January 2012 Tank of the Month!

[goochesfish]

I mean the funnel. Do you have a picture? Sounds like a great idea but I want to know how you keep it from blocking light.

[teo reef]

Congratulations Steve! your tank is inspiring for a lot of us. Truly amazing.


regards,
Thodoris

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by shaginwagon13

Any info on the Seashine plasma units? Where did you buy them from?

I got them from Stray Light Optical.
These guy right here-

http://straylightoptical.com/products/aquarium

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by windyridge

Thanks for that feeder info. How do you attach it to the aquarium? I have a glass cover over my tank.

Originally Posted by goochesfish

amazing and beautiful tank! How do you set the feeder tube without it being visible?

Originally Posted by goochesfish

I mean the funnel. Do you have a picture? Sounds like a great idea but I want to know how you keep it from blocking light.

Thanks for asking you guys. I will try to explain better here for you.

I used a piece of 2" SCH 80 PVC pipe. Mostly because it's dark grey and doesn't stand out. I could have just painted it probably.
I heated it up in my kitchen oven to like 300 degrees on a cookie sheet. (My wife didn't know) while the PVC was hot and flexible I pushed a transmission funnel into the end of it to stretch it out. Cooled it under some cold water and came up with a piece of 2" pipe with a funnel shaped end.
I used some flat pieces of PVC sheet to make a small platform and hot air welded it to the side of this pipe funnel.
Looks like this-



Using some velcro strips I mounted the auto feeder onto the funnel.
It looks like this-



In the corner of my DT, the end that is against the wall, I mounted a short piece of 2.5" PVC pipe to my canopy framework, above the water line using some fiberglass unistrut and clamp.
It looks like this-



I then take the funnel and just drop it through the 2.5" pipe.
Like this-





The reason I have it removable, is so that I can easily remove it to clean it. It builds up some food, stuck to the inside of the funnel at the water level. Not much, but I take it off and clean it every couple of months so it's not rotting in my tank water.
Hard to get a good picture of the end of the pipe funnel at an angle through my DT window. My cabinet hides about 4" of the view through the DT window on the end that butts againt my wall. This hides my MP 60s and most of my Tunze 6305. Hope that makes sense.
In this pic you can see where this pipe funnel ends just above my 6305-



When the food drops it is immediately gets sucked through this powerhead and blasted into my DT. The sinking pellets are always first. Then as the flake finally sinks it gets pulled through also.

Hope this helps.

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by jbanks

Beautiful Man!!!

Thank you jbanks.

Originally Posted by greystreet55

I have lurked on this forum for years but seldom do I post. This tank is gorgeous. Your corals look vibrant and healthy. Your tank sets the bar high. Congratulations on Tank of The Month. Well deserved!

Thank you greystreet55

Originally Posted by gofor100

Spectacular tank and just as spectacular write-up!

Thanks for all of the details.

-Chad

Thank you gofor100.

Originally Posted by Tnconcept

Wow, best tank I've seen.

Thank you Tnconcept.

Originally Posted by Metal Man 1221

Thanks for the link REEF SMAC. Lots of info, and your plumbing is genius, all those years of plumbing really payed off.

Thanks again Metal Man1221.

Originally Posted by Ninong

Congratulations! What a fantastic tank!!!

Thank you Ninong.





Thank you all of you guys for the kind words.

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by Carant

Reef SMAC,

You have incredible coral growth. I love the foam and epoxy to hide the piping.



What was the actual PolyGem product that you used?

Cheers,
Carant

Thank you Carant.
I used this stuff right here-

[windyridge]

Thanks so much for taking the time to take photos and for giving us a great explanation of your feeding set up. It is very much appreciated :-) :-)

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by gmigmi

GREAT GREAT tank! Inspirational!
If you don't mind please give me some more info on your bartlett experience, how long do you have them? how many did you begin with and how many left? how many stayed female?
aggressiveness among themselves or the other anthias?

Bartletts are have been an experience that's for sure.
I originally started out with a dozen dispar A. and was really pleased with the way they would school around my tank always together.
So one day I decided to try some bartletts the first time I ever saw them at a LFS. They colors they have are stunning to see. I bought 6 but ended up with 4 after QT. When I put them into my DT they hung together for about a week but after that they ended up with their own separate hiding holes. I bought 6 more, they all died in two days in QT. Bought a dozen ended with 9 after QT. Bought another dozen mail order, 6 DOA, 1 missing, and 3 left after QT.(The vendor did replaced them all no questions asked BTW.) The next time I bought a dozen I rigged up a temporary tank holding tank with dividers so I could put them 2 in each jail cell. This seemed to help actually because there was less bickering during their QT. It's been my best QT survival rate so far. I don't know if it was from actually dividing them up or because they were just healthier to begin with.
I've added so many more thinking they would school together if there were more of them. Didn't happen though. No matter how many I put in my tank, they all stay away from each other. The new ones I add seem to hang together for a while when they are nervous in a new environment, then they eventually go their separate ways. Over half, maybe even three quarters of them have turned male. They are everywhere throughout my tank. They only time you see them all together is in front of the feeder when it goes off.
They haven't really been aggressive towards any other fish, just each other. the Lyrtails and Square Spot are a lot worse about that.
The bartletts have been pretty hardy once they have made it too my DT. Haven't lost too many from my DT at all over the years. It's really hard to get an accurate count though honestly.

