120 Reef Office Build (75 upgrade) - Page 2

alde · #26 08/26/2006, 12:11 PM

Looks like some kind of Mantis Shrimp to me. I would remove it if you can. Good luck. BTW the tank looks great.

Bax · #27 08/26/2006, 07:51 PM

criminal

The pic I took was in my fuge, and it's still in there.

alde

Thanks

Give it a few months and I hope it looks even better.

Pretty sure it's not a mantis. I am thinking worm, nudi, or miss placed terrestrial centipede.

Bax · #28 08/27/2006, 07:34 AM

I am pleased with the adjustments to my ATO & Kalk reactor they seem to be back in the "working flawlessly" column.

My skimmer sump idea is still giving me fits. There just isn't enough room in the return sump under the fuge for my ES 5-3, much less the G4! I am using a metal stand for the 75 fuge that I coated in epoxy paint because it is narrower and takes up less room in the sump closet. Trouble is, it has 1 1/2" less clearance from the bottom shelf to the bottom of the tank than on the wooden stand. So, I need to make this work.

I finally plumbed it correctly to get good flow but the water level is too high for the working level of the skimmer. I'll build a new skimmer stand to put in the sump, but if that doesn't do it I may scrap the skimmer sump plan all together and go to a external dual beckett skimmer I have.

I'd hate to give up 25 gallons in system volume that I get in this skimmer sump set up. Although, the other skimmer probably holds 10 gallons by itself. It's an MRC MR4 recirculating dual beckett, a monster for sure. I used it on the extra 150 pounds of LR I cured before this upgrade (a pic is posted on the first page). It is just big! And the pump is hot! So I'd like to make this G4 work out.

Mongoose · #29 08/27/2006, 08:52 AM

System Looks great !!

so .. you used your hamilton 175's and added the luminarc reflectors ?

could you post some more pics of them ? how do you like them ?

thanks,

Joe

Mongoose · #30 08/27/2006, 08:53 AM

i like the egg crate idea !!

anyone else using it like that ?

Bax · #31 08/27/2006, 09:35 AM

joe

Thanks!

Love the minis! Huge difference in spread and intesity.

I have some more pics of the canopy construction, I'll up load and post soon.

Bax · #32 08/27/2006, 04:34 PM

Here are some pics of the canopy under construction

The basic frame

The front with lumenarc minis and 3 x 54 watt t-5s I tried like crazy to sqeeze the 4 x t-5s in there but the dimensions of the minis would not allow for it. I think the lumenarcs will make up for the 54 watts of t-5

. I am still tinkering with the concept of going to 250 MHs we'll see how the temps hold. I have a dual 400 watt PFO ballast in storage if my chiller can keep up I may try that before buying 250s.

The rear

... and one from above

Bax · #33 08/28/2006, 03:52 PM

Looks like straightening out the Kalk/ATO set up really helped my skimming from both skimmers!

I should have thought of that ... just to rushed all the time lately!

I still want to change the skimmer platform in the sump as I think it will run even better set just a bit shallower, will also be adding a gate valve mod to the G4x ... we'll see!

Bax · #34 08/29/2006, 09:38 AM

I got a chance to raise the skimmer platform on the G4, just an inch was all it needed, and I added a 1 1/2" gate valve mod. WOW! What a difference!!!

I'll upload pics tonight

Bax · #35 08/30/2006, 06:43 PM

Hey every body!

Just up loaded some new pics

First off, here's my midas blenny, I love this fish, although I have owned it for most of a year, I only had it visible in my 75 for two weeks before it jumped into the over flow for the third time and I just could not retrieve it until the move. I now cover my overflows

I ran three dedicated 20 amp lines, two to the sump room and one to the display.

Here is the new plumbing on the G4 skimmer sump.

Here's the sump room vent, again! The first pics was really small.

I finaly plumbed in my chiller using a Pan World XP50-X on a Cl thru my fuge ... how did I ever survive without a chiller?!?

And I happed to notice how cool the tank looks from outside our offices, I never use the front door even though it's in my office space.

Bax · #36 08/30/2006, 07:45 PM

... And here's my fuge, from the end, almost cleaned up from holding the LR & colonies that ended up in the display. There are a couple of colonies still recuperating in there.

Here's the Euro Reef skimmer which in in the fuge, gate valve finally back in place! You can see the T-stat for the ceiling vent to the left.

These are happy skimmers

The Euro Reef in my fuge.

The ASM G4x

Bax · #37 08/31/2006, 07:05 AM

Here's a full tank shot from yesterday. Not much has changed, but I did move some corals around and most importantly I moved the right Tunze to the back corner from the front corner. My flow isn't quite as radical, (I was actually getting little waves breaking in the left side of the tank on the front of the glass!) but I stir up less sand even with running the Tunze at a little higher flow. So, I think it's better. I still have to level the sand in the front every other day or so, but that's alright!

dougie · #38 08/31/2006, 07:49 AM

lovin it!

Bax · #39 08/31/2006, 07:52 AM

Thanks dougie!

Once I get all the main system stuff sorted out I can work on details like power cord management and, yes! Skinning the stand and canopy!

Bax · #40 09/01/2006, 04:20 PM

I won't get anything done on the tank this weekend, with the holiday it'll be all family stuff going on.

But, next week I hope to set up my 26 g bow as a QT so I can begin considering some new fish down the line.

Thinking about:

More Heniochus butterflys!!! Definitly one and maybe two. I love the one I already have.

3 to 5 Bartlett anthias

and .... more SPS!

NexDog · #41 09/02/2006, 02:16 AM

Looking good, Bax. I have a pair of Heniochus Butterflys. Great fish!

Bax · #42 09/02/2006, 07:00 AM

Thanks NexDog!

Do you find that the HBs stay together much of the time, or do they do their own thing? I am trying to decide if I want one or two more in my tank.

NexDog · #43 09/02/2006, 09:02 AM

They are ALWAYS together which is really get to see. I bought them at the same time which probably helped. One has a long streamer on its dorsal fin which I assume to mean it's the male (although I haven't confirmed this). I just like to see fish hang out together and these guys really do.

CMWilliamson · #44 09/02/2006, 09:14 AM

Looking Good!

NexDog · #45 09/02/2006, 11:11 AM

CMWilliamson

To Reef Central

Bax · #46 09/02/2006, 11:13 AM

Thanks CMWilliamson!

Proud to be your first post!!!!

Bax · #47 09/02/2006, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NexDog
They are ALWAYS together which is really get to see. I bought them at the same time which probably helped. One has a long streamer on its dorsal fin which I assume to mean it's the male (although I haven't confirmed this). I just like to see fish hang out together and these guys really do.

That seals it, I'll get two more. Smaller than the one I currently have and see if they don't bond. My current HB has been very accepting of new additions so far.

I'll have to look into that length of the banner issue. I had not considered that might be gender related. I just thought shorter banners were damaged in shipping???

Anyone know? ... sounds like a good post for the Reef Fish forum.

I like having fish that "belong together" I think it makes for a more natural aquarium.

UnderwaterExotic · #48 09/02/2006, 11:25 AM

I am going to stick with my old name, CMWilliamson was going to be my new name but nah, ill stick with this one! Thanks though!

Bax · #49 09/02/2006, 01:48 PM

UnderwaterExotic

Thanks just the same

Bax · #50 09/05/2006, 10:14 AM

I decided I needed to restock my cleanup crew so I ordered an Algea cleaning pack from Reeftopia. It'll be here tomorow

I picked up another slightly used Tunze 6000, it'll be here tomorow as well. I don't know that I "need" it, but ...

... might as well face it I am addicted to flow!