Tank Of The Month - September 2008

melev · 09/04/2008, 08:48 AM

This month we are featuring Ron Shivelyâ€™s beautiful 180g reef aquarium:

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

Congratulations, Ron S.!

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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Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 10:22 AM

I would like to thank Melev for all his work putting this together and everyone else for choosing my tank.

Thank you Ron

UrbanSage · 09/04/2008, 10:46 AM

Great looking tank, congrats on the TOTM.

One question about your skimmer. Looks like you might have turned it into a recirc at some point and then undone it?

Hop · 09/04/2008, 10:47 AM

great, great Tank! Very inspirational. Congrats on keeping such a treasure!

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 10:52 AM

UrbanSage, Good eye. I had it feed off the overflow with both pumps as recircs. I didn't like the performance so i changed it back.

Hop thank you.

Ron

masharp1126 · 09/04/2008, 11:00 AM

Very nice to see a beautiful tank getting recognition. And, without the $2,000 skimmer, $1,000 controller, $1,000 chiller, etc. DIY calcium reactor and kalk reactor, very nice setup.

Gives me encouragement that a TOTM can be achieved without spending your life savings.

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 11:05 AM

masharp1126 after reading past TOTM articles I felt unworthy due to my lack of equipment. As you see my results are the same as them, a healthy full tank. I hope it shows others that you don't have to throw money at a tank to make it thrive.

Ron

Elliott · 09/04/2008, 11:25 AM

very nice Ron, literally looks like a slice of the ocean, congrats!

you mentioned that if you were to do it again you would have a drilled tank, why?

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 11:29 AM

Elliott by that I meant drilled for overflows, I have hang on overflows and they are a pain. The biggest problem is the air bleed plugging up.

Ron

Elliott · 09/04/2008, 12:27 PM

ahh, I see

wow, your tank is impressive by any standard, but even more so that you achieved this success with minimal technology, outstanding!

Oldude · 09/04/2008, 01:41 PM

Nice looking mixed reef. Congratulations on being selected TOTM.

am3gross · 09/04/2008, 03:25 PM

yes congrats on the totm honors.... i hope to be there in the next 5 years!

could you post more pics of your diy calcium reactor, and how you did it?

thanks mike

Cantonesefish · 09/04/2008, 03:35 PM

Great work, I really love this tank! Do you have any pics of the rockwork before you added corals, that would be very interesting to see.

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 03:46 PM

Oldud and am3gross thank you I will try to get some more info up on the calcium reactor later when I get home from work, I have had a few request about it.

Cantonesefish I wish I still had pictures. I didn't save them when chaging computers because I never thought I would be a TOTM. I do have a older pic about 3 mounth after setting the tank up.

Poseidon · 09/04/2008, 04:28 PM

Congrats Ron! Your tank is simply amazing to look at, thanks for having me over to take pictures.

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 04:52 PM

Thank you for coming over, It's only thru good pictures that tanks like this can be enjoyed by all.

Ron

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 07:36 PM

I have had many PM's about my calcium reactor. I want to give credit where credit is due so thank you duhfactor for your thread that I used when making my reactor.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...n&pagenumber=1

It's a dual stage unit, the primary hold about 25 lbs of media and the second holds about 20 lbs. It is made from 3.5 O.D. tube, I used ball valves on top to make the addition of media simple. I choose to use a coarse media to allow a lot of water flow thru the media.

I found another thread Debbie64 by that has some inprovment to the design that I think I will add to mine this winter. The only problem I have had is stray light from the tank has caused some algae to grow in the reactor. I'm going to cover it to prevent this in the future.

Now some pics, I will do my best to answer everyones questions.

Thanks Ron

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 07:50 PM

trying to add more pics but they are not resizing right.

IFbettas · 09/04/2008, 08:36 PM

Nice tank! Really an inspiration for me. I don't have all of the fancy equipment either, actually it is quite similar to what you're using. My tank is young, and I hope it will look like yours someday.

By the way, is this a standard 180? 6x2x2?

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 08:50 PM

IFbettas thank you, yes it is a standard 180.

Ron

psteeleb · 09/04/2008, 09:57 PM

beautiful tank, the more you look the more you see. hard to believe you can get all those varieties of corals (sps, lps softies) and clams to look so healthy in one environment - great job and congrats on TOTM

Chihuahua6 · 09/04/2008, 11:35 PM

It's refreshing to see so many softies in a large tank. The way you combined the textures and colors is very pleasing to the eye.

Ed Reef · 09/05/2008, 01:50 AM

Great combination of corals in a 180-g. Well done....

