Some Pics

pecan2phat · 01/27/2008, 09:07 PM

Hi everyone,
I'm a transplant from Long Island

Moved up here last April and brought all my tanks up but in the rush I've had two nasty wipeouts due to parasites & bacterial.
So my 180g fowlr is fishless for the moment and will complete the fallow period in another week to 10 days. Thanks to coralfever who helped me move this into my dining room:

The 180g drains into a 75g sump one level down in the basement. An additional 100g LPS tank is tied to the system so the total water volume is about 280g after rock & sand displacement:

I built a wall to close off the sump room and also did a cutout for my 120g reef tank. It's more like a take out counter cutout

pecan2phat · 01/27/2008, 09:09 PM

The back of the 120g and equipment:

This is my QT station:

Hopefully, I'll make it to one of the meetings and meet all you nice folks.

And last thing, thanks to Bob from Exotic fish & Corals for selling salt to us hobbiest at mail order prices. Between that and Wallingford electrical rates, I think this will work nicely

mikelaubach · 01/27/2008, 09:17 PM

Amazing. I WISH my wife would let me have that much water in the house! :-)

Welcome to CTARS and the area.

--MIKE--

Fedcopmike · 01/27/2008, 09:31 PM

Welcome to the area and the club, enter the tank of month!!!

KingOfJericho · 01/27/2008, 10:20 PM

wow! Nice setups!!!

I was just in Wallingford the other day at the indoor karting track.

MADtanks · 01/27/2008, 10:29 PM

wow i so envy your systems just beut!!!

ctreefer · 01/27/2008, 11:12 PM

Really nice tank setup. I am especially fond of the QT. Nice PVC stacking.

Mind me asking how well the QT works with all those fish? Do you have a UV or protein skimmer in there. I always have the worst luck when quaranteening more than a couple fish in the same tank. any helpful hints would be appreciated.

And yes, welcome to CT. I hope you're considering entering for Featured tank of the month.

pecan2phat · 01/27/2008, 11:40 PM

Thanks for the compliments but these tanks are no way anyone's envy.
The 180g is fishless

The 120g are mostly frags cause I sold off all my corals prior to the move. I kept about 30 fish but unfortunately disaster struck about 4 weeks into the setup. Water was cold when I moved them last April and I added some new rock and sand which probably didn't help my nitrogen cycle

The 120g was originally all SPS & clams but I can't say that since you guys spotted my Sebae in the tank with some acans & a lobo or two in there

My second wipeout happened after I added a few ich magnets in without enough time in the QT. Second time around was down right nasty because it was ich and hemorraging. They were dropping every few days so I went fallow but I also hit the system with erythomycin for 9 treatments/16 days. The corals did fine though.
In the 120g, I use a Gen-X 40 for the return split into a 1/4 hp PCI chiller and a 40w Aqua Uv sterilizer. Then they both hit the tank through 3/4" Sea Swirls. Theres a closed loop for circulation utilizing a Dart through an OM 4-way with Revs on 2 back outlets. this is like my 3rd skimmer on this tank but I think that this H&S A200 w/2x1260 eheims works well. Simple K2R calcium reactor, Deltec FR509 for carbon, Phosban reactor for GFO & a MRC FMC 620 to hold Seachem DeNitrate media. The Lighting is dual mini stealth lummies (or coralvue, don't quite know) with 250w XM 10ks on Ice Cap ballast and VHO actinics also on IC ballast. Two 250w titanium heaters and a wall mounted fan. Most of this stuff is controlled by the ACIII.
So far my levels are pretty consistent with this tank. I will add magflake for the Mg once a month. Weekly I dose strontium and Salifert amino acids. Alk is constant at 9 DKH & Ca is stable at 425 ppm. My P04 stays at .04 if I change out the phosban every 2 months.

