my 240

[hobogato]

i did a build thread on my local reef site, but not here, so i thought i would document my tank build and show where it is now

specs:

240 long from glasscages with overflows in the ends since it is a room divider

6.5' long sump/fuge i made with 4 compartments - LR rubble, skimmer compartment, fuge with deep sand bed and mangroves, and return pump area

mag12 and mag18 for return pumps

single beckett skimmer that i made supplied by a mag12

dual chamber calcium reactor and a kalk reactor that i built

3 SE 250 watt MH with luminarc copies that i made
2 DE 250 watt MH with upgraded reflectors in pendants
8 @ 65 watt PC true actinic
75 blue LED moonlights

four seio 2600's on two controllers and a tunze powerhead on single controller.

October of 2005

framed out stand after removing back half of the wall
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/Image018.jpg

skinned with pecan and cherry wood
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/Image0032.jpg

tank sitting in place the day we brought it home
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/Image020.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/Image019.jpg

unfinished canopy on dining room side
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/Image021.jpg

woodwork on living room side
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/Image022.jpg

painting, staining and sealing done
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/tank12.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/tank22.jpg

[hobogato]

some of the various things i built for the tank

sump/fuge
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/acesumpfuge.jpg

skimmer
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/newskimmer.jpg
running
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/newskimmerrunning.jpg

reactors
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/dynamicduo.jpg
running
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/dynamicdone.jpg

SE reflector
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/luminace.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/luminace2.jpg

DE reflector
before
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/oldDE.jpg
after
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/newDE.jpg

[hobogato]

the seio setup
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/seiosetup.jpg

filtration running (left to right)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/filtration1.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/filtration2.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/filtration3.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/filtration4.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/filtration5.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/filtration6.jpg

[angelo68]

Nice setup. I like the different apperances on either side. Did you make your own overflow covers or did they come from GC? I'd like to see some pictures of the tank if you have it up and running. I just picked up my 240 wide from GC last sunday.

Angelo

[hobogato]

also added a side table that houses a 50 gallon clam tank - plumbed into the sump thru the wall
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/clamtankfront.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/clamtankopen.jpg

here is the display tank in november of 2005
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/2005_11.jpg

here it is in november of 2006 1 year old :)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/fulltank11_25.jpg

[hobogato]

here it is around new year's day - after beginning treatment of all acros for AEFW. :(

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/AEFW/strippedfront.jpg

here is the redisigned aquascaping
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/AEFW/aquafront.jpg

and here it is currently - two weeks after finishing AEFW treatment and placement of corals back in the tank - they are really starting to color back up :D

full front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/AEFW/front1_13.jpg
left end
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/AEFW/leftfront1_31.jpg
center
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/AEFW/center1_31.jpg
right end
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/AEFW/right1_31.jpg

[hobogato]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9146298#post9146298 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by angelo68
Nice setup. I like the different apperances on either side. Did you make your own overflow covers or did they come from GC? I'd like to see some pictures of the tank if you have it up and running. I just picked up my 240 wide from GC last sunday.

Angelo

thanks, i made the covers out of 1/4" black acrylic.

[drummereef]

Simply stunning. A beautiful example of how a mixed reef should be. Killer idea for the clam tank too :thumbsup:

[K-ROK]

Amazing tank! Thanks for the pics as I am hoping to do something along the same idea. Always wanted a room divider tank!

[mrpet]

very nice well done...

[reef_doug]

Very nice setup.

How did you upgrade the DE reflectors?
I have the reefoptix pendants and would like to increase the reflectivity. Did you polish them or buy special reflectors?

Thanks
Doug

[hobogato]

i took out the old reflector, flattened it out and used it as a template to cut out an identical piece of solartube material (the stuff they use for skylights that i bought at lowe's). bent the newly cut reflector into the shape of the old and it was done. actually very simple. mine had three pieces, and the two end pieces fit into the main parabolic piece with a tab/slot configuration, so i cut those slots with a dremmel tool cut off disk.

[Bax]

Really nice tank. Hope your AEFW issues are well behind you now

[Chaotic Reefer4u]

very nice job, keep up the good work!

[quy_nquyen]

those full tank shots are gorgeous! i really like how you somewhat gave the tank an island design

[hobogato]

thanks for the compliments :) the rockwork actually has three separate islands and a couple of bridges, here is a crude topographical drawing.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/topography.jpg

[ReeferMonkey]

Looking good Ace! Can't wait to see things grow in.

