Tank of the Month - November '04

I have 3 - 20amp GFI circuits and I split the lights and pumps among them just in case one of the GFI trips or there is a problem with one circuit. On larger tanks it's always best to have at least 2 pumps on separate circuits IMO.

Regards,
Kevin
 
Absolutely stunning! Definately one of the top 3 tanks ever awarded TOTM!!!(if not THE number 1)
It must be nice to see the fruits of your labor, time, investment, and love be noticed. Has it reached a point where 'you' consider it 'perfect'? Is there anything you would want to add or change that would make it 'perfect'? Other than upgrading to a bigger tank of course;)
Myself, I'm still planning on it being a few years before mine reaches the point I have 'always dreamed of it' being.
When you're ready to cut back that green slimer, let me know. I would really like a big frag of that beauty!
 
Is there anything you would want to add or change that would make it 'perfect'?
I don't know about perfect but I would like to play around with surge systems somehow. Like one dumping the 8' length along the back wall and another one along the front 8' length. I think there is always room for improvement and new things to try. I that's one of the great things about having reefkeeping as a hobby. With great resources such as RC you don't have to think of everything yourself and you can integrate various things you see into a system that suits your needs.

Regards,
Kevin
PS: Thanks for your kind words :)
 
i would be interested in how you automate things with your tank? i have a 180 atm and like you need to travel quite a bit. in the summer months that means i am home to do maitance 1-2 times a week. it gets to be a challenge and i would like to see what kinda things you have inplace for that.
Do you use a octopus or some other type of controller? i would be interested in something web based so i can monitor things from a remote location. as i have it now i use a webcam pointed at the tank, and another at my monitors.
but all i can do with that is watch as something goes bad ;( atleast in 4 years there was only 1 flood. that i actually did watch with my webcam ;( think sitting 500 miles away and watching your sump volume empty into a 2nd floor room. I'm always up for new ideas

And, congrats. you deserve it. that tank gives most funded public aquariums a run for there money. absolutly amazing, i love the pick of you holding the acro. now thats a frag!

Thanks Mike
 
Congrats on TOTM! You have a great tank, I really like the fact that you use lots of frags from other tanks. It an example we should all aspire to.
 
kevinpo said:
I'm not sure why you would want to add phytoplankton. There is a pretty healthy population there already. SPS corals are zooplankton eaters not phytoplankton. The clams eat phyoplankton but they are big enough to receive their nutrition from lighting and nitrates.

Regards,
Kevin

Thanks for that info!!
 
Reefwaters,
I have seen the Large Reef Tanks. I have not received much assistance or advice. I'm not sure why people are so afraid to recommend anything or voice what works for them. I always like to know "why" they chose the equipment and arrangement they put together.

Kevinpo:
You mentioned the surge system...don't know if you have seen the Marine Aquarium Circulation System by Robert Michelson, but it was pretty cleaver in my opion. Here is where I found the information and if this link does not work....you may want to search for it. Kind of a Do-it-yourself system, but low dollar investment.
http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/CirculationSystem.html
 
Kevin, how ironic, I am at a restaurant on business in Silverdale Washington overlooking the Puget Sound. I grabbed my laptop in the car to kill time before my flight tonight, through in my wireless NIC and found an available connection... I go to RC and see your tank in this beautiful state of yours!

Congrats on being another reefer to successfully keep a large angel in a reef. This is occurring much more often than ever. I bet the PMs are a hummin' regartding questions of disbelief. Anyway, I too am in the club that prefers large angels over meaty LPS any day ;).

I'll be sure to avoid the comment about $28,000 you mentioned when showing my wife you beautiful tank. If I ever went through my receipts I'd be scared of what I would find, although the enjoyment I get out of this hobby is priceless.

I look forward to growing out my little chrysurus angel as you have your blueface.

Any thoughts on adding more angels?

Copps
 
i would be interested in how you automate things with your tank?
I don't have too much automation. I have a water make-up system, calcium reactor, and kalk reactor. When I was out of the country 3 weeks at a time I would come home and perform a water change. Then I would test for calcium and alkalinity levels and dose accordingly.

When I had my 80 and 90 gal tanks running I got some very late night phone calls in some foreign country with my wife on the other end telling me "I have to keep plugging and unplugging this pump to keep the sump from overflowing on the carpet" :eek1:
I tried to learn from these mistakes and plan for them when I designed my big tank. A 5 gal spill on a 90 gal equals 50 on a 500 gal. :rolleye1:

Regards,
Kevin
 
Did you have any problem between Chelmon rostratus and Tridacna sp. ???

None really. The big T. derasa blew him into the rocks once when he got too close. They are usually safe with Tridacna clams IME.

Regards,
Kevin
 
Hey Kevin,

Right on Bud, Great to see your tank, it's been awhile since you've posted pics. It's looken sharp as ever. Not sure if it's been covered as I haven't read the thread.:eek: I'm wondering if you won't mind posting or emailing me a picture of the complete stand. I'm in the process of a new tank and the stand is next in my mind. Thanks and congrats on a well deserved honour.
 
Hi Jamie,
Thank you for the complements!
Here is a picture of the stand before I put the sheeting on it. The second picture shows the brackets I used so I could disassemble the stand if I had to move it.

Regards,
Kevin

stand.jpg



bracketsc.jpg
 
Kevin, Great looking tank. Could you give a little more info on the triggers.
What size were they when they started spawning?
How often do they spawn? Is it routine?
Do you have any pics of the eggs?
Do you think you could collect the eggs without your hand going missing?
Did you see the larvae after the eggs hatched?
Thanks, I just got a pair of crosshatch triggers for my new reef tank.
 
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