one month after the upgrade to an 850gal reef

[salsaking]

I know from first hand experience! This is the nicest, cleanest system I have ever seen. Thank you for taking time out of your day Thursday to show Paul, Dang and Myself your spectacular set-up! Thanks for everything!! I mean Everything!!! I've got your back next time around Steve.

People!! This system cuts no corners!! I mean no corners. Steve has created something special here. Thank you for sharing your system with us all!!

P.S. Consider living in Seattle for three or four month!! You can design my system anytime!!

P.S. Salsa for life!!! "Salsa King" Eric

P.P.S Update that internet. LOL and get that camera!!

[Putawaywet]

Hi Steve,

If you're still kicking around ideas for changing the background you might be interested in this.

I found this stuff while researching my setup.

I think with the size of your tank it would add an unbelievable dimension to your forced perspective viewing.

If there is such a thing.... it might just make an awesome tank even more awesome!!!!

http://www.brightlights-tech.com/moonback.htm
http://www.brightlights-tech.com/moonbackDL.htm

Brett

[Julio]

I do believe that property taxes are the highest in NY with Sanfrancisco coming in a close second.

[frivera28]

Steve,

Are you running an HQI ballast?

[steveweast]

Frivera28....two of my ballasts are HQI's, the others are pulse starts.

Putawaywet... thanks for the links...those look interesting.

Salsaking... Eric, you realize that after your comment that my head no longer fits through the door...thanks alot.

[frivera28]

Steve,
How often are you changing the bulbs on the hqi ballast.

Also would you recommend them over DE 250wt hqi bulbs?

Also what type of skimmer are you using?

[John Kelly]

When are you going to build the beach for it?

[shaw]

i like those illuminated back walls. probably done by led's right.

[Mantis]

Steve,

Love your tank, it's been my favorite ever since you were TOTM. Can't believe you tore it down. The upgrade looks great though.

What is the purple coral in the front, near the bottom on the left side, in between a clam and blue carpet? Can't tell from the photo.

Thanks

[steveweast]

That purple coral is a goniopora that I've had for coming up on three years now.

[invincible569]

Steve,

when most of us uprgade to a bigger tank, it means more livestock. Did you happen to add any additional corals yet? and plan too? I know you added new fish and replaced some carpets.

[steveweast]

Invincible... I have added a couple Bali corals recently; but, in general, I'm only planning on adding a few more sps corals. What I'm really looking for is a few corals... soft, hard, or mushroom... that will add motion to the tank....maybe a green sinularia or photosynthetic gorgonias. The tank needs a little more motion to add some interest. An increasing anemone population will help in time; but, I also need some other motion generators.

[maxxII]

Steve,
Is there something special that your doing for your Gonipora that many might not be able to??? (Aside form that whole living in a 850 gallon tank) Has it reproduced in your tank?
Thanks,
Nick

[steveweast]

MaxxII... I currently have two gonioporas... a red and a purple. Both have grown from very small pieces to the softball size that they are today. Both will be three years old in February; but, neither has reproduced. I have no idea what to attribute their success to... however, if I were to guess, I would say that I skim very heavily as well as feed very heavily. I think the feeding indirectly helps the gonioporas... as they probably feed on the plankton larvae that are generated from the heavy feedings. I do notice alot of planktonic activity in the water column... especially at night.

[VaderWS6]

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Julio]

gonioporas fo require a lot of food and they tend to do better in colonies. They mostly eat diatom algae.

[hannah9932]

your tank is simly amazing....how do you get your sand to stay so white and clean....mine seems to get brown from time to time

[fe342185]

Steve, Amazing tank. I just spent the last 2 hours going through the entire thread. Anyway just some easy questions

Looks like you have a lot of success with the livestock but were there any livestocks that you failed on and why if known?

[steveweast]

Hannah... I don't have a DSB; so, I am able to clean the sand often through stirring and vaccuming.

Fe.... Dendros have been a failure in my tank... but, I haven't tried one in well over two years. I have not had a whole lot of luck with non-photosynthetic gorgonians either.

[Anemonebuff]

My taxes are $8500 with a 20% increase comming at the end of the year. My escrow is gonna pass my mortgage soon.

[RARZILLO]

No more calls................we have a winner.

[clamlvr]

Originally posted by Anemonebuff
My taxes are $8500 with a 20% increase comming at the end of the year. My escrow is gonna pass my mortgage soon.

what

[Julio]

that's NY for you.

[playa]

HOlly Shhhhhhh........ Batman!

An impecable DREAM!

[Julio]

lol