Tank Of The Month - January 2005 - neils 2500 ltr

[craigg]

UltimateReef.com is proud to feature its latest 'Tank of the Month'.

Neil2500ltr's amazing reef tank.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/neil2500fullstitchedtank(Small).jpg

Details can be found below tempory until I can get it uploaded properly.

Congratulations Neil superb tank!

If you have any questions or comments for Neil then please post them in this thread.

Craig

[craigg]

Neil 2500ltr's Reef Tank

Thanks to UR for voting my piece of the ocean as TOTM

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/neil2500fullstitchedtank%20(Medium).jpg

Well Where do I begin?

I suppose it all started with my first tropical tank , I had a small 36 " x 12 " x12" tank just some gravel and under gravel filter , very basic & couldnt seem to keep fish alive for long!

Anyway I found a local lfs who had a cracking planted display tank running with under gravel heating , co2 within 20 mins of entering the shop I had parted with the best part 0f £500 for the tank / co2 kit / ph computer.

I took this all home got it set up , fish in & plants over a couple of months , dont know how he the lfs got his tank looking so stunning but my tank looked the pits no matter how much money I spent on it.

I asked the shop owner about how difficult marines would be, he told me not much more difficult than tropicals , I thought he was having a laugh as I couldnt keep tropicals properly, anyway I took the plunge, again more £ money , same tank I had , big bag of grotto rock that he assured me was the best way & silicone all this rock together & an expensive external filter.

All this was setup over the next week then filled with water and salted up , great I thought I soon realised that marines was more expensive than tropicals not just for price but for them dying aswell!

Basically I dont think he had a clue about running a decent marine system but was very happy to take my hard earned cash on a weekly basis, anyway this all went on for about 18 months before I found another lfs who seemed to know what he was talking about , he helped me through the whole process getting the tank built right through to the live rock & stocking , by this time I had already seen pics of Mark Howarths tank & thought hmm big tank big fish & lots of corals
measured a space available in my living room and decided that i could fit a 96 " x 36 " x 36" tank in there.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/full%20tank%2011.JPG

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I passed these measurements over then got the shock at the price! but then thought this is what I really want ( like most people Ive got the philophosy I may not be here tommorow and I want to spend my money now! ).........so I did.

Anyway tank was ordered through boss ( build on site speacialists based in Scotland ) I then proceeded to build the stand and along they came & put the tank up , ouch I thought this is a big tank the missus is going to go nuts, its taken up most of the living room!

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We also installed the sump at the same time which measured 48" x 30 " x 22" .
and the rest is basically history, I have slowly over the last 2 years added equipment / changed the lights 3 times & gone totally over to sps corals
& spent lots of money (could have had a brand new BMW M3 by now ! ) & now this has all gone twofold with the knowlegde I have gained with marines I have opened my shop ocean aquatics in Mold, North Wales , where we stock all the major brands of equipment & have a stunning selection of fish & inverts! a shop run by hobbyists for the hobbyist!


Thats the boring history of how it all started so hears some specs on my tank & pics of as much as I can take of the system , most equipment is fitted into pretty cramped spaces where pics of it are virtually impossible

Main tank 96 " x 36 " x 36"
Sump 48 " x 30 " x 22" which is piped up like an oil refinery now !
Refugium 66 " x 20 " x 20" with dsb 14ft away from main tank in an out house

Filtration

Approx 360kg live rock
2 x aqua medic 5000 twin skimmers

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1 Aqua Medic fluidised filter capable of 10000 ltrs filtration then running through same sized bio ball trickle tower for regassing.
Aqua Medic 5000 nitrate reactor

Equipment

Deltec 1000 fluidised calcium reactor (purchased off my good friend Mark Howarth aka 17000ltr)which then runs through a Deltec 5oos reactor with no co2 to raise the ph of the effluent

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IKS professional computer
Titanium heat exchanger for cooling
3 x 300 watt heaters which never come on anymore , tank self heats itself!
deltec 500 kalk stirrer


numerous peri pumps dosing & feeding the tank.
200 mg ozonizer controlled by Aqua Medic MV computer which switches the unit of at 450 + mv
Aqua Medic PH computer
Aqua Medic MV computer controlling the nitrate reductor
Aqua Medic temp computer
3 x Aqua Medic light computers controlling the main light & 2 x moonlights
large Deltec fluidised rowa phos reactor containing 5 ltr,s rowa changed when po4 goes upto 003 ppm

Circulation

3 x 6500 ltr ocean runners for returning water to main tank
2 x 6500 ltr ocean runners each running the 2 skimmers which in turn feed the refugium which then returns to the main sump
1 x 3500 ltr Ocean Runner running the fluidised sand filter
4 x Aquastar 3500 ltr pumps for tank movement
1 x Tunze 6100
1 x Tunze 6200
1 x 6100 on order for a bit more movement
total circulation of 82000 ltrs hour !

