Tank of the Month - October 2007

Skipper · 09/30/2007, 07:43 PM

This month we are featuring Paul Whitby's (pwhitby) beautiful reef aquarium:

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

Congratulations, Paul!

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

***************************

t11t5 · 10/06/2007, 04:39 PM

WOW.......

mokeyz · 10/06/2007, 04:41 PM

Stunning!!!

reefsahoy · 10/06/2007, 04:44 PM

congrats! that is an awesome tank and to think t5 only. how often and what % of water do you use to complete a water changes? thanks

Travis L. Stevens · 10/06/2007, 04:49 PM

Congratulations Paul! Your tank was tank of the month worth when it was a 225g tank, but it is now leaps and bounds above the rest. This is a well deserved honor indeed.

Antman · 10/06/2007, 05:03 PM

Great looking tank
I know you said you are using 3-1 Blue atanic to 1100K But what blues are you excatly using ?Most Atinics are more Violet purple Your tanks looks bluer
LOOKS GREAT ~

Rogger Castells · 10/06/2007, 05:06 PM

Very nice tank, how long ago did you switch to t5's only, the initial set-up pictures shows you had 4 MH. Did you ran MH at the beginning and then decided on t5's if so could you tell me why and your observations of this change.

pwhitby · 10/06/2007, 05:15 PM

Thankyou all for your very kind words,

Let me see if I can begin to answer some questions:

Water Changes
Generally I do around 60-100g a month, maybe less. I feel that with a calcium reactor and a good sized skimmer/fuge its not that major a deal.

Bulbs.
I like geisemann bulbs, I use the Aqua blue, the Actinic+ and the the pure actinic.

MH to T5s.

Initially I had MH over 3/4 of the tank but noticed I had great growth under th T5s.

I then added 2 of the 8 bulb hoods across the front in Dec 2006.
The back row I replaced in may 2007.
I like the T5s for the decreased heat, the broad panel of light as opposed to the point source of the MH and of course the lowered running costs.

I do miss the shimmer.

My frag tank, which isnt shown in the article, is also t5 lit.

Paul.

WeMa · 10/06/2007, 06:45 PM

very nice tank paul...really wish i would have had the chance to see it when i was in OKC last month...lookin forward to crase too, ill be back up with some of the other DFWMAS group...

and, wow...4' deep...nice...my fowlr tank is 4' wide, lol!

2ras · 10/06/2007, 06:53 PM

Congratulations Paul, well deserved!

pwhitby · 10/06/2007, 07:04 PM

Wes, Ray...

Thankyou very much.

Ray....The naso you kindly passed to me is the star of the tank. Everyone loves him....and what a pig he is! never stops eating.

captbunzo · 10/06/2007, 07:16 PM

Wow, what a lovely tank.... I look forward to coming back for a viewing again someday.

eddybabyhd · 10/06/2007, 07:35 PM

To be honest, this is one of the most deserving tank, in my opinion, for tank of the month. The tank is sooooooooo much better in person.

Reefski's · 10/06/2007, 08:20 PM

Beuatiful tank.

do you use carbon or GFO? what are you nitrate and phosphate levels?

how often do you clean the tank? what do you use?

Carl

reefsahoy · 10/06/2007, 08:35 PM

when you changed to t5 did you notice any color changes in the corals?

pwhitby · 10/06/2007, 08:36 PM

Eddy, Carl...thanks.

carl, I only use carbon every so often.....maybe 4 or 5 month or so if I think there is a yellow tinge in the water.

The cannister filter in the TOTM pics of my sump was running filter media as that picture was taken at the time I was setting up the refugium. I was trying to remove some of the sand dust.

Nitrates and Phos are zero, as near as I can tell.

pwhitby · 10/06/2007, 08:37 PM

Reefs,

yes a great deal actually. They became insanely bright.
A few changed colors, though not a great extent.

I love the T5s.

P.

SoonerReefer · 10/06/2007, 08:40 PM

I have saw this tank in person and its amazing! Great job Paul getting Tank of the month ,what an honor big congrats!!!