[Samson8]

nice tank, great clam idea. nice job

[hobogato]

little update

been a bit lax on this, nobody wants to see the january pic - trust me ;)

here's february:
full tank front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/2007_02.jpg
left side front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/a2007_02.jpg
right side front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/c2007_02.jpg
full tank back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/w2007_02.jpg
left side back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/x2007_02.jpg
right side back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/z2006_02.jpg
side shot
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/sidebottom2007_02.jpg


clam tank
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/clamtank2007_02.jpg

[hobogato]

and a few miscellaneous pics
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/vlamingi2007_02.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/seaworldbluemilli2007_02.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/softyisland.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/scubainsignis2007_02.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/redlobo2007_02.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/scubabluemilli2007_02.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/petebluemilli2007_02.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/platenzoas2007_02.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/acanblasto.jpg

[BadOleRoss]

Very nice tank..........well done!

[tanya72806]

nice setup

Love the clam tank ;)

[magdelan]

I love the aquascape. It's the way I envision my 125g to be.

[dc_909]

That orange clam is very nice

[hobogato]

thanks for the comments everyone :)

here is the last change i made to the tank - i have upgraded just about everything possible in the last few months, so now it is time to watch it grow :)

well, i have been holding on to my pc actinics for long enough, and finally decided to switch over to T5 for actinic suppliment instead. i was running eight 65 watt actinic retro kits on my tank, and decided to switch over to eight 24" and four 36" high output T5 bulbs. i went to workhorse 7 ballasts for this - three of em. the bulbs i chose are the URI super actinic that supposedly put out 40 watts on a 24" and 65 watts on a 36" if you have the ballast power to do it. so if that is true, i am now running 580 watts of T5 lights. here are a few pics.

i used solartube material to make the reflectors.

tank with PC actinics
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/tankpcactinic.jpg

acrylic shells i built to house the T5s
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/t5acrylic2.jpg

the two configurations i used

2 X 24"
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/t52foot.jpg
a 24" with a 36"
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/t5combo.jpg

one side installed (looks the same on the other side of the tank) they BARELY fit! :o
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/t5installed.jpg

cruddy full tank shot with the T5s - with the PC lights, my camera wouldnt go faster than 1/6 of a second exposure, where with the T5s, it was set at 1/30 of a second - translation, the T5s are WAY brighter :)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/tankt5actinic.jpg

[talldude]

Wow!! Great aquascaping!!! That is gorgeous!

[hobogato]

thanks dude - its really starting to come around now after the corals have recovered from the AEFW treatment and all the lighting upgrades.

[dc_909]

What did you do to that reflector?

[hobogato]

whattaya mean? if you mean how did it get so shiny, it is that way when you buy it. it is the material used to make solar tube skylights.

[dc_909]

The 1st pick of the DE reflector is dull and then it is super shiny. Did it have a film on it? Did you polish it?

[rppvt]

I think he said he replaced the reflector material with the highly-polished inside of a sola-tube-- it's not the same material; he used the original as a template.

[hobogato]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9284784#post9284784 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rppvt
I think he said he replaced the reflector material with the highly-polished inside of a sola-tube-- it's not the same material; he used the original as a template.

exactly - the one in the first pic was the original reflector and the one in the second pic was the replacement i made from the sky light material. my tank was about twice as bright just by changing from the old spider reflectors on my SE fixtures and the original reflectors in the DE pendants to my home made luminarc like SE reflectors and new reflectors in the DE pendants. i used the same material to make reflectors for the T5 lights i added this weekend also :D

[corivus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9146313#post9146313 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hobogato
also added a side table that houses a 50 gallon clam tank - plumbed into the sump thru the wall
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/clamtankfront.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/clamtankopen.jpg


is it bad that I want to see the construction for this? I've always wanted a tank setup like this for the living room or for my own room its really cool look, I might actually do something like this for my tank setup whenever it goes

[thecodfather]

sweet tank...keep up the good work!

[Alphabet]

Very nice tank indeed, alot of nice diy's in there also.

[hobogato]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9285667#post9285667 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by corivus
is it bad that I want to see the construction for this? I've always wanted a tank setup like this for the living room or for my own room its really cool look, I might actually do something like this for my tank setup whenever it goes

it is a simple acrylic tank with an external calfo that drains into the sump of my main tank. water is pumped to it by a mag7 in the sump. then, i built the table just big enough for the acrylic tank to fit into it and tall enough that the water level was just high enough to drain into the sump. there is also just enough space between the top of the tank and the inside of the lid to house a 175 watt SE MH light in the front and four T5 tubes around the perimeter on the sides and back. the lid is made of four pieces of wood as a frame just wide enough to cover the lighting around the perimeter with a 1/4" glass panel in the middle for viewing. i also added black acrylic around the perimeter of the glass to block out the glare from the lights.

if you have any questions, please ask! :)

here's a schematic of the tank itself
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/projects/clamtank.jpg

[220gallon]

Great looking tank.

[hobogato]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9286335#post9286335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Alphabet
Very nice tank indeed, alot of nice diy's in there also.

thanks - in case you havent noticed, i am too cheap to pay someone to do anything i might be able to do myself :)

[hobogato]

well, i bought texastodd's tank and put his corals and my corals together into my tank. here is what it looks like now.

front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/2007_03.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/a2007_03.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/c2007_03.jpg

back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/w2007_03.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/x2007_03.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/z2007_03.jpg

side shot
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/st2007_03.jpg

camera hog (that is why his name is hog)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/hogdisplay.jpg

[dc_909]

That is a nice pic.

[Bax]

The corals look great, I just love that huge vlamingi!!!

Wish I had 6+ feet of room for a tank for one!

[hobogato]

we love him, unfortunately, i think he is already beginning to run out of room even tho our tank is 8' long. he is about 10" long right now.

[ReeferMonkey]

Needs more acros. :D

[drummereef]

hobogato - what bulbs and ballast are you running with your DE setup. the colors are awesome!

[hobogato]

nathan - surprised i havent heard from you, coming to dallas in two days, you may want to check out my post on DFWMAS

drummer - thanks, i am running 12k reeflux and coralvue electronic ballasts on my SE and DE setups. i am also running 580 watts of URI super actinic T5, which probably helps with the color.

[hobogato]

some new coral pics:

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/Image009-2.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/Image010-2.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/Image012-2.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/Image016-1.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/Image002-1.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/Image003-1.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/Image004-1.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/Image005-2.jpg

[messy1messmer]

what is the name of the last piece of coral.

[hobogato]

not sure fellow hero fan, it is a wild colony i just picked up at a local shop.

[messy1messmer]

it is beautiful. I love heros although it was weird the last couple episodes that is. If your a hero fan i can guess that your a Lost fan too. I dont mean to hijack your thread with tv talk. Your tank looks great i will post my 240 for you. One thing i love about yours compared to mine is the corner overflows mine are 9" in on each side.

[messy1messmer]

how many bulbs are you running and what wattage are they

[Absinthe]

Tank of the month.

Can I come live with you?

[Bax]

Beautiful pics!

[hobogato]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9517202#post9517202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by messy1messmer
how many bulbs are you running and what wattage are they

8 @ 2' and 4 @ 3' 580 watts (total) URI super actinic t5 for 18 hours a day
3 @ 250 watt SE reeflux 12k with homemade luminarc style reflectors for 8 hours a day
2 @ 250 watt SE reeflux 12k with solartube upgraded reflectors for 4 hours a day

heros and lost - the only two hours in the evening when i wont let people come over for frags or reeftalk :D

thanks for the compliments absinthe and bax

[hobogato]

ok, so now that i have treated for redbugs and done the whole flatworm treatment, i decided to go after the other little pests left in my tank. i got a copperband butterfly a week ago, and he has made a dent in my aptasia issue, but i decided to help him out a bit ;) took all the acros out of the tank yesterday and rearranged rocks - cutting off rock with aptasia, mejanos, and bryopsis. quit putting things back together around midnight, and finished the last 40 or so small corals this morning. dramatic change :)

yesterday at 1pm
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00185.jpg

clam tank stuffed full of acros :o
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00186.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00188.jpg

today

front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00193.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00189.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00190.jpg

[hobogato]

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00191.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00192.jpg

back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00197.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00194.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00195.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00196.jpg

[ReefWreak]

Absolutly beautiful and brilliant! I love how you even made most of the equipment for it. Really inspiring! Thanks for sharing!!!

[nss9400]

awesome tank!

[jvschlegel]

do you have a list of what fish you currently have? Might of missed it since I zoomed throught he pages.

[hobogato]

in the display i have :

vlamingi, two yellow tangs, hippo, clown tang, yellow coris, royal gramma, three pj cards, a bunch of three stripe damsels, harlequin tusk, pistol/diamond gobi pair, gsm clown, copperband bfly, mandarin, 6 line, eyelash blennie - soon to add leopard wrass, two spot wrasse, and radiant wrasse

in the clam tank i have:

volitan, marine beta, 6 line, sailfin tang

[hobogato]

here are a couple of pics i took yesterday:

front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00417.jpg
back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00408.jpg
end
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00405.jpg

[hobogato]

random sections:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00395.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00364.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00365.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00370.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00381.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00382.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00342.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00344.jpg

also posted some others of just the sps in the sps forum

[hobogato]

posted these in the sps forum also

my tank has looked a little off for a couple of weeks, with less PE, color and even some recession at the bottom of some corals. i could not for the life of me figure out what was wrong - even ran the full battery of test - nothing unusual. well, in two days, everything has returned to normal, and even better on some corals. cant believe the PE on some of these....

blue bottlebrush (this is the acro that is the hair of my avatar)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC004982.jpg
closer
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00498.jpg
and some other hairy acros
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00504.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00506.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00507.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00508.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00514.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3294.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00509.jpg

[hobogato]

some more random corals

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00500.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00511.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00515.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00516.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00519.jpg

and some top down shots with the photobox
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3293.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3295.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3296.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3297.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3298.jpg

[hobogato]

some more top downs

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3299.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3300.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3301.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3302.jpg
true undata starting to color well
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3303.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3305.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3306.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3307.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3311.jpg

[hobogato]

last batch of top down

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3312.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3313.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3315.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3316.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3318.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3319.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3320.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3321.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3322.jpg

[hobogato]

some macro shots with a 100mm macro lens

super pink chalice
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC005682.jpg
closer
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00568.jpg
blasto
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC005672.jpg
closer
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00567.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00566.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00565.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00564.jpg

[pcostanzo]

Very nice open aquascaping. I like the way you epoxied frags to branch rock to keep it open.

[hobogato]

one more batch

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC005632.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00563.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00562.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC005602.jpg
paletta blue
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC005592.jpg
closer
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00559.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00557.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00549.jpg
just for fun since i had all the pumps off
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00611.jpg

[hobogato]

thanks, i wanted to give the fish lots of space to swim in and out of the rock and keep things open underneath so the detritus wouldnt build up.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10397590#post10397590 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pcostanzo
Very nice open aquascaping. I like the way you epoxied frags to branch rock to keep it open.

[easye123]

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. i see at least 10-20 corals id like frags of!!! ill talk to you soon!!!

Evan

[Bax]

Very nice!

[hobogato]

evan and bax,

thanks for the comments

[neverwouldof]

Love it, Love it , Love it !

Must have every piece of coral God Created ! lol

[hobogato]

thanks keith, believe it or not, there are a couple of particular corals i would still like to get..... i still have a few duplicates that i could part with to make space :)

[hobogato]

btw, i was having trouble keeping the magnesium up, and wanted to get it above normal to try to get rid of the last bit of bryopsis. i added some magnesium granules to the calcium reactor and the magnesium is about where i want it and the small patches of bryopsis seem to be suffering and thinning. hopefully i will be rid of that stuff finally.

[hobogato]

took a bunch of pics today, but to save everyone's scrolling finger, i am only posting a few :) if you would like to see them all, the last one is a slide show of all 47.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3322-1.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00801.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3338.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00851.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3364.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3362.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3346.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/PDRM3359.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/th_8-25-2007.jpg (http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/?action=view&current=8-25-2007.flv)

[FIJI Reefing]

wow im amazed that through all the removing and treatment of coral that you never lost tons of frags. With the 100s of frags in there do you ever lose any of them. hey do you ever do any frag batches to fellow hobbiests?

