Pictures - Display, basement sump, and refugium / LED frag chamber

[cardiffgiant]

A little bored today so I took some new shots of my display, as well as a frag chamber that I've added to my basement sump. These are all thumbnails (to save bandwidth on my acct), but feel free to click if you'd like to see more detail.


Basement sump / fuge / new frag chamber:

I lit the frag chamber with a 12k Evil PAR38 40 optic bulb. It's about 5 inches off of hte surface of the water, which keeps it perfectly dry if the tank fills up. I've had coral in this tank for 2 weeks, but I'm still experimenting with some of my hardier specimens. I'd like to get the frag rack out of the display, but want to move cautiously until I know how my frags will respond well to the light and the close proximity to the refugium. I am using a MJ1200 for added flow and I generally do my weekly water changes from the fuge (and rinse the chaeto each time). The PAR38 is on for 8 hours a day, off cycle from the display.

 

[cardiffgiant]

Display:

I've stuck with a more open aquascape. The taller stack on the left gets a lot more flow. Other than a chalice, acan at the bottom, and my RBTA, this stack is all SPS. The RBTA decided to go for a walk this morning after staying put for 3 months.

The small stack on the left gets less flow and is where I try to keep all of my LPS and zoas. I always find pictures of Dan's tank to be very inspiring. I tried to incorporate a little of the bansai look that he uses into this half. I haven't had luck with acans, so I'm trying it with zoas and LPS.

 

[cardiffgiant]

I picked up this Todd's Torch from Brent at the last swap. It had two heads when I picked it up and has already developed a third. It can't reach anything else right now.

 

[cardiffgiant]

My small clam has made a great recovery after losing it's foot.



Here's the larger one.



Red planet (finally getting a bit more red after moving it up)


Tyree sunset is really spreading out


RBTA is getting ready to sting my ORA tri color and Rogue Milli


Blue hyndo


Palmers blue milli and Garf bonsai

 

[cardiffgiant]

Zoas and LPS

 

[wetbehindears]

Looking great.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

nice!

 

[solRNY]

looking very nice, what do u do for water changes?

 

[cardiffgiant]

For water changes I use a turkey baster on the sand and LR in the display. Once the water column clears I head to the basement and stir up the refugium, then drain 15 gallons from the fuge, rinse the chaeto in the water that I'm removing, and then pour new salt water into the return chamber of the sump.

 

[aquadonkey]

Great looking set up! Thanks for the pics!

 

[toddmh]

like the new setup Ben,looks like you have lots more room to add new and fun stuff than the confined space you had at your old place ..

 

[tmz]

Nice work Ben.

 

[Dave VG]

Wow how did i miss this thread very nice Ben!!!!

 

[cardiffgiant]

Just figured out why my RBTA has been roaming. I've had this one for 4 years and this is the 3rd time that it has split. The last time was about 2 years ago.

 

[aquadonkey]

Congrats Papa!