Tank of the Month - July 2005 - Page 3

cperez155 · #51 07/05/2005, 11:56 PM

hit the refresh button ...that worked for me.

o yea btw nice tank you have going there!

jumboshrimp18 · #52 07/06/2005, 01:31 AM

Just spectacular. A big ambitious project done to perfection. The open water effect really makes me feel like I might be scuba diving when I look at your display.
I would like to hear about your automatic feeder set up--with pics--if you have a chance. Actually your system is so sweet that I think a picture of anything would be a treat.

dogstar74 · #53 07/06/2005, 02:05 AM

Arguably the best TOTM that I have ever seen. Well done! Smashing job!

Aaron

FunkieReefJunkie · #54 07/06/2005, 02:10 AM

I love how the coral are displayed in kind of a wave fashion. It creates a flowing relaxing picture. I'd like to fall asleep on your couch after being lulled into dreamland by the swimming fish and the many colorful coral hues.

LynusAnn · #55 07/06/2005, 02:52 AM

I just wanted to add my own congrats in. Gorgeous tank and has given us some nice ideas for our 300gal.

burntom · #56 07/06/2005, 03:28 AM

Just to add my congratulations! Nice to see a UK reefer doing so well in the home of reefing fanatics! A worthy addition to the TOTM pantheon.

Also encouraging to see that there are decent SPS available in the UK, for when I return next year (when I'll be setting up again). Where did you get yours Tuan?

Tom

MangroveCoral · #57 07/06/2005, 03:56 AM

My God! Your set up is so scientifically technical. I flunk physics so my I'm just happy that I can fix a minor leak. I mean, your refugium makes mine look like a small baby bottle...LOL

I must say it is exciting trying to reach your idea of perfection. That's why this hobby is great...there's always something new to learn. However, your tanks is so incredibly (and physics--cally) self-maintained now...do you have any new project or challenge now?

tlp · #58 07/06/2005, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kbd
Tuan,

Many congratulations, and so well deserved.

Did you ever worry about using copper piping ?

kim

Kim you teaser! You know that the copper piping is isolated from the reef's water by a very costly titanium heat exchanger!

Thanks

tlp · #59 07/06/2005, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefWaters
tlp...the easiest thing to do is just ditto everyone's comments.

Perfect might be a good adjective.

One question. Did you plan every sub-system/detail of the tank before you began to build it or did you add on as you thought of new ideas? I ask because I keep postponing a new system due to the fact that I'm constantly changing my mind and discovering new and better ways to do things...like water changes and temperature control.

Congratulations again! Tanks like yours are what inspire me and keep me in the hobby.

ReefWaters.

I spent a good few months sketching out all the details and planning and then did a big-bang build in one go. The only real modifications made after completion was to add four more stream pumps as time goes on to increase the flow as the coral growths took off.

A few things could have been done better with hindsight obviously, but this would always happen, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and go for it.

tlp · #60 07/06/2005, 04:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kevensquint
Its none of my business ,so feel free not to answer. Did you ever do a grand total on how much you've invested on the set-up of your tank? Mine is only 65 gallons and I'm in the thousands. I ask you this also since I have never seen such an incredible tank. You should charge people to come in and see it, I bet your tank is nicer than the local aquariums tanks.

Let's just say I sold a rather nice sport car to fund it. It made sense at the time as we were planning on having children so we knew we would spend more time at home anyway than being able to use a two seater. Cost wise I think I would have been able to save about half if I was in the US.

tlp · #61 07/06/2005, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by burntom
Just to add my congratulations! Nice to see a UK reefer doing so well in the home of reefing fanatics! A worthy addition to the TOTM pantheon.

Also encouraging to see that there are decent SPS available in the UK, for when I return next year (when I'll be setting up again). Where did you get yours Tuan?

Tom

Most (all but one) of my SPS were grown from frags. Many were bought from a local farmer (Martyn Huyler), some were given/traded with friends. We're still quite limitted on what's easily available but the situation is improving.

guitar_lord · #62 07/06/2005, 06:11 AM

I just wanted to add my comments and say congrats for tank of the month!

I am amazed by all the time, hard work, and dedication that you've put into this hobby.

Thanks so much for sharing that
simply amazing......

Ricardo Lacerda · #63 07/06/2005, 06:23 AM

Congratulations....
.. i just fell that we could never do something like that here in Portugal !! Our prices are insane !!! It would take a two year income to do that ...

