temperate reef

[rrasco]

Interesting. I thought you got several of the jewel and strawberry, but I guess that's just one 'colony' right? Kind of like coral colony.

The painted nem looks wicked cool.

[hobogato]

yep, there are five or six of each type of colonial anemone right now. gave everyone a nice meal today, still havent seen the fish tho.

[hobogato]

this tank is just chugging along. i dont think the two fish made it, as i haven't seen them since the week they were added. the starfish was also mia (and presumed dead) until a few days ago. the snails did a great job cleaning up the algal bloom, now i need to get some swimmers in there

these pics are with all of the blue, green and red led strips on - no whites









and these are with all of the leds on, including the white strips

[Mr Cob]

really cool tank man, what's the temp holding at?

[hobogato]

58 F the tank is so well insulated that the chiller hardly runs. our electricity bill didnt really change with the addition of this tank. that doesnt sound that cold, but as soon as you get your hand in the tank you realize it is a whole different ballgame than our tropical reef tanks

[Mr Cob]

Yeah, that's cold! Just lastnight I had my hands in the 85g which is running at 79-82 right now (82 at that specific moment). I then messed around in the 220 and it seemed so cold and was at 76...so I can only imagine the difference of a tank running at 58!

[zaquanh_09]

finished almost all of the little tasks today


added airlines to the drains to stop the flushing toilet sound



the tank is now full and the cycle officially begins. i will leave it at room temp for a couple of weeks and then start dropping the temp slowly. hopefully that will keep the initial cycling from taking too long.

all i have left to do is build the box for the led light strips - they should be here sometime after may 1st.

can i do this for a over flow box ?

if i get you dimensions can you cut some acrylic for me so i can make a cover ?

[zaquanh_09]

thanks hugo - i am thinking of adding at least some reds - maybe some greens as well

had a moment of panic yesterday - christy called me over to the tank and asked "is all of this water on the floor from condensation?"

a quick taste test (this will be even more gross in a minute) and i immediately knew it was salt water...

searched everywhere and found no leak, then i heard a strange bubbling noise from inside the sump. yep, the skimmer was set to skim very wet for initial breakin. now, a few weeks later and food being added to the tank daily for the anemone, the skimmer is going crazy and overflowing. it is in the sump, so that is no big deal, except the skimmer slid a tad forward and the collection cup is touching the insulated panel that covers the sump. this is allowing the overflowing skimmate to run down the panel, then down the front of the origial stand inside the skin and out the bottom of the tank on to the floor (remember the taste test?) yuk!

all fixed now and waiting for my first shipment of critters soon

i like your threads haha ,

so with my skimmer if i adjust it to closed theres isnt any foam or water if i open it to much it pretty much fills my bucket with water did it twice ,

i know i need to find my point where its just foam right ? i took my anenome out of the tank in fear it was going , my water and skimmed foam has been pretty clear , i dont think this is due to me taking it out , but i also had alot of diatoms , so i cut down on food and moved things around a bit , im not sure what all im asking , i guess am i doing this right? lol

[hobogato]

yep, some skimmers can be difficult to adjust and even the oils on your hands can cause them to go crazy.

[zaquanh_09]

ive seen alot where it should be brown foam? mine is a nice white foam ? any input or is it just clean because i only have 4 fish and few inverts. no anemone