View Full Version : Tank of the Month - May 2009 - Reefworks
MaidstoneMarine
04-05-09, 12:18
Whenever I see tanks like this it always makes me reconsider not only how I design my own systems but how I want them to look.
One thing you can count on with UltimateReefs Tank of the Month is that you're always going to get an absolute stunning tank to which the vast majority of us will aspire. What is not always apparent is just how achievable this can be without the need of rooms dedicated to equipment and sub-systems to help support your display tank.
Congratulations Clayton on being UltimateReefs May 2009 Tank of the Month.
Clayton Smith May
http://www.ultimatereef.com/TOTM/2009_may/
http://www.ultimatereef.com/TOTM/2009_may/images/topImage.jpg (http://www.ultimatereef.com/TOTM/2009_may/)
Thanks and congratulations to Clayton for sharing his tank with us. If you have any questions or comments then please post them in this thread.
joshs20gal
04-05-09, 12:30
amazing! truly amazing!
stunning as ever, pleased to see you mention no miracle grow products and goes to show they arent needed, the SPS colouration is fantastic :worship:
amazing tank to blossom in such a short space of time
You know what I like mostly about this tank??
It's simplicity in the fact your are not jumping on the bandwagon and using the latest & greatest and yet still coming out with a tank that most dream of. v2 skimmer, seio circ pumps, all within budget of a noob.
No £500 skimmer and no £500 pump, well done that man. It just shows everyone you really don't need this expensive stuff to run a system to be proud of. Love it:cool:
stunning tank clayton,especially for such a simple approach..all with pretty low end equipment..just goes to show that keeping things simple and not getting lost in the fads that are with us today can have amazing results
Reef bloke
04-05-09, 13:19
Superb Clayton,such a worthy totm!!!
Lovely system, interesting fish stock as well as very colourful coral.
marcopolored
04-05-09, 14:18
Very, very nice. I don't normally like SPS but your tank looks fantastic.
Noreen.
the garden flat
04-05-09, 14:35
as above but gorgeous!! One day...i wish ;)
dxmarinefish
04-05-09, 14:42
Great set up, well done.
Love the Gecko Goby..where did you get it from?
dxmarinefish
04-05-09, 14:45
Just one more Question..Do you ever change/wash out the Bioballs?
Stonking! And truely deserved.... Although Clayton has alot to answer for..... because it was this tank that started the reefkeeping hunger in me again.... before I knew it my head was full of plans and ideas again...money had dried up but I was a happy man building a reef tank again.
Many thanks Clayton :p
emilecilliers
04-05-09, 17:47
what a pleasure reading this.Its comfortng knowing that when setup correctly you dont need all the expensive equipment.
stretchlong
04-05-09, 17:54
Blimey :eek: What a stunner :worship:
Gav :)
Another worthy TOTM, stunning.
Superb!
clayton, your simple standpipe setup, is it quiet?
Clayton, Well deserved mate! Stunning tank. Your expertise in coral requirements truly shows. The tiny frags they started as, positioned exactly to grow into this stunning creation. I hope I can have a 10th of your understanding one day.
Stunning Clayton, and thoroughly deserved.
Once again the pics don't do the set up justice, looks awesome in real life.
just-reefin
04-05-09, 21:33
Absolutely stunning, simply superb. A worthy winner for TOTM.
Many congrats Clayton.
cracke tank, was lucky enough to see it with dave when i was visiting stm last year
funnyditty
05-05-09, 10:52
Congratulations, a truly stunning tank. Lots of colour. Hard to believe this started out as frags just one year ago. It just goes to show what one can achieve with a lot of knowledge and basic equipment. I'm sure most hobbyists would gladly give up their high spec skimmers, pumps etc in exchange for your expertise.
Thanks for all your comments folks :o
DX, the Gecko was a surprise find at a little aquarium shop in Lewisham, I did not really know what it was at the time and it was in a small tank trying to hide under a single rock. It was not until I got it home that I noticed it's unusual behaviour - it spends all its time living upside down on the roof of caves and overhangs. He is my favourite fish and I also found out it is the rarest of the whole family - he gets lots of care. :)
The bioballs dont really get cleaned out, there is no detritus build up on them or even in the sump really. If it does start to build up then it will get siphoned out.
Hi Maestro - the standpipe is not the quietest. Although it can easily handle the water flow it does gurgle a bit. I added a 3/4 inch bore siphon drawing water from inside the eggcrate baffle down into the sump to reduce the amount of water running down the standpipe - this made it much quieter.
Awesome tank...
I have seen you use bioballs...
a friend of mine who is chemist of water depuration said me once that this is cheaper and it has the same efectivity than bioballs...
you have to cut it in pieces of 2-3 cm.
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8507/55946372io3.jpg
Congratulations. :worship:
Stunning tank Clayton, a real credit to you:thumbsup:
Stunning Tank, congratulations :applause: :applause: :applause:
Hi Mate,
Just one word, WoW.... no thats 4
Rambo
Well done Clayton. :applause:
Thoroughly deserved. :worship:
Looking really good, love this tank.