....and i thought my Tank was OK ....

Just one question ...
... donÂ´t you have problems with all that copper??

Thanks a lot...
...and greetings from Portugal!!!

Skipper · #64 07/06/2005, 07:42 AM

For those having problems with all the images displaying...

If you click on an image before all the images in the page have loaded, the rest of the images will stop loading. Wait until your status bar shows that the entire page is finished loading.

tlp · #65 07/06/2005, 07:44 AM

The copper pipes are part of the heating/cooling system and are isolated from tank water by a titanium heat exchanger. ie. the heated/cooled water (tap water) pass through one side of the heat exchanger in one circuit, tank water on another circuit pass by on the otherside and are not in contact. The heat exchanger in the middle transfer just the heat across from one circuit to another.

Broodingwolf · #66 07/06/2005, 07:56 AM

tuan --

Possibly one of the best tanks I've ever seen on the TOTM page. For that opening shot, I had to do a double take, my first thought was that it was a gag shot of an actual ocean setting. Your tank really beautifully captures the depth and feel of open ocean. Congratulations on the award! I would like to know, how do you sex the mandarins to get a pair?

THE_PROPAGATOR · #67 07/06/2005, 08:12 AM

Speachless, just totally speachless
That tank is truly one of the best tanks I have ever seen.

hats off to you my friend

Dan

Ricardo Lacerda · #68 07/06/2005, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tlp
..... tank water on another circuit pass by on the otherside and are not in contact...

Sorry ... i didnÂ´t understand.... Now i see how you made it.

Other questions (sorry but i am trying to learn with the masters...):

1-How much water do you loose by evaporation?
2-Do you use Kalk?
3-How often do you replace your bulbs?

Thanks a lot,

Ricardo

spamin76 · #69 07/06/2005, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by tlp
Thanks & well spotted. The pink tail trigger is one of my most recent purchases, not paired up unfortunately, it is a great fish.

I noticed this too

I am inspired to see a trigger in such a set up - I would love to create a similar set up with crosshatches.

tlp · #70 07/06/2005, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Broodingwolf
tuan --

Possibly one of the best tanks I've ever seen on the TOTM page. For that opening shot, I had to do a double take, my first thought was that it was a gag shot of an actual ocean setting. Your tank really beautifully captures the depth and feel of open ocean. Congratulations on the award! I would like to know, how do you sex the mandarins to get a pair?

Mandarin sexing was fun. The male is supposed to have an extended/elongated dorsal fin but typically mine didn't so I had a real problem trying to pair it up mistaking it for a female initially.

LisaP had some beautiful shots of male & female mandarins. I'll see if she can drop in a link here that might help.

tlp · #71 07/06/2005, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ricardo Lacerda
Sorry ... i didnÂ´t understand.... Now i see how you made it.

Other questions (sorry but i am trying to learn with the masters...):

1-How much water do you loose by evaporation?
2-Do you use Kalk?
3-How often do you replace your bulbs?

Thanks a lot,

Ricardo

1 - a lot. as the tank is in my garage which is quite drafty and I also encourage evaporation via fans (extractor and blowing at the water).
2 - yes, with high evaporation I can add a lot of kalk. Most of the kalk solution is dripped in at a constant rate 24/7 via a dosing pump, some is added periodically and automatically via the float switch when the evaporation is more than the constant dripped rate.
3 - the lamps are replaced around 12-15mths cycle, although recent attendance at a seminar where Sanjay Joshi was speaking I getting more convinced that we can replace the lamps less frequently.

anothermineral · #72 07/06/2005, 08:48 AM

Tuan,

Congrats, The tank is awe inspiring.

dc · #73 07/06/2005, 09:12 AM

Another amazing tank! Thumbs up on the reefslides also!

Witchdoctor_h · #74 07/06/2005, 09:21 AM

Tuan, first let me say BEAUTIFUL!!

I have only one question. You mention in your description about the live rock that you have a "two level structure". Can you describe more about what exactly you mean and how you did it?

Thanks

tlp · #75 07/06/2005, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Witchdoctor_h
Tuan, first let me say BEAUTIFUL!!

I have only one question. You mention in your description about the live rock that you have a "two level structure". Can you describe more about what exactly you mean and how you did it?

Thanks

Sounds a lot more sophisticated than what it is... what I meant is most of the structure is only 2 average sized pieces of live rock high.