Tank of the Month - October 2007

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by 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

yes, the rubber washer but I did use heavy duty bulkheads to ensure against leaks and cracking.

P.

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by 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

Mine had outgrown its former home and came as you see it, with the pink tail. I dont know if diet, sex or age may have an effect...sorry.

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it everytime someone looks at my tank and makes a favorable oooh or ahhhhh.

Thanks,

p.

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by MikeG
Thanks for the link!

You are very welcome.

P.

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by 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 ?

Yes, the HC do not touch any mobile inverts at all, shrimps/snails/crabs are all fine.

they do love nudibranchs though...which is great.

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by 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!

Wes, it was a pleasure meeting Maria nd yourself. I am glad you could make it over, and you are most welcome to come visit next time you are in OKC again.

Maybe by then I will have reworked the pillar with the big green staghorn on it.

P.

[Reefski's]

i too have the schedule 80 bulkheads. i was thinking of using the silicone sealant like vaseline. it never hardens, just to help seal the joint. did you just use the rubber only.

Carl

[pwhitby]

yes just dry rubber. There really is no need for anything else.

[Zoom]

Excellent tank......Congratulation for the TOTM.
Any problems with the ALK been that high ?
And why do you running it this high.

[onefin]

Breathtaking, good luck.

[lpapagno]

I cannot even imagine having a tank like this ever. I am so jealous and envious and wish I had this kind of experince. Your tank is a real thing of beauty and art. I cannot even begin to think how you keep this thing in that shape.

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by Zoom
Excellent tank......Congratulation for the TOTM.
Any problems with the ALK been that high ?
And why do you running it this high.

The Alk isnt really too high. It is above natural sea water but well within regular tank parameters.

Its stable at that level using my Ca Reactor, so I leave it there.

Paul.

[pwhitby]

Originally posted by lpapagno
I cannot even imagine having a tank like this ever. I am so jealous and envious and wish I had this kind of experince. Your tank is a real thing of beauty and art. I cannot even begin to think how you keep this thing in that shape.

Apart from cleaning the Acrylic.....theres really not too much of anything else to do.

Feed the fish, top up the water, the odd test here and there...

Sit back and enjoy.

easy.

P.

[somethinfishier]

Nothin to it huh Paul. Congrats

[Victor 1]

Dear Paul
I have been involved with reefkeeping for the last year and although money was not an issue at the outset I have never managed to get my tank the way I would like it.
After reading your article and looking at all the photographs I have a new found passion for this hobby. I think your tank is unbeleivable and I look on in awe.
If I may ask your advice on a few things:
1. Although many people have told me a Clown Trigger is not reef safe I took the chance and added one to my system, he is around 20cm in lengh and very healthy, he has been in my tank for 8 months now and has not done any damage to my corals or fish.
I feed him well and I think this might be the secret.
2. With having a fish of his size as well as a few other larger tangs I am finding my nitrate and Phosphate levels are off the charts. After reading your article I noticed you also overfeed but counter act this by skimming. From reading this I decided yesterday to purchase a second skimmer to try and reduce my nitrate and phosphate levels. I will also be doing a water change tom. to dilute the problem.
3. All the advice i have been given is to not keep so many fish in a reef tank, i only have fifteen in a 1,5metre x 70cm x 70cm. My sump is 1,2 metre and I now have two Aqua medic turbo sl skimmers. Please let me know your thoughts.


__________________
Warm Regards
Victor

[pwhitby]

Victor,

what other fish do you have besides the clown trigger, and at what size. It is not numbers but the size (biomass) of fish that makes the difference.

Also, the food you give the trigger is very protein rich. i assume you feed shrimp or other meaty foods? The trigger I have eats a lot of vegetable matter and thus less protein.

I have seen CTs in reef, but have also seen them eat clams and other soft corals...so be careful.

Adding a skimmer may help, but its the rating o the skimmer that makes the difference. two skimmers arted at 200gallons are not necessarily equal to one skimmer rated at 400g. Ideally you need the best skimmer you can afford...at least thats my thought anyways.

[Victor 1]

Dear Paul

Thanks for the quick response. I have two yellow tangs one is of average size and the other is show size, i have a purple tang also of average size, ****** trigger who is bigger then the average tang, six sergeant majors all about the size of a medium tang, two small daimsels, a clown fish and a small regal tang. My tank is roughly 250 gallons including the sump and the Aqua medic turbo sl skimmers can skim upt tp 240 gallons per unit. The fish are all in perfect condition and my corals seem fine, yet I dont have much pink coraline growing on the rocks and tank.

[pwhitby]

the coraline issue is probably due to high phosphates.

I would say with that your issues do stem from so many large fish and possibly from the corals you have as well.

without seeing the tank, its hard to tell.

P.

[Victor 1]

Paul
Do you think the new skimmer will help and how can I overcome the problem without removing any fish? I have also just recently increased the flow in my tank which has also made my corals look better. I have also upped my lighting by adding four more t5's and 1x150 watt metal halide. Will I be succesful in keeping my reef going with such high phosphate and nitrate levels?

[Reefski's]

how high is "off the charts" levels?

Carl

[todrick]

how do u keep the bubbles from getting sent back to the main tank

[pedromatic]

Amazing tank, Paul. Congratulations on TOTM.
I thought your PVC structures were very interesting. You'd never know by looking at the tank pics. I'd like to try something like that on my (sigh) next tank build.

[Victor 1]

Hi Carl

the darkest reading on the Red Sea colour chart. (Nitrate reading)

[WarrenAmy&Maddy]

hi Paul

your tank is beautiful!

if you dont mind i had a question about the energy consumption
of a system this big... iow what sort of electricity bills is this costing you?

our electric bills over the summer
were the highest ever at 350-400/mth - we have 125disply (part of a 210gal system), 150fowlr and 30 mini reef

before i think of upgrading to a larger tank i want to be sure to understand the long term cost of operation.


thank you and regards.


ps i am okie - graduated from OU in norman back in '94

[pwhitby]

i estimate it costs me around $80-$100 per month.

paul.

[WarrenAmy&Maddy]

Originally posted by pwhitby
i estimate it costs me around $80-$100 per month.

paul.

thank you.

regards