Donny and Lori
OMAS

pwhitby · 10/06/2007, 08:47 PM

Hey Donny/Lori.

Look forward to seeing you next weekend at the CRASE.

Paul.

reefsahoy · 10/06/2007, 08:49 PM

I'm glad to see someone in the good o'le USA use T5 so successfully without Zeovit, prodibio, or some witches potion. There are so many threads whether T5 can work or not. I guess you've proven that they actually work!!! anain congrats. It really looks awesome!

pwhitby · 10/06/2007, 08:55 PM

Thanks Reef.

there are actually a lot of us in this club (Central Oklahoma Marine Aq. Soc- COMAS) that use T5s solely.

You should Ray's (2RAs) tank. The colors in his tank are stunning.

And I totally agree....its an addiction not a hobby.

MUCHO REEF · 10/06/2007, 09:41 PM

Congratulations Paul, by far one of the most deserving TOTM that I can remember. The aquascaping is both natural and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The detailed husbandry is truly unmatched, I just can't say enough about it my friend.

I had the pleasure of seeing this gem in December of 2006 in its infant stages. It was an awesome display then, now I'm simply blown away by the exceptionally growth. Guess I'll be paying you a visit soon my friend. Tell Mrs. Whitby I said hello. Congrats again.

Mucho Reef

reefsahoy · 10/06/2007, 09:43 PM

you got a link to his tank?

pwhitby · 10/06/2007, 09:44 PM

Hey MR, thanks!
The tank has certainly come a long way from when you saw it last year.

This was where it was at a year ago....half T5 and half MH (MH at back).

I wish I had the power to grow ricordia like you do Mucho!....You had to have the most colorful TOTM I have seen....just breathtaking.

Regards,

Paul.

pwhitby · 10/06/2007, 09:48 PM

Reefs:

I dont think Ray has ever posted a dedicated thread. Let me see if I can find a pic for you to see.

10/06/2007, 04:44 PM	#4
reefsahoy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milky Way Galaxy 3rd planet from the sun, in a country called USA! Posts: 1,619	congrats! that is an awesome tank and to think t5 only. how often and what % of water do you use to complete a water changes? thanks __________________ Reefkeeping is an addiction! Shallow Reef Club Rimless Aquarium Club See my build click on the red house! Current Tank Info: 100 Gal SPS Custom Shallow Rimless. Giesemann NEP-TUNE Pro 2x250W HQI 2x54W T5, Bubble King mini 200, 2 Vortech MP40W, Ca Reactor, Custom Kalk Reactor, Custom ATO.

10/06/2007, 04:49 PM	#5
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,772	Congratulations Paul! Your tank was tank of the month worth when it was a 225g tank, but it is now leaps and bounds above the rest. This is a well deserved honor indeed. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: 75g Mixed Reef

10/06/2007, 05:03 PM	#6
Antman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Long Island Posts: 934	Great looking tank I know you said you are using 3-1 Blue atanic to 1100K But what blues are you excatly using ?Most Atinics are more Violet purple Your tanks looks bluer LOOKS GREAT ~ __________________ You Make Me Come, You Make Me Complete, You Make Me Completely Miserable Current Tank Info: 54 Gallon corner All-Glass reef ready Soft Corals .15 gal DYI Sump/Fuge Euroreef ES5-2 skimmer Mag drive 5 pump Tunze Nanostream 6025/ Hydor FLO Rotating Deflector Aquactinics 175W MH/T5 Combo 175W XM 20K Two 24W T5 Blue Plus

