My 400 gallon in-wall Miracles Reef Tank - Page 5

Cathy8424 · #**101** 06/01/2006, 11:34 PM

Thank you all for such nice comments! This system has been a long time coming and it feels great to finally have it come together with out to many unexpected problems, once it was finally where we could work on it!

Sonofgaladriel,

I would highly recommend the longer tank over the cube! This tank is nearly 10 1/2' long and 30" wide. It is just incredible to see the fish swimming the full length of the tank! They are so much more active, it is unbelievable! They dart in and out of the rock work then streak the full length of the tank on the return route. The tank is in perpetual motion. And with the Starphire front, the color and the brightness are incredible.

It will be awhile before we get around to doing the cabinet work on the inside. The tank will be framed with custom crown molding and fluted pillars on the sides and raised panel doors above and below the tank. All the wood work will be homemade.

The next priority will be to get the lighting in order. Right now it is just rigged.

sonofgaladriel · #**102** 06/01/2006, 11:40 PM

Quote:

I would highly recommend the longer tank over the cube! This tank is nearly 10 1/2' long and 30" wide. It is just incredible to see the fish swimming the full length of the tank! They are so much more active, it is unbelievable! They dart in and out of the rock work then streak the full length of the tank on the return route. The tank is in perpetual motion. And with the Starphire front, the color and the brightness are incredible.
[/B]

Its hard to think about letting go of the current 240 cube tank as its a really great tank and has been quite unique, but I am already limited by its size, which happened much sooner than I expected.
I agree with you though about the length. I'm most excited about the fish's 'swimming' room with the 8 foot length, but the 4 foot depth also allows for some interesting swimming patterns so that its not just 'back and forth' across the front of the tank.
This is Sean from fishheads by the way, just in case you didn't know my code name here on RC

sonofgaladriel · #**103** 06/01/2006, 11:41 PM

sorry, double post for some reason

Cathy8424 · #**104** 06/01/2006, 11:47 PM

Yes, I knew who you were. I figured we would see more of you on SaltCity.

I too thought about going wider, 36" but decided not to. I figured it would be a bit of a pain in the arss trying to reach across it for maintenance. This size is more manageable for me. You are taller, so I am sure your reach will be better!

sonofgaladriel · #**105** 06/02/2006, 12:05 AM

I need to visit SaltCity more often. I ldid lurk from time to time when it first started up, but I honestly kind of forgot about it lately.
Will you be able to access your tank from the front? I'm assuming your husband will be building the surround cabinetry and doors are in the works for top access from the living room?
I'm hoping to have the new large tank be completely open top like my current tank for easy access. I won't have a canopy. I just love the 'top down' tide pool look too much to ever cover that up again. I plan on building a 12" 'bar shelf' at 36" high around the perimeter that will act as a 'table' for drinks and snacks, but also built strong enough to kneel on should I need to reach way in the tank's middle.
Here's a quick 'sketch' of what I have planned:

Cathy8424 · #**106** 06/02/2006, 12:39 AM

That looks cool! I hope you hurry up. It will be nice to see!

Yes my husband will be doing the wood work. We are going to have a 12" shelf across the front of ours too. I didn't think about beefing it up good enough to stand on, I thought about having it so it could be dropped. I like your idea better.

My Mandarin’s Willy and Monica have been very amorous since the move. Hillary is still buried in a tank in the basement. She will be joining Willy and Monica tomorrow. I have another vacation day. I wish I could get a good picture of them.

Cathy8424 · #**107** 06/12/2006, 12:10 PM

The display tank now has its permanent lighting.

The fixture has 10’ of VHO, 10’ of CF and 5 MH. The two end MH are 250 Watt 10Ks; the next two in are 400 Watt 20K radium’s; and the center bulb is 250 Watt 6,500K. The fixture has a glass lens and will be vented outside or to the basement (depending on temp). The fixture also has eyelets that will eventually be used for a pulley system for raising and lowering the fixture.

The wiring was routed through 2” pvc channels to a central area.

The IceCap ballast are controlled using a DC4 HD for the two 400 watt ballast and the two 660s; a DC8 is used for the rest of the ballast. Three more 250 Watt ballast will be added for the frag tank. The ballast are on the back side of the door on a shelf.

