View Full Version : Wurgle's wonderful (new) world of water
Well here goes...
I have been hanging around this forum for quite a while now, and those that know me understand that I have been a frustrated reefkeeper for some time.
The frustration comes from the fact that having moved house a few years ago I had to give up my old 8ft x 3ft x 30in reef which I had been running for 10+yrs :(
Couple that with the fact that whilst trying to look after all of my stock in temporary housing, I came home one day to find it mostly dead after a large pump fell into the top of a 12" clam, which them proceeded to fill the tank with clam grunge! :(
Anyway, it was a while before I could summon up the effort needed to start again, but suffice to say that I have, so I thought I would start a thread to follow the evolution of the tank build and its contents.
Having had an 8ft tank for so long previously, I really wanted to push the boat out and go for something as big as possible, but not having any out buildings, or anywhere to build some kind of fish house :annoyed: , I had to settle for the lounge.
My plans were further curtailed by the fact that it also had to fit into an alcove so that I could run the filtration equipment out to the garage, so I was again stuck with a 9ft space. (Note to self - must buy bigger house next time :laugh: )
This got me to thinking about how nice a really tall and deep tank looks, so I ended up going for 8.5ft x 4ft depth x 3.5ft front to back.
Picture of the lounge in preparation :dance:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Lounge Picture.JPG
Back in 2003 when I was first thinking about the design for the tank, I had thought that I would massively increase the system volume by using a large underground tank to act as one of the sumps. After much consideration I dropped this idea in favour of the traditional route, partly because I was worried that something would go wrong and I would never be able to access the sump to fix it, and also because I ended up having to put a new driveway in over the top of where the sump was going! :(
Anyway, I'll add some more pictures very soon, and hope that you might follow this thread with interest :applause:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Hi,
Looking forward to this one. Lots to think about, would be nice to see how it all pans out. :wave:
ATB
Here are some more pictures of progress :whistling:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Hole in the floor.JPG
The hole in the floor for the solid concrete base for the stand.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Bigger hole in floor with stand.JPG
Bigger hole in floor, but with the beginings of the stand in place
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Stand and Paint and Holes.JPG
Stand mostly in with blue painted walls as backdrop, and some of the many holes drilled through into the garage (the big holes are 120mm!!)
:cheers:
Wurgle
HOLY COW!!!!
aw i love it when this happens, someone who doesn't say alot suddenly appears from the shadows and knocks the wind right out of ya!!! truly awesome!!!!
more pics more pics!!!!
HOLY COW!!!!
aw i love it when this happens, someone who doesn't say alot suddenly appears from the shadows and knocks the wind right out of ya!!! truly awesome!!!!
more pics more pics!!!!
Yep, gota agree with those words alright, farkin awesome! :dance: :dance: :dance:
More pics please!!!!! :wave: :worship: :dance: :worship:
I agonised for ages over who to get to build the tank... :annoyed:
I even asked the assembled all knowing masses on UR for advice (as usual great advice given without bias :) )
After much umming and aahhing I decided on Seabray, as they had supplied my previous 8ft tank, and offered what I thought was a very reasonable build on site service.
So I faxed over some plans of where I needed things drilling, and fixed a date with them.
£2500 and 3 hours later and it was all in and curing away nicely :thumbsup:
The guys did an awesome job :worship: and I would recomend them to anyone. How they didn't put their backs out with those huge sheets of glass I'll never know :applause:
As requested they also used black silicone, which I particularly like the look of...
Then potential disaster :o
I had a closer look at the holes that had been drilled... I had assumed I had made it clear in my plans that the measurements to the centres of the holes were from the front face of the tank, and they had measured them all from the front edge of the side panel of glass, meaning that all the centres were out by 22mm!!! :eek: :eek:
However, because of the large holes drilled through the wall, I could still accomodate this change, and the panic subsided (helped by a few beers! :dance: )
Here you go :D
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Holes in end of tank.JPG
missaligned holes in end of tank
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/nice black silicone.JPG
nice black silicone everywhere - I have no idea how much silicone they used, but you could probably have fitted a good couple of hundred windows with it!!
:cheers:
Wurgle
Thanks for the welcome mikew :)
P.s. lookin good so far fella, and welcome to the madhouse:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Under pressure... needing to post... must have more pictures... drool drool...
Blimey, I'm already starting to feel the UR drug like addiction...
Is there another forum where I can go for therapy?? :p
:thanks:
Wurgle
Looks a superb project :thumbsup::thumbsup:
dan-the-man
22-03-07, 16:24
Going to be one hel of a setup I hope. any plans for stocking??
Reefer Madness
22-03-07, 17:03
Nice one mate......going to hurt your wallet :D ......but nice one mate.
P.S. when your all set up i have a free Mantis Shrimp and also some free diatoms that you are welcome to, cant get rid of either :D :whistling: .
Pete.
Hey dan-the-man thanks for your interest.
Ever since I started this project the wife (also known as the CFO :D ) stipulated 3 things...
1) SHe didn't want it to make ANY noise! :(
2) She didn't want to know how much it really costs, :o and
3) She wanted ultimate control over stocking :annoyed: (with the caveat that if I told her something would eat something else, or general wreak havoc I could have final veto)
So as you might imagine she has gone away with all of my aquarium books, and COLOUR COORDINATED the tank inhabitants! :eek:
Needless to say I will have to step in an inform her that quite obviously these fish and corals will not live in harmony together, and we will have to come to a compromise :worship:
She has also managed to chose some of the most obscure (never seen in the aquarium trade) fish imaginable!! But at least they're the right colour :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
Nice one mate......going to hurt your wallet :D ......but nice one mate.
P.S. when your all set up i have a free Mantis Shrimp and also some free diatoms that you are welcome to, cant get rid of either :D :whistling: .
Pete.
Hi Pete,
The wallet has already fallen to bits due to the plastic inside being as hot as lava! :D
Didn't know mantis shrimps ate diatoms, or is it a new species that I wasn't aware of? :p
Last big mantis I saw kept pulling all the rock work out of the way and tried to bash it's way out of the bottom of the tank! :(
Hey I've just noticed I've gone past 100 posts!! I must have averaged about 0.02 posts per week at that rate ;)
:cheers:
Wurgle
Reef bloke
22-03-07, 18:36
Excellent mate,more pics,more pics!
Total Posts: 101 (0.07 posts per day)
:D
Sounds a stunning tank. My dream size!
Can't wait to read more and see MORE PHOTOS :D :D
Matthew5664
22-03-07, 23:24
photos, photos!
As scoob said does lighten up the day when out of no-where some one comes in with a nice, sorry ahve to say it agin, nice large build thread
Well, okay, here are some more pics for those that are interested :)
Before I decided upon the current shape and size, I was so keen to get a bigger tank in place that I toyed with the idea of an L-shape...
This was going to be huge, about 15ft along the long bit of the L and 9ft along the "short" edge. :thumbsup:
My wife (the CFO) wanted to be able to visualise the end product, so not being as adept at cumputer graphics as some of you seem to be :( , I had to build a full size mock up :eek: of the tank in our lounge prior to it being gutted!
There is a prize to the first person who can guess the building materials used in the mock up... the prize will probably only be to get me to post more pictures, but there you go :dance:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/L shaped idea.JPG
As you can see prior to the building work the colour scheme in the lounge was something to behold :o
Needless to say the design didn't pass muster (I thought it was good :rolleyes: ) and so we ended up with the smaller tank.
More build piccis coming soon
:cheers:
Wurgle
dan-the-man
23-03-07, 09:45
Bog roll is defintely one of the building materials! Not so sure about the uprights, but I have my ideas....
Dan-the-Man is the first to reply, and is also the WINNER!!
Bog roll it is :D . In fact the entire edifice was constructed from bog roll...
Very Blue Peter I thought... well I didn't have any sticky backed plastic or old bottles of fairy liquid!
So your prize, such as it is, are some more pictures, and also a list of kit!
:cheers:
Wurgle
More photos then...
Here are the final elements of the display tank construction :)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Front%20glass.JPG
Jeez these sheets of glass were really heavy, I thought the combined weight of the guys, the glass and this lift were going through the floor at one point :(
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/the boys at work.JPG
The boys from SeaBray hard at work installing the front glass. I kind of wish I had gone for starfire glass or some other colourless glass now as 22mm thick glass is fairly green, but it would have added a huge amount of money to the cost, and also quite a long wait.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Final tank Build.JPG
Everything in and waiting to cure... Blimey it's sooo hard not to just want to fill it with water straight away...
Not bad for 3 hours work :thumbsup:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Looking very good Wurgle. Watching this one with interest. Good luck
Thanks Mart!
Kit list... :partytime:
(well partial kit list, still waiting for some of it to arrive :) )
About 3 miles of pipe and about a billion fittings :annoyed:
Main outlets are 3 x 2"
Main inlets are 2 x 1 1/2"
Re-cirulation system 3 x 1 1/2"
2 x Aqua Medic 5000 Twin Skimmers
4 x 400w Lowbays 10,000k
2 x 250w lowbays 10,000k
10 x 40w T8 Actinic tubes
Schuran Sulphur NitrateFilter
Schuran multi filter filled with 1kg of ElimiPhos
Schuran Jetstream 2 Calcium Reactor - This is just the best bit of kit!!
2500 Bioballs
Teco TC60 water conditioner (heats and chills) - These suckers aren't cheap, but supposedly really good. :thumbsup:
Octopus control computer reading pH, Redox, Temp & conductivity
1000mg Ozonizer
5 x ITT Argonaut Pumps (15,000 ltr per hour each) :shock:
Ehiem 2229 for running Carbon if required
500kgs Live rock :shocking:
100kgs coral gravel / sand
2 x peri pumps for dosing calc and other things
4 x 30w UVs - these will end up on my quarantine tank & frag tanks when they go in along with a couple of smaller skimmers
D&D auto topup & another top up I cannot remember the name of
Lots of X-10 units controled both by Octopus and computer system
& all sorts of other stuff and bits and bobs from old tanks...
Phew, glad to get that lot off my chest :yahoo:
:cheers:
Wurgle
dan-the-man
23-03-07, 14:21
Phew, some money there pal!
Hope you've saved a good few grand to stock it! Sounds like a great setup!
As I'm sure we are all aware Dan, buying the bits is least of my worries...
Letting the wife see the lecci bill might be tricky!! :o
:cheers:
Wurgle
Your tank looks awesome! I bet it'll come out great. Your wife is funny.
500kg of LR!!! :eek: :worship:
Loving the thread so far
Wurgle, i've just noticed your sig, if you can remember Maria Andretti,
Hey MikeW, do you remember Maria Andretti from the original Casino Royal with David Niven and Woody Allen et al as well then :p :D
Sorry couldn't help myself... I have a friend who has a beautifully restored Elan and Europa.. great cars! (bit on the small sidce for me though!)
Cazoz, thanks for the post. My wife is funny, (but I wouldn't say that to her face ;) )
Phishy, lots and lots of live rock, that's the way to do it... :D
Mind you the wallet seems to be getting thinner and thinner by the day at the moment :cry:
:cheers:
Wurgle
The Reef Master
23-03-07, 19:50
Its gonna look good though mate ,so worth the wallet bashing in the end !!!:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
So to the fittings...
I foolishly thought that having planned everything out, I could order all the fittings in one go, and that would be that...
If anyone needs any fittings I may have more than TMC at the mo :annoyed:
My local pipeline centre is now being solely funded by yours truely having to buy everything as Georg Fischer pipe and fittings :( , not nice cheapy Durapipe or the american stuff from TMC. Still it will now survive a nuclear war!!
Due to various unavoidable changes and certain problems I ended up having to buy about twice as many as are in this picture (the big ones at the back are all 2") :) These are all the fittings for the display side of the tank, and a few valves for the garage, nothing for the skinners etc etc
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Fittings.JPG
Had to lay them out like this so I could remember where they were all supposed to go. This of course also goes along with about 50m of 1 1/2" pipe 12m of 2" pipe and about 80 pipe brackets... not to mention all the solvent weld... NICE SMELL !! :bouncy:
Just for comparison here is one of the new valves next to a 1" valve from my old tank :eek:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Little and large.JPG
Just remember the old saying "Small far away, big nearby!" 10p for scale :laugh:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Okay, some more progress..
Not sure who the gawping nancy is in the tank standing on a box, but he looks slightly familiar... :o
and No we don't still have our Christmas tree up!! :p this was taken early January...
I was looking all pleased with myself for drilling 6 1.5" holes though into the garage, as well as another 120mm hole which took hours with a core bit..