Ron S. · 09/05/2008, 06:52 AM

psteeleb thank you, even when Mike was here taking photos I had to show him some of the hidden things. I love corals of all types and for some reason the seem to thrive together, I have no secret just lucky I guess.

Chihuahua6 thank you. When I started if was you basic softie tank, the toadstool was one of if not the first coral I bought. The leathers on the right side of the tank had a nice green color to them when I had the XM 15k bulbs in there but seem to have faded with the current lights.

Ed Reef thank you.

Michael · 09/05/2008, 06:59 AM

really beautiful ron, looks a dream, congrats, i think its well deserved

09/04/2008, 10:46 AM	#3
UrbanSage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tea, SD Posts: 1,659	Great looking tank, congrats on the TOTM. One question about your skimmer. Looks like you might have turned it into a recirc at some point and then undone it? __________________ You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Current Tank Info: 270 gallon reef.

09/04/2008, 10:47 AM	#4
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,610	great, great Tank! Very inspirational. Congrats on keeping such a treasure! __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

09/04/2008, 11:00 AM	#6
masharp1126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 118	Very nice to see a beautiful tank getting recognition. And, without the $2,000 skimmer, $1,000 controller, $1,000 chiller, etc. DIY calcium reactor and kalk reactor, very nice setup. Gives me encouragement that a TOTM can be achieved without spending your life savings. __________________ Mark Bldg - 450g inwall tank w/ 10'x15' fish rm. Eq. to inc: 2 400W MH's w/ Lumenarc III's, PFO 400w HQI ballasts, Octopus Dual Chamber CARx, CL on Seq 1000, Octopus TDNW-300 Skimmer, RKE

09/04/2008, 11:25 AM	#8
Elliott Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,897	very nice Ron, literally looks like a slice of the ocean, congrats! you mentioned that if you were to do it again you would have a drilled tank, why? __________________ Rodney Dangerfield - "I worked in a pet store and people would ask how big I would get." Current Tank Info: 300g acrylic mixed reef with 200g sump/fuge/grow out,cl:Iwaki MX-250 .5 hp w/ Seimens VFD surge controller to 6 eductors, Panworld 250 return to 2 eductors, Barr 5220 w/Panworld 250, 4 x 250w MH Reeflux 10K, 8 x VHO’s, 1.5hp chiller

09/04/2008, 12:27 PM	#10
Elliott Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,897	ahh, I see wow, your tank is impressive by any standard, but even more so that you achieved this success with minimal technology, outstanding! __________________ Rodney Dangerfield - "I worked in a pet store and people would ask how big I would get." Current Tank Info: 300g acrylic mixed reef with 200g sump/fuge/grow out,cl:Iwaki MX-250 .5 hp w/ Seimens VFD surge controller to 6 eductors, Panworld 250 return to 2 eductors, Barr 5220 w/Panworld 250, 4 x 250w MH Reeflux 10K, 8 x VHO’s, 1.5hp chiller

09/04/2008, 10:22 AM	#2
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	I would like to thank Melev for all his work putting this together and everyone else for choosing my tank. Thank you Ron

09/04/2008, 10:52 AM	#5
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	UrbanSage, Good eye. I had it feed off the overflow with both pumps as recircs. I didn't like the performance so i changed it back. Hop thank you. Ron

09/04/2008, 11:05 AM	#7
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	masharp1126 after reading past TOTM articles I felt unworthy due to my lack of equipment. As you see my results are the same as them, a healthy full tank. I hope it shows others that you don't have to throw money at a tank to make it thrive. Ron

09/04/2008, 11:29 AM	#9
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	Elliott by that I meant drilled for overflows, I have hang on overflows and they are a pain. The biggest problem is the air bleed plugging up. Ron

09/04/2008, 01:41 PM	#11
Oldude Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 2,196	Nice looking mixed reef. Congratulations on being selected TOTM. __________________ ______________________ Greg (AKA Snappy) Current Tank Info: sps dominated display, soft coral angel tank, prop tank

09/04/2008, 03:25 PM	#12
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 869	yes congrats on the totm honors.... i hope to be there in the next 5 years! could you post more pics of your diy calcium reactor, and how you did it? thanks mike

09/04/2008, 03:35 PM	#13
Cantonesefish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Such a place cannot be contained Posts: 584	Great work, I really love this tank! Do you have any pics of the rockwork before you added corals, that would be very interesting to see. __________________ -Also Chris Current Tank Info: Angel & Butterfly Reef

09/04/2008, 03:46 PM	#14
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	Oldud and am3gross thank you I will try to get some more info up on the calcium reactor later when I get home from work, I have had a few request about it. Cantonesefish I wish I still had pictures. I didn't save them when chaging computers because I never thought I would be a TOTM. I do have a older pic about 3 mounth after setting the tank up.

