UK based 400 gallon UK gallon Tank

[reefislife]

hey that would be cool

 

[JC Pollman]

I was thinking about how you have your "substrata" set up. As an alternative to the glass supports, I think for my tank (after removing the current DSB) I will run PVC around the bottom (obviously inside the tank) - with a fair number of connected PVC cross pieces. Then drill holes in all the PVC - some holes pointing up and some horizontal. Finally completing it as you did with the egg crate on top. On your tank it might not look as good, but I have a 3 inch lip covering the front bottom on my tank, so no one will even see the PVC. Your thoughts?

 

[reefislife]

sounds good to me, I hasve tried to (with some success) cover my egg crate from view using my "picture frame", it does show in places though and seems to staying clean, I'm hoping that in time I will find a substrate that is big enough not to fall through but is small enough to mayke the front more asphetic (sp?). I have tried rowalith c with some success about 70% stayed where I wanted it but the remaining 30% fell through, but since its the front it really doesnt cause any issues with the flow or concept.

 

[majesticangelfish]

how thick is that glass?? 10mm? Looks great mate!!

 

[reefislife]

12 mm with double base.

thanks for the compliment

 

[Gerard Alba]

inspirational

 

[reefislife]

 

[reefislife]

Thanks Gerard

 

[reefislife]

Update, sorry about all my other pics, I recently upgraded my web site and forgot I needed my forum storage area! doh!

Craig

 

[reefislife]

links to previous photos sorted, hate lose ends.

CRaig

 

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

very nice reefislife.

 

[mmd]

very very nice

 

[cutsupremetrib]

nifty different and cool

 

[reefislife]

Hi,

Here is as update, tank was set up around August 2005, so is no about 6 months old.

Thanks.

Craig

I also have a video here >>



Craigs Tank

Please feel to browse my site

 

[reefislife]

Hi,

Another update, been adding some more huge peices of branch rock, a hair aglae problem also now seems to be improving since I've been able to complet 6 *150 gallon water changes over the last 4 weeks.

Thanks for looking.

Craig

 

[reefislife]

Vids of my tank.

Sorry the file is big (22 meg) but can be watched direct on my site

ie:

www.craiggoffin.com
reeftank
new 7.5ft tank
video
07 May 2006 Full Lighting

There is also a much smaller antinic lit video in the same location

Hope you like, comments welcome

Craig

 

[c. dawg]

Awesome tank! I like the shelf look.

 

[reefislife]

Craigg's Reefs 1st Birthday
​

Details of TANK and ideas / principles behind it

90 * 36 * 30 = 327 UK Gallons
72 * 24 * 15 sump = 95 UK Gallons

This was how the tank looked exactly 1 year ago:-

Tank was built due to the failure of the stand on my previous tank, so I went slightly larger, paid extra for a steel stand and added a sump (previous tank was sumpless)

I also liked the principle of my previous tank in hiding 8 * 6100 streams in the weirs, so I continued with this, partly because I already had the kit but also cause I dont like the idea of making the back pain of glass into a teabag with loads of holes for a closed loop setup. Besides I can get alot more flow with streams.

I also took the chance to have a reef clean type system with streams pumping water up through the substrate.

Changes made from the origional design and reasons

Changed skimmer - Picked up a mega cheap Aquamedic 5000 baby from a friend, so took the chance to dump the next to useless Tunze comlines that I was using, besides I ripped out the pumps and converted them to 2 more streams, so I now have 10 * 6100 streams.

added coral gravel - Hated the smashed up live rock substrate that I created slightly less than the bare base look so I added Coral Gravel to the front 5-6 inches.

then added sand - Hated the coral gravel as well so I have now covered this with Sugar sized sand. This is only for the front 5 inches and has the desired effect, remaining 30 inch or so is either rubble or egg crate (which is not visible).

reduced lighting period - Read somewhere that corals can only absord so much light and due to cost off electric I have successfully now reduced my Halide Lighting to 5 hours per day, I have also changed the ballasts to 4 * 400 watt Electronic Coralviews.

converted top up tank to miracle mud refugium - My sump used to to have a division with a section for 50 gallon water changes but due to changes I have now been able to convert this area to a Refugium running Mineral Mud (shed loads cheaper the Miracle Mud) this has various Algae's growing.

Added 2 * 150 gallon vats in garage for water changes - this is hard pipe linked to my chiller loop, so with the turn of a few taps I can complete a 150 gallon water change in 40 minutes, dumping the waste at the same time. I could in theory complete a 300 gallon water change but have not yet felt the need. I could also make the VATS "Part"of the system thus increasing tank water gallonage to 700 gallons, but dont feel the need as of yet, even with my high fish load.

Played around with rock structure to a minor degree - Added some more branch rock here and there.

Currently filling origional dsb / refugium with about 6kg of good live rock each month, and have stopped lighting this section, this is because I bought a load of dry branch rock from Germany and in my opinion it has the filtering ability of snow, The algae problem I had with this rock was shocking, with proper live rock being uneffected. Therefore I will eventually when complete have about 120kg of top quality live rock in my sump. I recon I'm upto about 50kg at present in the sump.


Current Fish stock list

I'm a bit mad on the fish.......and I havent finished yet..

1 * Cleaner Wrasse (had him for a few years, not sure what all this non hardy talk is about)
1 * Pajama Cardinalfish
1 * Yellow Tang (not mine, had 4 and so far managed to catch 3, this is going to a new home once finally caught)
1 * Algae Blenny
2 * Bartlett's Anthias (Xmas Island)
5 * Squamipinnis Anthias
2 * Coopers Anthias
3 * Pink Anthias
8 * Marcia’s Anthias
2 * Scribbled Anthias
2 * Pictillis Anthias
2 * Bi-colour Anthias
Therefore = 26 Anthias (7 different species)
1 * Niger Trigger
1 * Atlantic Blue Tang
2 * Wild Percula Clowns
1 * Copperband
1 * Regal Angel
3 * Alleni Damsels

Any mistakes? or regrets?
Yes a few but the most notable being:-

Losing Scribble Angel fish (pair) to oodinium + 50% of other fish stock in a mini-wipeout.
Losing moorish idol to attack from atlantic blue tang

Future?

The tank is doing great, so there is litle that I want to change, although I may replace the spiderlight reflectors with Luminarcs's.

Otherwise who knows, while I have the tank I will continue to add fish and corals that I like when I see them.

However whether its a mid-life crisis (slightly early) or what, I have this dream of building a monster Mk1/2 Escort for Hillclimbs and track days and see the tank as a barrior to that (due to the funds that it eats up).

That said no doubt in a years time the tank will be being written about as being 2 years old and I'll still have the dream of building the monster Escort.

Finally

My web site is regularly updated and has way more detail and photos.

http://www.craiggoffin.com

Thanks.

 

[alien9168]

Nice tank Craig!

I really like your list of fish/inhabitants as well.

Your rockwork is also very different and I think it really makes the tank.



Way to go!

 

[reefislife]

Thanks.

I really cant help myself with the fish list. I've now added a blue Face Angel as well.

Oh and 6 baby Bangaii's in the sump.

Think thats it now for fish..................