Tank of the Month - July 2003

[Skipper]

This month we are featuring Keith Berkelhamer's (reefbum) awesome 120 gallon tank:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/totm/images/RCfulltankshot.jpg (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/totm/index.htm)

More details can be found here (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/totm/index.htm) or by clicking on the picture above.

Congratulations, reefbum!

[smiller]

Congrats Keith! I have looked at your tank and coral pics many times, mostly on the SPS forum. I always admire yoru rock work and colors. There is not much that is any better out there!

[Rock Anemone]

Awsome tank!:thumbsup: Keep up the great work!

Rock Anemone:D

[JB NY]

Congrats on TOTM Kieth. You've done an outstanding job with your tank. Keep it up!

[clown-t]

this has been one of my favorite tanks since i've been hooked. very nice. t

[Big_Don]

Congrats Keith! Your tank is awesome! The colors and rock work are beatuiful! TOTM is well deserved!

Lara :beer:

[ReefBum]

Many thanks everyone for the extremely nice comments!! I'm just thrilled to be selected and to be in the company of other great TOTM honorees!

Visit my website.....http://www.reefbum.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/berkell/jan1503pic15RB_small.jpg

[Reefcherie]

Absolutely gorgeous Keith! You have such a beautiful mix of colors and shapes! Congratulations!

Cheri

[Flame*Angel]

Just breathtaking! The corals are amazing and I love your anthias.

[Project Reef]

That is well deserved! Awesome tank RB.

[dadevil23335]

Congratulations Keith! You are one of my influences, I bow down to the king!:D

[Awestralian]

Beautiful!!

:D

[dc]

Another stunning pick!! Beautiful tank!:D

[MrSandman]

I knew it was only a matter of time. Your tank has always been one of my favorites. Congrats!

[Angel*Fish]

Stunning!!!!:thumbsup: This is short so I can go back and look at your tank some more:D

[Evergreen]

:eek1: :celeb1:

Congrats!
Gorgeous tank!!

[Leviathan]

Beautiful tank Keith.

A wonderful choice for TOTM.:)

[ReefBum]

Thanks again everyone. I know many of your tanks and they are quite stunning themselves so reading these great comments is awesome!!

Visit my website.....http://www.reefbum.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/berkell/jan1503pic15RB_small.jpg

[JerseyReef]

absolutely stunning!

BTW - You'll love the Lumenarc III Reflectors! The best reflector made, IMO of course ;)

[rbaker]

Congratulations!! You have a very beautiful tank. Well deserved TOTM...

Ryan

[Lunchbucket]

i have been wondering why you weren't TOTM EARLIER...simply amazing and is one of my TOP tank picks!!

keep on reefin
Lunchbucket

[lebowski]

VERY nice! Keep up the good work!

[TippyToeX]

Extraordinary! Simply stunning.
http://66.227.101.70/contrib/ruinkai/biggrinyoyoA.gif

[ReefBum]

Thanks Tippy Toex, lebowski, Lunch, & Ryan


Ditto to you JerseyReef....yes I love the Lumenarcs. I actually cut back from 3 to 2 400W radiums when I put the Lumenarcs in a month ago and everything is still doing great. I also eliminated one of my 96W PCs...so I cranked it down 500 watts in total. The new reflectors are giving me a much better spread versus the Spider Lights that I had been using so I am saving a lot on my electricity bill. I also have one less Radium to replace every 8 months and the chiller is not cranking as much since the heat from the lights is less.

Visit my website.....http://www.reefbum.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/berkell/jan1503pic15RB_small.jpg

[Lunchbucket]

you replacing your radiums every 8 monts? i have replaced mine (only one time) at the 6 month mark. how much differece you see for the 8th month compared to 6months?

Lunchbucket

[Flatlander]

Very nice. :thumbsup: Beautiful colours. :D

[myreef]

Congratulations Keith....truly a beutiful tank!

[Joseph Sorrels]

:eek1: Stunning Reef great color on the coral and like the name (Reef BUM)

[ReefBum]

Thanks Joseph, Andy & Doug!

Lunch-

8 months seems to be good...didn't really notice any loss in coral coloration between months 6 and 8. I have the bulbs on for 10 hours a day...how about yourself?

Visit my website.....http://www.reefbum.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/berkell/jan1503pic15RB_small.jpg

[crescent1]

outstanding work, you gotta love it.:cool:

[sspargur]

Very nice tank. It's quite inspiring.

[Lunchbucket]

i ran mine for 6monts or 6.5months i got worried that they might start fading fast..i run mine on a PFO hqi ballast. i figured i would buck up the $$ just in case my corals would suffer.

i might try to stretch it 8months next time. i noticed some bleaching w/ the new bulb...as some other have...not idea why

Lunchbucket

[ReefBum]

Lunch-

I'm using PFO HQI ballasts as well. It could also be the reflector that is causing the bleaching. I had a couple of frags bleach on me and I believe one possible cause may have been due to hot spots from my old Spider Light reflectorss. I had cut off the outer edges on them to fit three reflectors over my tank and it probably produced a less even spread of light. The Lumenarcs seem to be a big improvement.