As you can see I have completed some of the piping for the main returns, and the 6 holes are for the closed loops back to the ITT's :D
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Holes for pipes.jpg
The adjustable hangers attached to the ceiling are for the halides so I can raise and lower them as required...
Amazing what you can do with hanging basket equipment :p
More soon :applause:
:cheers:
Wurgle
haha, looking up at you in that pic really gives a sense of size.
now if that's a chrimbo bush, then there must be 3 months of updates in the wings, spit em out man!!!
liquidlogic
25-03-07, 11:25
dude... dude ... dude.... any chance i can come round for a swim?
Hi Scoob,
Yep, that'd be right. There are a couple of months worth of updates yet to post.... I just like stringing these things out ;)
Wouldn't want you to get to the "climax" of things to early would we :o
Liquidlogic, so long as you bring your water wings and your mum (the water currents are very strong and there is a red flag flying on the beach) you are more than welcome to come for a dip! :p
:cheers:
wurgle
I'm with Scoob on this one (us both being photo needing tarts!) MORE MORE MORE PHOTOS
Phishy, one of the problems is that I had never really intended to post the build of this tank on the forum :whistling: as I had really not been an active member for a very long time, and so I potentially did not capture as many photos of the whole process as I might have liked :( .
That said, I have some more up my sleaves which I will post in a couple of days as I am away from home at the mo.
Anything in particular you'd like to see next?
I thought some nice equipment shots, or perhaps lots and lots of pipes and pumps :applause:
I could just post some pictures of my new Teco TC60 which I have just plumbed in... The Maserati of chillers :thumbsup: (I nearly put my back out doing it though :( )
:cheers:
Wurgle
Reef bloke
28-03-07, 13:07
Now now Wurgle you wouldnt keep a build like this from us would you? The forum just loooovvveees great builds and this looks like its gonna be a stonka.
Yes as the others have said really - just photos in general would be good. Do you have any shots of the tank - all of it in one pic?
to be honest, pics of your dog, grandparents, last holiday will do at this juncture!
:wave: Another piccy... :thumbsup:
I had a work mates dad (qualified sparky) come around and play fish wiring for a couple of days ;)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/electrics.JPG
Each main item of equipment is covered by its own MCB with a pair of titanium rods (one in the sump, one in the display tank) acting as earth across all of the imersed equipment so that if anything in contact with the water shorts it should only cut that circuit, and at worst all of the none essential items of equipment :D
All of the lighting circuits have also been connected as their own "ring main" to supress interference from the balasts etc, and to enable them to be manged from their own board.
The board has 2 contactors and 3 timers to control the main set of 400w balasts, the other set of 250w balasts and the 10 Actinic tubes individually. Hopefully I won't have the same problem as Mark (17000ltr) did!! :( with the light sticking on from welded contacts!!
More soon for the picture junkies :wave:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Reef bloke
01-04-07, 17:27
Impressive!Beats my extension leads lol.
Right then.. for all you picture muppets out there in reef land.. here we go :)
Here is my new monster conditioner (chiller and heater) from Teco, a TC60.
This is the biggest single unit they make (before you go onto something that is the size of a small car, and costs about as much!!)
Just to give a sense of size, it weighs about 60kg!! :ouch:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/TC60 Chiller.JPG
Seems to be running a little cold this morning after the chilly night last night, but I generally get 26 degrees
plus or minus 1 degree over any 24 hour period which can't be too bad when you've got nearly 4000ltrs of water :D
Right, after that mortgage inducing item :cry: ... off to see some more! :applause:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Reef bloke
04-04-07, 12:41
Blimey,thats a serious chiller.
just found this post what a great read so far keep the pic's comeing
More picture muppetry... :D
Some people may have seen a couple of threads elsewhere on the vaugaries of Aquamedic 5000 Twin skimmers, of which I have 2 running on the tank...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/SkimmerElectrics.JPG
You can see the tank electrics on the left, as well as 3 of the remote balasts for some of the 400w low bays on top of the cabinet (along with a giant pot of vaseline! :o )
The 5000 Twin units are nice skimmers, and certainly pull out the gunk if you look after then, although they can be prone to a certain amount of weakness in the acrylic of the joints on the outlet tubes which can lead to salt creep from hell :(
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Wurgle Skimmer.JPG
You can also see here some of the pipework coming into the garage from the display tank. Those are 2" ball valves :cool: on the 3 x 2" outlets from the weir in the tank. You can also see a couple of 1.5" pipes going up the wall which are the main system pump returns...
:cheers:
Wurgle
More picture muppetry... :D
Some people may have seen a couple of threads elsewhere on the vaugaries of Aquamedic 5000 Twin skimmers, of which I have 2 running on the tank...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/SkimmerElectrics.JPG
You can see the tank electrics on the left, as well as 3 of the remote balasts for some of the 400w low bays on top of the cabinet (along with a giant pot of vaseline! :o )
The 5000 Twin units are nice skimmers, and certainly pull out the gunk if you look after then, although they can be prone to a certain amount of weakness in the acrylic of the joints on the outlet tubes which can lead to salt creep from hell :(
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Wurgle Skimmer.JPG
You can also see here some of the pipework coming into the garage from the display tank. Those are 2" ball valves :cool: on the 3 x 2" outlets from the weir in the tank. You can also see a couple of 1.5" pipes going up the wall which are the main system pump returns...
:cheers:
Wurgle
Isn't that Skimmate a little on the clear side :confused:
And I am not even gonna ask about the vaseline ??
Regds
Jay
:)
Hey ReefBloke :)
When It's a choice between the TC60 and a 1986 Porsche 911, 3.2 flat 6 Carerra with Targa Top that I have just seen on ebay for the same money...
No choice really... I know which one I'd rather be "chillin" with :D :cool:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Hi Jay,
Yes the skimate is very much on the clear side. ;)
I am still flushing out / running in the system at the moment, and there is no livestock in there yet throwing out grunge to collect.
Mostly what I am doing is getting the nasty algae blooms :( out of the way, and removing the phosphates and other nasties from the water.
I'll then add the rest of the live rock (still need another 300kg's to go with the 200kg's that's already in there) mature that, and then start adding livestock :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
You got any more pics of the tank as is at present? Be interested to see how far it has come on. :)
Regds
Jay
Yeah I'd like to see some more pics of the whole display tank is possible?
Last one for the mo... I must go and do some work!!!
As per last main post, those couple of pipes on the wall go down to the main system pumps...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/System Pumps.JPG
They each move around 15,000 ltrs per hour through the sump which until very recently created a noise rather like Niagra after heavy rain!! :annoyed:
I've sorted this now with the addition of VAST quantities of bioballs :thumbsup: , which break up the flow, and remove most of the microbubbles.
Along with the 3 other ITT pumps each moving 15,000ltrs per hour on closed loops, that gives a circulation / recirculation rate of about 75,000ltrs per hour, or enough to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool in just over 3 hours :shocking:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Hi Jay / Phishy,
Go one then, twist my arm...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Filling up tank.JPG
This was the tank about 4 weeks ago as I was filling it with water, and finishing off the exterior face of the cabinet. I'm quite pleased with the way the cabinet has turned out. The tank is placed in an alcove that was rebuilt so that the edges of the tank cabinet would be flush with the walls. It really looks like a cross between a built in unit, and a hole in the wall tank :)
Filling it with water gave a shock to the water company, they called me thinking we had a leak!! mind you at a rejection ration of about 9:1 for the membrane I'm using I must have chucked away at least 40,000ltrs onto the garden :( Bang go my green credentials :confused:
Still, the picture as of last week, having gone through 1 algal bloom, and several buckets of salt is this...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Tank Last week.JPG
As you can see there is still a fair bit to do...
Finish off the cabinet work
Install the "light bomb" actinic lighting cluster
Put in the rest of the rock work
add fish and coral for "instant aquarium" :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
very impressive set up so far
what is the total system volume? i assume you are having a BIG remote sump in the garage to warrant 15000 l/h going through it!?
Norvern Rob
04-04-07, 17:30
Awesome tank! :applause: I can only imagine what a tank that size would look like in my living room.
Makes the 4x2x3 i've just ordered look pathetic! Mind you, I daren't push my luck any more, my girlfriend has just asked if we are decorating our bedroom over easter - to which i informed her that I am going to Blackpool with my mates saturday to sunday, then i'm building the tank stand next week! :thumbsup:
:wub: wow wurgle thats some system you got running there:worship:
piccccccccccccccccyyyyyyyyyyyyssssssssssss. :thumbsup:
Hi Jay / Phishy,
Go one then, twist my arm...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Filling up tank.JPG
This was the tank about 4 weeks ago as I was filling it with water, and finishing off the exterior face of the cabinet. I'm quite pleased with the way the cabinet has turned out. The tank is placed in an alcove that was rebuilt so that the edges of the tank cabinet would be flush with the walls. It really looks like a cross between a built in unit, and a hole in the wall tank :)
Filling it with water gave a shock to the water company, they called me thinking we had a leak!! mind you at a rejection ration of about 9:1 for the membrane I'm using I must have chucked away at least 40,000ltrs onto the garden :( Bang go my green credentials :confused:
Still, the picture as of last week, having gone through 1 algal bloom, and several buckets of salt is this...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Tank Last week.JPG
As you can see there is still a fair bit to do...
Finish off the cabinet work
Install the "light bomb" actinic lighting cluster
Put in the rest of the rock work
add fish and coral for "instant aquarium" :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
I am really liking the set-up so far. The way the rockwork is scaped is excellent. :thumbsup:
I will wait with baitd breath to see this marvel come to fruition. :applause:
Keep the pics coming - very impressive so far.
Regds
Jay
:applause: Looking really really good Wurgle
very impressive set up so far
what is the total system volume? i assume you are having a BIG remote sump in the garage to warrant 15000 l/h going through it!?
Thanks Muzzy :) There is a tail behind the sump situation...
I have now been through 3 sump configurations! :annoyed:
The first, alluded to earlier in this thread was going to be 2400ltrs, a good size for this tank, and what I had aimed for, however with building works being what they were, and having to put a driveway where the sumps were going to go, I had to abandon that idea.
I then installed 2 x 4' x 2' x 2' sumps joined together to make 8'x2'x2'. Unfortunately this configuration did not work properly, and my original ideas about having a DSB in one of the sumps along with various other ideas had to be dumped again :(
Thus I had to change the configuration again to give me what I have now which is a single 6' x 2' x 2' sump and a lot of flow ;)
This seems to work quite well, although I still have a little problem with micro bubbles, for which I will be building another baffle.
That gives me in total a system volume of roughly 4000ltrs give or take a bit (just over 850 Imperial Gallons), not removing anything for rocks or equipment etc...
Blimey that sounds big!! :laugh: The nice man in the shop said it was the next model up from bowl he showed me... :p
:cheers:
Wurgle
Thanks again Jay & Phishy :D
I am really looking forward to when I get hold of the final batch of live rock so I can get aquascaping again...
I'm sure there will be strife at home about getting all that salt water over our nice new carpet... I said lino would have been better in the lounge! ;)
I will be posting some more piccys soon after I have connected in the Schuran JetStream2 and the Schuran Sulphur media filter, and then we'll be ready to rock and roll for the stocking :applause:
I'd certainly be interested to hear anyone's views on interesting things to stock both from a fish and coral point of view. I am going to eer on the side of SPS / hard corals but really want to get some unusual and stunning specimens of both fish and corals / inverts... and no I don't want any free giant mantis shrimps!! :thumbsup:
:cheers:
Wurgle
:wub: wow wurgle thats some system you got running there:worship:
piccccccccccccccccyyyyyyyyyyyyssssssssssss. :thumbsup:
Thanks Sharktale :D
I will try to oblige with as many piccys as I can. :thumbsup:
To me the stocking will be the most interesting part, but I do understand that many peeps on this board are equipment fettishists as well :laugh:
:cheers:
Wurgle
WOW
How have I missed this thread :eek:
Good worth there mate, keep it up(dates!) :D
Chris
Awesome tank! :applause: I can only imagine what a tank that size would look like in my living room.
Makes the 4x2x3 i've just ordered look pathetic! Mind you, I daren't push my luck any more, my girlfriend has just asked if we are decorating our bedroom over easter - to which i informed her that I am going to Blackpool with my mates saturday to sunday, then i'm building the tank stand next week! :thumbsup:
Hi Norvern Rob :)
I suppose it depends on the size of your lounge... In the words of Father Ted... "Small, far away, Big, nearby!" :D
I think some of the smaller tanks I've seen on this forum look stunning, and are a real credit to their owners.
Your new tank doesn't sound that small at all, and I spent over 10 years with a simple 4' x 18" x 18" marine tank before I started my "upgrade" path.
