Tank of the Month - August 2005

[eAlex]

Thanks all!

ReefWaters, thank you for correction!

KAZEKY, I do not have exact plans for DIY calcium reactor, but it is very simple and you can see its construction from photos:
http://ealex.aqua-web.org/hardware/p8011929.htm
http://ealex.aqua-web.org/hardware/p8011931.htm
It has water/CO2 intake in between pump intake and valve, there is low pressure and reactor will suck water automatically, without need of feeding pump. Water with possible gas, which can accumulate inside the reactor, exits from top.

Very interesting piece is very simple bubble/drop counter and gas/water mixer all-in-one: http://ealex.aqua-web.org/hardware/p8011933.htm You can see both reactor adjustments in this counter ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ drops rate dropping from top and bubbles rate rising from bottom. Gas and water mixture then go to reactors intake.

Reactors pipe is 160mm (6.3ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚) thick. Pump is AquaBee 2000, 2000l/h (~500gph), in reactor that size it can be more powerful. There is 110mm (4.3ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚) threaded PVC end cap with gasket on top of the reactor for refilling, used normally in drain systems.

 

[Jonsey]

Beautiful. You must be very happy with your little piece of the ocean!

 

[shells]

Awsome tank!!!!!
I just love the pic of the blue clam,,,did you'll notice the maderine
fish hanging out in that pic??? too cool, congradulations!!!

 

[wil611]

What a colorful tank. I especially like the Lobo. Well deserved TOTM.

 

[Leopardshark]

Congrats Ealex!!!
The color of those spsÃ"šÃ‚´s is great!!.
What do you think is the key for such awesome coloration? kelvin temp of your lighting, water flow?
TIA
Marco

 

[pmemo]

Cool...

 

[Airman]

Great tank

Great tank

I am impressed. You make this hobby look so easy. What changes do you plan for your tank in the future?

 

[jackson6745]

Excellent reef! The growth shots from year to year on your website are awesome! You give us all something to strive for.

 

[MeuserReef]

Awesome tank. Your setup is inspiring to say the least. Congrats on TOTM.

 

[eAlex]

Thanks guys!

Marco, I cannot name one key for good coloration. I think overall corals health is most important. Intense lighting, certainly, must be for corals, that need it (most), some pigments develop better in bluish light (some green), other better in more warm light (some red), so Kelvin temp. of the light is not a key. Many corals adapt to very wide range of water flow, so it is not the key for them, but good water flow is very important for overall reef healthy. Low nutrient water is also important, for this you need healthy, diverse reef system with well working food chains, this means good environment, right salinity, low toxicity, good feeding, not only for fish and corals but more importantly for creatures in live rock and sand bed. So if one, for example, tells me, that I can get rid of certain problem (like flatworms, dinoflagellates, fish disease or similar) with certain medicine, which is not toxic for any of my fishes or corals ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ I will not take it, because it will be toxic to most important component of my reef ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ live rock and sand bed diversity.

Airman, I try not think about new plans, but I am afraid that in the near feature, when space in aquarium become too limited, I need to brake the reef apart and rebuild it to smaller size or at least take some corals off.

 

[ReefWaters]

So if one, for example, tells me, that I can get rid of certain problem (like flatworms, dinoflagellates, fish disease or similar) with certain medicine, which is not toxic for any of my fishes or corals ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ I will not take it, because it will be toxic to most important component of my reef ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ live rock and sand bed diversity.

I completely agree. I had red bugs and everyone just said to dose the entire tank with the interceptor. I took the infected acros out of my tank and treated them in a separate tank so as not to kill off all the pods and other stuff you don't even know about in the rock.

I had excellent results doing this. I don't like crazy chemicals either. The ocean doesn't dose itself with crap like that.

 

[mike6021]

Incredible

Incredible

Beautiful tank!

 

[six66]

tank well done !!

congrats
do u mind sharing with us how u DIY 'all' ur hardwares !!
with illustration if possible

especially ur pytho reactor, ive always wanted one

thanking u in advance

keep it up ealex !!

 

[eAlex]

Thanks! Sorry for late response, I was on trip. Unfortunately I do not have plans for any of my DIY equipment, but I have some pictures: http://ealex.aqua-web.org/hardware/ and will try to explain better if you have any specific questions. Also in this thread are some thoughts about DIY equipments: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5457477#post5457477 and http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=5467569#post5467569

Here are pictures of plankton reactor with all components shown: http://ealex.aqua-web.org/hardware/p8011938.htm http://ealex.aqua-web.org/hardware/p8011943.htm

 

[mike89t]

Fantastic tank!

Do you recharge your sand bed periodically with critters? If so what kinds?

 

[youngster12]

ABSOLUTLY beutiful tank!!! Very very nice!!!

 

[eAlex]

Thanks!

Do you recharge your sand bed periodically with critters? If so what kinds?

We do not have here any sand bed critters kit, so I use fresh good quality live rock to update critters community once in a while. I did add only few small live rock to refugium on sand bed in past 3 years. Seems that critters diversity in sand bed keeps up with time better, than in live rocks, so Iââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢ll be happy if I mange to change part of my 3 years old live rock with new one.

 

[zoazoa]

Oh..My God...Your tank is crazy.. AWWWWWsome...

 

[Gordonious]

I was curious if you still had the Peppermint Hog and if it ever got to be any trouble. Is/was it mostly a cryptic animals, or was it out in the open most of the time.

Thanks,
Jon