ReefWaters' 220 Sun Room Reef
- Thread starter ReefWaters
- Start date
ReefWaters
Premium Member
Thanks for the compliments guys! I don't update this thread much. I really don't post pictures very often. So I figured Id throw them all up at once! 
Rocketboy52, I decided a while ago not to move. But the tank has been on cruise control for about a year now. I had budgeted this tank to the penny but of course there are always unforeseen expenses and the occasional mistake. And we rarely budget in operating costs. I had to slow down or I wouldn't have been able to afford to keep the tank going. On a positive note, I am VERY pleased with how the tank is looking with minimal monetary effort being put into it. I am doing a lot of maintenance but only buying the bare minimum. That means no new corals, no new fish (okay, one fish in one year!) and no unnecessary equipment purchases. Ive got LOTS of things I want to add to the tank (get the prop tank and fuge online, add a few lights and 2 more Vortech pumps) or improve upon but they are just going to have to wait for a while. Thats okay though. I don't plan on getting out of the hobby any time soon. I have to have something to look forward to.
Rocketboy52, I decided a while ago not to move. But the tank has been on cruise control for about a year now. I had budgeted this tank to the penny but of course there are always unforeseen expenses and the occasional mistake. And we rarely budget in operating costs. I had to slow down or I wouldn't have been able to afford to keep the tank going. On a positive note, I am VERY pleased with how the tank is looking with minimal monetary effort being put into it. I am doing a lot of maintenance but only buying the bare minimum. That means no new corals, no new fish (okay, one fish in one year!
) and no unnecessary equipment purchases. Ive got LOTS of things I want to add to the tank (get the prop tank and fuge online, add a few lights and 2 more Vortech pumps) or improve upon but they are just going to have to wait for a while. Thats okay though. I don't plan on getting out of the hobby any time soon. I have to have something to look forward to.Thanks for the compliments guys! I don't update this thread much. I really don't post pictures very often. So I figured Id throw them all up at once!
Rocketboy52, I decided a while ago not to move. But the tank has been on cruise control for about a year now. I had budgeted this tank to the penny but of course there are always unforeseen expenses and the occasional mistake. And we rarely budget in operating costs. I had to slow down or I wouldn't have been able to afford to keep the tank going. On a positive note, I am VERY pleased with how the tank is looking with minimal monetary effort being put into it. I am doing a lot of maintenance but only buying the bare minimum. That means no new corals, no new fish (okay, one fish in one year!
The joy is in the journey
ReefWaters
Premium Member
Has anyone purchased the new EcoSmart controller for your Vortechs yet? I purchased one but haven't opened it yet. I still only have 2 Vortechs on this tank. It seems to be doing fine. I just cant pull the trigger on a 3rd pump for the cost. I could buy the parts from the part store to make a third pump but it will still cost me almost $300.
On another note... I HAVE to catch my "expletive deleted" Sally Lightfoot soon!!!! I have tried a large glass jar with a dead shrimp in it. That didn't work. Of course I only tried it once. I have tried to net her. She is FAST! I cant add any small fish and I'm fairly certain she enjoys snails as well. I have considered building a miniature version of an East coast crab trap out of some plastic mesh but I'm not sure that will work either. I HATE her and I want her gone!!!! Any thoughts other than removing every rock and coral from my tank?
On another note... I HAVE to catch my "expletive deleted" Sally Lightfoot soon!!!! I have tried a large glass jar with a dead shrimp in it. That didn't work. Of course I only tried it once. I have tried to net her. She is FAST! I cant add any small fish and I'm fairly certain she enjoys snails as well. I have considered building a miniature version of an East coast crab trap out of some plastic mesh but I'm not sure that will work either. I HATE her and I want her gone!!!! Any thoughts other than removing every rock and coral from my tank?
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
A scaled down version of a hawaiian sling would do it. Llatex tubing/resistabands a wooden dowell and some sharpened paper clips zip tied to the end is all that's required.
A claymore would definately clean it out.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
Is this like a miniature spear gun? Do you really think it would pierce the shell?
jnarowe - I havent been paying attention lately, did you break down your tank?????
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
Definately.
Get about a 24" dowel
cut a piece of rubber tubing to 16"
zip tie the ends of the rubber tubing to the back of the dowel so it forms a loop
get 6 paper clips straightened
Zip tie the paper clips to the front of the dowel so that about 1" is hanging over the end
using a pair of diaginal cutting pliars, clip the tips of the paper clips at about a 30 degree angle so that they make a point
put your wrist through the loop and grip the front of the dowell with your hand. There should be a good deal of tension
You'll know what to do next.
