250 gallon solar reef

[Paul28]

aww :(

[hobogato]

yep. i knew all three were a gamble when i got them.

[Paul28]

yeh me im still looking for a powder that is a perfect size, fat and has lived in someones tank for more then a month , they get ick when the kids get loud in the house it seems

[hobogato]

i knew it was a big risk, and when it showed to be a picky eater, that made it more of a problem.

confirmed boxfish eating by the carpet. it is in the process of spitting out the skeleton parts that it didnt digest right now.

[reefreak]

That's crazy! That box fish was good size sorry to hear ace.

[Scutterborn]

That's no good. Sorry to hear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

[hobogato]

well, the anemone seems fine - should be after a $40 meal i guess...

decided to rearrange the mountain that the magnifica sits on. the catch, i didnt want to change the position of the mag because it is doing so well. i also wanted to reduce the clutter in the sand bed on the end of the tank. i think it turned out pretty well.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02165_zps8f8f2971.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02166_zpsb62d76c5.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02170_zps4fa3116b.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02172_zps9b5a4ffb.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02168_zps7b0af155.jpg

new fts

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02173_zpsd4950670.jpg

some more random pics since i had the camera out

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02180_zpsb938f44f.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02179_zpsa8b682b3.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02178_zps470e7342.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02177_zpsb208e49e.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02176_zps65b52981.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02175_zps3e1f3aab.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02174_zps98892c35.jpg

[Paul28]

Love it, Im making the list of gorgonians I neeeeed not want need haha jk :) looks great man

[Mr Cob]

Amazing tank Ace. Great pics too. Soooo many colors, looks like a candy store.

Sent from my HTC VIVID using Tapatalk

[hobogato]

thanks guys, here is one more of the gig - quite a bit brighter sun, so colors are very washed out

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02186_zps139d9c70.jpg

[Mr Cob]

Wow, it looks amazing. The thing is huge. So glad it is doing so Awesome!

Sent from my HTC VIVID using Tapatalk

[BBQHILLBILLY]

that cleaner shrimp looks smaall:shades:

[hobogato]

yep, it is a beast.

here is the tank at the most colorful time of day - all lights except the white t5 bulbs are on full and the sun is bringing in a little color

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02221_zpsdda30bd9.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02215_zps737e2c4e.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02225_zps481918b1.jpg

[hobogato]

someone on rc was asking for a good video of the tentacle twitch of the gigantea, so i did one this morning while the circulation was off for aiptasia killing and coral feeding (pardon the cloudy water). all the movement you see is the anemone moving itself, the tank is completely still.

xQfEwp93Ux0

[Southern Flame]

That's a awesome video :-) and your tank is amazing

[coralreefexplore]

What do you use for aiptasia killing

CoralReefExplore

[hobogato]

thanks tiphanie

CRE, i use aiptasia x

[hobogato]

tank was really clear this evening so i snapped some pics.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02308_zpsc6c32ba4.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02300_zpsccf51ac8.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02297_zps36120531.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02294_zps492bd381.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02293_zps170c1c8e.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02292_zps67026504.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02291_zps82a7553e.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02290_zpscc10aefb.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02285_zps138fe254.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02281_zps3b08c663.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02280_zps9f0a7fd8.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02279_zps019cb572.jpg

[Europhyllia]

gorgeous!

[hobogato]

thanks

[hobogato]

the tank made it thru my vacation away for a week just fine (so stressful!), here are some coral pics


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02310_zps933ef866.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02312_zps35fae74d.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02314_zpsaac7acc3.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02315_zps5100b3de.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02318_zpsd1e904c8.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02320_zps7a504e41.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02321_zps7719a672.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02322_zps4344b73b.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02323_zpsb9f824a4.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02324_zps2e322a43.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02325_zps8e5c5246.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02326_zps7f6ceafc.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02328_zpsdabad678.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02331_zpsfe12a36d.jpg


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02334_zps40d10289.jpg


and the camera hog of the day...


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02336_zps40b02169.jpg

[Scutterborn]

Awesome as always. The Ritteri looks great. It's funny how we go on vacation and worry incessantly about our tanks. :)

[Scutterborn]

The Welso in the second pic just kills me! It's superb.

[hobogato]

The Welso in the second pic just kills me! It's superb.

thanks, that pic does it no justice. you wont believe how much better it looks in person. thank goodness (for me) alton's angel fish decided it would make a good meal :lauging:

[hobogato]

so today was a little eventful. i have been kicking around the idea of adding some more schooling fish, and came across some reef chromis at a good price today. the tusk couldnt resist their bright yellow stripe and darting around and decided he would be a pescivore. he killed and ate two of them entirely. luckily i was able to catch the other four and send them to my dad's tank since he also has been thinking of adding some schooling fish.

[Scutterborn]

Geez... That bites. Sorry to hear about that.