What kind of things are you going to do with your new tank? Reef I assume? What kinds of stock are you planning on etc?
Also remember that no matter how big your lounge is, a big tank can still spell disaster...
My old 8ft x 3ft x 30" tank was situated on the end wall of my old lounge which was 37ft x 27ft...
One day a fuse tripped which supplied power to the main system pumps... these failed along with the anti-syphon devices on the mail inlet plumbing.
This caused the tank to start to empty itself out of the sump via the pipework from the display tank... :shock: !!
Well, you can imagine the carnage... the top 18" of water had emptied itself out, just less than 1000ltrs over the lounge carpet... :cry:
So, 1000 sq ft of carpet, 2 sofas, a window seat and various electrical items including 2 industrial dehumidifiers later, I had cleaned up and put things back to how they were!! :annoyed: :weep:
My girlfriend of the time (who is now my wife! :worship: also known as the CFO) was none to chuffed, especially at the time it took to fix...
Still, when she bought her friends around to gasps of amazement at the tank, she kind of forgot the whole issue... She only remembers / reminds me now when I mess up on something else ;)
You could always tell her that the tank stand is actualy a platform to help you decorate the bedroom??? :confused:
:cheers:
Wurgle
From the original shots of the stand going in and the shot on page 3. Where the floor reaches the cabinet, does the floor drop there about 1ft?
I'm swapping my tank over soon and have just bought a consumer unit smiliar c/w timer and mcb's. The plan is to have atleast one 'spur' which will be a ups unit to power a return pump and heater in the event of power failure. My only worry at the mo is that my unit will be in close proximity to the tank and I may get some salt creep.
From the original shots of the stand going in and the shot on page 3. Where the floor reaches the cabinet, does the floor drop there about 1ft?
I'm swapping my tank over soon and have just bought a consumer unit smiliar c/w timer and mcb's. The plan is to have atleast one 'spur' which will be a ups unit to power a return pump and heater in the event of power failure. My only worry at the mo is that my unit will be in close proximity to the tank and I may get some salt creep.
Hi Nigeljk, thanks for taking an interest :)
Yes you are right, the floor infact drops about 18" beneath carpet level, down onto a concrete base under the tank, the wood of the stand being separated from the floor by its own damp proof membrane.
The base of the inside of the cabinets under the tank is also suspended, and so is about 9" below carpet level to give extra room under the tank, which is now actually not used for anything! :o
On the subject of electricals, you can get IP65 rated consumer units. They have rubber / plastic seals at all points of entry, but you must be careful to ensure that you maintain the rating of the unit by using appropriate rubber entry glands where you bring cables in and out of the box.
I would suggest that one of the biggest dangers is not getting salt creep and water inside the unit (if you did this regularly you'd soon give up the hobby / fingers / life etc) but from highly saline water on the mcb's / your fingers when you throw a switch or two... nasty conductive stuff water...
Put the consumer unit as far away as possible from the sump.
If you are going to wire it off a spur, make sure that you rate the supply cable and supplying mcb / rcd correctly. I would suggest that you would want to supply the new unit from an rcd on the original board so that in the event of a problem it will trip before you do! As mentioned elsewhere in other posts, use a titanium earth rod wired back to your star earth bus in your consumer unit.
The only other things to think about are :
can the UPS handle the inductive load placed on it by the motor in the pump? UPS's are generally very bad at this
Can the timers you are using handle the inductive switch on pulse from the lighting balasts? There are usually 2 ratings on the contacts for the timers a normal "resistive load" and an inductive load, usually listed in brakets. The inductive load is usually much less than the resistive one it can handle, and hence you can easily fuse the contacts together if you're not careful.
On the basis of full load from the pump and heater how long will the UPS run for? I would suggest that you might like to have say 8 hours run time just in case? therefore for say a 600w continuous load you would need a 1000VA UPS (not cheap!)
Any how, not sure if any of the above was helpful, or if it was just a load of verbal? :(
:cheers:
wurgle
'The base of the inside of the cabinets under the tank is also suspended, and so is about 9" below carpet level to give extra room under the tank, which is now actually not used for anything! '
You anticipated my next question! With it being a nice tall space I was thinking it would be good for mangroves etc. and really let them grow!
Yeah I got an IP rated unit, but have had problems with this sort of thing on the pond, so was going to err on the side of caution anyway.
'if you did this regularly you'd soon give up the hobby / fingers / life etc'
I've had a couple of nasty pokes in my time (not tank related) so am unusually wary!
The spur was already there (something the previous owner was doing) , I've added a mcb at the original box. The current tank is running off this (theres a double socket and I have 2 X RCD's on 4 way trailing plugs) with no problems.
The titanium rod idea is a good one, I'm off to the local decathon over the w/e so I'll pick a couple up.
'can the UPS handle the inductive load placed on it by the motor in the pump? UPS's are generally very bad at this'
I've not heard this before, when I tested it it ran fine for around 10 mins. On the current tank the arrangement is not ideal, but I'm aiming at improving it when I swap over so that the UPS has it's own mcb and line.
'Can the timers you are using handle the inductive switch on pulse from the lighting balasts?'
I'm using a contactor on the timer. I killed quiet a few digital timers before discovering that little gem!
In the last 5 years we've only had a couple of outages, the last was the worst at 45 mins. This is what prompted me to get the UPS. I've not really tested for a full charge to full empty, but I'm working on the assumption that the 300W heater won't be on fully all the time and the pump only draws minimal wattage (Eheim 1262) . The UPS is an APC 1400 VA model. I'm hoping this will run for several hours incase the power goes off whilst I'm at work. I can deal with the problem when I get home then. I'm thinkg of getting a meaty genny for those times when disaster stikes.
Sorry for the long post, but your electrics had the same kind of thinking behind it and I was interested in any probs, so thanks for the reply.
HTH if I did?? :)
Hope I wasn't teaching Granny to suck eggs :whistling:
Just passing on experiences (rather similar to yours by the sounds of it :) )
:cheers:
Wurgle
p.s. All "advice" is free :shy:
looking good more pics please
just caught up with this thread, looks great :)
i need a big lounge :P
will you be giving aquascaping lessons anytime soon?
i'd be all ears :)
ok ive seen the pics wurgle hope you can help me with my aquascaping :D
just a touch bigger than my tank :thumbsup:
cheers jon
hi wurgle ,:worship: il be watching this one with intrest as im seriously considering knocking a wall down in the lounge and adding something around the 8' mark myself.i also want to house a large sump system in the garage so if you can offer any advice or help with design it would be much appreciated.im currently running a 48" x 18" x 24" tank with a 42" x 15" x 14" sump its been up and running for 6 months with m/h lighting and so far ive not really noticed a massive dent in the pocket from my electric company but do you have any idea approx how much an 8' x 3' x 2' would cost on monthly running costs?? ive been looking at the new solaris lighting thats on the american market so know i can save with that and ive also heard rumours that tmc are bringing an led light onto the market too.hope i havent bored you too much by the way but im just scared of jumping into the project and then realising ive overlooked something and end up getting out of my depth.youre tank looks and sounds awesome by the way:applause: -many thanks andy.
Hi Folks,
Thanks for all the interest :D
I'll reply to each individually, but just at the mo, I am away from home with work, so I plan to post some updates, piccys etc on Wednesday when I am back, although I have been let down a bit in the live rock stakes, so the aquascaping stuff I was hoping to show you all will have to wait a bit :(
Thanks for the patience, I know how some of you need your "FIX" of piccys!! :applause:
:cheers:
Wurgle
hi wurgle ,:worship: il be watching this one with intrest as im seriously considering knocking a wall down in the lounge and adding something around the 8' mark myself.i also want to house a large sump system in the garage so if you can offer any advice or help with design it would be much appreciated.im currently running a 48" x 18" x 24" tank with a 42" x 15" x 14" sump its been up and running for 6 months with m/h lighting and so far ive not really noticed a massive dent in the pocket from my electric company but do you have any idea approx how much an 8' x 3' x 2' would cost on monthly running costs?? ive been looking at the new solaris lighting thats on the american market so know i can save with that and ive also heard rumours that tmc are bringing an led light onto the market too.hope i havent bored you too much by the way but im just scared of jumping into the project and then realising ive overlooked something and end up getting out of my depth.youre tank looks and sounds awesome by the way:applause: -many thanks andy.
Andy,
Happy to help in anyway I can :) , anyway from a power cost point of view
Just a quick calculation...
Lighting total 2500w on for roughly 12 hours per day
System and closed loop pumps total 1800w on for between 14 and 24hours per day
Chiller / heater 1250w on for up to 8 hours per day (depending on weather etc)
skimmers / filters / etc etc roughly 1000w on 24 hours per day
if you have an average month of 30 days and each kW Hour of eleccy costs...
Well you do the maths... :shocking:
Total energy load works out to be about the equivalent of about 4kW on 24 hours a day, 7 days per week...
which is roughly 330,000 BTU's per day, or enough energy to BOIL 822ltrs of water every day... :oops:
I wish I hadn't started this now... I feel like I am personally responsible for global warming!! :crying:
:cheers:
Wurgle
:thanks: superb my friend thanks a lot!! as for the global warming bit i feel a bit guilty myself now but ive turned an old paste table into a sandwhich board and im just off into leicester town centre to start a campaign against global warming haha any takers??:dance:
Isn't it great when you catch up on a quality build/thread.:worship: and I mean very very good quality.
Looking very good.
Good luck with the colour co-ord fish:laugh:
I'm intrigued though..
(who is now my wife! :worship: also known as the CFO)
Chief Fire Officer?
Daz:)
chris@bluzoo
24-04-07, 13:18
Really enjoyed this thread. I'm deffo gonna keep my eye on it :). Keep the pics coming Wurgle nice job.;)
Love the build, nice thread been following it from the start - your elecy bill though! Whoooh:o , taking your average of 4kw running 24/7, lets say at £0.08 p/kwh (per unit of electricity), that's £0.32 per hour or £7.68 p/day, or £53.76 p/week or £232.96 p/month or £2795.52 p/year.........
Dont let Ross (tree hugger) read that! :D :laugh:
chris@bluzoo
24-04-07, 13:41
Love the build, nice thread been following it from the start - your elecy bill though! Whoooh:o , taking your average of 4kw running 24/7, lets say at £0.08 p/kwh (per unit of electricity), that's £0.32 per hour or £7.68 p/day, or £53.76 p/week or £232.96 p/month or £2795.52 p/year.........
Dont let Ross (tree hugger) read that! :D :laugh:
Not bad eh :D :D might be worth looking into solar power :D
£232 per month - OH MY GOD you must be crazy.....
Keep going though :)
Norvern Rob
24-04-07, 18:01
Isn't it great when you catch up on a quality build/thread.:worship: and I mean very very good quality.
Looking very good.
Good luck with the colour co-ord fish:laugh:
I'm intrigued though..
Chief Fire Officer?
Daz:)
Looking at the electric usage lets hope it doesn't mean Chief Finance Officer!
Wow, I should go away more often... :D (It's what my wife says all the time :o )
Thanks everyone for your comments and PM's, I'll try to cover them off over the space of a few more posts, and try to get some more pictures up as well as my proposed stocking list, so that the assembled masses can pass comment :p
Unfortunately it looks like I have been let down again with my live rock requirements (I need another 300kg to finish off :shock:) so I may be looking for another supply.
Anyone got any good sources other than just the LFS etc?
I can't wait to really go to town on the aquascaping.. I have a few devious plans up my sleave :whistling: that I don't think I've seen anywhere else?
:cheers:
Wurgle
Wurgle - PM sent re live rock
Right then, I finally have a spare 5 minutes to reply to all of you good peeps :D
Niradnam & Jonny72...
as Jon and a few others are aware I have been having serious difficulty in sourcing any decent live rock. I have now been let down a total of 4 times by various people.
Mostly not their fault... going out of business :cry:, emigrating :shock:, can't get CITES :annoyed: etc etc etc
Needless to say that now this has been going on for several months and I am (or was) at the end of my tether :banghead: ...
Having now had some conversations with Mark (17,000ltr) it looks like my rock woes will be sorted very soon, and aquascaping lessons can begin in earnest :thumbsup:
I have some (what I think are) cool plans for how the rock will be placed in the tank, hopefully providing a few eyebrow lifting features.
