Melev's new 280g Starfire tank thread - Page 17

Kurt03 · 10/03/2006, 07:36 PM

do you run a uv or ozone?

melev · 10/03/2006, 07:48 PM

No, I do not run either. My system is:

350lbs of LR
4" DSB
Huge skimmer rated for 500g - Euro-reef 12-2
29g refugium filled about 30% with macro algae currently
Phosban Reactor with 1" of ROWAphos
Lifereef Calcium Reactor using a pH controller
RO/DI water for auto top off.
Little Giant return pump
(2) Tunze 6100 Streams with multicontroller
VorTech pump
MH & VHO lighting
Aqua Controller II to handle lighting, heat, and provide instant readings of temp, pH and ORP. pH is 8.3 during the day time.
Window a/c unit keeps the room at 79F, and the tank varies from ~79F to ~82F daily (or better).
The tank is just over 2 years old now.

Kurt03 · 10/03/2006, 07:49 PM

thanks

love your site btw

melev · 10/03/2006, 07:53 PM

Thanks! It has been a lot of work to get it to look like it does now. I still have a bunch of pages to update, but the majority is done and works much better for those visiting the site.

Kurt03 · 10/03/2006, 08:05 PM

yea, the information on it is great, now it even looks great. Helped me build my first sump and really got me addicted to reefing. I should have known when i said well it will be fish only untill i save up for better lighting and corals and such. I think a week after i said that i ended up buying my lights

Thanks marc, you made me BROKE!!! haha

melev · 10/03/2006, 08:08 PM

Mission Accomplished.

Kurt03 · 10/03/2006, 08:10 PM

and now reefcast, and now i want to go to MACNA jeesh marc. Time to take out a loan.

melev · 10/03/2006, 09:40 PM

It's only money, as one of my friend's likes to tell me.

tangalone · 10/04/2006, 03:05 PM

Wow...what a smart friend!!!!

melev · 10/04/2006, 08:09 PM

Speaking of money, I bought a Blue Tort (A. tortuosa) tonight from Fish Gallery in Dallas. I was thinking how my poor AEFW looked too thin, and wanted to get them something blueberry-flavored.

Dudester · 10/04/2006, 08:11 PM

Marc, I'm really happy that your tank did so well while you were gone for an extended period of time. It's a testament to the stability of the system, as well as the good help provided by your friends. Congratulations.

That full tank shot is simply beautiful. Do you still have any room for new corals, and are you actively looking around for more, or is it essentially full and you've entered the 'frag to avoid competition' phase?

Dudester · 10/04/2006, 08:13 PM

Unbelievable, you essentially answered my question only seconds before I asked it. Nice going, Radar.

melev · 10/04/2006, 08:15 PM

Well, no, I'm not at the frag-only stage. I do hedge a bit toward the "I better not add anything new and introduce some dangerous pest into the system" line of thinking. I'd like a few more corals to get substantially larger if possible.

There are specific SPS that I wish I had, especially blue tort, green slimer, a nana / valida... all the difficult ones of course. And I want them to be huge and amazing. I don't ask much, do I?

melev · 10/04/2006, 09:01 PM

Here's my new Tort! I did the iodine dip test and found no flatworms, and it looked safe for my system.

Here's the sun polyp baby that has been quietly living on this spot for a year. It looks about ready to split. I never feed it directly, as it closed up when I puff food its way. The color is strange because a bulb shut off as I was taking this picture.

And a huge nassarius snail, the size of a grape. I don't know their real name, but if you do, please let me know.

jnarowe · 10/04/2006, 09:06 PM

blue tort was/is my first coral. center piece and has done fine through a variety of issues.

NuclearReefs · 10/04/2006, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by melev
Speaking of money, I bought a Blue Tort (A. tortuosa) tonight from Fish Gallery in Dallas. I was thinking how my poor AEFW looked too thin, and wanted to get them something blueberry-flavored.