[hobogato]

redid the bottom part of the tank this week. got rid of a bunch of duplicate frags replaced them with sun coral colonies. also moved the green stars to the dsb retaining wall.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02362_zps14ff5cf7.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02363_zps32c70cef.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02364_zpsf7fa2f83.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02366_zps3764a17b.jpg

[allan]

Looks very nice, open and colorful.

Wish I had half your ability to set up a tank.

[Scutterborn]

Wish I had half your ability to set up a tank.

You're not kidding. I'm in the same boat. I saw the tank again the other day and admit that I look at mine with slightly less enthusiasm.

Always great, Ace.


- Ben -

[hobogato]

thanks guys, here are some coral pics i took while i had the camera out

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02367_zpsdedbcc9f.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02368_zps5d799614.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02369_zps22d49c21.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02371_zps4da06039.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02372_zpsddb46aca.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02373_zpsbb24fe71.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02374_zps2f7a179f.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02376_zps21ab7233.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02377_zpsfef84fbb.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02379_zpsbd820609.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02381_zps9d2f9e15.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02382_zps2c7cbfe2.jpg

[RayAllen]

Looks great Ace. The Sun corals really add some pop

[hobogato]

thanks ray

here is a closeup of the bicolor colony

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02408_zps7370d576.jpg

and another fts today bc everything looked happy to have some bright sunlight this afternoon

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02424_zpsf3a3baaa.jpg

[hobogato]

couple of pics from tonight

one of the other combo colonies - the black polyps only open at night so far.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02434_zps727d9873.jpg

a close representation of the tank during sunset lighting (red led strips and blue led strips only)

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/IMG_20130923_213507_7531_zps465877b5.jpg

[reefreak]

Stunning ace!

[Mr Cob]

man Ace, beautiful pics. That bicolor coral is amazing and the pics is stunning. Love the yellow. The gold torch is looking happy as well!

[hobogato]

thanks guys - it is amazing to see how much those sun corals glow when there more red in the light mix. in the morning sunrise, the red strips come on first and the sun corals are crazy looking. it is a little strange tho, the combo colony (yellow/orange) looks all the same color under just red light.

[Flyride95]

Ace these pictures look awesome!

[hobogato]

thanks, i replaced the sunset pic above with one i took with my phone that looked more realistic.

[joelb]

yikes! how did that piranha get in there O.O

[hobogato]

got a cool pic of one of the dendros tonight during feeding

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02444_zpse23b83c1.jpg

and here is an unusual sun coral i picked up this week - so light pink that it is almost white with bright yellow/orange polyps

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02449_zps55a2584c.jpg

[slm222]

Looks great. How do you feed and care for your sun coral? I've been wanting to pick one up but the feeding portion is what has kept me away.

[hobogato]

thanks, i feed the tank two day old live brine shrimp every night and then i spot feed all of them with mysis every saturday.

[allan]

Ace, do you shut down the circulation when you feed the brine?

[hobogato]

no, remember there is no sump or skimmer to trap it, so it really doesn't matter if it gets sucked up, it just comes right back out

[allan]

Okay, I wasn't sure if that was the case or not.

Question, if they were to get caught in my sump, would they continue to grow? Or do they need to be fed phyto or equivalent?

[slm222]

ok now im blown away. how do you keep a tack like that with no sump or skimmer????

[FireWater]

Water changes and maintenance. Lots of filter feeders in that tank as well.

[allan]

Deep sand bed, and I believe he surface skims once a week.

Oh, and the most important ingredient: "Ace Mojo"

[hobogato]

Question, if they were to get caught in my sump, would they continue to grow? Or do they need to be fed phyto or equivalent?

i dont think they would stay in the sump/fuge - they would make their way into the skimmer collection cup. if they did stay, they would have to be fed phyto to survive and it would be difficult to keep it dense enough for them with the flow running thru the sump.


ok now im blown away. how do you keep a tack like that with no sump or skimmer????

like john and allan said - combo of dsb and filter feeding inhabitants as well as 5 gallon water changes twice a week where i skim the waste water from the surface with a pitcher to remove that film that a skimmer would normally take care of.

[hobogato]

decided to change the look of the tank a bit today, what do you all think?

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02453_zps40039caa.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02454_zps6dde1f34.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/hobogato/250/DSC02455_zps1d4f3758.jpg

[allan]

Looks great, Ace.

You swapped out all of your sand?

[hobogato]

thanks

no, it was time to replace some of the sand that has been removed during maintenance over the life of the tank, so i just added black sand. it is a layer about 1/2" to 3/4" thick.

[hobogato]

final tank video. it has been fun guys :)

usl_Mjxhav0

[Paul28]

:(

[allan]

Until the next build, right?

[Tempset]

Sounds like Ace is done for good....




Tempset@gmail.com

[Big_Pun]

Sounds like Ace is done for good....




Tempset@gmail.com

lol umm if you have been around here long enough you know thats not true