320 gallon acrylic octogon

Gary Majchrzak · 06/03/2006, 09:28 PM

Here's an 8 ft. long acrylic octogon aquarium that I helped to set up.
I got sick and tired of seeing bogus looking "fish only" marine aquariums; you know the kind ... full of "killer fishes" like Groupers and Lionfishes in an aquascape straight out of "Finding Nemo". Since this aquarium contains inverts like shrimps, crabs, worms, snails and seastars, (some are spawning regularly), it's not really just a "fish only" tank.
The Yellow Tang in the picture is a very big one, so you can just imagine how large the Naso is. It was grown from a very small size (a few inches long) and is now around 17" and developing streamers. It's quite obvious from this picture that an adult Naso vlamingii needs a very large aquarium.

All Naso species are very strong swimmers and a lot of food passes through these fishes. (A polite way of putting it!)

Some more resident fishes. In addition to the Solorensis Wrasse there are several other flashers and fairy Wrasses. The Niger Triggerfish is groomed regularly by a pair of Scarlet Cleaner shrimps.

How about a Butterfly? This is an Auriga. Also called a "Threadfin". It's still not mature.

A trio of Engineers rounds out todays picture releases. I wonder what these guys plan on building next?

vitaldefect001 · 06/03/2006, 10:39 PM

nice...

who's built it?

Gary Majchrzak · 06/03/2006, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vitaldefect001
nice...

who's built it?

It came from another state. That's as far as I'll go.

zanclus · 06/03/2006, 11:10 PM

Very cool Gary , very cool....

stupac21 · 06/04/2006, 08:06 AM

wow! very nice!

Gary Majchrzak · 06/04/2006, 01:35 PM

Another shot of the vlamingii for you fish lovers. Most species of Naso are imported at a very small size. If you don't have an aquarium that is several hundreds of gallons large- please resist the urge to purchase a Naso Tang.

alphaferret · 06/04/2006, 01:48 PM

man I have one so I'm biased but I do love the look of the adult engineeer gobies!

gary -very nice set up- is there a sump room?

Gary Majchrzak · 06/04/2006, 01:56 PM

No sump room. Literally.
Everything is tightly stuffed into the aquarium stand. I ripped out the wet/dry bioball media and installed a DSB in the sump. It wasn't easy to do because of the lack of working space.
The "DSB in a bucket" (sump in this case) knocks out the high nitrates, which was a problem when the wet/dry was up and running.
There's also a UV unit on this aquarium and the top is covered because many of the Wrasses are jumpers.

Kent E · 06/04/2006, 07:01 PM

Holy! That is one huge fish. How big will it get?

dalbrecht · 06/04/2006, 07:15 PM

nice work, How often is the sand changed with the DSB in a bucket?

Gary Majchrzak · 06/04/2006, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kent E
Holy! That is one huge fish. How big will it get?

24" length not counting the streamers that are developing.

Quote:

Originally posted by dalbrecht
nice work, How often is the sand changed with the DSB in a bucket?

On this aquarium probably never. The sand is there to provide an anaerobic zone. It doesn't matter if orthophosphates accumulate because there are no living corals in the system.

bosborn1 · 06/04/2006, 09:17 PM

Boy I hate to play the Tang Police...But there doesn't seem to be enough space for that vlamingii I personally have never seen one that large outside of a public aquarium but surely not in anything less than a 10ft tank. Seeing how that fish reaches 60 cm in length and has a natural craving for plankton I am somewhat suprised to learn that it is in fact forming streamers. Seems to me that without a steady stream of zooplankton and enough space to simulate its constant desire to swim to the midwater region to feed that it would not be "happy" enough to form streamers.

Just my opinion....If the fish were that bad off it wouldn't be alive...Grain of salt thing.

Scott

moriartiholmes · 06/04/2006, 10:41 PM

How is oxygenation accomplished in the tank? It looks pretty tall, 36"? I don't see a lot of surface agitation, but the pumps may have been turned off for the pic.
I like the DSB in a bucket concept. It seems to eliminate a lot of the issues associated with having a DSB in a display or sump.
Also, why can't my office get a tank like that?

Gary Majchrzak · 06/05/2006, 03:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bosborn1
Seeing how that fish reaches 60 cm in length and has a natural craving for plankton I am somewhat suprised to learn that it is in fact forming streamers. Seems to me that without a steady stream of zooplankton and enough space to simulate its constant desire to swim to the midwater region to feed that it would not be "happy" enough to form streamers.

Let alone grow from a few inches to a few feet in length, eh?
I know where you're coming from, Scott.
This is one of the very few vlamingii that have had good enough care throughout it's captive life to reach adulthood. The food and swimming room issues have been met in this case and I certainly wouldn't attempt to keep one of these fish in any aquarium smaller than this one.