So much for thermos shipping a tort frag to you ,,,LOL

melev · 10/04/2006, 09:51 PM

I'm sure in a month I'll need it. LOL

Here are some pictures from that LFS today:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...42#post8279142

raddogz · 10/04/2006, 09:53 PM

Hey Marc,

What's the name of that green coral on the upper right-hand corner? Sorry, I meant of the first picture.

melev · 10/04/2006, 10:28 PM

That is a Psammacora. I've had mine for 4 years, based on some of my older pictures I was perusing.

mcurl98 · 10/04/2006, 10:33 PM

The snail looks like a super tongan nassarius (nassarius distortus)

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=1763

melev · 10/04/2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mcurl98
The snail looks like a super tongan nassarius (nassarius distortus)

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=1763

THANKS!

melev · 10/08/2006, 06:37 PM

While at Home Depot today, I couldn't believe the item I found for sale. They have a 25 foot heavy duty extension cord that is lighted at the end, and it has three outlets along the cord. So every eight feet, you have an outlet to plug in. This could come in handy for some fish room setups. I'm going to use it in the garage to power a few power tools, and the best part is each cord will easily reach its own outlet instead of having them all gathered in one spot! It was only $11!!!

Andrew · 10/08/2006, 06:44 PM

Marc- Do you prefer the Tunze streams or VorTech pump when it comes to flow and performance? Just wondering since I'm debating on getting a pair of 6000s for my 75 or two Vortech pumps.

melev · 10/08/2006, 08:59 PM

I like the VorTech better, as it uses less space and is easier to clean. The Tunzes still get a huge vote of confidence because they are reliable and the controller cycles the speeds, plus they go into nite-mode when the photo-sensor recognizes the lights are out.

Once EcoTech gets all the gear created so it is controllable, I'll probably be 100% VorTech in my tank. I'll regain space on the left side of my tank, and they'll have a Battery Backup that will provide flow in the tank in the case of a power outage. That additional option can run a pump 36 hours straight if necessary.

Andrew · 10/08/2006, 09:57 PM

Thanks. I might have to order one to try it out.

10/04/2006, 08:11 PM	#411
Dudester Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,218	Marc, I'm really happy that your tank did so well while you were gone for an extended period of time. It's a testament to the stability of the system, as well as the good help provided by your friends. Congratulations. That full tank shot is simply beautiful. Do you still have any room for new corals, and are you actively looking around for more, or is it essentially full and you've entered the 'frag to avoid competition' phase? __________________ The Dude abides Current Tank Info: building a new home tank l 450g office tank with Deltec everything

10/04/2006, 08:13 PM	#412
Dudester Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,218	Unbelievable, you essentially answered my question only seconds before I asked it. Nice going, Radar. __________________ The Dude abides Current Tank Info: building a new home tank l 450g office tank with Deltec everything

10/04/2006, 09:06 PM	#415
jnarowe Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 14,710	blue tort was/is my first coral. center piece and has done fine through a variety of issues. __________________ Jonathan--Recovering Tankaholic. Current Tank Info: 70g fresh planted

10/04/2006, 09:53 PM	#418
raddogz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,167	Hey Marc, What's the name of that green coral on the upper right-hand corner? Sorry, I meant of the first picture. __________________ Eileen If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style. - Quentin Crisp Current Tank Info: 180g Reef

10/04/2006, 10:33 PM	#420
mcurl98 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 615	The snail looks like a super tongan nassarius (nassarius distortus) http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=1763 __________________ -Matt Current Tank Info: tankless

10/03/2006, 07:36 PM	#401
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	do you run a uv or ozone?

10/03/2006, 07:48 PM	#402
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	No, I do not run either. My system is: 350lbs of LR 4" DSB Huge skimmer rated for 500g - Euro-reef 12-2 29g refugium filled about 30% with macro algae currently Phosban Reactor with 1" of ROWAphos Lifereef Calcium Reactor using a pH controller RO/DI water for auto top off. Little Giant return pump (2) Tunze 6100 Streams with multicontroller VorTech pump MH & VHO lighting Aqua Controller II to handle lighting, heat, and provide instant readings of temp, pH and ORP. pH is 8.3 during the day time. Window a/c unit keeps the room at 79F, and the tank varies from ~79F to ~82F daily (or better). The tank is just over 2 years old now.

