Tank Of The Month - February 2006 - stevew

[Mikey]

Steve Waterhouse’s Reef Tank (stevew)

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm2.JPG

[Mikey]

Steve Waterhouse’s Reef Tank (stevew)

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm2.JPG

Firstly, what an honour it is to be asked to be TOTM, it is really great to be able to share my tank with you all. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.

History

I have been keeping cold water and freshwater tanks since I can remember and used to run my own business designing, installing and maintaining ornamental ponds. About 5 years ago I started my first marine tank, this was a sumpless Rio 300lts (4x2x2). At the time great resources like this forum weren’t unavailable and it was set up with advice from the local lfs, which isn’t always good advice!

It was run with a live rock but also had an external wet ‘n’ dry filter, which turned into a nitrate factory and a prizm skimmer! The photo below shows it shortly before it started to leak and forced the upgrade.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm1.JPG

Yes, that really is the same bubble tip anemone… that has now split into 4 monsters in the new tank!

So after much reading on the forums, joining the MGTG (south) club and being inspired by the tanks of Keith Hellyar, Simon Garratt, Simon Clark and others I embarked on the new tank.

The Main Tank

The tank is 13 months old now, you can see some photos of it just after it was set up last December, in my origianl tank thread Here (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=35603&hl=)

The main tank is 6’x2’x2’, constructed in starphire glass on the front and sides. I made the stand myself with the help of some of the plans on reefeden, it’s so solid you could build a house on it!

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtank1.jpg

The tank has two corner weirs, with a false glass/acrylic wall in front to house streams if I ever get around to fitting them. The rock is supported on an eggcrate base surrounded by acrylic to keep the sand out from underneath the rock work. Spraybars from the closed loop keep this area relatively clean. I can also flush this area by placing a pump in the false weirs as these are linked to the under rock supports and can draw any detritus out from underneath.

The left hand side:

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm4.JPG


The right hand side:

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm3.JPG


Circulation

Sequence 10000 (750) 1800gph closed loop with under rock spray bars and 6 front of tank jets provides circulation to the rockwork.
Eheim 1262 sump return pump.
Tunze wavebox – this is just great and provides really natural movement in the tank.
Tunze 6100 Stream – this has been added recently as the coral growth was beginning to limit the flow.

Filtration

The skimmer is a Deltec AP850, supplied by a Eheim pump, this is a great workhorse…what a difference from the Prizm! Apart from this there is no other external filtration, relying on the live rock, sand beds, and fuge to filter the tank.

Lighting

3 x 400watt halides with XM 15k lamps and Lumenarc 3 reflectors, with 2 x 55w Interpet power compact T5’s providing additional actinic lighting.

Other Equipment

Korralin calcium reactor fed by peri pump
Ratz Kalk stirrer fed by peri pump
2 x Phosban reactors with rowaphos and carbon.
Tunze auto top-up system connected to a 45 gallon water tank for top up.

The Sumps

The main sump is 4’x18”x18”, this contains a separate tank within it that houses the DSB and this then overflows into the rest of the tank. Mounted on the back of the sump is a fuge 4’x7”x7” that contains live rock rubble and cheato/other macro algaes.

Sump left hand side:

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm5.JPG

Sump right hand side:

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm6.JPG

Right hand end cabinet:

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm7.JPG


Control

The tank is now controlled by an Aquatronica computer (previously IKS), this has the following components:
3 x plug bars
1 x level control (used to warn of a return pump failure)
2 x ph probes ( 1 in the sump and one in the calcium reactor)
2 x temp probes ( 1 in the sump and one in the main tank)
1 x conductivity probe

The system is controlled remotely from a pc in my office.

Maintenance

The following is done as and when required:
Topping up the 45gallon RO tank
Replacing Kalk and ARM reactor media
Replacing Phosban and carbon when exhausted
Cleaning the skimmer

I do very infrequent water changes, although I must try to do these more regularly as you can definitely see an improvement after one is done. In general I find the best thing is to keep your hands out of the tank! Stability is the key to a reef tank and sticking your hands in and fiddling with things is always going to de-stabilise the tank.

Livestock

The tank is very heavily stocked with both fish and corals as below:

Fish

2 x maroon clowns
1 x blue/green chromis (there were originally 5, but this one has gradually bullied the others to death)
7 x lyretail anthias
Potters angel
Yellow tang
Purple tang
Regal tang
Tomini tang
Algae blenny
Foxface
Green mandarin
2 x Yashia gobies

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm10.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm14.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm22.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm21.jpg


Corals

There are far too many corals to list individually, there are many soft corals such as mushrooms and zooanthids, lps such as bubble and frogspawn corals and many sps.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm8.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm9.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm11.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm12.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm13.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm15.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm16.JPG

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm17.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm18.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm19.jpg

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/stevewtotm20.jpg


Inverts

Black cucumber
Pink reef lobster
2 blood shrimps
2 peppermint shrimps
2 cleaner shrimps
Hundreds of stomatella, nassarius and turbo snails
50 hermits of various types

More photos can be found here:

Coral Photos (http://www.pbase.com/photodreams/corals)

Fish Photos (http://www.pbase.com/photodreams/fish)

[MaidstoneMarine]

Very nice indeed. Great closeup shots and just love the foxface - he looks huge!

