4th SW tank but first real build. 120 reef - Page 5

RVANANO · 12/09/2010, 11:33 AM

That's exactly what I was planning. The spaces are so small I hate to spend a ton on liverock especially if it ended up not fitting properly.

I wouldn't touch the break in the middle. I love the valley and as someone suggested, it looks like the two formations seperated from eachother long ago.

KafudaFish · 12/09/2010, 12:55 PM

Howdy.

If you are wanting to try and do the wall why not DIY some rock or use some dry rubble and egg crate? You could attach it to the glass using magnets and make it in sections that way if you don't like it down the road you can change or remove it all together or if the corals grow as they have you still get what you are looking for without it being permanent.

I figure with your skills and eye to detail you can do exactly what you are picturing in your head.

Oh and I agree with your quote!

thebanker · 12/09/2010, 01:02 PM

That could be a good call, mike. Or Brandon you could always attach some montipora caps to magnets and let them grow out from the corners! Fast growers, cool looking enough for a space filler, and it's coral so no algae biofouling concerns.

RVANANO · 12/09/2010, 01:49 PM

No a bad idea, I like the thought of caps growing off the back. Of course then it wouldn't be surgically clean like it is now

RVANANO · 12/10/2010, 06:07 PM

At last some worthy updated pix. I tried using the flash pointed at the ceiling while still having all lights on and it seems to give much better lighting.

It's amazing how far it's come along in 11 months and that much of the coral came from my 34.

RVANANO · 12/10/2010, 06:08 PM

The Punisher · 12/11/2010, 06:35 AM

Your tank is looking great! And the pictures are perfect, good job

RVANANO · 02/05/2011, 12:49 PM

Here is the tank at 1 year. I added two new rocks to the left side island and moved some of the coral around. I am really happy with the aquascape now and the two rocks give the smaller fish lots of places to hide.

thebanker · 02/05/2011, 01:18 PM

Looking good buddy. You have a lot of those yellow/green acroporids. Are they montipora digitata?

thebanker · 02/05/2011, 01:19 PM

Oh and it appears that there is a turtle tank in the last pic. Can we get a build thread going on that?

Girly Gears · 02/05/2011, 03:11 PM

Gorgeous! About how big is your BTA? I would love one, but I'm afraid it will take over the 40B display...

RVANANO · 02/06/2011, 07:45 AM

Yeah Mikey, all that green digitata came from one small colony I had in my 34 gallon. This stuff grows like mad. I will have to start giving it away when my acro's get bigger.

The RBTA is about 10" in diameter and is going to split someday soon. It has stayed in that spot for about 8 months now but it was moving all over the tank.

I am amazed at the comparison shot of the tank at 1 month and 1 year...

reefer_new · 04/07/2011, 02:47 PM

very Nice

any more updates..

how do u clean the corners of ur tank..

i am worried that if i get to close to the conner with my blade i will peal off the silicone

RVANANO · 04/22/2011, 02:24 PM

I am really careful along the edges. My wife got me a new lens so I snapped a few detail shots. Recently picked up an orange and a purple firefish.

thebanker · 04/22/2011, 03:09 PM

Your yellow monti digitatas are growing. I can see definite SPS growth and solid coloration. Good job my road hugging friend.

bmullikin1 · 04/22/2011, 05:38 PM

any problem w the flamehawk, and the cleaning shrimp.

RVANANO · 04/22/2011, 09:22 PM

No problems so far. I have had the cleaner for 4 years and the flamehawk for at least 1.

RVANANO · 05/01/2011, 05:08 PM

Tried some new photo techniques. I think these are my best photos of the tank yet.

Algaenot · 05/01/2011, 06:13 PM

Pics look great.

artman18944 · 05/01/2011, 06:15 PM

......awesome tank!

greech · 05/01/2011, 06:22 PM

Have to go back and read the thread but man that's a really nice looking tank. Congrats!

TommyA · 05/01/2011, 07:54 PM

That is one awesome looking tank!

RVANANO · 05/02/2011, 06:52 AM

Thanks for all the kind words everyone! I can't believe it's already been about 16 months up and running.

sam75 · 06/21/2011, 03:26 PM

Beautiful setup!

I'm hoping to setup 120 soon and really like the way you did your overflow. Any tips or things you would do different (with he overflow) if you were building it again? Also sorry if you already mentioned it, but what are the dimensions and what did you use to fasten it to the glass (regular silicon?)

