240 gallon mixed reef

[Firstman]

You really have cool stuff in that tank. Boy is it cool

[hobogato]

thank adam, i am really enjoying the variety as well :)

[J_G]

very nice ace

[hobogato]

thanks john

[hobogato]

ok, gabe had a tang i just couldnt pass up.

A. guttatus
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04688.jpg

[J_G]

sweet tang...what kind is that?

[Mr Cob]

Oh that one is sweet! I think that is the coolest one I have ever seen of that type of tang. Look at all of those spots!!! AWESOME ACE!

JG:
Also known as the Jewel Tang, Mustard Tang, and the Guttata Tang (Acanthurus guttatus)

[brewercm]

Nice tang. Is he getting along fine with his tang mates?

[hobogato]

a little nipping back n forth but nothing serious. he stands up for himself :)

a little video with my small digital camera. the quality isnt very good, but you can see the shimmer and watch it disappear at the end as a cloud passes

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/th_Image002-2.jpg (http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/?action=view&current=Image002-2.flv)

[Joe31]

Sweet tank Ace. Excellent job

[Rychek]

I don't know how many times (between myself, my wife and my daughter) that video has been viewed in our home, but we're loving it! Thanks for sharing Ace.

[Noober]

man I'm jelous of your flow, what are you using to simulate thoes waves? I'm sure I could read it out but thats a lotta pages to read hahah! Nice tank!

[hobogato]

thanks, i have a tunze wave box. here is one more video from today, captured the shimmer a little better. i need to find a way to do a higher quality video.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/th_Image003-1.jpg (http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/?action=view&current=Image003-1.flv)

[Noober]

Awsome tank, How do the wave boxes work? I have two tunze 6105's and an aquasurf and I've been trying to mimic that but I cant seem to do it no matter how hard I try. I believe that some of the wave and tide simulations I have created will work well for producing healthy coral, but none the less I am really pleased with the ebb and flow of your tank. Great job!

[Noober]

I forgot to ask how much the wave maker makes the water rise and fall, because on my starphire rimless tank my water level is too high and the water already has trouble flopping up on the edges with my tunzes and aquasurf. I would love to get one though, I would probably just have to saw the top of my overflow cover and put some plastic wire mesh up there to increase flow.

[hobogato]

the wave box fills with water, then air, then water.... in the right frequency to create a surge of water that bounces back and forth. my tank is 8' long and the wave cycle is a little over 1 second to go from one side to the other (about 2.5 seconds to one end and back). i have it turned down to about 1/2 strength right now and the wave height (from trough to crest) is about 3/4". that means the water level rises about 3/8" above the standing level. at full power, the wave height is 1.5" (3/4" above standing water level)


.... I would probably just have to saw the top of my overflow cover and put some plastic wire mesh up there to increase flow.

you could just drain some water out of your tank and then cut the teeth deeper in your overflow using a dremmel and a spiral cut bit.

[Noober]

Thanks I was wondering how all that worked, I had an idea but that clarified everything nicely. I have an overflow in my tank and it is on the left/center of the back wall of the tank, could I place it on the outside of the left wall of my overflow and the effect would be the same?

I live in brownwood but I can get to austin when needed, and I was wondering if you knew anyone who builds custom acrylic sumps around there? I also have been having trouble with resivors, I have been using rubbermaid trash can that I installed bulkheads in (fifty gallons) but the thing sprung a leak, I have a ball valve on the intake on it, and I pump water into my chiller from the sump then into the trash can then it overflows back into the sump so when I need to do a water change I just turn off the pump and close the ball valve then drain the trash can and fill it with ro water and then mix the salt, then turn on the pump and crack open the ball valve a slight bit until i can see a decent small drip/stream coming out of the outlet so it acclimates to the temp/salt water content/ ph level, slow enough for the chiller/heater and my ph control to adjust it gradually to reduce overall shock on livestock. What would you use for this container since the trash cans are not working for me? Do you know if I could get a 2x2 ft or 1x2.5 ft container that is tall enough to hold fifty gallons in austin? It needs to be rigid, All the hardware stores and other places around here do not have anything that will work. I have used round plastic drums but I already killed a lot of livestock by using a used drum that had roundup in it, I cleaned it 10 ways from sunday and it still was contaminated. Thoes are really expensive and thick and its hard to get a bulkhead to seal on a round drum. Sorry for the long rant but my ideas just started to snowball, haha, so I'll stop there. Thanks a lot!