I should be able to achieve quite a lot with 500kg of rock :o
I plan to document the process fully so that I can share it on this thread, but I will probably have to work the process backwards a bit so I can keep all of you picture hungry types on the edges of your seats :p
:cheers:
Wurgle
have you tried rob at marine lighting - one of the sponsors?
seems weird, but i noticed he sells live rock and seems pretty cheap as well. web site says they have 300kg of it
Dazm & NorvernRob,
Unfortunately yes :lookaround:... CFO stands for "Chief Fianance Officer" (well at least in my house it does) :laugh:
I have to make sure that my housekeeping allowance includes the fishtank! :whistling:
Obviously the main running costs will just be a bit of fish food every couple of weeks ;) ...
all the rest goes under household costs :applause:
The leccy bill part is fine...
We re-wired most of the house at the same time as putting the tank in, and my wife insisted on putting in lots and lots of really expensive to run light fittings (I'm mince meat if she sees this :shock:) and kitchen appliances (she could just run me through the Kenwood Chef :innocent: ), and of course that's why the bills are sooo high :D
I tend not to try and think about these things too much, as I find it detracts from the beauty and majesty of a fine well run tank....
(did you believe that... no neither did I, but it's all I've got :laugh: )
:cheers:
Wurgle
Thanks Muzzy,
I'm all fixed up now, although their prices seem extremely low?!
Maybe with all this global warming I could dig up the garden and run a live rock lagoon with chunks of cement thrown in for colonisation...
Might pay the lecci bill :)
:cheers:
Wurgle
MT, Thanks for the comments... Solar power would be good, but I think the way I'm going a small nuclear power plant in the garage might be what I need!!
Tony B, surely you must have similar outgoings on your tank?
I am always interested to find out other experiences people have had, and where they get cheap electricity from?:thumbsup:
I kind of wish you hadn't actually finished that calculation for me... :(
Does anyone out there get the benefit of what used to be called Economy 7, i.e. cheaper night rate electricity?
Sometimes I feel like setting up a business to get business electric rates!! :annoyed:
Phishy, me... Crazy... :w00t:
Madder than a bucket of fish!! :thumbsup:
I hope to post some more info over the next few days about potential stocking lists for fish and coral, as well as some other ideas I would like to get feedback on like...
1) An underwater remote control webcam :whistling:
2) Ideas for how to take some "timelapse" / growout shots of individual corals and the tank :D
3) experiments on growth rates and lighting intensity (I figure with such a deep tank it would be worth trying)
4) Looking at the addition of Strontium on the growth rates of certain species (this has been one of my pet questions for ages, and I want to put it to bed in my own mind)
5) Experimenting to see if my remote controlled underwater shark really will scare my fish :D
Anyway more, much more, to come :wave:
:cheers:
Wurgle
All still sounding good Neil.
I like the sound of the webcam but how would you keep the lens clean from algae?
Matt
Matt,
Have you never heard of the Windscreenwiper wrasse?? :p
:thumbsup:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Matt,
Have you never heard of the Windscreenwiper wrasse?? :p
:thumbsup:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Neil,
There very camera shy though aren't they :D
Hey Folks :D
Right, my live rock is in the country :applause:
I will be picking it up on Saturday afternoon, and spending the rest of the weekend aquascaping, and generally getting wet and purple fingered from all the epoxy putty :laugh:
I will of course be capturing every moment of the build from now on to post on the board... :yes:
I am hoping to include giant caves, rock bridges, 3ft long rock stalactites and generally extreme rock engineering :thumbsup: (I used to be a geologist after all :whistling: )
Wish me luck
:cheers:
Wurgle
p.s. If there is anything in particular people want to see let me know, and I will try to capture it on film
p.s. If there is anything in particular people want to see let me know, and I will try to capture it on film
Angelina jolie and cameron diaz naked a in a tub of jelly
:applause: :thumbsup: :dance: :applause: :thumbsup:
Dude, be careful if you're using sh*t loads of milleput-type putty on your rockwork as I know a few members on here have had severe side-effects with their livestock being 'poisoned' by the residue when it's used in large amounts.
Just worth checking out ;)
*snip*
1) An underwater remote control webcam :whistling:
My mate and I were talking about this a few days ago. Thinking of a radio controlled mini sub with one of those mini spy cams on it and controllable from a web interface..or in other words controlled via the internet :)
Is Wurgle the most photo eager/friendly person on here :thumbsup:
Can't to see some of these pics when they start coming through - as many as poss of the rock work being fixed together and the different areas like the cave work etc please mate :worship:
:thanks:
Angelina jolie and cameron diaz naked a in a tub of jelly
:applause: :thumbsup: :dance: :applause: :thumbsup:
Kizkiz,
Not sure I can manage that one dude... This isn't that kind of Board :laugh:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Dude, be careful if you're using sh*t loads of milleput-type putty on your rockwork as I know a few members on here have had severe side-effects with their livestock being 'poisoned' by the residue when it's used in large amounts.
Just worth checking out ;)
Hey Barbarosa,
I know what you mean. This is the purple Deltec stuff :D , which I have found to be reasonably good at not putting loads of crap into the water, but at least there is no other livestock in there at the moment to get affected.
I'll see how I get on and let you know :)
:cheers:
Wurgle
My mate and I were talking about this a few days ago. Thinking of a radio controlled mini sub with one of those mini spy cams on it and controllable from a web interface..or in other words controlled via the internet :)
Ultrakev....
You read my mind :D Over the last while people have bought me a mini remote controlled submarine and a remote controlled shark (with realistic tail movement :laugh: )
Unfortunately neither of these work properly in salt water, and because of the size of the tank, the remote control signal gets lost if you go deeper than about 3ft :(
Still it's funny to watch what happens when you drive the shark into the out put from a 1hp pump :whistling:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Wow,
100 posts on my little thread :D
Cool :applause:
Thanks for all the interest folks!! :worship:
Here's to the next 100 :dance:
:cheers:
Wurgle
missed this thread :) nice read cheers :)
Did you get the idea fo rthe Hi-Lo garden baskets from me by any chance?
Not that I'm aware of Claude :)
I used something similar on my old tank...
Just goes to show what a good idea it is :thumbsup:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Okay Folks,
As promised some shots from yesterdays "Get the rock in" session :D
Went over to see Mark (17,000ltr) in Warrington to be met by half a garage full of rock :laugh: :whistling: Good job I've got an estate car :applause: (Thanks Mark!!)
Anyway, upacked the car, and half filled my own garage again...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Rock Boxes.JPG
There are 14 x 22kg boxes here :dance: which when added to the 250kg I already have...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/vat of rock.JPG
Makes more rock than you can shake a stick at :eek:
Anyway, first item of business was to build my rock tower. Much drilling of pipe, and rock, and general mayhem later and we have this...
Suspended 1ft away from the back glass, and about 3ft in length :cool:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/rock pillar.JPG
The green goop is what you get when you go away for a week and leave the lights on with an empty tank :o :(
The top is fixed by solvent welding the down pipe to the cross pipe (zip ties for extra strength!)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/top of rock pillar.JPG
Next job, get all the rock in the tank :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
Right, stage 2...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Tank before.JPG
This was the tank a few weeks ago, with my original rock in there...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/250kg rock in tank.JPG
This was the tank yesterday with the same rock in there, just now used as base rock ready for the new live rock...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/All rock in 550kg.JPG
This is how it looks now with all 550kg+ of rock in waiting to be aquascaped today!!! :D :D
Stick around for more progress and updates :applause:
:cheers:
Wurgle
An amazing tank build love the idea with the suspended rock, but how safe is that :eek::eek::eek:!!!!
Def thinking outside the box thumbs up
love the tank
Brilliant - you doing some more today Neil?
great read there mate, :D really enjoyed it,wooooooooooooow , lots of rock aswell
Hey Gio, :D
Thanks for the comments. I had a suspended rock tower in my old tank which lasted for 8 years, so I am hopeful :cool:
Matt, Lots more done yesterday, and finishing off this morning, so more pics later :thumbsup:
Johnycube,
Thanks mate, lots of rock indeed... at one point last night I thought I'd even got too much, but we'll see how the finished article comes out :applause:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Just for reference..
300kg of rock displaces about 280ltrs of water :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
Your set up is gonna be stunning, Keep the updates coming Wurgle :)
Jay
Okay, well just finished getting soaking wet, a little on the tired side, and rather covered in epoxy...
To cap it off, one of my ITT pumps has just died :(
Still, I have "finished" my rock work... :thumbsup: :applause: :dance: (well at least for now, until I get some extremely large pieces to finish off with :D
Okay so some shots.. a bit murky as things are still clearing, but this is really as it happens folks :p
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/New Rock 1.JPG
Full tank shot showing general layout of rock scape
I have had to get my head under water several times :sick:, even with 3ft tongs, it's a long way to the back of this beast!!
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/New Rock 2.JPG
Shot from side on, showing some of the detail of the different layers of rocks and caves etc
As you can see the pillar is still hanging :laugh:
I think I may need to annotate a few of these shots in close up to show some of the ideas...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/Big Cave.JPG
Finally, this is the main cave (of 3) in the centre of the tank. It is roughly 18" x 18" x 18" under there, so lots of nice hidey holes for the fishes :D
I still have some more interesting stuff to do and ideas to show, so stay tuned :applause: :w00t: :hammer: :ohyea:
If anyone is interested in more detail about how I did any of this please ask, and I will try to show some more detailed shots.
I have to say I'd forgotten just how difficult it is to balance that much rock! :( Hope the pumps don't shift too much stuff around :shock:
:cheers:
Wurgle
All I can say is WOW - that is the best rockwork I have seen, just imagining that lot covered in coral and general growth. It will be stunning :worship:
More detailed pics would be great Wurg, looking very good.
sweet rock scape. I like it alot.
Great to see your reef layout unfold mate, can't wait to see the addition of some livestock in there, it's gonna be stunning :thumbsup:
looking awesome!!!!
that scaping is very busy, i think it will look great when colonised and coloured up. long old way to fall from the top for the innevitable hermits :D
Hi Phishy :D Very kind of you to say. Not finished yet though, more interest to come I hope :cool:
Yep, I've got the same thoughts stocking wise etc... must not rush... must not rush... :thumbsup:
Jobr, Thanks for the kind words :D
I'll try to grab some shots at the weekend to show some of the detail. I wanted a kind of rock wall effect to give the maximum depth of water front to back for swimming space, as well as big caves and features (most bang for the buck really)
fras, cool, glad you like it so far :thanks:
Barbarosa, Thanks again, I can't wait either... but I'll have to :(
Got to nail down the stock lists next, so I'll be posting some stuff on this thread so all you guys and girls can give me the advantage of your experience!! :worship: :applause: :worship:
SCOOB, Appreciate your comments matey :D As for the turbos etc I shall be issuing them all with minature parachutes for health and safety reasons... alternatively I could make it into a sport and get my mates around to bet on which one hits the deck first :laugh: :laugh: When you say "busy" is that a good thing or a bad thing?? I have to say I was worried at one point that I had over loaded with rock, but I wanted to get as many features and ledges etc as possible for the intended livestock... As with all these things, I'm sure it will change over time :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
When you say "busy" is that a good thing or a bad thing?? I have to say I was worried at one point that I had over loaded with rock, but I wanted to get as many features and ledges etc as possible for the intended livestock
i think it depends on your coral stocking plans. my tank was originally set up to have many ledges for many corals, it wasn't til i finished i realised i had few ledges and loads of cliffs, totally useless for mounting things on.
i then stripped 50 % out and went with a slope to have fewer corals but more open space. it all depends what you want to stick in there. looking at yours, 150 acros, 150 montis, 50 lps and a dozen varieties of rics and leathers will look mighty grand, if however you were thinking of 2 different types of pulse coral, it would look too much. as it is right now, if that was a fish only, i'd be happy with the structure, i'm a fan of caves and lumps and bumps and that looks grand, perfect for thousands of critters to climb all over the place :)
Reef bloke
08-05-07, 17:26
Excellent aquascaping there my good man!
i think it depends on your coral stocking plans. my tank was originally set up to have many ledges for many corals, it wasn't til i finished i realised i had few ledges and loads of cliffs, totally useless for mounting things on.
i then stripped 50 % out and went with a slope to have fewer corals but more open space. it all depends what you want to stick in there. looking at yours, 150 acros, 150 montis, 50 lps and a dozen varieties of rics and leathers will look mighty grand, if however you were thinking of 2 different types of pulse coral, it would look too much. as it is right now, if that was a fish only, i'd be happy with the structure, i'm a fan of caves and lumps and bumps and that looks grand, perfect for thousands of critters to climb all over the place :)
Thanks SCOOB :D
I have tried to max out on the ledges rather than cliffs (it may not look this way from the photos :) ) I understand entirely what you mean about places for corals etc.
