mharmon's 75 Gallon Tank

[mharmon]

I thought I'd post some pictures documenting this little adventure. Any comments, questions, criticisms are welcome.

http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-WaterSand007-2-15-08.jpg

Front view, 75-gallon flat-back hex tank, purchased used. I don't know the manufacturer. It may be custom. Had to rip up the carpet and replace it with tile to put the tank up.

Nothing live in the tank, just saltwater & sand - February 15, 2008.
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-WaterSand014-2-15-08.jpg

Top Left View
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-WaterSand015-2-15-08.jpg

Top Right View
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-WaterSand018-2-15-08.jpg

Front From Above View
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-WaterSand019-2-15-08.jpg

Right From Above View

[ismvel]

Oh, I like it mharmon....it is a nice looking tank...
i have heard that glass top does something with the gas exchange....which is not favorable...but not sure about that....either way...good looking tank.

[tony]

great looking setup!

feel free to document everything in the new blog (http://www.maast.org/forums/blog.php) feature for charter members also!

[cpreefguy]

Nice looking tank! Those angles make for a more unique tank

[BoborLinda]

Mark nice looking setup, very nice.

[mharmon]

Here are some more photos showing a little more progress:

http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75GallonTank-2-21-08052.jpg

Here the tank has the light fixture mounted, temporarily on a 2x4 on one side. The tank is a little wider than the fixture and hopefully I'll have a matching canopy soon to deal with this. This is the 48", 760-watt fixture from Odyssea. 2x 250-watt M/H, 4x 65-watt PC actinics, and moonlights.
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75GallonTank-2-21-08007.jpg

Here's a slightly closer view. Substrate is about 140 pounds of sugar-sized aragonite. There's around 8 1/2 pounds of live rock and a damsel to help with cycling. A Koralia 3 is on the return side to provide some circulation. A lot more live rock is coming...

Bought a pair of damsels - this one's happy & healthy, the other is being converted by bacteria. So sad. :cry_smile:
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75GallonTank-2-21-08016.jpg

A closer view...
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75GallonTank-2-21-08041.jpg

Even closer... Anyone have any idea how I can clean out this lime buildup? (sigh)
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75GallonTank-2-21-08038.jpg

Here's a view of this tank's unsightly underbelly.
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75GallonTank-2-21-08022.jpg

I'm guessing this is about a 20 gallon sump. I have about 2.5 gallons of bioballs in there. I know some would suggest live rock rubble, but I thought bioballs would be easier to start with. Maybe I'll trade it out later.

The skimmer is a Euro-Reef ES 5-3, using a Dolphin DP-650 pump. Seems to be a pretty nice skimmer. I used about 4 gallons of water from my other tank and it got quite a bit out. Anyone know where I can get a spare pump?

The return pump is Rio 1700 that sometimes takes a little coaxing to get started. Time to start shopping for a replacement...
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75GallonTank-2-21-08033.jpg

Here's the front side of the overflow box...
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http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75GallonTank-2-21-08035.jpg

...and here's the back side.

[mharmon]

Thanks everyone for the comments and compliments!

The glass top panels have been removed. I thought I would have a problem with salt creep, but it seems to be OK.

Yes, the skimmate cup will be cleaned very soon... :angel:

[mharmon]

Here are a few photos after I added about 77 pounds of premium Fiji live rock, and after transferring about 8 pounds of live rock and some livestock from my 14 gallon bio cube. The damsel is now homed in the bio cube...

http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08065.jpg


Left Third
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08050.jpg


Center Third
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08051.jpg




Right Third
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08052.jpg


Palys
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08018.jpg


Emerald Crab
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08025.jpg


Baby Feather Dusters
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08031.jpg


Xenia
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08035.jpg


Right End
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08054.jpg


Front Left Corner
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08056.jpg


A really pitiful Pipe Organ
http://mlharmon.googlepages.com/75Gallon-3-1-08059.jpg

[ST3PH3N]

looking very nice

[stoneroller]

i'd rip out every piece of that calerpa and and other algae that you can now before it becomes a major ordeal. Your pipeorgan and palys will also thank you for it.

[mharmon]

I've ripped out some of the algae where it's getting in the way and that definitely helped. I'm seeing some growth on both the palys and pipe organ.