In the Begnning ....My New Tank Pictures

[ReefRatz]

HI everyone!
When I got this 200 gal tank my Idea was to put it in the wall. So I convinced my wife to convert the hallway to a bathroom as the "fish room" Did all the plumbing for hot and cold water and and drains Did all the framing and drywall. A good 5 x 8 room. I had it all planned out. Attic access...installed two 20 amp dedicated circuits...exhaust fan ducts for heat...
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799plumb.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799fishrm.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799wall.jpg
Supposed to go where the piano is and I opend the wall for a 28" door into my dream fish room.
Then something got to her head and figured hmmm... thats a good walking closet for the kids. Walkin Closet?...my little one is only 1 year old and she can't even WALK. Somebody please explain the walkin closet for a 1 year old. After weeks of argu*($%s. she won. Now my tank is stuck between a hard place and a rock....I meant her china cabinet and her grandfather clock. So the room is on hold. I started the work on the tank. Soacked up so much info from Reef Central and FMAS guys... and finally filled the tank up with LR..sand...and water!.

Look at day one!
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799stuck.jpg
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799inside.jpg http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799filter.jpg

This is what the tank looked liked the second day. and I couldn't wait and did some embrassing mistakes. (you know what I'm talking about..see my other thread) What do you all think of the rock arrangement? look like a mountain? any suggestions?... I'm clueless. tear it apart and give me ideas please. Now that the fishies are out..and can re arrange..its only been 3 days. Better now that later. I've been trying to post these 50k picks for the last 3 hrs. Server busy :(
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799day3.jpg
The chromies and the clowns I send to the foster home :(
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799foster.jpg

Thanks everyone for all your help
Aji

[zoltetov]

Despite it not being what you originally wanted, that's a beautiful set up you have there. I especially like your aquascaping! I also have good news for you! :) I haven't seen any chromis in your pictures, but from the looks of it, you have a couple damsels there along with your clown. While they're in a foster home, you might want to read a little more about your damels. I have a feeling you may be bringing less fish home then you originally intended ;). Beautiful tank Aji! It looks similar to my 90! Except for the plumbing, water, rocks, fish, lights, black stand, and sump, which are all disguised as empty space in my tank. Aside from that, they're indistinguishable! :)

Jason


P.S., The day you decided you wanted a saltwater tank was the day you already had more knowledge about this hobby than PetCo! I'm half-surprised they had those little dudes in saltwater. That's for a different thread though.

[Ludwigia73]

The chromies as you call them are humbug or 3-stripe damsels. The good news is they more than likely would have survived the cycle, but I'm proud of you for taking them back. The clown probably would not have made it. I kindof like the aquascaping, it gives alot of diagonal space to mount sps on. The cool thing is, you run out of horizontal space very quickly, but diagonal gives you the best of both worlds. Time will tell if you like the rockscape, and if you're like most aquarists, you'll change it about 50 times before you figure out what you really like. I've changed mine twice since you saw it a couple weeks ago. Looks like you have a great start!

[ReefRatz]

Yes they are damsels...my mistake. I dont know why I call them chromies. Anyway I had 3 blue, 3 stripped and 3 black with spots on them. Thanks Jason and Chris... I kinda liked the looks of the rocks at first. but I'm having questions... Maybe I should leave it alone for now and see what happens when I start with the corals.

I have a question... When my skimmer is on.. the pump is sucking in minute air bubbles and looks like it originating from the sand bed. If I turn the skimmer of after 10 minutes it goes away. Anyone have a fix for this?. May be the plumbing is designed wrong?. I have 1.5 " drain to the sump and a 3/4" Return that tees off inside the overflow to either sides.

Another Delima I have now is, I have two 175W M57 type kit. But I cannot mount it in the current hood because of the clearance is less that 6". I could build another hood but It have to be square on the corners... I do not know how to make the rounded Corners that is atleast 18" tall to mount the MH. The stand is the same design... all black formica. Any suggestions ideas. And to mention I cannot suspend anything from the ceiling either everything have to be self contained.

Someone here have experience or know of how to do this. with black Formica.

Thanks again
Aji

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/83799hood.jpg

[ReefRatz]

Originally posted by zoltetov


P.S., The day you decided you wanted a saltwater tank was the day you already had more knowledge about this hobby than PetCo! I'm half-surprised they had those little dudes in saltwater. That's for a different thread though.

Its funny The kid who got the fish he almost filled up the water from the sink. Grand opening madness I guess.. and no experience

[Ludwigia73]

Aji, if you remember seeing my tank I had the same problem with my canopy. I had to remove the supports on the side and front that sit on top of the tank, and add another 7" of wood to the bottom of the hood. Then I matched the stain, and it was all set. It ain't perfect, but it looks great when the lights in the living room are off!

[Bullredchaser]

Sweet tank ,If there is one thing I would change it would be removing the bio balls.There really good at producing nitrate and for a reef tank thats not good.Also I would add some powerheads like the Seios because you want a ton of flow.You should have the water rippling on top which is good for gas exchange and getting the rippling effect from the halides. Also the rock work looks good to me.

[ReefRatz]

Chris
I might End up doing something like that add another 12" high some sort of rectangular framing to raise up the current 6" canopy. and Paint it black.. I've never done any finished carpentry or done any formica work. Thats why I'm stuck:(. Any tools that can cut 12" high with 1" radius?
Thanks again I'll see you at the bowling

Bullredchaser
Yes I was told to leave it in for few weeks?.... I read others not to. I'll take them out
Thanks

Aji

[Carl_in_Florida]

Is this your first saltwater tank? Pretty ambitious.

Carl

[ReefRatz]

Originally posted by Carl_in_Florida
Is this your first saltwater tank? Pretty ambitious.

Carl

Yes my very first Salt water Experience... Kept Fresh water for few years..like angels and tetras.....mollies and sowrd tails..
Thanks
Aji

[Carl_in_Florida]

Welcome to a new world. You might want to check out FMAS. I know they are a pretty active club though i have not made a meeting yet. They are having a meeting at the swimming hall of fame.

Carl

[45commando]

My 120 canopy looks very similar even down to the curved ends.My canopy is only 6" high also,which puts my halides about 3" above the surface of the water.I use 2 x 4" computer fans in the back pulling air in(my canopy has an overhang in front where all the hot air is blown out).I do run a chiller,but it only kicks on about 1 or 2 times a day.Infact today is the first time it's kicked on in about 2 weeks.In the summer it runs less,because of the A/C.While I'm sure this is not considered ideal,the heat issue is nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be.I'm sure if you put in 4 or 6 fans,you'd have hardly any heat build up & save the hassle of modifying your canopy.HTH.