Lighting

3 x Deltec mega d,s each with 1 x 250 watt 5500 k on 10 hrs a day& 1 x 20000 k bulbs on 12 hrs a day
1 x 4 ft Deltec 6 tube t5 pendant above refugium reverse lit for 10 hrs a day

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/totm%20light.JPG

Corals

150 plus sps corals & 2 lps mostly staghorn corals which are my favourite , most of the best ones being sourced from my good friend at acropora house ( good plug for you there mark must be worth a freebie )stunning acros he has there!

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Fish & Inverts

vlamingi tang 16 " & growing!


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lipstick tang 14 "
chevron tang 4 "

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achillies 4 "
vampire tang 5"

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/my%20totm%20382.jpg

powder blue 4"
yellow eyed 4"

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/my%20totm%20391.jpg

mustard tang 6"
yellow tang 6 "
emporer angel 6" & growing !, just gaining adult colours
4 x 3" regal tangs
4 bangai cardinals ( breeding )

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/my%20totm%20388.jpg

12 tuka anthias

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/my%20totm%20379.jpg

unknown wrasse

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/my%20totm%20396.jpg

wild black clown
4 zebra dart fish
2 torpedo dart fish
golden angel
potters angel
yellow goat fish

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30 plus chromis
18 ghost cardinals
humbug damsel ( needed a home from a friend)
six line wrasse

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/my%20totm%20338.jpg

coral beauty
male & female mandarins
2 x sea cucumbers
150 plus hermits
14 silly sized trocus snails ( keep knocking corals over)
100 plus normal turbos
loads of serpant stars
3 red brittle stars
12 sand shifting starfish
12 cleaner shrimps
4 blood shrimps
large pistol shrimp which i never see but he wakes me up at night!
4 very large clams
& any others i cant remember?

Tank Maintainance & Addatives

Water changes are done by first draing 60 gallons to waste from the main tank to outside drain via bypass of one of the main return pipes , then 60 gallons of fresh salt mix is fed by gravity from custom built tank split into two parts one side containing 60 gallons of ready mixed salted water the other side containing 20 gallons of ro water which is used for tank top up & for pumping to salted side for mixing this is then topped up automatically by a 100 gallon a day ro unit.

Because Ive got so many hard corals the calcium reactors on 24/7 even with this I'm finding I'm having to do 60 gallon water changes virtually weekly with the TMC pro reef to keep up with the required levels.

Strontium / Iodine & Trace elements are added daily by vario 4 peri pump doser timed via IKS computer.

Kalk is dosed via auto top up pump controlled by float switch in the sump.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/my%20totm%204071.JPG

Feeding

Tank is fed 4 x hour 10 x a day via two large peri pumps timed of IKS computer , food is kept cold in 2 x Aqua Medic fluidised phyto reactors in home made refrigerated insulated box .
food for 5 days consists of 4 x 24 cube frozen food (various) 500 ml Kent Zooplex
2 table spoons of Cyclopeeze , 1 whole dropper full of Kent garlic extreeme & 1 full droper full of Kent marine c
5 x full sheets of dried nori fed daily
& most days an additional 5 mixed cubes fed by hand daily.

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Tanks Normal Parameters are:-

CA 470 ppm
MG 1300 ppm
PO4 001 ppm
NO2 0 ppm
NO3 005 ppm
KH 9.5
PH morning 8.2
Temp 25.7 ( only varies 0.3 c 24/7)
Iodine 006 ppm
SG 1026

So basically thats it for now, tanks still progressing and growing fast & I'm still finding space for that extra acro that catches my eye ( normally need to put an extra piece of rock in now) I would like to spend more time with the tank but the shop & my other business take up most of my time .

Tank sounds a little complicated I know but the IKS does nearly all of the running of the tank I just need to make sure everythings topped up and clean the glass when needed .

All the Best

Neil

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[Will]

looks great, curious do you get any problems with the food getting blocked in pipe with shrimp etc

[ziggy]

Fantastic tank, congrats :dance:

[narthur]

Lovely start to 2005 a lovely tank Congrats to you Neil. Nic :thumbsup:

[NewMan]

:whistling: Lot's of tangs. Can tell you are a tang lover B)

Very neat setup. Like the width of the tanks which provides the space for easy aquascaping :thumbsup:

:cheers:

Nick

[fishman]

very nice neil will have to arrange that visit one day, seen a few snap offs i like. FISHMAN... :rolleyes:

[siola]

nice tank,


what are you nitrate,po4 etc levels.??

[Yakdriver]

very nice, looks like a very well thought out setup. the refrigerated feeding setup looks good. Ref the heat exchanger for cooling, do you just flow tap water past it?

Well done,

Chris.

[Valley Boy]

Superb Neil!!
Will have to pop in your shop when i am up North. ;)

[craigg]

Hi,

Can we have more info on the feeding system please.