[hobogato]

Thanks I was wondering how all that worked, I had an idea but that clarified everything nicely. I have an overflow in my tank and it is on the left/center of the back wall of the tank, could I place it on the outside of the left wall of my overflow and the effect would be the same?

you have to put it at one end of your tank, i dont think it will work correctly close to the middle.

I live in brownwood but I can get to austin when needed, and I was wondering if you knew anyone who builds custom acrylic sumps around there?

if you were here in sa, i could do it. you may check with kingfish aquariums (one of our sponsors) or david (username prof). they are in austin and i think they do acrylic still.

I also have been having trouble with resivors, I have been using rubbermaid trash can that I installed bulkheads in (fifty gallons) but the thing sprung a leak, I have a ball valve on the intake on it, and I pump water into my chiller from the sump then into the trash can then it overflows back into the sump so when I need to do a water change I just turn off the pump and close the ball valve then drain the trash can and fill it with ro water and then mix the salt, then turn on the pump and crack open the ball valve a slight bit until i can see a decent small drip/stream coming out of the outlet so it acclimates to the temp/salt water content/ ph level, slow enough for the chiller/heater and my ph control to adjust it gradually to reduce overall shock on livestock. What would you use for this container since the trash cans are not working for me? Do you know if I could get a 2x2 ft or 1x2.5 ft container that is tall enough to hold fifty gallons in austin? It needs to be rigid, All the hardware stores and other places around here do not have anything that will work. I have used round plastic drums but I already killed a lot of livestock by using a used drum that had roundup in it, I cleaned it 10 ways from sunday and it still was contaminated. Thoes are really expensive and thick and its hard to get a bulkhead to seal on a round drum. Sorry for the long rant but my ideas just started to snowball, haha, so I'll stop there.

you might try a feed store, they may have a water container that will work

Thanks a lot!

no problem :)

[ErikH]

Ace, I could come by with the D90 and take some video. I could upload it to youtube, it comes out pretty good as long as you select "view videos in high quality" on youtube. I didn't realize we could embed videos!

[Noober]

Ooh yeah i was going to mention, if you look up some HD camcorders on newegg you can get a creative brand one for like 180 - 200 dollars, it records in 720P HD I believe either that or 720i. I really wanna get one, the zoom isnt that great but their small and high quality and the videos are easily uploaded to a computer for dvd burning.

[hobogato]

here is what the tank looks like when the sun is directly overhead - those beams move across the tank with the sun

left end
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04770.jpg
center
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04768.jpg
right end
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04769.jpg

[robalv]

ACE... THAT IS TOO COOL , I AM DROOLING

[nextreefer420]

i love the diversity of the tank

[RICKY81]

amazed and speechless.....really nice!!!!

[hobogato]

thanks for the comments all

here are a few top down pics from today

new lobo from ad- high hopes for color development here (it is still a little bleached from shipping)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04785.jpg
trach from gabe's
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04787.jpg
open brain from ad
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04788.jpg
acro i got last week from clone
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04791.jpg
green bubble from b&b
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04792.jpg
crocea that tony gave me a while ago
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04793.jpg
blue max i got from jake a while back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04794.jpg
meat i got a while back at b&b
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04795.jpg
bubble tip finally getting its color (and bubbles back)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04796.jpg
bali acro i got a while back at ad
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04798.jpg
nice section starting to grow in - those crazy zoas in the middle are from ad
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04801.jpg

[coraline79]

Amazing Ace. I only hope to get my 125 looking tht nice. I am trying hard. Love the LPS. that is what I am digging on these days.