I plan to put in a lot of smaller colonies and frags to allow for natural grow out in the conditions of my tank. I know this will take longer, but I think it will give it a more naturalistic look :thumbsup:
I don't plan on having many softies at all really, just the odd choice specimen on some of the over hanging ledges. Rics etc Deffo, but mostly SPS and LPS - Montis & Acros of all types and shapes - Pavonas, Turbinaria, Poccilloporids, Platygyra, Lobophyllia, Stylophora, Pachyseris etc etc
As I said earlier, I will post some of my stocking plans to get the UR once over and hopefully seal of approval :worship:
Help me spend my money... :laugh:
Maybe I should consider a sponsorship system...
Sponsor a coral and you can get a little sign with your name on it visible on the web cam?? :applause:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Excellent aquascaping there my good man!
Hey Reef bloke :D
Thanks for the feedback. Glad you like it.
Really means a lot from someone with such a great tank themselves.
Congrats again on the TOTM, very well deserved :worship: :applause: :thumbsup: :worship:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Looks amazing and when it is mature it will be one of the truly stunning UR reefs.
Mde
JOHN & CAM
12-05-07, 15:19
Nothing short of what i'd expect from someone with your vision. Superb. Got a feeling there will be people looking on with green eyes:laugh:
Looks amazing and when it is mature it will be one of the truly stunning UR reefs.
Mde
Hey Mode :)
Thanks for the comments. It really helps to get people's feedback on this to know that you seem to be doing the right things :D
Nothing short of what i'd expect from someone with your vision. Superb. Got a feeling there will be people looking on with green eyes:laugh:
John & Cam,
Dudes you make me blush :o When you talk about vision I assume you mean severe myopia?? :p :laugh:
If any of my ideas help other people build their own "Ultimate Reefs" then all the better as far as I'm concerned :worship: , I'm just building this for myself (and the family of course!:thumbsup: )
:cheers:
Wurgle
loks great mate, would look nice with xenia hanging of the ledge :D
Okay, well just finished getting soaking wet, a little on the tired side, and rather covered in epoxy...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/New Rock 2.JPG
Wurgle
Very attractive aquascaping:thumbsup:
wurgle
any chance you can put up some pics of the kit-equipment, sump area etc all plumbed in
rupert
loks great mate, would look nice with xenia hanging of the ledge :D
Jonie, Thanks :) You must have read my mind :idea:. I will be adding some more rock in there v.soon, particularly around the weir, and I will be putting some kind of xenia like thing on there to hide it a bit.
trythechi, Cheers, more to come yet though, watch this space :thumbsup:
Abyss, what kind of things are you looking for mate? Having a bit of a mare with my closed loop pumps at the mo, but happy to show you anything else? Let me know :wave: Can't really get it all in one shot! :laugh:
:cheers:
Wurgle
ive got the same pumps, or similar
i was just wondering how you have your loops set up, and returns, even if you have got a couple of probs, ill be able to get the general idea
regards
rupert
ive got the same pumps, or similar
i was just wondering how you have your loops set up, and returns, even if you have got a couple of probs, ill be able to get the general idea
regards
rupert
Hi Rupert,
I'll take some shots for you when I get back home on Thursday night, and post them up.
I wish I could use "SketchUp" as well as some folk on here :worship: , then I could draw it out for you, but I think it may come out looking like the "Pipes" screensaver in Windoze :blink:
If you use the same pumps as me, any thoughts about the cleaning question I just posted (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=209359)in the Reefs section?? Just having a bit of a nightmare with them at the mo.
:cheers:
Wurgle
Folks,
I'm still away at the moment so no more piccys, but I have some ideas around the clean up crew :D
I was going to stock with the following:
300 Turbos
100 other assorted snails - ceriths etc
100 hermits
15 brittle stars
2 sand sifting cucumbers
50 clearner shrimps
15 blood shrimps
Anyone have any comments? Anyone got any better ideas / anything I have missed out? :thanks:
I reckon this should give me around 10 beasties per square foot of exposed rock face / gravel :thumbsup:
Plenty of high diving off the rocks going on me thinks :whistling:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Thats some clean up crew Neil, as always looking forward to the next set of pics.
Hi wurgle
i think you should put ONE MORE turbo in just to make up the numbers LOL:laugh:
thats a big clean up crew.
One question? are you going to put them all in at the same time or gradualy?
Thats some clean up crew Neil, as always looking forward to the next set of pics.
Cheers Phishy :D More piccis coming as soon as I get back home and can take some more. :cool:
Hi wurgle
i think you should put ONE MORE turbo in just to make up the numbers LOL:laugh:
thats a big clean up crew.
One question? are you going to put them all in at the same time or gradualy?
Hey BASH!
One more you think..:p I'll make sure I get that ordered, wouldn't want to have the tank looking empty now would we :laugh: :thumbsup:
I was hoping to put them in all at once, or at least over the space of a couple of days. Unless anyone tells me otherwise I don't think this should cause a problem?
Anyway, another 250ltr water change today, and then another on Saturday.
Ammonia now zero, Nitrite heading very rapidly back to zero from 250mgltr :eek:, Nitrate slowly rising, hopefully to be kept in check by the water changes.
Giant algae monster now rules the front of the tank (which is a little bit worrying, but let's wait untill the cleanup crew has a go at it! :applause:
Skimmer cups looking (and smelling) like nothing I have ever seen, or in fact want to see again :sick: :no:
:cheers:
Wurgle
I'd get a 'bulk purchase' agreement in place with TMC!
If you put it all in at once won't that start a big cycle off and damage the more sensative inverts?
If you put it all in at once won't that start a big cycle off and damage the more sensative inverts?
nigeljk, I think I'd be better starting off my own breeding programme for the little critters :laugh:
As for the levels, there is currently nothing else in the tank other than the live rock which will be finished cycling soon. :thumbsup: :applause:
I am imagining that putting all those little guys in at one go will not shift the balance at all :confused: , partly because of dilution factors (4000ltrs of water), partly because i hope that 1/2 a ton of live rock should do it's job :whistling: , and partly because the thought of trying to introduce 500 little guys in anything other than 1 big hit fills me with dread!! :(
:cheers:
Wurgle
300 Turbos
100 other assorted snails - ceriths etc
100 hermits
15 brittle stars
2 sand sifting cucumbers
50 clearner shrimps
15 blood shrimps
:bigeye: :bigeye: Some clean up crew your gonna get, 50 cleaner shrimp man yours display is gonna ROCK!
Cant wait for more updates:D
Thanks
Jay
Thanks Jay,
Thought I'd better start as I mean to go on... :thumbsup:
You can bet though that once all the critters are in, you'll hardly see any of them! :(
c'est la vie :wave:
:cheers:
Wurgle
the hermit crabs you are put in are they red legs or blue legs??????
As i have recently been told that you shouldnt mix them as they have a negative effect on each other.
The red ones should be added to the tank in a gradual way say 15 at a time this will creat pressure for the previous batch to work harder for you and so on
on the other hand the blue legs work in the opposit way the previous batch will work less for you
hope this makes sense :confused:
BASH
the hermit crabs you are put in are they red legs or blue legs??????
As i have recently been told that you shouldnt mix them as they have a negative effect on each other.
The red ones should be added to the tank in a gradual way say 15 at a time this will creat pressure for the previous batch to work harder for you and so on
on the other hand the blue legs work in the opposit way the previous batch will work less for you
hope this makes sense :confused:
BASH
Never had an issue with Blues and reds mixed, still together 20 months later.
SpanishTony
17-05-07, 20:32
I have a mix or red and blue legs too all still there
Are they still working as hard as they did before or did you add them at the same time????
the reason i said about not mixing them is that i went to get my clean up crew last week end and was advised by the LFS not to mix them, as they have negative effect on each other.:confused: :confused:
BASH
Hi Folks,
Sorry about the delay, finally back in the land of the living now... :(
Work just seems to get in the way of reefing madness doesn't it :D :laugh:
Looks like there has been quite a conversation going on whilst I was away then?? :wave: :wave:
BASH, I think I know what you mean, but I think that with such a large surface area to go at, I don't think they will bump into one another too often!
I am also not putting in Red or Blue legs, I will be using Miami Grey Legs as they are less prone to eating each other out of house and home (quite literally! :laugh: )
I'm just hoping that they all live in peace and harmony together, and don't want to move house too often :whistling:
Piccis v.soon I promise , as soon as I get the blasted camera fixed. The batteries have died on me :annoyed:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Hey folks out there in reef land :D
Been out of the picture for a few weeks due to holidays, change of job, family illness, etc etc.... blimey I thought holidays were supposed to be relaxing!! :cool: :laugh:
Annyyhoooow... :)
I've been having a good fiddle with all sorts of bits and bobs, fitting all the final items of equipment to the system, and bedding in the live rock etc.
The parameters came down very quickly having done nearly 2000ltrs of water changes once the live rock had cured :applause: :thumbsup: so everything critical is now at zero, with Nitrates hovering at around 2ppm.
So, the clean up crew went in...
300 Turbos
100 Grey Leg Hermits
30 Cleaner shrimps
15 blood shrimps
3 Lawnmower Blennies
1 Blue Linkea
3 Serpent Stars
Amazing really for nearly 500 critters that you can hardly see them :eek: I think I may need to add another couple of hundred snails to do the job properly, especially given the crabs hunger for new homes and the blood shrimps desire for live food!! :laugh:
So onto the inevitable problems...
Algae... Flippin Heck... I haven't algae this badly since I ran a freshwater tank as a child... I seem to have started an algae farm so if anyone wants some please let me know :tongueout: The snails and crabs are helping but I am amazed at the amount of it! :(
Some of you may have read about my pump noise problems. 5 x IIT Argonaut pumps don't half create a lot of noise even when they are in the garage :annoyed: Various board memebers have come forward with some great ideas which I will be trying out, but I am currently trying to get peoples experiences with other high volume pumps, as I also have a problem with the amount of heat the pumps put into the water :(
Still I'm sure I'll get it licked with help from everyone on here :worship: :dance: :thumbsup:
As for the overflow problems... weelllll....
HURRAY :D All fixed !!!
After messing around with modified Durso's, airlines, different sized holes etc etc I have finally cracked it and the weir now make less noise than the halides :laugh: :funky:
The answer was simple in the end (like all the best ones I suppose) and I'll post some pictures...
Yes I can post piccys again. I bought the wife a new camera for her birthday to replace the old broken one, so I can use it now ;) :smartass:
Also had another brain wave about creating turbulent / wave like surge motion in the tank, and I think it should work for anyones tank. I've not seen the idea anywhere before, although that's probably because I just haven't looked properly and I'm sure you'll all tell me how obvious it is, and how you've all been using it for years!! :tonugeout:
Right, time to make some more posts...
:cheers:
Wurgle
Fantastic mate, Lets see what this new camera shoots like then eh :whistling:
Right...
As you all know a certain Mr.Durso in the USA came up with rather a snazzy idea for reducing the "wurgling" noise coming from the overflows in our tanks. (Not my Durso standpipe BTW)
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/DursoStandpipe.jpg
So I thought that given my circumstances of having to go straight through a wall into my garage, I would need to modify this design again.
This is what I came up with, essentially a Durso in reverse and upside down :D
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/Overflowdiagram.jpg
With a bit of fiddling and messing around with airline (9mm & 13mm stuff though! :( ) I got things quite quiet :)
Top down view of plumbling out to garage...
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/wurgleoverflow.jpg
However, the noise from the air being sucked into the airline meant that I had to drill another hole through the wall and put the airline through there, and also that the balance of the whole system kept changing and so needed constant adjustment :annoyed:
By this stage the misses was getting a bit narked off, especially with the noise from the pumps, so I had to do something about it.
I remember reading on one of the forums about people who backed off the flow from the tank using ball valves until the outflow matched the maximum flow rate of the pipes / ball valves. This always struck me as highly dangerous (snails, fish, bits of algae etc getting stuck - huge water related accident!!)
But my mind went, what if I could employ one of the over flows as just that... an overflow in case of just such an eventuality???
I therefore removed one of the T-piece assemblies, chopped the top off to make a bottom which was now effectively close to water flow, and left an open standpipe at the top set to a height that wouldn't endanger the lounge if one of the other pipes got a blockage...
Hey proseto, 30,000ltrs per hour flowing through the weir back to the sump, and NO NOISE AT ALL!!! :clap: :funky: :thumbsup: :dance:
I'll try to get a couple of photos to illustrate the concept later on :)
:cheers:
Wurgle
dan-the-man
12-06-07, 10:38
Its a great way to have overflows fella, really is the best imo and ime.
Got any pics of the tank now? ;)
Does anyone know the proper name for this type of design with the ball valves and dual overflows?
