Started 224g tank back up Fresh

[Illusion]

Well After having a few issues with my old Aquascape I decided to sell of just about everything that I could possibly sell and decided to start over with Fresh new rock and coral...

It took about 3 days to sell off just about everything except a few pieces... I kept almost all my fish and a few clams... I am getting rid of the 13 chromis that I had in there and my Maroons went nuts so they got removed as well...

I replaced all the rock with Pukani Liverock... I Ordered up 3x 88lb cases and It took about 2 weeks to fully cure... Very nice rock... would highly Recommend it...

Anyways i started the Change over process...

I took everything out of the tank... Drained the tank, removed all my sand and rock... Scrubbed a bit of nasty algae away...

Then I layed out all the large pieces of rock on a plastic drop cloth

And started placing the largest pieces on the bottom of the tank and worked my way down until I got to the rubble...

After the tank cleared some and the fish and remaining corals were in the tank this is what It looked like

After working on the tank for nearly 8hrs straight I decided that It was time to relax and would redefine the Aquascape the next day

James

 

[Illusion]

Day 2 rolls around and I started in on the aquascape...

I wanted something different and wanted a few canyons...

Well I ended up only creating 1 canyon but I did accomplish the open look (IMO) that I wanted to achieve...

Here is the almost Final layout of the rock work... I have removed a few odd ball pieces and added a few around the base of the structures but for the most part its done..

Now I guess its time to sit back and wait for things to settle in... 1 good hing about having a few corals left over is that they can be my "Test Subjects" So far they all look healthy and everything... I still have to add some sand to the tank But I figure I will wait a while until the rock sheds off some more detris before that happens...

 

[Illusion]

For specs on the tank

3x 400w 10k Ushio bulbs on standard M59 ballasts
4x 72" URI actinic VHO bulbs on 2x IC660s

Ampmaster 3600 for return
am3600 for closed loop...

I am running a Pacific Coast 1/2hp chiller Fed Via a pcx40

Calcium Reactor Is a Korallin 1502 with DIY Second Chamber...

Skimmer is a 40" tall Dual beckett ran with a pcx100 pump...

I have only been using Oceanpure salt for the last 7-8months without any issues.. Its by far the most Stable and true to NSW values that I have tested from any salt out there..

Levels run

pH 8.0-8.3
Alk 8dkh
Ca 480
Mg 1400
nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, po4 all 0

I will slowly be stocking the tank with only the best... We have a very Awesome store here in the area so It shouldnt be hard filling the tank..

thanks again for looking,
James

 

[Kurt448]

Looks good so far! I'm sure that took a lot of work.

 

[nbd13]

what are the demensions of the tank?

thanks!

Nick

 

[MSHUR]

james,
i like the way u made two islands,,,,cool...
thats what i am planning for mine))

mike

 

[Illusion]

Tank is 72"L x 30"W x 24"H

Thanks for the compliments


James

 

[Illusion]

Well here is the Final layout that I came up with.. I am pretty happy with the layout as it is... Gives me plenty of open Area as well as plenty of room for Corals...

Its just time now to sit back and wait.. The corals in there seem to be doing great... All levels are right where they should be..

Thanks again,
James

 

[karlitosway]

Looks like all the work is paying off. Looks like it has a lot of potential. keep us updated.:fun4:

 

[Illusion]

Ok here is some REcent pictures of Everything..

Purple Monti Cap

Full shot of Blue Digi

Blue Digi Close Up of Tips

Unknown Montipora

Left side of Tank

Center Of Tank

Right Side of Tank

 

[Illusion]

Ok here are a few more Pics

Derasa Clam

Fire Urchin

Fairy Wrasse

True Rose and Saddleback

A. Soli

A Soli Top Down

Top Down Derasa

Purplish Birdsnest

Unknown Blue Acro From Upscales

James

 

[Chrisrush]

Looks good James. Too bad you didn't scrape the back glass when you had the tank apart. Other than that, looks like plenty of room for those corals to grow.

Did you put the rocks on anything or just stack them?

Chris

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

very nice james.

 

[Illusion]

The Rocks are Just stacked on the bottom acrylic... I didnt put them on anything... There is approx 220lbs of Pukani in there...

As for Scraping the back it was a quick Transfer as I still had Livestock in there... Did really want to stress anything out more than I had too... I battled quite the Algae problem and Its finally going away... Thank God...

James

 

[mnreefgeek]

James tank looks great. Where might I find a spa strainer, 1.5", like the one that you have. It would be a much more attractive alternative for my CLS.

 

[Illusion]

I picked mine up from the LFS here in the Area.. I believe Pacific Coast Imports is the maker of the item... Any LFS with a relationship should be able to get ya a few..

James

 

[willjeff]

I really like your selection of fish. How much sand are you planning on adding? And how long have you had the orange shoulder?

 

[Illusion]

I have added about 60lbs of sand total however some has been removed during my cleaning... AS for My fish 2 of them Died during the change over.. (Stress I think) and the remaining are still in there with a few additions.. I lost my Powder Brown and My Regal Tang... I have since Added a Mandarin and a Lawnmower blenny... I have plans for another Female mandarin in the future... I have had the Orange shoulder now for about a year or so I would imagine... Its been one of the fish that attracts most of the attention to Visitors... Its getting Rather large but It has plenty of room to grow...

I have Just started Restocking the SPS in my tank slowly... I kinda went a bit nuts on the cleanup crew due to a bad hair algae issue that came up from the new Rock... There is about 20-25 urchins in there at this moment and they seem to be doing a good job so far... Algae is just about gone finally... Everything SPS wise is doing perfect.. Growing fast.. Staying extremely colored up and doing GReat... Today I just switched my bulbs back to 10k XMs from 11k Krystal Stars as I wanted my growth back that I had prior... Plus the bulbs caused my Oranges to go to Pinks.. (not a bad thing) but I wanted the Orange back...

I am now Running 5 halides on my tank... 3x 400w XMs and 2x250w 20k helios...

Now its time to start looking for the Sps colonies that I just cant live without.. LOL

James

 

[maxxII]

Looks good James!!
What happened to the Gigas in the first couple of pictures? Where did you get the fire urchin? Its been a long time since I've seen one of those.

Nick

 

[Illusion]

I got the Fire Urching From Upscales here in Oregon... I eded up loosing it as It wanted to eat off of my Closed loop Screen...

As for the Gigas I sold him a while back As I felt the Need to only have 1 giant clam in my tank... And well that was the one that I could let go the Easiest..

James