09/04/2008, 04:28 PM	#15
Poseidon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Swartz Creek Posts: 544	Congrats Ron! Your tank is simply amazing to look at, thanks for having me over to take pictures. __________________ Just say no to CRABS! All T5 Club, all Vortech Club, and a Cone head too! Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon, mostly SPS

09/04/2008, 04:52 PM	#16
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	Thank you for coming over, It's only thru good pictures that tanks like this can be enjoyed by all. Ron

09/04/2008, 07:36 PM	#17
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	I have had many PM's about my calcium reactor. I want to give credit where credit is due so thank you duhfactor for your thread that I used when making my reactor. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...n&pagenumber=1 It's a dual stage unit, the primary hold about 25 lbs of media and the second holds about 20 lbs. It is made from 3.5 O.D. tube, I used ball valves on top to make the addition of media simple. I choose to use a coarse media to allow a lot of water flow thru the media. I found another thread Debbie64 by that has some inprovment to the design that I think I will add to mine this winter. The only problem I have had is stray light from the tank has caused some algae to grow in the reactor. I'm going to cover it to prevent this in the future. Now some pics, I will do my best to answer everyones questions. Thanks Ron Last edited by Ron S.; 09/04/2008 at 07:49 PM.

09/04/2008, 07:50 PM	#18
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	trying to add more pics but they are not resizing right. Last edited by Ron S.; 09/04/2008 at 08:10 PM.

09/04/2008, 08:36 PM	#19
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho Posts: 1,272	Nice tank! Really an inspiration for me. I don't have all of the fancy equipment either, actually it is quite similar to what you're using. My tank is young, and I hope it will look like yours someday. By the way, is this a standard 180? 6x2x2? __________________ Current Tank Info: 180G SPS Dominant, 40 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, 2x Koralia 4's, Koralia 3,

09/04/2008, 08:50 PM	#20
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	IFbettas thank you, yes it is a standard 180. Ron

09/04/2008, 09:57 PM	#21
psteeleb Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 3,057	beautiful tank, the more you look the more you see. hard to believe you can get all those varieties of corals (sps, lps softies) and clams to look so healthy in one environment - great job and congrats on TOTM __________________ A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner Current Tank Info: broken 280g Mixed Reef, had lots of light

09/04/2008, 11:35 PM	#22
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,675	It's refreshing to see so many softies in a large tank. The way you combined the textures and colors is very pleasing to the eye. __________________ Amanda Current Tank Info: 375 acrylic in planning, fish and coral are temporarily housed in a 75 and 55 gal

09/05/2008, 01:50 AM	#23
Ed Reef Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Currently Based in China Posts: 4,039	Great combination of corals in a 180-g. Well done.... __________________ Ed ~ Art is an adventure into an unknown world, which can only be explored by those willing to take the risks. ~ Current Tank Info: Ed Reef’s Shallow Crest Inspired ART

09/05/2008, 06:52 AM	#24
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 198	psteeleb thank you, even when Mike was here taking photos I had to show him some of the hidden things. I love corals of all types and for some reason the seem to thrive together, I have no secret just lucky I guess. Chihuahua6 thank you. When I started if was you basic softie tank, the toadstool was one of if not the first coral I bought. The leathers on the right side of the tank had a nice green color to them when I had the XM 15k bulbs in there but seem to have faded with the current lights. Ed Reef thank you.

09/05/2008, 06:59 AM	#25
Michael NTTH Welcome Committee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 6,544 Blog Entries: 5	really beautiful ron, looks a dream, congrats, i think its well deserved __________________ MY Warmest Regards , MIKE [For My Tank Spec,Web Page,Photo Album,Articles+Magazine click on my blog link under my avatar] 92 gal Corner Tank,13.5 gal sump,Tunze Osmolator, ATC800 temp controller,PH Controller,Phos Reactor,3 Tunze 6025s,1 Tunze 6045,3 k2s,2 Maxi-jet 1200s T5 lighting,TMC 1000 calcium reactor, V2 800 skimmer,125 pounds Figi live Rock,1 " Sand,18 Mixed Corals,3 fish,2 Handfuls of cuc,[moving 50x in flow]{aquarist for 30 years}(full blown reef since 2007) Current Tank Info: Corner Tank Owner (Proud Member Of The Reef Central Corner Club)