Tank Of The Month - August 2008

melev · 08/06/2008, 09:46 AM

This month we are featuring Travis Heidbrinkâ€™s beautiful 280g reef aquarium:

More details can be found here or by clicking on the picture above.

Congratulations, Travis!

If you'd like to nominate a tank for Tank of the Month, click here
or use the button to the right.

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stony_corals · 08/06/2008, 11:05 AM

Spectacular!

Ball · 08/06/2008, 11:08 AM

Awesome tank. Congratulations!

kar93 · 08/06/2008, 11:09 AM

Congratulations! Very well deserved.

Holyreefer · 08/06/2008, 11:36 AM

Great looking tank! The naked story was funny as well.

reefing102 · 08/06/2008, 11:46 AM

The tank looks awesome, i have to agree with the above too, the naked story was funny

slojmn · 08/06/2008, 12:00 PM

Travis,
Kudos deserved!!! Excellent system with beautiful, healthy animals. Who could ask for more??

. Naked Reefer hilarious, especially the part about the measurements being off...isn't it always like that??

Question for you, What do you do with your super sized colonies when you remove them from the system??

Jim_S · 08/06/2008, 12:06 PM

Wow. What a nice tank.

Way to rebound after the big crash!

musty baby · 08/06/2008, 12:30 PM

Now THAT is a nice tank. First tank of the month I've ever felt like commenting on. Well done.

RondaGP · 08/06/2008, 12:37 PM

Beautiful!

sd_schoppert · 08/06/2008, 12:47 PM

Congratulations Travis nice to see a local tank on here.

Hop · 08/06/2008, 12:48 PM

Great Feature Travis! The tank is looking great and I got a chuckle from the naked reefer story

tamarindthai · 08/06/2008, 12:48 PM

beautiful tank,,congratulation

JRaquatics · 08/06/2008, 12:53 PM

Congrats, you have a very impressive reef. I love the nice clean look of the Close loop.

jafish26 · 08/06/2008, 01:00 PM

congrats, This tank is amazing

tikireefer · 08/06/2008, 01:43 PM

Amazing tank! Thanks for sharing all the details with us. I really like the way you built the lighting all enclosed with glass between the lights and the water. Seems like a great idea.....keeps the heat down and the reflectors clean.

stunreefer · 08/06/2008, 01:46 PM

Simply STUNNING Travis!

I'm curious about how you used the acrylic rods to raise your rock. Did you drill multiple holes in the bottom of the rock and use the rods as little "legs" ? I was thinking of doing this, but am somewhat concerned about weight distribution over the bottom of the tank, having the little rods being the only thing touching the ground. My tank is an Envision acrylics as yours is, and with acrylic in general I would think its not much of concern, but was curious as to your thoughts on the issue.

Again, AMAZING aqarium.

EDIT: Oh BTW, that giant efflo/soli you have in the middle there is probably my single favorite LARGE colony I've ever seen.

Oldude · 08/06/2008, 02:21 PM

Very impressive reef Travis, congratulations. The way things have grown together gives a natural look which is fantastic. A well deserved TOTM.

SDguy · 08/06/2008, 02:31 PM

That tank is simply incredible!!! So very jealous!

mmotown · 08/06/2008, 03:28 PM

I didn't realize Travis that your tank looked like that!!!! Man that is really nice!

JER-Z · 08/06/2008, 03:29 PM

Congrats Travis! Amazing tank!

UrbanSage · 08/06/2008, 04:16 PM

What a great surprise to see your tank feature Travis!
It is very well deserved since the tank is absolutely stunning to see.

Congrats!

Travis · 08/06/2008, 04:34 PM

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone. This really is a privilege for me and means a lot.

Travis · 08/06/2008, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slojmn
Question for you, What do you do with your super sized colonies when you remove them from the system??

Some colonies were given to a local friend and others were shipped to a person in California that bought them.

Travis · 08/06/2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stunreefer
Simply STUNNING Travis!

I'm curious about how you used the acrylic rods to raise your rock. Did you drill multiple holes in the bottom of the rock and use the rods as little "legs" ? I was thinking of doing this, but am somewhat concerned about weight distribution over the bottom of the tank, having the little rods being the only thing touching the ground. My tank is an Envision acrylics as yours is, and with acrylic in general I would think its not much of concern, but was curious as to your thoughts on the issue.

Yes, I did it exactly as you mentioned. Drilled holes, inserted the rods, epoxied them in place, and then cut the rods so the rock structure would stand level. It is hard to tell from the pictures of the tank now but there is actually very little rock in there. I was never concerned about the weight being concentrated on the legs. The aquarium also has a 1" thick bottom so not too worried about it not being able to handle the weight. Here are a couple pictures of the rocks/rods:

08/06/2008, 11:36 AM	#5
Holyreefer Octopus Extreme 300 Skimr Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wisconsin 53216 Posts: 1,861	Great looking tank! The naked story was funny as well. __________________ How come money doesn't chase me? Current Tank Info: 150 high-FO,300Gal-saltwater

08/06/2008, 11:46 AM	#6
reefing102 Who am I here? Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mt. Vernon, Ohio Posts: 1,104	The tank looks awesome, i have to agree with the above too, the naked story was funny __________________ Shane RC Rules F&Q Lounger Life's a climb... but the view is great. “Eighty-five plus 15 will always be 100 ways to be great” - Ochocinco & Henry "Never argue with an idiot, they'll drag you down to their level, and beat you with experience." - Debi ____________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: 20 Gallon Long; Filtration - Magnum 250 (carbon), 10-15 lbs LR, 15 lbs LS; Lights - 96W T5 HO; Flow - around 1780 Total GPH (MJ 400 Mod & 900 plus 250 GPH from Magnum)