Quote:

Originally posted by moriartiholmes
How is oxygenation accomplished in the tank? It looks pretty tall, 36"? I don't see a lot of surface agitation, but the pumps may have been turned off for the pic.
I like the DSB in a bucket concept. It seems to eliminate a lot of the issues associated with having a DSB in a display or sump.
Also, why can't my office get a tank like that?

Oxygenation in the aquarium was initially a big issue so I placed a large pump in the aquarium to provide massive surface agitation. Water drops 42" (the depth of the aquarium) to the bottom of the overflow (which increases aeration). From there it drops another couple of feet and discharges into the sump. There's also a protein skimmer on this system to provide more oxygenation (as well as a clean environment.)
This aquarium is very popular with all that see it.
No wonder your office wouldn't want a distraction like this!

dalbrecht · 06/05/2006, 07:54 AM

Thanks for the info on the Anoxic zone. How big is it to accomodate a tank this size?

Gary Majchrzak · 06/05/2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dalbrecht
Thanks for the info on the Anoxic zone. How big is it to accomodate a tank this size?

I haven't measured the exact dimensions of the sump. It's an old Neptune systems wet/dry. Probably around 16" x 36".
It would have been easier and cheaper to use an aquarium for the sump, but I inherited the existing filter system.
The aragonite sand in the sump is a little larger than sugar sized and around 2"-3" deep. The sand bed and rock in the main display also provide nitrate reducing zones.
The most significant improvement in nitrate reduction was obtained by simply removing the bioballs in the wet/dry.

weaver5 · 06/07/2006, 10:03 AM

where did you find those engineer gobies i have been looking for some in the adult stage and have yet to find them anywhere?

Stephany · 06/07/2006, 10:45 AM

Neat aquarium. I'm more about coral than fish, but that is impressive.

ha, I had an engineer goby in my 30 gallon for a short time... Do you have a fish that would eat it or something? They're supposed to mimic catfish, when they are young... but I don't know if that protects them as much as nature would hope.

Mine grew soo quickly!

Gary Majchrzak · 06/07/2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by weaver5
where did you find those engineer gobies i have been looking for some in the adult stage and have yet to find them anywhere?

Like Stephany mentioned, they grow quickly.
The adults are rarely offered for sale.
I got all three of these from MO when they still looked like coral cats.

josepha · 06/10/2006, 09:13 PM

Stephany,
Speaking of which, your engineer is almost an adult, it now hangs out with my other, which is even bigger. Yours is more of an obsessive digger than my other, as you know already, oh and the hydno still looks great

Gary Majchrzak · 07/02/2010, 05:04 AM

bump

jfl14609 · 07/02/2010, 05:14 AM

Wow sweet setup Gary you trying to tell me something bumping all these vlamingi threads?

Gary Majchrzak · 07/02/2010, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfl14609

Wow sweet setup Gary you trying to tell me something bumping all these vlamingi threads?

not singling you out, Jeff... you already know

apparently there are a lot of noobs out there that don't.

I'm also researching stunted growth in aquarium fishes. Diet (obviously) plays a part.

jfl14609 · 07/02/2010, 05:18 AM

Oh trust me I know. this guy was in a 5 foot tank before I got him so I figure he is much better using my tank as another stopping point for the next few years. not to mention I figure about 4 years till he needs a larger tank and by then I will be ready for a 500 gallon. HEHE by the way now that I have corals in the 210 I love the dimensions

wetbehindears · 07/02/2010, 08:47 AM

This is a swet display that guy is huge tons of swimming room

06/03/2006, 09:28 PM	#1
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	320 gallon acrylic octogon Here's an 8 ft. long acrylic octogon aquarium that I helped to set up. I got sick and tired of seeing bogus looking "fish only" marine aquariums; you know the kind ... full of "killer fishes" like Groupers and Lionfishes in an aquascape straight out of "Finding Nemo". Since this aquarium contains inverts like shrimps, crabs, worms, snails and seastars, (some are spawning regularly), it's not really just a "fish only" tank. The Yellow Tang in the picture is a very big one, so you can just imagine how large the Naso is. It was grown from a very small size (a few inches long) and is now around 17" and developing streamers. It's quite obvious from this picture that an adult Naso vlamingii needs a very large aquarium. All Naso species are very strong swimmers and a lot of food passes through these fishes. (A polite way of putting it!) Some more resident fishes. In addition to the Solorensis Wrasse there are several other flashers and fairy Wrasses. The Niger Triggerfish is groomed regularly by a pair of Scarlet Cleaner shrimps. How about a Butterfly? This is an Auriga. Also called a "Threadfin". It's still not mature. A trio of Engineers rounds out todays picture releases. I wonder what these guys plan on building next? __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors Last edited by Gary Majchrzak; 06/03/2006 at 09:59 PM.

