TOTM 2011 JANUARY - TexasTodd

[BSJF]

http://www.dominopads.com/TexasTodd.jpg

For January, we had the pleasure of getting to know the 120 gallon reef of Todd Endersby, aka TexasTodd. Todd has been with MAAST for over 5 years and has been in the saltwater hobby for over 20. The attached file is a multi-page article highlighting his tank setup.

This thread is devoted to Todd, so come and sit for a while and ask him questions about his setup. If this isn't enough for you, we will also be highlighting video of his tank at our 1st Quarter TOTM Social.

-- TOTM Committee

[Europhyllia]

Congratulations Todd! :)

[ismvel]

Congratulations Todd. Gorgeous tank.

[Bill S]

Very, very nice, Todd.

[carlinsa]

hey todd who photo shopped those scratches out of that thing. LOL

nice tank

[Neptune@gabesfish]

WOW ... Thats just WOW..

[allan]

Nice! Congratz dude.

Everytime I see your tank I get wet all the way up to my elbows. :)

[aquasport24]

Awesome job Todd. How do you know when something is off by just looking at the coral? Can you please just give us some examples? I always remember one of your post that the main cause for burn tip on SPS is ALK swing.

[txg8gxp]

Great looking tank. So, you say "you can't overskim but you can underfeed". What kind of food, and how often do you feed your coral?

[BSJF]

I wanna know where that top off container is hidden.

[CoryDude]

Lorraine, I believe that Todd has the top off line running to a pumping station in Fiji. His tank is just too clean looking and the corals grow too well for it to be anything else.

[Mr Cob]

great tank Todd! Congrats. Love the corals.

[Kristy]

Sweet tank Todd!

And how about some love for our TOTM committee for an awesome job getting this going?!? Thanks guys!

[Europhyllia]

And how about some love for our TOTM committee for an awesome job getting this going?!? Thanks guys!
There will be lots more to this! Awesome presentations, fun socials and beautiful prizes.
THIS will be the contest to participate in! Just wait till April 9th to see all we have to offer with this :D

[TexasTodd]

Thanks everyone, sorry for the delay. My Wife is out of town and between work and two kids, two dogs, and a cat.....it's a little nuts!

Thank you to Erik and Allan for the nomination and thank you SO much to the TOTM committee, believe me, it is a LOT of work for them. It's also some work to get the tank owner to get their part done! :)

The top off is out in the warehouse, 90g garbage can. Right now I put about 5 cups of kalk in for every 30-35 gallons of RO/DI added.

I don't feed all that much because it's mostly SPS. If it had more corals that eat big stuff I'd feed more. I use only 100% the magic pellets from Gabe's store, about a teaspoon 2x a day on week days. Nothing happens to the tank on weekends since it's at the office.

I gave some suggestions for future TOTM outside of those the committee already knew about. There are some amazing tanks in MAAST's area that really need to be shown.

Thanks again,

Todd

[hobogato]

awesome job totm commitee! couldnt have picked a better tank to get this program going again, congrats todd!

[Big_Pun]

I love your style Todd, simple sps tank. thanks for sharing all the details of your tank, i still cant believe how easy you make keeping an sps tank can be. I didnt know gabe had "magic pellets" :wink_smile: (that was suppose to be a secret). i gotta agree except for freak events i have never had a fish from gabe not eat or die in my tank.

[CoryDude]

It was no work at all Todd. It was a pleasure to see a tank like this. I almost tore my setup down after seeing yours.

As for as the committee, I'd like to thank Lorraine. She's kept us on track and pushed/inspired us to get this thing off the ground and give it our best effort.

[TexasTodd]

Thanks Ace and Chris, it is simple, but, as we all know, it could go down tomorrow!

Yes, I've discussed Gabe's philosphy for HIS fish purchases, and it makes sense. This has come from many years in the business. He probably will need to stock up some on those magic pellets too I'm guessing. :)

Todd

[BSJF]

Yip Gabe was put on warning to stock up.


He probably will need to stock up some on those magic pellets too I'm guessing. :)


Allan, hint, hint - sounds like another tank move is headed your way!


it could go down tomorrow!


And thank goodness none of you needed much of a push! Chester's hamberger is all you needed for inspiration!