Get about a 24" dowel
cut a piece of rubber tubing to 16"
zip tie the ends of the rubber tubing to the back of the dowel so it forms a loop
get 6 paper clips straightened
Zip tie the paper clips to the front of the dowel so that about 1" is hanging over the end
using a pair of diaginal cutting pliars, clip the tips of the paper clips at about a 30 degree angle so that they make a point
put your wrist through the loop and grip the front of the dowell with your hand. There should be a good deal of tension
You'll know what to do next.
jnarowe
New member
jnarowe - I havent been paying attention lately, did you break down your tank?????
Yup. Had to. To much medical crap going on for me to take proper care of it.
Did you see the vids?
ReefWaters
Premium Member
Okay, this makes complete sense and sounds like its probably the simplest solution. My only concern is that her favorite hiding place is directly under my vary large, purple, tabling Milli. I will cry if I break it! :worried: I'll probably try this this weekend and keep you updated.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
I go back and forth on a daily basis trying to decide if I want to break this puppy down. I think I'm spending about $80 a month on electricity alone. :hmm4: But then I look at my tank and see things like an 18" table thriving and growing daily and just cant bring myself to do it.
I didn't see the vids....what is the link to your thread again?
jnarowe
New member
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
You will regret it if you do. I broke down my 210 two years ago to save on my energy bill (and to focus on clowns) only to find that there was no notable difference in my energy bills. It was an awsome looking tank. I would not do it again if I could go back.
jnarowe
New member
Well it all depends on your frame of mind. I just didn't want the animals to suffer because I couldn't physically maintain the tank. They all went to good homes, and I can get back into the hobby with more knowledge & experience when I have been healthy for a couple of years.
WDLV
Skunk Hybrid Freak
I have no criticism over your breaking down your tank. Your situation warranted a breakdown. I'm just telling ReefWaters that he should think hard about it before going with a decision to break down a perfectly good reef over a perceived $80/month. For most of us that's a drop in the bucket.
Now I have four display tanks and I'm battling algae and aptasia because while my volume and filtration is similar to what it was when I had the 210 up and running, there's not enough room to keep tangs and I'm concerned about keeping a butterfly for fear of my clowns killing it. It may just be that it's hard to go back to having a small tank mentality once you've gone big. I know there are small critters that can handle the issues I'm facing but they just don't compare to grazing fish.
Now I have four display tanks and I'm battling algae and aptasia because while my volume and filtration is similar to what it was when I had the 210 up and running, there's not enough room to keep tangs and I'm concerned about keeping a butterfly for fear of my clowns killing it. It may just be that it's hard to go back to having a small tank mentality once you've gone big. I know there are small critters that can handle the issues I'm facing but they just don't compare to grazing fish.
ReefWaters
Premium Member
Okay Okay. Valid points all around. But I think the term "small tank" is kind of relative in present company. I consider my tank small compared to 1000 gallon display!!!! :lmao:
$80 is pretty much a drop in the bucket. But I also factor in the hundreds of dollars worth of supplies and replacement parts I buy every month or two. I have finally started working off of a true "budget" every month now a la Dave Ramsey and its a little frightening what I spend on this tank even without purchasing all the new toys I want for it. But I do truly LOVE this hobby and the animals I keep.
Which is what jnarowe is getting at. I am 100% in agreement with him about wanting to keep these animals as healthy or healthier than they would be in the wild. It kills me when I lose a fish or a coral because of a mistake I made. ESPECIALLY if that mistake was caused because I didn't spend enough time or money working on the tank.
If you read back through this thread, you would probably find 5 or 6 posts where I *&$^&# and moan about the tank and threaten to shut her down. I just like to complain sometimes. :smokin:
$80 is pretty much a drop in the bucket. But I also factor in the hundreds of dollars worth of supplies and replacement parts I buy every month or two. I have finally started working off of a true "budget" every month now a la Dave Ramsey and its a little frightening what I spend on this tank even without purchasing all the new toys I want for it.
But I do truly LOVE this hobby and the animals I keep.Which is what jnarowe is getting at. I am 100% in agreement with him about wanting to keep these animals as healthy or healthier than they would be in the wild. It kills me when I lose a fish or a coral because of a mistake I made. ESPECIALLY if that mistake was caused because I didn't spend enough time or money working on the tank.
If you read back through this thread, you would probably find 5 or 6 posts where I *&$^&# and moan about the tank and threaten to shut her down. I just like to complain sometimes. :smokin:
jnarowe
New member
My fish were "ultra" healthy due to constant attention and high-grade food a la Melev. In fact I didn't feed my fish even farmed seafood! But I was in so much pain, had to have surgery, and multiple medical complications were the writing on the wall. It doesn't hurt to save the money either, but really I am so much more about the animals, observing symbiotic relationships, etc. Believe me, it was really tough getting rid of the Marshall Island rock I had, since IIRC, it is no longer available. That was some really special stuff that I doubt I can ever replace.