Craig

[neils 2500 ltr]

Originally posted by craigg@Jan 1 2005, 12:29
Hi,

Can we have more info on the feeding system please.

Craig
food system was setup basically so i could get the system fed as close to there natural enviroment as possible as mark howarth first tried .this means that they can constantly feed all day in small amounts , i did try the 24/7 feeding but found the nitrate levels started to climb so ive kept the feeding to when the tanks lit only.

the refrigerated box was built out of an old but working fridge which i took apart and built into the box to keep the food cold or it would only last 2 days
( had to adjust a few times as it was running to cold and freezing the salt water mix!), :blink: the 2 peri pumps i use have an internal diameter of approx 6mm so they dont get blocked with food , the good thing about this method is i can do different mixes of food and anything i add eg: vitamins, garlic extreme , zooplex which has time to absorb into the food .i know this amount of food i use seems a lot but its spread over time and at regular intervals , the outlet of the return pipe is sittuated in front of a 20000ltr tunze stream which makes sure the food gets to all parts of the tank.

[Suk]

Fantastic Tank Neil.

Looks like you've got it all sussed, although it does look very complicated.
Keep up the good work & well done.

Cheers
Suk
:D

[SWR]

:P looking good neil,but stop flooding the kitchen :lol:

[themmings]

Congrats on a superb tank and setup.

:bow: :bow: :bow:

:thumbsup:

[neils 2500 ltr]

Originally posted by Yakdriver@Jan 1 2005, 11:53
very nice, looks like a very well thought out setup. the refrigerated feeding setup looks good. Ref the heat exchanger for cooling, do you just flow tap water past it?

Well done,

Chris.
heat exchanger is run via my 1000 gallon pond which at this time of year is very cold! and gives excellent cooling to the tank :)

neil

[jamie reefer]

Hi Neil

Well done your tank is stunning mate,all them tangs must be amazing to sit and watch....

cheers Jamie

[marcgoodger]

weel done mate loks awesome bet it brings you many hours of pleasure
:thumbsup:

[scottzoo]

WOW awesome :thumbsup:

[scarab]

This is one awesome tank. Well done mate. Congrats
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Achilles]

Very nice! :thumbsup:

[neils 2500 ltr]

Originally posted by jamie reefer@Jan 1 2005, 20:14
Hi Neil

Well done your tank is stunning mate,all them tangs must be amazing to sit and watch....

cheers Jamie
i think the tangs are the most active and amazing fish in the tank , they allways know when im home and come upto the glass for there seaweed sheets :)
and yes i can sit there for hours watching them when im home :)

neil :thumbsup:

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[Cudders]

Stunning. Well done mate :thumbsup:

Mark.

[wayne g]

stunning!
:bow: :bow: :bow:

[Teesh]

absolutely fab tank Neil. Would be interested to see some pics of your whole living room.. so i can see how much I may be able to get away with.. I assume you were forgiven!

[neils 2500 ltr]

havent got any pics of front room but the size is approx 12 ft x 12 ft so tank takes up a large part of it . just got away with it i think with the missus ( she wouldnt be without the tank now) :P :)

[Lawrence Corley]

Absolutely stunnning Neil, well deserved TOTM :thumbsup:

Loz

[17000ltrs]

really need to get over and see how my borrowed corals are doing

stunning mate

mark

[mark-c-]

superb tank

:bow:

Mark

[scar]

excellant tank keep up the good work
nick

[lenny]

like the set up .looks exelent. makes my tank 60x24x24" look small. must be nice to be rich (or was that before getting the tank). :thanx: :rolleyes: :lenny

[neils 2500 ltr]

rich your having a laugh :lol: whats my signature say under my name?


neil

[fkadir]

One of the best TOTM I have ever seen! Congrats on having such a beautiful tank!

[fuzed]

just fantastic mate..
a tank worthy of tank of the month, great start to a new year.

[jasper]

very nice
that vladmingi(???)tang must look stunning at that size,and the nasos come to think of it :thumbsup:

[LTD]

Stunning.

[elliot]

Simply amazing!!

Elliot

[fishbert]

very impresive, some interesting fish there :thumbsup:

[neils 2500 ltr]

yeah very interesting :) the tangs are the best a load of nutters! wouldnt be without them now tho! :wacko:
just added another dozen anthias yesterday & a stunning flame angel :wub:


neil

[foxface]

fantastic!

[neils 2500 ltr]

i feel very proud to have been voted totm , thanks to eveyone for all the nice coments :)



neil :thumbsup:

[bangormin]

Hi Neil,

Your tank is my dream tank.
Very nice tank and well done.

Min.

[invisible]

stunning :bow: :bow: :thumbsup:

[Jonesii]

Cracking tank. :D

[SunScar]

Really nice, well done! Must be great to have a system where you can grow tangs to their full size and give them some room!

Jack

[craigg]

Thankyou