterday but they are very camera shy.
As you can see I am having some diatom issues and need to get some more sand sifting livestock.
Anyway here's a few fish that managed to sit still just long enough for an almost in focus picture.

 

[melev]

Re: week 3 FTS update

Re: week 3 FTS update

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14352003#post14352003 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude

It is very hard to believe that is a 3-week old set up. :eek2: :thumbsup:

 

[Oldude]

Here's a couple more tank shots. LH & center area.

 

[Oldude]

fish room update

fish room update

The workbench & sink are up and running and I will eventually arborite the benchtop. I have my "mini reef library" up along with a 10 gal QT ready for water. My magnetic tool bar is up so I can stay organized and actually find stuff (nice change). 45 gal Fresh RO/DI water res at the bottom far end and 45 gal SW res above.

Fish room view from the entrance. I still have work to do on the inner wall where I am mounting all the electrical so the wire mess behind the tank is temporary.

My Coral Mag collection is part of my "library". I am missing issue #2 on nanos and would love to find one.

I am very disappointed they have discontinued the magazine. Still waiting to see what they are replacing it with.

The walls are partially up and I will be doing the panel work myself so I might wait for spring since I don't have a heated garage.
Anyway it's coming along a bit at a time.

 

[Oldude]

Dots and lines maxima

End to end top view.

 

[delphinus]

Great looking fish room!

 

[stunreefer]

Greg, you have a blue-thumb like no other my friend! Great stuff as always!

I cannot wait until I have a house so I can have a fish-room... too cool. Right now I have a fish house


TOTM.

 

[gasman059]

greg very nice AGAIN!

 

[christyf5]

OMG I can't believe that about Coral Magazine!!!! Sucky!

Love what you've done with the fish room I'm saving your photos to a folder on my computer for further reference.

Not worried about your books getting humid in there?

C

 

[Bricky]

You have been misinformed my friends. CORAL magazine is still alive. I just checked out the newest issue yesterday and the new distributor/publisher have done a great job.

Your doing quite a nice job putting this system together. Keep up the good work.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14382354#post14382354 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bricky
You have been misinformed my friends. CORAL magazine is still alive. I just checked out the newest issue yesterday and the new distributor/publisher have done a great job.

Your doing quite a nice job putting this system together. Keep up the good work.

Thanks. Interesting, if I am misinformed it was by them when they sent me a notice saying I could get my $ back for the remaining prepaid issues on my subscription or go with the new titled magazine they would eventually publish. They stated they severed ties with Koral out of Germany. I haven't heard anything so they either owe me some $ or some magazines.

Thanks Christy, the humidity is not an issue yet but likely will be when I get the walls finished, especially in the summer. I will be adding a hood and blower system in the near future.

Thanks again Gasman! thanks for still looking.

Thanks very much Austin!!

Thanks Tony you'll have to swing by soon and have a look.

 

[Corndork2]

excellent looking sps... the colors are amazing

 

[elijaher]

400gal

400gal

Colors of the coral look so so good. Do you think you may end up needed bigger tank? Again:eek2:

 

[SERVO]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14382682#post14382682 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude
Thanks. Interesting, if I am misinformed it was by them when they sent me a notice saying I could get my $ back for the remaining prepaid issues on my subscription or go with the new titled magazine they would eventually publish. They stated they severed ties with Koral out of Germany. I haven't heard anything so they either owe me some $ or some magazines.

Thanks Christy, the humidity is not an issue yet but likely will be when I get the walls finished, especially in the summer. I will be adding a hood and blower system in the near future.

Thanks again Gasman! thanks for still looking.

Thanks very much Austin!!

Thanks Tony you'll have to swing by soon and have a look.

Greg,

You're not misinformed. The prior publisher for Coral Magazine will launch a new zine ReefLife, but Coral is back out with a new publisher. THe good news is that you can get it in Canada as well. http://www.coralmagazineus.com/default.asp

As expected, your tank is looking awesome. How about giving us a couple of side panel views?

If I ever head up to Calgary to catch a game I'll smuggle you a few ORA frags

 

[Oldude]

Thanks much.
Servo thanks for the heads up on Coral.

 

[Oldude]

Granulosa update

Granulosa update

 

[waif]

Stunning tank...but it needs an overall feel...looks just like lots of sticks of coral in the tank (this is not degrading btw) With the new tank setup just done are you going to re-arrange things? or is this the aquascape you want?

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14405252#post14405252 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waif
Stunning tank...but it needs an overall feel...looks just like lots of sticks of coral in the tank (this is not degrading btw) With the new tank setup just done are you going to re-arrange things? or is this the aquascape you want?

For the most part I am not going to rearrange things. I have lots of caves & swim-throughs, several canyons/valleys, rises, platforms and open areas. I am happy with the actual aquascape but as things grow it will become less prevelant so I have purposely placed things to develop into a "coralscape". In my opinion as the tank develops this is more important than the "rock aquascaping" that becomes overgrown and invisible. Coralscaping consists of strategic coral placement with consideration given to shapes, sizes, growth-rates/growth-forms, colours & various shades there of creating a natural looking reef instead of the "fruit stand" look. The overall feel I want will come in time. Keep in mind this tank is only 4 weeks old and I set it up with a vision for the future as I have already eluded to.

 

[Untamed12]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14407645#post14407645 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude
For the most part I am not going to rearrange things. I have lots of caves & swim-throughs, several canyons/valleys, rises, platforms and open areas. I am happy with the actual aquascape but as things grow it will become less prevelant so I have purposely placed things to develop into a "coralscape". In my opinion as the tank develops this is more important than the "rock aquascaping" that becomes overgrown and invisible. Coralscaping consists of strategic coral placement with consideration given to shapes, sizes, growth-rates/growth-forms, colours & various shades there of creating a natural looking reef instead of the "fruit stand" look. The overall feel I want will come in time. Keep in mind this tank is only 4 weeks old and I set it up with a vision for the future as I have already eluded to.

This is exactly what I'm struggling with right now. As the coral has grown, I'm learning that I have the wrong coral in the wrong place because I didn't know how fast or what growth shape a coral would become when I mounted it. There's a lot of coral killing each other and outgrowing one another.

Also, once encrusted, it can be difficult and even dangerous to try to kill the coral in that spot. It is my experience that any dying coral anywhere can lead to dying coral everywhere.

 

[stunreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14407645#post14407645 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude
In my opinion as the tank develops this is more important than the "rock aquascaping" that becomes overgrown and invisible. Coralscaping consists of strategic coral placement with consideration given to shapes, sizes, growth-rates/growth-forms, colours & various shades there of creating a natural looking reef instead of the "fruit stand" look.

You nailed it Greg... too many reefers are hellbent on having the perfect aquascape (which IMO means rock-scape), when really the coralscape is what makes a tank :thumbsup:

Actually all my favorite tanks are just a couple of pieces of Live Rock on the SB... which intially people would go "HUH?" if shown a picture at the tanks' conception... then shown a picture a year or so down the road and you can watch their jaw hit the floor from a standing position.

BTW, the granulosa is disgustingly awesome as usual :smokin: