Monkey's Reef - A photo journal [img heavy]

[King-Kong]

I've always loved following a tank's progress, and now I get to return the favor with my own Photo Journal.

This thread should document the progress of my tank.

Currently purchased specs include:

• 90g RR AGA
• 33g long AGA (sump)
• iron stand
• RO/DI
• ~90lbs of live rock

Now for a little history:

I started off in November of 04 with a 10 gallon.
http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/salt-fi...ov-21-2004.jpg

Things went well and the tank slowly matured.
http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/03-08-0...k---skunk-.jpg

but 10g wasnt enough, so I tore down my 20g cichlid tank and moved my salt fellers into it.
http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/03-12-0...k--20g-wid.jpg

A few months passed, I graduated from the University of Florida, and I scored a great job. With the new job happening, I decided to try and find a place to own, and quit rentin'! Last week we moved into our new townhome.

Knowing of the transition into a more permanent location, I said I would finally upgrade to a *real* tank (I'm gonna get flamed for that -- sorry Nano people, I love you!).

About 4-5 days before we recieved the keys to the new place, tragedy struck. My 20g sprung a leak. I had to move everyone to a spare 10g.

When we finally moved, I bought a new 20g and temporarily placed everyone back into something closer to what they were used to.
http://www.d3f.org/misc/fish/90g/03-20g.jpg


Now, onto the future! The plan for the new tank is patch reef. I am planning to create one large column where life will "revolve" around (corals, fish, etc.). I will have secondary patches of rock throughout the tank, but this will not be your normal "wall o' rock" tank. Extensive use of epoxy shall be used to obtain these structures.

For a sandbed, I wont have one! I have decided to create a faux sand bed (http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...x&pagenumber=1). So far I have fitted and cut the pieces of cutting board into place.
Work shop (AKA, dining room -- remember people, we're still moving in!)


Cut boards in tank




Another aesthetic plan for my patch reef will be lighting. Most would expect 2 or 3 MH over such a tank, and actinic supplement. I am going to attempt to create light that is both useful, and artistic. I will place one 250w DE HQI MH over the main column. I will then run 48" actinics (and possibly 20k VHOs) down the rest of the tank. The goal is to create a lighted pillar, and then a deep sea feel around the rest of the tank and remaining areas.

I want to feel like I am have come upon this oasis of sea life

With that said, here are some photos of whats been acquired thus far:







The rest of my liverock "cooking"


Monday I should receive my bulkhead and refractometer, and I continue to plumb further.

I plan to use a 14k Phoenix bulb for the 250w DE HQI.
For skimmer, I will be using (or expect to be) an ASM G-2.
Circulation: undecided, though sump will be handled with Mag-7 (already purchased), and expecting to go with 2 Seio 1100's.

This whole process will take time, but I hope to update this thread as I acquire new items and or make worth-while progress.

Thank you for reading.

[Eddylikfish]

neat i cant wait to see the end results
I want to do this when i get enough money

[Fishyfreak031592]

I'll be following this thread

[LiteEmUpGood]

looks great, I'd love to see it all finished.

[psycho_clown]

that looks great going to have to follow this thread.

[King-Kong]

My fishlist is obviously a HUGE work in progress, but I'd love to get input as it evolves.

So far, I already own the following fish:

Sixline Wrasse
Bicolor Blenny
Cinnamon Clown
(and boy do I want to get them out of their current tank)

I have promised my GF I'd purchased her favorite fish, a Flame Angel (let's hope hes not a nipper).

That brings me to future selections. Again, I plan to have lots of swimming space, and a large fuge w/ heavy chaeto/pod growing properties along with an ASM G-2.

I would like:
Male companion Cinnamon Clown
(1) Male Lyretail Anthias
(2) Female Lyretail Anthias (or whatever proper, low # ratio I can get away with)

and.. the kicker.. either a Copperband, or a Purple Tang.

My question to the readers is.. can I.. no.. SHOULD I do either of the final two?

[LobsterOfJustice]

If I read that correctly you plan on having one MH in the middle of the tank. You are going to get a horrific shadow right on top of your pillar of corals. There are mods you can do to the center brace to replace it with something clear to solve this, I'd look into it.

Also, I dont know if you should get one of the last two fish, it sounds like a lot, but I think you'll just have to wait and see how crowded it looks. Here's how I stock my tanks: buy random stuff until it looks full. Usually works...

[King-Kong]

The main pillar will not be in the center of the tank. It will be centered on 1/3 of the tank -- I have not yet decided which side.

If i place it on the over flow side, it will cover the overflow (good) but will have limitations on diameter because of reduced width due to the overflow (bad).

If i place it on the oposite side, the overflow will be more obvious (bad) but I will have more space around the column (very good).

I am leaning towards placing it on the oposite side of the overflow.

If the shadow created by the center brace still continues to be a problem, well, I'll address that depending on how everything looks.

My final "center piece" fish would be a last addition, if at all, so I expect if it appears to be "too much", I'll realize before.

Also, the male companion cinnamon clown is not set in stone, but is something i'd like to try.

[King-Kong]

Faux Sand bed is on it's way!

Envirotex is currently curing -- let's hope it comes out as expected.

[Nicholo]

This looks like fun! Go Gators!!

[A\/enger]

I think I will join the fun and follow along too.

[Nuhtty]

So far so good

[King-Kong]

Update:

The tank is now on the stand, the basic plumbing has been completed, and I have setup my RO/DI outside -- the output flow on my RO/DI sure seems slow... anyone have footage of their flow rate? I am not sure if mine is working right.. ratio seems worse than 4/1.

I will soon (perhaps even tuesday) test for leaks and pressure of my spray bar and adjust accordingly.

[King-Kong]

I have been wanting to fill the tank to test the plumbing, but ive been trying to get the RO/DI working first.

it's going horribly slow -- over 40 minutes for 1 gallon (membrane rated @ 125gpd, unit rated at 100gpd).

Here is a photo of my clean water output

[King-Kong]

Update:

I returned the RO/DI machine and am planning (though not positive yet) to purchase an Airwaterice Typhoon system tomorrow morning.

With that said, today I filled the tank w/ fresh tap water to test plumbing and spray bar.

I am very satisfied with the way everything is running and with my surface agitation with only a mag7 + spray bar. My Seio 1100's are on their way.

[melev]

That RO/DI unit wasn't running correctly if that was the output. You should expect roughly 4g per hour at this time of year.

[King-Kong]

get this -- I brought the unit in the LFS.. they got another new one off the shelf -- same performance. All of these units (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=4394262092) claim to be 125gpd, but couldnt even do 1 gallon in 40 minutes -- I think its the filter theyre using.

The owner of the store is saying we arent hooking them up right. None the less I got all my money back and am purchasing a properly filterered unit tomorrow (again, I think an airwaterice.. at this point I just want something that I dont have to spend anymore time with).

[xtrstangx]

I would look into get a Filter Direct from eBay... Save yourself $100 and get some coral when the tank is set up!

Looks good, another thread to subscribe to.

[scuglass]

do u have a link to the place where u learned to make the faux bottom or a step by step of how u did it

[Knyght]

Nice work so far. Going to jump in the fun here and hit the tag-along button below

Pressure going into the unit has a lot to do with it`s output. I had mine initially hooked up in a bathroom vanity, tapping into the cold water line there. Spied an adapter at Lowe`s one day while browsing and got the idea to move it into the laundry room. By using a Y-adapter and the adapter I spied, This hooked up very easily. Then just shove the waste line down the drain a few inches and voila!
It increased the output on my ro/di 3 fold.

HTH

[King-Kong]

Originally posted by scuglass
do u have a link to the place where u learned to make the faux bottom or a step by step of how u did it

even though I blabbed alot, you should read the text I wrote up above.. The link is there.

Here it is again: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...x&pagenumber=1



and even though I havent taken pics of it yet, it came out awesome! After 72 hours I peeled off the duct tape liner, and the stuff is situated perfectly on the starboard. I can add and remove my sandbed in seconds!

[King-Kong]

Originally posted by Knyght
Nice work so far. Going to jump in the fun here and hit the tag-along button below

Pressure going into the unit has a lot to do with it`s output. I had mine initially hooked up in a bathroom vanity, tapping into the cold water line there. Spied an adapter at Lowe`s one day while browsing and got the idea to move it into the laundry room. By using a Y-adapter and the adapter I spied, This hooked up very easily. Then just shove the waste line down the drain a few inches and voila!
It increased the output on my ro/di 3 fold.

HTH

I was using an outside spigot which definetely had enough water pressure -- no doubt about that.

I also brought the unit in their store, and hooked it up outside at their place. Same performance. I think its the membranes used. They must be absolute crap.

[Electrobes]

Hey Carlos, nice start on the new tank

[King-Kong]

Hey Christian! How's it been? I miss seeing ya at the store, man. These employees are causing me pain! I had to teach them how to use an RO machine.. and I had never used one!

[King-Kong]

Update:

Airwaterice Typhoon III RO/DI 100gpd has been ordered. Should be here either Monday or Tuesday.