Sirjohn's 92 Gallon Corner

[sirjohn]

Thanks for the comments all. And yes, more corals and inverts are coming soon to the tank. I've been slow to add because I don't buy anything I can't take care of properly and I haven't had the time up to this point.

I have a Bali RBTA coming from liveaquaria on Tuesday that I hope my GSMs don't drive crazy! Actually, as long as it doesn't hide towards the back of the tank I'll be happy... I'll post some pics once it has settled in.

Husky: Sorry to hear that. My sump area has remained pretty much the same. I'll get an updated picture up when I get a pic of my new RBTA.

 

[sirjohn]

Well, my new anemone arrived from Liveaquaria pretty badly stressed. After drip-acclimating him, it took to a cave in the tank where he receives only partial light and has been inflating and deflating often.

It also looks to me like he may be splitting (probably from shipping stress, as I tested all tank parameters and they are in check).

Splitting at this point would not be a good thing in my opinion. He's only been in the tank for 3 days and wasn't that big to begin with. Let's see if he pulls through. At least my GSM likes it.

 

[Husky_1]

Very nice pics..

I love the RBTA, and plan on getting one pretty soon from someone local that has had great success with them.


You are mentioning that your Bartlett's are not as colorful as you would like. When I first saw your pic of them, before reading your caption, I was like "Thats cool to see someone else with carberri's". I have (well had) a trio of carberri's that looked just about the same as the pic you posted.I am no anthias expert, so I could be way off.

 

[Shane Hoffman]

Your tank is stunning. Absolutely beautiful. It is obvious you put a ton of thought into this. I do have a question. It appears your return pump is plumbed directly to your UV sterilizer. Is this the case? Do you believe you will lose any benifits of sterilizer with such a powerful pump. I have the same sterilizer and I would save a ton of room in my system if I plumbed it like that, but the local UV expert told me I shouldnt have more than 100gph running through it....he actually prefers 50gph or less for any parisitic effects....your thoughts??? Or anyone elses for that matter....

 

[sirjohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15410265#post15410265 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Husky_1
You are mentioning that your Bartlett's are not as colorful as you would like. When I first saw your pic of them, before reading your caption, I was like "Thats cool to see someone else with carberri's". I have (well had) a trio of carberri's that looked just about the same as the pic you posted.I am no anthias expert, so I could be way off.

They are Bartlett's purchased from liveaquaria.

I think they reason for their lack of color is the absence of a male. I received 3 from liveaquaria and all were female. I thought one would change sex to a male, but it never happened and I lost one of them to aggression from the other two (I am not an anthias expert either). I am feeding cyclop-eeze and I have noticed better color, but nothing like some of the pictures I've seen. I kinda of regret not getting lyretails...

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15410932#post15410932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Shane Hoffman
Your tank is stunning. Absolutely beautiful. It is obvious you put a ton of thought into this. I do have a question. It appears your return pump is plumbed directly to your UV sterilizer. Is this the case? Do you believe you will lose any benifits of sterilizer with such a powerful pump. I have the same sterilizer and I would save a ton of room in my system if I plumbed it like that, but the local UV expert told me I shouldnt have more than 100gph running through it....he actually prefers 50gph or less for any parisitic effects....your thoughts??? Or anyone elses for that matter....

Thank you Shane. The UV Filter I am using--the Aqua Ultraviolet 25 watt Classic--is specifically made to be used on the return line in high-flow operations. That being said, my return pump is not too powerful--it's an Eheim 1260 that I believe pumps a little under 700~ gph. This was chosen by design to match the overflow, so that water passes at an acceptable speed through the refugium and because of the in-line UV. The twin Vortechs MP-40s now located at the rear corner of the tank provide the main water flow through the tank. I have them dialed down substantially because they are so powerful.

 

[Michael]

ive just caught up with this thread, very impressive set up, i love the look of the tank and the sump area is great

 

[reefscape15]

I too just found this thread, and you tank has really come a long way! Very nice job on the under tank area. It looks like you've been planning that thing right down to the very last detail for a long time. None of the little dosing lines are crossed over each other or anything, and cords are all tucked away nicely. I do industrial electrical work for a living, and planning out pipe runs where you have multiple pipes going to different places is a hard thing to do and still make everything look nice. I can really appreciate the time you spend making things spaced out nicely, and having all components leveled up and square with the stand. Excellent job!