The 180g uses a Blueline 40 to two 3/4" Sea Swirls for a return. There are two Tunze 6000 in the back tied to an Aqua Surf for circulation and two Vortechs on the side panel also for circulation. Couple of 5" PC fans and lighting is 6 x 54w T5s. One bank of four in on an Ice Cap 660 and the remaining two is a standard ballast. The lights, fans & Aqua Surf is controlled by an Aqua Jr. All the other equipment is shared downstairs.
The 100g uses a Blueline 20 to a 40w Gamma UV sterilizer and out to a 1/2" Sea Swirl. There are two Tunze 6000 with a 7095 controller for circulation. Lighting consist of a Tek 6x39w fixture. there is also a shelf mounted fan to cool the tank surface and lights. There are two 500w titanium heaters in the sump.
The reason why I separated the pumps for the 100g & the 180g was twofold. One, I didn't want splashing, gurgling and a sock in my 100g and two I wanted to use the 100g drain as a direct feed to the skimmer.
So with the 280g of bulk water, there is a overflow fed Deltec AP702 as the skimmer, KM500 kalk stirrer (no Ca reactor on this system), Phosban reactor and a MRC FMC 422 for carbon. My original Reefkeeper is on this system, hence the Pinpoint PH & Orp monitors on the wall. I'm also utilizing a Red Sea ozonizer to inject 50 mg of ozone into one of the eheims on the skimmer. I use a Litermeter III for top off on the 120g and for the kalk stirrer on the 280 system.
With the kalk stirrer and no Ca reactor, I do need to adjust the Alk & Mg every week though

pecan2phat · 01/28/2008, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ctreefer
Really nice tank setup. I am especially fond of the QT. Nice PVC stacking. Mind me asking how well the QT works with all those fish? Do you have a UV or protein skimmer in there. I always have the worst luck when quaranteening more than a couple fish in the same tank. any helpful hints would be appreciated.

And yes, welcome to CT. I hope you're considering entering for Featured tank of the month.

None of these tanks are tank of the month material!

The QT works well if you have it seasoned with a good biological filter. The air driven sponge filter method didn't quite work for me so I use a Fluval 104 keeping the sponges and using ceramic beads in the other chamber to maximize colonization. I also use a MJ1200 in the tank to agitate the surface more while adding a foam sleeve for additional bacteria surface. The Fluval is hooked up to a Pentair 10w UV sterilizer. What I think has also worked for me is that the fish that you see is in hypo which reduces the stress and hopefully rids them of parasites. If I see parasites, I will also dose with cupramine but at only .25 vs the .50 that they recommend. The French & Queen angel, Orange Shoulder & Clown tang, 6 damsels has been in the QT for 4 weeks now. I did a 5g water change (20g long tank) every 10 days and they are doing fine. I'm started to bring the salinity up today so that by the end of the week, they can hit the 180g, YEAH!
I wouldn't in all honesty recommend that you put that many fish in a 20g QT, I just like to push the envelope and this time the envelope didn't push back

MADtanks · 01/28/2008, 07:08 AM

wow, i am really impressed with your equipment setup!!

hope that your fish make it all the way

i am having some cold water issues right now, my frag tubs are in the basement and i cant seem to keep the temps up. Just yesterday I added a 2" bulkhead(Closed loop on OMSS) to my tub and some new sand to add some reflectiveness from the black bottom, and my temps dropped to about 69 within maybe 2 or 3 hrs from 76!!! I am runing 3 heaters all 200's maybe i should go with 2 500W heaters like you, and switch them out for 2 200w in the summer. I dont know i am just having a really hard time with my temps... I lost 5 fish due to the harsh temps.

Again I am very impressed with your equipment line up! its very very clean!

SparkPlug · 01/28/2008, 07:52 AM

how old is that big clam in the 120 ?

by the way,....tanks look great.

T5PO · 01/28/2008, 10:20 AM

Very nice! I cant wait untill my skinney pecan gains wait and become Phat like yours.

bill37 · 01/28/2008, 07:41 PM

That is an awesome setup. You should be very proud it.

pecan2phat · 01/28/2008, 10:06 PM

Spark,
The Derasa is about 2 yrs.

cato · 01/29/2008, 04:14 PM

Sweet setup. I won't ask what your electric bill is.

pecan2phat · 01/29/2008, 10:10 PM

Not too bad IMO.
I average about $275 a month. We have no gas here and my heat, dryer & stove is electric so the $275 covers it all.

Remember, I'm from LI where my electric was about $350 + oil + gas so I'm happy as a pig in crap

With the RC electrical calculator, it's figuring out to be about $70 per setup so about $140 for my tanks and the rest is household.

MADtanks · 01/29/2008, 10:11 PM

wow that is not bad at all!

ctreefer · 01/29/2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pecan2phat
Not too bad IMO.
I average about $275 a month. We have no gas here and my heat, dryer & stove is electric so the $275 covers it all.

Remember, I'm from LI where my electric was about $350 + oil + gas so I'm happy as a pig in crap

With the RC electrical calculator, it's figuring out to be about $70 per setup so about $140 for my tanks and the rest is household.