As for as the committee, I'd like to thank Lorraine. She's kept us on track and pushed/inspired us to get this thing off the ground and give it our best effort.

[tony]

killer setup todd

been a while, we need to catch up

[BSJF]

So Todd,

You mentioned you wanted to upgrade. You thinking just remove a few scratches, or thinking about a completely different system?

[TexasTodd]

I think I'd like to get one similar to Clint's tank's dimensions: 60x30x26 without any braces and to get rid of the scratches :).

[ErikH]

WOW what a great presentation you all put together. Keep up the good work!

Nice tank bossman. Still feels funny calling you boss! :)

14 months of growth! AUGH! :p

[Scream311]

Congrat TexasTodd on One Heck of an Inspiring Reef

And a Big Pat on the Back to the Committee for Kicking this off

[fishypets]

Love it man, you are a master when it comes to SPS!

[txav8r]

Congrats Todd! I've been listening to Erik brag about this tank for a while now. Now I understand what he was so excited about!!

[allan]

Allan, hint, hint - sounds like another tank move is headed your way!




Ha ha, yeah... what Todd didn't mention was that we did his move from his home to his office... in what? One day? Moved it over, filled her up, and I don't believe that he lost a single coral. I don't remember if his fish made it though. That was pre-magic beans (which I am now currently using as well).

....theeeen about a week or two later he decided, in quite a womanly way, that he didn't care for the positioning of the tank. He enlisted me to again assist in the decompressing of his tank to move it a scant few feet into its current location. We didn't even take anything out if I recall correctly. Just pulled most of the water out, sliiiiiid the whole set up across his office, and filled it up again. No loss to coral either... I don't believe.

Although all of the broken pieces that I stuck in my pockets never made it.... :D

[alton]

Great looking tank and I like the keep it simple thought process

[TexasTodd]

Thanks everyone. Good grief, somehow there's two threads to follow on this. :)

Gee thanks Allan! If I remember correctly, it was YOUR Wife and MY Wife that "decided" it "needed" to be on the other wall. They were right but "we" were just following orders.

LOL, yes, we moved the tank, and all inhabitants, in one trip with Allan's truck and my wagon. It was about 95 degrees out and I didn't want to break the plate off the overflow, so we just put some wet paper towels over it! Just the two of us moving it all, which would have been fine if it was two "Allans" but, as like most of the MAASTARDs, I can't lift nearly as much as Allan.

Todd

[BSJF]

lol, this is the Official Todd thread! The other one was only to get them to notice this one :)

[allan]

Hah, that's funny Todd. It's really funny how much I forgot.

I do remember you helping us move my tank, and finally losing your patience when that dude couldn't comprehend what you wanted him to do. And the long weeks after when you complained to Gloria about your back.

You were in much better a mood with your tank move.

Hear is another Todd-factoid. While moving his tank anything (coral wise) that broke was discarded at the bottom of the tank. I don't know about the rest of you but when I break a polyp off of some stick... I glue it to a frag plug.

Not Todd. He just left them there. And they grew. His digita on the left was just broken apart by his oh-so-nimble hands, he left them where the fell and now he has a colony growing up under another colony.

Sick!

[z28pwr]

Awesome Tank Todd, congrats.

[BSJF]

So who's excited to see video of this tank at the social? I know I am!

[TexasTodd]

Social?

[Europhyllia]

YOu know... the social where you will make yourself available for a more in depth Q&A session after we watch the video about your tank. That social. On April 9th :)

[TexasTodd]

Oh, "yeah", um where and what time? :)

[Europhyllia]

:D
http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?65086-TOTM-Social-1st-Qtr-2011

[allan]

C'mon Todd, I've already got my tux rented and shoes polished.

[BSJF]

I've placed my food order - can't wait!

[TexasTodd]

:) I've done the RSVP, thanks for the head's up and link.

[allan]

Okay, I've RSVPed... but I couldn't find a menue so I wrote it into the comments box.

[cbianco]

Congrats TexasTodd! What a sweet tank.

Lorraine, the write up is awesome. I love the format.

Christopher :)

[BSJF]

Okay, I've RSVPed... but I couldn't find a menue so I wrote it into the comments box.
For the social you just order your food we we get there. I already had a sample :)



Lorraine, the write up is awesome. I love the format.