[hobogato]

thanks joe.

here are a few thru the glass

same rbta - it is almost a foot in diameter
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04804.jpg
same meat - it is about 8" in diameter when fully open, didnt stretch out all the way today tho
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04805.jpg
this H. crispa was green when i got it from b&b - now turning purple with blue tups
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04806.jpg
H. magnifica also from b&b just keeps getting bigger - a little shy of a foot in diameter at its largest now
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04807.jpg
last coral i got from b&b before their move - nice little fox
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04808.jpg
fiji sarco that i got at b&b a while back
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04809.jpg
another b&b coral - was only blue when i got it, now has pink and green depending on the angle
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04810.jpg
same old chalice that has been thru it all - started as a 1/2" frag from fa a long time ago
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04812.jpg
this guy is hanging in well - has only dropped one arm, but gained many new ones in the middle
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04815.jpg
gorgo area - not all open atm
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04818.jpg
one more section pic
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04819.jpg

[hobogato]

a quick update on the ats - i added a third NO light behind the screen and put a 65 watt pc 6500k light in front.

here is the screen just before cleaning
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04821.jpg
here are the lights behind the screen
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04822.jpg
here it is all put back together.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04823.jpg
i have only cleaned my glass once this week, i think it is starting to make a small difference in the tank :)

[ErikH]

NICE GORGO! WOOT!

[cpreefguy]

Looks like a Florida reef! (Minus some acros and such :) )
Keep up the good work!

[cbianco]

Always showing off Ace. :P

The tank is looking great. The colors are unbelievable, especially considering you are using natural light.

How's that electricity bill doing?

Christopher

[hobogato]

last month is was $136 :D

same time last year it was around $400!

[cbianco]

last month is was $136 :D

same time last year it was around $400!

Now that's what I'm talking bout!

Wanna take me out to eat with the savings?

OT but... I was "convinced" to work summer school by the wifey. You ever run into summer vacation jealously?

Christopher

[hobogato]

yuk the dreaded summer school - i have never done it. yes others tend to get a little snippy about all that time off :)

[hobogato]

ok. final update of this thread.

tangs have been taken to seaworld sa. they will be in qt in a 500 gallon tank for about a month and then will move to the large tank with all the tangs.

6/17/09 here they are in the buckets - ready to go and hating me (im sure they are thanking me now or will be soon)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/TangsinBucketsforSeaWorldLarge.jpg

icky the eel and six of the large lps corals have gone to the zoo - looking forward to visiting them after they finish qt :)

here is the area where the tank used to be. we decided to leave the solar tubes as sky lights and take out the entire wall where the tank used to sit. still have a little painting to do, but you get the idea
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/240/DSC04881.jpg

[cpreefguy]

Wow, looks a lot different! That is cool that you donated some stuff, it'll be nice to go visit though!

[txav8r]

Wow...
Hate to see it go!
Good luck with the break. Hope all works out well.

Jack

[J_G]

Ace - what happened? I thought you were doing well with your new setup. Are you out completely now?

-John

[jc]

I see some tomato plants under those solartubes.

[Mr Cob]

Ace, the house looks nice, even without the tank. The area looks much larger and I love that you kept the tubes for when you come back or even if you sell the house ever...it's a cool modern feature.

I like Jacob's idea...Tomato plants...LOL...how about a lawn chair, ice chest and some tanning oil...LOL!!!!

Super cool about the fish and eel!!!!

Question: Do they treat for parasites while in quarantine? DO you know anything about their process that you might care to share? I'm very curious to know more about their practices.

[OrionN]

I am sorry that this tank is no longer. It was very painful for me to take my 450 tank down.
Best of luck