Congratulations on TOTM!

[xxmattyxx]

Lovely, a grand achievement.

Nice to see a tank looking this good with such a wide mix of inhabitants, softies/SPS/LPS.


Matt

[Suffolk Reefer]

Very nice looking tank indeed, a real credit to you. Thanks for sharing your story with us, was a good read :D

[zimreef]

Super tank - love the aquascaping and those anemones obviously like the conditions you provide - superb!

Cheers

John

[hairyduck]

LOOKS SUPERB!

What's this?

http://i.pbase.com/g3/12/581012/2/52669288.IMG_159201.jpg

[SCOOB]

well done steve, great job!!! :bow:

[stevew@reefdreams]

Originally posted by hairyduck@Feb 1 2006, 08:58
LOOKS SUPERB!

What's this?

http://i.pbase.com/g3/12/581012/2/52669288.IMG_159201.jpg
I think this is Cyphastrea decadia, Reef Farmers (http://www.reeffarmers.com/limitedcyphastrea.htm) Thanks to Simon (SPS Hoover) for the possible ID.

Steve

p.s Thanks everyone for the great compliments.

[Sarah]

wow steve congrates :)...beautiful tank...lookd better and better every time i see it :)

Sarah xxxx :wub:

[hairyduck]

cool, if a piece ever drops off please pm me :D

[Elliott89]

Well done Steve :thumbsup:

Superb looking tank,well deserved TOTM :D

Elliott

[Taz_Devil]

Congratulations Steve, really good looking tank especially considering that its only been running 13 months - you must be well pleased :dance:

Mike

[Kev s]

Fantastic looking mixed reef system!

Kev

[djb1971]

Something to be proud of :thumbsup:

[jonifive]

Hi Steve

Beautiful reef my friend.......I now officially hate you!

(don't worry I hate everyone with better tanks than me!!!!)

Cheers Steve

J :lol:

[Sean the Prawn]

Very nice tank and great pics :thumbsup:

Sean

[keith hellyar]

Steve

A very well deserved accolade. Your tank is looking fantastic.

The pics have tirned out very well considering you only have a "cheap" camera :P I suppose you will claim its not the camera but the person stood behind it. I'm inclined to agree

Well done

Keith

[steve rochford]

super looking reef Steve well deserved totm
congrats
Regards
Steve
:bow:

[bluem00n0]

Nice tank steve, yet another one to aspire to.

Quite like the way you dangle your seaweed clip in, I might do that as my tang always puls it off the glass anyway and it can be difficult to get at it in my tank.

What do you use to attach it - cotton?

Cheers

Scott

[kneival]

Stunning tank steve.

bluem00n0 - its 20lb fishing line, I stole the idea and it works great. No need to put your hands in the tank now.

Either tie the other end to a brace bar or use the sucker on a brace bar.

[Deanobeano]

congrats matey

very very nice tank as i have told you a million times b4, a fine example of a tank.

i to started off with a smaller tank and running it off bad advice form the lfs i used to go to. however i joined here and thanks to yourself and a large handful of people put me in the right direction and was able to find a very good fish shop not 2 far away.

infact matey it was your tank that made me get the 6 foot tank i have now back in april 2005.

so thank you

deano :thumbsup:

[stevew@reefdreams]

Originally posted by keith hellyar@Feb 1 2006, 16:41
Steve

A very well deserved accolade. Your tank is looking fantastic.

The pics have tirned out very well considering you only have a "cheap" camera :P I suppose you will claim its not the camera but the person stood behind it. I'm inclined to agree

Well done

Keith
I would tend to agree, some of these were taken using the 350D and not the 5D. The camera is only part of it, the rest is down to pure luck!

For anyone who wants to see it in detail and has a very fast broadband link a 100% panorama of the tank is available here... it is big so be warned! Full size panorama (http://www.pbase.com/photodreams/image/55170604)

before anyone says it....I know I need to clean the corraline from the bottom of the glass! :lol:

Steve

[keith hellyar]

Steve

Nice pics but you need to clean the coralline off the bottom of the glass :lol: :D

Keith

Ps the other pics are good too

[sharktale]

:thumbsup: nice tank,well deserved :thumbsup:

[Suk]

Congratulations,
A lovely tank & some amazing corals. Super pics too.

:thumbsup:

[Jonesii]

Very nice Steve, looking good!

[Jon B]

Anyone got any idea why I can't see the pictures, just a red x ? :(

[craigg]

same reason no pics are working. Its not finished yet on the new board.

[Mikey]

Thread opened for SteveW to give his replies (as site went down in middle of this winners "month")

[wakeyblue]

great pics of a great tank

[BOXING SHRIMP]

great tank lovely corals but what happened to tank of the month ?:confused:

[craigg]

its returning just working on it at present

[BOXING SHRIMP]

excellent news :D

[SCOOB]

craigg is doing a steller job, it will be worth the wait.

[liquidlogic]

very big very nice!