10/06/2007, 05:15 PM	#8
pwhitby Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 8,286	Thankyou all for your very kind words, Let me see if I can begin to answer some questions: Water Changes Generally I do around 60-100g a month, maybe less. I feel that with a calcium reactor and a good sized skimmer/fuge its not that major a deal. Bulbs. I like geisemann bulbs, I use the Aqua blue, the Actinic+ and the the pure actinic. MH to T5s. Initially I had MH over 3/4 of the tank but noticed I had great growth under th T5s. I then added 2 of the 8 bulb hoods across the front in Dec 2006. The back row I replaced in may 2007. I like the T5s for the decreased heat, the broad panel of light as opposed to the point source of the MH and of course the lowered running costs. I do miss the shimmer. My frag tank, which isnt shown in the article, is also t5 lit. Paul. __________________ Coming in 2010. The CRASE. THE conference for saltwater aquarists. Paul W Whitby Ph.D

10/06/2007, 06:45 PM	#9
WeMa Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dallas/Fort Worth Posts: 109	very nice tank paul...really wish i would have had the chance to see it when i was in OKC last month...lookin forward to crase too, ill be back up with some of the other DFWMAS group... and, wow...4' deep...nice...my fowlr tank is 4' wide, lol! __________________ Wes and Maria DFWMAS BoD Member COMAS Member's

10/06/2007, 04:39 PM	#2
t11t5 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,351	WOW.......

10/06/2007, 04:41 PM	#3
mokeyz Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 267	Stunning!!!

10/06/2007, 05:06 PM	#7
Rogger Castells Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Weston, FL Posts: 5,349	Very nice tank, how long ago did you switch to t5's only, the initial set-up pictures shows you had 4 MH. Did you ran MH at the beginning and then decided on t5's if so could you tell me why and your observations of this change.

10/06/2007, 06:53 PM	#10
2ras Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 417	Congratulations Paul, well deserved!

10/06/2007, 07:04 PM	#11
pwhitby Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 8,286	Wes, Ray... Thankyou very much. Ray....The naso you kindly passed to me is the star of the tank. Everyone loves him....and what a pig he is! never stops eating. __________________ Coming in 2010. The CRASE. THE conference for saltwater aquarists. Paul W Whitby Ph.D

10/06/2007, 07:16 PM	#12
captbunzo Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Ascot, Berkshire, England Posts: 3,955	Wow, what a lovely tank.... I look forward to coming back for a viewing again someday. __________________ Paul Thompson South Ascot, Berkshire, England RK: Where only bad things happen fast... CRAZY 4 the CRASE - Sometime 2008 Current Tank Info: 180 litre UK Reef

10/06/2007, 07:35 PM	#13
eddybabyhd Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 1,475	To be honest, this is one of the most deserving tank, in my opinion, for tank of the month. The tank is sooooooooo much better in person.

10/06/2007, 08:20 PM	#14
Reefski's Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: near Venice Beach Caleefornia Posts: 1,913	Beuatiful tank. do you use carbon or GFO? what are you nitrate and phosphate levels? how often do you clean the tank? what do you use? Carl

10/06/2007, 08:35 PM	#15
reefsahoy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milky Way Galaxy 3rd planet from the sun, in a country called USA! Posts: 1,619	when you changed to t5 did you notice any color changes in the corals? __________________ Reefkeeping is an addiction! Shallow Reef Club Rimless Aquarium Club See my build click on the red house! Current Tank Info: 100 Gal SPS Custom Shallow Rimless. Giesemann NEP-TUNE Pro 2x250W HQI 2x54W T5, Bubble King mini 200, 2 Vortech MP40W, Ca Reactor, Custom Kalk Reactor, Custom ATO.

10/06/2007, 08:36 PM	#16
pwhitby Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 8,286	Eddy, Carl...thanks. carl, I only use carbon every so often.....maybe 4 or 5 month or so if I think there is a yellow tinge in the water. The cannister filter in the TOTM pics of my sump was running filter media as that picture was taken at the time I was setting up the refugium. I was trying to remove some of the sand dust. Nitrates and Phos are zero, as near as I can tell. __________________ Coming in 2010. The CRASE. THE conference for saltwater aquarists. Paul W Whitby Ph.D

10/06/2007, 08:37 PM	#17
pwhitby Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 8,286	Reefs, yes a great deal actually. They became insanely bright. A few changed colors, though not a great extent. I love the T5s. P. __________________ Coming in 2010. The CRASE. THE conference for saltwater aquarists. Paul W Whitby Ph.D

