Tank of the Month - October 2007

[pwhitby]

Manosdr,poksnok, law,shbumii, esky,dag, reefski,invincible and lvreefer....is that you all??

Thanks for your comments.

Sicne you are interested in my sand bed, here goes.

Aragamx select, washed in saltwater drained and dumped in the tank. Depth is about 1-2 inches.

The main filtration is about 300-400lbs southdown in the refugium.

I did this because i didnt want a lot of sand in the main tank to remove the physical depth. This was beacuse I wanted my wood trim to be higher than the sand bed, so I could minimze scratches.

It not uncommon for my pumps to actually blow clear spots on the tank bottom.

As for seeding it, I moved so much from my old tank (rock wise) I figured it was well seeded and I also used all the old sand from my 225g to the refugium.

Paul.

Paul.

[blenny90]

Paul -

Spectacular system. I want to personally thank you for the time spent on the Reeflo thread. Your experience and instructions were vital in my decision making process. I am very happy with my decision to go with Reeflo.

Again congrats - and thank you for the time you spend on RC.

Marvin

[acropora nut]

Originally posted by pwhitby
Thanks Mike....

Now if I can just get my trigger to keep from flipping sand, and my clowns as well....I may have a tank as crystal clear as yours.

I really loved the pictures you had in your article. I was very jealous.

Paul.

Paul Thx's again....I have said it time and time again Jim(Bubbletip2) and Renee Julia did a awesome job shooting my tank....

Back to your sand storm..Have you ever tried a micron sock on one of your drains ...This helps my tank tremendously..I have a few stirrers my self..

Great job again...

Mike

[pwhitby]

No, I havent and after reading your article I decided now would be the time.

I even sat down and began to sketch a design to incorporate them into my system.

P.

[pwhitby]

If anyone is interested, this is a link to a write up on my old 225g, the precursor to the 600g.

http://www.mycomas.com/content/view/88/87/

regards,

Paul.

[grigsy]

What a nice looking tank. It looks awesome.

[jaugat]

Congrats Paul!

[ActinopteryGuy]

sweet tank!!!
I love that it is all t5's
Im running the same lights as you, except only 2 11k and 2 actinic + do you advise swapping an 11k for a true actinic?

[law086]

Hey Paul - would you care of comment on your quarantine practices?

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by ActinopteryGuy
sweet tank!!!
I love that it is all t5's
Im running the same lights as you, except only 2 11k and 2 actinic + do you advise swapping an 11k for a true actinic?

I would only say to do that if you want the tank to look more blue than it currently does. Lighting changes like that are really a matter of taste I think.

Paul.

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by law086
Hey Paul - would you care of comment on your quarantine practices?

Certainly,

Anything and everything gets QT for 4 weeks. No exception.

After 4 weeks the fish get QT-d till they are eating the regular tank foods. Corals.....well.... till I figure where to put them.

I QT in my frag tank system. I can always move those corals if I need to and a fish is much better QT-d in a reef like structure to my mind., Less stress due to lots of hiding spaces for them.

I can always catch a fish in there if I need to do so.

Once I am QT-ing anything I no longer trade frags out until the 4 weeks is over.

Paul.

[CoralGeek]

wow!

[reefNchips]

Congrats! Very nice system!

[MikeG]

Beautiful tank! Great work.

I have a similar problem with my new tank room (uneven concrete floor). Can you tell me more about how you did it? PM if you like.

I hope my tank can be as nice as yours.

[pwhitby]

Mike:

Read from this page onwards.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...&pagenumber=12

it details how I overcame the uneven floor.

Let me know if you have questions.

P.

[TJ]

Paul, beautiful tank- I know you'll hear it thousands of times within the next month, just wanted to add to it... doesn't all the pain, work, expense, etc., etc. pay off during a time like this?! Congrats on your TOTM-

[iansfishy]

great tank. with the three returns running under the sand how do you keep your tank from draining if something happens. does the oceans motions have one way flow valves? thats a great idea if you can stop the water from returning. makes me want to spend more time planning a bigger tank.

[Reefski's]

a closed loop is closed. no where for water to siphon to.

i don't trust the one way valves. a little sponge growth in there and then it won't work.

[THE APPRENTICE]

Paul what a tank ! I have to say This is what I would love to strive to have some day !

I have a wrasse question? When you Introduced your Halichoeres melanurus what proceedure did you use? IE all at once or one at a time?
I have a 150 Gallon Tank and I have a small school of Macropharyngodon meleagris ,Macropharyngodon ornatus and a Pseudochelilinus hexataenia. I have little to no Aggresion to each of them But I added the Macropharyngodon all at once. Just Inquiring on how you added them ? I am trying to learn more about the Halichoeres melanurus.
Great Tank,Tread and pictures Paul
Man your so lucky!

Jeff

[Reefski's]

plumbing question-

the closed loops in the bottom of the tank, did you just use the rubber washer on the bulkhead or something additional to seal it in?

my new tank has ten bulkheads in the bottom of the tank and i can't afford a leak later on.

Carl

[markandkristen]

hi awesome tank
i just purchased a pink tail trigger and his tail is mostly white. did yours come pink or white and turn pink

[MikeG]

Thanks for the link!

[Gary Majchrzak]

that's an absolute stunner of an aquarium, Paul.... congrats!

One question (I might have missed the answer, so please excuse me if I did): do you have any shrimps in your aquarium with the pair of Halichoeres chrysus ?

[WeMa]

i had the pleasure of seeing this tank is person this weekend, and it is awesome! i really love the look the depth gives and he has some very nice corals! actually grabbed me a few frags! Great work Paul, thanks for having me!

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by THE APPRENTICE


I have a wrasse question? When you Introduced your Halichoeres melanurus what proceedure did you use? IE all at once or one at a time?
I have a 150 Gallon Tank and I have a small school of Macropharyngodon meleagris ,Macropharyngodon ornatus and a Pseudochelilinus hexataenia. I have little to no Aggresion to each of them But I added the Macropharyngodon all at once. Just Inquiring on how you added them ? I am trying to learn more about the Halichoeres melanurus.
Great Tank,Tread and pictures Paul
Man your so lucky!

Jeff

Thanks for the compliments. The melanurius we re purchased 2 at a time and added that way. The first two were fine, the second two were chased but after a day they were fine. They are voracious eaters and will decimate crabs and snails. They dont harm anything else.

They are so greedsy and adept at eating that they almost compete out the other fish and feeding the slower fish can become a chore.

Nice fish, but a real pig.

P.