190 Build... er built...

[allan]

Hey folks,

Here is my 190 set up. As you may recall I took down my 100 gallon in favor of a larger tank with more depth. I bought a stand and canopy and realized later that a 4' x 3' tank is a custom order.

My thanks to Texreefer for both his patience and time spent with me as I labored through getting his tank and the numerous visits to his house as he ran me through his setup to make my setup a bit more streamlined. All the free stuff was great too :)

So here it is, my photography doesn't compare to most of you all out there so please forgive the sorry shots below.

Front of the tank...

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/2glaviers/Front.jpg

I borrowed an idea from someone here using a milk crate to create the height and huge cave. After spending some time talking to Ping I've decided to follow his advice and get some mushrooms to grow within the dark depths of the cave itself.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/2glaviers/Secondvalley.jpg

This is the right side of the tank. Shot at an angle to show the valley that I tried to create on the side.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/2glaviers/Right.jpg

A more level shot to show the open space above the valley and outcropping rock.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/2glaviers/Left.jpg

Here is the left view of the tank. I tried to create an expanse, or open area, where I could showcase some coral at a later date. However I only managed to make an area of caves along with a nice piece of ready made coral curtesy of Texreefer. I managed to get that off the sand bed a few inches to make another swim through. success!

Here are some misc. shots...

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/2glaviers/Gorgania-1.jpg

Yellow Rim Tang... I like this fellow. He is the only other fish in the tank besides the cowfish that will come right up to my hand... at least he doesn't bite.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/2glaviers/Goldrim.jpg

I got this beauty from MrsZ28PWR... many thanks on the excellent specimen. She does love to travel though... the bta that is.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd185/2glaviers/BTA.jpg

Let me know what you think and I appreciate all the help all of you all have been while I go through this process.

[BIGBIRD123]

Wow, looks great...

[allan]

Thanks Steve

[Ping]

The pictures truly do not do this tank justice. The aquascaping is very pretty.

[recoiljpr]

The pictures truly do not do this tank justice. The aquascaping is very pretty.

Agreed, I saw it tonight, it is a great looking tank! I now want to go in and tear mine up!

[allan]

Agreed, I saw it tonight, it is a great looking tank! I now want to go in and tear mine up!

I'd go to Ace's house, then change mine. I'd go to Z28 and change my aquascape. I saw Mr. Cob's (Rob, not Mike) and wanted to change mine.

Thanks Ping and Recoil. Coming from the two of you that means a lot. Enjoyed having you and Taz over last night for the fight.

[Mrs. z28pwr]

Agreed, I saw it tonight, it is a great looking tank! I now want to go in and tear mine up!


Wow great job Allen!! I redecorate ALL THE TIME.............

[Milly]

hey pops, here are some of the pics I took earlier today :

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3827305482_b8f5c24692.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3538/3827301976_6c0a6f8fb0.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/3826500289_9a39ecbef8.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3535/3827298242_c21d8cf0af.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/3827298058_73f707ff0e.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2615/3827297162_0755fccc48.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/3826495465_17f48788bb.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3827293534_c1651ccecc.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2657/3826495101_cb4c6a75c1.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/3826494267_bdc8757ae9.jpg

[cpreefguy]

Wow, looks awesome!
1 Love the yellow rim tang and boxfish, those are two fish I've always wanted to keep.

[allan]

I wasn't sure I'd like the tang in the tank, but got to say I was really pleased.

I'd like to try an achilles tang next.

[Kristy]

Looks terrific. Rockwork really turned out nice!

Can you tell us what lighting you have over it? Tried to find this in the thread but didn't. My apologies if I overlooked it.

[allan]

Hi Kristy,

No, didn't put the lights in the thread... I was going to take a few more photos next of the fuge, but I wanted to clear up some of the newbie mistakes first.

Lights, T-5 48" HO GLO (although some are of another brand). I worked with Jason at AD to cover down on the entire spectrum and I still have to pick up a 454 and a 75/25 to finish the array.

I will have eight 48" T5s and two 36" T5s. I have the 36 in the back between the two overflows. Each light has it's own mirror like reflector, forgot what they were called but they cost about 60 bills each. The two on each end are canted at 45 degrees, and the next one is canted at 15 degrees, the rest are shining straight down.

I only remember a few of the bulb spectrums like 420NM (?), Blue Actinic, white, Coral Excellerator, Coral Growth explosion... something along those lines. I saved the boxes so that I could replace them correctly later on.

The back is closed off with a computer-like fan mounted flush pushing air into the canopy with the top heavily vented to allow the warm air up and out.

Temp sits at around 78, although if I don't turn on my fuge light it tends to drop to about 76, 75. I did this once. And before keeping my fan on a timer my temp rose to 81. I keep the house at around 73-5... although we have been trying to acclimate ourselves to a higher temperature like 76-8.

I had toyed with MH for the lighting, especially after reading an article here concerning some trials between HM, T8, and T5s. Generally speaking the MH seem to cover more growth with the exception of one or two specific corals. But I started with the T5s and will most likely continue with them as I am under the illusion that I can control more of a specific wavelength once I get to that level of experience.