Holy crow! one of my coworkers has a small cape in Bristol and has electric everything (no fish tanks or spas) and his electric bill every month is over $600. He's on a plan. Is Wallingford the city that has its own public electric utility. I know there are a couple in the state. For the most part I don't think CT's cost is much cheaper than LI though I'm probably wrong. I think you are not the norm when it comes to electrical costs in CT.

smilby36 · 01/30/2008, 08:11 AM

yeah Wallingford is...my bill is $100 more a month the next town over from when I live in Wallingford.

Great set up

pecan2phat · 02/04/2008, 01:34 PM

Okay I hit $416 last month but overall it still averages a tad under $300 for the year

Found a link to my 120g and 102g before the tanks were broken down for my move to CT. The pics are 2 yrs old and some of the support equipment has since changed but I look at these pics and am guessing that them tanks looked a lot better then

Well onward we plow.........

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/...ured-tank.html

pecan2phat · 06/14/2008, 04:20 PM

A few updated pics. Tanks are about the same, just more fish

patriots81 · 06/14/2008, 04:53 PM

awesome tank!!!!!!!!!

InsaneClownFish · 06/14/2008, 06:15 PM

nice!

ctreefer · 06/14/2008, 06:19 PM

Wow!!! I'm super impressed. Awesome tanks and beautiful fish. Do I count 5 flames in that one pic? How do you do it? Even the navarchus with the emperor is impressive. If I were to throw a navarchus in with my emperor he'd beat it to death.

Now you're definitely TOTM caliber!

Keep up the good work. BTW what's the fish that kinda looks like an anthias with the blotches on it?

pecan2phat · 06/14/2008, 06:30 PM

Thanks guys.

Took me a while to get the orange tail Emperator (christmas islands) and I took a chance since the tank was previously bionic ick infected.
There's also a Black Velvet or Gray Poma, Blue Face and I have the Goldflake & RS Regal waiting for QT jail time to be over.

CT, the anthias are called Blotched anthias (Holanthias borbonius), there are 5 of them in the 120g. I started with 7 but lost 2 due to swim bladder issues. (they are a deep water anthias that are not always brought up to the surface correctly)

In regards to the Flames, I started with 2 which wasn't too bad, a little bit of bickering. Then I added 3 more after about a month. Compatible....well not really. They chase each other around quite a bit but we'll see if it settles down. What's good and distracting is that the pair of clowns hate them so they all need to watch their backs on top of individual aggression

01/27/2008, 09:07 PM	#1
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Some Pics Hi everyone, I'm a transplant from Long Island Moved up here last April and brought all my tanks up but in the rush I've had two nasty wipeouts due to parasites & bacterial. So my 180g fowlr is fishless for the moment and will complete the fallow period in another week to 10 days. Thanks to coralfever who helped me move this into my dining room: The 180g drains into a 75g sump one level down in the basement. An additional 100g LPS tank is tied to the system so the total water volume is about 280g after rock & sand displacement: I built a wall to close off the sump room and also did a cutout for my 120g reef tank. It's more like a take out counter cutout

01/27/2008, 09:17 PM	#3
mikelaubach Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Durham, CT Posts: 1,367	Amazing. I WISH my wife would let me have that much water in the house! :-) Welcome to CTARS and the area. --MIKE-- __________________ --MIKE-- Current Tank Info: 65G drilled, 10G sump, MCE600 skimmer, BRS dual carbon GFO rector

01/27/2008, 10:29 PM	#6
MADtanks Stix Anyone? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: East Coast Posts: 5,392	wow i so envy your systems just beut!!! __________________ M.A.D. 75G(36X24X20 E-Overflow) \| DIY - LED/T5 \| Tunze ATO \| Eheim 1260 \| Reef Keeper.... in progress Current Tank Info: 24X24X20 AIO SPS Dom