Originally Posted by prdnblk

Hey beautiful tank confraternity. Can u tell me what. additives u add to ur tank

I don't really add a whole lot of things actually. My CA RX and Kalk stirrer keep up with the CA and ALK.
I add about a cup a week of Randy's two part magnesium recipe for Mag.
I use the Salifert Strontium test kit, and add Strontium when the test shows low. I've used different brands and they all seem to have a different strength. I use the Kent Turbo Strontium a lot, and end up using about 60 ml a week to keep it within range.

That's about it.

I tried using Iodine for a while long time ago but honestly didn't notice any difference so I stopped.
I feed pretty heavy so I assume that helps along with 10% weekly water changes.

I will use vodka and/or vinegar once in a while to lower my nitrate if it climbs up. I've found that running my denitrator with just a slight amount of more flow, the hose doesn't clog, or it doesn't start smelling like rotten eggs, nearly as much, if at all. I like it better this way actually because it's less maintenance. It keeps my nitrate below 10 this way just by itself. I can bring my nitrate down below 5 just by adding a very small amount of vodka and/or vinegar. Way less than when I was doing this without the denitrator.

I can be away from my tank for weeks at a time and my tank sitter won't have to do anything daily, but check on it visually, and throw in some frozen food.
It's just easier that way for both of us.

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by teo reef

Congratulations Steve! your tank is inspiring for a lot of us. Truly amazing.


regards,
Thodoris

Thank you teo reef.

Originally Posted by windyridge

Thanks so much for taking the time to take photos and for giving us a great explanation of your feeding set up. It is very much appreciated :-) :-)

You are very welcome windyridge.

I do know pictures will sure help me when I'm trying to understand how something is set up.

[tamarindthai]

congrats,,,TOTM,,,beauty and healthy for sure,,cheer

[gmigmi]

Originally Posted by REEF SMAC

Bartletts are have been an experience that's for sure.
I originally started out with a dozen dispar A. and was really pleased with the way they would school around my tank always together.
So one day I decided to try some bartletts the first time I ever saw them at a LFS. They colors they have are stunning to see. I bought 6 but ended up with 4 after QT. When I put them into my DT they hung together for about a week but after that they ended up with their own separate hiding holes. I bought 6 more, they all died in two days in QT. Bought a dozen ended with 9 after QT. Bought another dozen mail order, 6 DOA, 1 missing, and 3 left after QT.(The vendor did replaced them all no questions asked BTW.) The next time I bought a dozen I rigged up a temporary tank holding tank with dividers so I could put them 2 in each jail cell. This seemed to help actually because there was less bickering during their QT. It's been my best QT survival rate so far. I don't know if it was from actually dividing them up or because they were just healthier to begin with.
I've added so many more thinking they would school together if there were more of them. Didn't happen though. No matter how many I put in my tank, they all stay away from each other. The new ones I add seem to hang together for a while when they are nervous in a new environment, then they eventually go their separate ways. Over half, maybe even three quarters of them have turned male. They are everywhere throughout my tank. They only time you see them all together is in front of the feeder when it goes off.
They haven't really been aggressive towards any other fish, just each other. the Lyrtails and Square Spot are a lot worse about that.
The bartletts have been pretty hardy once they have made it too my DT. Haven't lost too many from my DT at all over the years. It's really hard to get an accurate count though honestly.

WOW by looking at the pictures of your tank I knew you are a devoted reefer, but now I see you are a stubborn reefer too

great job!

[alcoolaid]

That feed setup is intense

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by tamarindthai

congrats,,,TOTM,,,beauty and healthy for sure,,cheer

Thank you tamarindthai.

Originally Posted by gmigmi

WOW by looking at the pictures of your tank I knew you are a devoted reefer, but now I see you are a stubborn reefer too

great job!

I was thinking determined. Ha.

Same thing huh?

Originally Posted by alcoolaid

That feed setup is intense

Thank you alcoolaid.

It's been well worth the effort.
Seems to really cut down the aggression feeding small amounts more often.

[james.7]

Congratulations for your tank!

Can i ask you question, How you keep your nitrate at this high level?

Thanks!

[85galsalty]

Wow! Well deserved recognition! and what an inspiration! Yours is one of the most beautiful and healthy systems I have seen. You have applied some great ingenuity to many aspects of your setup, it is really impressive. I love the feeder tube and cooling via the pond. Thank you for including and following up with your personal experience, how-tos, and photos.

[astchiefy]

Well slap my a#$ and call me Bam Bam, that Tank is awsome......

