Oldude's new 400 gal tank build

[delphinus]

Er ... no, that's not what I meant.

I might be mistaken, but I thought you were planning on a tank room, which implies the tank itself might be an inwall tank. Which leaves you plenty of room for a hanging canopy of sorts in which your lighting fixtures can reside and not worry about the aesthetics from the display side(s). Retrofit reflectors would fit into this canopy/frame around (i.e., you could flank) your halide fixtures.

If you intend for the tank to be open-top without a hood then this isn't a realistic option, unless you were thinking of a suspended hood perhaps.

 

[Ephraim]

This is going to be an interesting build. Very excited to see this progress, you need the big tank man, some of those acros gotta be screamin' for more space. Are you planning on hooking your existing fuge display and frag tank with this tank or updating those as well?

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13322459#post13322459 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by delphinus
Er ... no, that's not what I meant.

I might be mistaken, but I thought you were planning on a tank room, which implies the tank itself might be an inwall tank. Which leaves you plenty of room for a hanging canopy of sorts in which your lighting fixtures can reside and not worry about the aesthetics from the display side(s). Retrofit reflectors would fit into this canopy/frame around (i.e., you could flank) your halide fixtures.

If you intend for the tank to be open-top without a hood then this isn't a realistic option, unless you were thinking of a suspended hood perhaps.

Ok now I get what you're saying. Yes the tank will be in-wall so that gives me more to think about. Thanks Tony.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13323202#post13323202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ephraim
This is going to be an interesting build. Very excited to see this progress, you need the big tank man, some of those acros gotta be screamin' for more space. Are you planning on hooking your existing fuge display and frag tank with this tank or updating those as well?

Mark,
I plan to move the contents of my fuge/softie tank into my 130 present display and sell the acrylic tank they are in now. My frag tank will be run inline as well of course.

 

[moonyguy]

Hi Greg

Sorry for highjacking your thread. I tried to PM you but your in box is full. So I am posting here. I am a student reefer from Grand Forks, North Dakota. I saw your wonderful tank and am very inspired by it. I have a 75 gal tank with T5 lights. I am starting into SPS and want to use Reef-resh system for it. I have a Ca reactor that I am setting up. My parameters below:

SG: 1.026
Temp: 78-80 F
Ca: 430
Alk: 9.3 Dkh
Mg: 1350
PO4: Undetectable
NO3: 25
Si: Undetectable

The main problem I have now is NO3 being so high. I have MSX160 skimmer (its made in Canada by SWC) and a refugium with macro algae. I do regular 30% water change every 2 weeks but my nitrates are high due to my fish load and feeding (wife like them!)

Pair of Clarkii clowns
Christmas Wrasse
Lyretail Anthias pair
Royal Gramma
Blue Hippo Tang
One spot fox face

I would appreciate if you can share some info about how to dose reef-resh. I read their website and instructions but did not find any active forum where they answer questions from clients. So I was worried about starting to use it since there is no support.
Thanks a lot for the help.
clear skies
Vishnu

 

[Oldude]

Moonyguy,
Sorry for the late reply and thanks for the compliment, I have been swamped and not paying attention as I never expected any activity on this thread. As far as dosing RF I pretty much follow the instructions although I've cut it back a bit lately. On a daily basis I dose 4 CC's of RF Fuel, 6 drops of RF genesis and the others. I actually rotate between the polyp labs AA & the zeo AA. I believe dosing RF really helps keep the nitrates in check. You can dose right into the display or sump, I don't think it really matters. One warning I'll mention is that like zeo the RF will not be kind to the macro in your refugium. I had about 15 varieties of macro before I started using RF and now after 21 months and down to a couple that just sort of hang on. My cheato lives ok but grows very slow compared to what it used to.
I hope this answers your questions.
Thanks for your interest.

 

[Oldude]

UPDATE

UPDATE

I am presently still waiting for the sheet of Starphire to come in so I am just playing the hurry up & wait game and getting anxious. The builder has now agreed to build on site so I am hoping this will make things a little easier than trying to move it already assembled.

 

[moonyguy]

Thanks a lot Greg. I am going to be a regular here on your thread. You are a source of inspiration to me...you tank too.
I dont have much macro in my refigium just cheato which I dont care much even if it does. I do travel for a week or 10 days once every 2-3 months and was wondering if I can stop dosing during that time (fish sitter wont be able to do it). Wondering what effect that would have.
Thanks for the help.

 

[GSMguy]

that means you have to take pictures while they assemble it.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13436990#post13436990 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moonyguy
Thanks a lot Greg. I am going to be a regular here on your thread. You are a source of inspiration to me...you tank too.
I dont have much macro in my refigium just cheato which I dont care much even if it does. I do travel for a week or 10 days once every 2-3 months and was wondering if I can stop dosing during that time (fish sitter wont be able to do it). Wondering what effect that would have.
Thanks for the help.

Thanks again for your kind remarks. Usually when my wife & I go out town and my tank sitter is looking after things I don't dose RF so you just start dosing again when you get back. No big deal.

GSMguy - that means you have to take pictures while they assemble it.

Yeah I guess I should do that.

 

[Oldude]

Here's a few items presently residing in my frag/grow out tank I am hoping to have room for in the new tank.

Got this first one as a very small frag about a year ago and it's finally starting to grow. Interesting piece I think.

 

[M007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13437992#post13437992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude
Here's a few items presently residing in my frag/grow out tank I am hoping to have room for in the new tank.

Got this first one as a very small frag about a year ago and it's finally starting to grow. Interesting piece I think.

Now that is bizzare Where do you find this stuff?

 

[Mikeeee]

I love that monti confusa! cant wait till mine grows as big .

 

[TandN]

your tank is amazing im sure the new one will be a bigger better version best of luck

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13438717#post13438717 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by M007
Now that is bizzare Where do you find this stuff?

If I told you my trade secrets I'd have to kill you.:lol: It is a bizzare piece, I can hardly wait for it to grow up.

Thanks Mike, won't be long before yours looks like that.

Thanks Tanya I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[pdfrogman]

Re: UPDATE

Re: UPDATE

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13436577#post13436577 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude
I am presently still waiting for the sheet of Starphire to come in so I am just playing the hurry up & wait game and getting anxious. The builder has now agreed to build on site so I am hoping this will make things a little easier than trying to move it already assembled.

I just bought a 450 gallon tank that was built by Miracle
it weighs 780Lbs empty
having it built on site is a Blessing!!!!

 

[Oldude]

pdfrogman - I just bought a 450 gallon tank that was built by Miracle it weighs 780Lbs empty
having it built on site is a Blessing!!!!

Yes I am hoping it will be as I am sure mine will be close to the same weight.

 

[Santoki]

FWIW,
That pic of the first unusual frag looks like two different corals growing/fighting for dominance.
perhaps a pink milli being overgrown by some type of encrusting coral?
the green on the bottom has no scutes, while the pink has the scutes of a typical milli.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13447007#post13447007 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Santoki
FWIW,
That pic of the first unusual frag looks like two different corals growing/fighting for dominance.
perhaps a pink milli being overgrown by some type of encrusting coral?
the green on the bottom has no scutes, while the pink has the scutes of a typical milli.

I know that is how it looks but it is rather unlikely as the mille frag just started encrusting that way. Take a look on the right hand side of the photo at how the pink just fades to green. It will be interesting to see what happens in another year.

 

[Oldude]

I just got 2 of the 3 Voretch MP40w's in and trying them out in my 130. Wow they really kick butt, in fact I have to have them turned down so the water doesn't come over the edges. I think I am going to like them in my new tank. I bought two and the third I am waiting to get shipped to me and traded frags for it.