Tank of the Month - July 2007

Skipper · 07/01/2007, 09:10 AM

This month we are featuring Rudi Placht's (phocuz) beautiful reef aquarium:

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

Congratulations, Rudi!

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

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

tom obrecht · 07/04/2007, 10:43 AM

As one who is getting into sps corals your tank is one more inspiration for me!! Welcome to the TOTM club!! Job well done!!

Growurown · 07/04/2007, 12:01 PM

Very Nice system

alf magne · 07/04/2007, 12:53 PM

love your tank rudi! a realy whorthy TOTM winner!

espenlg · 07/04/2007, 01:07 PM

You had it coming :-) Congratulations!

bigfishman · 07/04/2007, 01:16 PM

Awesome!

delock · 07/04/2007, 01:22 PM

Wonderful Reef Tank

sleevasteve · 07/04/2007, 01:44 PM

beautiful tank. got me motivated to do something with my tank...lol I love how it splits the rooms and you can see it from all 3 sides.

slojmn · 07/04/2007, 02:45 PM

Rudi,
Your tank is a true inspiration. The aquascaping and coral placement is a work of art. You most heartily deserve this honor, Congratulations

.

flanque · 07/04/2007, 03:03 PM

Can you please comment on the camera you've used, the lens the technique you've used to get the sharp quality without the flash? I'm suspecting you've used a long lens on a tripod.

Cheers.

prugs · 07/04/2007, 03:06 PM

Very nice tank Rudi.

I'm not sure what you meant about your local coral selection being dismal. Lots of nice corals from what I can see.

Too bad about the gem tang. Makes me think twice about getting one.

melev · 07/04/2007, 04:17 PM

Sweet reef! How did I never stumble across one of your threads!

ghostrida3 · 07/04/2007, 05:45 PM

great reef!!! one question where are u hiding the tunzes?

anothermineral · 07/04/2007, 06:23 PM

Beautiful! Congrats!

42un81 · 07/04/2007, 07:33 PM

Very nice setup, is there a thread for this tank prior to TOTM?

i2ik · 07/04/2007, 07:59 PM

Beautiful Reef! Really worth the TOTM! Congrats!

What kind of material your stand is made of? I love your open look for the aquascaping! Truly an inspiration!

DL_Canuck · 07/04/2007, 08:00 PM

Wow, just like mine

great tank, good luck

mortenN · 07/04/2007, 08:07 PM

Beautiful tank, Congratulations with TOTM Rudi,

Skipper · 07/04/2007, 08:52 PM

Here's Rudi's other thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

tentacles · 07/05/2007, 12:40 AM

good to see your tank won TOTM!

phocuz · 07/05/2007, 01:23 AM

Thanks everyone for your kind words!

Flanque â€“ The pictures have been taken with a Nikon D70 with the standard 18-70 mm lens. Iâ€™ve used a Tamron 90mm macro lens for most of the close ups, and a Nikon 105mm on a few of them. White balance have been measured by holding the camera against the aquarium with a coffee filter in between. I usually prefer manual or aperture mode for the still shots, and shutterspeed priority for the pictures of the fish. The still shots have been taken with a tripod and the self timer to avoid shaking, and for the close ups I just hold the camera against the aquarium.

ghostrida3 â€“ The pumps are on each side of the overflow. The wall between the stand and canopy have been extended to cover the overflow and pumps, so the pumps can't be seen while looking at the aquarium from the sides. You can see them on this picture http://www.cowfish.info/content/900%...liter/1710.jpg

42un81 â€“ I got one thread with some pictures in the photo section. Itâ€™s the same as Skipper posted above.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1

i2ik â€“ The stand is a custom built steel frame, and the woodwork is 12 mm MDF.

hoxton · 07/05/2007, 02:09 AM

very nice tank mate

Lockes · 07/05/2007, 04:52 AM

I thought the IKS could be controlled over the web and that it had an sms function

THE APPRENTICE · 07/05/2007, 06:37 AM

Wow Rudi what a nice SPS dominated Tank My Hats off to you for being so good with the angelfish I have never been so lucky.
I like the ideas you went with to minimize noise and the ideas with the bathroom fans is really a great idea as well. As for the short supply of SPS in Norway it looks like you are able to help fix that!
Again great tank and congratulations on your tank of the month!
Jeff

UrbanSage · 07/05/2007, 08:33 AM

Great looking tank! Congrats on the TOTM.

How come "2 hermits"?

07/04/2007, 10:43 AM	#2
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	As one who is getting into sps corals your tank is one more inspiration for me!! Welcome to the TOTM club!! Job well done!! __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

07/04/2007, 01:07 PM	#5
espenlg Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Norway Posts: 102	You had it coming :-) Congratulations! __________________ Regards, Espen Grimsgaard Current Tank Info: 100 gallon SPS tank, Giesemann Infinity 2x250W MH + 4x54W T5. Deltec 851 skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40W, KZ Zeovit reactor, Aquatronica computer. Using Balling+ for Alk/Ca/Mg.