01/27/2008, 11:40 PM	#8
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Thanks for the compliments but these tanks are no way anyone's envy. The 180g is fishless The 120g are mostly frags cause I sold off all my corals prior to the move. I kept about 30 fish but unfortunately disaster struck about 4 weeks into the setup. Water was cold when I moved them last April and I added some new rock and sand which probably didn't help my nitrogen cycle The 120g was originally all SPS & clams but I can't say that since you guys spotted my Sebae in the tank with some acans & a lobo or two in there My second wipeout happened after I added a few ich magnets in without enough time in the QT. Second time around was down right nasty because it was ich and hemorraging. They were dropping every few days so I went fallow but I also hit the system with erythomycin for 9 treatments/16 days. The corals did fine though. In the 120g, I use a Gen-X 40 for the return split into a 1/4 hp PCI chiller and a 40w Aqua Uv sterilizer. Then they both hit the tank through 3/4" Sea Swirls. Theres a closed loop for circulation utilizing a Dart through an OM 4-way with Revs on 2 back outlets. this is like my 3rd skimmer on this tank but I think that this H&S A200 w/2x1260 eheims works well. Simple K2R calcium reactor, Deltec FR509 for carbon, Phosban reactor for GFO & a MRC FMC 620 to hold Seachem DeNitrate media. The Lighting is dual mini stealth lummies (or coralvue, don't quite know) with 250w XM 10ks on Ice Cap ballast and VHO actinics also on IC ballast. Two 250w titanium heaters and a wall mounted fan. Most of this stuff is controlled by the ACIII. So far my levels are pretty consistent with this tank. I will add magflake for the Mg once a month. Weekly I dose strontium and Salifert amino acids. Alk is constant at 9 DKH & Ca is stable at 425 ppm. My P04 stays at .04 if I change out the phosban every 2 months. The 180g uses a Blueline 40 to two 3/4" Sea Swirls for a return. There are two Tunze 6000 in the back tied to an Aqua Surf for circulation and two Vortechs on the side panel also for circulation. Couple of 5" PC fans and lighting is 6 x 54w T5s. One bank of four in on an Ice Cap 660 and the remaining two is a standard ballast. The lights, fans & Aqua Surf is controlled by an Aqua Jr. All the other equipment is shared downstairs. The 100g uses a Blueline 20 to a 40w Gamma UV sterilizer and out to a 1/2" Sea Swirl. There are two Tunze 6000 with a 7095 controller for circulation. Lighting consist of a Tek 6x39w fixture. there is also a shelf mounted fan to cool the tank surface and lights. There are two 500w titanium heaters in the sump. The reason why I separated the pumps for the 100g & the 180g was twofold. One, I didn't want splashing, gurgling and a sock in my 100g and two I wanted to use the 100g drain as a direct feed to the skimmer. So with the 280g of bulk water, there is a overflow fed Deltec AP702 as the skimmer, KM500 kalk stirrer (no Ca reactor on this system), Phosban reactor and a MRC FMC 422 for carbon. My original Reefkeeper is on this system, hence the Pinpoint PH & Orp monitors on the wall. I'm also utilizing a Red Sea ozonizer to inject 50 mg of ozone into one of the eheims on the skimmer. I use a Litermeter III for top off on the 120g and for the kalk stirrer on the 280 system. With the kalk stirrer and no Ca reactor, I do need to adjust the Alk & Mg every week though Last edited by pecan2phat; 01/28/2008 at 12:37 AM.

01/28/2008, 07:08 AM	#10
MADtanks Stix Anyone? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: East Coast Posts: 5,392	wow, i am really impressed with your equipment setup!! hope that your fish make it all the way i am having some cold water issues right now, my frag tubs are in the basement and i cant seem to keep the temps up. Just yesterday I added a 2" bulkhead(Closed loop on OMSS) to my tub and some new sand to add some reflectiveness from the black bottom, and my temps dropped to about 69 within maybe 2 or 3 hrs from 76!!! I am runing 3 heaters all 200's maybe i should go with 2 500W heaters like you, and switch them out for 2 200w in the summer. I dont know i am just having a really hard time with my temps... I lost 5 fish due to the harsh temps. Again I am very impressed with your equipment line up! its very very clean! __________________ M.A.D. 75G(36X24X20 E-Overflow) \| DIY - LED/T5 \| Tunze ATO \| Eheim 1260 \| Reef Keeper.... in progress Current Tank Info: 24X24X20 AIO SPS Dom

01/27/2008, 09:09 PM	#2
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	The back of the 120g and equipment: This is my QT station: Hopefully, I'll make it to one of the meetings and meet all you nice folks. And last thing, thanks to Bob from Exotic fish & Corals for selling salt to us hobbiest at mail order prices. Between that and Wallingford electrical rates, I think this will work nicely

01/27/2008, 09:31 PM	#4
Fedcopmike Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central CT Posts: 376	Welcome to the area and the club, enter the tank of month!!!

01/27/2008, 10:20 PM	#5
KingOfJericho Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: South Salem, NY Posts: 242	wow! Nice setups!!! I was just in Wallingford the other day at the indoor karting track.

