The Mermaid Box

[michika]

On day I bought a house. Then I blew out some walls, it was fun.

In November & December of 2010 Concept Aquariums came and built a tank for me on site on a cool red stand.

December 2010

February 2011

On Boxin Day, December 26, 2012, I bought some salt and filled the sucker with water.

Jaunary 2013

March 2013

April 2013

 

[michika]

May 2013 - post Coral Snow dosing


July 2013


December 2013

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April 2014

May 5, 2014

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May 29, 2014 Before

May 29, 2014 After

 

[michika]

September 9, 2014

September 17, 2014

October 1, 2014

I apparently only take FTS with my potato phone. I'll try to pick up my dSLR more often, not that I have any idea what I'm doing with it or anything.


Details:
- The tank is 10.5 ft long, 2ft tall and 3ft deep with an external overflow and dedicated tank room. The total estimated water volume is 800gals right now.
- I run 2x Reef Octopus Diablo 350 DCS skimmers
- There are two closed loops on 4-way Ocean Motions. This is the back closed loop and it is powered by a DC pump, and the side is currently turned off due to squeaky pump near TV syndrome.
- The return from the sump is provided by a Reeflo Hammerhead
- The sump is 6ish maybe 7ft long, 3 ft wide and only about 14" of water height.
- I have two additional tanks plumbed into the system as a refugium/clam tank and a QT system whose water is not returned.
- Lighting initially started as 5x 250w MH & T5, later became MH, T5 & LED, and is currently all LED, with future plans to incorporate T5s again. The cost savings in utility usage pays for LED fixtures.
- With the change over to all LEDs the monthly running costs on my tank have stabilized at $140 CAD for everything; utilities, salt, chemicals, food
- I run an HRV to protect my home from the additional moisture





I have a lot of tangs, particularly zebrasomas.

Right now I'm working through those growing pains we've all experienced, mine is named Cyano and it is all about being wrapped up in maroon velour and talking like Zap Brannigan.

Anyways my tank doesn't have any sort of active thread on here outside of the Lounge so I figured why not.

 

[cidbozek]

Someday! LOL

 

[dotcommer]

Great build looking forward to more pics and info.

 

[guserto4]

Awesome tank, great dimensions!

 

[michika]

Thank you.

Here are a few updated photos from this afternoon.

I acquired another AI Hydra 52 light this afternoon along with some more salt. I now have enough of a surplus to treat my tank with chemi-clean and extra in case additional water changes are required.

From one end to the other

Cardinals

Emperor

Red Sea Sailfin, the largest of the zebrasoma school and the most passive

Scopas (I have two)

 

[michika]

SPS in the refugium under Par38 lamps

 

[johnike]

It's aboot time.
:wave:

Nice tank.
:smokin:

 

[Rybren]

Very nice. Don't let John near it. Unless, of course, your floor needs a good cleaning.

 

[michika]

Thanks guys!

 

[michika]

The new Hydra 52 was added yesterday afternoon. It really brightens up the left side. At first glance I am now unsure if I need to add at third a final 52 to the set up. Right now to my eyes the colour is perfect, the intensity is just right. Unfortunately I don't know how to properly represent this in photos, yet.

The lighting now goes:
SOL Blue | Hydra 52 | SOL Blue | Kessil 360w | SOL Blue | Hydra 52 | SOL Blue

Before

After

The rock condos; this is the left side of the tank; its full of caves.

 

[michika]

The new light is actually making quite the difference. I'm itching to get another one.

On the 8th my naso passed away unexpectedly and without any hint as to why. I woke up and corpse. That sucked. I gave up buying Nasos awhile ago, this last one was an adoptee whom I adored very much. The slow moving relaxed pace this fish brought to the tank is noticeably missing.

Afterwards I gave in and unboxed the chemi-clean, threatened the tank once more, this time with feeling, and dosed. I forgot about this thread and posted about my adventures in the Lounge.

I treated my tank with chemi-clean and this happened four days later.

So much skimmer foam, so little progress.

It does seem to have eradicated it from my refugium though, at least it wasn't a complete waste.

I'm dosing the tank for a second time today, here is hoping this round works cause I have had my fill.

I also think I might have hit the half way point in creating the rest of the tank skin. There are 5 small panels that I am making for the top enclosure and one floor to ceiling panel to cover front access to the left side plumbing. I cant wait to be done and have them hung.

 

[Rybren]

Good luck with the chemi-clean. I hit my tank with it yesterday. The skimmer went crazy for ~12hrs and the cyano started to disappear. I'm at the 24hr mark now and the skimmer is back to normal and the cyano is coming back

Jerry