07/04/2007, 01:22 PM	#7
delock Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: houston,texas Posts: 284	Wonderful Reef Tank __________________ DELOCK Current Tank Info: 55296/231. Get out your calculator

07/04/2007, 02:45 PM	#9
slojmn Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Napa, CA. Posts: 4,625	Rudi, Your tank is a true inspiration. The aquascaping and coral placement is a work of art. You most heartily deserve this honor, Congratulations . __________________ Play hard and respect all living beings. Current Tank Info: 120g Starphire Cube, 30g nanoreef

07/04/2007, 03:06 PM	#11
prugs Moving Out Join Date: May 2003 Location: San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 Posts: 4,898	Very nice tank Rudi. I'm not sure what you meant about your local coral selection being dismal. Lots of nice corals from what I can see. Too bad about the gem tang. Makes me think twice about getting one. __________________ A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words. Current Tank Info: Getting rid of the last equipment :{

07/04/2007, 12:01 PM	#3
Growurown Moved On Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 198	Very Nice system

07/04/2007, 12:53 PM	#4
alf magne Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 33	love your tank rudi! a realy whorthy TOTM winner!

07/04/2007, 01:16 PM	#6
bigfishman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North America Posts: 503	Awesome!

07/04/2007, 01:44 PM	#8
sleevasteve Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: MO Posts: 321	beautiful tank. got me motivated to do something with my tank...lol I love how it splits the rooms and you can see it from all 3 sides.

07/04/2007, 03:03 PM	#10
flanque Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1	Can you please comment on the camera you've used, the lens the technique you've used to get the sharp quality without the flash? I'm suspecting you've used a long lens on a tripod. Cheers.

07/04/2007, 04:17 PM	#12
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	Sweet reef! How did I never stumble across one of your threads!

07/04/2007, 05:45 PM	#13
ghostrida3 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: marietta, ga Posts: 477	great reef!!! one question where are u hiding the tunzes?

07/04/2007, 06:23 PM	#14
anothermineral Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 232	Beautiful! Congrats! __________________ Live and Learn

07/04/2007, 07:33 PM	#15
42un81 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampa Posts: 157	Very nice setup, is there a thread for this tank prior to TOTM? __________________ David Current Tank Info: 120 Gal Reef, i-Tech 100 skimmer, Korallin Calcium Reactor, 8x54 T5 lighting, Reefkeeper 2, 30 gal sump / refugium

07/04/2007, 07:59 PM	#16
i2ik Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Montreal,Quebec,Canada Posts: 694	Beautiful Reef! Really worth the TOTM! Congrats! What kind of material your stand is made of? I love your open look for the aquascaping! Truly an inspiration! __________________ Richard Current Tank Info: 600G system in the remaking, back to square one, learning in process!

07/04/2007, 08:00 PM	#17
DL_Canuck Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Barrington, RI Posts: 242	Wow, just like mine great tank, good luck

07/04/2007, 08:07 PM	#18
mortenN TOTM January 2006 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 606	Beautiful tank, Congratulations with TOTM Rudi, __________________ ---Morten--- TOTM jan 06: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-01/totm/index.php

07/04/2007, 08:52 PM	#19
Skipper Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 18,271	Here's Rudi's other thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1 __________________ Skip Attix Former Editor of Reefkeeping Magazine

07/05/2007, 12:40 AM	#20
tentacles Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Palatine, Il Posts: 128	good to see your tank won TOTM! __________________ hey, what smells like blue? Current Tank Info: 380g

07/05/2007, 01:23 AM	#21
phocuz Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Norway, Oslo Posts: 243	Thanks everyone for your kind words! Flanque â€“ The pictures have been taken with a Nikon D70 with the standard 18-70 mm lens. Iâ€™ve used a Tamron 90mm macro lens for most of the close ups, and a Nikon 105mm on a few of them. White balance have been measured by holding the camera against the aquarium with a coffee filter in between. I usually prefer manual or aperture mode for the still shots, and shutterspeed priority for the pictures of the fish. The still shots have been taken with a tripod and the self timer to avoid shaking, and for the close ups I just hold the camera against the aquarium. ghostrida3 â€“ The pumps are on each side of the overflow. The wall between the stand and canopy have been extended to cover the overflow and pumps, so the pumps can't be seen while looking at the aquarium from the sides. You can see them on this picture http://www.cowfish.info/content/900%...liter/1710.jpg 42un81 â€“ I got one thread with some pictures in the photo section. Itâ€™s the same as Skipper posted above. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=1 i2ik â€“ The stand is a custom built steel frame, and the woodwork is 12 mm MDF.

07/05/2007, 02:09 AM	#22
hoxton Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: liverpool sydney Posts: 1	very nice tank mate

07/05/2007, 04:52 AM	#23
Lockes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 137	I thought the IKS could be controlled over the web and that it had an sms function

07/05/2007, 06:37 AM	#24
THE APPRENTICE Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: UMATILLA OR Posts: 10	A Very Nice Tank Rudi Wow Rudi what a nice SPS dominated Tank My Hats off to you for being so good with the angelfish I have never been so lucky. I like the ideas you went with to minimize noise and the ideas with the bathroom fans is really a great idea as well. As for the short supply of SPS in Norway it looks like you are able to help fix that! Again great tank and congratulations on your tank of the month! Jeff __________________ 150 gallon reef all-glass, oceanic sump 75 gallon SPS Clam all-glass, oceanic sump,CPR hang on Refugeum PFO light sets 325 lbs liverock. AquaC skimmers, Clams,lots of fish,SPS,LPS, softies,Zoos, Current Tank Info: 150 AND 75 GAL. REEF TANKS

07/05/2007, 08:33 AM	#25
UrbanSage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tea, SD Posts: 1,657	Great looking tank! Congrats on the TOTM. How come "2 hermits"? __________________ You can't control the wind, but you can adjust your sails. Current Tank Info: 270 gallon reef.