Again great job!
-S

RVANANO · 06/22/2011, 07:32 AM

The local LFS did that for me. If I were to do it again, I would do a rear mounted coast to coast overflow

12/09/2010, 11:33 AM	#101
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	That's exactly what I was planning. The spaces are so small I hate to spend a ton on liverock especially if it ended up not fitting properly. I wouldn't touch the break in the middle. I love the valley and as someone suggested, it looks like the two formations seperated from eachother long ago. __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

12/09/2010, 01:49 PM	#104
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	No a bad idea, I like the thought of caps growing off the back. Of course then it wouldn't be surgically clean like it is now __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

12/10/2010, 06:07 PM	#105
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	At last some worthy updated pix. I tried using the flash pointed at the ceiling while still having all lights on and it seems to give much better lighting. It's amazing how far it's come along in 11 months and that much of the coral came from my 34. __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

12/10/2010, 06:08 PM	#106
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	__________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

12/11/2010, 06:35 AM	#107
The Punisher Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,398	Your tank is looking great! And the pictures are perfect, good job __________________ "I look for absolutes and there are absolutely none." 311

12/09/2010, 12:55 PM	#102
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	Howdy. If you are wanting to try and do the wall why not DIY some rock or use some dry rubble and egg crate? You could attach it to the glass using magnets and make it in sections that way if you don't like it down the road you can change or remove it all together or if the corals grow as they have you still get what you are looking for without it being permanent. I figure with your skills and eye to detail you can do exactly what you are picturing in your head. Oh and I agree with your quote!

12/09/2010, 01:02 PM	#103
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	That could be a good call, mike. Or Brandon you could always attach some montipora caps to magnets and let them grow out from the corners! Fast growers, cool looking enough for a space filler, and it's coral so no algae biofouling concerns.

02/05/2011, 12:49 PM	#108
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	Here is the tank at 1 year. I added two new rocks to the left side island and moved some of the coral around. I am really happy with the aquascape now and the two rocks give the smaller fish lots of places to hide. __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

02/05/2011, 01:18 PM	#109
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Looking good buddy. You have a lot of those yellow/green acroporids. Are they montipora digitata?

02/05/2011, 01:19 PM	#110
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Oh and it appears that there is a turtle tank in the last pic. Can we get a build thread going on that?

02/05/2011, 03:11 PM	#111
Girly Gears Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Deland, Fl Posts: 121	Gorgeous! About how big is your BTA? I would love one, but I'm afraid it will take over the 40B display...

02/06/2011, 07:45 AM	#112
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	Yeah Mikey, all that green digitata came from one small colony I had in my 34 gallon. This stuff grows like mad. I will have to start giving it away when my acro's get bigger. The RBTA is about 10" in diameter and is going to split someday soon. It has stayed in that spot for about 8 months now but it was moving all over the tank. I am amazed at the comparison shot of the tank at 1 month and 1 year... __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress Last edited by RVANANO; 02/06/2011 at 08:24 AM.

04/07/2011, 02:47 PM	#113
reefer_new Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 35	very Nice any more updates.. how do u clean the corners of ur tank.. i am worried that if i get to close to the conner with my blade i will peal off the silicone

04/22/2011, 02:24 PM	#114
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	I am really careful along the edges. My wife got me a new lens so I snapped a few detail shots. Recently picked up an orange and a purple firefish. __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress Last edited by RVANANO; 04/22/2011 at 02:52 PM.

04/22/2011, 03:09 PM	#115
thebanker Moved On Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Socal Posts: 2,315	Your yellow monti digitatas are growing. I can see definite SPS growth and solid coloration. Good job my road hugging friend.

04/22/2011, 05:38 PM	#116
bmullikin1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: seminole florida Posts: 1,797	any problem w the flamehawk, and the cleaning shrimp.

04/22/2011, 09:22 PM	#117
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	No problems so far. I have had the cleaner for 4 years and the flamehawk for at least 1. __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

05/01/2011, 05:08 PM	#118
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	Tried some new photo techniques. I think these are my best photos of the tank yet. __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

05/01/2011, 06:13 PM	#119
Algaenot Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Highlands Ranch, Co Posts: 174	Pics look great.

05/01/2011, 06:15 PM	#120
artman18944 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milton, Pa. Posts: 168	......awesome tank! __________________ .....its all about the water Current Tank Info: 36 gal bow front, aqueon pro flex 1 sump, asm mini g skimmer, aquaticlife 4 bulb t5ho, reef octopus overflow box, RKL controller, foam/rock back wall.

05/01/2011, 06:22 PM	#121
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	Have to go back and read the thread but man that's a really nice looking tank. Congrats! __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

05/01/2011, 07:54 PM	#122
TommyA Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 76	That is one awesome looking tank!

05/02/2011, 06:52 AM	#123
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	Thanks for all the kind words everyone! I can't believe it's already been about 16 months up and running. __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress

06/21/2011, 03:26 PM	#124
sam75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: VA Posts: 110	Beautiful setup! I'm hoping to setup 120 soon and really like the way you did your overflow. Any tips or things you would do different (with he overflow) if you were building it again? Also sorry if you already mentioned it, but what are the dimensions and what did you use to fasten it to the glass (regular silicon?) Again great job! -S

06/22/2011, 07:32 AM	#125
RVANANO SWAGON Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 3,404	The local LFS did that for me. If I were to do it again, I would do a rear mounted coast to coast overflow __________________ Brandon "Your opinion is appreciated. Unless it's stupid" -Me Current Tank Info: "Nano" 300 peninsula reef in progress