Lo-tech 58 gallon reef--finally took some pics

otrlynn · 10/26/2008, 06:45 PM

I finally took some pics of my eleven month old 58 gallon mixed reef. Apologies to my new friends at Del Val reef club, since I just posted there... I will try to post these with some titles, though I'm not sure it wil work.

Full tank

Zoom in-full tank

Purple firefish and YWG

Red Lobo and Duncan

Trumpet

Green Bird's nest

Hydnophora, pink pocillopora, acropora (I think)

Chalk bass, acans, zoas etc

baldomero · 10/26/2008, 07:55 PM

one of da nicest tanks ive seen thanks 4 da pics

Crustman · 10/26/2008, 07:59 PM

The tank looks great. I hope one day my 65 gallon can look like that. Do you have a chiller?

otrlynn · 10/26/2008, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Crustman
The tank looks great. I hope one day my 65 gallon can look like that. Do you have a chiller?

No no chiller. No central air conditioning either. There is a room A/C in the same room as the tank, but we are fairly conservative about running it. I find that directing a fan across the top of the tank is sufficient unless it is really hot out. The T5 lights have a built in fan and do not create as much heat as metal halide

E.intheC · 10/26/2008, 08:16 PM

I love that Bird's Nest coral! sawwweeeet! How do you like your skimmer? I've heard good and bad things about it.. but have no personal experience. Your tank looks great though!

otrlynn · 10/26/2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by E.intheC
I love that Bird's Nest coral! sawwweeeet! How do you like your skimmer? I've heard good and bad things about it.. but have no personal experience. Your tank looks great though!

I guess its a "bottom of the line" skimmer and most things I have read about it are not favorable. It is fussy to adjust but I have become accustomed to its quirks and it does skim. I would probably get more skimmate with a better skimmer, but I have zero nitrates and no algae, so I guess something its working...

E.intheC · 10/26/2008, 08:55 PM

Yeah, that's a good way to look at it.. I have a Bak Pak skimmer and feel the same way about mine.. it requires daily adjustments (actually.. more like 2x daily) but it works great for me. If I decide to upgrade to a larger tank I'll definitely upgrade the skimmer.

jejton · 10/26/2008, 09:32 PM

Very nice job. My only criticism is too many big powerheads in the tank take away from the beauty of it all.

otrlynn · 10/26/2008, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jejton
Very nice job. My only criticism is too many big powerheads in the tank take away from the beauty of it all.

I agree it would look better without the powerheads, though I don't see another option at this point. I really need the cabinet for storage of the "stuff" that goes with reefkeeping and don't plan on putting a sump down there. Anyway, if I don't get around to soaking them in vinegar soon, they may be disguised by the coraline algae

rad3dad · 10/26/2008, 10:08 PM

Your tank looks great! Nice mix of color and great placement. If you really wanted to get rid of some of the pumps, a closed loop would be great for this set up. The one on melevsreef.com with the SCWD wave maker would be awesome. I would get the returns that SCWD offer or some snap lock, for a cleaner look. Thats what I am planning on doing to eliminate mine. But like you said, the coraline will be covering them soon enough.

otrlynn · 10/27/2008, 04:28 AM

Hmm, something to consider. Though, I'm happy to say that I sleep quite well at night keeping the water in the box!!!

Bambalam · 10/27/2008, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by otrlynn
Hmm, something to consider. Though, I'm happy to say that I sleep quite well at night keeping the water in the box!!!

Well said. I went sumpless a couple years ago myself - too many close calls.

10/26/2008, 06:45 PM	#1
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Lo-tech 58 gallon reef--finally took some pics I finally took some pics of my eleven month old 58 gallon mixed reef. Apologies to my new friends at Del Val reef club, since I just posted there... I will try to post these with some titles, though I'm not sure it wil work. Full tank Zoom in-full tank Purple firefish and YWG Red Lobo and Duncan Trumpet Green Bird's nest Hydnophora, pink pocillopora, acropora (I think) Chalk bass, acans, zoas etc

10/26/2008, 07:59 PM	#3
Crustman Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 941	The tank looks great. I hope one day my 65 gallon can look like that. Do you have a chiller? __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: 65 gallon reef with 8 T-5's, ATI Blue Plus, Blue Special, KZ Fiji Purple, Vertex IN 100, phosphate and carbon reactor Coralife Turbo Sea Pump

10/26/2008, 08:16 PM	#5
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	I love that Bird's Nest coral! sawwweeeet! How do you like your skimmer? I've heard good and bad things about it.. but have no personal experience. Your tank looks great though! __________________ -Eric

10/26/2008, 08:55 PM	#7
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	Yeah, that's a good way to look at it.. I have a Bak Pak skimmer and feel the same way about mine.. it requires daily adjustments (actually.. more like 2x daily) but it works great for me. If I decide to upgrade to a larger tank I'll definitely upgrade the skimmer. __________________ -Eric

10/27/2008, 04:28 AM	#11
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Hmm, something to consider. Though, I'm happy to say that I sleep quite well at night keeping the water in the box!!! __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

10/26/2008, 07:55 PM	#2
baldomero Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: aguada,puerto rico Posts: 902	one of da nicest tanks ive seen thanks 4 da pics

10/26/2008, 09:32 PM	#8
jejton Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A Very Long Island Posts: 548	Very nice job. My only criticism is too many big powerheads in the tank take away from the beauty of it all.

10/26/2008, 10:08 PM	#10
rad3dad Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Central IL Posts: 175	Your tank looks great! Nice mix of color and great placement. If you really wanted to get rid of some of the pumps, a closed loop would be great for this set up. The one on melevsreef.com with the SCWD wave maker would be awesome. I would get the returns that SCWD offer or some snap lock, for a cleaner look. Thats what I am planning on doing to eliminate mine. But like you said, the coraline will be covering them soon enough.