All the ballast will be outside of the fish room in the summer, but will be inside in the winter. Right now, the shelf is just rigged. When it is done the shelf above the door way will be on a slide with a door that slides up and down for moving the ballast in the summer and winter seasons. The chiller sits on a shelf to the left of the ballast. It feeds from the sump directly into the display tank.

Here is a shot of the tank with the new lighting.

Toolguy942 · #**108** 06/12/2006, 01:49 PM

What an awesome setup!

steve68 · #**109** 06/13/2006, 06:30 AM

That looks so sweet !!!!!!!!
great job.

Cathy8424 · #**110** 06/13/2006, 08:09 AM

Thank you guys!

The next goal will be getting the fuge for the display tank and the QT tank tied in.

sonofgaladriel · #**111** 06/13/2006, 10:44 AM

That lighting scheme is awesome! The tank looks very bright. Do the 20K's and 6500K's balance each other out?

Cathy8424 · #**112** 06/13/2006, 05:32 PM

Yes, all the lights blend, so you don't notice a difference. It's not to blue and its not yellow. I like the color. I will have to see what it looks like when all the bulbs get burnt in.

SanFranTodd · #**113** 06/13/2006, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cathy8424

Where did you get the reflector?

steve68 · #**114** 06/14/2006, 05:53 AM

it's a PFO reflector right?

Cathy8424 · #**115** 06/14/2006, 08:21 AM

Yes, it is 3 - 36" and one 24" PFO reflectors bolted together for a total length of 10 1/2 ". It worked out great!

We built the frame and the reflector sits on a wood strip above the glass. The glass is 4 pieces that sit in a slot. The slot is wide enough to push up one piece of glass and slide it over the top of the one in front or behind it. That way I can change bulbs with out moving the reflector or the frame. The frame does have eyelets that will eventually have a hoist system for easily raising the lights. That is why the wireing is up towards the ceiling. When the lite is lifted, there will be plenty of cord for it to go up.

Cathy8424 · #**116** 06/14/2006, 08:35 AM

My newest addition, thanks to Custom Seascapes personal delivery, is an Achilles Tang. His name is Boy, because ‘Boy’ he sure is pretty! I haven’t been able to get a real good picture of him yet. He is still a little camera shy. He seems to be doing well. He is eating and getting out and around the entire tank. Herb (purple tang) wanted to bully him a bit, but it has been pretty minor, and Boy doesn’t seem too intimidated. And no, I haven't taken the time to obscure the front locklines yet, but someday in my spare time I will. I promise!

My old buddy Frug is doing well too, and enjoying his new digs.

Here is a shot that shows a nice size acro and some of the caves and arches in the rock work.

David Corbett · #**117** 06/14/2006, 10:33 PM

Cathy I love everything you have done, I know how much work goes into a project like this, congrats. The only question I have is concerning the flex lines are they there permanently, or will you eventually conceal them?

Hendersonracing · #**118** 06/14/2006, 10:43 PM

nice

Cathy8424 · #**119** 06/15/2006, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by David Corbett
Cathy I love everything you have done, I know how much work goes into a project like this, congrats. The only question I have is concerning the flex lines are they there permanently, or will you eventually conceal them?

Thank you David and Hendersonracing.

David, I will eventually conceal the flex lines in front. At this point, it was not on the priority list. They will be bent into different positions and some will need to be shortened. After that, nature will have to finish the job.

Cathy8424 · #**120** 06/28/2006, 07:55 AM

Here are a few new pictures. The corals are starting to color up. Some of them were moved several times before their final move to the new tank. Most were in substandard conditions for an extended time; so I will be anxious to see how they look after I am able to leave the MH on full time.

All the plumbing is complete now. There is a 29 gallon fuge that free flows into both the display tank and the frag tank. The water change system is complete including the PanWorld discharge pump and finally the 75 gallon QT tank is in place. It is feed from the frag tank and overflows back into the frag tank. It has a closed loop with a squid on it. The QT tank will run as part of the system until it is in use. Them the feed valve will be closed and a HOB filter will be used during QT.

I drip kalk, using an AquaController, to maintain the pH. Currently I use a 55 gallon barrel full about once every week. That also pretty much keeps up with the evaporation too.

The Bluehippo Tang is not really hosting in the coral.

The Nasso and Yellow Tangs are best buds.

The Seapen is one of the first corals I got. I have had it for almost 3 years.

The lockline has finally been pretty much concealed. The rest will be up to nature.