Norvern Rob
12-06-07, 14:28
No idea what it's called, mine's done the same way and is also silent, with zero chance of a blockage causing a flood!
Hey guys,
I knew there must be lots of other people out there doing the same thing..
I must say it came as a complete revelation to me (and the misses!) at just how quiet it could be once the airline noise, water falling over the weir noise and the wurgling noises had gone :D
I'll get some piccis up soon...
Also want to post an idea for that surge device, although I'm sure a gazillion other people have already come up with it, but it's new to me :thumbsup:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Frankly I'm a bit embarased to post any shots of my algae farm ATM :(
Everything is clearing nicely, but just needs a bit more time... a lot of water volume there you know :p
Anyway, why would you want to see a tank full of 500kg of lovely live rock and 500 odd critters then eh? ;) :p
I am taking some shots of the sump area as a few peeps have asked for that, and as soon as the algae has died down a bit (and I've added a few fishes) I will be posting like mad...
I will also be posting my intended stocking list for you all to peruse and pass comment on :D
Anyhow, here are a shot of the top of the weir and the side of the weir to illustrate the point in the diagrams.
Don't know why I didn't think of this before :whistling: :applause:
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/Weirtopshot.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/WeirSideShot.jpg
:cheers:
Wurgle
looking good wurgle
keep em coming, where did you get the massive clean up crew from?
regrads
rupert
looking good wurgle
keep em coming, where did you get the massive clean up crew from?
regrads
rupert
Hi Rupert,
Massive clean up crew (soon to be dramatically expanded!! I need more snails :dance: :applause: ) from Mark (17,000ltr) in Warrington :D
Talking of snails, here are a couple fighting a slightly losing battle on the centre rock bluff of the tank...
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/MaturingLiveRock.jpg
I also couldn't work out why my suspended column / "live rock stalagtite" was still covered in algae until I realised...
DOH, :doh: Nothing could reach it to clean it!
Out with the tongs and relocate a few snails to keep up the good work!
I don't know, brain the size of a planet, and still so dense light bends around me :o
:cheers:
Wurgle
So...
Having given a great deal of thought to my pumping and flow arrangements, I started to think about surge devices (Tunze Wave Boxes, Dump Tanks, flush devices etc etc)
The wave box and dump tank ideas seemed out of the question due to space constraints in the depth of the tank and also the noise / splashing coming from the dump tank.
Thinking about flush devices (rather like a giant toilet) I suddenly came up with an idea that would do away with all the problems, and would be foolproof in terms of "watery accidents" etc
Now I'm sure that everyone is going to tell me how this is a common idea and has been described many times before, but I haven't found it yet??
So this is the idea...
You have a "sump" tank above the main display tank, or in my case above the display water level, but through a wall in the garage.
The "sump" tank, let's call it the header tank, has a simple arrangement of pipe work...
One pipe feeds water into the header tank from a pumped source. In my case this will be a modified saltwater heating pump (shifts a good amount of water, and is very cheap to run :) ) pumping water directly from the sump.
The other pipe is an equally simple arrangement...
You need a tank connector through a hole in the base of the header tank. This tank connector needs to be of a size that will give you the flow rate that you want. Remember though that the pressure profile of the outlet will change according to the diameter of the pipe and the friction loss in the pipe run etc. I was thinking about a 3" connector to give me a large diffuse flow, rather than a 2" which would only really give me what I already have from my existing recirculation pumps. Anyway...
on top of that tank connector you need to attach a length of pipe. The top most edge of that pipe should be set at the level you wish the water to reach in your header tank. Into the top of this pipe you need to cut some large notches so that the majority of the top of the pipe is "notch" rather than pipe (if you get my meaning).
Over the top of this pipe you need to glue another pipe of much larger diameter that has had an end cap glued to the end.
I have proved this concept with a small version and it seems to work very well.
As soon as the water fills up to the level at the top of the inner tube it over flows and creates a siphon which then empties the tank down to the level of the bottom of the outer tube. This cycle will repeat ad-infinitum whilst the supply pump runs.
Here is a cross section that I have drawn (I just cannot get the hang of sketch-up) to try and show what I mean. I know it's not wonderfully clear, but please feel free to ask questions.
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/SiphonDesign2.gif
The only problem I can see with this system is that the water level in the sump will vary according to the volume of the header tank, but this shouldn't be too much of a problem.
Sorry for such a long post...
So, what do you think??? :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
The problem with such surge device is that it will suck in a huge amount of air, blowing tons of micro bubbles into your tank. As well as being noisy from the air hissing you'll get salt creep from hell from the air breaking to the surface.
Sorry to rain on your parade.
The problem with such surge device is that it will suck in a huge amount of air, blowing tons of micro bubbles into your tank. As well as being noisy from the air hissing you'll get salt creep from hell from the air breaking to the surface.
Sorry to rain on your parade.
Oh :( :o
It didn't do that when I tested the smaller version?? (1 1/2" pipe outlet)
Maybe I've done this wrong..?
I submerged the end of the outlet with a 45 degree bend, with a very small amount of the outlet just above the water line, and the siphon, other than pushing a small amount of air out of the pipe initially (quite liked the effect actually as there weren't too many bubbles, and it was quite tidal :) ) didn't draw any air as the outlet pipe was running full bore until the siphon broke when it stopped anyway.
So didn't really get any of the problems you mention...
I'll continue to experiement and report back :thumbsup: :wave:
:cheers:
Wurgle
There's lots of documentation on surge devices. Waikiki aquarium have a large outdoor tank with the same principle and you can really hear the noise and watch the bubbles!
Lots of threads on RC about different styles of surges - the problem above is avoided by the use of a toilet style flushing device, using the 'bung' to block off the flow to avoid air. The valve is attached to a float so when the level is high enough it opens (ie toilet flushing), then drops down as the water level drops. Still noisy however... clunk.... clunk.... !
Well it had to happen in the end...
One of my 400w halide bulbs blew the other day :( and did I have a replacement to hand?? Did I heck!:annoyed:
So off to Rob at FastLight / Marine Lighting to get a replacement...
As ever Rob quick off the mark to respond, but didn't have any 10k BLVs in stock :(
He offered me a coralvue as a replacement which I gladly accepted, especially given the good words people seem to have to say about them on UR :wave:
Rob stuck it in the post that night and I fitted it as soon as the postie delivered it.
Well, It maybe just my taste, but I have to say that I really don't get on with the colour balance of the bulb at all. It seems very yellow with a hint of red. I had also thought that they had a better PAR :cool: than other bulbs, but subjectively this doesn't seem different either.
Oh well, you live and learn. I'll wait until Rob gets some new stock in, and get some more BLVs.
I think the lights are the only things on the entire build that don't have either built in redundancy or spares?! Typical :p
I wonder if 2 x 1000w units would be better over my 4ft depth??
Any thoughts?
:cheers:
Wurgle
liquidlogic
21-06-07, 21:40
dude where are the full tank shots?
dude where are the full tank shots?
Now I've got the new camera I will be taking some shots this weekend :D
I have to say though with the attack of the algae monster I have had to do a considerable amount of cleaning... :o
Wouldn't want to put up piccys of a green tank now would I :p :whistling:
:cheers:
Wurgle
p.s. Stocking plans to be posted this weekend as well :D (Fish only at the moment though until everything has settled down :thumbsup: )
p.s. Stocking plans to be posted this weekend as well :D (Fish only at the moment though until everything has settled down :thumbsup: )[/QUOTE] that was 21/06/07
ok neil times up now list of livestock well overdue:p
:D so dont be shy and tell all us nice people what your intentions are:whistling:
;) best regards
jon
jimblonduk
28-07-07, 00:19
While you're sitting there waiting for all those luvly photo's to upload, I was wondering if you could work out total cost so far. (or a ball-park figure if it's too personal)
I am thinking of a build of similar quality and size so it would help me enormously to know how long I will have to save my meagre allowances from my CFO :annoyed:
What a great thread, :thanks: for keeping it going. :)
While you're sitting there waiting for all those luvly photo's to upload, I was wondering if you could work out total cost so far. (or a ball-park figure if it's too personal)
I am thinking of a build of similar quality and size so it would help me enormously to know how long I will have to save my meagre allowances from my CFO :annoyed:
What a great thread, :thanks: for keeping it going. :)
Okay, here goes then :(
(Assuming normal retail prices for stuff I can actually remember or have gotten via other means over the years - so you can se what it would cost you now...)
Display tank - £2500 (good deal eh? )
About 3 miles of pipe and about a billion fittings :annoyed:
Main outlets are 3 x 2"
Main inlets are 2 x 1 1/2"
Re-cirulation system 3 x 1 1/2" - All pipe and fittings roughly £850
2 x Aqua Medic 5000 Twin Skimmers - £1500
4 x 400w Lowbays 10,000k - £900
2 x 250w lowbays 10,000k - £500
10 x 40w T8 Actinic tubes - £250
Schuran Sulphur NitrateFilter - £300
Schuran multi filter & 10kg of ElimiPhos - £120 & £250???
Schuran Jetstream 2 Calcium Reactor - £625
2500 Bioballs - god only knows
Teco TC60 water conditioner (heats and chills) - £3000
Octopus control computer reading pH, Redox, Temp & conductivity loads of X-10 units etc + PC to control - £750
1000mg Ozonizer - £400
5 x ITT Argonaut Pumps (15,000 ltr per hour each) :shock: - £1350
Ehiem 2229 for running Carbon if required- ????
500kgs Live rock :shocking: - £4000
100kgs coral gravel / sand - £150
2 x Watson Marlow peri pumps - £200
4 x 30w UVs - ??? £400
D&D auto topup & another top up I cannot remember the name of - £190
& all sorts of other stuff and bits and bobs from old tanks... £850
Sumps, woodwork / stands etc etc - £1000
excluded things like a pallet of salt etc etc
Rough total - £20,000+++ (and then some as I know I have left all kinds of things off that soon add up) not forgetting the lecci bill >£300 per month :(
The look on the CFO's face when she see this... priceless...
For everything else there's MasterCard :p
I think I need to go and lie down now :cry: :shock: photo uploading will have to wait again.. sorry :rolleyes:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Reef bloke
30-07-07, 00:11
Are these single ended lamps?If so turn the lamp slightly so the nipple on the inner envelope is pointing up.This can sometimes change the way the lamp burns and get it to blue up a bit.
Are these single ended lamps?If so turn the lamp slightly so the nipple on the inner envelope is pointing up.This can sometimes change the way the lamp burns and get it to blue up a bit.
Tweaking the nipple:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
Captain Cod
30-07-07, 11:02
Get that stocking list up! Awesome read so far.
Are these single ended lamps?If so turn the lamp slightly so the nipple on the inner envelope is pointing up.This can sometimes change the way the lamp burns and get it to blue up a bit.
Reef bloke / jobr, I always tweek my nipples on my double endeds :p ;) , but being single ended this is sometimes difficult to achieve :whistling: :laugh:
I have tried to get the disc facing upwards as much as I can, so we'll see.
:cheers:
Wurgle
Get that stocking list up! Awesome read so far.
Okey dokey...
This is not the exhaustive list as I wanted to leave myself some wiggle room if I saw a fish that I really wanted, or something really unusal came up, but this is really the core of the list for the fish...
(Inverts to come at a later date)
I've spent a great deal of time going over this list, and I'm very aware that many people will have many different experiences with all of the fish on here, but frankly now that the CFO :worship: has passed it for colour coordination there is no going back! ;)
Scientific Name Qty Common Name
Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus 1 Goldflake Angel
Zebrasoma rostratus 7 Black Tangs
Zebrasoma flavescens 7 Yellow Tang
Pterapogon kauderni 10 Bangai Cardinals
Amphiprion akindynos 2 Australian clowns
Cryptocentrus cinctus 2 Sulphur Goby
Synchiropus splendidus 2 Psychedelic Mandarin
Ptereleotris zebra 1 Zebra Dart fish
Amblyeleotris guttata 2 Orange spot Goby
Serranus tortugarum 7 Chalk Bass
Assessor macneilli 1 Blue Assesor
Amphiprion ocellaris 2 Common Clown
Siganus uspi 1 Fiji Foxface
Naso lituratus 1 Lipstick Tang – Large 6” – 8”
Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis 1 Chevron Tang
Cirrhilabrus scottorum 1 Scott’s Fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus jordani 1 Hawaiian Flame Wrasse
Pseudanthias parvirostris 9 Diadem Anthias
Labroides phthirophagus 1 Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse
Halichoeres chloropterus 1 Jade Wrasse
Someone also needs to tell me how to do tables in here!! :o
:cheers:
Wurgle
Reef bloke
30-07-07, 14:14
Keep tweaking them,they'll go blue eventually.;) :laugh:
Keep tweaking them,they'll go blue eventually.;) :laugh:
I thought that only happened in the cold not during summer time :whistling:
Awesome Tank there fella, just seen it for first time and boy i'm glad i caught the back end as i wouldn't be able to wait as it was built.