10/06/2007, 08:40 PM	#18
SoonerReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Broken Arrow,Ok Posts: 518	I have saw this tank in person and its amazing! Great job Paul getting Tank of the month ,what an honor big congrats!!! Donny and Lori OMAS

10/06/2007, 08:47 PM	#19
pwhitby Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 8,286	Hey Donny/Lori. Look forward to seeing you next weekend at the CRASE. Paul. __________________ Coming in 2010. The CRASE. THE conference for saltwater aquarists. Paul W Whitby Ph.D

10/06/2007, 08:49 PM	#20
reefsahoy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milky Way Galaxy 3rd planet from the sun, in a country called USA! Posts: 1,619	I'm glad to see someone in the good o'le USA use T5 so successfully without Zeovit, prodibio, or some witches potion. There are so many threads whether T5 can work or not. I guess you've proven that they actually work!!! anain congrats. It really looks awesome! __________________ Reefkeeping is an addiction! Shallow Reef Club Rimless Aquarium Club See my build click on the red house! Current Tank Info: 100 Gal SPS Custom Shallow Rimless. Giesemann NEP-TUNE Pro 2x250W HQI 2x54W T5, Bubble King mini 200, 2 Vortech MP40W, Ca Reactor, Custom Kalk Reactor, Custom ATO.

10/06/2007, 08:55 PM	#21
pwhitby Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 8,286	Thanks Reef. there are actually a lot of us in this club (Central Oklahoma Marine Aq. Soc- COMAS) that use T5s solely. You should Ray's (2RAs) tank. The colors in his tank are stunning. And I totally agree....its an addiction not a hobby. __________________ Coming in 2010. The CRASE. THE conference for saltwater aquarists. Paul W Whitby Ph.D

10/06/2007, 09:41 PM	#22
MUCHO REEF Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,928	Congratulations Paul, by far one of the most deserving TOTM that I can remember. The aquascaping is both natural and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. The detailed husbandry is truly unmatched, I just can't say enough about it my friend. I had the pleasure of seeing this gem in December of 2006 in its infant stages. It was an awesome display then, now I'm simply blown away by the exceptionally growth. Guess I'll be paying you a visit soon my friend. Tell Mrs. Whitby I said hello. Congrats again. Mucho Reef __________________ Anyone can build a reef, the greater challenge..........................Is to grow one. Current Tank Info: 70 gallon zoanthid, Palythoa and Mushroom Reef. Last edited by Agu; 10/07/2007 at 10:45 AM.

10/06/2007, 09:43 PM	#23
reefsahoy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milky Way Galaxy 3rd planet from the sun, in a country called USA! Posts: 1,619	you got a link to his tank? __________________ Reefkeeping is an addiction! Shallow Reef Club Rimless Aquarium Club See my build click on the red house! Current Tank Info: 100 Gal SPS Custom Shallow Rimless. Giesemann NEP-TUNE Pro 2x250W HQI 2x54W T5, Bubble King mini 200, 2 Vortech MP40W, Ca Reactor, Custom Kalk Reactor, Custom ATO.

10/06/2007, 09:44 PM	#24
pwhitby Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 8,286	Hey MR, thanks! The tank has certainly come a long way from when you saw it last year. This was where it was at a year ago....half T5 and half MH (MH at back). I wish I had the power to grow ricordia like you do Mucho!....You had to have the most colorful TOTM I have seen....just breathtaking. Regards, Paul. __________________ Coming in 2010. The CRASE. THE conference for saltwater aquarists. Paul W Whitby Ph.D

10/06/2007, 09:48 PM	#25
pwhitby Team RC Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 8,286	Reefs: I dont think Ray has ever posted a dedicated thread. Let me see if I can find a pic for you to see. __________________ Coming in 2010. The CRASE. THE conference for saltwater aquarists. Paul W Whitby Ph.D