[hobogato]

actually, when i was treating, i glued all the small frags together on large flat pieces of LR. i dont lose things anymore because i glue everything down with super glue gel (sometimes i think i spend as much on that stuff as i do on coral :D ) i glue the coral to a small piece of LR and then glue that into the rockwork, that way if i have to move it, i dont have to take it off of its encrusted base. i do trade and sell frags occasionally, but mostly locally. i have traded with a few people in other states. right now, i am only fragging out of necessity (to prevent neighbor wars), but soon i feel i will have to start fragging much more.

[FIJI Reefing]

i tell you what, fragging out of necessity is a good problem to have. Yeah that was smart with the glue. Do you normally charge high pices for some frags, i would be interested in a large batch if you eer came accross and i have a half dollar size alien eye chalice, small multicolored ancan and a huge tri colored 6 by 7 inch rock with about 150polyp ancan. I will be fragging that soon. But would you give a discount to a fellow reefer with your packs. Your colors are incredible so maybe sometime we can work something out. Btw how long have you had Hog, that is the biggest tang i have ever seen.

travis

[hobogato]

ill send ya a pm travis and we can discuss it.

we have had hog for about a year now - got him from a fellow reefer who was selling off his setup. he is getting close to outgrowing our tank unfortunately.

[poknsnok]

how long have you had the elegance??

[hobogato]

four or five months - it has about doubled in size since getting it. it has also grown down from the top of the skeleton about a half inch since adding it to the tank. have it in a very low flow area and pretty shaded as well.

[hobogato]

new FTS(click for large pic)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC008642.jpg (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00864.jpg)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC008652.jpg (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00865.jpg)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC008662.jpg (http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00866.jpg)

[FIJI Reefing]

WOw thats amazing man, coming along beatifuly, tried to call you couple times so feel free to return the call or i will try later. maybe we can work something out:cool:

[Bax]

Beautiful!

[hobogato]

sorry fiji, had the ringer off on my phone and have been super busy

thanks bax

was up late last night and had the dining room lights on behind the tank when only the moonlights were on in the tank and thought it made for a neat pic

camera's choice on exposure (6 seconds)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00944.jpg
my choice (1 second)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00945.jpg
one with out the back lighting (6 second exp)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC00952.jpg

[erics3000]

I love your tank. Wheww thats a lot of work but it looks great..

[chrisqueenz]

Amazing! I am actually considering purchasing a tank exactly as yours that is being offered to me for $800.. I think it's a bargain but sounds like a lot of money to put together.. What do you think?

Your tank is amazing and if I could make it look even a little like yours then I will be a very happy camper!

[hobogato]

thanks eric

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10836724#post10836724 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chrisqueenz
Amazing!

thanks

sounds like a lot of money to put together.. What do you think?

yes, if you are starting from scratch and setting up a tank this size, it will cost you. luckily, this was an upgrade of an upgrade of an upgrade so i didnt have to buy everything at once.

[erics3000]

Yeah I am starting from scratch with a 300. A lot of $$$$ and time but if it looks like yours it will be worth it.

[hobogato]

took some new shots today including some new LPS

front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01166.jpg
back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01164.jpg
some new corals and some old favorites :)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01142.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01143.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01145.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01148.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01149.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01152.jpg

[Bax]

That's nice!

[chris wright]

A very nice selection of corals mate. Love the fts updates, your aquascaping is unreal. The mixed reef style really sets it off.

Cheers

Chris

[mikekman]

BEAUTIFUL TANK!! I like how it has all sorts of corals instead of just sps, it has lps and softies. I like mixed tanks!

Mike

[Julio]

very nice! love the hidden clam tank!!

[hobogato]

thanks for all of the comments!

[hobogato]

decided to change up the rock work on one end of the tank to make it a bit more open, whattaya think?

before front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01166b.jpg
now front
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01197.jpg

before back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01164b.jpg
now back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/DSC01198.jpg

[chris wright]

I like it. The openess will benefit your corals when they get bigger, and I'm sure that the fish will enjoy the extra swimming and hiding spots.

Cheers

Chris

[Bax]

I've always liked this tank, and really like the new look.

[Chrisrush]

Looks good Ace. I pick up my media reactor from Ashely this weekend. Looks good, I can't wait to get it online.

[hobogato]

thanks for the comments, the fish really like the revised rockwork, they spend lots of time going in and out of the tonga branches.

chris - glad you like the reactor, just remember not to put too much flow thru it - mj 900 or so will be perfect.