TOTM quality 6' SPS tank for under $1k? The 5.56 build thread; AKA a really bad idea

[Jimbo327]

You forgot the hidden reef tank slush fund.

 

[five.five-six]

You forgot the hidden reef tank slush fund.

No secret stash, 556wife is watching me like a hawk



I don't know if you noticed the top of the digi had been cut in the photo above but it has compleatly healed over now, considering tht it's been in 3 tanks in less than 3 weeks I m pretty happy with that growth rate.

The big transfer from my 29BC to the 135 peninsula is this sunday. In preparation I am attempting to acclimate the entire 29BC with a series of water changes. Last night I did a 30 gallon WC on the 135 and kept the water and have already done 2 X 5 gal WCs with it on the 29BC. Hopefully we the time I compleate the 6 total water changes everything will be acclimated and it will be a simple transfer.

 

[five.five-six]

Today is the day I transfer everything from my 29BC to the 135

Today is the day I transfer everything from my 29BC to the 135

Some gifts:

These two from Rakie.

Thank you!

One is purported to be Miami Orchid and the other Joe the Coral though I'm not sure which is which or if either is either. Only thing for sure is that both are beautiful!

Any idea what the red part is on the 2nd pic? I inspected closely, cut the bases and did a steve Garrett dip yet there it is.

This Scopus tang is from Browncoat

Thank you!

Apperantly the online dealer sent too large of a specimen. Never even made it out of the bag before it was given to me.

He is a little skittish but flares and resperates nicely, won't eat much mysis. I'll get a clip and some seaweed for him today. Perhaps some live brine just to fill his tummy

He is a magnificent fish though I had previously overlooked this species completely. I'm really glad I got him and hope he makes it.

 

[gcarroll]

No secret stash, 556wife is watching me like a hawk

Wait, I thought you said she didn't know about that money under the floorboards.

 

[five.five-six]

New totals: $971.34/$1,000 spent $0 cash on hand, $159.82 in the fishy paypal accou

New totals: $971.34/$1,000 spent $0 cash on hand, $159.82 in the fishy paypal accou

Nice try Greg, but our house is on slab LOL


She want's more fish but I'm telling her I don't have the budget for them.

Had to go to the LFS to get lettuce clip, and seaweed for the tang, hermit crabs and got an engennere goby. Some other stuf. Spent $61

 

[txdragonslayer]

Don't know about 'better'... but my 60x30 peninsula ended up with one 3k powerhead on left/front, and another right/rear, both connected to a controller so that they alternate every 2 minutes. Creates a very nice circular flow pattern with some variation and eddies.

I hated putting the 2nd powerhead on the outside end of the peninsula, but without it, I just couldn't find a way to get the flow I wanted.

Had a Gyre XF130, original, from my old tank. Worked great, had it running for well over a year. The only problem I had with it was that it was a pain to clean. Aside from that, worked great, no problems. Unfortunately, it did not generate the flow I needed in the larger peninsula system I have now.

Tunze are better are my opinion with better service. The "sheet" created by gyres is what I am not a fan of

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[txdragonslayer]

Here is a photo from the bridge over the foyer, also a key WAF metric.

The box on these lamps said XM 10k but I have no idea, they do really make my plastic scuba diver pop.

I'm not going to let the dark spot in the center bother me, it's a $1k build and it's a 6' tank with 2X250 halide. The fixtures are adjustable and they are tilting away from the center a bit because of the weight of the lamp holders, With some tweaking I think I can close up that hole quite a bit at the expense of the front of the tank and the back of the tank which will be sand bed and top of rock wall/power heads respectively.

You can raise the lights to get rid of the black shade in the middle

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[five.five-six]

You can raise the lights to get rid of the black shade in the middle

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Probably but there's about a 18" brace in the center of the tank.. which takes a lot to blast through and 250 halides are generally good for 2'X2'X2' and it's a 6' tank so something has to give.

The actenics really help mask the dim area and I setup the rock structure to maximize where the lighting is for SPS. I'll use the dimmer areas, which also happen to be the lower flow areas for LPS and softies that I might get.

I already have a frogspawn in the center down by the sand bed and I think there may be too much light and flow for it.

I'll post some FTS's this week

 

[five.five-six]

18"... I see your issue there... its deceiving. Looks cool nonetheless. I'm not sure I'd be able to go so minimalist but the tanks look amazing grown out.

That tank was 2'X2'X6' a whole different ballgame

 

[Jimbo327]

Corals and fishes in. Now the big $$$ spending happens.

Need more fish and more corals. Repeat.

 

[five.five-six]

Corals and fishes in. Now the big $$$ spending happens.

Need more fish and more corals. Repeat.

I have a plan.

That plan is: win lots of SCMAS raffles.

 

[five.five-six]

Here is a FTS taken by 556wife with her cellphone.

 

[dodgerblew]

Mark, I know I'm not close by but I have some sps if you want them. Price is right, $0.00

 

[five.five-six]

I've seen photos of your tank, that's one drive worth making.

 

[dodgerblew]

It's only growing in. Looked much nicer and mature before. I look forward to it returning to its former glory.

 

[five.five-six]

IMO, it's more exciting to notice a new bud on a 1" frag and it's more satisfying to notice a new branch on a 5" colony. I just try to enjoy each stage.

 

[five.five-six]

New totals: $971.35/1,000 spent: $0 stack-O-fish cash, $84.82 fishy paypal

New totals: $971.35/1,000 spent: $0 stack-O-fish cash, $84.82 fishy paypal

Mark, I know I'm not close by but I have some sps if you want them. Price is right, $0.00

That sounds great, can we plan a meet in a few weeks? I just spend $75 at RAP and I'm about tapped out.


I'll post a FTS of my tank with the RAP acquisitions in the next few days. They are quite impressive but it's still an immature tank.

 

[five.five-six]

I'm not happy with my temperature stability. I did all my tweaking when it was really hot all day every day and now that it's cooling off, I'm starting to see bigger swings than I'm comfortable with.

 

[dodgerblew]

Sure

 

[five.five-six]

What a diffreance a RAP makes.