Visit my website.....http://www.reefbum.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/berkell/jan1503pic15RB_small.jpg

[kevinpo]

Very nice! One of my favorite tanks. Beautiful corals and mix of colors.

Regards,
Kevin

[ROBZ]

Congrats Reefbum beautifull setup, coral selection, fish... photos and website, well deserved man;)


Rob

[andyeig]

Excellent tank, Keith. Before I decided to go with a 120 gal., I looked at your tank. I am running 250 Ushios right now. I am debating to go up to 400 watt radium or xe's. After reading about your new reflectors, I thinki a switch from spiders to lumenarcs are in order.


Andy

[newkie]

What? You mean this tank wasn't already a TOTM? Well about time! :D

[Treg]

Very Nice Tank!
Well Deserved TOTM

I hope to have some SPS like that someday! :eek1:

[salt lick]

fantastic tank, congradulations

[ReefBum]

Thanks again guys

Newkie - I'm sure we will be toasting your new tank as a TOTM in the not too distant future. I still can't get over your big beautiful red cupping monti!! I hope the transition is going smoothly.

Visit my website.....http://www.reefbum.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/berkell/jan1503pic15RB_small.jpg

[kozmo02]

great tank, congrats on TOTM

[igoRluse]

Beautiful tank. Congrats.

Is it right that I didn't read about any skimming in the article?

[Skipper]

Is it right that I didn't read about any skimming in the article? You must have missed this paragraph: :D


Filtration:

A 30 gallon sump sits below the tank in my "fish" closet. One GenX Mak4 external pump (1,200 gallons per hour) draws water from the sump, passes the water through a ¼ HP Universal Marine in-line chiller before ultimately returning it to the tank. An identical Mak4 pump drives water from the sump to an in sump ETS 750 Reef-Devil Gemini protein skimmer.

[quiksilver]

Well done! One of my favorite tanks on here... admiration isn't a strong enough word.

[Reaper]

ReefBum,

It's about time you were TOTM!

Your tank's one of the best:D

[acropora]

Congratulations! A beautiful tank deserving the Tank Of The Month honors. Good luck, Anthony

[carolina98]

Glad that you (and your tank) are getting the attention you so very much deserve! Great job, Keith!

(Folks, for those of you who don't recognize this tank... it's the one on the cover of the last IMAC program and T-shirts.)

Continued success, Keith!
Connie

[ReefBum]

Thanks again everybody!!

Visit my website.....http://www.reefbum.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/berkell/jan1503pic15RB_small.jpg

[55Reef]

Great Tank ReefBum!:thumbsup: You deserve it.

That's the exact tank size (4x2x2)I want for my next tank.

I need to master my 46 first though.:D

Brian

[jimmy007]

Great Tank ReefBum! Well deserve to be tank of the month.

[Denzo]

Hey Reefbum, congrats on your totm honor. I was wondering where did you get your lumenarc reflectors??? Does it come with the mogul base installed?? Please let me know and thanks in advance.

[MtnDewMan]

Beautiful tank. Well deserved honor. You get such great coloration. Keep up the good work, you are definately doing something right :)

[CrystalAZ]

Beautiful tank! I love all the color and hope I can have a tank half this good someday.

Well-deserved TOTM!

Crystal

[visser]

now i need to get some sps :D cool tank

[playa]

Great looking Reefbum and an appoinment very well deserved!

Congratulations!!!

Luis

[liv4speed1]

I havent been around a while, so I really cant say much. But that is a really beautiful tank. I like the color scheme a lot

[jciwlsn]

WOW.....nice tank! I hope mine looks like that some day!

NICE going, it's a beauty.;)

[ArcEyedHawk79]

That has got to be one of the most beautiful tanks I have ever seen. :beer: Congratulations!

[jan_dman]

Truly a MASTERPIECE! Keep up the good work! Congrats!

[ReefBum]

Once again....I can't thank everybody enough for all the great compliments!

Visit my website.....http://www.reefbum.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/berkell/jan1503pic15RB_small.jpg

[joeychitwood]

Congratulations on a beautiful tank. I am in awe of the technical and artistic sophistication displayed by you and many other RC members. It's almost like you're doing a different hobby altogether from me.

[Micky]

Outstanding....What a work of art....

[sammystingray]

Absolutely stunning....congrats on tank of the month......well deserved.:) Tanks like yours show the potential of what can be done to anyone starting out.....thumbs up!

[sps si]

looked at your pics loads of times before - absolutly stunning - a credit to you.

all the best.

si:D

[SaltwaterSensei]

thats a great tank.....

You really deserved the tank of the month!!!!!!!

[wmr#1]

reefbum,
The time and care you devote to the hobby is obvious. Congratulations on this well deserved honor.

Jon Warner
Warner Marine Research

[Jegg]

Very nice Tank , deverse colors, the radiums do seem to bring the best out of the sps, I guess TOTM = REWARDING !

[JonL]

What kind of athnias do you keep??:hammer: :hammer:

[pathos]

* * * * *
exceptional reeftank.

FIVE STARS!!!!!



pathos