SaraB's 268 Gallon Build¦ Try #3!

Wow Sara, I just finished going though your entire thread (my eyes are so dry now). Very, very impressive :thumbsup: I'm so jealous of all the reef and non-reef toys that you have, especially the fish room. I've never been on a snowmobile (not much use for them out here) but it looks like fun (assuming that you can keep warm). Have you worked out the issues with your main display? Can't wait to see how the new cube progresses. I'll be tagging along if you don't mind.
 
Wow Sara, I just finished going though your entire thread (my eyes are so dry now). Very, very impressive :thumbsup: I'm so jealous of all the reef and non-reef toys that you have, especially the fish room. I've never been on a snowmobile (not much use for them out here) but it looks like fun (assuming that you can keep warm). Have you worked out the issues with your main display? Can't wait to see how the new cube progresses. I'll be tagging along if you don't mind.

Thanks Dan for taking time to read my entire thread. I'm slow on updates, huh? ;)

Believe it or not we really don't get cold on the snowmobiles unless it's below zero. The handle bars are heated and the windshield, well they block a lot of the wind. We also dress for the weather with several layers. It's really a fun sport that keeps us active in the winter months.

I have not really worked out the issues yet, but I am working on them! It didn't help the first year of set-up with my trips to Canada for work and then being gone on the weekends for snowmobing or wakeboarding. I also have a new water softner and iron/sulpher buster to help my terrible well water, so hopefully I'm getting on top of the issue ... more later!
 
Gary was so kind to take a few updated photos of my tank. Here's the tank on April 4, 2009:
sbfts01.jpg


Here's the updated photos from March 31, 2010:
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sarabfts03-31-1003.jpg


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Here's a really great picture of my foxface showing off his spikes!
sarabfoxface.jpg


I'm battling some wicked cyano in the tank at the moment. I've gotten the top layer of the sandbed removed this weekend and I'm running a lot of carbon with frequent changes and large water changes as well. I've added my spare Tunze 6000 to move some more water and I've got to add another Vortech which will be the more permanent fixture rather than the Tunze.
 
Nice update Sara. Looks like you have alot of room for growth or more corals ;).

Thanks Brian! I don't have about 50% of the corals in there yet as I had to remove them for the LPS eating Bellus. The entire tall rock on the left is suppose to be covered in aussie acans.
 
Thanks Brian! I don't have about 50% of the corals in there yet as I had to remove them for the LPS eating Bellus. The entire tall rock on the left is suppose to be covered in aussie acans.

An acan garden.... sound like I need to see pics :bigeyes:.
 
How is your surge system working for you, they suppose to move lots of water. Why add more pumps when they can be tweaked to work 100%. By the way the tank looking good.
 
Nice growth shots Sara... I like that Naso & WOW those are some nasty looking spikes on that Fox Fish!~ :fun5:

Thanks! Here's that same photo showing his choppers too! I always get a little nervous when my hands are in the tank and he comes swimming on over!

sarabfoxfacecrop.jpg
 
An acan garden.... sound like I need to see pics :bigeyes:.

I was waiting until I beat the cyano in the display before I moved them out of the frag tank. I just didn't want them getting choaked out by the algae is all.

Looks Good Sara!

Thank you!

that is a beautiful naso

He is a great looking fish and one of my favorites, thanks!


Oh MY! I wish I had a lift in my garage!!! woweeeee

LOL - There's another in our back garage too just to double stack snowmobiles! My husband has a problem!!!
 
How is your surge system working for you, they suppose to move lots of water. Why add more pumps when they can be tweaked to work 100%. By the way the tank looking good.

The surges work well at moving water in the tank, so I have no complaints there. The issue is that all of the flow that was designed and built into the system goes from the back of the tank towards the front (2 surges, closed loop and returns). My issue is that I need flow across the back and front of the tank running the full length of 7.5 feet. The only way I can get that is to add some powerheads of some sorts to do that. Currently I have a MP40 located on the right side of the tank moving flow to the left across the back. I now need to have another one to move the water from the left front across to the right. I've got my temporary Tunze doing that right now, but it's the older style large ones and it's pretty unsightly. I also have a wrasse collection with screens and those are not staying in place with the Tunze cord having to come up around the acrylic bracing.
 
Here's the updated photos from March 31, 2010:
sarabfts03-31-1001-1.jpg


sarabfts03-31-1002-1.jpg


sarabfts03-31-1003.jpg


sarabfts03-31-1004.jpg


sarabfts03-31-1005.jpg

Very nice Sara :thumbsup:

Are there corals on the back rocks? If not, are you going to add any corals to the back rocks? Are you planning on scraping the back wall again?
 
Sara those ledges on the back wall are pretty cool, I can't recall ever seen those in any other tanks. And ditto on Mark's question about adding corals to those ledges. I also like the big cave, nice concept :D
 
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