Thanks Christopher, Karin and Cory do most of the work, I just play around and bark orders.

[Europhyllia]

Not true at all. We provide the pieces and Lorraine turns it into something fantastic.
(and yes, she does keep you on track. lol)

[BSJF]

Todd, tell us more about how you manage the heat generated by those bad boy MH's...

[TexasTodd]

Well, the Teco 1/3hp chiller does it and the pumps are all low watt. Plus, the lights are a little higher than I used to keep them before.

I'm planning on setting up a second chiller and return pump before this summer as a backup system.

T

[BSJF]

I don't remember do you run fans too?

[TexasTodd]

No, but I need to get some low noise models to add. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. :)

[Gseclipse02]

Todd if you had to guess how many times does your chiller come on a day ?

[TexasTodd]

It runs about 50% of the time while the halides are on.

Someone blogged on the magnesium. I just use just cheap epsome salt from Target. Don't worry about the sulfur too much, it's more of a big deal if you're using O3.

Todd

[txg8gxp]

So what is your main reason for only using magnesium sulfate versus the mix of sulfate and chloride? Does it just come down to cost and ease of use? I would also like to know how you use this. Do you premix in RO or just add some in the sump?

[stoneroller]

Congrats and what a beautiful reefscape! What's the deal with the magic? I want a bag of that!!

[TexasTodd]

I actually have a 5 gallon bucket of the good stuff from BRS, but have still just been working through the box from Target. I ran the cheap stuff before and everything was fine.

I'm not saying what I do is "the best" way to do things. :) Yes, I just add some to the sump, in a separate are than where my return is, and it's very turbulent on that side with a small opening high up for transition of the water to the return area.

Todd

[greenmako]

congrats Todd! tank is looking good!

[BSJF]

I'm not saying what I do is "the best" way to do things.


I suppose we need a disclaimer that the opinions of the TOTM owner do not always reflect best practices and it is your own risk if you choose to do the same or something!

[Texreefer]

Very Nice Todd! I will take one of those, one of those, that one, oh and that one too!

[TexasTodd]

Hey Brian, babies LOVE to sit quietly in front of an aquarium! ;)

Thanks all, especially for the legal statement. :)

[BSJF]

I will take one of those, one of those, that one, oh and that one too!

I so wanted to say that the entire time we were there.

[CoryDude]

When I came back for some more photos while Todd was out, I wanted to sneek in some bone cutters with me. Just a few snips here, and there, and over here.

[acropoorer]

Very, very nice Todd! The only thing that would impress me more is if you could bring Mako back to the hobby.

[BSJF]

Wow 891 views of this thread! That's really cool!

[Europhyllia]

I was going to 'like' that statement. Then I remembered we're not on FB right now. lol

[BSJF]

I tried to do the same to your post too!

[TexasTodd]

Hey Dale, thank YOU!

Yes, I'm working on Brian. I figure once the baby is around for a while, he'll figure out he's not going to get "OUT" much and might as well have a tank again! ;)

Facebook? :)

Todd

[TexasTodd]

When I came back for some more photos while Todd was out, I wanted to sneek in some bone cutters with me. Just a few snips here, and there, and over here.

CORY! Please do not let Allan influence you!

:)

[hobogato]

The only thing that would impress me more is if you could bring Mako back to the hobby.


Yes, I'm working on Brian. I figure once the baby is around for a while, he'll figure out he's not going to get "OUT" much and might as well have a tank again! ;)


i told him how calming the tank was for both of our boys when they were babies, and how every baby that comes over just stares...

come on brian, do it for your baby! :D

[Europhyllia]

Gosh yes, what better hobby is there when you can't get out much than a fish tank? I spent most of my time with horses before kids but fish are definitely much easier with a little one. It's perfect for families with small kids

[CoryDude]

Gosh yes, what better hobby is there when you can't get out much than a fish tank? I spent most of my time with horses before kids but fish are definitely much easier with a little one. It's perfect for families with small kids

And on que...

This baby wouldn'st stop crying until she was near Todd's tank.

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp100/cpryor74/2011%20Todd/DSC_0281.jpg

[gjuarez]

Todd, I see you havent lost your touch... Great looking tank. Is is the same knd I saw in person years back?