jpgnmt
Member
I had posted a few photos in another thread but folks encouraged me to start a new thread as that one was deteriorating. I have a 54 Corner Tank that I put into my wall above the dining room table. I have had lots of dumb luck with it and as well tried to devour as much information as I could in books and online.
The project started as a fresh water tank as I was intimidated by salt but after a year of research I decided to do what I had wanted to do in the first place. I enjoy the geeky side of the hobby as well as the aesthetic enjoyment. My garage is on the other side of the wall so I have room for the not so aesthetically pleasing components out there. The one area that I created problems for myself was in the height above the tank for lights. I built it to fit a Coralife PC fixture that I had on the fresh set up but wasn't happy with the output and when the time came to change the bulbs I changed the fixture instead. Now I have a four tube T5 from Current that puts out lots more light than the PC. I began having an algae problem on my front glass and gravel so I put a UV Sterilizer in line with a Magnum 350 running charcoal. Now I don't know what to do on Saturday mornings as my glass is already clean.
The two holding tanks you see are for salt on the left and fresh on the right. They have circulation pumps and heaters in them so when I top off or replace 5 gallons in my normal weekend maintenance the water going in matches the tank. They have large Rio pumps to move the water into the tank. CPR Backpacker for a skimmer and it has done well the entire time. A single Tunze on a wave controller to provide movement. The three timers at the top of the photo control the three kinds of lights.
Livestock is 9 Damsels in three varieties, Yellow tail, Two Stripe and Blue Jewel. A Barberi Clown, a six line wrasse, banjaii cardinal an Orchid Dotyback. Inverts include lots of blue and red legged crabs, snails, two BTA's and a great Emerald Crab that lives in some Maidens hair and eats his house about once every six weeks. Coral include Pulsing Xenia, six types of mushrooms, two kinds of Zoas, Sea Matt and a Sun Coral.
The first shot with just getting started is from November 2007.
I hooked my flash to a slave this morning to take some livestock shots, the Cardinal and Anemone are with flash.
I think that is a fairly good synopsis. Happy to answer any questions.
jpgnmt
The project started as a fresh water tank as I was intimidated by salt but after a year of research I decided to do what I had wanted to do in the first place. I enjoy the geeky side of the hobby as well as the aesthetic enjoyment. My garage is on the other side of the wall so I have room for the not so aesthetically pleasing components out there. The one area that I created problems for myself was in the height above the tank for lights. I built it to fit a Coralife PC fixture that I had on the fresh set up but wasn't happy with the output and when the time came to change the bulbs I changed the fixture instead. Now I have a four tube T5 from Current that puts out lots more light than the PC. I began having an algae problem on my front glass and gravel so I put a UV Sterilizer in line with a Magnum 350 running charcoal. Now I don't know what to do on Saturday mornings as my glass is already clean.
The two holding tanks you see are for salt on the left and fresh on the right. They have circulation pumps and heaters in them so when I top off or replace 5 gallons in my normal weekend maintenance the water going in matches the tank. They have large Rio pumps to move the water into the tank. CPR Backpacker for a skimmer and it has done well the entire time. A single Tunze on a wave controller to provide movement. The three timers at the top of the photo control the three kinds of lights.
Livestock is 9 Damsels in three varieties, Yellow tail, Two Stripe and Blue Jewel. A Barberi Clown, a six line wrasse, banjaii cardinal an Orchid Dotyback. Inverts include lots of blue and red legged crabs, snails, two BTA's and a great Emerald Crab that lives in some Maidens hair and eats his house about once every six weeks. Coral include Pulsing Xenia, six types of mushrooms, two kinds of Zoas, Sea Matt and a Sun Coral.
The first shot with just getting started is from November 2007.
I hooked my flash to a slave this morning to take some livestock shots, the Cardinal and Anemone are with flash.
I think that is a fairly good synopsis. Happy to answer any questions.
jpgnmt