[ballardjr2000]

Allan i love the tank. awesome now for mine to grow and look like that lol.

[txav8r]

Pictures look great! I'd love to swing by and check it out in person some time.

[roscozman]

Looks great. I like cave for the fish to hide...

[allan]

Pictures look great! I'd love to swing by and check it out in person some time.


You're welcome any time. I almost went with Milly last night when she went to your house but my son and I were in the middle of watching Farscape. Reruns for me but they're his first go around.

Thanks for cave comment. But just to be clear, it wasn't original. I had been trying to figure out how to make really nice caves when I read an article here on MAAST of a member who used a milk crate. I stole his idea. I really like the way it turned out although I guess I lack the patience to really cover the plastic like that other member did. There are one or two places where careful examination reveals the black plastic. I am hoping that coraline growth and perhaps runaway zoa growth will effectively cover it up.

There is also a section in the upper left hand quadrant next to the overflow that seems to me a bit cluttered. This weekend I will probably try to rearrange it so it looks a bit more clean. My original concept had the finger coral LR jutting up from behind the small cave rock that centers on top.

Not that I'm making excuses, but it's difficult to look in the front and imagine what I want and to realize that picture after I run around to the back and peer in from above.

[recoiljpr]

my son and I were in the middle of watching Farscape. Reruns for me but they're his first go around.

Farscape is a awesome series man, you got some good taste in tv!

[allan]

Farscape is a awesome series man, you got some good taste in tv!

:-)

I really enjoy science fiction and that was a pretty good series. My boy and I really enjoy the stargate series... and star wars. We don't really care for star trek... but that's because it's not real...

[txav8r]

Yeah. You should have came by with her. Hope the stuff I gave her does well.

[ReefPets]

Awesome reef!

[Mr Cob]

Allan!!! Can't believe I missed this! Man, the tank looks gorgeous! Awesome Job! Milly took some nice shots for you too!!!

Looks like I'll have to find an excuse to come by and buy something from you or trade or somethin.

Hot man!

[allan]

lol, thanks dude.

I really don't have anything to sell or trade, still a young tank... but if you like coffee...

Most weekends will find me either sitting in front of the tank sipping java or on all fours looking at the bugs in the fuge. Or trying to figure out how to tweek the rock work.

[ballardjr2000]

know what you mean about messing in the tank, my wife gets mad cause every chance i get or every time she turns around my hands are in the tank, doing something, she asked if i pet the fish, i told her yes just to see her face priceless, lol

[allan]

Are you telling me that you don't pet your fish???

:)

[GuitarCrazyo]

So, I was thinking, wouldnt it be nice if they built up Kennedy, from downtown to Westshore, putting in 4 and 5 story apartments/condos. then, they could have a trolley running from channelside to westshore.

sweet

[JeffCo]

Tank looks great, love the diversity.

[Texreefer]

:Timeout:somehow I missed this thread as well,, Awesome! Really makes me wish I had my tank back:bigsmile:.... I recognize a lot of that stuff!:angel:

[allan]

:Timeout:somehow I missed this thread as well,, Awesome! Really makes me wish I had my tank back:bigsmile:.... I recognize a lot of that stuff!:angel:

Uh oh... I guess I might want to put a chain on the tank. :)

Yeah, that gorgonia is doing great. That rock with the multiple coral on it... I had to pull some of those orange zoas off of it when it was evident that the GSP wouldn't allow them to open. I've done this twice... no, three times. And each of those frags have taken off big time. I don't think I've seen anything else grow as quickly except perhaps the cyano. About two days ago I pulled more off and placed them on a bunch of live rock rubble to see how they would do. I think I've got too much orange zoas now so I placed them in the fuge. Of course it doesn't really bother me that much :)

Do these have a name? I keep calling them "Orange Zoas", and the purple ones on the other side of the rock I've called "Purple Zoas".... creativity busting at the seams...

[TexasTodd]

SUPER nice! I don't know how I missed this either.

Very good job!

Pics of your sump?

Todd

[allan]

Ok, I'll get some now but they're from my phone. Milly is the photo bug.

[dmweise]

Yay pink skunks! I love pink skunks!

[allan]

My RBTA split about three or four weeks ago, now those skunks host both intermittently. They're swingers!

I had them in the same tank with two perc clowns... about as long as it took to get the percs out (two or three hours). It appeared that the percs were the dominant clowns, but they were in the tank first.

[Texreefer]

Allan, they were called sunkist Zoas

[ErikH]

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

I missed it too!

DEWD it looks great! Come drink some beer. :)

[allan]

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

I missed it too!

DEWD it looks great! Come drink some beer. :)


lol, oh no dude, it's your turn to come over and drink some of my beer. :-)

JK, actually I want to come over and get some of those large pallys that you had last time I was over. I think they were purple and blue... but large. Not sure if you had any for sale last time I was over though.

[allan]

Allan, they were called sunkist Zoas


We can call them that again. I wasn't married to "Orange Zoas". Either way they grow with plague- like voracity.