08/06/2008, 12:00 PM	#7
slojmn Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Napa, CA. Posts: 4,100	Travis, Kudos deserved!!! Excellent system with beautiful, healthy animals. Who could ask for more??. Naked Reefer hilarious, especially the part about the measurements being off...isn't it always like that?? Question for you, What do you do with your super sized colonies when you remove them from the system?? __________________ Play hard and respect all living beings. Check out my reef by clicking the cute little red house up above. Current Tank Info: 120g Starphire Cube, 30g nanoreef

08/06/2008, 12:06 PM	#8
Jim_S Timo Boll Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 5,907	Wow. What a nice tank. Way to rebound after the big crash! __________________ We will survive in this world of competition, shooting guns and our ammunition... Bradley Nowell Current Tank Info: We're recreating the ocean in our livings rooms. With that said, I've had some ups and downs.

08/06/2008, 12:48 PM	#12
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,628	Great Feature Travis! The tank is looking great and I got a chuckle from the naked reefer story __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

08/06/2008, 11:05 AM	#2
stony_corals Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,339	Spectacular!

08/06/2008, 11:08 AM	#3
Ball Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 664	Awesome tank. Congratulations!

08/06/2008, 11:09 AM	#4
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,522	Congratulations! Very well deserved.

08/06/2008, 12:30 PM	#9
musty baby Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: over yonder Posts: 1,750	Now THAT is a nice tank. First tank of the month I've ever felt like commenting on. Well done.

08/06/2008, 12:37 PM	#10
RondaGP Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Napa, California Posts: 70	Beautiful!

08/06/2008, 12:47 PM	#11
sd_schoppert Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 34	Congratulations Travis nice to see a local tank on here.

08/06/2008, 12:48 PM	#13
tamarindthai Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sammamish,wa Posts: 381	beautiful tank,,congratulation

08/06/2008, 12:53 PM	#14
JRaquatics RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 5,781	Congrats, you have a very impressive reef. I love the nice clean look of the Close loop. __________________ Supplier of Specialty Reef Products for Your Saltwater Obsession ReefSpecialty.com \| Call 435-671-6522 for Sales and Tech Support Current Tank Info: 180 Gal, 75 gal Sump/Fuge, Super Reef Octopus XP-3000ext skimmer, ATB 840 skimmer, 3 SE 250 Reeflux Bulbs in Lumen Bright mini reflectors, CoralVue E-ballasts, 3 Vortechs, ATB KD 150 Pro Calcium Reactor, Apex Controller

08/06/2008, 01:00 PM	#15
jafish26 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: south dakota Posts: 186	congrats, This tank is amazing __________________ When in doubt, Throw it out..... Current Tank Info: 75 full sps "200 cube in the works"

08/06/2008, 01:43 PM	#16
tikireefer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sandwich, IL Posts: 333	Amazing tank! Thanks for sharing all the details with us. I really like the way you built the lighting all enclosed with glass between the lights and the water. Seems like a great idea.....keeps the heat down and the reflectors clean.

08/06/2008, 01:46 PM	#17
stunreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Submerged Posts: 2,667	Simply STUNNING Travis! I'm curious about how you used the acrylic rods to raise your rock. Did you drill multiple holes in the bottom of the rock and use the rods as little "legs" ? I was thinking of doing this, but am somewhat concerned about weight distribution over the bottom of the tank, having the little rods being the only thing touching the ground. My tank is an Envision acrylics as yours is, and with acrylic in general I would think its not much of concern, but was curious as to your thoughts on the issue. Again, AMAZING aqarium. EDIT: Oh BTW, that giant efflo/soli you have in the middle there is probably my single favorite LARGE colony I've ever seen. __________________ -Austin Angelholics Anonymous

08/06/2008, 02:21 PM	#18
Oldude Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 2,502	Very impressive reef Travis, congratulations. The way things have grown together gives a natural look which is fantastic. A well deserved TOTM.

08/06/2008, 02:31 PM	#19
SDguy Vodka Doser Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 14,262	That tank is simply incredible!!! So very jealous! __________________ Peter Marine tanks since '89. San Diego Marine Aquarium Society - Treasurer Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, Leemar tank/stand/canopy. 2 x 250W 14K Phoenix in PFO on Icecaps, MRC2 (34") dual injectors/PCX-55, Custom sump/Panworld 50PX-X, Vortechs, nanostreams, Korallin C-1502, Neptune Jr, 1/4HP JBJ chiller, O3, carbon, vodka, osmolator.

08/06/2008, 03:28 PM	#20
mmotown Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas TX Posts: 1,363	I didn't realize Travis that your tank looked like that!!!! Man that is really nice!

08/06/2008, 03:29 PM	#21
JER-Z Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 925	Congrats Travis! Amazing tank!

08/06/2008, 04:16 PM	#22
UrbanSage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tea, SD Posts: 1,662	What a great surprise to see your tank feature Travis! It is very well deserved since the tank is absolutely stunning to see. Congrats! __________________ You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Current Tank Info: 270 gallon reef.

08/06/2008, 04:34 PM	#23
Travis 10 and over club Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 5,542	Thanks for all the kind comments everyone. This really is a privilege for me and means a lot. __________________ TOTM August 08 An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Current Tank Info: 280 sps w/ 75 LPS, 75 refugium, 120 sump