Emperor Angel
08-05-09, 14:49
Green with Envy - Great work Clayton!
simon garratt
08-05-09, 15:11
Stunning tank there Clayton.. a real credit to you, and as others have said, it goes to prove that its not nessesrily the kit that you have that determins the results, its the hands its in...
regards
simon.
scottishreefer
09-05-09, 15:37
Congratulations Clayton. :applause: A stunning tank considering the length of time it has been running. Just goes to show what can be achieved. Well deserved TOTM!! :worship:
Looks great mate, well done:applause:
Now this is the kind of tank to aspire to!
No 'super computer' controlling the earths gravitational pull to get more colours in the corals, no bank of probes telling you which fish fed the most last time you put food in the tank, no spending money to have the 'best bit of kit out there'.
Just a good plain simple system that looks absoloutely stunning.
Maybe some of the 'I have got to have the lastest bit of gadgetry because it will make me look cool and prove I have more money than sense' people should take a leaf out of your book and maybe their stock would look more impressive than their list of kit.
Big thumbsup from me:thumbsup: A lesson to us all.
Your tank looks spectacular! Well done & congrats!
clayton if you see this could you email me at marcloud@btinternet.com
could you elaborate on your method and setup for water change. sounds like a very sensible system but more details would be appreciated. thanks
I,ve seen this tank, so eat your heart out, the photo's are good but the tank, when you see it leaves you speechless.
It looks like some great artist has painted a picture then brought it to life.
On my way home from reefworks I called in to my LFS and told them how stunning it was.
Truly an education.
Well done Clayton
Chris
I love this tank, the colors, the simplicity of the equipment used, and Clayton makes it all look so easy :laugh:
Can we have some more pictures please :thumbsup:
Thanks for all your comments again folks, it's always nice when other people enjoy your efforts.
The water change system for Ukrick (first post as well - welcome to U.R. :D).
The water changes are done by just turning a few valves. The water change tank is located to the left of the main tank and automatically fills up with RO water that is controlled with a float switch.
When it comes to water change time then by changing the position of the valves on the main pump the water is pumped straight to waste via a flexible hose. Turn another valve from the water change reservoir and the fresh mix is pumped straight into the sump of the main system.
Thats it, return the valves to their original positions and job done. This system changes 15% at a time. I guess it is not totally automatic as it still requires some moving of valves but it sure makes it a lot easier :thumbsup:
The pics show the position of the reservoir and the water change tank before the pumps and float switches were installed.
Water change reservoir contained to the left:
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/(Figure%206%20Main%20tank%20with%20additional%20bu ilt-on%20cupboards).jpg
Water change reservoir (pump and RO top up not installed)
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q4/(Figure%207%20Water%20change%20tank)small.jpg
Some more pics for Butler:
May 2008
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/full tank shot2.jpg
Aug 2008
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/t12smallcrop.jpg
Nov 2008
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/b9crop.jpg
April 2009
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2009Q1/full april 09.jpg
loving the pics showing the growth
hi clayton
MAGNIFIECENT:thumbsup: unbeleivable coral growth in such a short time.
This is one that i would be aspired to ,well done looking forward to seeing more updates in the future
What a tank lets hope my lottery numbers come up.
Barry
Lovely tank Clayton and thanks for adding to my knowledge base.
Dan
Emperor Angel
17-05-09, 22:25
Magnificent - Just shows that knowledge is the key to having a successful tank! I just can't stop admiring it!!!!!!
Makes me wonder why I 've spent thousands buying every gadget out there (Maybe I just can't help myself..) LOL! I should start an AA group for Gadget Loving Reefers!
Anyone wanna join?
cdurkin100
19-05-09, 11:35
Stunning.
A well worthy winner, stunning growth and colours:applause:
Outstanding tank BZ.
Rocky.:worship:
kandy_kisses
20-05-09, 14:46
you defiantely deserve it, one of the better tanks if seen
Fantastic looking setup :thumbsup:
Volitans13
28-05-09, 19:20
Yeah amazing tank mate!
Thanks again guys, I will get some more shots of it soon as there are not too many new ones in here.
Clayton
Wonderfull reef system. Really jealous!:worship:
Stunning, just goes to show you don't need multi million pounds worth of equipment to have a stunning system! Do you have a DSB in your sump or just the bio balls?
green tank full off colours how do u keep the purple monti purple? mine keeps going brown!!!!
Hi Guys, Tom, no DSB in the sump, just the bioballs and equipment.
Fishdoc, some corals are easier to keep certain colours than others. For example the purple montipora foliosa needs a high light intensity and a good dkh to maintain a good purple colouration, lower light intensities it will go brown, whereas the purple montipora monaseriata that is in the middle of this reef tank keeps a vivid purple colouration under a much wider range of conditions, even under low light it is still a stunning purple.
hth
Nick&Laura
16-06-09, 19:17
wow looks amazing
What a great tank you got there mate!
hi ya Clayton
Any updates on your tank,have you changed or introduced anything new.
how many gallons are you doing in your wc and how often.
It would be nice to see some fresh pics.
Thanks Lee
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