01/27/2008, 11:12 PM	#7
ctreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: southern CT Posts: 3,274	Really nice tank setup. I am especially fond of the QT. Nice PVC stacking. Mind me asking how well the QT works with all those fish? Do you have a UV or protein skimmer in there. I always have the worst luck when quaranteening more than a couple fish in the same tank. any helpful hints would be appreciated. And yes, welcome to CT. I hope you're considering entering for Featured tank of the month.

01/28/2008, 07:52 AM	#11
SparkPlug Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Farmington Ct Posts: 200	how old is that big clam in the 120 ? by the way,....tanks look great.

01/28/2008, 10:20 AM	#12
T5PO Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Windsor CT Posts: 1,085	Great Reef Very nice! I cant wait untill my skinney pecan gains wait and become Phat like yours. __________________ How Does Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy live in Bikini Bottom???

01/28/2008, 07:41 PM	#13
bill37 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,201	That is an awesome setup. You should be very proud it.

01/28/2008, 10:06 PM	#14
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Spark, The Derasa is about 2 yrs.

01/29/2008, 04:14 PM	#15
cato New England Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CT Posts: 5,450	Sweet setup. I won't ask what your electric bill is. __________________ -Cato I swear it's an illness... Current Tank Info: On Hiatus

01/29/2008, 10:10 PM	#16
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Not too bad IMO. I average about $275 a month. We have no gas here and my heat, dryer & stove is electric so the $275 covers it all. Remember, I'm from LI where my electric was about $350 + oil + gas so I'm happy as a pig in crap With the RC electrical calculator, it's figuring out to be about $70 per setup so about $140 for my tanks and the rest is household.

01/29/2008, 10:11 PM	#17
MADtanks Stix Anyone? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: East Coast Posts: 5,392	wow that is not bad at all! __________________ M.A.D. 75G(36X24X20 E-Overflow) \| DIY - LED/T5 \| Tunze ATO \| Eheim 1260 \| Reef Keeper.... in progress Current Tank Info: 24X24X20 AIO SPS Dom

01/30/2008, 08:11 AM	#19
smilby36 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Meriden CT Posts: 254	yeah Wallingford is...my bill is $100 more a month the next town over from when I live in Wallingford. Great set up __________________ -Steve- "Live for the Day" Current Tank Info: 14 Gallon BioCube--skimmer and rio pump upgrade w/2 firefish, 3 clown gobies, royal psuede, orange spot goby, scarlet hermits,3 emerald crabs, turbo snails, cerith snails, mushrooms, zoo, zenia

02/04/2008, 01:34 PM	#20
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Okay I hit $416 last month but overall it still averages a tad under $300 for the year Found a link to my 120g and 102g before the tanks were broken down for my move to CT. The pics are 2 yrs old and some of the support equipment has since changed but I look at these pics and am guessing that them tanks looked a lot better then Well onward we plow......... http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/...ured-tank.html

06/14/2008, 04:20 PM	#21
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	A few updated pics. Tanks are about the same, just more fish

06/14/2008, 04:53 PM	#22
patriots81 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: south windsor, ct Posts: 658	awesome tank!!!!!!!!! __________________ Ben Current Tank Info: 75 gallon tank

06/14/2008, 06:15 PM	#23
InsaneClownFish Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 5,069	nice! __________________ 7 Years Reefing and Many Fresh 8 Foot Envisions

06/14/2008, 06:19 PM	#24
ctreefer Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: southern CT Posts: 3,274	Wow!!! I'm super impressed. Awesome tanks and beautiful fish. Do I count 5 flames in that one pic? How do you do it? Even the navarchus with the emperor is impressive. If I were to throw a navarchus in with my emperor he'd beat it to death. Now you're definitely TOTM caliber! Keep up the good work. BTW what's the fish that kinda looks like an anthias with the blotches on it?

06/14/2008, 06:30 PM	#25
pecan2phat Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 4,990	Thanks guys. Took me a while to get the orange tail Emperator (christmas islands) and I took a chance since the tank was previously bionic ick infected. There's also a Black Velvet or Gray Poma, Blue Face and I have the Goldflake & RS Regal waiting for QT jail time to be over. CT, the anthias are called Blotched anthias (Holanthias borbonius), there are 5 of them in the 120g. I started with 7 but lost 2 due to swim bladder issues. (they are a deep water anthias that are not always brought up to the surface correctly) In regards to the Flames, I started with 2 which wasn't too bad, a little bit of bickering. Then I added 3 more after about a month. Compatible....well not really. They chase each other around quite a bit but we'll see if it settles down. What's good and distracting is that the pair of clowns hate them so they all need to watch their backs on top of individual aggression