10/03/2006, 07:49 PM	#403
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	thanks love your site btw

10/03/2006, 07:53 PM	#404
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Thanks! It has been a lot of work to get it to look like it does now. I still have a bunch of pages to update, but the majority is done and works much better for those visiting the site.

10/03/2006, 08:05 PM	#405
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	yea, the information on it is great, now it even looks great. Helped me build my first sump and really got me addicted to reefing. I should have known when i said well it will be fish only untill i save up for better lighting and corals and such. I think a week after i said that i ended up buying my lights Thanks marc, you made me BROKE!!! haha

10/03/2006, 08:08 PM	#406
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Mission Accomplished.

10/03/2006, 08:10 PM	#407
Kurt03 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,602	and now reefcast, and now i want to go to MACNA jeesh marc. Time to take out a loan.

10/03/2006, 09:40 PM	#408
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	It's only money, as one of my friend's likes to tell me.

10/04/2006, 03:05 PM	#409
tangalone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Little Elm, TX Posts: 16	Wow...what a smart friend!!!!

10/04/2006, 08:09 PM	#410
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Speaking of money, I bought a Blue Tort (A. tortuosa) tonight from Fish Gallery in Dallas. I was thinking how my poor AEFW looked too thin, and wanted to get them something blueberry-flavored.

10/04/2006, 08:15 PM	#413
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Well, no, I'm not at the frag-only stage. I do hedge a bit toward the "I better not add anything new and introduce some dangerous pest into the system" line of thinking. I'd like a few more corals to get substantially larger if possible. There are specific SPS that I wish I had, especially blue tort, green slimer, a nana / valida... all the difficult ones of course. And I want them to be huge and amazing. I don't ask much, do I?

10/04/2006, 09:01 PM	#414
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Here's my new Tort! I did the iodine dip test and found no flatworms, and it looked safe for my system. Here's the sun polyp baby that has been quietly living on this spot for a year. It looks about ready to split. I never feed it directly, as it closed up when I puff food its way. The color is strange because a bulb shut off as I was taking this picture. And a huge nassarius snail, the size of a grape. I don't know their real name, but if you do, please let me know.

10/04/2006, 09:51 PM	#417
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I'm sure in a month I'll need it. LOL Here are some pictures from that LFS today: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...42#post8279142

10/04/2006, 10:28 PM	#419
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	That is a Psammacora. I've had mine for 4 years, based on some of my older pictures I was perusing.

10/08/2006, 06:37 PM	#422
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	While at Home Depot today, I couldn't believe the item I found for sale. They have a 25 foot heavy duty extension cord that is lighted at the end, and it has three outlets along the cord. So every eight feet, you have an outlet to plug in. This could come in handy for some fish room setups. I'm going to use it in the garage to power a few power tools, and the best part is each cord will easily reach its own outlet instead of having them all gathered in one spot! It was only $11!!!

10/08/2006, 06:44 PM	#423
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Marc- Do you prefer the Tunze streams or VorTech pump when it comes to flow and performance? Just wondering since I'm debating on getting a pair of 6000s for my 75 or two Vortech pumps.

10/08/2006, 08:59 PM	#424
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I like the VorTech better, as it uses less space and is easier to clean. The Tunzes still get a huge vote of confidence because they are reliable and the controller cycles the speeds, plus they go into nite-mode when the photo-sensor recognizes the lights are out. Once EcoTech gets all the gear created so it is controllable, I'll probably be 100% VorTech in my tank. I'll regain space on the left side of my tank, and they'll have a Battery Backup that will provide flow in the tank in the case of a power outage. That additional option can run a pump 36 hours straight if necessary.

10/08/2006, 09:57 PM	#425
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	Thanks. I might have to order one to try it out.