[jc-reef]

Simply incredible tank!! I like your photo line-up of your DIY feeder...great execution.

PS., is that a metalic blue milli colony pictured in the Reef Mag write-up? I have been looking for a frag of metalic blue to add to my green/yellow/pink collection.

Bravo!

------

[bheron]

wow. i love it. i live to read the TOTM each month and your tank might be my all time favorite. Love how many fish you have and how you keep it all sustaining. 60 fish! Awesome. Simply great.

[klepto]

Originally Posted by jc-reef

PS., is that a metalic blue milli colony pictured in the Reef Mag write-up?
------

That monstrous blue A. millepora colony is actually Palmers Blue Mille. In person the colony is on another level. Easily the nicest mille colony I have ever laid eyes on. I'm not sure if I'm answering your question... Thought I would try to though.

[billyzbear]

Amazing tank. I really like all the DIY stuff. Did you make the denitrator or did you buy it?

[Rogger Castells]

Congratulations Steve, you truly deserve this honor. I would like to know two things regarding your lighting, what is your photoperiod and why do you run two different types of MH bulbs? Sorry if I miss this but I couldn't find this info in the article or the thread. Thanks so much for sharing your tank with us.

[tomiooo]

great tank!!!

[IridescentLily]

I think people like your tank a little bit Steve.

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by james.7

Congratulations for your tank!

Can i ask you question, How you keep your nitrate at this high level?

Thanks!

Thank you james.7.

Maybe you are just being funny?

Keeping my nitrate at a High level is really quite easy when you have a lot of fish and feed them a lot.
It is actually harder to keep it at a low level. That is why I use a sulfur denitrator to do most of that job. I really just try to keep it anywhere under 5ppm. I will use some vodka and/or vinegar sometimes to bring it down if it starts to creep up. I don't really even try to keep it a zero.

Originally Posted by 85galsalty

Wow! Well deserved recognition! and what an inspiration! Yours is one of the most beautiful and healthy systems I have seen. You have applied some great ingenuity to many aspects of your setup, it is really impressive. I love the feeder tube and cooling via the pond. Thank you for including and following up with your personal experience, how-tos, and photos.

Thank you for all the kind words 85galsalty.

Originally Posted by astchiefy

Well slap my a#$ and call me Bam Bam, that Tank is awsome......

Lol. Thank you atchiefy.

Originally Posted by jc-reef

Simply incredible tank!! I like your photo line-up of your DIY feeder...great execution.


PS., is that a metalic blue milli colony pictured in the Reef Mag write-up? I have been looking for a frag of metalic blue to add to my green/yellow/pink collection.

Bravo!

------

Thank you jc-reef.
I was trying to make it easy to follow the feeder concept. I would have a hard time trying to describe it all, just using a lot of words.

That blue Mille is the Palmers Blue. Great mille, very hardy, grows fast.

Originally Posted by bheron

wow. i love it. i live to read the TOTM each month and your tank might be my all time favorite. Love how many fish you have and how you keep it all sustaining. 60 fish! Awesome. Simply great.

Thank you bheron.
Yah, definitely no shortage of fish poop in my tank.

Originally Posted by klepto

That monstrous blue A. millepora colony is actually Palmers Blue Mille. In person the colony is on another level. Easily the nicest mille colony I have ever laid eyes on. I'm not sure if I'm answering your question... Thought I would try to though.

Thanks Jake..
You are right on.

[REEF SMAC]

Originally Posted by billyzbear

Amazing tank. I really like all the DIY stuff. Did you make the denitrator or did you buy it?

Thank you billyzbear.

I made my DIY denitrator using some 6" clear PVC and an Ehiem 1048 to circulate it. It's about 36" tall, has about 1.5 gallons of sulfur pellets, and has about 3 gallons of coarse media.

Originally Posted by Rogger Castells

Congratulations Steve, you truly deserve this honor. I would like to know two things regarding your lighting, what is your photoperiod and why do you run two different types of MH bulbs? Sorry if I miss this but I couldn't find this info in the article or the thread. Thanks so much for sharing your tank with us.

Thank you Rogger Castells.

My Plasmas come on at 50% and ramp up to 100% over a 2 hour period.
They are at 100% for 8 hours.
Then they ramp back down to 50% over another 2 hour period.

My MHs turn on one at a time, 30 min apart. (beginning when my Plasmas are at 100%) Each MH is on for 8 hours.

I run two different bulbs because I like the extra brightness the 12K Reeflux add. When I had all 20K Radiums it all glowed really cool but it was just too overkill blue for my taste. I was also wanting to compare the color and growth they put out side by side. I've tried many different bulb combos over this tank. I did use two 10Ks and two radium 20Ks for quite awhile. I decided to try the 12Ks a couple years ago and I really liked them. Thinking I might go all 12Ks next bulb change.

Originally Posted by tomiooo

great tank!!!

Tank you tomiooo.

Originally Posted by IridescentLily

I think people like your tank a little bit Steve.

Thank you April, for making me a star.