06/03/2006, 10:39 PM	#2
vitaldefect001 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: geneseo, ny Posts: 655	nice... who's built it? __________________ -brandon Current Tank Info: retired for college

06/04/2006, 01:35 PM	#6
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	Another shot of the vlamingii for you fish lovers. Most species of Naso are imported at a very small size. If you don't have an aquarium that is several hundreds of gallons large- please resist the urge to purchase a Naso Tang. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/04/2006, 01:48 PM	#7
alphaferret Pitcher Hill Reef Society Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Nor' Syracuse Posts: 2,824	man I have one so I'm biased but I do love the look of the adult engineeer gobies! gary -very nice set up- is there a sump room? __________________ "With what little time we have we must..." Current Tank Info: 46 bow w/20 gal sump/30 gal. fuge/Reef Octo 150/Seio m620/koralia 3/mag5/Nova extreme t5/Powerbrite actinic LED

06/04/2006, 01:56 PM	#8
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	No sump room. Literally. Everything is tightly stuffed into the aquarium stand. I ripped out the wet/dry bioball media and installed a DSB in the sump. It wasn't easy to do because of the lack of working space. The "DSB in a bucket" (sump in this case) knocks out the high nitrates, which was a problem when the wet/dry was up and running. There's also a UV unit on this aquarium and the top is covered because many of the Wrasses are jumpers. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

06/03/2006, 11:10 PM	#4
zanclus Moved On Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Groton NY Posts: 1,997	Very cool Gary , very cool....

06/04/2006, 08:06 AM	#5
stupac21 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Veteran, NY Posts: 292	wow! very nice!

06/04/2006, 07:01 PM	#9
Kent E One Millionth Poster Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Asheboro NC Posts: 4,273	Holy! That is one huge fish. How big will it get? __________________ 1000 gallon Current Tank Info: Dreaming up a new one

06/04/2006, 07:15 PM	#10
dalbrecht Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oak Park , IL Posts: 540	nice work, How often is the sand changed with the DSB in a bucket?

06/04/2006, 09:17 PM	#12
bosborn1 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fairport, NY Posts: 2,579	Boy I hate to play the Tang Police...But there doesn't seem to be enough space for that vlamingii I personally have never seen one that large outside of a public aquarium but surely not in anything less than a 10ft tank. Seeing how that fish reaches 60 cm in length and has a natural craving for plankton I am somewhat suprised to learn that it is in fact forming streamers. Seems to me that without a steady stream of zooplankton and enough space to simulate its constant desire to swim to the midwater region to feed that it would not be "happy" enough to form streamers. Just my opinion....If the fish were that bad off it wouldn't be alive...Grain of salt thing. Scott

06/04/2006, 10:41 PM	#13
moriartiholmes Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Buffalo N.Y. Posts: 860	How is oxygenation accomplished in the tank? It looks pretty tall, 36"? I don't see a lot of surface agitation, but the pumps may have been turned off for the pic. I like the DSB in a bucket concept. It seems to eliminate a lot of the issues associated with having a DSB in a display or sump. Also, why can't my office get a tank like that? __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef, 10 gallon at the office

06/05/2006, 07:54 AM	#15
dalbrecht Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oak Park , IL Posts: 540	Thanks for the info on the Anoxic zone. How big is it to accomodate a tank this size?

06/07/2006, 10:03 AM	#17
weaver5 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Batavia Posts: 1,249	where did you find those engineer gobies i have been looking for some in the adult stage and have yet to find them anywhere?

06/07/2006, 10:45 AM	#18
Stephany Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,278	Neat aquarium. I'm more about coral than fish, but that is impressive. ha, I had an engineer goby in my 30 gallon for a short time... Do you have a fish that would eat it or something? They're supposed to mimic catfish, when they are young... but I don't know if that protects them as much as nature would hope. Mine grew soo quickly!

06/10/2006, 09:13 PM	#20
josepha Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cocoa Beach, FL Posts: 743	engineer goby Stephany, Speaking of which, your engineer is almost an adult, it now hangs out with my other, which is even bigger. Yours is more of an obsessive digger than my other, as you know already, oh and the hydno still looks great

07/02/2010, 05:04 AM	#21
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	bump __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

07/02/2010, 05:14 AM	#22
jfl14609 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brockport, ny Posts: 4,940	Wow sweet setup Gary you trying to tell me something bumping all these vlamingi threads?

07/02/2010, 05:18 AM	#24
jfl14609 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Brockport, ny Posts: 4,940	Oh trust me I know. this guy was in a 5 foot tank before I got him so I figure he is much better using my tank as another stopping point for the next few years. not to mention I figure about 4 years till he needs a larger tank and by then I will be ready for a 500 gallon. HEHE by the way now that I have corals in the 210 I love the dimensions

07/02/2010, 08:47 AM	#25
wetbehindears Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: rochester ny Posts: 406	This is a swet display that guy is huge tons of swimming room