Tank Of The Month - September 2008

melev · 09/04/2008, 06:48 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, 08:22 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, 08:46 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, 08:47 AM

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

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 08:52 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, 09:00 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, 09:05 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, 09:25 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, 09:29 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, 10:27 AM

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, 11:41 AM

Nice looking mixed reef. Congratulations on being selected TOTM.

am3gross · 09/04/2008, 01:25 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, 01:35 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, 01:46 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, 02:28 PM

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

Ron S. · 09/04/2008, 02:52 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, 05:36 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, 05:50 PM

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

IFbettas · 09/04/2008, 06:36 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, 06:50 PM

IFbettas thank you, yes it is a standard 180.

Ron

psteeleb · 09/04/2008, 07:57 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, 09:35 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 · 09/04/2008, 11:50 PM

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

Ron S. · 09/05/2008, 04:52 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, 04:59 AM

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

09/04/2008, 08:46 AM	#3
UrbanSage Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tea, SD Posts: 1,657	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, 08:47 AM	#4
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	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, 09:00 AM	#6
masharp1126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 184	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 Marineland 300dd in the works. 10'x15' fishroom, 3 400W MH's w/ Lumenarc III's, PFO 400w HQI ballasts, Reef Octopus Dual Chamber CARx, SRO 5000INT Skimmer, RKE

09/04/2008, 09:25 AM	#8
Elliott Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 3,849	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." TOTM, March 2015 Current Tank Info: tank video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va1dI7mdnGU ,900g in wall mixed reef, another 500g sumps, 19 AI Sol LED's, 2 CL's w/VFD's controlled pumps to 24 eductors, 2 Tunze WB's, 2 Barr 5220's and RK2 25PE and BK500, etc

09/04/2008, 10:27 AM	#10
Elliott Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 3,849	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." TOTM, March 2015 Current Tank Info: tank video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va1dI7mdnGU ,900g in wall mixed reef, another 500g sumps, 19 AI Sol LED's, 2 CL's w/VFD's controlled pumps to 24 eductors, 2 Tunze WB's, 2 Barr 5220's and RK2 25PE and BK500, etc

09/04/2008, 08:22 AM	#2
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	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, 08:52 AM	#5
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	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, 09:05 AM	#7
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	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, 09:29 AM	#9
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	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, 11:41 AM	#11
Oldude Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 4,479	Nice looking mixed reef. Congratulations on being selected TOTM. __________________ ______________________ Greg ~ June 2015 TOTM ~ ~ April 2010 TOTM ~

09/04/2008, 01:25 PM	#12
am3gross Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: va Posts: 1,243	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 __________________ There are five things that you cannot recover in life: (1) The Stone...........after it's thrown, (2) The Word...............after it's said, (3) The Occasion......after it's missed, and ...(4) The Time.............after it's gone. (5) A person...............after they die Current Tank Info: 210 display, 75 gallon fuge

09/04/2008, 01:35 PM	#13
Cantonesefish with active cooling Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Such a place cannot be contained Posts: 818	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. __________________ Chris Current Tank Info: Angel & Butterfly Reef

09/04/2008, 01:46 PM	#14
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	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, 02:28 PM	#15
Poseidon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Swartz Creek Posts: 728	Congrats Ron! Your tank is simply amazing to look at, thanks for having me over to take pictures. __________________ Just say no to CRABS! Current Tank Info: 85 Gallon mixed Reef. Halide/LED combo lighting.

09/04/2008, 02:52 PM	#16
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	Thank you for coming over, It's only thru good pictures that tanks like this can be enjoyed by all. Ron

09/04/2008, 05:36 PM	#17
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	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 05:49 PM.

09/04/2008, 05:50 PM	#18
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	trying to add more pics but they are not resizing right. Last edited by Ron S.; 09/04/2008 at 06:10 PM.

09/04/2008, 06:36 PM	#19
IFbettas Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Woodridge, IL Posts: 1,953	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, 75 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 3x250w Reeflux 12k in Lumenbrights, Octo Extreme 250 Skimmer, Lots of flow

09/04/2008, 06:50 PM	#20
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	IFbettas thank you, yes it is a standard 180. Ron

09/04/2008, 07:57 PM	#21
psteeleb Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DFW Texas Posts: 5,249	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: 110g Mixed Reef, LED's & T5's

09/04/2008, 09:35 PM	#22
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	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. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

09/04/2008, 11:50 PM	#23
Ed Reef Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Currently Based in China Posts: 4,060	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, 04:52 AM	#24
Ron S. Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 195	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, 04:59 AM	#25
Michael NTTH Rookie Help Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gloucester, England,UK Posts: 7,808 Blog Entries: 6	really beautiful ron, looks a dream, congrats, i think its well deserved __________________ Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club)