Love the scaping it looks amazing and very well put together, can wait to see it fully stocked!!
keep up the good work....oh and more Pics!!!! :)
Awesome Tank there fella, just seen it for first time and boy i'm glad i caught the back end as i wouldn't be able to wait as it was built.
Love the scaping it looks amazing and very well put together, can wait to see it fully stocked!!
keep up the good work....oh and more Pics!!!! :)
Thanks Dude, much appreciated!! :applause: :thumbsup: :worship:
I'm just hoping the scaping holds together and I don't get the worlds largest avalanche!! :( :o :whistling:
I hope to spend some time on it tomorrow so I can get some piccis done then :D
What do you think to the fish list???
:cheers:
Wurgle
Add more than one Zebra dart - they are a social fish by nature, I've 2 in my tank at the minute exhibiting courting behaviour - wish I could have another pair or 2, they look stunning and the more there are of them the less skittish they seem to be. Also, have a look at priolepis nocturnus - a sectretive wee fish but gorgeous (I'm quite fond of my gobies, me!!)
Wow! Just read this from start to end, took over an hour. Excellent Build..:worship:
The clean-up crew is unbelievable, glad you went for the Serpents though & not the Brittles, what colours did you get?
That's an awful lot of rock there... it took me 2 days to scape my 6x2x2 so hats of to you. Just wondering if you've left enough room for some of the larger Staghorns though. If you've seen the pics of Simon Huntingtons tank you'll know what I mean... lower bommies with huge, thick branching Staghorns spreading to the surface. (not a cticism, just a thought).
Fish list is impressive, I thought you might have gone for a pair of Crosshatch Triggers as they're more readily available now although expensive.... :whistling:
Look forward to seeing further updates, keep the pics coming & :thanks: for an interesting read.
:D
Add more than one Zebra dart - they are a social fish by nature, I've 2 in my tank at the minute exhibiting courting behaviour - wish I could have another pair or 2, they look stunning and the more there are of them the less skittish they seem to be. Also, have a look at priolepis nocturnus - a sectretive wee fish but gorgeous (I'm quite fond of my gobies, me!!)
Aquadorge, I agree about the Zebra dart fish, I used to have several of them in my old tank. As for the full moon goby I've not seen one for sale anywhere recently, but they are very nice.
You do like your gobies indeed! :laugh: :cool:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Wow! Just read this from start to end, took over an hour. Excellent Build..:worship:
The clean-up crew is unbelievable, glad you went for the Serpents though & not the Brittles, what colours did you get?
That's an awful lot of rock there... it took me 2 days to scape my 6x2x2 so hats of to you. Just wondering if you've left enough room for some of the larger Staghorns though. If you've seen the pics of Simon Huntingtons tank you'll know what I mean... lower bommies with huge, thick branching Staghorns spreading to the surface. (not a cticism, just a thought).
Fish list is impressive, I thought you might have gone for a pair of Crosshatch Triggers as they're more readily available now although expensive.... :whistling:
Look forward to seeing further updates, keep the pics coming & :thanks: for an interesting read.
:D
Suk,
Thanks for your comments :worship: :worship: Much appreciated from a reefer such as yourself. Hopefully the end result will justify the means :D
Serpents were greens and reds, although never being likely to see them ever again I wasn't too worried about that aspect :laugh:
I know what you mean about the staghorns, but I planned on only having a couple or three colonies, and remember they have a very deep water column to grow through :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I had planned one for the bottom right of the lowest rock, one for the left at the bottom towards the back and possibly one above that at the top on the left. Obviously I want to make sure the flow rate etc are right.
Crosshatch triggers are old hat now :p A certain person on this board seems to have cornered the glabal market anyway :confused: :whistling: :cool:
I have a couple of other potential specials up my sleave, but I think a shoal of black and yellow tangs is a good start with the Goldflake :)
:cheers:
Wurgle
JOHN & CAM
01-08-07, 12:40
I have a couple of other potential specials up my sleave, but I think a shoal of black and yellow tangs is a good start with the Goldflake :)
Good start.............
thats a good finish:D
What a monster of a project!
Can't quite believe my eyes...
Please put some more photos on please
Lucky Eddie
01-08-07, 13:44
Hmmmmm, 7 black tangs !
No wonder we dont get to see them in this part of the world :( .......your supplier has obviously cornered the market ! :)
Hmmmmm, 7 black tangs !
No wonder we dont get to see them in this part of the world :( .......your supplier has obviously cornered the market ! :)
I'm flying out to Hawaii to catch them myself :p :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :shifty: :no:
But back in reality land... :)
From what I understand the blacks shoal behind the big groups of yellows, so for every shoal of say 1-2000 yellow tangs you 2 or 3 black tangs...
Therefore by my logic, I just have to order around 5000 yellow tangs, and I should get 7 black tangs for free :whistling: :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
Lucky Eddie
02-08-07, 13:03
Yeah right.
So, you are going to get your Goldflake by ordering 500 Lemon peels ???
Not really sure the business works that way. :(
Yeah right.
So, you are going to get your Goldflake by ordering 500 Lemon peels ???
Not really sure the business works that way. :(
Sorry Richard, Just my warped sense of humour (such as it is :laugh: )
Still, 500 Lemon peels :eek: :whistling:
The main reason for mixing the two is simply to try to re-create a naturalistic situation (to a small extent) with a colour combination that is quite jarring, and hence helps them to stand out.
I'm hoping that once the tank is fully stocked with corals etc they will stand out even more!
:cheers:
Wurgle
still waitin for pics
you need some battries
still waitin for pics
you need some battries
I really need some fish actually mate :p :whistling:
Anything on the horizon yet?
... Off to the shops now to get some duracell :laugh:
Having just spent the best part of 3 days with my head underwater trying to sort out this algae, and completely re-scape the tank, I am due a rest!!
:cheers:
Wurgle
bristlebasher
02-08-07, 15:18
I have just read this thread and must say that it is a very impressive project.
Well done :thumbsup:.
A comprehensive fish stock list also - not much I can add to it.
Personally would replace the bagaii with pajama cardinals - but that just me:p
Keep up the good work - and make them bateries rechargeables - dont want you not being able to post pictures ever again.:whistling:
What a monster of a project!
Can't quite believe my eyes...
Please put some more photos on please
Thanks :cool:
Photos will be coming soon I promise :ohyea: :ohyea: :rockon: :partytime:
Just have to spend another 3 or 4 hours on this algae :hammer: :furious:
:cheers:
Wurgle
I have just read this thread and must say that it is a very impressive project.
Well done :thumbsup:.
A comprehensive fish stock list also - not much I can add to it.
Personally would replace the bagaii with pajama cardinals - but that just me:p
Keep up the good work - and make them bateries rechargeables - dont want you not being able to post pictures ever again.:whistling:
Ta very much Bristlebasher :thumbsup:
Lots of hard work so far, but soon to be admired as I might even get some fish in there :eek:
I had the same Bangaii conversation with the CFO as I prefer the pajamas as well, but her word is law after all :nono:
Picci soon, I really mean it this time as well :applause: :dance: :thumbsup:
:cheers:
Wurgle
I know I know you've heard it all before, but I have finally finished removing all 23 species of macro algae from the tank :thumbsup: :dance: :applause:
It's only taken me best part of a week to do it, removing 6 salt buckets worth of it in the process... and having to completely re-scape the tank in the process as I had to lift out virtually every rock in there and hand pick off the algae :mad:
Sooo, I will have the camera out tomorrow to finally document the whole sorry state of affairs, and perhaps to show off some new purchases :thumbsup: :thumbsup: (And yes I have some new Duracells!! :p )
Anyway, off to bed now to dream of fishes :applause:
:cheers:
Wurgle
when i come to help you with the sumps ive been to the pound shop and bought plenty of batteries:laugh: no excuses then mate:whistling:
am expecting fish lists wednesday. but if their isnt any pics , you aint gettin anything
END OFFFFFFF
am expecting fish lists wednesday. but if their isnt any pics , you aint gettin anything
END OFFFFFFF
:p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p
:ner: :ner:
:weeping:
:sorry:
:cheers:
Wurgle
i heard you collected a few fish already;)
dont know who told me:p
must of had a strange dream:whistling:
so when you gonna show them swimming happily in that ocean of yours:dance:
best regards
jon
okay okay okay...
I get the message, no one is going to talk to me until I post some more piccis then are they :( :p :p
So here goes...
I went away for a family holiday for 10days or so (right in the middle of the floods... great choice there eh? Only took 13 hours to drive 6 miles!!)
Prior to going on holiday the cyano / slime had more or less died away, and I was expecting a bit of a macro algae bloom just as things leveled off in the tank and things cycled one last time.
So when I got back from my hols I expected to find a small but manageable "outbreak" of some algae...
This is what I found
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/AlgaeMonster.jpg
AAARRGGHHHH - The algae monster had taken over the world!!
What had happened??
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Sargassum.jpg
I checked all the params again, zero Nitrate, zero Phosphate etc etc :(
So I figured that actually to get all this really quite cool macro algae growing the water quality must have been really spot on, and that all it was doing was recycling the nutrients left over from the live rock... So....
If I remove all the algae, that should remove all of the last nutrients etc :thumbsup:
More to come...
:cheers:
Wurgle
For those that are interested I recorded all of the types of algae I found when removing it :
Caulerpa sp. Halimeda sp.Chlorodesmis sp.Haliptilon sp.Botryocladia sp.Chaetomorpha sp. Gracillaria sp.Bryopsis sp.Valonia sp.Sargassum hystrixEnteromorpha sp.Ulva fasciataVentricaria sp.Lobophora sp.Padina sp.Stypopodium sp.Laurencia sp.Codium sp.
plus about 5 others that I couldn't identify
Here are some poor shots of some of the algeas (the Sargassum was up to 18" long!!)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Algae1.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Algae2.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Algae3.JPG
Anyway, more in a bit
:cheers:
Wurgle
Reef bloke
07-08-07, 12:05
Interesting macro algaes there,quite a garden lol.
i actually quite like the first shot, obviously it's not a reef tank but it is very interesting in it's own right.
Reef bloke
07-08-07, 12:15
I have to agree scoob,it looks garden esque rather than a bucket of slops.Looks like an algae exhibit from a sea life centre or sommit.
yeah! put a nice strong hidden wave maker in there to get it all flowing back and forth, fill it with shrimp, beautiful!
liquidlogic
07-08-07, 12:21
looks like a realy safe heaven fuge type thing but prettier ! lol
Lucky Eddie
07-08-07, 12:57
What a crying shame....that algae looked the nuts !!!!!!!
Could just imagine a nice pair of sea otters rolling around in the stuff !!!! :D
Why did you take it all out Wurgle ? Those tangs are going to need some feeding . What better than fresh sea weed !
thats amazing!
pretty cool as well, just need some Kelp in there!
GOTAREEFTOKEEP
07-08-07, 13:08
Cool build mate, just know that it'll be one to watch in the future
Matt
Interesting macro algaes there,quite a garden lol.
Just a shame I don't have an underwater lawnmower... :(
Although I do have 3 lawnmower blennies I suppose?!? :laugh:
I have to agree scoob,it looks garden esque rather than a bucket of slops.Looks like an algae exhibit from a sea life centre or sommit.
i actually quite like the first shot, obviously it's not a reef tank but it is very interesting in it's own right.
I suppose it has some aesthetic merit...:rolleyes: Big watery bucket of slops maybe?? :laugh:
I'd never thought of running an algae exhibit??? Maybe I could charge entry? :applause:
Thanks Scoob, I was amazed at the number of species of algae. Some of which I had never seen before :)
:cheers:
Wurgle
yeah! put a nice strong hidden wave maker in there to get it all flowing back and forth, fill it with shrimp, beautiful!
What do you mean "fill it with shrimp" :eek:
Aren't 50 enough for you man?!? :cool: :laugh: :thumbsup: :whistling:
looks like a realy safe heaven fuge type thing but prettier ! lol
Thanks Liquidlogic, I think? :)
Not sure my Mrs would like the idea of spending all that cash to create a 4000ltr fuge though! :laugh:
What a crying shame....that algae looked the nuts !!!!!!!
Could just imagine a nice pair of sea otters rolling around in the stuff !!!! :D
Why did you take it all out Wurgle ? Those tangs are going to need some feeding . What better than fresh sea weed !