Also, for anyone else with a corner that may happen to look at this thread, here's a link to the corner tank owners thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1592474

Hope to see some of you show up over there!

 

[FUA]

tank is looking great keep up the good work and keep the pics coming

 

[Husky_1]

Sirjohn,
Do you have the Vortech's running a wave? I am interested in getting these, but was wondering how the wave action is, and also how it affects your tank/stand.

Anyway, as everyone said, your setup is looking great!

 

[sirjohn]

Thanks for the comments all. The sump area of a corner tank is so small that it forces you to consider carefully (and measure and re-measure) everything you purchase for the tank. I started this build with a a goal: to get every piece of equipment to fit inside the stand. I think I largely succeeded, but it did force me to make some tough equipment choices--and to sometimes go with equipment that wasn't my first choice.

I think corner tanks are beautiful, but man there were so many times during the planning that I wished I was working with a nice, big, rectangular sump area!

 

[sirjohn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15414605#post15414605 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Husky_1
Sirjohn,
Do you have the Vortech's running a wave? I am interested in getting these, but was wondering how the wave action is, and also how it affects your tank/stand.

Anyway, as everyone said, your setup is looking great!

Husky, I'm glad you asked this. For most of the tank's life, I had the Vortech's on opposite walls of the tank, about mid-way from the bottom and the sides (you can see this in earlier pictures), running in the "Lagoon" setting. I was never happy with this placement. It simply created too much flow in the middle of the tank, creating a sandstorm and making coral placement a real challenge. I don't think the fish liked it either. They seem to avoid the middle area of the tank--which is obviously where you want them--and instead seemed to congregate in the lower-flow areas off to the side and even the back of the tank. My first RBTA, for example, ended up way in the back of the tank where I could barely see it.

So about a week ago, I spent the better part of 3 hours moving them around the tank to see if I could find a better spot. I finally settled on placing them towards the rear of the tank, right next to the overflow, opposite each other, about 3 inches or so from the water's surface, running in the constant "on" setting. I absolutely love this placement. The two Vortech's push water, which collides in the middle of the tank or so, and spreads up, down and over the rocks in the middle of the tank. The result is that all areas seem to be getting flow, but not an overpowering flow like before. The fish are now spending a ton of time in the middle of the tank and my torch coral (which was buffeted before) is now extending about 30% more. Another benefit is that if you want heavy surface action, you can ratch them up and you'll create a wave that flows from the corner to the open portion of the tank.

I really need to get a video but that's the best way I can describe it.

Of course, if you have a barebottom SPS tank, you might want the Vortechs placed where I originally had them and bombard the tank with flow from both sides.

 

[Husky_1]

Hey Sirjohn,
I am glad that you finally found a place that you like for them. I know what you are saying about fish staying out of the current. I am really going back and forth with getting these. Of course the price is a limiting factor, but I am not sure how well the wave action in the corner will be. I have also heard that our 3 seamed tanks my get undue stress from the wave's constant sloshing.

Now that I just setup my tank with sand, I remember why I like barebottom when it comes to flow! I may have to steal your trick and try that placement.

 

[sirjohn]

Here's a small update. About a month ago, I started feeding my Bartlett's anthias Cyclop-eeze about 3 times a week to see if they would color up, since they were looking a bit pale. Well, it's been a month and I have to say I am pretty happy with the results. They are also noticeably fatter! You can be the judge.

Before (this was was without flash, but they all looked pretty much like this):

And After:

 

[Pacific Reefs]

Hey that's a great improvement in color. Also glad your got the flow where you want it!

 

[Reefgirl29]

I'd love to see the vortech placement. I'm setting up my 92 corner now and don't know if I should get 2 10s or 2 40s. Sweet tank btw

 

[RickyRicardo]

Great tank and aquascape, do you find 120 lbs of live rock was sufficient or too much? I am about to build a 116 g thank and am debating how much rock to order. I want to keep the tank open, yours looks really nice. But having run it for a while would you have put more or less rock?