The Ultimate Eight Foot Softie Reef

[InsaneClownFish]

Thanks guys.

DVNO, funny you should mention the flow. I just finished processing the HD top down video I took last night. Check it out:

View My Video

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Here's a link to my HD album. I just uploaded 6 very short videos of different life in my tank taken with my cam's slow motion setting.

http://tinypic.com/useralbum.php?ua=xcEdAdxzkl00XVCl2JSOyQ==

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Revised link for the slow motion HD vids:

http://tinypic.com/2mpjfwi8

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Just picked up two Lumenarc Stealth DE Pendants with two new style IceCap eballasts. The pendants already had 8 month old 14k Phoenix bulbs. It took some working to get all the pendants lowered and the same level.

I also had to unwire the ballasts from the pendants and then rewire them once I dropped the lines through the wall, but that part was pretty easy. I haven't wiped off the glass on any of the pendants since I just added/lowered them. This was done intentionally to help with acclimation. I also lowered the light cycle to 5 hours from 6(although once in a while I actually run the lights for a double period).

I need to pick up a new GFCI in the morning that will be dedicated to one set of pendants. I'll run this to a different outlet in the tank room. The GFCI Runs 750w flawlessly. Kick on 1000 watts at once and it gets angry and trips. :smokin:

I have alot of little things to report, so hopefully I'll get to that later tonight.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

All the lights are up and running and things look great. I may need to add an extra breaker for the fish tank room though. Pics to come.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Alright, since everyone prefers pictures to video, here's some pics from tonight:

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Surface Reflection:

 

[InsaneClownFish]

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Multi-Colored Purple Tip Acro

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Left Side:

Middle:

Right Side:

 

[Kellsindell]

Wow, that really looks great, congrats... but i'm confused :?:

I thought this was a Softies tank?

 

[ShiftNation]

Looking great man, but IMHO you need some actinic supplementation or some bluer MH bulbs. Unless your into the natural sun look.

 

[an411]

Looks good I like the shallow reef look with the nice length of the tank

 

[ilikelps]

What is the approx. amount of gallons in this monsta?

 

[DLANDINO]

Beautiful!!!!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Wow, that really looks great, congrats... but i'm confused :?:

I thought this was a Softies tank?

:mixed: Let's call it mixed...The Ultimate Eight Foot Softie Dominated Reef

Looking great man, but IMHO you need some actinic supplementation or some bluer MH bulbs. Unless your into the natural sun look.

Oh trust, it's quite blue in person. I'm running 4 14k Phoenix. I used a white background to adjust the white balance of the camera. It bleeds out much of the blue so that the colors are more natural. Here's a picture I had taken before the white balance:

I am considering adding the T5 units I have for actinics. I've always like the VHO actinic look.

an411- People are wowed by the look in person. I'll have guests take a top down peek.

ilikelps- Going by the outside dimensions the tank is 145.5. The actual water volume is a bit less of course. The total system gallons is right around 200+

DLANDINO- Thank you! ...and thank you all!

 

[InsaneClownFish]

Blue S. Gigantea(8 inch) Approximately 10-15 minutes after being added to the tank. He was added with the lights off after a 1 hour and 45 minute drip and temperature acclimation. In these pics just the two Lumenarcs to the sides have come on:

He arrived in good healthy, very sticky and attached to the bottom of the bag. The color is rich and uniform.

 

[InsaneClownFish]

About 40 minutes later. All the lights on. He just ate a small piece of clam.

Where'd that damn'd nem go?

To the far left:

 

[InsaneClownFish]

One more shot down the length. The hint of blue up top is the Gigantea:

 

[slakker187]

just finished reading the thread. awsome build. i'm glad you went for the mh's, it's going to be an awsome SPS tank:lol: :lol: :lol: (they are like tatoos you can't stop at one, or two, or thre...) whatch out for the anthelia it grows crazy under mh lights. looking good!, congrats on a very nice build.