Ta Richard,
Not sure that my LFS would supply Sea Otters?? :confused: :laugh: :laugh: :thumbsup: :p
There is still plenty in there, as you will see in a bit when I post some more photos, but even the tangs won't really eat the Sargassum. It is so tough you could make old boots from it!!
I'm sure though that some of the algae will re-grow, although in a more restrained way, and add to the look of the tank as it matures.
:cheers:
Wurgle
thats amazing!
pretty cool as well, just need some Kelp in there!
Cheers Muzzy,
If you ever want any Sargassum for your lovely tank just let me know :p
If I ever got any kelp in there it would probably be out of the top of the tank and halfway across the lounge within a week!!
Maybe I should put in that underwater RC submarine and shark that I have been given, and have some underwater battles amongst the seaweed!?! :laugh:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Cool build mate, just know that it'll be one to watch in the future
Matt
Thanks Matt,
As you say one for the future.
Now it's all kind of ready, the last thing I want to do is rush it all.
Although some of the photo tarts on here would have me do otherwise :p :laugh:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Looking good Neil, agree with Tony and Scott - that algae looked quite cool :)
Any piccys of fishys yet...
i like it, as for stock i'd put a yellow tang in there lol :D
Very Cool......Dont rush, just keep teasing us....its okay.....honest!!!!
Serious note though well done, hows it going, sorry you started yet? haha
Peter
Looking good Neil, agree with Tony and Scott - that algae looked quite cool :)
Any piccys of fishys yet...
Soon, soon.. honest... I promise :)
Had to give the algae a haircut first otherwise you wouldn't have been able to see the fish anyway!!
i like it, as for stock i'd put a yellow tang in there lol :D
My thoughts exactly :p :laugh:
7 of them coming up any time now...
Very Cool......Dont rush, just keep teasing us....its okay.....honest!!!!
Serious note though well done, hows it going, sorry you started yet? haha
Peter
Okay Peter will do...
tick tock...
tick tock...
:whistling: :whistling:
tease tease ;)
slowly slowly now, wouldn't want to climax too quickly would we ;)
:cheers:
Wurgle
Soon, soon.. honest... I promise :)
Had to give the algae a haitcut first otherwise you wouldn't have been able to see the fish anyway!!
Ok, I'm waiting :)
So, before...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Algae3.JPG
and then, after 4 hours of pulling everything out rock by rock, and removing each growth by hand (only on the right hand pillar of rock mind you!!) :( :banghead: :upset: ...
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Algae4.JPG
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Algae5.JPG
Somewhat better :D :thumbsup:
...then off to get some more salt water up my nose :annoyed: and finish the rest!
:cheers:
Wurgle
p.s. Not that I'm trying to string this out or anything, but I will post some more progress tomorrow I promise :p :wave:
That is some algae explosion, the bit you cleaned off looks great though:)
thats looking realy cool
i quite like the algae, thats growing on the rocks, i understand that you want to remove, the algae from the sand and glass, but i think the rest looks good
and its only because the tanks so bloomin big, did you manage to get the kelp feild out on the left hand side:whistling:
regards
rupert
So..... where's today's update??? :D :D We can't wait! ;)
Awesome tank - I love the 'scaping, especially the rock "in suspension" :)
I say get those tangs in there and see how fat they get in a short space of time! A shoal of yellow's and black tangs is going to be superb :worship:
a wonderful looking tank
Thanks, much appreciated. Hope you are enjoying the thread :)
That is some algae explosion, the bit you cleaned off looks great though:)
jobr, thanks! Although I have to say it is at times like this that you wish that you hadn't gone quite so deep with the water!! :oops: :sick: :sick: :sick:
:cheers:
Wurgle
So..... where's today's update??? :D :D We can't wait! ;)
Awesome tank - I love the 'scaping, especially the rock "in suspension" :)
I say get those tangs in there and see how fat they get in a short space of time! A shoal of yellow's and black tangs is going to be superb :worship:
Patience is a virtue my friend ;)
My hands and arms are just completely dried out with being in the salt water. I look like a pickled walnut!!
Glad you like the rock stalagmite :laugh: I think I may modify it somewhat soon, but it looks great to see things swimming around it!
Tangs coming ever so soon :thumbsup: :whistling:
thats looking realy cool
i quite like the algae, thats growing on the rocks, i understand that you want to remove, the algae from the sand and glass, but i think the rest looks good
and its only because the tanks so bloomin big, did you manage to get the kelp feild out on the left hand side:whistling:
regards
rupert
Quite honestly Rupert that Sargassum is a blinking nightmare :annoyed: :mad:
It is sooo tough, I have not yet found a tang that will eat it, and it can grow like the wind :eek: :(
I do agree it does look good, but when the ultimate aim is a full reef mostly sps dominated, then I think leaving it in there would be a problem... quite apart from the fact that seeing any fish in the midst of all that would be problematic to say the least :D :laugh:
As for the kelp field on the left hand side, I had to don a wetsuit and aqualung to get that out. Another 3 x 4 hours sessions, and I should be able to post some more pics very soon.
Just need to find the time to take them all...
:cheers:
Wurgle
As for the kelp field on the left hand side, I had to don a wetsuit and aqualung to get that out.
Did you seriously get in the tank?
Did you seriously get in the tank?
Errr, no actually, I made that bit up :laugh: :whistling:
Well, even though I'm 6ft 4" tall, I had to get my arms, shoulders and head into the water (and as my wife so kindly puts it "fish wee up my nose!") :(
Unfortunately being a little on the "I drink too much beer side", I think actually getting in might have displaced a little too much water for the sump to cope with!!
:cheers:
Wurgle
Okay,
so I managed to get the algae monster out from the whole tank :D
Only took a sum total of 4 days of getting p1$$ wet...
Who said deep tanks were great :( :whistling:
Anyhow, thought it was about time I posted some piccis etc
Frankly the threats of violence and extreme behaviour from some quarters if I didn't was getting to be too much :eek: :wave: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Soooo....
No pictures yet :confused: just a list of what is now in the tank...
300 Turbo snails
50 assorted shrimps
100 hermit crabs
3 serpent stars
1 blue linkea (with its leg growing back again after a bit of an accident :o )
and..
3 Algae Blennies
2 Black and white clowns (mated pair)
2 Common clowns (mated pair)
2 Potters angels (mated pair :dance: :dance: :dance: )
1 Goldflake angel
7 yellow tangs
1 midas blenny
5 shotsilk gobies
2 blue cheek gobies (mated pair)
1 Tomini Tang
5 Scooter Blennies
1 Lipstick Tang
2 Royal Grammas
4 Chalk Bass
1 Exquisite fairy wrasse
with hopefully some more spectacular stuff arriving next week :p
:cheers:
Wurgle
p.s. I am working on reducing all the photos so I can post them, but that may take a little while :( :rolleyes: :laugh:
Right,
Paint Shop Pro has been worked hard... :(
My crappy little camera has been worked even harder... :annoyed:
And here are the results... :thumbsup:
Hope you like them :)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Full Tank Actinic.jpg
Full tank pic under 400w of actinic tubes.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Full Tank Halides.jpg
Full tank pic under 1600w of Halides and 400w of actinic (the other 500w of halides were off at this point)
Strange how you just can't even seem to see 30 fish in there isn't it!! :(
More to follow :applause: :dance:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Here are some of the livestock.
Sorry for the blurry nature of some of the pics, my little camera is not really up to it, and I have lost my tripod :annoyed:
Still, better than nothing...
You might think I'd been doing nothing all these weeks :p
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Yellow and Tomini.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Yellow and Goldflake.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Scooter.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Male Potteri.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Couple of Gobies.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Cleaning Station.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Feeding Time.jpg
:cheers:
Wurgle
Some General Shots to give an idea of the scale of things (hopefully_)
Just so the Tang police don't come after me in the small hours!! :laugh:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Left Hand Side.jpg
The left hand side of the tank
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Right Hand Side.jpg
The right hand side of the tank
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2007Q2/Some New Occupants.jpg
Group photo :D
Hope you like them?
:cheers:
Wurgle
Johnymajors
18-08-07, 23:09
WOW !! :eek:
erm WOW!! :eek:
..... and erm did i forget to say ..... friggin WOW :laugh:
The depth of that thing is awsome, after all that hard work i bet your chuffed with that little beauty.
Hats off to ya Wurgle :thumbsup:
Looking real good there wurgle mate keep the pics coming please:D :D
Ja5per
WOW !! :eek:
erm WOW!! :eek:
..... and erm did i forget to say ..... friggin WOW :laugh:
The depth of that thing is awsome, after all that hard work i bet your chuffed with that little beauty.
Hats off to ya Wurgle :thumbsup:
THANKS !! :eek:
erm THANKS!! :eek:
..... and erm did i forget to say ..... Thanks again ;) :D :laugh:
The depth is a blessing and a curse at the same time, but I am pleased with progress :thumbsup:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Looking real good there wurgle mate keep the pics coming please:D :D
Ja5per
Thanks Ja5per :D
I'll try to take some more shots of all the gubbins over the next few days.
A few sump and pipe work photos and general layout shots are probably called for as well??
I know how some people on this board get off over plumbing :laugh: :laugh:
:cheers:
Wurgle
Wow - that looks awesome!! A whole lot of challenges.
Are you going to do anything to dsguise the overflow box on the left hand side?
John
Effin stunning!!! Love the potters angel... And the goldflake..... And the Zebra gobies.... Ah hell, love it all!!!
The Goldflake Angel and Starburst Tang are superb.
Not seen a starburst (apart from 1 in a coral tank at STM) for ages, love that fish:)
Wow - that looks awesome!! A whole lot of challenges.
Are you going to do anything to dsguise the overflow box on the left hand side?
John
Thanks John :)
Lots of challenges as you say :laugh:
Yup, the weir is going to get disguised in a rather interesting way when I have the time. I'll post some photos of the process :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
Yup, the weir is going to get disguised in a rather interesting way when I have the time.
Interestinger and interestinger. ;)
Effin stunning!!! Love the potters angel... And the goldflake..... And the Zebra gobies.... Ah hell, love it all!!!
Thanks aquadorge, glad you like the selection. :)
It's the first time I've come across a mated pair of Potters, so we'll see what happens :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
The Goldflake Angel and Starburst Tang are superb.
Not seen a starburst (apart from 1 in a coral tank at STM) for ages, love that fish:)
Thanks jobr,
I've always wanted a Goldflake :D Beautiful fish IMO.
I assume you mean the Ctenochaetus tominiensis when you say starburst tang. Not heard it called that before.
I was going to have a shoal of them instead of the blacks and yellows, but decided that they would fight amongst themselves :(
:cheers:
Wurgle
Interestinger and interestinger. ;)
Ah Ha... :laugh: :laugh:
Just wait and see :D :whistling:
I always try to introduce as much dramatic tension into my thread as possible :p
:cheers:
Wurgle
The main halides have just switched out leaving the actinics on, and...
The Potters angels have started what looks for all the world like some kind of mating ritual at the surface of the water :D :thumbsup: :applause: :dance:
I've never seen anything like it.
I've seen many other types of fish "do the do" but this is really interesting.
She has changed colour and gone almost entirely orange, and his purple band has really got a lot deeper.
He is now following her around just beneath and behind her with fins outstretched and she is allowing him to "sniff" her.
This is then followed by a quite complex pattern of swimming movements, only to have the whole lot repeated again after about 30 seconds.
This has gone on for about 30 minutes now.
I must try to get some video over the next few days and post it up.
Anyone else ever seen Potters "at it" in a home aquarium? (or indeed any angel fish?)
:cheers:
an excited Wurgle :thanks:
I think (been told once by a friend) that it is indeed rare to see angels spawn and the fry have been hatched but after a certain age are very difficult to raise.
Superb news about the Potters, you got the video out yet?
I think (been told once by a friend) that it is indeed rare to see angels spawn and the fry have been hatched but after a certain age are very difficult to raise.
Hi Mickle, I have never heard of it myself so I realy excited about it!!
Don't think there is any hope of getting any fry, but just the act would be interesting enough, particularly in a "new" tank!!
Superb news about the Potters, you got the video out yet?
Cheers jobr, they were at it again tonight just after the main lights went out, so I have captured some of the action on my crappy camera video under actinics.
I will up load it now, and try to get a link posted :D
:cheers:
Wurgle
Here you go.... :)
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/th_PottersAngels.jpg (http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa172/neberry/?action=view¤t=PottersAngels.flv)
Sorry again for the crappy quality, and also the scuzz on the water. One of my circulation pumps is off at the mo, and that causes the scuzz to collect at one end of the tank.
:cheers:
Wurgle
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